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| November 19, 2002 | Tuesday | Ramazan 13, 1423 |
Debt write-off a difficult issue: US
ISLAMABAD, Nov 18: All nations of the world should work jointly to identify terror and fight it collectively, said US Secretary of Treasury, Paul H. O’Neill.
“I am looking forward to meet the Pakistani president and other senior government officials and discuss with them issues relating to terrorism and bilateral cooperation,” he told newsmen on Monday.
Talking to reporters immediately after his arrival at PAF base Chaklala, he said terrorism needed to be jointly tackled by all nations.
About his possible meetings with the elected representatives, he said: “I would be meeting the government officials including your president.”
Pakistan and the United States, he pointed out, they enjoyed very friendly relations which will be further strengthened. “I would learn from the Pakistani officials how the Pakistani economy is developing and share my views with them.”
He said he was here to attend the meeting of joint economic commission to further identify areas of cooperation between the two countries. He said this was his first visit to Pakistan during which he would very much like to know many things about Pakistan. Mr Paul is the first US secretary of treasury who is visiting Pakistan after 30 years.
Responding to a question Mr Paul said the issue of writing off $1 billion Pakistani debt was a little complicated issue. The matter, he said, was now in the US Congress and would be resolved with other similar issues shortly.
He did not offer any comment when reminded that Pakistan which offered lot of support to the US government against terrorism did not in return get substantial assistance.
At this stage Minister for Finance Shaukat Aziz who received his counterpart at the PAF base said the issue of offering additional market access by the United States would come up for discussion in Tuesday’s joint economic commission meeting.
He added that four major issues would be discussed during the joint economic commission’s meeting which included increased US assistance and debt relief, market access, anti-money laundering and US private investment in Pakistan.
He said Mr. Paul will also be visiting Koshhali bank in Islamabad on Tuesday beside visiting a primary school. He is also scheduled to visit Kabul and later go to India to attend G-20 meeting.
Mr Aziz said Pakistan was giving much importance to its relations with the United States. “I believe Mr Paul’s visit will help undertake more close cooperation between the two countries,” he added.
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