News
Friday, March 05, 2010
Pak-EU ties should become 21st century’s key partnership: PM
* Gilani says Pakistan welcomes EU’s Action Plan for Pakistan, appreciates its continued engagement with Islamabad
PESHAWAR: Pakistan and the European Union have “compelling reasons” to forge a closer and more solid relationship, drawing strength from democracy, Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said on Thursday.
“This relationship can blossom into a key partnership of the 21st century. These ties draw strength through democracy, development, human rights, human dignity, common values and shared concerns,” the PM said while addressing a luncheon meeting with European Union ambassadors here.
Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, NWFP Governor Owais Ghani and NWFP Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti were also present.
Action plan: Gilani said Pakistan welcomed the EU’s Action Plan for Pakistan and appreciated its commitment to continued engagement with Pakistan.
“We hope that the major countries of the EU will support Pakistan’s case for greater market access to its products in the European markets as well as meaningful negotiations for Free Trade Agreement,” he said, adding,” Pakistan greatly values the solidarity and friendship of its partners in the European Union”.
To the EU ambassadors, he said their presence reflected their concern for the well-being and welfare of the people of Pakistan and particularly the people of the NWFP.
Gilani said the EU and its members have been steadfast supporters of the Pakistani government’s peace initiatives. The EU members are also Pakistan’s largest trade partners and the biggest investors in the country’s economy, he added.
Gilani said the EU countries had a shared role and responsibility in this regard. “Trade has the potential and promise to bring about a fundamental societal transformation. Free trade among free nations leads to shared prosperity,” he added.
He said trade could unlock the vast latent potential of Pakistan, adding that he would convey the same message at the second Pakistan-EU summit next month.
Gilani said that Pakistan today faces unprecedented challenges posed by intolerance, extremism and terrorism, whose origins lie in the three-decades old conflict across the country’s western border.
“The supreme sacrifices of our great leader Benazir Bhutto as well as of our soldiers and innocent civilians have fortified our resolve to confront terrorism with our full might,” he said.
The PM added that the government was committed to this mission despite limited and depleting resources, and expressed gratitude to the EU for its timely support at different stages for the relief and rehabilitation of internally displaced persons (IDPs).
He stressed the need to rebuild the war-torn areas of the country to provide comfort to the people, help rebuild their lives and to give them hope for a bright future. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk