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PR. No.184/2008

Date: 19/06/2008   

FOREIGN MINISTER'S MEETINGS IN KAMPALA

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi met with his counterparts from Turkey , Nigeria , Uganda , Kyrgyzstan , Senegal and Albania in Kampala , Uganda today. The Foreign Minister is visiting Kampala to attend the 35 th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM).

Turkey

Pakistan and Turkey enjoy close bilateral relations, they have similarity of views on international and regional issues, and they cooperate closely in multilateral fora. Foreign Minister Ali Babacan said Turkey and Pakistan had a “special relationship” which, agreeing with Foreign Minister Qureshi, he said was a people to people relationship in its true sense.

The two Foreign Ministers underlined the need to revitalise OIC as an effective organization. The adoption of a new Charter in the last OIC Summit was an important step in that direction. They also underscored the importance of forming a coordinated strategy by OIC in the multilateral organizations, particularly Islamic countries voting as a bloc by the OIC member countries for each other's candidatures.

Nigeria

The Foreign Minister, in his meeting with Mr. Al Haji Tijjani Yahaya Kaura, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, stated that Pakistan and Nigeria traditionally shared good relations and the two sides should build on them. To boost trade, Pakistan would open a trade office in Lagos

The Foreign Minister stated that Oil and Gas Development Corporation (OGDC) of Pakistan had vast experience in oil and gas exploration as well as in laying networks. It has the skills, technology and trained manpower to carry out such projects. He asked Nigeria to provide opportunities to OGDC in its oil and gas sector.

The two sides also agreed to work together closely to fight the menace of drugs trafficking.

Uganda

The Foreign Minister, in his meeting with Mr. Sam Kutesa, Foreign Minister of Uganda thanked him for the excellent arrangements for the OIC CFM. He expressed gratitude for Uganda 's support for Pakistan 's election to the Human Rights Council. He urged his Ugandan counterpart to lift tariffs imposed by his government on Pakistani rice.

The Foreign Minister extended an invitation to the Ugandan Foreign Minister to visit Pakistan along with a business delegation, including Ugandan businessmen of Pakistani origin who are contributing to the economic development of their country. The Ugandan Foreign Minister accepted the invitation.

The Foreign Minister assured his Ugandan counterpart that Pakistan would continue to provide scholarships to Ugandan students under its technical assistance programme.

Kyrgyzstan

In his meeting with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister, Foreign Minister Qureshi underscored the importance Pakistan attached to its close friendly bilateral relations with Kyrgyzstan which are also expanding through the platforms of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). Foreign Minister Qureshi said Pakistan will host the Eighteenth ECO Council of Ministers and Tenth ECO Summit in Islamabad later this year and looking forward to welcoming the Kyrgyz Foreign Minister and President Kurmanbek Bakayev at the meetings.

Foreign Minister Qureshi said the Karakoram Highway provided an easy access for Kyrgyzstan to Pakistani seaports. Pakistan attached great importance to the seamless operationlization of the Quadrilateral Agreement for Traffic in Transit which facilitates this access. In addition to Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan , China and Kazakhstan are part of this agreement.

The Kyrgyz Foreign Minister expressed satisfaction over the cordial relationship between the two countries. He agreed with Foreign Minster Qureshi that political will on both sides for closer relations should also transform into enhanced economic cooperation.

Senegal

During his meeting with Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, Foreign Minister of Senegal, Foreign Minister Qureshi urged his Senegalese counterpart that the inaugural session of the bilateral Joint Ministerial Commission should be held at an early date. He said that Pakistan could provide good quality rice to Senegal at competitive prices. He added that a Senegalese delegation was awaited in Pakistan to enhance bilateral economic cooperation and interaction.

The Senegalese Foreign Minister asked for Pakistan's assistance in provision of know how and technology in agriculture sector, especially in rice cultivation. The Foreign Minister assured him of Pakistan 's cooperation in the sector.

Albania

Foreign Minister Qureshi and Foreign Minister of Albania Lulzim Basha expressed satisfaction over the status of bilateral relations, and hoped that they would be further strengthened in the days to come. The Albanian Foreign Minister agreed with Foreign Minister Qureshi that the economic dimension of the relationship needed to be further strengthened. The two also discussed the possibility of joint ventures and investments in the fields of banking and pharmaceuticals, and agreed that an institutional mechanism needed to be devised between the two countries to follow up on these and other proposals.

The Foreign Minister thanked Mr. Basha for the invaluable support of Albania to the Kashmir cause that had consistently been provided by the Government of Albania over the years.

The Albanian Foreign Minister greatly appreciated the support and help provided by Pakistan in capacity building of Albanian civil servants. Many of the senior bureaucrats of the Albanian Government had been trained in Pakistan .

The Foreign Minister of Albania also invited Foreign Minister Qureshi to visit Albania . The Foreign Minister accepted the invitation.

Islamabad

19 June 2008