President Zardari meets British Prime Minister Gordon Brown

 

Bilateral, regional and international issues with focus on economic stabilization discussed

London: President Asif Ali Zardari met British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at 10 Downing on 28 August and discussed bilateral ties, regional and international situation with focus on economic rehabilitation and strategic support to Pakistan in the wake of fight against militancy.

Briefing journalists Spokesperson to the President former Senator Farhatullah Babar said, President emphasized upon the need to carry forward the process of comprehensive up gradation of the relations between the two countries in political, economic, investment, education, science and technology and cultural fields.

He said that during the last meeting between President Zardari and Gordon Brown in May this year the two leaders had agreed to establish a strategic dialogue and the President’s call for carry forward the process was in the context of the agreement between the two in May this year.

 The President apprised the British Prime Minister of the successes thus far in the fight against militants and the rehabilitation of displaced persons emphasising also the need for the international community to step forward and help Pakistan in this arduous task.

Farhatullah Babar said that issues relating to the setting up of Economic Reconstruction Opportunity Zones (RoZs), access to Pakistani manufactures in the EU markets, the forthcoming Friends of Democratic Pakistan summit in New York and the Malakand Plan also came under discussion.

The President said that the outcome of the Ministerial meting in Islamabad committing to rehabilitate Swat and Malakand through infrastructure development should begin without delay.

About the regional situation the President said that Pakistan will work with international partners to promote stabilization of Afghanistan and expressed the hope that the trilateral consultation between US, Pakistan and Afghanistan would gather further impetus after Presidential elections in Afghanistan.

President Zardari said that the joint statement at Sharmal Shaikh should provide necessary impetus for the resumption of Pak-India dialogue.

Farhatullah Babar quoted the President as saying that Pakistan was seriously focussing on the Mumbai attacks probe but as agreed in the Joint Statement at Sharmal Shaikh the bilateral relations between the two countries could not be held hostage to Mumbai probe.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown appreciated Pakistan's efforts particularly the building of national consensus in the fight against militancy and said that Britain was committed to supporting a democratic Pakistan in economic and other fields. He also expressed complete support of Britain to democracy and democratic institutions
in the country.

 

 

August 28, 2009