Pakistan FM Qureshi meets Turkish FM before heading to New York for UNGA session on Palestine

FM Qureshi in Turkey to draw global attention to Palestinians’ plight at UNGA

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi reached Turkey early Tuesday morning rfom where he will fly to New York to attend and address an emergency session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on devastating Israeli attacks on Palestine, Pakistan’s permanent mission to the UN said on Tuesday.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu discussed the Palestine issue in detail and joint efforts to protect Palestinians from Israeli atrocities and bombardment. The two also discussed Pakistan-Turkey bilateral ties and Afghan peace process.

Pakistan and Turkey’s strategy is “clear”, the foreign minister said, adding that the two countries wanted to convince the global community that Israeli airstrikes should be “stopped immediately”.

Qureshi also told Pakistani media that “hurdles were being created” so the Palestinian foreign minister would not be able to attend the UN General Assembly’s session on the situation in Palestine. “We will wait for the Palestinian foreign minister and want him to accompany us to the session,” he said.

Qureshi left for his visit to Turkey on the special instructions of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Pakistani foreign minister will leave for New York with the foreign ministers of Palestine, Turkey and Sudan.

“Pakistan joins hands with Palestine, Sudan and Turkey to address an emergency session on Palestine called by the United Nations General Assembly. Pakistan stands firmly with the people of Palestine” Qureshi tweeted.

Pakistan together with Turkey is leading diplomatic efforts to mobilize international support for Palestinians and stop Israeli brutality.

At least 212 Palestinians, including 61 children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes during escalation of violence and heavy bombardment by Israel in Palestinian territories.

Pakistan’s foreign minister said the international community’s silence on the Palestine issue was lamentable. The “bombardment in Palestine has resulted in a power outage and affected the supplies of essential commodities” and that “Israel is further complicating the matter and its bombardment is making it impossible for the Palestinians to access the healthcare facilities.

In New York, FM Qureshi will speak at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) debate on “The situation in the Middle East” & the “Question of Palestine” on May 20, 2021, Pakistan Mission to the UN said.

FM Qureshi will also hold meetings with various dignitaries as well as local and international media representatives to share Pakistan’s views on the situation in Palestine.

On Monday, Pakistan’s lower house of parliament (National Assembly) passed a unanimous resolution “condemning Israeli’s unconscionable brutality and reaffirming Pakistan support for a two-state solution.”

The resolution called upon the UN Secretary General to “establish an independent inquiry tribunal to investigate the crime of genocide by the apartheid Israeli regime against the Palestinian people.”