The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Chairman and Greece Permanent Representative Ambassador at the United Nations, Avenzelos Cecaris, has said that the Security Council meeting could be “very soon” over the increasing tension between India and Pakistan. He said that such a meeting can be an opportunity where different member countries can express their opinion and this can help reduce stress.
In response to a PTI question, Secris said, “If a request for such a meeting comes, I believe that this meeting must be held because it will give a chance to share ideas and perhaps it can be softened in a little situation.”
Cakeris said that this is the first day of Greece’s UNSC chairmanship and preparations are going on on this issue. He said that they are in close contact and the matter is now “developing rapidly”.
Regarding the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India, Sakeris said, “We have strongly condemned this heinous terrorist attack in which innocent civilians lost their lives. We express our deep condolences to the families of India, Nepal and the victims.” He reiterated that Greece strongly condemns any type of terrorism.
India Foreign Minister S.K. The conversation between Jaishankar and Greece’s Foreign Minister George Grarapitritis was also mentioned, in which terrorism was discussed. Jaishankar appreciated Greece’s strict policy against terrorism and described the strategic partnership of the two countries as ‘deep’.
Cecris also clarified that Greece has good bilateral relations with both India and Pakistan. He said, “We are also in the Security Council with Pakistan and will cooperate. We do not look at this relationship with a sense of opposition.”
Stephan Dujarik, spokesperson of UN Secretary -General Antonio Guterres, said that Guterres has interacted with India’s Foreign Minister Jaishankar and Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and offered their “Good Office”. However, he also said that the general secretary would not travel to the area until the two sides accept this proposal.
Pakistan is currently a temporary member of the Security Council. When the question arose about the Pahalgam attack as to why the terrorist organization The Resistance Front was not named in the statement, Sakeris said that the press statement passed unanimously in the Security Council cannot be publicly interacted. He expressed satisfaction that the statement was issued, because when the parties are included in the council, it is difficult to reach a conclusion.
He finally said, “We want the situation not to be out of control. The big member countries are in touch with both sides. If there is a meeting, we will operate it fairly under the chairmanship of Greece. But we hope that efforts to reduce stress will be successful.”
