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Paris 8^th July, 2020 –  The Ambassador of Pakistan to France and Permanent Representative of Pakistan to UNESCO Mr. Moin ul Haque has called upon UNESCO to reject policies pursued by certain countries to exploit COVID 19 health crisis to stigmatize some ethnic and religious minorities in their countries in contravention of the principles and values of UN Charter and international humanitarian law.

This was stated by him while addressing the 209^th virtual session of UNESCO Executive Board conducted by UNESCO headquarter, Paris last week.

The Ambassador lamented the flawed and exclusionary policies of certain countries to curb the fundamental human rights of people and communities in a systematic and brutal manner.

He emphasized that the UNESCO members countries should continue to promote peace, tolerance and respect for diversity and universal human rights, and should strongly reject any form of racism, discrimination, stereotyping and prejudice.

He assured the UNESCO Executive board members that Pakistan would continue to play an active and constructive role through dialogue and collective action in the spirit of multilateralism to build mutual trust and collaboration to achieve UNESCO’s goals.

On July 6, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting on implementation of the 2020-2025 Banking System Reform Strategy and acceleration of the process of transforming commercial banks with an eye to uplifting the private sector share in banking assets from 15 to 60 percent.It was noted that a number of key issues have to be addressed in order to achieve the goals.

The need for intensifying the process of transformation of banks was noted.Currently, 6 commercial banks, namely, Ipoteka Bank, Sanoat Qurilish Bank, Turon Bank, Asaka Bank, Aloqabank and Agrobank have begun cooperation with international financial institutions in matters of financial diagnostics, development of long-term strategies and privatization. However, work on the transformation of other commercial banks has barely been progressing well enough, the Head of the state noted.

To change the situation, it was entrusted to conduct a stocktaking of functions not inherent to banks, to arrange training programs at the Corporate Retraining Center under the Central Bank to explain the tasks of bank transformation, primarily for local employees of banks. These tasks are assigned to the Central Bank.Issues of improving the quality of the loan portfolio and bank projects were discussed at the meeting. It was indicated that the share of problem loans, as shown by the results of stress tests, can grow several times, which is a serious challenge for the banking system.In this regard, instructions have been given to analyze problem loans by region and create an effective mechanism to maintain the quality of loan portfolios. It was emphasized that once the banks’ loan portfolios undergo stocktaking, the Central Bank should develop specific measures to restore the financial capabilities of each customer in a difficult situation.

A separate aspect during the meeting was the discussion of the need for eradicating corruption in the banking sector.The Head of the state insisted that bank chiefs take tough measures to stamp out corruption, introduce compliance control and other effective mechanisms.The President slammed the fact that the share of public funds is still high in commercial banks with state assets.In particular, the share of such loans is 41 percent in Qishloq Qurilish Bank, and 32 percent in Ipoteka Bank. Last year, credit lines worth about $600 million were attracted under the state guarantee, this year this figure will amount to $570 million. Meanwhile, the share of individual savings and fixed-term deposits in large banks averages only 5 percent. Taking into account this fact, the Central Bank was instructed to come up with additional proposals for attracting household deposits in banks.The President noted the need for independent attraction of financial resources by commercial banks without state support.Heads of the Central Bank and commercial banks provided information on the issues discussed at the meeting.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan, JULY 8   — As part of the visit of the government delegation of Uzbekistan to Seoul, a meeting was held between the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sardor Umurzakov and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, Kang Kyung-wha.

During the meeting, a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation, as well as prospects for enhancing cooperation in priority areas were examined. The high level of intercountry dialogue was emphasized, largely achieved thanks to the visit of the President of the Republic of Korea to Uzbekistan in April 2019, during which a solid package of agreements and contracts was signed.

In particular, they discussed the prospects of introducing Korea’s best practices in countering the spread of coronavirus, recognized by the World Health Organization as one of the most successful in the world, bearing in mind the coordination and integration of international efforts to combat the pandemic.

Moreover, issues related to the organization of bilateral events at the government and ministerial levels were discussed, namely, the holding of the 3rd meeting of the deputy prime ministers of Uzbekistan and Korea, political consultations between the foreign ministries and the next 10th meeting of the Uzbek-Korean Intergovernmental Committee on trade and economic cooperation, as well as a business forum involving business circles of the two countries.

Following the meeting, priorities were identified in the development of further intercountry cooperation and, on a reciprocal basis, the readiness to continue close cooperation to fulfill common tasks was confirmed.

A complete shutdown is being observed today (Wednesday) in Occupied Kashmir to commemorate the fourth martyrdom anniversary of popular Kashmiri youth leader, Burhan Muzaffar Wani.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the shutdown is also aimed at paying tributes to Wani’s associates and other martyrs of 2016 mass uprising.

Call for the strike has been given by the veteran Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Gilani and the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.

Meanwhile, to mark the martyrdom anniversary of Burhan Muzaffar Wani, protest demonstrations will be held across Azad Kashmir to pay tributes to the martyrs and to draw world attention towards massive human rights violation by Indian troops in Occupied Kashmir.
Indian troops and police have arrested hundreds of youth on the eve of the 4th martyrdom anniversary of popular youth leader, Burhan Wani.

The troops and police have arrested the youth during massive house raids and crackdown operations in Srinagar, Badgam, Ganderbal, Islamabad, Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam, Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora areas to thwart anti-India demonstrations on the martyrdom anniversary of Burhan Wani. These youth have been lodged in different police stations.

Burhan Wani was martyred by Indian troops in a fake encounter in Kokernag area of Islamabad district on July 08, 2016.

Senegal has renamed a square in its famed memorial slave island Goree, in response to the global anti-racist movement inspired by George Floyd, the African-American who died in US as police pinned him down by the neck.

The island’s municipal council voted to rename Europe Square to Liberty and Human Dignity Square.

The location was named Europe Square in 1998 because of the European funding for the renovations at the site.

It was inaugurated in 2003 by Mayor Augustin Senghor and Romano Prodi, the then European Union Commission president.

“The name Europe Square was, in a way, a symbol of friendship between peoples…But we also said to ourselves…that in another sense it is celebrating the persecutor,” Doudou Dia, the president of the island’s tourism commission, is quoted by Reuters news agency as saying.

He adds: “What happened to George Floyd was the final straw.”

The Island of Goree, 3km (1.8 miles) off Senegal’s coast, was the largest slave-trading centre on the African coast from the 15th to the 19th century according to Unesco — which designated the location as a world heritage site in 1978.

The tourist attraction site is mainly known for its House of Slaves which world prominent personalities, including several US presidents, have visited.