PAKISTAN FULLY SUPPORTS AZERBAIJAN’S TERRITORIAL INTEGRITY: PM
Associated Press of Pakistan, Pakistan
Feb 7 2007
ISLAMABAD, Feb 7 (APP): Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said that
Pakistan fully supports Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity and favours
an early resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh issue. The Prime Minister
was talking to the First Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan, Yagub
Eyyugov who called on him at the Prime Minister House this afternoon
along with Yavar Jamalov, Minister for Defence Industry, Professor
Dr. Ali Abbasov, Minister for Communication and IT, Professor Dr. Misir
Mardanov, Minister for Education, Khalaf Khalafov, Deputy Minister
of Foreign Affairs and Dr. Eynullah Madath, Ambassador of Azerbaijan
to Pakistan.
The Azerbaijan delegation participated in the Joint Ministerial
Commission meeting that concluded in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan attaches great importance to its
ties with Azerbaijan which are historic and rooted in a common faith,
shared values and perceptions.
Pakistan, he said, is keen to strengthen its ties with Azerbaijan in
all fields including energy, IT, telecom, defence, security, science
and technology, education trade and investment.
Eyyubov said that Azerbaijan greatly values its relations with Pakistan
and highly appreciates Pakistan’s support on the Nagorno Karabakh
issue. He said Azerbaijan supports Pakistan’s position on Kashmir.
The Prime Minister apprised the visiting dignitary of the ongoing
process of composite dialogue with India.
He said that Kashmir is the core issue between the two countries and
Pakistan is keen to settle it peacefully in keeping with the wishes
and aspirations of Kashmiri people.
He said that durable and permanent peace between the two countries can
change the destiny of the people of south Asia. The Prime Minister
appreciated the consistent and principled support extended by
Azerbaijan to Pakistan on the Kashmir dispute.
Giving an overview of the country’s economy the Prime Minister said
Pakistan is keen to attract foreign capital and investment and provides
a level playing field to both Pakistani and foreign investors.
As a result of the economic reform agenda based on privatization,
deregulation and liberalization the size of the economy and per
capita income has doubled in the last seven years, he said, adding
that Foreign Direct Investment which did not go beyond $300 million
per year in the past is expected to cross $5 billion in the current
financial year.
The two sides agreed on the need to promote interfaith harmony through
a process of dialogue among the adherents of different faiths. This
is the only way to bridge the growing religious divide, the Prime
Minister said.
He said Pakistan admires the impressive economic gains achieved by
Azerbaijan especially the development of its energy resources and
laying of oil and gas pipelines between Azerbaijan and Turkey.
He said that Pakistan is also planning to set up a gas pipeline with
Iran and India as its energy requirements are growing exponentially by
10 to 12 per cent per year. He said that energy security is critical
for sustained economic growth and development.
The Prime Minister also apprised the visiting dignitary of President
Musharraf’s initiative to resolve the Palestine issue. The new
initiative has been well received and supported by all the countries
recently visited by the President, he said.
Eyyugov said that it is heartening to see the economic turnaround
achieved by Pakistan under President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime
Minister Shaukat Aziz, who are the true friends of Azerbaijan. He
said that the Joint Ministerial Commission’s meeting will go a long
way in promoting economic relations between the two countries.
Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon,
Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Commander (Retd) Khalil-ur-Rehman,
Minister of State for Economic Affairs Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, and
senior officials also attended the meeting.