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PR. No. 227/2009

Date: 08/06/2009   

FODP MEETING AT MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi presided over a meeting of the Friends of Democratic Pakistan (FODP) countries/institutions representatives based in Islamabad at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.  This was a first joint meeting with FODP partners following the Tokyo Ministerial Meeting on 17 April 2009.

In his opening remarks, the Foreign Minister underlined that the FODP process has emerged as an important framework for the international community to assist Pakistan in addressing its socio-economic development and security challenges.  He said the process seeks to build partnership in pursuit of Pakistan’s vision of a democratic, progressive, welfare state, committed to consolidation of democratic institutions, the rule of law, good governance, achieving socio-economic advancement, economic reforms and overcoming the challenges posed by terrorism and extremism.

The Foreign Minister also reviewed the progress made since the launch of the initiative by President Asif Ali Zardari in New York in September 2008.  He said that in pursuance of the decisions taken at the Tokyo Meeting, the FODP Secretariat has been established at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate its work.  Working Groups have also been set up to pursue the projects as identified under the clusters of Development, Security, Energy, Institution-Building, Trade and Finance. 

The Foreign Minister emphasized that in order for the FODP process to yield results, it is necessary that the work on projects in all areas proceed in an integrated, sustained and transparent manner.  He also underlined the importance of public-private partnership in this regard.  The main focus of the process should be the welfare of the people of Pakistan, the Foreign Minister emphasized.

The representatives of the FODP countries/institutions reiterated their commitment to assist Pakistan in materializing the FODP project proposals.

The meeting also discussed ways and means to assist Pakistan in ongoing efforts towards providing relief, return and rehabilitation assistance to the dislocated people of Swat and adjoining areas.

The meeting agreed to hold the second FODP Ministerial Meeting in Istanbul, Turkey in the first week of September 2009. The Foreign Minister thanked Turkey for its offer to host the meeting.

Islamabad
08 June 2009