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Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Development vital to eliminate extremism: Zardari
* President tells UK Conservative Party chairperson Sayeeda Warsi stronger trade, education ties between Pak-UK needed for defeating militancy
* Warsi says UK to continue providing support to revive Pakistan’s economyISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday said there was great need for forging closer ties between Pakistan and the United Kingdom, especially in the trade and education sectors.
Talking to Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, the British Conservative Party chairperson, Zardari said creating economic opportunities for the people was important to permanently eliminate extremism from any area.
The president urged Warsi to use her influence for securing help from the UK government for setting up Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (ROZs) in the tribal areas. He said the European Union should also provide more access to Pakistani goods in its markets.
“This will help address the issues of poverty and unemployment in the tribal areas and thereby wean away the unemployed youth from militancy and extremism,” the president said.
The president praised the development assistance being provided to Pakistan by the UK government.
The president also appreciated Warsi’s achievements, saying, “It is a matter of great pride for the Pakistani people that she is playing a leading role in a country that is regarded as the mother of democracy.”
Speaking on the occasion, Warsi and British High Commissioner in Pakistan Adam Thomson appreciated the efforts of the Pakistan government and its security forces against militancy and reiterated British support for the democratic government.
Later, Warsi held a meeting with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. Speaking on the occasion, the PM said that the first round of dialogue between Pakistan and United Kingdom had been successful. He also expressed the confidence that the second round would be equally beneficial in strengthening relations between the two countries.
Gilani said he was looking forward to British PM David Cameron’s visit to Pakistan, during which the second round of bilateral talks would start.
The PM thanked the British government and the people of United Kingdom for their continued support to Pakistan in seeking more access to the European Union markets. “Britain is also among those few countries that have fulfilled all their aid pledges made during the Tokyo Donors’ Conference,” he said.
Referring to the regional situation, the PM said Pakistan wanted friendly ties with all its neighbours. He said that Pakistan strongly believed that dialogue was the only way forward to help resolve all outstanding issues with India. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk