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Summary President Zardari will raise issue of controversial movie during his speech to UN General Assembly.
Pakistans Ambassador to China, Masood Khan, who is part of the entourage in New York, said that the film had affected the sentiments of Muslims and President Zardari will utilize the opportunity during his address to highlight Pakistans concern. He was briefing the media Sunday about the schedule and agenda of the Pakistani contingent during the visit.Such events threaten global peace, he warned adding that the United Nations should play its role for safeguarding international peace.There is a need to legislate for preventing blasphemy against any religion everywhere in the world, he suggested. We want to bring nations closer instead of further divisions, he stressed.Pakistan, he said, has always been trying to remove misconceptions against Islam, and also is part of an annual resolution from the post of Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC).When asked about the $100k bounty anounced by Federal Minister, Ghulam Ahmad Bilour against the maker of the controversial movie, he said that the government will give an appropriate response if the issue was raised officially during the interactions in New York.However, I have read that the comments attributed to him have already been contradicted as not having the same context as reported, he recalled.Ambassador Khan also informed that the President will speak about the fragile security situation during his speech. President will highlight issues confronting security situation in the region, he said adding Pakistan had given several sacrifices in the war on terror. We dont want clash but peace, he stated.The President will also attend a trilateral meeting with Afghanistan and US to discuss reconciliation in Afghanistan, he revealed without going into the specifics. Efforts for reconciliation in Afghanistan are ongoing, to get all forces in Afghanistan to engage in dialogue and Pakistan supports that, he maintained.Pakistan and Afghanistans future is tied to each other and we have an important role to play, he argued adding that the reconciliation process has to be Afghan-led and Afghan-owned. Two other important bilateral meetings, with his counterpart from China and US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, will also take place on the sidelines of UNGA.During the meeting Secretary Clinton, the full spectrum of issues will be discussed, he opined adding that the Pak-US relations were moving in the right direction. I know that Foreign Ministers visit to Washington, DC was very successful, he added while referring to the FMs recent high-level interactions in the US capital.On a separate question about the Syrian situation, he said that Pakistans principled position had not changed. We will respond to Syrian situation as it evolves, because we want an end to violence, he stated. It may be mentioned here that the theme of the general debate during the 67th UNGA this year is Adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations by special means.Earlier, President Zardari arrived in New York on a commercial flight from London and was received at the JFK Airport by Foreign Minister, Hina Rabbani Khar, Ambassador to US, Sherry Rehman and Pakistans permanent representative to the UN, Abdullah Hussain Haroon amongst others.- Contributed by Awais Saleem, Dunya News correspondent in New York
