Musharraf asks World: Stop Crusade Against Muslims
Pakistan Times Foreign Desk

BAKU (Azerbaijan): Calling for the closing of fronts against Muslims, President Pervez Musharraf has said that political issues concerning Muslim Ummah must be resolved with justice to ensure global peace and harmony.

“When we talk of resolution of political disputes we feel that too many fronts all involving Muslims have been opened. It is time to be closing fronts now,” he said while addressing Milli Majlis, the national Parliament of Azerbaijan, on the second day of his three-day visit to the Central Asian State on Friday.

The President observed the Palestine dispute must be resolved with justice.

“Pakistan stands for the acceptance of the reality of Israel within its pre-1967 boundaries as also the creation of a sovereign state of Palestine, living side by side, in peace and harmony.

“If the world has to succeed in striking at the roots of extremism, militancy and terrorism, the Israel-Palestine dispute must be resolved. Failure, or status quo can no more be accepted as an option.”

On Iraq’s issue, the President said the international approach to Iraq’s Future must be guided by the objective of restoring Iraq’s sovereignty and political independence through ensuring its unity and territorial integrity, upholding the right of the Iraqi people to determine their own future and control their natural resources.

“The political stabilization process in Iraq should involve and be owned by the Iraqi people and be led by the United Nations.”

President Musharraf welcomed the establishment of interim Government in Iraq under the leadership of President Ghazi Al-Yawer and Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.

“We hope this arrangement will facilitate a peaceful transition to a democratic dispensation in accordance with the aspirations of the Iraqi people. Pakistan and Azerbaijan share common concerns and perspectives on the future political architecture.”

He said Azerbaijan and Pakistan must step up their efforts to strengthen the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) as it represents an important vehicle for expansion of trade and commercial relations.

“Due to their geo-strategic location, the two countries can play a vital role as hubs for the flow of energy resources from the landlocked Central Asian countries to Europe and the Far East respectively.

“As fast growing economies and democracies, both Pakistan and Azerbaijan stand as stable conduit for secure transit for vital energy required by the West and the East.”

However, President Musharraf expressed his dismay that despite the potential ECO has not been able to realize the goal of economic integration of the region as enshrined in its Charter.

Speaking about Kashmir, the President said the issue has been festering since decades. “We are glad that the reality of its peaceful and amicable solution has been accepted by both Pakistan and India as also the people of Kashmir.

“We believe that sincerity towards its final resolution, flexibility from maximalist positions and boldness against extremist views can lead us to its harmonious solution and to ultimate peace in the disturbed South Asia region.

“This also will contribute in no small way towards tempering down militancy and extremism. The dual channels of confidence building measures and the dialogue process need to be pursued simultaneously, sincerely and vigorously by both India and Pakistan for the sake of the socio-economic uplift of deprived masses of South Asia.”

Extending Pakistan’s support to Azerbaijan on the issues of Nagorno Karabakh, the President said “ we believe that Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and control over all its territories including Nagorno Karabakh must be restored.”

He assured the august house that the Government and the people of Pakistan stand firmly by their side in their endeavours for a just and a fair settlement of this conflict.

The President said the economic relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan are not commensurate with the high level of political relations existing between the two countries.

The President said his personal interaction with President Ilham Aliyev had been very useful and they have agreed to take further steps to strengthen their economic relations.

He said his current visit has been preceded by the third meeting of Pakistan—Azerbaijan Joint Economic Commission ( JEC) at the Ministerial level.

“It is of utmost importance that bilateral agreements and decisions of the JEC are promptly implemented to enhance mutually beneficial economic relations between our two countries in the years ahead.”

He said since Azerbaijan’s independence in 1991, the two countries have developed close and cordial ties.

“These have enabled us to unreservedly support and assist each other on vital issues like the Kashmir dispute and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.”

Meanwhile, the President Musharraf left an admirable impression on his Azeri host with his fluency over Turkish language.

The President on his arrival in the Parliament and at the conclusion of his 23 minutes speech was given a standing ovation by the gathering.

He was accompanied by Majlis Chairman Murtuz Aleskerov who in his welcome remarks praised the growing friendship between the two countries, saying that Pakistan was the first country to recognize Azerbaijan and on June 9, 1992, diplomatic relations were established.

President General Pervez Musharraf also laid a wreath at the tomb of former president of Azerbaijan Heiidar Aliyev and paid tributes to him for his role in promoting Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations.

The President also laid a wreath at the Alley of Honour for valiant Azeri soldiers who were martyred during the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

The national anthems of both countries were played at the site overlooking Caspian Sea.

Recording his impressions in the visitors’ book, the President wrote that he was honoured to pay homage to the soldiers who had laid down their lives for the freedom of Azerbaijan.

President Musharraf on Friday attended a luncheon hosted in his honour by the Azerbaijan Prime Minister Artur Raisizadeh here on the second day of his three-day official visit.

The luncheon was also attended by Begum Sehba Musharraf and the members of the delegation accompanying the President including Federal Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi, Chaudhry Nauraiz Shakoor, Governor of State Bank of Pakistan, Dr Ishrat Hussain, Senator Dr Shahzad Wasim MNAs Malik Amin Aslam and Ms Hina Rabbani Khar, Foreign Secretary Riaz Khokhar, Information Secretary Syed Anwar Mahmood, Pakistan Ambassador in Baku Muhammad Hafeez.●