US, Pakistan and Afghanistan to ensure October elections success

The United States, Pakistan and Afghanistan are committed to the success of the Afghan elections in October and all the three are co-operating to ensure the success of these elections.
The trilateral meeting held by US President George Bush, President General Pervez Musharraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai here on Tuesday "reaffirmed and reiterated" that co-operation in the "tripartite mechanism".
Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Munir Akram said this at a press briefing.
The trilateral meeting lasted 25 minutes.
Akram said: "All the three leaders are co-operating to ensure success of these elections." The purpose of the meeting, he said, was "to project to the world" that the tripartite partnership for peace and security "is working effectively."
He said: "Karzai told the meeting about the coming elections that President Bush reiterated his commitment to peace, and President Musharraf reiterated that Pakistan is ready to help Afghanistan in its peace."
Munir said: "The meeting also reaffirmed the commitment of the United States to the future of the region, commitment of Pakistan to the cause of stability in Afghanistan, and President Karzai's commitment to close friendship with Pakistan we call the closest country to Afghanistan."
He told a questioner that Pakistan has contributed $ 100 million towards reconstruction of Afghanistan. "We export items worth $ 1 billion to Afghanistan, which exports to us items worth $ 100 million."
Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri also attended the trilateral meeting.
From the US sided, Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleeza Rice attended the meeting, while from Afghan side Foreign Minister Abdullah was present.
Akram said President Musharraf "outlined his vision of peace and stability in Afghanistan, and the benefits it will bring to all the countries in the region--to Afghanistan, to Pakistan and to Central Asian Republics."
President Musharraf said that peace in Afghanistan would open up all corridors of trade and commerce--as all the Central Asian Republicans are looking southwards--to gain access to the sea, and give access to the markets of the world, and that can really happen if there is peace and stability in Afghanistan.
"Therefore, it is Pakistan's priority to help in restoring peace and stability,"
Akram was asked whether the meeting was just for projection of the stand or some substantive item on agenda was discussed.