Pakistan reaffirms support to Lanka's sovereignty

Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, stressed that ties between Pakistan and Sri Lanka have developed from a relationship to a partnership for peace, progress and prosperity, when Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama called on him, during his first official visit to Islamabad.

Minister Bogollagama extended to President Pervez Musharraf and the Government of Pakistan the best wishes of President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Sri Lankan Government.

He expressed the deep appreciation of the Government of Sri Lanka for the support of Pakistan for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the island and the peace initiative of the Government of Sri Lanka.

Minister Bogollagama on behalf of President Rajapaksa invited Prime Minister Aziz to visit Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient time. Earlier in the day, Minister Bogollagama met his Pakistani counterpart, Minister Khursid M Kasuri.

"I have reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka", Pakistani's Foreign Minister told a joint press conference following the bilateral talks.

The two Ministers discussed a range of matters of mutual interest, including the political, economic, cultural and educational spheres. They expressed appreciation and appreciated the enhancement of bilateral trade, following the signing of the Free Trade Agreement in 2005. The two Ministers agreed that increased aviation and sea links should be further enhanced to realise the full potential of the bilateral trade mechanisms. In this respect, the two Ministers decided to have the next round of bilateral Air Negotiations convened as early as possible.

Focusing on the importance of expanding the people-to-people contact and following the MoU on tourism signed in 2006 during the State visit to Pakistan by President Rajapaksa, the two delegations appreciated the necessity to develop the tourism sector, focusing on mutual cultural interests.

In this connection Pakistan's Foreign Minister Kasuri informed the Sri Lankan delegation that the year 2007 has been named as "Visit Pakistan Year" and a special cultural event linked to Buddhism will take place in November to promote Buddhist culture.

Minister Bogollagama also had a roundtable discussion with a cross section of eminent personalities from the civil society in Islamabad. He briefed the participants on the developments in the peace initiative in Sri Lanka and the dual track of the government to contain terrorism on the one hand while making every effort to resume talks with the LTTE to enable a negotiated settlement to the conflict.

Foreign Secretary Dr. Palitha Kohona and Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in Islamabad also participated in the round table discussion.