78th Session
The 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly is set to commence on Tuesday.
More than 140 leaders are attending the session from different countries in the world. This session will focus on significant global issues such as the Ukraine conflict and climate change.
The central theme for this year’s general debate is “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress, and sustainability for all.”
Moreover, the session offers an opportunity for bilateral discussions between countries on the sidelines. Among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, it is expected that US President Joe Biden will be the sole chief executive in attendance.
During this session, a delegation from Pakistan, led by interim Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar, will attend the moot.
On September 22, Prime Minister Kakar will deliver a speech at the UNGA. He will also engage in meetings with various world leaders, as well as make visits to prominent US think tanks.
Kakar and his delegation have already arrived in the United States for a five-day trip, with interim Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jillani and other officials accompanying him.
US-Iran swap prisoners under a $6 billion deal
Meanwhile, the United States and Iran exchanged prisoners in Qatar on Monday. The exchange involves a $6 billion deal which will be given back to Iran. South Korea froze $6 billion of Iran’s exports after the US sanctions on Iran.
The five Americans freed by Iran included a businessman. Iranians arrested him in 2015. The American prisoners landed in Doha on a Qatari jet, hours after the unblocked funds were credited to Iranian accounts in Qatari banks.
The five were greeted on the tarmac before walking in the setting sun to a terminal building, three of them with their arms around each other’s shoulders.
One of the US prisoners (freed on Monday) praised US President Joe Biden for taking the “incredibly difficult decisions” that freed them.
“Thank you President Biden for ultimately putting the lives of American citizens above politics,” Siamak Namazi said in a statement.
Meanwhile, two of the Iranian detainees arrived in Qatar. The other three released by the United States have opted to remain there or in a third country.
The trigger for the exchange was the release of the $6 billion in funds, frozen by US ally South Korea under sanctions against Iran.
US and Iran to free each other’s prisoners
Earlier, international media reported that
ran and the United States will free five prisoners each involving the transfer of $6 billion frozen assets to Iran.
The United States and Iran have already signed an agreement to swap prisoners. As a reward, the Iranian government will get back its $6 billion blocked in South Korea due to sanctions.
