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REMARKS BY PRIME MINISTER SYED YUSUF RAZA GILANI, IN THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SESSION, ON HIS VISIT TO SHARM EL SHEIKH
Madam Speaker,
I would like to avail this opportunity to take this august house into confidence on my visit to Sharm El Sheikh from 14-17 July 2009 to attend the 15 th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), on the sidelines of which I had the occasion of meeting Prime Minister of India and a host of other participating leaders.
Madam Speaker,
NAM Summit's focus was on “International Solidarity for Peace and Development.” It also deliberated on the global financial and economic crisis.
Pakistan believes that the Non-Aligned Movement represents a strong moral voice on the international plane – responding principled positions on peace and security as well as economic and social issues on the global agenda. During my address to the Summit , I reaffirmed Pakistan 's strong commitment to advancing NAM 's core principles of sovereign equality; self-determination; non-aggression' non-interference; and peaceful co-existence.
I shared Pakistan 's perspective on ways of addressing the global financial and economic crisis – particularly emphasizing the need to avoid protectionism, ensure increased market access, and comprehensively reform the International Financial Institutions (IFIs). I also suggested an 8-point programme of action for NAM to promote the objectives of peace and development at the international level, most of which were included in Summit 's final documents.
The NAM Summit provided a welcome opportunity to apprise the world community of Pakistan 's strategic priorities of peace and development as well as of our vision of a moderate, progressive, democratic, Islamic Pakistan. In this context, I highlighted our strong national determination and the actions undertaken by us to counter terrorism and militancy. I particularly mentioned the sacrifices rendered by our security forces and the people of Pakistan in combating this menace. I mentioned that the entire nation was united on this issue and there was across-the-board support of all political forces and state institutions for eliminating the menace of militancy and terror.
On the Summit 's sidelines, I had bilateral meetings with several participating leaders – including the Presidents of Sri Lanka and Afghanistan and the Prime Ministers of India , Bangladesh and Nepal . As is evident, Madam Speaker, my particular focus was on reinforcing our relationships with South Asian neighbours and fostering Pakistan 's role and vital contribution to peace and stability in South Asia .
Madam Speaker,
As you and the Honourable Members are aware, my meeting with the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh on 16 July was of special significance. This was our second summit-level contact with India recently, following President of Pakistan's meeting with Dr. Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Yekaterinburg , Russia , on 16 June 2009 .
Before departure for Sharm El Sheikh, I had consulted and taken on-board the President of Pakistan, national political leadership, both inside and outside the Parliament and of the State Institutions, about my visit and meeting with the Indian Prime Minister. I am grateful for their highly positive response and the trust and confidence they reposed in me. It was on the strength of this political consensus that I conferred with Dr. Manmohan Singh and conveyed our desire for forward movement in Pakistan-India relations. I emphasized that the only way forward was dialogue.
Pakistan had, from the outset, indicated to India that we would have an open mind and a constructive approach. We had made clear our desire to discuss all issues, including terrorism, and to seek a resumption of the Composite Dialogue process.
My meeting with Dr. Manmohan Singh was very cordial. It went far beyond the scheduled time as we exchanged views on all issues. I apprised him of the national consensus in Pakistan on moving toward normalization of relations with India , by settling all disputes and issues, particularly the Kashmir dispute and water issues. The Honourable Members of National Assembly have seen the Joint Statement, which illustrates the wide range of subjects we discussed and our resolve to chart the way forward for Pakistan-India relations.
Specifically, the Joint Statement re-affirms Pakistan 's commitment to bring the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks to justice; acknowledges that terrorism is the main threat to both countries; and affirms the resolve to cooperate with each other to fight terrorism. The two countries also agreed to share real-time, credible and actionable information on any future terrorist threats. I also expressed our serious concerns over Indian interference in Balochistan and other areas of Pakistan .
The Joint Statement recognizes that dialogue is the only way forward. It underlines that action on terrorism should not be linked to the Composite Dialogue process and these two matters should not be bracketed. India reiterated its readiness to discuss all issues with Pakistan , including all outstanding issues.
Dr. Manmohan Singh and I agreed that the real challenges are development and elimination of poverty and we should work to eliminate the factors that prevent our countries from realizing their full potential. We agreed to create an atmosphere of mutual trust and confidence. We further reaffirmed our intention to promote regional cooperation in South Asia .
As for future contacts, it was agreed that the Foreign Secretaries should meet as often as necessary and the two Foreign Ministers would meet in New York on the sidelines of the UNGA in September 2009.
Madam Speaker,
Pakistan 's approach on relations with India is clear and consistent, supported by all stakeholders. We want to have a friendly, cooperative and good-neighbourly relationship, based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and mutual interest. Pakistan is cognizant of the need for effectively addressing the issue of terrorism, which is a regional and global issue. Pakistan has been the victim of terrorism. We are concerned over the external support from certain quarters in terms of funding and supply of weapons to terrorists and militants. These matters were taken up firmly and squarely in our meeting in Sharm El Sheikh. We believe that no country -- Pakistan , India , or Afghanistan -- should allow their territory to be used for terrorist purposes against any other. It is important to strictly adhere to the principles of non-intervention and non-interference.
Pakistan further believes that sustained dialogue and engagement are the real way forward. It is important to resume the Composite Dialogue process, which made some progress in several areas in the past and offers the promise of measured steps towards resolution of all outstanding issues notably the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. It is our conviction that durable peace and stability in South Asia can only be established by making meaningful progress toward resolving the outstanding issues. The water issues also need to be settled and in this context we have underscored the need for respecting and abiding by the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Madam Speaker,
We have seen some disquiet being expressed in India by certain circles on the outcome of the Sharm El Sheikh summit. We believe, at this historic juncture, it is imperative not to be swayed by partisan considerations. It is essential to keep our sights on the long-term vision. The summit outcome must not be viewed in a zero-sum perspective. This is a win-win for both sides, as the cause of peace in South Asia has been advanced.
We, in Pakistan , have no doubt about Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's sincerity, in working to improve Pakistan-India relations by addressing the issues that have divided us or bedeviled our relations for decades. We agree that engagement and comprehensive dialogue on all issues is the only way forward to realize the vision of a stable and prosperous South Asia .
At the end, I would like to reiterate my firm belief that Pakistan and India are both important countries in South Asia . We together could make a huge contribution to regional cooperation under SAARC. As I stated during my address to the NAM Summit, the peace dividend from an improved relationship between India and Pakistan would be enormous for the 1.5 billion people of South Asia .
Thank you very much.
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