ZEE News, India
April 13 2005

Pak for more democratic UN without new centres of privilege

Islamabad, Apr 13: Pakistan, which is opposed to India’s bid for a
permanent seat in the UN Security Council, has said the world body
“must be made more democratic and accountable” without creating new
centres of privilege.

This was stated by President Pervez Musharraf during a banquet hosted
in honour of his visiting Azerbaijan counterpart Ilhan Aliyev here
last night.

Pakistan has been advocating against creation of new centres of
privilege at the Security Council, he said.

On Kashmir, Musharraf, who is to visit India on April 16 to watch the
last one-day indo-Pak cricket match in New Delhi the next day, said
Pakistan desired peace in the region through resolution of all
issues, including Jammu and Kashmir.

Musharraf said Pakistan greatly valued Azerbaijan’s “consistent
support” to Islamabad’s stand on Kashmir and supported Azerbaijan’s
claim on Nagorno Karabagh. Azerbaijan and Armenia have made a joint
claim on Nagorno Karabagh.

The President expressed the hope that Aliyev’s visit to Pakistan
would further expand bilateral ties, taking them to a higher plane
for cooperation, especially in trade and economic fields.

For his part, Aliyev said Azerbaijan “always supported and will
continue to support Pakistan stand on Kashmir” and thanked the
president for Pakistan’s consistent backing on Nagorno Karabakh.

Aliyev also held talks with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and signed an
MoU on the defence-related issues.

Bureau Report