In his first meeting with any foreign visitor after taking oath, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Wednesday told the United States that decisions on all important policy matters and national issues would be taken by parliament as the government was determined to fight terrorism in all its forms politically, economically and strategically.
"Parliament is a sovereign body and every effort will be made to ensure its supremacy. Terrorism is a matter of concern for us and we would confront it with full determination," he said in his first meeting with US Deputy Secretary of State, John D. Negroponte who called on him here at the Prime Minister’s House on Wednesday.
US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs, Richard Boucher also attended the meeting. Foreign Secretary and senior government officials of the Foreign Ministry were also present on the occasion.
The high-level US delegation had earlier met President Pervez Musharraf, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Co-chairman PPP Asif Ali Zardari and PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif. Referring to the recent elections, the prime minister said that the people of Pakistan had given a clear mandate in favour of the moderate and democratic forces in the country.
The prime minister said Pakistan accords high priority to its strategic relationship with the US and desires to further expand its relations in all fields. He mentioned that US President George W. Bush called him yesterday, assuring Washington’s full support to Pakistan in every sphere of life.
While reiterating Pakistan’s firm resolve to address the issue of terrorism, the prime minister said the world community has to do more in order to develop a collective approach. Pakistan, he said, has been consistently fighting this menace and sacrificed a lot, including the life of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.
He said that the government would soon be announcing its 100-day programme through which the challenges confronting the people would be addressed on a priority basis. He said that the top priority before the government is to strengthen all the institutions including a free and vibrant media and an independent Election Commission.
Gilani said that economic empowerment of the people in the border areas near Afghanistan is the key to addressing the issue of extremism in that region. He expressed confidence that the establishment of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones would help increase economic activities in the area as well as create new opportunities to improve the standard of living of the people.
Referring to the situation in Afghanistan, the prime minister said Pakistan desires Afghanistan to grow and prosper because a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan is in the best interest of Pakistan and the region.
He also referred to his telephonic conversation with the president of Afghanistan and the prime minister of India during which they reaffirmed their desire for establishing better relations in the interest of regional peace and prosperity.
John D. Negroponte congratulated the prime minister on assuming the office and assured complete US support to the new government. He expressed the confidence that democracy in Pakistan would take roots and lead to progress and prosperity of the country.
While appreciating Pakistan’s efforts in curtailing extremism and terrorism, he said the US relations with Pakistan and its people are very important and expressed US desire for developing a stable and multi-faceted relationship with Pakistan which is not confined to the war on terrorism only.
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