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General Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of Islamic Republic of Pakistan has said that Planners, abettors, facilitators and culprits of 9th May will be brought to justice according to the law of the land and our patience not to respond to daily provocations in this regard made in brazen violation of the constitution has limits and it must never be misconstrued as weakness.
Addressing the Garrison officers and soldiers at Corps Headquarters, Lahore, today, COAS said that 9th May will undoubtedly remain a black day in the history of Pakistan when deliberately indoctrinated and insidiously guided miscreants attacked the symbols of the state and national unity, disgracefully desecrating the Shuhada monuments.
Due to these deplorable acts of criminally orchestrated violence, enemies of Pakistan were provided the opportunity to mock the state and the nation. COAS deplored that now the same plotters were brazenly and shamelessly trying to twist the narrative and implicate the state in this despicable endeavour. This mindset is precisely the reason why there can be no compromise or deal with the planners and architects of this dark chapter in our history. Those gullible elements who did not understand the real motive behind this criminal enterprise and were used as cannon fodder for the political ambitions of the masterminds have already been accorded reasonable benefit of doubt on the direction of Supreme Court of Pakistan. However, the real leaders who present themselves as victims now will be held accountable for their actions, particularly when there is irrefutable evidence of their involvement and complicity in organised violence and sabotage.
He lauded the troops for their services to nation and appreciated their professionalism. COAS underscored that inimical forces and their abettors have unleashed digital terrorism and are trying hard to create division between Armed Forces and people of Pakistan through peddling lies, fake news and propaganda. However, the designs of all these forces will be defeated with the support of the nation.
COAS asserted that every soldier and officer of Pakistan Army puts his duties and responsibilities first, regardless of any other affiliations or preferences and continue to render extreme sacrifices on daily basis.
He reassured the officers and soldiers of Pakistan Army that no one will be allowed to disrespect Shuhada, their families or the institution.
Later, COAS while inaugurating Jinnah Library at Lahore Garrison stated that we being the constructive forces have rekindled the memory of Quaid by building this public library over the piles of ash and rubble created by the destructive forces.
Earlier on arrival, COAS was received by Commander Lahore Corps. COAS laid floral wreath at Martyrs' Monument and paid solemn tribute to the Shuhada who sacrificed their lives for the motherland.
Oviedo, Spain, 10 May 2024 (Anadolu News)
EU’s Foreign Policy Chief, Josep Borrell said late Thursday that Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia plan to recognize a Palestinian state on May 21. He was asked about the date by Spanish broadcaster RNE after Ireland’s public broadcaster suggested that was the plan.
Borrell said he believed May 21 would be the date because Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told him and because on Thursday Slovenia initiated the political proceedings to recognize Palestinian statehood.
“And probably, after that, there will be more because Belgium was considering it, but has delayed the decision as it seeks more countries to join it,” Borrell said.
Other EU nations including Malta and Norway have also recently said they want to recognize a Palestinian state when it is possible. However, the governments of Spain and Ireland have stopped short of confirming a date.
On Thursday, Spain’s Albares said that although he could not confirm May 21, he emphasized that the decision has been made to recognize statehood “soon.”
Irish leader Simon Harris also refused to commit to the date when asked but is promising to make the move soon. “There is never a wrong time to do the right thing and the right thing to do right now is to recognize the state of Palestine,” Harris said at a news conference in Dublin on Thursday. “You cannot say you believe in a two-state solution and not recognize that there are two states.”
Meanwhile, the Slovenian government aims to send a formal request to parliament to recognize the State of Palestine before June 13.
May 21 would put a coordinated recognition right before the European Union election campaign begins.
The EU foreign policy chief applauded countries moving to recognize a Palestinian state in a public talk he gave in Madrid on Thursday, saying the idea is “rooted in the principles of defending human rights.”
“It’s great that those who really believe in a two-state solution are going further than just talking about it,” said Borrell. During the RNE interview, Borrell noted that the recognition is largely “symbolic,” adding: “It is more than recognizing a state, it is recognizing the will for this state to actually exist.”
Already, nine of the 27 EU states recognize Palestine, with Sweden being the latest to do so in 2014.
In recent weeks, the Caribbean countries – Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and The Bahamas – moved to recognize Palestine as a state. Now, all of the 14-member Caribbean Community holds a united position on the issue.
On Friday, the UN General Assembly is expected to vote on a resolution to favorably reconsider its request to become the 194th member of the UN.
“The only way they (Israel) won’t drop bombs is if they don’t have any,” the EU’s top diplomat Josep Borrell told Spanish journalists on Thursday when asked about the US decision to withhold a weapons delivery to Israel.
His comments came ahead of a public conversation with Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, where Borrell also applauded Madrid’s impending decision to recognize Palestinian statehood.
Israel's daily Haaretz reported today that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday night that his government failed the Israeli people by leaving them. This is first time that Benjamin Netanyahu has admitted publicaly for the first time about his government's failure to protect people from Hamas' surprise attack on Oct. 7 of last year which killed around 1,200 people.
In an exclusive interview with Dr. Phil's Primetime, a YouTube channel, on Thursday, Netanyahu was asked if he had failed in this matter, he said: "I hold myself and everyone on this."
More than 34,900 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, the vast majority of whom have been women and children. Over 78,500 others have been injured, according to Palestinian health authorities. Thousands remain missing.
Seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins, pushing 85% of the enclave’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine, according to the UN. Most of the displaced have sought refuge in Rafah following earlier Israeli evacuation orders.
Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). An interim ruling in January said it is "plausible" that Tel Aviv is committing genocide in the coastal enclave, and ordered Tel Aviv to stop such acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians.
Kuala Lumpur, 09 May 2024 (The Star)
Malaysia only recognises sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council and not by any individual country. That was the message conveyed by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to US Treasury Department undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Brian Nelson and his delegation.
"I had a very good and cordial engagement and discussion with Nelson and his delegation. I managed to convey nicely that when it comes to the issue of sanctions, we only recognise a sanction imposed by the Security Council and not by any individual country," he told reporters after attending the closing of the Defence Services Asia (DSA) and National Security (NatSec) Asia 2024 heon Thursday (May 9).
Saifuddin said Nelson and his delegation highlighted very specific examples based on their information that they would like Malaysia to look into.
"I responded to some of the issues raised, which involved certain organisations. "I stated that the organisation is being subjected to an ongoing investigation, their assets frozen and they were charged as well," he said.
Saifuddin said for any action that is against Malaysian law, action has already been taken. "The discussion went very well and they respected our position. "When it comes to countering terrorism and terror financing, we have solid regional cooperation.
"The US delegation took note of that and the precise steps taken by the Malaysian government to curb terrorism and extremism," he said.
Saifuddin said the visiting delegation also appreciated the fact that Malaysia has 23 solid laws that were effectively enforced.
"I also mentioned to them about the ministry's five-year strategic plan. They took note of it and they want such an engagement to be continuous," he said.
He said the government acknowledged concerns raised by the United States on possible money-laundering activities involving groups linked to Malaysia.
US Ambassador to Malaysia Edgard D. Kagan said on Monday (May 6) that the visit by US Treasury Department officials would be in the spirit of partnership to discuss common threats.
Kagan said Nelson and his team would be here to conduct ongoing discussions with key partners on the importance of a unified global response to critical threats.
According to a press release issued by the US Treasury Department, Nelson and US Treasury general counsel Neil MacBride would travel to Singapore and Malaysia to advance its work countering terrorist financing and revenue generation by Iran and its proxies as well as to discuss the implementation of sanctions and export controls against Russia.
In Malaysia, they would discuss US efforts to disrupt terrorist financing, including through fundraising for fraudulent charities and illicit oil sales, while ensuring that US sanctions and other financial measures do not impede the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, added the statement.
They will also meet with the financial sector to discuss compliance and enforcement efforts, it read.
According to a Reuters report, a source said that Nelson, the US Treasury's top sanctions official, will travel to Singapore and Malaysia as Washington seeks to combat funding for Iran and its proxy groups as well as evasion of its sanctions on Russia.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said there had been an uptick in money moving to Iran and its proxies, including Hamas, through the Malaysian financial system.
The visit came as the US Treasury has increased its focus on terrorist financing through South-East Asia, including through fundraising efforts and illicit Iranian oil sales, the source said.
Washington has recently imposed further sanctions targeting Iran, including over Iranian drones used by Russia in the war in Ukraine, as the United States has sought to ratchet up pressure on Tehran after its attack on Israel.
The US Treasury has imposed significant sanctions on Iran and its proxies, such as Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis, aimed to sever the financial flows that fuel instability in the Middle East.
Earlier, US Department of Treasury in Media Advisory mentioned that From May 6th to May 9th, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian Nelson and Treasury General Counsel Neil MacBride will travel to Singapore and Malaysia to advance Treasury’s work countering terrorist financing and revenue generation by Iran and its proxies as well as to discuss the implementation of sanctions and export controls against Russia. Treasury has imposed significant sanctions on Iran and its terrorist proxies, such as Hizballah, Hamas, and the Houthis, to sever the financial flows that fuel instability in the Middle East. Since the beginning of this year, Treasury has taken several significant actions to combat and disrupt the illicit shipment of Iranian oil to buyers in East Asia, including shipments via ship-to-ship transfers in international waters near Singapore and Malaysia. Treasury has continued working with the U.S. private sector to prevent diversion of dual-use goods to Russia.
In Malaysia, Under Secretary Nelson and General Counsel MacBride will discuss the United States’ efforts to disrupt terrorist financing, including through fundraising for fraudulent charities and illicit oil sales, while ensuring that U.S. sanctions and other financial measures do not impede the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza. They will also meet with the financial sector to discuss compliance and enforcement efforts.
In Singapore, the Treasury officials will continue coordination with this close U.S. partner on sanctions and export controls against Russia for its brutal war of aggression in Ukraine, including through enforcement of the price cap on Russian oil and cutting off Russian transshipment of critical dual use goods. They will also meet with business representatives from both the financial and maritime sectors to discuss compliance and enforcement efforts to reduce Russian revenue earned from oil sales and to protect industry from the risks of Russian and Russia-linked providers who have sacrificed quality and safety in their services.
Islamabad, 08 May 2024 (Daily Dawn)
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, Ishaq Dar on Tuesday said the country could not be dictated and would consider only its own interests in decision-making, ruling out reservations of the United States on the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline.
Responding to a question on the project during a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, FM Dar said: 'We have to watch our interests, look at our commitments and the government has to make decisions while keeping Pakistan’s interest in mind about what we will do, when will we do and how will we do [no matter] what the US or other countries say.
'It can’t be dictated on us and neither will we allow anyone to use veto. Pakistan is a sovereign country and the way we respect others’ sovereignty, we expect the others to respect Pakistan’s sovereignty,” the deputy PM said.
The US has maintained that it does not support the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline project from going forward and cautioned about the risk of sanctions in doing business with Tehran.
FM Dar added that the government would accordingly decide the matter. Dar said the Iranian president’s visit to Pakistan was very productive.
To another query, he replied that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman would undertake a bilateral visit to Pakistan soon and the government would receive a date in this regard in the current month.
Doha, 07 May 2024 (QNA)
15th Doha Conference on Interfaith Dialogue began today in Doha.. The conference focused on the Family Structure in Light of Changing World as its main topic, with the theme ' Integration of families, faith, values, and education'.
Minister of State for International Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of State of Qatar, Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater emphasized in her opening speech the alignment of this conference's theme with Qatar's strong conviction in the centrality of the family in building societies, and the pivotal role of religion and ethics in this endeavor, as stipulated by Article 21 of the Qatari Constitution. She highlighted Qatar's international efforts to support families and its continuous pursuit to enhance international advocacy for family issues, utilizing platforms for dialogue that engage decision-makers, politicians, academics, international organizations, and charities.
She emphasized the significance of having the 15th edition of the conference focus on family issues within the broader context of contemporary global challenges, noting that these challenges affect not only those directly facing them but also undermine the peace and stability of the modern world.
AlKhater pointed out that family issues are a common factor that can unite all components of societies and significantly influence social, economic, and political spheres. She stressed the collective responsibility to focus on and give significant attention to families, urging countries, individuals, religious scholars, and experts to prioritize families as the fundamental building block of any society.
She expressed dismay at the violations of family, women's, and children's rights, particularly in light of the official economic, military, and diplomatic support received by Israeli occupation forces, which has failed the humanitarian test of freedom, civilization, and human rights that they claim to uphold.
AlKhater added that despite all these pains and official failure, the collective awareness of people of all religions, races, and orientations has transcended the narrative pushed in traditional media spaces to create a new free space that rejects the ideologization of principles. She wondered how can someone who rejects the Holocaust and apartheid in former South Africa accept the genocide of the steadfast Palestinian people in Gaza.
She also highlighted the ongoing tragedy in Sudan, emphasizing that the plight of its people constitutes one of the largest refugee crises currently. She called on the world not to overlook the suffering of the Sudanese people and urged the provision of scientific, educational, economic, and charitable resources to support Sudan in its time of need.
Al Khater said that this meeting comes as a continuation of a process that began with previous conferences, where meetings brought together religious leaders, scholars and thinkers from various parts of the world, maintained by free and constructive dialogue based on mutual respect and recognition of the other, their culture, beliefs and sanctities, and dealing with difference as a fait accompli. Her Excellency wished success to the participants in achieving what politics has failed to do so far.
She expressed her full confidence that the conference, after serious discussions and in-depth studies from all attendees, will present realistic proposals and initiatives that contribute to empowering the family and creating the conditions for its advancement and role, and develop solutions and treatments to confront its contemporary issues, stressing the necessity of studying the best way to follow up on the implementation of the recommendations that will be issued.
Cairo, 06 May 2024 (Anadolu/Times of Israel)
The Hamas movement has announced they have agreed on the ceasefire proposal put forth by mediators.
“The movement’s acceptance to the proposed cease-fire agreement in Gaza has put Netanyahu and his government in a predicament, disrupting their narrow personal calculations,” Osama Hamda, a member of Hamas' politburo, said at a news conference in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Tuesday.
He added that the responsibility now lies with Netanyahu and his “extremist” Cabinet members. “Now the ball is in his court,” he said.
Hamas said Monday that it accepted a Gaza cease-fire proposal drawn by Egypt and Qatar.
A Palestinian source told Anadolu that the proposal includes a three-stage truce.
The first will last 40 days and includes a temporary cessation of military operations and Israeli troop withdrawal to the eastern areas of the Gaza Strip except for the Wadi Gaza area, which separates the territory’s north from its south, said the source.
After the release of all Israeli women held by Hamas, the Israeli army will withdraw from the Al-Rasheed coastal road to the east to allow access to humanitarian aid and the unhindered return of the displaced to their homes, he added.
Netanyahu’s Office said the offer accepted by Hamas does not meet its key demands. The War Cabinet decided to push ahead with an operation in Rafah to apply "military pressure on Hamas with the goal of making progress on freeing the hostages and the other war aims.”
Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip in retaliation for an Oct. 7 Hamas attack, which killed less than 1,200 people.
Nearly 34,800 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, the vast majority of whom have been women and children, and 78,100 injured, according to Palestinian health authorities.
Nearly seven months into the Israeli onslaught, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins, pushing 85% of the enclave’s population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine, according to the UN.
Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice. An interim ruling in January said it is "plausible" that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and ordered Tel Aviv to stop such acts and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.
Palestinians around the Kuwaiti Hospital (Rafah) on Monday have been celebrating the announcement as positive step, hoping that this step can help prevent a potential military incursion into Rafah.
They are chanting for the peace. They are chanting about returning home. Residents are now waiting for further confirmation from the Israeli side about a ceasefire deal.
Times of Israel reported on Monday National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir rejects Hamas’s ostensible acceptance of a ceasefire as a trick.
“There is only one response to Hamas’s tricks and games — an immediate order to conquer Rafah, increase military pressure, and continue to crush Hamas until it is utterly defeated.”
An unnamed Israeli official quoted by the Reuters news agency says Hamas has approved a “softened” Egyptian proposal that is not acceptable to Israel.
The official added that the proposal included “far-reaching” conclusions that Israel will not support.
Israeli media outlets are also reporting that the Israeli government has not accepted the deal..
Doha, 05 May 2024
Dr. Ahmed bin Hassan Al Hammadi, Secretary-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of State of Qatar launched today MOFA's new website, which was build in accordance with the latest global technologies.
The newly launched website is set to carry the MOFA's activities and events and highlight its vision and mission, and the achievements of Qatar's diplomacy.
Director of Information Technology at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al Naemi, said the new site would offer several advanced E-services, including those related to attestations. For attestations, applicants can log in using the national authentication system (NAS), and submit their requests, while handing the documents to be carried in collaboration with Qatar Post, Al Naemi said.
He added that the new website would offer around-the-clock support in nine languages, in collaboration with the Government Contact Center (109).
Meanwhile, Media and Communication Department Director, Ibrahim bin Sultan Al Hashmi, said that the new website will serve in its first phase as a reference and open archive for the MOFA's data before expanding in the second phase to a photo gallery and a page that documents Qatar's several regional and international mediation achievements.
He added that the website's content will be available in Spanish and French in the next stage.
Al Hashmi added the site's content had been developed to streamline access to official data and information on the State of Qatar's all diplomatic missions, in addition to displaying news, events and various activities of the MOFA and Qatari diplomatic missions abroad.
Jerusalem, 06 May 2024 (Anadolu)
Israeli authorities raided the offices of Qatar-owned Al Jazeera television in Jerusalem and confiscated its equipment on Sunday, shortly after a government decision to shut down the broadcaster.
“Our inspectors, supported by the police, raided Al Jazeera offices in Jerusalem and confiscated its equipment,” far-right Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi said on his X account.
Video footage released by Karhi's office showed Israeli officials entering the office and documenting the equipment inside.
According to The Times of Israel newspaper, the news channel was pulled off the air in the country and is no longer available on its two biggest TV providers Yes and Hot.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said early Sunday that his government has decided to close Al Jazeera’s operations in Israel. Last month, Israel’s Knesset (parliament) passed legislation allowing the closure of the Al Jazeera television.
Under the legislation, the communications minister is empowered to shut down foreign networks operating in Israel and confiscate their equipment if the defense minister identifies that their broadcast poses “an actual harm to the state’s security.”
The Doha-based television denounced the Israeli government's decision to close its offices as a “criminal act.” “Ironically as the world marked World Press Freedom Day; the Israeli government closed Al Jazeera’s offices, preventing the public from accessing its content, disregarding the universally recognized fundamentals of freedom of expression,” it said in a statement.
The pan-Arab television vowed to pursue all available legal channels through international legal institutions to protect both its rights and journalists, as well as the public’s right to information.
“Al Jazeera urges all media freedom, human rights, and other concerned organizations, to condemn the repeated attacks on journalists and the press by Israel, and to hold those responsible to account,” it added.
Al Jazeera, which broadcasts in both Arabic and English, has an office in Israel and a team of correspondents working year-round, including covering Israel’s ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, which has killed over 34,600 people since Oct. 7, 2023.
Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemned and denounced this criminal act that violates human rights and the basic right to access of information. Al Jazeera affirms its right to continue to provide news and information to its global audiences,” the network said in a statement on Sunday.
An Israeli human rights organization on Sunday criticized a decision by Tel Aviv to shut down Al Jazeera television.
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) said in a statement that the group had petitioned the country's supreme court, seeking an interim ruling to reverse the decision.
Dismissing claims that the move was meant to alleviate security concerns, the ACRI said it was driven by political motivations to silence dissent amid the ongoing war in Gaza and target Arabic media.
The Foreign Press Association (FPA), which represents foreign media in Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, has condemned a decision by the Israeli government to close Al Jazeera television.
“With this decision, Israel joins a dubious club of authoritarian governments to ban the station,” it said in a statement.
Doha, 02 May 2024 (QNA)
Chairman of the Council of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly Dr. Han Seung-soo affirmed that Qatar plays significant roles on both regional and international stages, especially in issues related to conflict resolution and various conflicts.
He highlighted Qatar's exceptional capability in hosting major sports tournaments and cited the development of the country's media, expressing hope that Qatar will continue to fulfill these important roles in the future.
In exclusive remarks to Qatar News Agency (QNA), he said that meeting of the Council of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly, currently hosted in Doha over two days, is a gathering of former Presidents of the General Assembly who were involved in various global issues during their tenure at the United Nations. He noted that this meeting occurs twice a year, and the Doha meeting is the fourth since the Council's revival in 2022.
He emphasized that the Doha Council meeting aims to discuss several current global issues, including developments in Gaza, the situation in Ukraine, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. He added that they will discuss the forthcoming Summit of the Future at the beginning of the next session of the United Nations General Assembly, scheduled for September.
The Meeting of the Council of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly (UNCPGA), hosted by the State of Qatar, kicked off Thursday, chaired by Chairman of the Council of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly, Dr. Han Seung-soo.
Addressing the inaugural session, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of State of Qatar, Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi, said that the State of Qatar's unwavering support for the Office of the UNGA President reflects its commitment to the UN goals, expressing his aspiration to adopt the Doha Declaration as the final document of the meeting.
Following is the keynote speech of Dennis Francis, President of the General Assembly in Doha on 2nd May 2024 at the Meeting of the Council of Presidents of UNCPGA
Your Excellency, Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar,
Your Excellency, Dr Han Seung-soo, Chair of UNCPGA,
Your Excellencies, esteemed members of UNCPGA,
Dr Jehangir Khan, Secretary-General of UNCPGA,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is with a profound sense of gratitude and encouragement that I join you – for the second time during my tenure – at the Annual Meeting of this esteemed Council of Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly (UNCPGA).
I should like to commend Your Excellency, Dr Han Seung-soo, for your exemplary leadership as Chairman of this Council – stewardship that commands both our respect and admiration, at a time of increasing uncertainty and indeed instability in the international system.
Permit me also to extend a special thank you to the State of Qatar, and particularly, to our dear Colleague, former President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, for their exceptional generosity in hosting us and their kind support in bringing us together at this meeting.
My words of appreciation would be quite incomplete if I do not also acknowledge and indeed thank our devoted Secretary-General, Dr Jehangir Khan – whose tireless efforts have been instrumental in steering this platform toward a most fruitful open dialogue and strengthened collaboration with my office.
Chair, and Dear Colleagues,
As we gather here today, I look forward to your reflections broadly on two main points:
-the severe challenges facing our multilateral system – challenges that raise existential questions about its legitimacy, its ability to foster solidarity and to enact progress,
-and secondly and more importantly, on the opportunities that empower leaders to galvanize international efforts towards a brighter future.
Nine months into my Presidency, the polarization among Member States echoes the geopolitical fractures of yesteryears – and divisions that were once mere cracks continue to widen, forming gaping chasms.
As stated during our meeting in Seoul last October, my Presidency has been guided by four pillars: peace, progress, prosperity, and sustainability for all.
It has since become increasingly evident that – of these four – peace simultaneously constitutes both the foundation and the fragility of our collective endeavors.
When prevalent, peace is the great enabler of progress, prosperity, and sustainability – while its absence is the greatest obstacle to the achievement of those critical objectives.
Though tragically not the only challenges we face – with escalating crises in Sudan and Haiti, and the severe erosion of women’s rights in Afghanistan – the growing fractures of our world are starkly displayed in the humanitarian catastrophes both in Ukraine and Gaza.
In Ukraine, blatant disregard for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a fellow UN Member State by another – especially one that wields a veto power and presumed a lead custodian of our peace and security – has fueled much broader geopolitical tensions, that threaten global stability.
In the Gaza Strip, the scale of humanitarian catastrophe has reached heartrending proportions, with tens of thousands of civilians killed – nearly half of them children – leading to widespread devastation and profound desperation, sending shockwaves that reverberate from the regional scale to the global stage.
In response to the continuous state of paralysis in the Security Council in relation to these and other crises, the General Assembly has stepped into the breach – convening Emergency Special Sessions and adopting resolutions which, amongst other things, demand the Russian Federation to withdraw its forces from Ukraine, call for release of all hostages in Gaza unconditionally, and demand an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
In addition to these Emergency Special Sessions, the General Assembly – guided by the mandate of the so-called “veto initiative,” as contained in General Assembly Resolution 76/262 – has become a pivotal platform for transparency and accountability across the UN’s principal organs.
This initiative has been particularly relevant considering the recent proliferation of vetoes in the Security Council. As recently as yesterday, the Assembly convened another debate in response to a veto against Palestine’s application for full membership status at the United Nations.
Broadly speaking, resolutions issued by the General Assembly are significant, reflecting the will of the international community.
But how can we enhance these efforts?
Looking ahead – while it is true, we face numerous challenges – there are also abundant opportunities to be seized.
The forthcoming Summit of the Future, which we will discuss in detail later today, is a critical moment to reassert our commitment to multilateral solutions and to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
Similarly, COP29 will challenge us to not only uphold but to intensify our climate commitments – particularly our critical goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
This effort will be strategically reinforced by the meeting on addressing the existential threats posed by the Sea-Level Rise.
As we approach these pivotal events, I urge all UNCPGA members – as true and tested champions of multilateralism – to encourage governments to engage in these processes, to embrace their importance, and to choose the paths of cooperation and compromise over unhelpful insularity and the narrow confines of national interests.
Beyond these two events, we must be unwavering in our commitment to human rights and gender equality.
I sincerely hope that we will – not too long in our lifetime – see the composition of the UNCPGA significantly transformed to better reflect gender equity in the leadership of the General Assembly itself, such progress representing only a stepping stone to the accomplishment of full gender parity in the longer term.
Moreover, it must be a strategic imperative that we empower young people to voice their concerns and opinions on issues that will surely shape their future.
Excellencies,
Indeed, let us not shy away from hard questions.
And so, I pose the following questions:
President Nasser, your tenure coincided with the previous application for membership for Palestine. How can we avoid the same divisions or obstacles you faced?
President Kőrösi, you presided over several sensitive and difficult ESS-11 meetings. How did you work to build trust among Member States?
President Espinosa, among other things, you brought gender equality to the forefront of the GA’s work – and you continue your advocacy for this important cause to this day. How can we encourage Member States to nominate more female candidates for the leadership roles, including of those of the PGA and the Secretary-General?
As I already said, this Council forms a unique repository of knowledge – making it not only a platform for dialogue, but also a critical resource for guidance to the current and future leadership of the Assembly.
I therefore look forward to hearing your valuable insights on these critical questions.
Despite the severe trials facing our institution, history has shown that United Nations, and the principles it stands for, can weather great storms.
In the words of our host, President Nasser, during his acceptance speech: “The road to success must be founded on the principle of partnership and on a deep sense of justice and responsibility.”
Let us move forward with resolve and hope, guided by the belief that our collective efforts can indeed forge a more peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world.
Haikou, China, 03 May 2024 (Xinhua)
China's first independently-developed and built ultra-deepwater gas field, Shenhai Yihao, or Deep Sea No.1, has recorded an accumulated natural gas output of over 8 billion cubic meters so far, with its oil output exceeding 800,000 cubic meters.
The deepest of its kind in China, the Shenhai Yihao ultra-deepwater gas field began operation on June 25, 2021.
Deep Sea No 1 is the world's first 100,000-ton deep-sea semi-submersible oil production and storage platform, which is independently developed and constructed by China. It was put into use on June 25, 2021. After two years of operation, the platform had produced over 5 billion cubic meters of natural gas.
According to the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), its operator, the construction of the phase II project of Deep Sea No. 1, which aims to upgrade the gas field, is underway. Upon completion, it will control 23 deep-water gas wells and two sets of underwater production systems.
Deep Sea No.1, located 150 km from the city of Sanya in south China's island province of Hainan, is able to operate at a maximum depth of over 1,500 meters in the sea.
Cleaning and inspection of condensate tanks under deep sea is extremely hard, and completing of the task is a milestone that underscores the exceptional reliability and cutting-edge design of the pioneering platform, expert noted.
Deep Sea No 1 is equipped with four condensate storage tanks with a single capacity of 5,000 cubic meters, which are designed to safely store condensate oil separated during the process of deep-sea natural gas extraction. They are one of the three world-class innovative technologies integrated in the Deep Sea No. 1 gas field.
Condensate tanks of Deep Sea No 1 are over 48 meters deep, and they are the deepest and most intricate tanks among China's offshore oil and gas facilities. As natural gas condensate is highly volatile with a low flash point, and being insoluble in water, cleaning and inspection of the tanks are extremely dangerous, Li Zhi, a manager of Deep Sea No 1, was quoted as saying.
To ensure its safe operation, working teams at Deep Sea No 1 emptied the condensate tanks, developed an implementation plan and risk response strategy before cleaning and inspection, and built customized personnel baskets to facilitate the safe entry and exit of operators.
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