Blair assures long-term assistance
British Prime Minister Tony Blair assured Pakistan that the United Kingdom would extend full help and assistance to Pakistan in its long-term process of reconstruction in the earthquake-devastated areas.
He gave the assurance during a 30-minute meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here. The two leaders decided to strengthen bilateral cooperation in fighting terrorism and promoting trade economic relations between the two countries.
Talking to the media after the meeting, the British prime minister said the UK and other members of the EU would continue their help to Pakistan in its relief and reconstruction work. Blair said he once again expressed his solidarity and sympathies with Pakistan. "We will continue to help Pakistan, and our help and assistance will continue in future," he added.
He paid tributes to the government and people of Pakistan for facing the quake tragedy with courage and resilience. He said the people in UK had also expressed deep sense of solidarity with the people and government of Pakistan.
Referring to Pakistan’s role in the fight against terrorism, Blair said he also discussed the issue of terrorism with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and added that they agreed to further boost the cooperation between the two countries to tackle the menace globally.
The British prime minister said that regional issues—including Kashmir and Afghanistan—were also discussed during the meeting and he appreciated the continuing dialogue process between Pakistan and India and expressed the hope that both the countries would find a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said, "We had very useful discussion including on terrorism, trade, bilateral relations, Pak-India relations and other regional issues." He said that terms of terrorism he explained that Pakistan opposed terrorism in all its forms and manifestation. "We have fought the whole war against terrorism because we believe that the world needs peace."
The prime minister said: "We stand together, we have to share security information. We have to go after the elements who are trying to destabilise the world. He said the cooperation between the two countries was really exemplary and added it would continue because, "whatever we do together will help world peace and security".
Shaukat said Pakistan was a country committed to peace in the region and the world and added, "We see our self as anchor of peace and stability in the region." The prime minister said he briefed his British counterpart, Tony Blair, about his recent meetings with Indian external affairs minister and added that Pakistan believed in settling all issues through dialogue and discussions and these were complex issues including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, where Pakistan had talked to Indian government and leadership to find a solution to this major issue.
He said, "We are making steady progress and I think overall the relations between the two countries are moving in right directions, but we do believe that sustainable peace in South Asia will be achieved when the issue of Kashmir is addressed in line with the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people."
The prime minister said with Afghanistan, Iran and the whole region, Pakistan was engaged to promote policy of peace, promote economic cooperation and to promote the ability that the whole region could live with each other in peace.
Replying to a question, Prime Minister Blair appreciated the dialogue process between Pakistan and India and said the opening of five points across the Line of Control would help ease tension in the region. "We all want to see progress on the issue of Kashmir," he said. The relationship between Pakistan and India is lot better today and we want to see it make progress."
He said India and Pakistan were two great countries with enormous contribution in the region and the world and its very important that their disputes were resolved. Blair said, "We and other members of the international community, we want to do anything we can to help this process."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and his Malaysian Counterpart, Abdullah Badwai, held talks here on Friday on the sidelines of the Commonwealth summit and discussed bilateral issues and ways to promote trade and economic relations between the two countries.
The prime minister also discussed the forthcoming OIC meeting being held in Saudi Arabia next month. They agreed that the OIC should be made more effective and vibrant body to resolve the problems of Muslim Ummah and to project Islam and its true values. The two prime ministers discussed promotion of agricultural relations between the two countries and decided to make Hong Kong round of talks on this topic to develop the agri sector.
He gave the assurance during a 30-minute meeting with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz here. The two leaders decided to strengthen bilateral cooperation in fighting terrorism and promoting trade economic relations between the two countries.
Talking to the media after the meeting, the British prime minister said the UK and other members of the EU would continue their help to Pakistan in its relief and reconstruction work. Blair said he once again expressed his solidarity and sympathies with Pakistan. "We will continue to help Pakistan, and our help and assistance will continue in future," he added.
He paid tributes to the government and people of Pakistan for facing the quake tragedy with courage and resilience. He said the people in UK had also expressed deep sense of solidarity with the people and government of Pakistan.
Referring to Pakistan’s role in the fight against terrorism, Blair said he also discussed the issue of terrorism with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and added that they agreed to further boost the cooperation between the two countries to tackle the menace globally.
The British prime minister said that regional issues—including Kashmir and Afghanistan—were also discussed during the meeting and he appreciated the continuing dialogue process between Pakistan and India and expressed the hope that both the countries would find a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said, "We had very useful discussion including on terrorism, trade, bilateral relations, Pak-India relations and other regional issues." He said that terms of terrorism he explained that Pakistan opposed terrorism in all its forms and manifestation. "We have fought the whole war against terrorism because we believe that the world needs peace."
The prime minister said: "We stand together, we have to share security information. We have to go after the elements who are trying to destabilise the world. He said the cooperation between the two countries was really exemplary and added it would continue because, "whatever we do together will help world peace and security".
Shaukat said Pakistan was a country committed to peace in the region and the world and added, "We see our self as anchor of peace and stability in the region." The prime minister said he briefed his British counterpart, Tony Blair, about his recent meetings with Indian external affairs minister and added that Pakistan believed in settling all issues through dialogue and discussions and these were complex issues including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, where Pakistan had talked to Indian government and leadership to find a solution to this major issue.
He said, "We are making steady progress and I think overall the relations between the two countries are moving in right directions, but we do believe that sustainable peace in South Asia will be achieved when the issue of Kashmir is addressed in line with the wishes and aspirations of the Kashmiri people."
The prime minister said with Afghanistan, Iran and the whole region, Pakistan was engaged to promote policy of peace, promote economic cooperation and to promote the ability that the whole region could live with each other in peace.
Replying to a question, Prime Minister Blair appreciated the dialogue process between Pakistan and India and said the opening of five points across the Line of Control would help ease tension in the region. "We all want to see progress on the issue of Kashmir," he said. The relationship between Pakistan and India is lot better today and we want to see it make progress."
He said India and Pakistan were two great countries with enormous contribution in the region and the world and its very important that their disputes were resolved. Blair said, "We and other members of the international community, we want to do anything we can to help this process."
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and his Malaysian Counterpart, Abdullah Badwai, held talks here on Friday on the sidelines of the Commonwealth summit and discussed bilateral issues and ways to promote trade and economic relations between the two countries.
The prime minister also discussed the forthcoming OIC meeting being held in Saudi Arabia next month. They agreed that the OIC should be made more effective and vibrant body to resolve the problems of Muslim Ummah and to project Islam and its true values. The two prime ministers discussed promotion of agricultural relations between the two countries and decided to make Hong Kong round of talks on this topic to develop the agri sector.
posted by Ash at 5:31 AM
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