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| Sunday, 28 November 2004 |
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Pakistan supports territorial integrity of Sri Lanka
Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz visited Sri Lanka to invite President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to the next SAARC Summit. Pakistan is currently the chairman of SAARC. Prime Minister Aziz interviewed by Sunday Observer staffer S. H. A. Careem spoke about growing cordial relations between Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Excerpts of the interview: Q: What was the purpose of your visit to Sri Lanka? What did you discuss with the Sri Lankan leadership? A: Primarily the visit was about SAARC. As per SAARC tradition, the outgoing Chairman makes farewell calls on Heads of the member States. However, I availed the opportunity to review the whole gambit of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Q: How do you see the relationship between Pakistan and Sri Lanka? A: Pakistan and Sri Lanka have historically enjoyed excellent relations based on mutual trust and confidence. The two countries have helped each other in crucial moments of their history. I do not need to go into details as facts are well-known. We share a commonality of interest in maintaining regional peace, security and stability for economic development. Q: One area of cooperation where there is room for improvement is trade and commerce. How do you plan to increase cooperation in those fields? A: As you know, the two countries signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) during President Musharraf's visit to Colombo in 2002. We are in the final stages of concluding the agreement. The FTA would give a new dimension to the relations between the two countries and offer more opportunities to our people to come closer through trade and commercial contacts. I discussed this issue in my meetings with President Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Rajapakse. The experts from both sides are meeting in Islamabad to give it a final shape and we hope that it would be ready to be formally launched during the visit of the President of Sri Lanka to Pakistan in January. Q: What are the main impediments in concluding the FTA? A: There are no impediments, just minor differences on certain items. We have proposed to Sri Lanka that we should launch the FTA on the basis of whatever has been agreed so far, while the remaining issues could be settled in due course of time. Q: Your views on the Sri Lanka Peace Process? A: Pakistan supports the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka. We hope that Sri Lankans would be able to resolve their ethnic conflict through a political settlement taking into account the aspirations of all communities of the country. We pray for a lasting and durable peace in Sri Lanka. Q: Sri Lanka has exempted Pakistanis from visa requirements? Why cannot Pakistan reciprocate? A: There is no restriction for Sri Lankans to visit Pakistan. Our High Commission in Colombo facilitates them by issuing visa without any hassle or delay. Pakistan does not have a visa-exemption regime in favour of any country. All visitors to Pakistan are required to obtain visa prior to travelling to Pakistan. Q: The President of Pakistan is the current Chairman of SAARC. Do you think SAARC has the potential to bring economic prosperity for the people of the region? A: Pakistan remains committed to the SAARC process for promotion of regional cooperation for the equal and mutual benefit of all member states. SAARC provides an useful framework to its seven member states to collectively promote peace, stability, economic cooperation, and progress in South Asia. The 12th SAARC Summit held in Islamabad was a big success. The signing of the South Asia Free Trade Agreement during the Summit was a historic moment and heralds a new beginning for the people of South Asia. This together with the signing of the Social Charter, Protocol on Combatting Terrorism Financing has given new life to the organisation and signifies commitment on part of all member states to carry the SAARC process forward. Pakistan has always admired the constructive and pivotal role played by Sri Lanka under President Kumaratunga's leadership in the evolution of SAARC. We shall continue to look towards Sri Lanka for playing a central role in making this organisation a tool for the development and prosperity of the people of South Asia. Q: It is stated that troubled relations between India and Pakistan have hampered the progress and stability in the South Asia region. Do you agree ? A: Yes. This is unfortunate that the strained relations between Pakistan and India over the years had affected the progress in SAARC. However, the leadership in both the countries have realised this and started a composite dialogue process to settle all disputes between the two countries including the core issue of Kashmir. President Musharraf had a very useful meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York and the two sides agreed to look at various options for resolving the Kashmir dispute. We are hopeful that if both sides show sincerity and flexibility in their positions, then a solution to this long outstanding dispute is not far away. Q: Do you think the proposal for common SAARC currency is viable ? A: I don't think the countries in the region have reached the stage where we can talk about a common currency. We can certainly consider this proposal once all SAARC countries reach a certain level of development to make this a viable proposition. Look at EU integration, which took decades before reaching a state to go for a common currency. Q: Are you in favour of SAARC political union? A: It is just like putting a cart before the horse. We feel that there is a need to improve the atmosphere of trust within the region before we talk about a SAARC Political Union. |
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