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Thursday, June 16, 2011
Pakistan to work with SCO states for regional peace* President hopes Pakistan’s application for full membership of SCO will be processed expeditiously
ASTANA: President Asif Ali Zardari said on Wednesday that Pakistan would work together with member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) for maintaining regional peace, spreading shared prosperity and defeating terrorism.
Addressing a summit of the SCO at its 10th anniversary in the capital of Kazakhstan, President Zardari said, “Pakistan looks forward to working together with SCO countries for achieving shared prosperity and peace.”
“Pakistan has made great sacrifices in the fight against terrorism that poses common threats to the region. We are committed to combating terrorism, extremism and separatism,” said the president, who was accompanied by Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, Interior Minister Rehman Malik and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar.
Zardari said that Pakistan looked forward to enhancing its cooperation with the SCO to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the region. Likewise, he said, drug trafficking and its production was not only harming the peoples, but also fuelling terrorism. “These are serious threats to the security and well-being of our societies,” he remarked.
The president expressed the hope that Pakistan’s application for full membership would be processed expeditiously. “In the meantime, Pakistan intends to fully associate with all SCO programmes for peace and development. Pakistan wishes to participate in SCO’s initiatives in promoting regional and trans-regional connectivity and trade,” he said adding, “We wish to cooperate with countries in the region in financial and banking sectors and for joint ventures in energy, infrastructure and education, scientific and technological development programs.”
Zardari praised the SCO for making significant contributions towards peace and development of the region in the last decade. “Pakistan is delighted to associate itself fully with the ideals, values and purposes of the SCO. We share SCO’s vision for the future. We uphold its objectives of regional peace and development.”
The president said Pakistan belonged to the SCO region, adding, “We share with its peoples, centuries of common history. Apart from our geographical location, the geo-economic realities also encourage Pakistan to join the SCO as a full member.”
“We, therefore, take pride in the remarkable achievements of the SCO over the last ten years. Our destinies are inter-linked.” He expressed his pleasure that Afghanistan had decided to seek observer status with SCO. “This, indeed, is a welcome development.
Calling the summit historic, the president said he wanted to convey to all friends and partners in the SCO, Pakistan’s firm resolve to work with them for the common goal of ensuring a bright future to their people.
In their speeches at the summit, SCO leaders pledged to continue efforts for keeping their region safe and secure and make their countries more prosperous through joint efforts. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk