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| August 05, 2006 | Saturday | Rajab 9, 1427 |
‘Muslim world united on Lebanon issue’
ISLAMABAD Aug 4: Prime Minister Shuakat Aziz on Friday said the emergency OIC meeting had focussed on seeking an immediate ceasefire and sent a “clear message to the world that the Muslim world was unanimous in condemning” massive killings of people in Lebanon.
He was addressing a news conference at the PM House soon after his return from Putrajaya, Malaysia.
The prime minister said the objective was to achieve a ceasefire instead of pointing out other factors in the conflict.
He had been asked to comment why the National Assembly’s resolution or the OIC declaration did not contain any condemnation of the United States for blocking efforts for a ceasefire in Lebanon.
He said Pakistan had declared its position on those directly involved in the carnage but the fact remained that several countries, including some Muslim states like Turkey, had relations with both Israel and Lebanon.
Referring to the national political scene, the prime minister said the government was prepared to face the opposition’s no-confidence motion, adding that it was part of the democratic process. He said issues with MQM had been resolved amicably.
Prime minister confirmed that he had offered at the OIC meeting that Pakistan would consider if all the stakeholders in Lebanon called for a UN peace conference.
He said it was great success that six out of eight-point declaration at the end of OIC conference had been proposed by Pakistan.
He asserted that apart from seeking an immediate ceasefire, the OIC had also demanded swapping of prisoners through ICRC and that the perpetrators of human rights violations in Lebanon should be tried in the International Court of Justice.
He said: “We are in contact with the Lebanese premier and the main players in the conflict through various channels and we are pursuing them to play their role in ending the Middle East crisis.”
He said: “We have also impressed upon the world to find out a just and durable solution to the Palestine issue, without which peace in the region would remain an illusion.”
The prime minister said his Lebanese counterpart had praised Pakistan’s position on various issues and had thanked for the timely moral and diplomatic support of his country and people.
Referring to the possibility of setting up a national relief fund for Lebanese people, he said that the government was alive to their needs but such an option could be considered when the stage of rehabilitation and reconstruction arrived.
About Pakistan’s position on Hezbullah, the prime minister said it was a component of Lebanon and it was an internal matter.
He said Pakistan was in constant contact with the OIC member states who were members of UN Security Council ahead of its meeting in New York.
Premier Aziz said he had fruitful meetings with nine heads of state or government on the sidelines of OIC conference and discussed bilateral trade and mutual cooperation in other areas.
About his meetings in Bangkok during his brief stayover there, the premier said the two countries had agreed to finalise FTA by end of this year for which Pakistan will send its negotiating team to Thailand soon.
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