You are currently viewing UN chief savors Pak kebab at Eid fete!
UN Eid Fete

UN chief savors Pak kebab at Eid fete!

MANHATTAN: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted Islam’s values of tolerance, respect, and openness at an Eid-ul-Fitr reception hosted by Pakistan and six other Muslim countries, at UN headquarters here on Friday.

“Islam emphasizes the importance of sharing knowledge, nurturing dialogue, promoting social justice and peace,” he told a large gathering of ambassadors, senior diplomats, U.N. officials, community members and representatives of international news media.
In doing so, Guterres denounced xenophobia and Islamophobia sweeping some parts of the world and said that the “truth is that we are all people of the book, sharing a common heritage.”
The UN chief spoke after an address of welcome Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi delivered on behalf the co-sponsoring permanent missions of Qatar, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkmenistan, Albania, and Kyrgyzstan in which she called for working together for a world that is free from want, from bigotry and exclusion and from violence and extremism.
Conspicuous among other distinguished guests was UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed. The reception, held at the initiative of Ambassador Lodhi, was the first of its kind at the United Nations.
“This collective celebration organized by the female ambassadors from Muslim countries is aimed not just at sharing this joyous occasion with our colleagues in the international community here but also reinforcing the message of peace and solidarity that this important occasion represents in the Muslim calendar,” the Pakistani envoy said.
“This is all the more essential at a time when the world is confronted with so much conflict, violence, and suffering and when every two seconds someone, somewhere has to flee from their home to escape war, persecution or poverty.”
Ambassador Lodhi said Islamic values of compassion, sharing and solidarity were, in fact, universal values and were reflected in the UN charter and inspire people around the world to work together to build a better, more peaceful and fairer world.
“It is not just in Ramadan that we strive to practice these values but in every day of our lives,” she added.
Guterres began his remarks with “Eid Mubarak” as a loud applause rang out. “Ramadan is a time of reflection, remembrance, and renewal; it is a period to reaffirm core values such as solidarity, compassion, and goodwill,” the secretary-general said.
As UN High Commissioner for Refugees, he said he began a practice of visiting a Muslim country during Ramadan and fasting in solidarity with people. Last year, he did so in Afghanistan, and this year in Mali.
“One of the most beautiful references to refugee protection can be found in the Holy Quran and the Hadiths of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) that protection shall be given to believers and non- believers. “It is a demonstration of tolerance, respect, and openness that is the true face of Islam.”
Guterres said he learned from a recent book of a noted Catholic scholar about the distinctions in the story of Adam and Eve.  “We are being hosted tonight by so many ambassadors from Muslim countries, who also happen to be women,” he noted.  “In the Old Testament, Adam is created from the earth, but Eve is made from Adam’s rib – in other words, a lesser creation. In the Holy Quran, Eve is not made from Adam. Adam and Eve are both made from the same dust – reinforcing that all humans come from one point of origin and that we are all equally daughters and sons of God.”
The secretary-general then cut a cake as part of the celebration as Pakistan’s star singer Zeb Bangash entertained the gathering with some of her hit songs in Farsi, Darri, Turkish and Urdu to the delight of guests. Traditional dishes of the seven countries were served, with Pakistani cuisine section overcrowded with visitors. At one point, the secretary-general, while looking at food, said he must have a Pakistani kebab. Ambassador Lodhi immediately served him. Female diplomats and other guests were thrilled to receive traditional bangles and perfumes that are so popular at Eid in Pakistan.

 

 

 

app

M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.