Spokesman Briefings
Date: 28/11/2007
Record of Press Briefing on 28 November, 2007
Opening Statement-I State visit of President of Turkey to Pakistan
At the invitation of President Pervez Musharraf, H.E. Mr. Abdullah Gul, President of Turkey will be paying a state visit to Pakistan on 2 – 3 December 2007. He will be accompanied by the First Lady Mrs. Hayrunnisa Gul, senior officials, business leaders and top media personalities of Turkey .
The visit is taking place in the 60th year of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Turkey , which lends it added significance.
During the visit the Turkish President will hold talks with President Pervez Musharraf on a range of subjects encompassing issues of bilateral, regional and global importance. The President and the Caretaker Prime Minister will be hosting a banquet and a luncheon respectively for the visiting leader.
Pakistan has historically enjoyed close and brotherly relations with Turkey . The two countries have abiding interest in each others prosperity and progress.
Pakistan attaches great importance to the visit of the President of Turkey. The fact that President Abdullah Gul is visiting Pakistan within a few weeks of assuming his office, reflects the sense of deep-rooted friendship and solidarity between the two countries.
Opening Statement-II
Pakistan 's participation in the Middle East Peace Conference
On invitation of the US Secretary of State , Pakistan attended the Middle East Peace Conference which was held in Annapolis , Maryland yesterday. Foreign Secretary Riaz Mohammad Khan represented Pakistan in the Conference.
The Foreign Secretary in his statement welcomed the holding of the Conference as a positive development. He expressed the hope that the Conference will work towards reaching an early agreement on a just resolution of the Palestine issue.
Pakistan believes that the resolution of the Palestine issue is essential for ensuring peace and stability and alleviation of sufferings in the Middle East .
Question/Answer Session
Q: What is the view of Pakistan on the Middle East Conference? How does Pakistan view the Russian offer to host a follow up Conference?
A: When the idea of the Conference was floated there were many apprehensions that it would not reach any meaningful conclusion. The Conference concluded with an agreement to continue the talks and we are hopeful that it would lead to a resolution of the core issue of Palestine which has caused a lot of suffering and conflict in the region over last several decades.
I don't have anything on the Russian invitation as the offer was made only today and I don't think Pakistan is the kind of player which will have much link with a decision on the next host of the Conference.
Q: Has Pakistan received any offers for observing the upcoming elections in the country?
A: I don't have any information about requests from election observers but I think in the coming days we will be receiving and processing such requests.
Q: Are we sending a message of non-recognition to Hamas and thereby lending diplomatic and legal credence to the Government of Mehmud Abbas via the Middle East Conference?
A: The entire Middle East had participated in the Conference. We have an Embassy accreditated to the Palestinian Authority. We are not sending any message to anyone. We received an invitation from the US Secretary of State and accepted it in the hope of making a positive contribution. We hope we had done that.
Q: What is the significance of Pakistan – Sri Lanka Friendship Association that was established in the Sri Lankan Parliament last week?
A: The Sri Lanka Pakistan Friendship Association was inaugurated on 21 November 2007 in the Sri Lankan Parliament with 30 members. All the major political parties in the Sri Lankan Parliament are represented in it. The Prime Minister of Sri Lanka is the President of this association. The inaugural session was chaired by the Speaker himself. Pakistan 's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka was also present. The establishment of this association is an indication that Pakistan-Sri Lanka relationship is deep rooted and have the potential to grow further in political, economic and cultural fields.
Q: Has Pakistan taken a decision regarding its relationship with the Commonwealth?
A: Commonwealth in its final Communiqué has called upon Pakistan to remain positively engaged with it. We still have to discuss it take a decision in this regard.
Q: Was the invitation to the Turkish President to visit Pakistan given before Emergency? Will the Turkish President visit Pakistan after the Emergency is lifted?
A: The visit has nothing to do with the Emergency or the political situation in Pakistan . Traditionally, Pakistan is one of the first few countries a Turkish President would visit after his election.
Q: Foreign Office was part of the decision to issue licenses to the royal families in Saudi Arabia and UAE to hunt bustard. Why does the Government of Pakistan issue permits to hunt these rare birds?
A: Pakistan has allowed limited hunting of Hubara bustard in designated areas for a limited time period. This practice had been going on for past several decades. However, the Government is cognizant of the protection of this migratory bird and has taken measures to promote their breeding and protection. Safe corridors have been designated to promote their natural breeding, while Government is encouraging Hubara Foundation which promotes their artificial breeding.
Q: Do you have any comments on President Musharraf's decision to step down as Army Chief?
A: This is not a foreign policy issue. We restrict ourselves to foreign policy issues in these briefings.
Q: There have been reports in the domestic media that India is delaying the Peace Process because of the domestic situation in Pakistan . Do you have any indication to support this or are these merely media speculations?
A: These are merely media speculations.
Q: President Musharraf initiated the participation of Pakistan in the War on Terror. Would his decision to step down as Army Chief lead to any change in our policy in this respect?
A: No, there will be no change in our policy. Our participation in the war on terror is not related to the uniform issue in any way.
Q: Two ex-Ministers have reportedly being sent abroad as special envoys of the President. What is their agenda?
A: There are two groups being sent to Europe and USA as special envoys to meet with the expatriate Pakistani community, the legislators, government officials and the media. The purpose is to inform the host governments, the media, legislators and expatriate Pakistanis about the political developments in Pakistan .
Q: When is Pakistan going to extradite Rashid Rauf arrested in connection with the London blasts?
A: I have no information on this. The Ministry of Interior deals with cases related to extradition and would have this information.
Q: Pakistan and India opened crossing points on the LOC after the 2005 earthquake. What is the update on the status of these points? How many of them are functional and how have they facilitated the Kashmiris?
A: Pakistan proposed the opening of crossing points across the LOC following the 8 th October 2005 earthquake, to facilitate the Kashmiri families living on the two sides to visit each other. Pakistan and India agreed to open 5 crossing points at Nauseri – Tithwal; Chakoti – Uri; Rawalakot – Poonch; Hajipir – Uri; and Tattapani – Mehander. Hajipir crossing remained non-operational because of infrastructure problems while Tattapani crossing was closed in June 2006 due to damage to the road. Other crossings are open and being used.
Q: How would Pakistan be affected economically because of suspension from the Commonwealth?
A: I have explained in an earlier briefing that Commonwealth isn't a financial or economic organization. It is basically a diplomatic forum. Therefore, there are no material effects. Educational scholarships and technical assistance programs will continue and Pakistan will be able to participate in the Commonwealth games. The only impact is that Pakistan will not attend the meetings of the Commonwealth.
Q: Can you update us on the IPI?
A: A round of IPI technical talks was concluded a couple of weeks ago. There will be another session early next month. We will know the dates in a day or so.
Q: Recently El-Baradi declared the nuclear program of Iran as being peaceful. However, the US still claims that Iran it is developing its program to make nuclear weapons. What is the stance of Pakistan on this issue?
A: We think El-Baradi is a respected professional in his field. We have always maintained that the Iranian nuclear issue should be discussed in the IAEA and resolved there. Therefore, a report coming from IAEA carries a lot of credibility and weight.
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