ISLAMABAD: Pakistan joins the international community in voicing its strong opposition and condemnation of the US administration’s decision to recognise Israel’s sovereignty over Syrian Golan Heights.According to a press statement, the decision represents a serious violation of UN Charter, international law and applicable UN Security Council resolutions, particularly 497 (1981).“It also constituted a serious blow to the Rule of Law and international norms. Pakistan shares the international outrage and is deeply concerned over the potentially grave repercussions of this decision for the region and beyond,” it said, adding: “Pakistan calls upon the UN Security Council to take cognizance of this situation and take steps in accordance with the UN Charter.”AFP adds: The UN Security Council was to hold an urgent public meeting on Wednesday at Syria’s request on the US decision to recognise the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, diplomats said.Syria made the request in a letter sent on Tuesday to France, which holds the council presidency for the month of March, calling President Donald Trump’s decision a “flagrant violation” of UN resolutions.Trump signed a proclamation on Monday in which the United States recognised Israel’s annexation of the strategic plateau, despite UN resolutions that call for Israel’s withdrawal from the Golan. Three Security Council resolutions call on Israel to withdraw from the Golan, which it seized from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War and annexed in 1981, in a move that was never recognised internationally.At a meeting on the Middle East on Tuesday, several countries spoke out against the US decision and European countries voiced concern that the move could have broad consequences in the region. US acting Ambassador Jonathan Cohen told the meeting Washington had made the decision to stand up to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Iran.“To allow the Golan Heights to be controlled by the likes of the Syrian and Iranian regimes would turn a blind eye to the atrocities of the Assad regime and malign and destabilising presence of Iran in the region,” said Cohen.The council is not expected to release a statement on the US decision as this would require consensus among all 15 council members, including the United States.
03-29-2019, 05:26 AM
Pakistan condemns US decision on Golan Heights
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