News
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Pakistan attaches great importance to ties with EU: PM* Raja discusses with EU delegation ways to improve relations
* Appreciates EU support to Pakistan over GSP Plus, ATP
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Tuesday said that Paksitan attached great importance to its relations with the EU and enjoyed excellent ties with all EU member countries.
He said this in a meeting with a six-member European Union Parliament Mission delegation led by Jean Lambert, chair of South Asia, at the Prime Minister’s House. The delegations discussed with the prime minister ways to reinforce mutually beneficial and cooperative relationship between Pakistan and European Union.
Raja thanked G Lambert and her delegation for supporting Pakistan in the European Union for inclusion in GSP plus in 2014 and early finalisation of Autonomous Trade Preference (ATP) package.
The prime minister appreciated the understanding and support extended by the EU to help Pakistan meet the challenges posed by terrorism.
He stated that his government attached high priority to friendly relations with international community and to ensure peaceful and stable security environment in the region. Raja added that despite human and material losses suffered by Pakistan, his government and people of Pakistan were fully committed to eradicating the menace of extremism and terrorism for peace in the region and the world at large.
Pakistan was committed to providing assistance to international efforts for peace and stability in Afghanistan, which should be an Afghan-led and intra-Afghan inclusive process, he said. “Pakistan has direct interest in stability and peace in Afghanistan,” he added.
Raja stated that his coalition government attached high priority to holding free, fair and transparent elections and enable the people of Pakistan to exercise free choice to elect their leaders.
He maintained that the appointment of the new chief election commissioner was a manifestation of the resolve of the coalition government to strengthen democracy by building consensus and taking all political parties and other stakeholders on board.
The prime minister stated that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had staunchly upheld the cause of democracy in the country by strengthening democratic institutions. He apprised the members of the delegation that his coalition government had restored the original 1973 Constitution through 18th, 19th and 20th constitutional amendments in the constitution and removed all distortions introduced by the past dictators.
Raja said his democratic government also attached great importance to human rights issues and protection of minorities and women rights. He informed the members of the EU delegation about the laws recently enacted by parliament to ensure equal rights to the minorities and provide opportunities to women to play an active role in politics, economy and social life in the country.
He stated that PPP was the flag bearer of the cause of women and the minorities’ rights in accordance with the vision of Benazir Bhutto.
Lambert appreciated the steps taken by the government to strengthen the judiciary. He expressed satisfaction over the discussions she had held in Pakistan and expressed resolve to further develop the European Union linkages with the democratic institutions in Pakistan. She expressed hope that the prime minister’s coming visit to Kabul would help promote peace in Afghanistan. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk