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Rule of law critical for international peace, security: Pakistan

17 October 2012 21:31 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Pakistani permanent representative to the United Nations Masood Khan said here Wednesday that "the rule of law is critical for a just world and international peace and security," APA reports quoting Xinhua.

"The quest for justice and rule of law has been central to the march of civilization," he said while taking the floor at an open debate of the UN Security Council on the promotion and strengthening of the rule of law in the maintenance of international peace and security.

"International law contributes directly to the world peace," he said. "The rule of law is strengthened if there are no exceptions or double standards in the application of international law."

"The Security Council promotes rule of law by greater use of the means for pacific settlement of disputes and more frequent recourse to the International Court of Justice," he said.

"There should be no impunity for the most egregious crimes and mass atrocities," he said. "Peace and justice go hand in hand. In post-conflict situations, there is a time for healing, a time for moving on, a time for closure, and a time for reconciliation -- reconciliation that is not motivated by political expediencies but one which aims to unify hostile and disparate segments of population."

"The tension between demands of justice and peace must be resolved in a balanced and sustainable manner," he said. "Threats of prosecutions must not fuel conflicts or complicate peace building efforts."