Pakistan, Ukraine to Boost Bilateral Ties as Russian Journalist Expelled From Press Conference

Jerusalem, 20 July, 2023 (TPS) -- ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: July 20, 2023, (DND – Pakistan News Agency)

Ukrainian Minister for Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba met with Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif in Islamabad on Thursday. Minutes before Kuleba’s joint press conference with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, a Russian journalist was expelled from the media event.

Kuleba is on a bilateral visit to Pakistan from July 20-21, 2023. The two resolved to enhance bilateral relations the areas of food security, trade, investment, defense, education and culture. The two also agreed to boost ties through other areas of mutual interest including the security situation in South Asia and Eurasia.

The prime minister highlighted that the conflict in Ukraine has had a significant global impact that had hurt the economies of many countries and stressed the need for a negotiated and diplomatic settlement.

Speaking at a joint news conference with Kuleba, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said, “We aspire to build mutually beneficial relationship that contributes to the prosperity and wellbeing of our nations.”

Zardari offered Islamabad’s condolences on Ukraine’s loss of life and suffering.

Zardari in particular expressed appreciation for Ukrainian support of resolutions on countering religious hatred, consistent incitements to discrimination, hostilities and violence at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

A Russian journalist, Ruslan Bekniyazov of Russia’s ITAR-TASS News Agency, was expelled by from the press conference minutes before it began. The Russian Federation expressed its serious dismay about this. In response, the Russian embassy in Pakistan tweeted, “It is inadmissible to violate reporters’ rights to access information.”

The embassy also requested the Pakistani Foreign Ministry provide clarification on the incident.