The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) President-elect, Volkan Bozkir, who is on a two-day visit to Pakistan after an invitation by the Government of Pakistan, said the resolution of the Kashmir issue was important for lasting peace in the South Asian.
On Monday, addressing a news conference along with Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Bozkir said, “If my assistance is requested by the parties (India and Pakistan), I will be ready to provide contributions within my mandate (over the Kashmir dispute).”
“Regional security should be maintained through political and diplomatic solutions. Difficult challenges can be resolved through meaningful, mutual engagement,” Bozkir added.
Bozkir said that for him, it was “worth coming, to hear from my own ears and to see with my own eyes how the situation is and to understand it better so that when it comes to the UN level, it will not be by reading notes”.
Bozkir statements came in after he held detailed conversations with Pakistan’s prime minister and the foreign minister on different issues, including Kashmir.
Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, during his talk with Bozkir, reiterated his stance about the importance of the UN playing its role in addressing the situation in Kashmir. Khan also stated that he hoped that the 75th Session of the UNGA would give priority to these such issues.
However, India has firmly held its long-held position that Kashmir is and shall continue to be an integral part of India and that issues related to Kashmir are India’s internal matter.
India has also often told Pakistan that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and there is no chance of any mediation or intervention by a third party.
Volkan Bozkir is the first-ever Turkish national to be elected to the Office of the President of the UNGA.
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