US President George W. Bush, flanked by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani, made an unambiguous commitment to respect Pakistan's sovereignty, paid tributes to its vibrant democracy with major focus on enhanced co-operation in economic/security fields and joint efforts in the fight against terrorism along Pak-Afghan border areas.
He was speaking to members of the press after his 45-minute-long meeting with Yusuf Raza Gilani in the Oval Office. The prime minister also briefly addressed the gathering on the picturesque White House Lawns here on Monday.
A beaming President Bush, who appeared to be in a relaxed mood, said that he had a very fruitful and cordial meeting with Prime Minister Gilani. He thanked Pakistan for its support on the war on terror and vowed to back the new democratic order in the country and Pakistan's economy.
"Both the sides talked about a range of economic issues as we want economic benefits for the people of both the countries. Pakistan is a strong ally and a vibrant democracy. The United States supports the vibrant democracy and supports the sovereignty of Pakistan," Bush stated in his post-meeting remarks as both leaders reaffirmed their common commitment to the fight against terrorism.
A confident-looking Prime Minister Gilani thanked President Bush and claimed this was his second meeting with the US president. He recalled that their first meeting took place in Sharm-el-Shaikh in Egypt recently. He said that Pakistan and the US have enjoyed cordial bilateral relations for 60 years. He said that the people of Pakistan were inspired by the ideals of freedom and democracy of the founding fathers of the US.
He said that Pakistan and the US were jointly fighting terrorism. He stressed that this war was equally Pakistan's own war. He said that this war had also claimed the life of his leader Benazir Bhutto. He said the people of the NWFP and Fata were peace-loving except to a handful of extremists, who had destroyed the peace of the entire region.
In a joint appearance with the Pakistani leader, Bush hailed Pakistan as a strong ally and described the meeting as "good and constructive." Washington, he emphasised, respects "sovereignty of this (Pakistani) democracy" and acknowledged the Pakistani leadership's strong commitment to fight against terror, Bush said.
Prime Minister Gilani renewed Islamabad's commitment to curb extremism and emphasised that an overwhelming majority of Pakistanis across the country including the tribal areas want to live in peace. He said it is only a handful of people who stirred up trouble.
"I appreciate what he (Bush) has said about supporting democracy, supporting sovereignty, looking after the interests, and on a lot of other areas we are with- there is a co-operation between us," Gilani said in the White House lawn.
In the regional perspective, the two leaders discussed ensuring security on Afghan border and observed that Prime Minister Gilani wants "a peaceful country on its (Pakistan's) border.
"We talked about the common threat we face, extremists who are very dangerous people. We talked about the need for us to make sure that, you know, Afghan border is secure as best as possible. Pakistan's made a very strong commitment to that. I told the prime minister that the United States is committed to helping the Afghan democracy succeed, which is in Pakistan 's interest. He - after all, the prime minister wants there to be a peaceful country on his border.
The US, I repeat, respects the sovereignty of this democracy. And - and we also appreciate the prime minister's strong words against the extremists and terrorists, who not only would do us harm but have harmed people inside Pakistan," Bush added.
Prime Minister Gilani said the violent extremists killed Pakistan's popular leader and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. "We are working for prosperity and peace of the world," Gilani added. Bush said that "We're going to spend a lot of time on the economy, about how the United States and Pakistan can continue to cooperate to - for economic benefits for all the people of Pakistan, and for our own country, for that matter."
Oval Office meeting was also attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Information Minister Sherry Rehman, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Advisor to the prime minister Rehman Malik, National Security Advisor Mahmud Ali Durrani and Pakistan's ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani.
The US side included Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and White House Chief of the Staff Joshua Bolton.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and President George Bush Monday began discussions on expanding Pakistan-US relations at the White House with economic co-operation, democracy, security issues and the fight against terrorism high on the agenda.
The Pakistani leader, on his first visit to Washington since assuming office early this year, is expected to urge broad-based and mutually reinforcing ties and defend Islamabad's anti-terrorism strategy that emphasises combining political, economic and security components to confront extremism and militancy along the country trade and Afghan border region.
Assisting the Prime Minister at the Oval Office are Foreign ministers hah Mahmood Qureshi, Information Minister Sherry Rehman, Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Advisor to the prime minister Rehman Malik, National Security Advisor Mahmud Ali Durrani and Pakistan's ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani.
The US side includes Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley and White House Chief of the Staff Joshua Bolton.
It is important to mention that the Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani and President George Bush discussed bilateral co-operation ciovering many areas including economic and security assistance, support for democracy and the fight against terrorism. The White House meeting will be the second between the two leaders as they met in Egypt earlier this year on the sidelines of a multilateral conference.
On his first visit to the United States, the prime minister has emphasised the importance of broad-based and sustained relationship between the two nations. He expressed Pakistan commitment to fight extremism through a multi-pronged approach including political, economic and security measures.
Pakistan's ambassador to the United States says the prime minister's meeting will signal the start of a new dimension in relationship between the world's most significant emerging Muslim democracy and the world's most influential democratic nation.
US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Richard Boucher, Pakistan's ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani and senior American protocol officials received the prime minister when he arrived here Sunday afternoon.
The prime minister's delegation includes Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Information Minister Sherry Rehman, Defence minister Ahmad Mukhtar and Minister for Water and Power Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, advisor to prime minister on Interior Rehman Malik, National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani and Advisor on Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar.
The prime minister is also expected to have interaction with Senator John McCain and Senator Barack Obama, the presidential nominees of the Republican and Democratic parties respectively.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to have interaction with the US print and electronic media. Secretaries of Defence and Treasury will call on the prime minister on Tuesday. On July 29, the Prime Minister will address investors' round table on Pakistan's power sector being organised with the World Bank and International Finance Corporation.
Comments
Comments are closed.