Talks with Israel
PM thankful to Turkey, reassures Lebanon
DM Monitoring

ISLAMABAD—Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Sunday telephoned Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and thanked him for his personnel role and assistance in arranging a meeting between Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and Israeli.
The Prime Minister expressed the hope the meeting would help promote Palestine cause, promote peace in the region and develop better interfaith harmony.
The Prime Minister of Turkey said the meeting went well and would help in promoting peace in the region.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also called the Prime Minister of Lebanon Fuad Sanyura and discussed with him the situation in the middle East in the backdrop of recent talks between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Israel.
Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan wished to engage Israel to help understanding and promote the cause of Palestine. The PM reiterated that Pakistan has no plan of recognizing Israel unless a it found to Palestine issue settled.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Sunday contacted the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyep Erdogan on telephone and thanked him for his personal efforts, role and assistance in arranging a meeting between the Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khurshid Mehmud Kasuri and Foreign Minister of Israel Silvan Shalom in Istanbul.
The Prime Minister Aziz while talking to Turkish Prime Minister on telephone expressed the hope that the meeting will help promote the Palestinian cause, boost peace efforts in the Middle East and develop better interfaith harmony.
The Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyep Erdogan told the Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz that the meeting would help promote peace in the region and pave the way to resolve the Palestinian issue.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz also contacted the Prime Minister of Lebanon Fuad Sanyura on telephone and discussed with him the situation in the Middle East in the backdrop of recent talks between the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and Israel.
Aziz said Pakistan wishes to engage Israel to help create understanding and promote the cause of Palestinians.
The Prime Minister reiterated that Pakistan has no plans to recognizing Israel unless a solution is found to the Palestinian issue.
APP adds: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz Sunday said there has been no change in Pakistan’s policy about recognition of Israel and the recent meeting between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Israel was only to promote Palestinian cause and ensure peace in the Middle East.
In an exclusive interview with “Al-Arabiya TV News Channel” conducted by its South and East Asia Bureau Chief Baker Atyani, the Prime Minister said, the meeting between Foreign Minister of Pakistan Khurshid Kasuri and Foreign Minister of Israel Silvan Shalom, was just an engagement to promote the cause of Palestine, encourage interfaith harmony and work together for the peace in the Middle East.
The Prime Minister while replying to a question said there had been positive reactions among the people and political forces in Pakistan except few politicians.
He said Pakistan had been supporting the cause of Palestine and working for the creation of an independent Palestinian state, and the recent meeting between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and Israel was just to engage Israel towards resolution of Palestine issue.
Shaukat Aziz said the meeting would also resolve misperceptions and help in explaining Pakistan and Muslim world’s point of view to the Israel in a better way.
He said Pakistan wanted to go beyond giving statements on the issue of Palestine, therefore, the meeting of two foreign ministers was planned.
Pakistan consulated Muslim leaders and President General Pervez Musharraf talked to King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and he also talked to Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyep Erdogan before the meeting, he said. Pakistan informed many other Muslim leaders about the meeting, but the decision of the meeting of two foreign ministers was Pakistan’s own decision, he added.
He said recognition of Israel is linked to solution of Palestine and the recent meeting was not aimed at recognising of Israel.
The Prime Minister said Pakistan being an important member of the Muslim Ummah, wanted to play due role in resolving the issue of Palestine.
He said the meeting would only promote the cause of Palestinians and not meant to recognise Israel. He said without complete freedom of Palestine and full withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from the Palestinian territory, the question of recognition of Israel could not be discussed.
Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan had an important position in the world community, and President Mahmood Abbas of Palestine Authority during his visit to Pakistan two months ago had asked President Musharraf to play a role in projecting the cause of Palestine.
The Prime Minister said PLO President Mahmood Abbas conveyed the feelings of Palestinians to President General Pervez Musharraf that Pakistan being an important member of the Muslim Ummah could play an important role in resolving the Palestine issue.
Shaukat Aziz was of the view that besides promoting the cause of Palestine, the meeting between the two foreign ministers would be helpful for the resolution of Kashmir issue.
Replying to a question, the Prime Minister said if the meeting will help in resolving the Palestine issue, then Pakistan will continue the contact otherwise it will work on other options.
He however said it is too early to say that what Pakistan can do in resolving the Palestinian problem.
The Prime Minister said there are no short term gain out of the meeting of two foreign ministers, but there would be long term peace in the shape of solution of Palestine issue.
Defending the meeting of two foreign ministers, the Prime Minister said engagement was a mature way to handle the issues.
He said the indirect contacts between Pakistan and Israel started a week before the meeting of the foreign ministers and it was held with the cooperation of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyep Erdogan.
Giving some details, the Prime Minister said both the foreign ministers discussed regional issues, Palestinian situation and it was clarified that Pakistan wants peace and independent homeland for Palestinians.
The Prime Minister said government is also preparing to send a delegation to Palestine to have people to people contacts.
On the question of Iranian nuclear experts’ visit to Pakistan and Iran’s nuclear issue, the Prime Minister said Pakistan believes in non-proliferation and peaceful use of nuclear technology. He said Pakistan is opposed to any military solution to the nuclear issue of Iran and said it should be settled through negotiations.
About the question of A.Q. Khan, the Prime Minister said this chapter has been closed. He however said Pakistan has very strong command and control system, and assured that there is no possibility that any thing could be leaked from the system.
Referring to gas Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline project, the Prime Minister said it had many advantages and provide energy security to the region besides improving linkages.
He said Pakistan is committed to complete the project even if India will not join it. He said Pakistan is also looking other options to get gas to meet the growing needs in the country.
The Prime Minister said economic growth in Pakistan has created job opportunities and increased the demand of fuel.
He said a large number of leading businessmen from Middle East are coming to Pakistan for investment taking advantage of the free and growing economy here.
Replying to a question on India-Pakistan relations, the Prime Minister said both the countries had engaged in confidence building measures since the meeting between President Musharraf and former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.
He said without finding solution to the core issue of Kashmir according to the aspirations of the Kashmiris, the peace could not be ensured in the region.
The Prime Minister said three stakeholders, Pakistan, India and Kashmiris are important and they should meet to find the solution of Kashmir. He said Pakistan invited leaders of All Parties Hurriyat Conference to Pakistan and now they have been invited by the Indian Prime Minister to visit India, which he said, is a good sign to carry forward the dialogue process. He said the peace process between India and Pakistan is irreversible and expressed the hope that it would yield positive results but added that Pakistan could not side-step itself from the core issue of Jammu and Kashmir.