The Diplomatic Insight April 2020

THE DIPLOMATIC INSIGHT•1

2•THE DIPLOMATIC INSIGHT


06

Turkmenistan 25 Years of

Permanent Neutrality

08

25th Anniversary of

Permanent Neutrality of

Turkmenistan

12

The Worst Global Crisis:

Coronavirus on the Rise

16

Responding to COVID-19:

What India and Pakistan

can learn from each other?

18

China’s model of proactive

approach to control

pandemic COVID-19

21

Leadership for Thought:

Non-Permanent members

lead the Security Council

through COVID-19

24

COVID-19: UN Security

Council should act Now

26

Pakistan-China

Iron-Brotherhood

Strengthened in Fighting

off COVID-19

28

A Battlefield in the Eastern

Mediterranean: Libya

31

Fear Contagion

32

ZINC:

A Vital Micronutrient

35

Mental Health:

A Safety Tool against

COVID# 19

36

Interview with

Dr Aamir Hanif

38

PSCOFF Newsletter

40

CPEC, BRI Newsletter


EDITOR IN CHIEF

Muhammad Asif Noor

EDITOR

Farhat Asif

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Dr. Aamir Hanif

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

M. Murtaza Noor

Mian Noor Ahmed

ADVISORY BOARD

Prof. Dr. Victoria L Fontan

Dr. Khayala Mammadova

Prof. Dr. John M. Nomikos

Prof. Dr. Gulden Ayman

Dr.Natalia Zamaraeva

Dr. Muhammad Munir

Dr. Lubna Abid Ali

Dr. Muqarrab Akbar

SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT EDITORS

Dr. Haktan Birsel

(Turkey)

Dr. Nahid Malazizi (TRNC)

Tatiana Karchenkova (Russia)

Samaira Khan

(Denmark)

Zunaira Mumtaz

(China)

Tanja Miscevic

(Serbia)

Dr. Hamaneh Karimikia (Iran)

Arbab Jehangir Edhi

(UAE)

BUREAU CHIEF

Mohammad Hanif

Obaid-ur-Rehman

DESIGN & LAYOUT

Shahzad Ahmed

MARKETING MANAGER

Muhammad Sarfraz

Asir Gill

LEGAL ADVISORS

Muhammad Akram Mughal

Advocate Supreme Court (AJK)

Ch. Abdul Khaliq Thind

Advocate Supreme Court of Pak

(Vehari)

(Lahore)

ADDRESS

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P.O Box # 1239 Islamabad

Ph & Fax : +92 51 4900387

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Disclaimer: The views of the writers do

not necessary imply endorsement by the

magazine.

This

year,

Turkmenistan

will celebrate 25

years of pursuing

permanent

neutrality policy

adopted as an

essence of the

country’s foreign

policy approach,

recognized and

endorsed by the

United Nations. This unique status of

Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan,

recognized by a resolution of the United

Nations General Assembly on December

12, 1995 and again supported by another

landmark resolution by the UN General

Assembly on June 3, 2015. This has been

an essence of Turkmenistan’s foreign

policy, making a unique worldview

that has defined Turkmenistan’s global

stance for reaching out for the peace

and development for the international

cooperation. To acknowledge the

neutrality of Turkmenistan and its efforts

for regional peace and stability, the UN

General Assembly has also declared

December 12 as the International Day of

Neutrality on February 2, 2017 by passing

resolution A/RES/71/275). For celebrating

this year in a beautiful and memorable

manner especially highlighting the role

of Turkmenistan across the globe about

the policy of permanent neutrality, the

government of Turkmenistan has outlined

meticulous plans to host conferences,

forums, exhibitions at various levels in

both country and globally. Inaugural

event was an International Conference

“Turkmenistan and International

Organizations: Cooperation for Peace

and Development” held in Ashgabat

in January 2020. On the occasion

President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly

Berdimuhamedow made a resounding

commitment to continue supporting

the UN in its global efforts for building

cooperation and peace and outlined the

entire foreign policy of Turkmenistan.

Turkmenistan has promoted sustainable

peace and culture for dialogue in resolving

all the issues of conflict amongst states

without becoming a party to anyone.

The anniversary celebration of gaining

this unique status of the permanent

neutrality of the country has been

designed by drafting an important slogan

“Turkmenistan Home of Neutrality”.

There is a strong need for countries such as

Turkmenistan to take the lead in enabling

building blocks for consensus and ensuring

regional and international peace, security

and sustainable development.

In an outright violations of the UN

Resolutions, regional and global treaties,

Armenia organized illegal combined

presidential- parliamentary elections in

the occupied region of Nagorno-Karabakh

on March 31. Armenian authorities

adopted the date of elections to put salt

on the wounds of brave Azeri when

across the globe they were mourning and

paying homage to the martyrs of Guba

region ruthlessly killed in a genocide

by the Armenians on the same date of

March 31 in 1918. Huge mass graves was

excavated in 2007 and thereafter in 2013

a Genocide Memorial Complex raised

on the site. Global community including

regional and international organizations

have denounced these unlawful elections.

The fake elections were meant to create

threat to not only the peace and stability

of the region but also risked the territorial

integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of

the Republic of Azerbaijan. Armenians

and their puppet regime in the Nagorno-

Karabakh region organized the elections

also at the time when the world is battling

its way to the recent COVID-19 deadly

outbreak, creating further condemnation

for endangering the lives of the innocent

people in such times. Hence falsifying

the raisond’etre of these elections during

such times. The elections rekindled extra

tensions between two Caucasian nations

that have been at the loggerheads since the

early 1990s.

We are witnessing one of the most

terrifying and extraordinary times in our

lifetimes. The dreadful COVID-19 virus

has expanded across the globe with most

of the countries are shutting down as they

battle with COVID-19 pandemic with

limited resources and ever increasing

infections. All the greatest economic

and military titans are falling and nearly

succumbing to an invisible microbe-

COVID19. There is a famous English

proverb that cometh the hour, cometh

the man, refereeing to the fact that right

leaders will come to the fore during the

tough times. The COVID-19 pandemic is

the right hour. This crisis has exposed the

dearth of leadership at the global scale.

As a result, not a single leader seems to

formulate collective action especially from

global super powers to rally countries

and nations to deal with crisis. United

Nations has called for a comprehensive

response from the world leader. However

we have witnessed women coming out

as exceptional leaders coming and there

is a need for revision in this mentioned

proverb. Women leaders in this time of

crisis are creating and communicating

actions by leading from the front. We saw

Prime Minister of Jacinda Ardern’s having

liver conversation from her coach about

COVID-19, Chancellor Angela Merkel

speaking to her populace with clear and

calm manner, Denmark’s Prime Minister

Mette Frederiksen sang 80’s songs from

her kitchen to show solidarity and support

to all those staying at home. Governments

also need to find and embrace new ways

for communicating with populace instead

of resorting to deception, strict deafness

and defensiveness. There is a strong need

for honest, authentic and transparent

leadership at global level.


TURKMENISTAN

25 Years of Permanent Neutrality

Muhammad Asif Noor

This year, Turkmenistan will

celebrate 25 years of pursuing

permanent neutrality policy

adopted as an essence of the

country’s foreign policy approach,

recognized and endorsed by the

United Nations. This unique

status of Permanent Neutrality of

Turkmenistan, recognized by a

resolution of the United Nations

General Assembly on December

12, 1995 and again supported by

another landmark resolution by

the UN General Assembly on June

3, 2015. This has been an essence

of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy,

making a unique worldview

that has defined Turkmenistan’s

global stance for reaching out for

the peace and development for

the international cooperation. To

acknowledge the neutrality of

Turkmenistan and its efforts for

regional peace and stability, the UN

General Assembly has also declared

December 12 as the International

Day of Neutrality on February

2, 2017 by passing resolution A/

RES/71/275). For celebrating this

year in a beautiful and memorable

manner especially highlighting

the role of Turkmenistan across

the globe about the policy

of permanent neutrality, the

government of Turkmenistan has

outlined meticulous plans to host

conferences, forums, exhibitions

at various levels in both country

and globally. Inaugural event

was an International Conference


Organizations: Cooperation for

Peace and Development” held in

Ashgabat in January 2020. On the

occasion President of Turkmenistan

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow

made a resounding commitment

to continue supporting the UN

in its global efforts for building

cooperation and peace and

outlined the entire foreign policy of

Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan has

promoted sustainable peace and

culture for dialogue in resolving

all the issues of conflict amongst

states without becoming a party to

anyone. The anniversary celebration

of gaining this unique status of the

permanent neutrality of the country

has been designed by drafting an

important slogan “Turkmenistan

Home of Neutrality”. There is a

strong need for countries such

as Turkmenistan to take the lead

in enabling building blocks for

consensus and ensuring regional


and international peace, security

and sustainable development.

Turkmenistan has adopted this

characteristic of its foreign policy

of permanent neutrality as a logical

extension of its domestic policy.

Similar to other nation states

across the globe, the foremost aim

of Turkmenistan’s foreign policy

is to protect and strengthen the

state’s sovereignty and increase the

role and importance in the global

political system. Based on this

aspect, the second most important

aim is to set the environment and

favorable foreign conditions for the

domestic development of the state.

The foreign policy of Turkmenistan

rests on the principle of upholding

the national interests of the country

at all global forums followed by the

fact to ensure security and integrity

of the country through political and

diplomatic means. While believing

in the principles of the UN Charter

and following the compliance of

international law and treaties,

Turkmenistan is constructively

engaged with global partners based

on equality and mutual respect.

One of the important and defining

features of the country’s foreign

relations has remained developing

comprehensive principles for

neutral Turkmenistan over the

years to play a constructive role in

world politics.

Over all these years, Turkmenistan

has remained a reliable ally of the

UN in maintaining peace, stability

and cooperation at the international

levels. Since the adoption of

the stance as a neutral country,

Turkmenistan has contributed

immensely for regional peace and

security. For instance Turkmenistan

has supported international

peacekeeping efforts by offering

good offices for a series of

negotiations under the auspices of

the UN for regional peace amongst

countries for instance Tajikistan and

intra-Afghan dialogue. Over the

years Turkmenistan has provided

Afghanistan with concrete, targeted

economic and humanitarian

support. Turkmen educational

institutions have offered young

Afghans to pursue education,

dispatched humanitarian supplies,

construction of medical facilities,

preferential supply of electricity

and gas to Afghans in the border

regions are few of the initiatives

that Turkmenistan is offering to the

war-torn country. In 2007 UN in

collaboration with the Turkmenistan

established first United Nations

Regional Center for Preventive

Diplomacy for Central Asia,

having a mandate to liaison with

the Governments of the region for

preventive diplomacy, monitoring

and evaluation, coordinate with

the regional organizations and help

to share information with each

other. The Centre is maintaining a

comprehensive contact with the UN

Assistance Mission in Afghanistan

to support, provide analysis and

understanding about the regional

situation.

Apart from providing the good

offices for dialogue and support

to the UN for peace and stability,

Turkmenistan has also built and

motivated international and

regional cooperation to combat

illegal drug trafficking. UN office of

the Drugs and Crime has carried out

several meetings in Turkmenistan

for implementing 15 global, regional

and national projects. Turkmenistan

has also ratified important regional

and international conventions and

treaties that have provided extensive

mandates to this special department

of the UN dealing with the drugs

and crimes. The office has also

provided assistance to the countries

to curb terrorism financing through

drugs. In May 2019, Turkmenistan

was elected to the Commission

of Narcotic Substances for 2020-

2023. Turkmenistan adopted a

comprehensive National Action

Plan on October 6, 2019 Combating

Human Trafficking in 2020-2022.

In 2019, UNGA has also

unanimously adopted a resolution

initiated by Turkmenistan to

declare 2021 as the International

Year of Peace and Confidence.

Turkmenistan’s permanent

neutrality policy is a stance of

non-confrontational worldview

that reflects the country’s honest

and strict adherence to the UN

Charter and principles, including

all international legal statutes. This

also reflects how meaningfully

Turkmenistan is focusing on

creating an atmosphere of peace

and prosperity for all. Turkmenistan

is also promoting UN Agenda

of 2030 taking all substantial

steps to implement Sustainable

Development Goals embedded

in the entire Socio Economic

Development of Turkmenistan

for 2019-2025. Turkmenistan is

highlighting the importance of

preventive diplomacy, dialogue and

multilateral diplomacy. Through

these important steps by a neutral

Turkmenistan, the world will soon

be free from all kinds of conflict and

duress and role of Turkmenistan

will remain at the forefront in

making this dream a reality.

The writer is Director, Institute of

Peace and Diplomatic Studies


Main objectives of Foreign

Policy

Neutrality of Turkmenistan

2020 - Turkmenistan Home of

Neutrality

Main objectives of Foreign Policy

Foreign Policy of Turkmenistan

is based on the Constitution, the

Constitutional Act on the Permanent

Neutrality of Turkmenistan, Foreign

policy concept of Turkmenistan

as a neutral state, other legislative

acts. Turkmenistan’s foreign

policy is a logical extension of

domestic policy and is determined

by the international legal status of

permanent neutrality, recognized

by the United Nations.

The main objectives of

Turkmenistan’s foreign policy are:

The preservation and

strengthening of the state

sovereignty of Turkmenistan,

increase its role and importance

in the international system;

The creation of favorable

foreign political conditions for

the internal development of the

state;

Upholding and implementation

of the national interests of

Turkmenistan by all forms

existing in the international

practice of diplomatic contacts;

Ensuring security of

Turkmenistan by political,

diplomatic means;

Development of constructive

mutually beneficial cooperation

with all international partners

on the basis of equality and

mutual respect;

Ensuring full compliance of

Turkmenistan’s foreign policy

actions with international law

and the UN Charter.

The Concept of foreign course

of Neutral Turkmenistan in 2017

– 2023, which is to improve the

authority of our sovereign state

in the world arena and to support

the expansion of international

relations, has been developed and

is successfully implemented.

Neutrality of Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan has chosen the

model, which was named a

Positive Neutrality and specified its

fundamental provisions, which are

peace-loving, non-interference in

affairs of other states, respect of their

sovereignty and territorial integrity,

non-involvement in international

military organizations and treaties.

Turkmenistan started to pursue

sovereign neutral but at the same

time an active and constructive

foreign policy. Therefore, it is no

wonder that the world has accepted

our efforts for strengthening of

Neutrality of Turkmenistan as

international and legal status with

friendliness and understanding.

Our country received support

from the neighbouring countries

at first and after in Non-alignment

Movement.

The status of Permanent Neutrality

of Turkmenistan, recognized by the

resolution of the United Nations

General Assembly of December

12, 1995 and again supported by

the resolution of the UN General

Assembly of June 3, 2015 is the basis

of the country’s foreign policy, its

approaches to the development of

international cooperation.

The Neutrality of Turkmenistan

and its basic characteristics such as:

peacefulness, active peacemaking,

non-participation in military

conflicts, alliances and treaties, noninterference

in the internal affairs

of other countries, respect for their

sovereignty and territorial integrity

- confirm their compliance with the

national interests of the country, the

long-term goals of the international

community, the principles of the UN

Charter, criteria for a constructive,

balanced approach to ensuring

international stability and security.

The conformity of the goals of

foreign policy of Turkmenistan with

the goals and objective requirements

of the global development

predetermines the nature and

direction of wide opportunities to

unleash the potential of Neutrality

of Turkmenistan in the context

of multilateral efforts to maintain


peace, security and the development

of international partnership.

On December 12, 1995, the United

Nations General Assembly

unanimously adopted the

resolution “Permanent Neutrality

of Turkmenistan.”

It was a wise, visionary decision.

Time has shown its conformity

with the long-term goals of the

United Nations, the interests of

the development of the states and

peoples of the planet in peace and

security. Subsequent events have

confirmed this clearly.

President

Gurbanguly

Berdimuhamedov emphasized that

the Neutrality of Turkmenistan

has become a significant factor in

international peacekeeping efforts

in our region, recalling that a

series of negotiations were held in

Ashgabat under the auspices of the

UN, which played an important

role in achieving peace and

harmony in Tajikistan. The capital

of our neutral state has become the

venue for negotiations to resolve

the intra-Afghan conflict in the late

90s of the last century.

Turkmenistan has become a reliable

ally and effective UN partner in

maintaining and maintaining

political stability in the region,

developing good neighborliness,

friendship and cooperation. This

was also confirmed in the decision

of the international community

with the support of all the states of

the region on the opening in 2007

in Ashgabat of the UN Regional

Center for Preventive Diplomacy

for Central Asia.

“We took this as a huge responsibility

and at the same time as evidence of

confidence in Turkmenistan from

the United Nations,” the head of

state said.

“Today, Turkmen Neutrality is

a significant factor in regional

security. Its basic principles are

fully consistent with the UN

strategic objectives in Central Asia,

aimed at turning the region into

a zone of peace and cooperation,

a strong link of continental

stability. In this context, the UN

can always count on the support of

Turkmenistan, using the political

and diplomatic means inherent in

Neutrality to create an atmosphere

of mutual understanding and trust,

favorable conditions for equal

and constructive partnership,”

said President Gurbanguly

Berdimuhamedov.

The head of state noted that

the importance of Neutrality in

modern conditions is eloquently

evidenced by the fact that the UN

General Assembly proclaimed

Turkmenistan on December 12 as

the International Day of Neutrality

(February 2, 2017, the UN General

Assembly, by its resolution (A / RES

/ 71/275), proclaimed December 12

as International Day Neutrality).

The unanimously adopted

resolution, in particular, emphasizes

the importance of the policy

of Neutrality in strengthening

international peace and security at

the regional and global levels, its

role in the development of peaceful,

friendly and mutually beneficial

relations between countries.

Turkmenistan sees the establishment

of a culture of dialogue in resolving

emerging issues and contradictions

as one of its priorities as a neutral

state.

As you know, on September 12 last

year, the UN General Assembly

unanimously and co-sponsored 73

member states adopted a resolution

initiated by Turkmenistan to

declare 2021 the International Year

of Peace and Confidence.


Fundamental principles of

Neutrality fully meet strategic

directives of the UN in Central

Asia, which are aimed at turning

of the region into the zone of

peace and cooperation while

initiatives of President Gurbanguly

Berdimuhamedov for provision

of global ecological and energy

security, formation of continental

transport corridors, peaceful

political regulation of the situation

in Afghanistan and development

of important international legal

mechanisms receive wide response

and recognition of the world

community.

For many years, Turkmenistan

has provided Afghanistan with

concrete, targeted economic

and humanitarian support. It is

expressed in the construction of

medical and educational institutions

in the territory of a neighboring

country, the preferential supply of

electricity, the training of Afghan

students in Turkmen educational

institutions, the regular dispatch

of humanitarian supplies to

Afghanistan, and other types of

assistance and assistance. All this is

financed by Turkmenistan from its

own resources.

Turkmenistan has ratified the main

international conventions and

treaties related to the mandate of

the UN Department of Drugs and

Crime in drug, crime and terrorism

spheres. In May 2019, our country

was elected to the Commission of

Narcotic Substances for 2020 – 2023.

In addition, National Action Plan

for Combating Human Trafficking

in 2020 – 2022 has been adopted on

October 6, 2019, which outlines that

the UN Department on Drugs and

Crime is one of the main partners in

realization of this action plan.

The provisions of Neutrality

of Turkmenistan, a nonconfrontational

worldview, our strict

adherence to the UN Charter and

international legal norms are fully

manifested in the implementation

of international projects in which

the country participates. Their

focus is determined not only by

commercial and economic benefits,

but also by the desire to ensure the

rapprochement of states and create

an atmosphere of greater trust and

predictability in their relations.

In this context, Turkmenistan, fully

supporting the UN Agenda 2030,

immediately began to take consistent

and substantive steps to implement

the Sustainable Development Goals

at the national level. About 150

tasks and about 200 indicators of

the Sustainable Development Goals,

approved at the government level,

were selected. Thus, according to

the UN, Turkmenistan became

the first country in the region

of Eastern Europe and the CIS,

which determined its priorities

for sustainable development for

implementation over the next 15

years.

Today, the most important

parameters of the Sustainable

Development Goals are organically

integrated into the Program for the

Socio-Economic Development of

Turkmenistan for the period 2019-

2025. In the economic part of this


Program, the implementation of

the SDGs is designed to promote

universal access to affordable,

reliable and modern energy supply,

sustainable economic growth and

full employment, the creation of

a flexible infrastructure, support

for sustainable industrialization

and the promotion of innovation.

Most important is given to the

widespread digitalization of the

economy.

Turkmenistan and the United

Nations are committed to longterm

cooperation

On March 14, 2020, the presentation

of the Sustainable Development

Cooperation Framework between

the Government of Turkmenistan

and the United Nations for 2021-

2025 was held in Ashgabat. The

given document is aimed to

promote further collaboration

between Turkmenistan and

the UN in different areas,

including the maintenance of

economic stability and growth,

protection of social rights of

the population, enhancement

of the healthcare system and

preservation of ecological balance.

New Cooperation Framework

focuses more on achieving the UN

Sustainable Development Goals.

It was also emphasized that the

new Cooperation Framework

involves the participation of more

UN agencies in its implementation

than the current one. This is a

clear evidence of the expansion

of Turkmenistan’s interaction

with UN specialized agencies

and a multifaceted approach to

solving common problems through

the use of best practices and

recommendations of international

partners.

2020 - Turkmenistan Home of

Neutrality

As is known, this year Turkmenistan

is celebrating the 25th Anniversary

of gaining the status of Permanent

Neutrality of the country. Since the

beginning of the year, both in the

country and abroad, conferences,

forums, and exhibitions have been

organized at various levels. In this

regard, 2020 will be held according

to the slogan: “Turkmenistan Home

of Neutrality”.

So, on January 14 of this year,

the International Conference


Organizations: Cooperation for

Peace and Development” was

successfully held in Ashgabat, in

which President of Turkmenistan

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov

participated. At the beginning

of his speech, the President of

Turkmenistan announced an

international high-level conference

“The policy of Neutrality and

its importance in ensuring

international peace, security

and sustainable development”,

which is scheduled to be held on

December 12 this year in Ashgabat

and called for the participation

of representatives of the UN and

friendly countries.

The event was also attended

by numerous representatives

of international organizations,

journalists and diplomats, who

found an opportunity to discuss

the importance of the policy of

Neutrality in terms of promoting

peace, stability and security in the

world.

The conference ended with an

Appeal by its participants to

the Secretary-General of the

United Nations. This Appeal was

recognized as a document of the

74th session of the UN General

Assembly and published in the

official languages of the UN.


The Worst Global Crisis:

Coronavirus on the Rise

Professor Tang Jun

kind of pneumonia of

A unknown cause detected in

Wuhan, China was first reported

to the WHO Country Office in

China on December 31, 2019. On

January 22, 2020, the World Health

Organization (WHO) declared

it a public health emergency of

international concern and it was

named as “COVID-19” on February

11. As COVID-19( Coronavirus) is

sweeping all over the globe, WHO

officially declared the COVID-19

outbreak a global pandemic

on March 11, 2020. By dubbing

COVID-19 a pandemic, the WHO is

placing it in a different category than

several recent deadly outbreaks,

including the Ebola outbreak in the

Democratic Republic of Congo, the

Zika virus outbreak in 2016 and

the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West

Africa. There is no doubt that the

COVID-19 has become an urgent

international emergency that few

countries can avoid.

“WHO is deeply concerned by the

alarming levels of the Coronavirus

spread, severity and inaction, and

expects to see the number of cases,

deaths and affected countries climb

even higher. We have therefore

assessed that COVID-19 can be

characterized as a pandemic”.

WHO director-general Dr. Tedros

Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced

a daily press briefing at the WHO

headquarters in Geneva.(Figure 1)

The number of cases has risen

dramatically over the past few

weeks. By April 13, there are 1.81

million confirmed global cases

and 119,588 deaths, with United

States(557,571), Spain(166,091) and

Italy(113,513) being the top worsthit

countries among 209 countries

and territories. What is worse, the

trend is still proliferating and there

is no sign that it will slow down in

the coming few weeks. (Figure 2)

According to Professor Brendan

Murphy, Australia’s Chief Medical

Officer, the real Coronavirus cases

worldwide could be “five to ten

times” higher than the official

number. “. We’ve now passed a

million reported cases of COVID-19,

but we believe the true number is

probably five or ten times as much as

that”. If what he predicts is correct,

the cases worldwide could have

reached 10 million. Evidence begins

to prove his saying is reasonable

as many countries are not capable

of testing due to the poor medical

conditions.

Bill Gates, the billionaire who

founded Microsoft, said the

Coronavirus is behaving like

“once-in-a-century pathogen we’ve

been worried about.” in his article

published in the New England

Journal of Medicine. He also pointed

out COVID-19′s current predicted

fatality rate is higher than that of

the 1957 influenza pandemic, which

killed an estimated 66, 000 people

in the U.S. His remarks is alarming,

since his conclusion of “once-ina-century

pathogen” is drawn

from the Bill and Melinda Gates

Foundation and the virus is bringing

a disastrous impact to the globe.

Bill Gates’s conclusion is agreed by

WHO Director-general Dr. Tedros

Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who said

during a media briefing: “We have

never before seen a pandemic

sparked by a Coronavirus. And we

have never before seen a pandemic

that can be controlled at the same

time”.

Harvard University epidemiologist

Marc Lipsitch has projected in an


interview with the Atlantic (one

of the oldest and most-respected

magazines in the United States)

that the virus will eventually infect

somewhere between 40 and 70

percent of the world population,

because it has now become

“uncontainable.” However, Lipsitch

does not believe that the virus will

be deadly to all of these people,

because some cases of the illness

will be mild or nonsymptomatic.

What are the factors making the

Coronavirus spreading in such

an uncontrolled way? How bad

the global situation will become

eventually? The writer by is going

to make a brief analysis to call some

deep thought from the public.

1. Extreme poverty

There are 90 countries with a

global GDP per capita of less than

$5, 000, 60 countries less than $3,

000, 50 countries less than $2, 000

and 30 countries less than $1, 000.

Africa and India alone have 2.5

billion people, and both of the two

countries’ per capita GDP is around

$2, 000. More than 40 percent of

Africans (500 million) live below

the extreme poverty line, with

living cost less than $2 a day. More

than 1 billion people around the

world live on less than $1.25 a day.

These people are living in extreme

poverty, and there is no way for

them to get proper health protection

measures.

Although Brazil and Mexico have

similar GDP per capita with China,

the gap between rich and poor is

huge and government control is

much weaker. Brazil and Mexico

are the representatives of many

developing countries, but they

failed to prevent and control the

virus. It is likely such countries will

end with either universal infection

or herd immunity.

2. Poor medical conditions

South Africa has one of the best

public health systems in Africa, yet

its has less than 1, 000 intensive care

unit (ICU) beds. South Africa ranked

127th in The Lancet’s 2019 Health

care Access and Quality Index.

With a population of 44 million,

Uganda has only 1, 500 beds in its

largest national hospital and even if

the ICU is working at full capacity,

it can only receive 60 patients. Some

joked that the Ugandan has more

ministers than ICU beds.

There are 17 million people in

Malawi and about 25 ICU beds in

public hospitals. In Kenya, there are

50 million people but only 550 ICU

beds. According to International

Rescue Committee, 20% of Libya’s

hospitals and medical centers have

been closed and only 6% of them

can provide comprehensive medical

services.

3. Incapability of testing

One of the best prevention and

control measures against the

Coronavirus is to test first. On

April 13, the number of confirmed

cases in India, Indonesia, Pakistan,

Nigeria, Bangladesh are 9,152, 4,241,

5,374, 232, 621 respectively, while

their populations are 1.3 billion, 260

million, 203 million, 193 million,

and 166 million respectively. The

number of confirmed cases of

the above countries seems small

compared with their population,

but the fact is that many people

cannot afford testing or have no

access to testing. The following

figure 3-4 can clearly illustrate the

relationship between income and

testing capacity.

Take India for example(Figure

5). By April 12, only 142 people

can be tested, and 6 cases are

confirmed per million people. India

government has difficulty in doing

large-scale testing due to its limited

financial capacity. Even if India

is determined to do large-scale

testing, it will be difficult to keep up

with human and material resources.

In densely populated slums with


poor sanitation conditions, it will

be difficult to reverse the trend once

the virus begins to spread. India

is not the only country. Almost all

the developing countries with large

populations are en-counting the

same challenge.

4. The Incapability of city

lockdown or quarantine

Figure 4: Confirmed COVID-19 cases per million people, April 13, 2020.

(The starting point for each country is the day that country had reached 1

confirmed case per million people.)

Source: European CDC-Situation Update Worldwide

Figure 5: COVID-19: tests, confirmed cases and deaths per million people in

India, April 13, 2020. Source: European CDC-Situation Update Worldwide

Strict city lockdown or quarantine

is currently the most effective

measure against Coronavirus next

to the vaccine, which is still in the

research and testing process. BBC

reported India’s tragic pandemic

lockdown. “Work and wages

dried up after India declared a 21-

day lockdown with four hours

notice on the midnight of March

24 2020. They imposed this drastic

measures in order to prevent the

spread of Coronavirus, instead of

sheltering in place, Coronavirus.

However this create an uneventful

consequence such as,no temporary

shelters to house the thousands of

desperate individuals and families

and they were forced to walk a

hundred kilometers or more with

few resources to return to home

villages”.(Figure 6) “Now India’s

problem is that if they end lockdown,

the virus will spread, and if they

continue, people will die of hunger.”

Prime Minister Imran Khan on

March 30 ruled out a complete shut

down and said a total lockdown

would create “unrest” like India,

even as the number of Coronavirus

cases in Pakistan surpassed 1,

700 by March 30. Millions of poor

people suffering poverty can not

make a living without daily work.

“If we shut down the cities —

people are already facing difficult

circumstances — we will save them

from corona at one end, but they

will die from hunger on the other

side, “ Imran Khan said.


Figure 6: mass migration of poor from India’s cities to rural villages

5. Low immunity and increased

mortality

Africa is the world’s most

food-deficient continent, with

approximately one in four people

undernourished. Africa accounts

for 18 of the last 20 countries in the

world in terms of life expectancy.

Diseases AIDS, tuberculosis,

malaria and measles are extremely

widespread in many African

countries and they severely suppress

human immunity. Dr. Anthony

Fauci, director of the National

Institute of Allergy and Infectious

Diseases, told the House Oversight

and Reform Committee at a hearing

on the nation’s preparedness for the

outbreak that “COVID-19 is at least

ten times “more lethal” than the

seasonal flu, even if the mortality

rate drops far below the World

Health Organization’s current

estimate of 3.4%.”.(Figure 7) It can

be predicted that the Coronavirus

spread in crowded areas with low

immunity will cause more deaths.

6. The cycle of chaos and

pandemic

The outbreak a global pandemic will

exacerbate conflicts among peoples,

classes, nations, and governments.

Boko Haram, for example, is now in

a fight with Nigeria and Chad but

it took this opportunity to intensify

the conflict; Cameroonian militias

declared a ceasefire for the testing,

but both sides of the Libyan civil

war could not stop the war, and the

refugee camps are most likely to get

mass infections.

Many African countries rely on

food imports. With the difficulties

of international transportation and

global food supply shortage due

to lockdown, let along the locust

plague in East Africa, there will be

significant risks of mass famine.

The famine will inevitably lead to

warfare and low immunity, which

in turn further accelerate the spread

of Coronavirus. On March 30, Vera

Songwe, the Executive Secretary

of the United Nations Economic

Commission for Africa, said nearly

half of jobs in Africa could be lost

due to Coronavirus. Africa is two

to three weeks away from the

worst of the Coronavirus storm,

and needs an emergency economic

stimulus of $100 billion to bolster

preventative measures and support

its fragile healthcare systems. Many

developing countries like India,

Pakistan and Bangladesh are facing

the same problem.

Even if some countries like China,

the U.S., Japan manage to eliminate

the Coronavirus, will they be able to

stay safe without any contact with

the rest of the word? Moreover, as

long as the Coronavirus exists in

any corner of the planet, it is likely

to come back.

In conclusion, the world today is

entering into the worst global crisis.

It’s a global challenge to everyone,

and we all need to prepare for

a long-term battle against this

pandemic.

The writer is Director of Pakistan

Research Center, Honder College of

IMNU, China

Figure 7: Dr. Anthony Fauci testifies about Coronavirus, during a Senate

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions hearing on Capitol

Hill in Washington, DC, March 3, 2020.


Responding to COVID-19: What India and

Pakistan can learn from each other?

Dayashankar Maurya and Adnan Skhawat Ali

The first case of COVID-19 was

confirmed on 30th January

in India and on 26 th February in

Pakistan. On 29 th March, India

had 1024 confirmed cases, while

Pakistan had 1597 cases. India

went into a national lockdown on

24th March. On 11th April, India

had 8446 Cases, whereas Pakistan

has 5011 cases. According to the

University of Oxford, Government

Response Tracker, India’s response

has been termed as one of the most

stringent, but that doesnot imply

appropriate. Indian Government’s

response has led to a situation

which could have been averted.

In contrast, Pakistan response has

been considered as slow, confused

with gaps in implementation. Both

countries had different priorities

while responding to the same

epidemic though both have more or

less similar fragile health systems

and poverty levels. Though only

time will tell the actual outcomes,

however some lessons both

countries could learn from each

other.

The response to epidemics such

as a COVID-19 requires walking a

delicate balance between economic

concerns as well as health concerns.

Too stricter control would result

in significant economic losses. On

the other hand, a lagging response

could result in an exponential

increase in cases and extensive

mortality. The public health experts

had warned that since the virus is

novel and no one has immunity

against the virus, all the preventive

measures can only slow down the

spread of the epidemic. Globally

health experts suggested that given

a more extended infection period

and a high subclinical infection rate,

limiting the spread of the virus is

very challenging. This is more so in

societies that are un-organized, have

large informal economies, poorly

prepared health systems, large poor

populations, as in most South Asian

countries, including India and

Pakistan. The health and economic

impact of such an epidemic would

be devastating for both India

and Pakistan. Despite the similar

structure of the economy and health

system, India and Pakistan adopted

different responses.

On 30 th January, WHO declared

COVID-19 as a public health

emergency of International

Concern. The WHO recommended

that “early detection, isolating

and treating cases, contact tracing

and social distancing measures’

‘ can all work to interrupt the

virus spread. Twenty-five days

later, On 25 th February, based on

the learnings from China, WHO

suggested that countries should

“prioritize active, exhaustive case

finding and immediate testing

and isolation, painstaking contact

tracing and rigorous quarantine of

close contacts’. Another suggestion

was to “conduct multi-sector

scenario planning and simulations

for suspension of large-scale

gatherings, closure of schools and

workplaces.” Till 03rd March 2020,

India had only 3 cases and India

preparation mainly focused on

travel restrictions, preparedness

related to testing and treatment till

18th March. India tried a nationwide

12 hours lockdown on 23rd March,

and Indian Prime Ministers

emphasized that success from this

lockdown will provide experience

for the preparation of future action.

The Government also announced

setting up an economic response

task force that was supposed to

suggest recommendations after

consulting all the stakeholders. The

Indian Prime Minister interacted

with industry leaders on 23rd

March, who highlighted the need for

tackling issues of the unorganized

sector. More than 90% of India’s

workforce is estimated to be in

the informal sector and according

to the India’s Economic Survey

2017-18, 87% firms, representing

21% of total turnover, are purely

informal, outside both the tax and

social security nets. On 23rd March,

Indian Prime minister reported that

the Economic task force is working

out a strategy for the COVID-19.

However, on 24 th March, a 21-

day nationwide lockdown was

announced starting from the same

day. The police rigorously enforced

this 21-day lockdown. Though some

state governments such as Uttar

Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana have

taken into account the concerns of

the unorganized sector, no specific

measures were announced by the

Central Government before the

lockdown. Similar to Pakistan,

the unorganized sector in India


employs close to 93% of the all

labor force and has minimal social

security, and unemployment

benefits. The outcome of such a

nationwide lockdown of evidence

in the last fortnight as lakhs of

unorganized sector employees

became unemployed and with

limited savings were forced to move

back to the rural areas walking

hundreds of kilometers.

Pakistan, however, responded

differently. Pakistan’s Government

has been very cautious over the

economic concerns of low-income

informal workers. Pakistan prime

ministers had repeatedly stated

that Pakistan could not afford

a nationwide lockdown in the

country, given the impact on daily

wage earners. The national health

emergency was announced on 13th

March with nationwide closure of

all educational institutes, cinema

halls, and a ban on large public

gatherings. Pakistan’s PM asked for

support from international bodies

such as loan waivers, and other

assistance to fight the epidemic.

The unwillingness to lock down the

country was criticized heavily by

various political parties and citizens

as well labelling him as Corona

Khan negotiating with the virus. But

Pakistan PM argued that the time

would be kind to him, and there is

a need to accept that the infection

will spread. The Government was

able to get some support from the

IMF, financial aid from the United

States, and supplies from China.

The Government came out with an

economic response to low-income

families. Till today no nationwide

lockdown exists as the Pakistan PM

has been still concerned about the

poverty impact of such an action.

Pakistan’s national Government

also launched a national movement

for creating a volunteer base to

help in the epidemic, named as the

‘National Youth Tiger Force.’ The

volunteers are expected to work

with the district administration

and national disaster management

authority, providing services

such as the delivery of groceries,

providing help at the quarantine

centers and hospitals, and arranging

for funerals. In the longer term, a

collaborative approach is needed

to make the fight with the epidemic

sustainable. But such a strategy also

needs to be implemented effectively.

Even an appropriate strategy, if not

well implemented, would result in

poor outcomes, and here, Pakistan

can learn from India.

In the initial period, the number of

cases in Pakistan has increased at

a much faster rate when compared

to India; however, because of the

calibrated response based on the

structure of the economy, the virus

spread is expected to be contained in

few most affected provinces. In the

more recent phase, India has seen a

much more rapid rise in infections

compared to Pakistan. As measures

of diseases depend upon the ability

to test, the number of detected cases

in settings with limited testing

abilities cannot be considered as a

reliable indicator of effectiveness.

While India’s 21-day lockdown has

resulted in a humanitarian crisis as

observed recently. A conservative

estimate suggests that around 12

million workers employed in the

informal sector, will try to move

back to their origin as they have lost

jobs. .Given the massive scale of this

inter-state migration and extensive

human contact due to lack of

transport facilities, a sudden jump in

cases shortly is highly probable. The

movement has brought the virus

into rural areas, where more than

70% of the population visits private

healthcare providers, majority

unregistered and unqualified with

limited information sharing with

the public health departments.

This will severely constrain

identification of the cases, making it

impossible to contain the epidemic

by contact tracing and quarantine.

The poorly thought out strategy of

lockdown would probably result in

more cases than if it was not done in

the first place. In the coming days,

a full-blown epidemic in rural areas

of Indian states like Uttar Pradesh,

Bihar, and Rajasthan awaits. The

migrants who are forced to walk

hundreds of kilometers will be

hesitant to return to cities even after

the epidemic has subsided. This

will have a long term impact on

the migrant families in terms of lost

income but also inter-generational

losses due to school drop out of

their children.

India has used a more rigorous

and authoritative approach

than required; on the other

hand, Pakistan has used a more

decentralized approach, where

states decided about their response,

while the Federal Government

focused on economic concerns.

Fighting epidemics in the context of

a dominant informal sector requires

more involvement of society, and

that’s what India could learn from

Pakistan.

The writers are from Graduate

School of International Relations,

International University of Japan


China’s model of proactive approach to control

pandemic COVID-19

Dodo Khan Qambrani

Pandemic COVID-19 was initially

named Novel Corona virus.

Corona Virus existed previously

while the virus spread from Wuhan

City of China was a new of its type;

hence, the word Novel was added

until the World Health Organization

(WHO) named it COVID-19. At the

time of its outbreak in China, the

Chinese government requested

WHO to declare International

Medical Emergency but the request

was turned down and acceded

afterwards was perhaps little late.

Cogent reasons for outbreak of

Corona Virus are still unfolded yet

several rumors have been floated

from day one to date influencing

other’s opinion. Interestingly, all

the stories spin around two sources

of the virus which are wild animals

and laboratory. The initial story

I heard was that a food festival

organized in Wuhan City near a

huge market of wildlife animals

was attended by around 30-40

thousand people of all ages wherein

consumption of bat soup and blood

of snake caused the transmission of

virus to human then being contagion

it spread further. Another story was

that the virus travelled from bat

to Pangolin and further to human.

Rumors and Outbreak of COVID-19

came up with controversy between

US and China. US Government

initially instructed its people to

evacuate Wuhan city, afterwards,

took all stranded Americans to their

country through special aircraft.

China was discontented with that

move considering it a cause of

spreading panic in the country. A

war of words started and resulted in

allegations to each other. US called

COVID-19 as Chinese corona virus

and Chinese officials responded

by alleging US that previously,

some cases of flu diagnosed in US

were basically COVID-19 and their

military spread it in Wuhan during

their visit.

Rumors of being Laboratory made

corona virus carry some stories

like on social media, content was

being circulating that US made

and spread the virus in China to

damage Chinese economy and then

to boost US economy by coming up

with vaccine for the world market

to control the virus. Story number

two was that Coronavirus was

brought in the laboratory of Wuhan

from Europe that came out of the

laboratory and spread in the city.

Whatever the source of its origin is,

does not have as much importance

for a public at this juncture of

worldwide overwhelming panic,

disruption, scarcity of essential

daily consumables and medical

resources, losses to macro and

micro economies, and losses of lives

but the important is how to come

out of this devastating situation.

Scientists/researchers have been

putting forth their efforts to come

up with an authentic vaccine as cure

of COVID-19 patients yet a long

way to go.Until then it will be too

late to control the gigantic damage

as the virus is not wasting time in

multiplying.

China being the first effectee of the

COVID-19 as well as overcoming

country in the world has provided

roadmap for the world to effectively

combat the virus. Hence, allow me

to share my experience in China

during the Pandemic COVID-19. It

was the time when travel of Chinese

people was at its peak at national

and International level due to

their biggest annual event “Spring

Festival” and a novel Coronavirus

was diagnosed in inhabitants of

Wuhan city of China. Till the time,

it was defined that a considerable

number of patients visiting doctors

with the symptoms of fever, flu,

body ache and breathing issues

are basically Coronavirus patients

until then hundreds of thousands of

people had already travelled within

the Wuhan city and from Wuhan

to other cities of China as well

as to different countries. No one

knew what was going on behind

the scene;hence, a massive social

networking and interaction on the

eve of Spring Festival was indirectly

catering to be Coron’s festival.

Suddenly, figure of infected people

jumped to thousands in Wuhan

city, there was panic in public,

thousands of people immediately

left Wuhan carrying Coronavirus to

other cities. This was the time when

Chinese government and public

switched over to work together

like a magician. In order to combat

Coronavirus, Chinese government

announced to construct a new


hospital of one thousand beds that

was completed in a record time of

ten days in Wuhan city and several

other makeshift hospitals were made

over there. Simultaneously, Wuhan

city being epicenter of COVID-19

was locked down. During this

episode I had conversation with a

Pakistani student living in locked

down zone. According to him,

all students were being provided

with grocery/food items and they

were given emergency numbers to

contact. Upon contact, medicine,

masks or any other essentials were

being provided to students. He

was pretty satisfied with the care

and services extended by the local

management.

Medical teams and volunteers

knocked each door of Wuhan city

to check if there was an infected

person. Doctors, paramedics,

nursing and technical staff went

massively overburdened. They

worked continuously for long

hours wearing adult diapers

because of being packed with

Personal Protection Kits. They were

not allowed to stay at their homes;

therefore, their stay was arranged

in specified hotels. Despite such a

challenging situation, their moral

was high and they dispensed their

duties with dedication and sense of

responsibility.

Outside Wuhan city, foreigners

realizing panic in China and finding

window in their home country

rushed towards their countries.

Similarly, around two hundred

Pakistani travelled to Urumqi

airport from different areas of China

and they were stuck at airport as

flights for Pakistan were cancelled.

They recorded videos and shared on

social media to record their protest

for putting pressure on Government

of Pakistan. Afterwards, they were

provided with suitable facilities

and were quarantined over there

envisaging filtered out entrants in

Pakistan and to elude further panic

in China.

Country wide, Chinese authorities’

deployed mobile hospitals and

paramedics/ technical teams on

highways at exit, entry and toll

plaza points to stop all vehicles for

check-up of passengers as well as to

educate them for measures.

Most interesting part of the

strategies of Chinese Government

and their implementation was that

at the same time, same procedure

was being adopted in all buildings

of the country whether it was

super store, residential building

or office building. As a first step,

building management deployed

security guards at entrance to check

temperature of every entrant then

issued special cards to residents and

every time for exit and entry that

card was required to be shown so as

to avoid entry of irrelevant person

in the building. Face recognition

cameras were closed at the entrance

of residential buildings to reduce

risk by not removing masks.

Wooden trays having wet carpets

inside were installed at entrances

for washing of outsoles. Similarly,

wet carpets were placed at entrance

of car parking to wipe vehicle tyres

and at the same time tyres were

being sprayed as well. Streets,

elevators and buildings were being

sprayed. People stayed inside

theirhomes, roads went empty and

except grocery stores rest of the

business wassuspended.

One day in Chengdu city, people

in anticipation of possible lock

down, did grocery in bulk causing

shortage of daily usable items

in stores. On thevery next day,

super stores, demonstrating

sense of responsibility, notified

customers not to hoard daily

usable itemsensuring them regular

supply of grocery items. After

around couple of days these stores

offered online shopping facility

for the reasons to make people

stay at their homes and to avoid

hoarding as the online application

was automatically turning down

the request in case of exceeding the

quantity allocated for one order.

At the same time, all building

managements instructed their

security guards to handle parcels to


be delivered by grocery stores for

occupants of their buildings.

Similarly, at the time of panic when

everyone was scared and was

avoiding going out and interacting

with people, a lady from local

management knocked atthe door, I

put on mask and opened the door.

She showed me her official card

and then introduced herself. She

gave me two pamphlets one in

English language and the other in

Chinesementioning measures for

protection from COVID-19. She

immediately added my WeChat

ID in a group of Foreigners

residing in her jurisdiction in

order to keep themupdated for

latest policies, measures and to

be acquainted with their queries,

concerns and emergency situations.

Local management pasted

these pamphlets on doors of all

apartments, both sides of elevators,

notice boards and at entry gate as

well. Afterwards, all foreigners were

being updated accordingly, their

queries were being responded. The

Government, realizing increasing

stress among people, organized

online sessions of Psychologists to

keep people mentally stable. Online

exercise sessions were introduced.

Schools started their online classes/

homework for their students. Online

shopping occupied the space and

e-commerce went at record level

during the epidemic.

Throughout the epidemic in China,a

vast series of strategies and their

implementations for limiting the

virus spoke louder. Demonstration

of bond, patriotism and high spirit

among all stakeholders including

leadership, Government machinery,

industrialists, entrepreneurs,

volunteers, medical teams and

public, was exemplary. The level of

sense of responsibility shown by the

whole nation was commendable.

To sum up, certain steps taken by

China are worth mentioning in

dealing with the epidemic. Chinese

authorities not only combated

COVID-19 by lock down of affected

areas, proper training to all relevant

professionals combating the virus,

carrying out of maximum tests,

arrangements of desired medical

facilities, provision of proper kits

for all professionals, uniting the

nation, fumigating the space from

one corner to other and stipulating

awareness among people for

contributing by social distancing,

usage of masks, washing hands

frequently. But also they walked

parallel to engage diplomatic

fronts and media to reduce panic.

They timely decided for maximum

utilization of technology to fill the

vacuum created in different fronts

of affairs and they ensured their

success by achieving record level of

e-commerce during the epidemic.

Educational Institutes engaged their

students through online lectures,

homework and assignments.

Employees started work from

home. Online sessions leaded by

psychologists were organized to

normalize people in the state of

stress due to the epidemic.Electronic

media aired inspirational as well as

physical fitness programs to boost

mental and physical strength of

people.

China being first country to deal

with the Pandemic COVID-19,

endeavored to explore approaches.

They tested, tried these approaches,

moved forward and succeeded.

Now it is turn of rest of the world

to adhere to successfully tested

and tried approaches of China and

simultaneously, to envisage further

effective approaches for defeating

the deadly virus as it never allows

states to wait and watch. It spreads

silent and fast, and there is no

vaccine yet to kill it. Entire world

is locked down, nightmare is there,

world economy is crumbling, poor

and daily wagers were already

vulnerable for feeding their

families, now, bread is escaping

away from lower middle class. To

control COVID-19, all needed is

proactive approach of both state as

well as public.

The writer is analyst based in

Chengdu, China


Leadership for Thought:

Non-Permanent members lead the Security

Council through COVID-19

Elizabeth Deheza

Building up on the recent analysis of

the IFIMES (International Institute

of the Special Consultative status

with the UN Eco-Soc) and its

call for a formidable multilateral

action; “The International Security

Dimension of Covid-19 and the

Pivotal role of the UN SC”, the

founder and CEO of the Londonbased

think-tank furthers that

argument, while explaining why the

non-permanent members of the UN

Security Council should indeed take

a lead. Hereby, we bring her policy

proposal in its full length.

China held the Presidency of

the United Nations Security

Council in March this year:

COVID-19 was deemed not to

be a security issue. By the end of

March, confirmed deaths with

the virus had grown past 40,000

globally and the U.N.’s Secretary

General, António Guterres, stated

that the socioeconomic impacts

of COVID-19 were a multiplier

of instability, unrest and conflict

[1] in an attempt to engage the

Security Council. The Presidency

of the Security Council passed

to the Dominican Republic this

month and the Caribbean country

has the opportunity to spur the

Security Council into action.

The United Nations champions

multilateralism but is often

criticised for “doing everything

and doing nothing” and has been

denounced for the lack of a rapid

and appropriate response to global

challenges. “We have discussed

COVID-19 every day since 13th

March,” reassures one U.N.

diplomat, but so far, the response

has been ideological communiqués

rather than pragmatic propositions

or resolutions to collectively combat

the effects of the pandemic.

On 23rd March, despite his “limited

freedom” the United Nations

Secretary General António Guterres,

strategically called for a global

cease-fire and an aid package for the

most vulnerable, which was praised

as the most serious proposal that

has emerged since the pandemic.

Additionally, the 193-member

General Assembly this month

passed a non-binding resolution that

called for “intensified international

cooperation to contain, mitigate and

defeat” the Coronavirus.

The Security Council has been

suffering from a lack of action. In

March, under China’s Presidency,

the outbreak was not deemed to be

a security issue and no action was

taken. In recent weeks there has

been mounting media pressure and

calls from member states to force

the Security Council to address the

effects of the pandemic within its

mandate. “We had to give in, but

under any other circumstances it

would be unimaginable for [a health

issue] to be discussed under the

Security Council’s mandate”, stated

a current member of the Security

Council. Tan Sri Hasmy Agam,

formerly Malaysia’s representative

on the Security Council and Prof.

Anis H. Bajrektarevic disagree and

describe clearly the ‘International

security dimension of COVID-19’ [2],

arguing that the potential impacts

on international peace and security

mean that the issue, “indisputably

falls under [the Security Council]’s

mandate”. It should also be noted

that the Security Council did debate

the impact of AIDS on peace and

security in Africa in 2000.

Despite the “archaic views of a

few members on how the Security

Council should work”, this month,

the Council, under the Presidency

of the Dominican Republic,

implemented the working methods

prepared by the previous presidency

to start Video Teleconferences

(VTCs). “The pandemic forced us

to develop working methods that

have allowed us to carry the agenda

despite the difficulties of not being

able to physically meet,” said a nonpermanent

member of the Security

Council triumphantly. While it is

helpful that the members can now

talk to each other after several

weeks, many businesses and

institutions implemented similarly

ground-breaking technological

innovations overnight!

After much resistance, particularly


from China and South Africa, the

Security Council had its first closeddoor

virtual meeting on 9th April to

discuss the COVID-19 crisis. While

this is good progress, there are

significant barriers to any action, “It

would be very detrimental for the

UN SC to make its discussions on

the pandemic public as that would

demonstrate that its structure does

not allow it to go beyond the vetoes

of the permanent members (P5),”

said a Latin American diplomat.

In particular, the increasing

tensions between the US and China

have truncated any meaningful

outcome, “They are in the middle

of an ideological and strategic war,”

continued the diplomat.

And yet, as the crisis deepens,

negotiations on a possible

resolution appear to be moving

forward. Just as one draft resolution

negotiated between the P5 stalled,

another resolution between the

non-permanent members was put

forward, and currently all members

are negotiating both resolutions

as a single document. The fingerpointing

and wording disputes

between the US and China persist

and, while France is working to

smooth this relationship, new

disagreements have emerged

around the possibility to include

in the resolution, the relaxation

of unilateral sanctions against

countries that have been heavily hit

by the pandemic and need aid, such

as Iran. Considering the scale and

gravity of the pandemic, the fact that

the P5 and the Security Council in

general are getting bogged down on

lexical semantics, is unacceptable.

All eyes are on the Security Council

this month and they cannot remain

silent on what is happening.

Coordinating a response to

this situation will require great

leadership and Latin America,

through the Dominican Republic’s

Presidency of the Security Council

has an opportunity to be front

and centre. “The President has to

ease tensions and blunt the edges

of conflict among some of the

members, especially the permanent

members, and to generate close

cooperation and unity in dealing

with this global health trauma,”

said a distinguished diplomat that

has served twice on the Security

Council. And yet, “the possibility

of non-permanent members

influencing these bureaucratic

practices, stagnant, anchored in

a history that we already know,

are minimal,” emphasised a nonpermanent

member state of the

Security Council.

The Presidency’s role is primarily

to guide and align the Council, and

within its limitations, the Dominican

Republic can play an effective

leadership role in handling an

international crisis of monumental

proportions. “What would be

required for such a leadership role

are qualities of clear-sightedness,

level-headedness and outstanding

diplomatic skills, among others,”

said a senior Asian diplomat.

As part of this month’s agenda,

the Dominican Republic launched

an open, high-level VTC entitled,

‘Protection of civilians from

conflict-induced hunger’. While

the event had been planned for

months and the agenda already set,

the Presidency successfully shaped

the conversation to not only cover

food insecurity and conflict-related

starvation but also to include

discussion on the related security

impacts of COVID-19, for example,

through disruption of food supply

chains.

The response from the virtual

attendees was remarkable, with

all the briefers and interventions

from different countries including

consideration of the threats

multiplied by the pandemic. For

example, the Director-General

of the Food and Agriculture

Organization (FAO), Qu Dongyu

highlighted COVID-19 as one of

the ‘shocks’ together with conflicts,

extreme weather, desert locusts

and economic shocks that are likely

to “push more people into acute


food insecurity”. The Presidential

Statement of this event will

hopefully produce a unanimous

message on hunger and conflict,

a much-needed sign of unity to

identify common problems and

seek common solutions.

This outcome could be an

encouraging step for the Dominican

Republic to assume greater

leadership around the impacts

of COVID-19 and its effects on

international peace and security

for the remainder of the month.

The Latin American nation should

seek to conclude its Presidency

by helping the Security Council

to focus on the gravity and widereaching

nature of the situation and

work together on a resolution that

directly addresses the threats of the

pandemic and offers pragmatism in

the management and the recovery,

even if differences between the

P5 persist. “The global pandemic

presents both a challenge and an

opportunity for a small Caribbean

member state of the world body

to demonstrate a much-needed

leadership role to mobilize the

international community to

effectively combat COVID-19 and

spare the world from further untold

tragedy,” said an optimistic veteran

of diplomacy.

The Caribbean nation will finish

its Presidency at the end of April

and while there are only a few

days left, its diplomatic skills will

be put to the test in the coming

days at other important events

including one on 27-29 April for the

“Intergovernmental Negotiations

on the Security Council Reform”

(IGN) where five points of

convergence and disagreement

will be debated: 1) categories of

membership to the Council (i.e.

permanent, non-permanent, or a

third option), 2) the question of the

veto, 3) regional representation,

4) size of an enlarged Council

and working methods, and 5) the

relationship between the Council

and the General Assembly.

Each bloc of states (the S5 Group,

the G4, the African Group, the L.69

Group, the Arab Group, Uniting

for Consensus, the Caribbean

Community, etc) have different

positions, agendas and vision;

“it’s a Tower of Babel’, assured a

UN diplomat, “without forwardlooking

conditions, we will not

advance the debate”. During this

debate, the Dominican Republic

could proactively try to reorganise

the fronts between all the different

positions of the UN regional groups

and mark certain lines in the

negotiation process.

The Dominican Republic could

provide the same guidance to its

own regional group within the

United Nations, the Latin American

and Caribbean States Group

(GRULAC), which is considered

“non-functional” due to its internal

ideological struggles. “We must

rebuild, remove the regional

groups from their ideological

struggle and make it a place where

a conversation and eventually

a consensus can be generated”,

reflected a diplomat of a GRULAC

member state. The Caribbean

nation, through its prominent

role in the Presidency, “has the

platform to propose an initiative

that would put a specific work

agenda in place as a mechanism for

consultation and agreement rather

than as a mechanism of ideological

confrontation,” explained the same

diplomat. Another Latin American

diplomat agrees that there is an

opportunity for the Dominican

Republic to show leadership, “the

Dominican Republic ambassador

could be a valuable interlocutor if

considered as a sensible person and

not seen as a threat to other activities

within the Security Council”.

The pandemic and its effects have

laid bare the importance of decisive,

visionary leadership and concerted

action in such a critical point of

human history and also provides

an opportunity to the international

community and its leaders to

galvanise the process of change

where multilateralism, compassion

and social consensus are no longer

a policy of choice.

[1] UN News (2020) https://

news.un.org/en/

story/2020/04/1061502

(Accessed on 20 April 2020).

[2] IFIMES (2020) https://

www.ifimes.org/en/9791 /

the-international-securitydimension-of-covid-19-

andthe-pivotal-role-of-the-unsecurity-council/

(Accessed on

22 April 2020).

The writer is a founder and CEO of the

London-based, independent strategic

intelligence entity DEHEZA, focused

on Latin America and Caribbean.


COVID-19:

UN Security Council should act Now

Tan Sri Hasmy Agam and Prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic

The COVID-19 situation is very

worrying, indeed, alarming

matter, not just as a global health

and biosafety issue, but potentially

as a global security challenge, too.

While the pandemic is being

dealt with by the World Health

Organisation (WHO), along with

other relevant United Nation

Specialised Agencies (UN SA), the

situation is deteriorating rapidly

and could easily get out of control.

This of course, if it is not effectively

contained. In such a (more and

more likely) scenario, it would be

engulfing the entire world, whose

effects and impact would be akin to

that of a Third world war, though

initially of a different kind.

We are amazed as to why the

Security Council has not stepped

in. It should have done so as

to address the Covid-19 and

surrounding scenery in the way it

clearly deserves to be dealt with,

given its devastating impact on the

entire international community on

almost every dimension, including

international peace and security,

which indisputably falls under its

mandate under the UN Charter.

As the Council has often dealt with

issues which are sometimes not

ostensibly related to international

or regional security, and of much

less importance or urgency than this

dreadful pandemic, we are puzzled,

indeed alarmed, as to why it has

chosen not to come to grips with the

pandemic as a matter of the utmost

urgency.

If the members of the Council, for

their own internal reasons, have not

felt compelled to do so, shouldn’t

the other members of the world

body, individually or collectively as

international or regional groupings,

such as the European Union (EU),

the Non-Aligned Movement

(NAM) - G-77, African Union (AU),

or ASEAN, take the much-desired

initiative to call on the Security

Council to imperatively address

this global pandemic, even as the

WHO and other concerned UN

agencies, much to their credit, are

dealing with the issue from their


own (narrow) perspectives – and

yet rather limited mandate and

resources.

In this regard, especially the EU,

would be well-positioned to exert

the much-need pressure on the

UNSC, given the devastation that

the Virus has wreaked on a number

of its members, notably Italy and

Spain, among others.

Such an Urgent Meeting, indeed,

Emergency Special Session of the

UN Security Council at this point in

time would be greatly applauded by

the entire international community

as it would accord the world body

the leadership role that its members

expect it to play at this most critical

point in the post WWII human

history.

Gens una sumus. Concordia patria

firmat

In this dire situation, the big powers

should put aside their ideological

and policy differences – as seen in

the UN General Assembly case,

and focus instead on galvanizing

concerted international actions

of ensuring the safety, full

respect of humanitarian law, and

undiscriminated wellbeing of the

entire human race.

By decisively and urgently acting,

the UN Secretary-General and the

UN SC would be sending a bold and

clear yet tranquilising signal to the

entire humanity. More importantly,

such a unison voice would be also

welcomed and well understood

as a referential (not to say a norm

setting) note by other crucial

agencies, such as the UN High

Commissioner for Human Rights

(UNHCHR), International Labour

Organisation (ILO), International

Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO),

World Tourism Organisation

(WTO), as well as by the Red Cross

(IFRC), Bretton Woods institutions

(synchronised with the UNDP and

UNCTAD work), Organisation

for Economic Cooperation and

Development (OECD), Federation

of Trade Unions, Council of Europe

(CoE), including other specialised

or non-UN FORAs, most notably

developmental entities such as the

Inter-American Development Bank

(IADB), Islamic Development Bank

(IsDB), Asian Development Bank

(ADB), African Development Bank

(AfDB), etc.

In the following period – while

witnessing indeed a true historical

conjuncture, we need a global

observance and protection of

human rights and of jobs, for the

benefit of economy and overall

security. Therefore, the measures

imposed these days cannot be

disproportionate, unrelated,

indefinite, unbalanced and only

on societal expenses or democracy

recession. Recovery – which from

now on are calling for a formidable

biosafety, too – will be impossible

without social consensus. Clearly, it

will be unsustainable if on expenses

of labour or done through erosion

of basic human rights – embedded

in the UN Charter and accepted as

essential to the very success of SDGs

(Sustainable Development Goals).

Indeed, countries are not just

economies, but most of all societies.

(The truth is plain to see: Planet

has stopped, although the Capital

remains intact. We came to a global

halt because the Labour has been

sent home. Hence, the recovery

comes with labour. Historically,

labour has never betrayed, while

capital has failed us many times. By

the same token, human rights never

betrayed the state and its social

cohesion, but the states – and much

glorified markets – far too many

times in history have failed humans.

Therefore, there is no true exit from

the crisis without strengthening the

labour and human rights.)

For a grave planetary problem,

our rapidly articulated global

accord is badly needed. Therefore,

multilateralism – as the most

effective planetary tool at our

disposal – is not our policy choice.

It is the only way for human race to

(socio-economically and politically)

survive.

Covid-19 is a challenge that comes

from the world of biology. Yet,

biology and international relations

share one basic rule: Comply or die.

To remind us; it is not the big that

eat the small, rather it is a fast which

eats the slow.

It is hight time to switch off the

autopilot. Leadership and vision

now!!

Mr. Tan Sri Hasmy Agam was

Malaysia’s Ambassador to UN (incl.

term in UNSC) and Head of the

Diplomatic Academy, Chairman

of the Human Rights Commission

of Malaysia (Suhakam) – Anis

H. Bajrektarevic is Chairman and

Professor in intl law and global

political studies, Austria; authored

7 books and numerous articles on,

mainly, geopolitics energy and

technology.


Pakistan-China Iron-Brotherhood Strengthened

in Fighting off COVID-19

Dr. Meilan He

The Novel Corona virus

(COVID-19 in short) appeared

at the end of year 2019, and it has

become a global hot topic along

with its worldwide spread. China

has once again drawn the attention

of the world due to the first outbreak

at Chinese city Wuhan. Pakistan

was caught by the pandemic in

February.

Under these circumstances, it

has become an imminent global

issue that in what way all of the

countries unite and share resources

to contain the pandemic. China led

by President Xi Jinping has taken

initiative to help other countries as a

responsible nation. Now, the world

is benefiting from China’s epidemic

preventive experience.

Facing the ruthless virus, Pakistani

and Chinese governments and

people have expressed mutual

support and moral and material

aid. Their actions have again

interpreted the genuine friendship

of ‘Iron Bothers’ and ‘All Weather’

Strategic Cooperative Partnership

Relationship.

Support to Each Other

1. From Pakistani Side

Pakistani government collected

and sent urgently-needed medical

stuff including eight hundred

thousand masks, a large number

of protective suits and gloves

to China at the moment of the

outbreak. Besides, Pakistanis from

all walks of life came to help. Some

Pakistani students donated masks

to Chinese doctors and nurses

through their universities and some

Pakistani doctors working in China


volunteered to go to Wuhan joining

the medical team.

The Senate and National Assembly

of Pakistan summoned meetings

to support Chinese fight against

COVID-19, which is the first

parliament resolution in the world

to show solidarity to China. At

the start of the outbreak some

countries started to evacuate their

nationals from China but Pakistani

government firmly decided to keep

Pakistani students in Wuhan and

other cities and appreciated Chinese

government for its epidemic control

measures and the help and care it

extended to Pakistani nationals.

As a great gesture to support China

in fighting COVID-19, Pakistan

newspaper with the largest

national readers ---- The News,

published the paper ‘Defeating the

COVID-19 Outbreak’ by Chinese

State Councillor and Foreign

Minister Wang Yi. The publication

is an open expression to appreciate

and recognize the efforts and

achievements made by the Chinese

government and people in the antivirus

battle.

Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote

to the Chinese leadership, and

called President Xi Jinping to

express his support. He hailed

China’s powerful response of

taking preventive measures to

control the epidemic, and pointed

out that China has set the model for

the world to fight off the pandemic.

He said, ‘no country can do better

than China’.

President Arif Alvi also highly

praised the vigorous and

efficient measures by the Chinese

government to prevent and control

the epidemic. He said that the

government and people of China

have been striving extremely hard

to curb the transmission of the

pandemic. Their excellent work

has been acknowledged by WHO.

Chinese government has set up

a benchmark for global public

health security, and this reflects the

responsibilities of a big country.

During his meeting with Chinese

President Xi Jinping on his visit to

China on March 16 th -17 th , President

Arif Alvi made a statement that

he chose this moment to visit

because he wanted to tell the entire

world that Pakistani government

and people firmly believe that

the Chinese government led by

President Xi Jinping has taken right

measures and actions in fighting

against the pandemic. Pakistani

people are strongly in support of

Chinese people and will stand with

China all the way in this difficult

time.

2. From Chinese Side

Chinese government has been

taking full responsibilities for those

Pakistani nationals living in China

since the Corona virus broke out.

They have been well looked after

like the local Chinese. Because

there is a large number of Pakistani

students studying in China, for

instance, one thousand only in

Wuhan city, Chinese government

has attached special importance to

Pakistani students and has done

its best to take care of their safety

and studies. I have to mention that

China Southern Airline arranged

charted flight for those Pakistanis

stranded in Urmuqi and sent them

back home safely.

On learning COVID-19 appearing

in Pakistan, the government of

China sent messages through its

embassy in Pakistan that China

would spare no efforts to work with

Pakistan, share its experience and

resources in fighting against the

pandemic. Chinese Ambassador

Yao Jing stated in a press conference

that China and Pakistan are good

brothers who have stood together

through thick and thin. China

supports all of the preventing

and controlling measures taken

by Pakistani government and will

cooperate with Pakistan in line with

International Health Regulations”

and WHO advice for eradicating

the pandemic. The Handbook of

COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment

has been posted on embassy website

to share with Pakistani people.

Besides, Chinese government has

provided 13000 Corona virus test

kits in batches and sent the medical

team from Jiangsu Province to

Pakistan for helping Pakistani

government and people. Xinjiang

Uygur Autonomous Region has

also dispatched medical masks

and other anti-epidemic materials.

Overseas Chinese living in Pakistan

have also contributed greatly to

support local people fighting off the

virus.

Substantial Cooperation

Along with the efforts to crack down

COVID-19, Chinese agricultural

experts team came to Pakistan to

help deal with the severe locust

attack which is said to be the worst

locust infestation in more than 25

years. The Chinese experts have

done extensive field investigation

in two of the worst-hit provinces

of Baluchistan and Sindh. Locust

control pesticides and equipments

from China have been sent to

Pakistan as well.

Chinese exports have reduced due

to the epidemic crisis, and it has

affected the economic development

of all the affected countries and

regions. For example, Pakistan is

among the top 20 affected countries

according to UN Conference

on Trade and Development. Its

most seriously affected textile

and garments industries have

lost tens of millions dollars. The

small business units of China

and Pakistan have faced more

challenges from the epidemic crisis

in their operations. Some of them

have overcome difficulties and

adopted survival strategies. Everest

Exhibition Company Ltd. is one

of them. The company organized

video docking conferences, and

provided free services for Chinese

small enterprises to find customers

for generators and the related

machines in Pakistan. More than 30

purchase orders have been placed

within two weeks, according to the

general manager of the company.

As CPEC is often used as a synonym

for Pak-China relations since 2013,

I shall not miss mentioning its

progress during the period of the

pandemic. Although affected by

COVID-19, CPEC projects have

been in smooth operation. CPEC

working groups have held video

conferences and the next CPEC Joint

Committee Conference will be held

later in this year. The first CPEC

rail transportation project “Lahore

Orange Line” has officially signed

operation and maintenance contract

with a Chinese corporation. Karot

Hydro-power plant has had its 4

units topped off. Karachi-Peshawar

railway line (ML1) again called for

bid. The second phase of Pak-China

Free Trade Agreement has initiated

its implementation. In addition,

China and Pakistan have signed

some agreements and MOUs in the

fields of food safety and research,

plant pests prevention and artificial

intelligence training during

Pakistani President Arif Alvi’s visit

to China this month.

Brotherly Friendship Tradition

It goes without saying that China

and Pakistan are working shoulder

to shoulder to fight against

COVID-19. Pak-China relationship

embodies both the brotherhood

and the practical cooperation that

is why the word “Iron brother” is

so familiar to everyone in China.

The special friendship is deeply

rooted in the hearts of the two

peoples. Giving mutual help and

support to overcome the difficult

time has become a good tradition

between the two nations, which

will certainly last generation to

generation. The more difficult time

is, the more solid the friendship is.

President Xi Jinping has stated on

several occasions that China and

friendly countries have been jointly

fighting against the pandemic,

their feelings and cooperation will

be deeper and closer. In face of the

common enemy, COVID-19, China

and Pakistan have been working

hand in hand. Facts have proved

once again that China and Pakistan

are true friends who share weal and

woe and good brothers who share

each other’s joys and sorrows.

This is exactly what President Xi

Jinping expressed in the meeting

with Pakistani President Arif Alvi.

We are confident that China and

Pakistan will continue contributing

towards promoting a unique

international relationship for a

shared human community.

The writer is Associate Professor at

Area Study Center, Hebei Normal

University, China


A Battlefield in the Eastern Mediterranean:

LIBYA

Assoc Prof. Haktan BİRSEL, Asst. Prof. Nahid MALAZİZİ

Realism loves war, war creates

monsters, monsters harm innocent

people, then innocent people turn into

monster

The Great Game Continue at the

Mediterranean

The south-west of Eurasia, the

Eastern Mediterranean, has

great geostrategic importance

where all kinds of commercial

materials coming through the Silk

Road were transported from the

Eastern Mediterranean. Therefore,

this region is now the interest of

all power centers and terrorist

groups. However, the Eastern

Mediterranean has turned into

a complete chaos geography

today. Especially after the 1990s

Soviet collapse and the unilateral

interventions of the USA and the

Western world, the most fertile

lands of the world, from Jabal-ol-

Tariq to Afghanistan, were irrigated

with blood. According to UN

reports, ten million people died in

conflict over thirty years.

One of the biggest losses here

is the disappearance of tourism

revenues. After World War II, in

the bipolar balance system tourism

had become a major source of

revenue for Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria,

Libya and Morocco off the eastern

Mediterranean coast. Alexandria,

Casablanca, Marrakech have always

the greatest share of world tourism

potential. In general, tourism’s

revenues had a significant place in

the economies of under developing

countries. However, after 1990, the

US destroyed societies, countries

and economies with the New World

System’ project.

İn the beginning the Western

project, launched in 2001, “Arab

Spring” , was for the liberation of socalled

oppressed societies. Peoples

would be freed from dictators and

encountered democracy. But this

was a western perspective. Because

these societies, have their own

deep cultural features therefore the

inputs created with the Western

logic would be counterproductive

here. That’s what happened. The

Arab Spring has brutally hit North

Africa and the Middle East. Three

geographies have descended into

chaos. Libya, Yemen and Syria.

In all three countries, civil wars,

asylum-seeking peoples, al-Qaedabased

terrorism continues and does

not seem to end.

The subject of this article is “ No

one is authorized to order. No one

is obliged to obey.” The logic of

examination the events that occurred

in Libya is within the framework of

the neorealist theory. This article

will try to answer the question of

“why developments in Libya since

2011 have a substantial importance

for the people of Eurasia”. The

reasons for the intensification of the

global power struggle in Libya are

also issue of this study.

Geopolitical Value of Libya

The eastern Mediterranean is

the entrance line to the African

continent, especially through the

ports of the countries of the North

African coasts. In this context,

throughout history, Egypt, Tunisia,

Algeria, Libya and Morocco have

been attractive for power centers.

The most important feature of

these countries is that they have

governments that are stingy

to their people in sharing their

wealth. Despite being democratic

states, the leaders have exhibited

dictatorial behavior. However,

this point of view is not always

right. Because by considering the

cultures of the countries, it is the

traditional management approach.

These leaders tried to prevent

their countries from being crushed

by imperialism after the Second

World War. Especially after their

membership to the United Nations,

they have undergone radical

changes and developed a more

democratic management style that

protects human rights over time.

However, when the Western states

attempted to implement their

norms in the process that started

with the Arab Spring, North Africa

was literally dragged into Chaos.

Libya of Gaddafi has suffered the

greatest damage.

Since the Middle Ages Libya has been

targeted by power centers during

the periods of the spread of Islam,


the local peoples of Libya,”Toureg”

carried out a great resistance, but

after a while they surrendered to

Muslims and chose Islam. The most

important result was the emergence

of a three-century-old Islamic

structure of Andalusia in Spain

with the participation of Libyan

Muslim fighters, and the fall of

major islands in the Mediterranean,

such as Malta, Sicily and Cyprus,

into the hands of Muslims. After

the collapse of the Fatemid dynasty

by Yavuz Sultan Selim during

the Ottoman Empire, the region

became an Ottoman geography.

Algeria, Tunisia and Libya became

the fortress of the Ottoman with

Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha, the

famous naval commander in that

period of time.

It is a relative situation that a dictator

constantly violates the human rights

in his country. Why is it relative?

This approximation, which is put

forward with a western perspective,

does not really take into account the

management approach shaped by

the historical origins and traditions

of these countries. Is this the right

approach? Obviously yes! Because

after Gaddafi’s overthrow, Libya

became to a blood lake. Today,

there is a civil war rising in front of

the eyes of the whole world.

New Imperialist Quests: European

Union Colonialism

Artificial uprisings launched in 2011

were touted into the world by a

beautiful name. The Arab Spring. In

fact, the name of the Mediterranean

and Near East Peoples Destruction

should have been more accurate. In

this vast geography, it is necessary

to look at both the creation of

new markets and the elimination

of administrations that prevent

the exploitation of their natural

resources as putting the project in

the field of implementation. Libya

was the head of this project. All of

the countries in the European Union

had individual interests. Especially

in terms of energy resources!

Therefore, the problem of energy

zones continues between TRNC,

GKRY, EU support and Greece

around the island of Cyprus. In

Libya, which is rich in oil and gas,

France, Italy, USA, England and

Germany are struggling seriously

outside the EU. While Italy tries to

maintain its advantage through the

oil company which has established

here for a long time, France, which

wants to recreate its former colonies

in Africa, does not stop fighting. It

pursues to create strong markets

in Africa, just like before the world

wars in England and Germany.

There is a remarkable point here.

He is also pursuing to dominate

Western imperialism in the

Eastern Mediterranean. But the

Mediterranean belongs to Eurasia

and in this struggle turkey is

trying to protect the rights of the

Eurasian peoples. Today the only

way to protect people’s rights is to

create stability in that geography.

However, while bringing peace

to the people of those regions, it

prevents the interests of those who

want to exploit the underground

and aboveground resources of that

region. However, when looking at

the event with a Liberal approach

instead of a realist perspective

it is against the interests of the

European states, but the necessity

to implement projects within the

framework of common interests

should be accepted. However, since

there is no tactic to prevent Western

imperialism within the current

conjuncture and since there is no

East-based collective co-operation,

the problem continues to grow

across the Mediterranean and in

Libya.


What actually happened in Libya?

The uprisings, which began in 2011

on the Arab Spring, have led to the

loss of dominance of Muammar

Gaddafi, who has ruled the country

since 1969. Then came NATO

intervention by United Nations

Security Council resolution 1973.

As a result, Gaddafi forces, which

were bombed from the air, were

neutralized and NATO, which

was unable to provide terrestrial

security, could not prevent a civil

war.

While groups in many different

factions are fighting each other,

Gaddafi was defamed in front of

the eyes of the whole world. The

civil war continued until 2013.

Meanwhile, al-Qaeda benefited

from the chaos Magrep al-Qaeda

extending from Libya-based Great

Sahara to Buku Haram in Nigeria,

, and to Al Shabab in Somalia

emerged. In this way, al-Qaeda

has obtained a rich source of

people, money and weapons from

Afghanistan to Cebeli Tarık.

Meanwhile, without providing

terrestrial security, the formation of

the United States and EU countries

began to work under the name of

the Libyan Coordination Group.

In 2013, after an unstable electoral

process in Libya, the National

Transition Council was established.

Fayiz es Serraç was elected as the

Prime Minister. The government

began to rule the country in

Trablus. However, there was also

an opposing faction. Khafter, one

of the generals of Gaddafi’s period,

did not accept this formation and

started a more brutal civil war by

establishing the Libyan National

Army in Tobruk.

But the countries that formed the

Libyan Coordination Group, which

is expected to do much, began an

internal conflict on their interests.

France started to act independently.

Because he didn’t want to lose his

initiative in Central Africa through

his Legionnaires’ troops, which

he had for many years in the

Sahara. Italy had the companies

that extracted from Libyan oil and

benefited it before the civil war

and did not want this procedure

to be broken. Germany pursued

its interests within two states,

and therefore by keeping its vote

as abstain supported in negative

way. The United States has long

been waging a separate plan in

the Mediterranean because it acted

directly in its own interests.

As a result, Libya turned into a

geography that could not survive

because of civil wars such as Syria

and Yemen.

Result

Here is a very important deficiency

in the above mentioned issues.

The main owners of Eurasia are

not included here A cooperation is

needed on the China-Central Asia-

Pakistan-Turkey line. Because the

lack of this kind of cooperation

causes the power union to be

missing.

Since 2011, Turkey is aware of this

situation and has abandoned its

passive stance and started to produce

active policies and put them in the

field of implementation. Military,

political and sociological practices

describe today’s geopolitics. If left

intervened, the vast geographies

from Africa to China, where half

the world’s population lives, will

continue to be negatively affected.

The writers are working in

Onbeş Kasım Kıbrıs University,

Mediterranean Strategic Research

Center, TRNC


Fear Contagion

Dr. Aamir Hanif

As cases of COVID-19

proliferate, there is a pandemic

of fear spreading at the same time

and at a much foster pace. Due to

easy reach of media, fear contagion

spreads like a fire. Watching

someone close to you fearing about

something will activate automatic

fear in you without even knowing

the cause of the fear. Mass media

coverage on Covid-19 spreading

and people suffering and dying

only add to their misery and push

an automatic panic button, leads to

unbearable mental stress, anxiety,

hoarding food stuff unnecessarily.

Animal studies show that fear

contagion sparks in animals e.g a

herd of antelopes sense a stalking

lion suddenly freeze, then quickly

sets off the alarm call and runs away

from the predator and suddenly

other antelopes follow.

Same fear phenomenon operates

in human beings. Our brain is

hardwired to respond to threats in

environment, deeply embedded

in our brain is an area called

Amygdala is a key to responding to

threats. It detects stimuli associated

with danger. After receiving the

dangerous signals, it passes the

signals to other parts of the brain,

including hypothalamus and brain

stem area to coordinate a specific

defense response. The responses are

in the form of fright, freeze, flight or

fight.

Human beings are exquisitely tuned

to other people’s survival reactions

and one person panicked, can

spread this fear to other member

of the community, triggering the

same or even worse fear reaction.

Experiments have shown another

area in the brain called “Anterior

Cingulate Cortex” plays a vital

role in this behavior response. It

senses danger signals and passes

on to Amygdala where the defense

response is set off.

Studies show that social

transformation of fear is more

robust in animals including human

beings trying to protect their genes

from vanishing. Once the fear alarm

is triggered it is very hard to control

as there is hardly any time to verify

the source of terror and this can

result in mass tragedies. Although,

it is difficult to prevent fear reaction

among humans especially when

modern world 24 hours media

keeps feeding the frightening and

horrible display of images and

videos on their screens.

However there are ways to

mitigate this reaction. Since it

is a social phenomenon many

rules that govern social behavior

apply. For example, fear can be

mitigated in the presence of calm

and confident leader who can,

with his behavior give confidence,

sense of responsibility, courage

and practical measures to adapt a

comprehensive approach towards

the fearful stimulus.

The writer is Founder CEO, Wellness

Lounge, Islamabad


ZINC: A Vital Micronutrient

Mehwish Idrees

Determined to be an essential

nutrient for humans in 1963,

zinc is an antioxidant and trace

mineral that we need to consume

daily, since our bodies cannot store

it. For this reason, we must get a

constant supply through diet. Zinc

primarily is involved in supporting

the immune system and hundreds

of enzymes needed for regulatory

and metabolic functions. It also is

essential for healthy growth and

development from in utero through

puberty.

Role in body:

Research shows that zinc has

numerous health benefits.

Boost Immune system:

Zinc helps keep your immune

system strong. Because it is necessary

for immune cell function and cell

signaling, a deficiency can lead to a

weakened immune response. Zinc

supplements stimulate particular

immune cells and reduce oxidative

stress.

Accelerates Wound Healing

Zinc is commonly used in hospitals

as a treatment for burns, certain

ulcers and other skin injuries

.Because this mineral plays critical

roles in collagen synthesis, immune

function and inflammatory

response, it is necessary for proper

healing. In fact, skin holds a

relatively high amount — about

5% — of your body›s zinc content

.While a zinc deficiency can slow

wound healing, supplementing

with zinc can speed recovery in

people with wounds.

May Reduce the Risk of Certain

Age-Related Diseases

Zinc may significantly reduce

your risk of age-related diseases,

such as pneumonia, infection and

age-related macular degeneration

(AMD). Zinc may relieve oxidative

stress and improve immune

response by boosting the activity

of T-cells and natural killer cells,

which help protect your body from

infection.

May Help Treat Acne

Acne is a common skin disease that

is estimated to affect up to 9.4% of the

global population. Acne is driven

by obstruction of oil-producing

glands, bacteria and inflammation.

Studies suggest that both topical

and oral zinc treatments can


effectively treat acne by reducing

inflammation, inhibiting the growth

of P. acnes bacteria and suppressing

oily gland activity. People with

acne tend to have lower levels of

zinc. Therefore, supplements may

help reduce symptoms.

Decreases Inflammation

Zinc decreases oxidative stress

and reduces levels of certain

inflammatory proteins in your body.

Oxidative stress leads to chronic

inflammation, a contributing factor

in a wide array of chronic illnesses,

such as heart disease, cancer and

mental decline .

Zinc may also provide benefits :

Burning mouth syndrome –

Patients with burning mouth

syndrome with low zinc had

a significant improvement

in symptoms after taking a

supplement for 6 months.

Prostate health – Animal studies

showed slight zinc deficiency

affected prostate health and

increased damage especially

during physical exercise.

Ageing – Zinc deficiency may

increase and cause ageing of

our cells due to its role in DNA.

Premature babies – Babies

born before term given zinc

supplements showed better

signs of brain development

with alertness and attention.

and a lower incidence

of brain problems. Zinc

supplementation reduces death

and illness in preterm babies.

Taste problems – Zinc

deficiency is shown to reduce

our sense of taste .

Night blindness – Zinc

deficiency is shown to reduce

our ability to see at night.

Crohns disease – Zinc

deficiency is more common in

patients with Crohn’s disease

and may increase the risk of

developing fistulas.

Growth in children – Zinc

supplementation improved

growth in short male children.

Sickle cell anaemia – Zinc

supplementation from an

early age significantly reduces

complications from sickle cell

anaemia.

Chemotherapy side effects –

A study showed children with

Leukaemia improved their risk

of infection and side effects of

chemotherapy when taking zinc

supplements. Low zinc levels

with head and neck cancer

resulted in larger and more

aggressive tumours, and more

complications .

Down’s syndrome – Zinc

deficiency is more common in

patients with Down’s Syndrome

and this increases the risk of

infection which can be corrected

by supplements.

Hypothyroidism – Zinc

supplements can improve T3

levels and decrease TSH levels

and improve conversion from

T4 (inactive form of thyroid

hormone) to T3 (active form) .

Deficiency Symptoms:

Symptoms of severe zinc deficiency

include :

Impaired growth and

development.

Delayed sexual maturity.

Skin rashes.

Chronic diarrhea.

Impaired wound healing.

Behavioral issues (Low mood,

memory, concentration)

Poor appetite

Loss of sense of taste, smell, and

appetite

Hypothyroidism

Impaired fertility

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Food Sources

Many animal and plant foods are

naturally rich in zinc, making it

easy for most people to consume

adequate amounts.

Foods highest in zinc include :

Meat: Beef, and chicken

Poultry: Turkey and chicken

Fish: Flounder, sardines,

salmon and sole

Legumes: Chickpeas, lentils,

black beans, kidney beans, etc.

Nuts and seeds: Pumpkin

seeds, cashews, hemp seeds,

etc.


Dairy products: Milk, yogurt

and cheese

Eggs

Whole grains: Oats, quinoa,

brown rice, etc.

Certain

vegetables:

Mushrooms, kale, peas,

asparagus and beet greens,

spinach, broccoli,

Animal products, such as meat and

shellfish, contain high amounts

of zinc in a form that your body

easily absorbs. Keep in mind that

zinc found in plant-based sources

like legumes and whole grains is

absorbed less efficiently because of

other plant compounds that inhibit

absorption. While many foods are

naturally high in zinc, certain foods

— such as ready-to-eat breakfast

cereals, snack bars and baking

flours — are fortified with zinc.

Recommended Dietary

Allowances:

Intake recommendations for zinc

and other nutrients are provided

in the Dietary Reference Intakes

(DRIs) developed by the Food

and Nutrition Board (FNB) at the

Institute of Medicine of the National

Academies. The recommended

daily amount of zinc is 8 milligrams

(mg) for women and 11 mg for adult

men. Pregnant and breastfeeding

women should consume 11 and 12

mg per day, respectively.

Dietary Supplementation:

Supplements contain several forms

of zinc, including zinc gluconate,

zinc sulfate, and zinc acetate.

The percentage of elemental zinc

varies by form. For example,

approximately 23% of zinc sulfate

consists of elemental zinc; thus,

220 mg of zinc sulfate contains 50

mg of elemental zinc. Research

has not determined whether

differences exist among forms of

zinc in absorption, bioavailability,

or tolerability.

Zinc Supplements available at

wellness Lounge:

Wellman contains 15 mg of zinc

which is ideal for those with

hectic life, boosts immune system

and particularly important for

men’s reproductive health.

Wellwoman contains 12 mg

of zinc, contributes to the

maintenance of nail, hair

and skin, boosts the normal

function of immune system and

hormonal stability.

Stresstabs contains 23.9 mg

of zinc, ideally important to

combat with stress.

The writer is expert Nutritionist at

Wellness Lounge, Islamabad


Mental Health:

A Safety Tool against COVID# 19

Sidra Naz

Corona Virus which is a

universal epidemic which is

spreading day by day. The thing

which is boosting its spread is the

way people are perceiving and

reacting. Before it affects physical

health, it is affecting the mental

health of people while leaving them

in a dilemma of what to do and

how to do. Factors associated with

the perception of this epidemic are

individual’s age, gender and social

environment. A child is inclined to

perceive it as threat, an adolescent

or adult is inclined to take it as

a challenge or rumors spreading

around and old aged person may

take it in some spiritual ways.

But one thing which is common

between Virus and environment is

element of universality, Covid#19

is universal and so as the media

exposure to every part of the world,

no matter what age or gender it is.

Whatever information comes

through media, it is perceived

differently from individuals. Some

may get panic and other may

not. Some react out of no way

and others may take time to think

about validity of information and

how to respond as well. These

two modules are closely linked to

spread of this epidemic, but one

is in favor and other is against of

it. There exist a short journey of

having a clear understanding about

how and why things happens and

what consequences do we have as

result of our behaviors.

We receive information through

our senses but sight and hearing

are most frequently used. What

we see or hear, we perceive it

either negative or positive and

give meaning to stimuli on basis

of perception. That meaning is

strongly effective for mental health

that a negative perception and

meaning leaves individual in a

Panic situation with lots of anxiety

and stress. In state of stress, focused

is narrowed as mind is busy giving

attention to a particular situation

while ignoring the rest of the

picture. In state of anxiousness

hormones which are released

“Adrenaline, Norepinephrine and

Cortisol” these three boost stress

level in body and individual may

go through physiological changes.

Following are the physiological

disturbance stemming out of stress

and anxiety:

Palpitation

Shortness of breath

Sweating

Muscles tension

Restlessness

Sleep disturbance

Headache

But on the other hand, if

individual controls his nerves,

try to understand the situation,

it is possible to come up with

precautionary measures. Being easy

and less stressed, person is open

to options and solutions. Energy

is maintained and directed toward

solution focused approach instead

of problem focused approach.

The core difference between two

personalities, one is stressed and

other is not, that is acceptance of

situation and reality. Once person

accepts environmental changes

and happenings, it becomes easy to

modify individual’s behavior which

is required from the environment.

The chemical which is boosting

individual’s energy and thinking

ability to cope up with the situation

is called “Serotonin”. Serotonin

help is individual’s wellbeing,

social behaviors, sleep-wake

cycle, agent against depression

and appetite-digestion as well.

There are numerous foods that

boost Serotonin level such as Eggs,

Banana, Nuts, Dark Chocolate,

Yogurt, Blueberries and so on. One

must maintain his physical health

as well psychological health to curb

such epidemic and psychological

issues associated to this COVID#

19.

Let’s Respond Instead of Reactions

There is a lot of information about

do’s and don’ts. People are listening

and reacting and some are accepting

things without thinking critically

and other are doing just criticism.

This is not a solution focused

approach but problem focused.

Listen what is available to you,

think it by your own that what

seems right to you and what does

not. Do what is suitable for you and

others as well. But not doing what

others are doing just to be the part

of that crowd.

The writer works for Wellness Lounge


Interview with Dr Aamir Hanif

Founder and CEO, Wellness Lounge, Islamabad

1. Tell us briefly about yourself ?

Answer. I am a Family Medicine

Consultant with more than seven

years of experience.

I have obtained my postgraduate

education and training in Family

Medicine in the UK. I have also

completed the MRCGP (Member

of the Royal College of General

Practitioners) and DRCOG

( Diplomat Royal College of

Gynecologists & Obstetrics) in the

UK. I am also a dermatology expert,

having received my qualifications in

the Australia. I also hold expertise

in Aesthetics Medicine.

I also have special interest in

teaching and provide training and

teaching to the medical students

as a faculty supervisor in the Qatar

State University

Currently, I am providing my

services in the UK, Middle East and

Pakistan.

2- What was the reason behind

opening magnificent clinic as

Wellness lounge and what is

the vision and its mission?

Answer- Envisioned with passion

for a long time about establishing

unique and standard wellness

services in Pakistan especially

focusing on the preventive aspect

of the health and bring healthy

transformation in the physical

and mental health of the society, I

founded the Wellness Lounge, a

state-of-the-Art clinic located in

Islamabad in May 2018.

Our vision is to promote high

quality comprehensive health

services under one roof at an

affordable price within the reach of

the community at their doorstep in

every part of the country by 2030.

Our mission is to bring a healthy

transformational lifestyle change

in our nation in order to produce

health minds and bodies by

collaborating with the stakeholders

and other corporate partners to

implement this innovative concept

of changed minds.

3- What are the various services

that you are offering in

Wellness lounge

Answer. At the Wellness Lounge,

we are offering services under four

main pillars including;

I. Hair Care and Hair Transplant

Services

II. Clinical Dermatology and

Aesthetics Dermatology

III. Lifestyle Medicine and Weight

Management Services

IV. Family Medicine, Preventive

Medicine and Specialist Services

At the Wellness Lounge, our main

focus is to promote a healthy

lifestyle, including healthy nutrition,

exercise, reducing sedentary

behaviors, increase awareness

and education on the importance

of active healthy behaviors, enjoy

stress relaxing therapies including

yoga, Zumba, meditation therapies.

We also offer curative therapies


such as hair care including

hair transplant, dermatological

problems, treatment of obesity

and chronic diseases including

diabetes mellitus, hypertension,

dyslipidemia, asthma, arthritis

etc. We also offer mental health

treatments and services including

counseling and psychological

services.

4- You are also doing some

welfare work in Pakistan,

briefly explain Wellness Trust?

Answer. Helping others is my

passion and this brings me very

close to the almighty Allah. A

persistent burning desire to help

the needy people started a new

chapter in my life. This spark of

enthusiasm and compassion paved

a way to start a welfare organization

called Wellness Trust, located in

Islamabad, which aims to help the

needy people across the country. In

Wellness Trust, we aim to achieve

our six main sustainable goals

I. Healthcare

II. Education

III. Clean water

IV. Green environment

V. Entrepreneurship

VI. Leadership

We regularly arrange free medical

camps in underprivileged areas

such as we arranged a free

medical camp in the Shah Allah

Ditta area, Karianwala in Gujrat

district, Saidpur village and also in

multiple events within the city. In

these medical camps we provided

free medical consultations, free

medicines, free glucose check, BMI

and blood pressure checks etc. We

also focus on the provision of free

education to the underprivileged

areas and currently we are running

an eco-school project in the Shah

Allah Ditta area near Islamabad.

We have successfully completed

plantation campaign in and around

Islamabad in collaboration with

our partner organization such as

Friends of Environment. we are also

running entrepreneurship projects

in the same underprivileged area

that involves providing skills,

confidence and empowerment to

the local men and women in the

community.

Our aim is to provide basic human

needs to our nation, mainly to the

underprivileged area in Pakistan,

give them self-confidence, skills

and build up their motivation

and leadership skills for them to

stand on their feet and play their

productive role in the society.

5- What do you think about

health system in Pakistan?

Answer. Our country’s healthcare

system is in a critical condition

due to lack of political will,

lack of infrastructure, very low

expenditure on health care. One of

the important facts is that our health

system depends on the secondary

care where people are treated with

poor services in the hospital and

hardly there is any infrastructure or

understanding of the primary care.

This no awareness or education

about the preventive side of the

health and people rather rely on the

crippled secondary care hospitals

already taking the crunch of the

overburdened population.

I personally feel that there should

be a robust healthcare system in the

country where primary healthcare

should be the backbone of the

healthcare system. This will not only

change people’s mindset towards

healthy behaviors and prevention

of most diseases but also reduces

significant toll on the hospitals and

ultimately government spending.


PSCOFF NEWSLETTER

Shanghai Cooperation Organization Studies Centre

Building Bridges through an Informed Dialogue

April 2020

Vladimir Norov: Collective efforts needed to fight

coronavirus

15-04-2020: Secretary General of the Shanghai

Cooperation Organization Vladimir Norov told the

about the cooperation of the SCO countries in the

conditions of the global pandemic, about the

unpreparedness of major international structures and

alliances to crises and about the fact that no state can

provide its own security by suppressing the

coronavirus only on its territory

SCO HIGHLIGHTS

* * * * *

23-04-2020: Vladimir

Norov: Solidarity,

cooperation are the only

right choices. Article by

SCO Secretary-General

for China Daily

http://eng.sectsco.org/news/20200415/642598.html

President of the Weidong Group visits SCO

Secretariat

11-04-2020: On 10 April, SCO Secretary-General

Vladimir Norov met with President of the Weidong

Cloud Education Group Wang Duanrui.

The parties discussed the situation with the spread of

the coronavirus in the world. The Secretary-General

noted that the fight against COVID-19 in China is

approaching its final stage due to the courage and

perseverance of the Chinese people, as well as the

timely and comprehensive measures taken by the

PRC leadership.

PakistanSCOFF

* * * * *

Pakistan Shanghai Cooperation

Friendship Forum is an initiative of

Shanghai Cooperation Organization

Studies Centre, a research centre at

Institute of Peace and Diplomatic

Studies Islamabad.

@PakistanSCOFF

@IPDS_Pakistan



SCO Secretary-General meets with Belarusian

Ambassador to China

09-04-2020: On 9 April, SCO Secretary-General Vladimir

Norov received Ambassador Extraordinary and

Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the People's

Republic of China Nikolai Snopkov.

The Secretary-General congratulated the Ambassador on his

appointment and described Belarus as one of the most active

observer states in the SCO.


SCO HIGHLIGHTS

* * * * *

14-04-2020: Russian

Presidency in SCO:

Muhammad Asif Noor

SCO Secretary-General meets with Ambassador of

Tajikistan to China Parviz Davlatzoda

09-04-2020: On 9 April, Secretary-General of the Shanghai

Cooperation Organisation Vladimir Norov met with

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the

Republic of Tajikistan to the People's Republic of China

Parviz Davlatzoda.

During the meeting, they discussed the continuation of

multilateral cooperation within the SCO amid the coronavirus

pandemic.


The SCO Secretary-General meets with the Chairman of

Sinopharm Corporation

06-04-2020: SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov met

with the Chairman of Sinopharm, a major Chinese

pharmaceutical corporation, Liu Jingzhen, on 1 April.

They exchanged views on the epidemiological situation

around the world and the measures being adopted by the SCO

member states to combat COVID-19.



CPEC, BRI and China Bulletin

INSTITUTE OF PEACE AND DIPLOMATIC STUDIES

Building Bridges through an Informed Dialogue

April 2020

PM Khan decides to resume working on CPEC projects

03-04-2020: Prime Minister Imran Khan resumes all the projects

related to infrastructure and energy projects. For the resumption

of all China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he has ordered

a relief package for the construction industry that will delivered

on Friday.

The premier also ordered the formation of a Codal Research

Committee (CRC) for developing an action plan that would

enable the capital and provinces to simultaneously deal with

COVID-19’s brunt on the country’s economy.

http://cpecinfo.com/pm-decides-to-resume-work-on-cpecprojects/

China publishes a timeline on contribution towards COVID-

19's

06-04-2020: China publishes a timeline of the shared information

and advanced international assistance in the fight against

coronavirus.

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC)

Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping, China has taken the

most extensive, the sternest, and the most rigorous prevention and

control measures to combat the pandemic. In their determined

struggle against the coronavirus, 1.4 billion Chinese people have

managed in tough times and paid an enormous price and

sacrificed a lot

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-04/06/c_138951662.htm

CPEC HIGHLIGHTS

* * * * *

15-4-2020: 19 KMs long,4

lanes East Bay Expressway at

Gwadar Port underway with

64% of the work complete.

16-4-2020: Asim Bajwa’s

meeting with China Three

Gorges Company to review

progress of Karot Hydel

Power. The project to generate

720 MW electricity and create

4800 jobs

19-4-2020: Karot hydropower

project is currently employing

4000 labors. 100 local students

are on scholarships to China

for engineering degree

20-4-2020: CPEC megaproject

on the railway, Main Line

(ML-1) has reached an

advanced stage and soon

would be started

BRI, CPEC &

CHINA

BULLETIN

* * * * *

BRI, CPEC & China Bulletin is an

initiative of Institute of Peace and

Diplomatic Studies Islamabad.

@IPD_newsletter

@IPDS_Pakistan


BRI HIGHLIGHTS

* * * * *

10-4-2020: The COVID-19

pandemic threatens to cause a

flow of economic crises along

China’s Belt and Road

Initiative (BRI)

19-4-2020: CPEC ML-1 is the

largest single CEPC infra

project, to generate huge

employment, revolutionize

railway/improve logistics.

CPEC's scope to be enhanced in 2nd phase: Pakistani

official

09-04-2020: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is

at an important transition with the launch of its second phase. In

the second phase, Pak-China intend to launch its second phase

to add additional sectors that include agriculture and tourism

according to a Pakistani official. He also rejected ejecting

statements of the multi-billion-dollar project slowing down

because of the coronavirus.

China's economy shrinks for the first time in decades

11-4-2020: The first phase of

CEPC Smart-University

Project intends to build 50

pilot universities.

China to contribute Rs2 billion for smart-university EPEC

project in Pakistan

17-04-2020: The world’s second-largest economy has declined

as factories and businesses were shut down because of the

COVID-19 pandemic. The shrink has been noted for the first

time after the spread of the virus in the first three months of

2020. China is a powerhouse as an important consumer and

producer in the world economy. The decline in the Chinese

economy because of the virus is raising serious concern for

other countries as well.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-52319936

.

11-04- 2020: China will provide Rs. 2.048 billion for the

completion of the smart-university project in Pakistan. The

smart-university project is an initiative of the China-Pakistan

Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework to enhance Pakistan's

economic and social development.

-

BRI HIGHLIGHTS

* * * * *

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/scope-ofcpec-to-be-enhanced-in-2nd-phase-pakistaniofficial/articleshow/75064819.cms?from=mdr

https://nation.com.pk/11-Apr-2020/china-will-provide-rs2-

billion-for-smart-university-project-in-pakistaninses

TCM valuable to treat viral infectious diseases

17-04-2020: The Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has

played a crucial role in treating viral infectious diseases from

experiences drawn in the process of treating the COVID-19

epidemic, said a Chinese TCM according to an

expert. According to Wang Wei, deputy head of the Beijing

University of Chinese Medicine, stated that with a novel and

unknown disease such as the COVID-19 TCM is of unique

advantage. He further added the assistance of TCM with

pathogenesis analysis on the ground of symptoms, timing,

area, season and other factors and conduct the treatment

based on TCM's syndrome differentiation.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2020-

04/17/c_138986083.htm

IPD Proceedings

* * * * *

Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies

in collaboration with Riphah Institute of

Public Policy and Riphah University

organised a Seminar on “Strategies and

Synergies in Agriculture under CPEC” on

May 2 2020.


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The Diplomatic Insight April 2020

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