President renews support to independent Palestinian State
Says Israel contacts won’t change ME policy - Calls for dynamic OIC

KUWAIT—President General Pervez Musharraf declared on Saturday that his country would continue supporting the Palestinians in their quest to proclaim their independent state. Although Islamabad has held contacts with the Israelis at the ministerial level, this will not be at the expense of Pakistan’s support for the Palestinians, Gen. Musharraf said in his press talk on his arrival in Kuwait. Musharraf affirmed that his visit to Kuwait was aimed at boosting the bilateral relations “that are already solid and distinguished particularly at the political level. “But we will seek to cement these ties further at the economic and commercial levels.”
The president said his planned talks with His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah would deal with diverse regional and international affairs as well as coordination in the fight against terrorism. In response to a question on reported death of the field commander of operations of Al-Qaeda organization, Hamza Rabeea, he said “these news are 100 percent confirmed.”
Later on Kuwaiti Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah and Minister of Energy Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah called on President General Pervez Musharraf at his residence in Bayan Palace on Saturday. The meeting was attended by head of the honorary accompanying delegation, the Minister of Communications and Minister of Health Sheikh Ahmad Al-Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Khaled Sulaiman Al-Jarallah, Foreign Ministry’s Director of the Department of Asia and Africa Ambassador Abdul-Mohsen Al-Haroun, Foreign Ministry’s Director of the Economic Department Sheikh Ambassador Ali Al-Khaled Al-Sabah, and the ambassadors of the two countries During the meeting bilateral, regional and matter pertaining to international importance were discussed.
President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah Saturday reaffirmed the two countries’ mutual desire to expand economic and political relationship. The two leaders met briefly at Kuwait international airport, immediately after the arrival of the Pakistani leader for a two-day visit to the Gulf country.
In a brief interaction with the local media, the President said he looked forward to further cementing the close relationship between the two states. “The two countries have close relationship - and we will discuss ways to further enhance our trade and economic ties,” he said.
Sheikh Sabah welcomed the President to Kuwait and said the two countries shared the desire to further consolidate their relationship. The two leaders will hold formal talks later in the day. The President said the two sides will also discuss regional and international issues.
Kuwait, a powerful member of the Gulf Cooperation Council, is Pakistan’s third biggest trade partner in the Gulf after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Around 120,000 Pakistanis are employed in various fields of Kuwaiti economy. Earlier, the Pakistani leader was accorded a warm reception on arrival.
President General Pervez Musharraf Saturday said restructuring of the OIC was not an option but a compulsion to make it a dynamic organization of the Muslim Ummah. “It is no more a choice...It is either we are serious and restructure the OIC or we continue in the same status quo which should not be acceptable to any Muslim leader,” he told reporters before leaving on a 5-day visit to Yemen, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
In Saudi Arabia, the President will represent Pakistan at the extra-ordinary Summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), being held as a follow up to a proposal, he made at the last Kula Lumpur OIC meeting. The 2003 Kuala Lumpur Summit had formed a Council of Eminent Persons to prepare recommendations for restructuring the OIC in light with President Musharraf’s vision of “Enlightened Moderation”.
The President expressed the hope that the Islamic leaders would adopt the recommendations by the OIC Council of Eminent Persons to reinvigorate the Organization and make it an effective voice of the Ummah. “But there is a follow up required (for) implementing the recommendations and the main element of recommendations is to make a new Charter for the OIC and give it a new dynamic spirit,” he added.
The President expressed the hope that the Summit would adopt the recommendations of the Council of Eminent Persons for having a new Charter for the OIC. “It is no more an option, it is a compulsion on us to adopt these recommendations and go for a new Charter,” he added. To a question, President Musharraf said it was a special OIC Summit to concentrate and focus on restructuring of the OIC as an extension of the strategy of enlightened moderation and in light with the proposals of Commission of Eminent Persons.
“It is not really focusing on political issues, I would like to focus it mainly on the issue of restructuring the OIC,” the President said. On the first leg of the visit, the President will visit Yemen and Kuwait and will fly to Saudi Arabia on December 7 on the last leg of his tour to attend the Summit. President Musharraf said in his meeting with the leadership of these countries he would discuss ways and means to further strengthening bilateral relations and developing trade and economic ties with them. The President would also have discussion on cooperation in the anti-terrorism campaign and intelligence coordination.
President General Pervez Musharraf was accorded a warm welcome when he landed here Saturday for a two-day visit, aimed at intensifying bilateral economic and political relations.
Kuwait’s Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah received the President at the airport as the oil-rich Gulf country rolled out red carpet to welcome the Pakistani leader.
President Musharraf and the First Lady were presented bouquets by two children, dressed in traditional Kuwaiti costumes, The President reviewed guard of honour presented by Kuwaiti armed forces.
The national anthems of the two countries were played. The Kuwaiti Prime Minister introduced the Deputy Prime Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly and cabinet members, chiefs of armed forces to the President.
Later, the President left for the state palace for bilateral meetings and official talks. Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad, Minister of State for Petroleum, Muhammad Naseer Mengal, chairman Export Promotion Bureau Taiq Ikram, Senator Muhammad Ali Dada Bhai, MNA Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhry, and foreign secretary are accompanying the President.
During the visit, the President will hold talks with the Kuwaiti leadership on a host of subjects including enhancing trade and economic ties, strengthening of the OIC, the situation in Iraq and Afghanistan and Pakistan efforts for peace in South Asia through settlement of long-standing Jammu and Kashmir dispute with India. He will also interact with members of the Pakistani community in Kuwait and address the Kuwaiti chamber of commerce.—APP