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Spokesperson Briefings
Date: 13/02/2006
RECORD OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY THE FOREIGN OFFICE SPOKESPERSON ON 13 FEBRUARY 2006
OPENING STATEMENT Curtain Raiser
1. President's visit to China (19-23 February 2006)
President General Pervez Musharraf will pay a state visit to China from 19-23 February 2006 at the invitation of the President of China, H.E. Mr. Hu Jintao. The President's programme in China includes bilateral talks with President Jintao, and separate meetings with Premier Wen Jiabao, Chairman Standing Committee, National People's Congress. Mr. Zhang Yunchuan Minister for State Commission of Science and Technology for National Defence will also call on the President.
The President and the Chinese leadership will review multi-facetted bilateral relations, regional issues and other international developments of mutual interest.
The programme of the President will also include meetings with the CEOs of select energy and power sector corporations. The top officials of the China Council for Promotion of International Trade and Chinese Federation of Industry and Commerce including Textile Chambers will meet the President. The Secretary General Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) will also call on the President.
President's visit is a landmark in the 55 th year of establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It will underline the all-weather bilateral friendship and will further enhance and deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries.
2. President Hamid Karzai's visit to Pakistan :
Afghan President Hamid Karzai will visit Pakistan on 15 – 17 February.
QUESTION/ANSWER SESSION
- Asked, in the backdrop of the visit to Pakistan by the Afghan President, whether the continual violation of the sovereignty of Pakistan by the coalition forces would come up for discussion, the Spokesperson said:
We have seen the reports of the attacks. I am sure these issues will be discussed both with the visiting Afghan President, as well as at the Tripartite Commission meeting.
- Asked to confirm the veracity of news reports in a section of the Indian press that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would travel to Nankana sahib in June this year, the Spokesperson said:
We have not received any intimation to this effect.
- Asked whether Pakistan endorsed Iranian demand that an extraordinary OIC Summit meeting be convened in order to forge a joint front over the publishing of the sacrilegious cartoons in the Western media, the Spokesperson said:
We have condemned the acts of defamation of Islam and Holy Prophet of Islam Mohammad (S.A.W.W.) in the strongest possible terms. Our Ambassadors in New York and Geneva have been instrumental in convening the OIC meetings. The OIC has already issued a strong statement both in Geneva and in New York. The OIC Secretary General has condemned it. The individual OIC Member States have also condemned this act. There is already a consensus on this issue among Muslim countries. Extraordinary Summit in Makka ul Mukarramah held in December condemned this and called for joint action by Muslim countries to combat Islamophobia and defamation of Islam. There will be further discussions on how to implement that Ten-Year Programme of Action.
We believe in the freedom of expression but it is a not a license to insult others and hurt the sensitivities of others. Freedom of expression also entails responsibility. There are laws in many European countries that very clearly lay down the boundaries which cannot be crossed. We want the U.N also to take note of it. There are a number of forums where this issue can be raised.
- Asked about the schedule and agenda of President Bush's visit to Pakistan, the Spokesperson said:
The dates and programme of President Bush's visit to Pakistan will be announced in due course.
- In response to a question about the former U.S President Bill Clinton's visit to Pakistan, the Spokesperson said:
Mr. Bill Clinton is arriving here on 17 February. His visit is in the context of some health related projects.
- Asked what factors were militating against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Pakistan because media had been speculating about his visit quite for some time, the Spokesperson said:
The visit has not been scheduled. The invitation was extended by the President and the Indian Prime Minister accepted it. It has been reiterated in subsequent meetings. The visit will take place on mutually convenient dates.
- When her comments were sought on the violation of Pakistani territory by U.S in the North Waziristan area killing a few Pakistani tribesmen, the Spokesperson said:
We are looking into this incident. We have taken up this issue with the US bilaterally, as well as in the context of the Tripartite Commission, which is again scheduled to meet shortly. Our position on this issue is very clear. We have already issued a statement. The President of Pakistan has made statements in this regard. I have nothing more to add to that.
- When her comments were sought on media reports suggesting that a few Pakistanis had been detained on Afghan soil, the Spokesperson said:
These are media reports. We are trying to ascertain the facts.
- Asked whether Pakistan had responded to Indian proposal of opening Visa offices at Karachi and Mumbai, the Spokesperson said:
We are examining the Indian proposal. However, we have a bilateral understanding to open the two Consulates-General in Karachi and Mumbai, and as we have already stated, we are doing our best to make these Consulates-General operational at the earliest possible dates. There is delay but that is not due to us.
- Asked to confirm the veracity of news reports that a Pakistani delegation comprising tradesmen would visit Israel soon, and also to give an update on a Pakistani delegation's proposed visit to Gaza, the Spokesperson said:
There have been a number of reports. Earlier there were reports that a two hundred member Pakistani delegation visited Israel, and some of them had speaking engagements in universities in Israel which are non-existent. As we had maintained all along that there was no such visit. No visit to Israel is taking place.
The proposed visit to Gaza by a Pakistani delegation is very much intact. We have intimated the details to the Palestinian Authority, and naturally the dates are to be suggested by them. There have been elections in Palestine and a new government would need time before scheduling the visit. So, it will understandably take a while before this visit can take place.
- Asked about the number of Pakistanis facing detention on various charges in the U.S because a number of them had been deported recently, the Spokesperson said:
People who have been deported are those who are detained for immigration laws violation. I would have to check the exact number of Pakistani detainees in the U.S on various charges. I do not have the number readily available.
- Asked about the agenda of the Afghan President's forthcoming visit to Pakistan, and whether any agreement would be inked during the visit as well, the Spokesperson said:
There are not going to be any agreement this time. He is arriving here on 15 February. He will meet the President and Prime Minister. There will be joint press take-out both with the President and Prime Minister. He will also meet businessmen and investors. He will also visit Charsadda to express condolences over the death of Wali Khan |