|
Meaningful
Cooperation Cannot Be Achieved In An Atmosphere Initiated
By
Festering Disputes And Tensions
-
Musharraf
kathmandu, jan 3: president of pakistan pervez musharraf has
said that "meaningful cooperation cannot be achieved in an atmosphere
initiated by festering disputes and tensions."
in a written interview given to rastriya samachar samiti (rss),
president musharaf said "pakistan is committed to make saarc a success
and would expect other members to cooperate positively towards
strengthening it."
when asked
to make an evaluation of the achievements made by saarc since its
inception, the pakistani president said "saarc's achievement,
unfortunately, have not matched its potentials."
"the assosication has been a victim of tension created by
actions of some of its own members," mr. musharraf said, adding "it is
because of this reason that saarc has lagged behind other regional
organizations."
in reply to a query, mr musharraf said "it is difficult to
achieve prosperity in an environment lacking in peace and stability.
poverty alleviation would remain a dream unless core issues are address
to create a congenial atmposphere in the region."
on a question relating to inclusion of bilateral issues in
saarc process, the pakistani president said "exclusion of bilateral
issues from the saarc process is a serious handicap which has crippled
the association. for any organization to prosper, cooperation among its
constituent units is indispensible. it is with this view that pakistan
has all these years supported the introduction of an aceptable mechanism
in saarc whereby bilateral issues could be discussed and resolved on the
basis of justice and fair play."
talking to each other about contentious issues is much
better than refusing to discuss them, mr musharraf said, adding that
pakistan still advocates that bilateral issues should be taken up in
saarc.
in reply to a query, the pakistani president said all the
saarc member countries should contribute towards the promotion of peace
and stability through words and deeds.
the saarc charter also recognizes the importance of
fostering mutual understanding, good neighborly relations and meaningful
cooperation among the member states, he said adding "no single member
state should hold the association hostage to its whims at the cost of
others."
in reply to a question on what steps should the 11th saarc
summit take to eliminate terrorism from the region, mr musharraf said
that terrorism or violance is a phenomenon which is bred by continuation
of disputes, denial if rights, political repression, deprivation,
poverty, etc. unlessthe root causes of terrorism are eliminated it would
raise its head in various forms. there is no reason why sincere and
conscious efforts by individual members states should not eradicate the
menance.
saarc member countries signed a convention on suppression of
terrorism over a decade ago, he said, adding that it would come under
discussion at the forthcoming summit.
in reply to a query, the pakistani president said economic
opportunities cannot be tapped in an atmposphere of tension from which
the south asian regions suffers at present. if there was peace and
stability in the region, there would be not need to divert our precious
and sarce resources to defence. rss
--------- |
