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Sunday, April 18, 2010
Pakistan wants trade, not aid, says Qureshi* Foreign minister says Gilani to take up issue of Pakistan’s inclusion in list of GSP Plus countries at Pak-EU summit
MULTAN: The government advocated for trade instead of aid during talks with the United States and European Union leaders, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Saturday.
Qureshi said US President Barack Obama had reiterated his commitment to expediting the Reconstruction Opportunity Zones’ (RoZs) legislation in the US Senate.
He said Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani would take up the case of Pakistan’s inclusion in the list of the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP Plus) countries when he would meet EU leaders at the second Pak-EU summit on April 21 in Brussels.
The 27-member EU was Pakistan’s largest trade partner and GSP Plus status would not only increase Pakistan’s exports to the EU up to $6 billion but would also create one million jobs for the unemployed youth, he added.
The foreign minister said Pakistan’s preference is to combat economic challenges included steps to overcome energy crisis and seek enhanced access of Pakistani products to lucrative foreign markets including that of the US and the EU.
Addressing a press conference, Qureshi said the UN report on the assassination of Benazir Bhutto was being examined by legal experts, adding that the government was operating in accordance with the procedure and would not take any hasty decision.
He said the government had opted for the UN inquiry to ensure impartiality, adding that such a criminal investigation conducted would have more weight and would be more credible at the national and international levels.
The foreign minister said the entire world had expressed confidence in Pakistan’s nuclear programme at the Nuclear Safety Summit in Washington.
He said US President Barack Obama expressed confidence over Pakistan’s nuclear programme stating that its security measures were second to none.
Qureshi said the most important statement was made by the US president in which he had said, “We recognise the right of developing countries to civil nuclear technology.”
To a question, the foreign minister said the government had raised the issue of civilian nuclear technology with the US.
He said the prime minister also met with the US president, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senator John Kerry and IMF officials. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk