October 9, 2003	Thursday	Sha’aban 12, 1424

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CHICAGO, Oct 8: Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali has strongly defended the new democratic setup in Pakistan, saying that despite the teething problems it faces, the system is not going to collapse.

“Such difficulties are often exaggerated,” the prime minister told a select gathering of US scholars and policy-makers at the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday evening while talking about the problems the new setup was facing.

Since October 2002, he said, Pakistan had gained its rightful place among the democratic nations of the world, allowing marginalized groups, such as women and minorities, to merge into the mainstream.

“We have taken the government to the people”, and the new system had allowed them to voice their opinions “on issues of national import”, he said.

Despite the differences, he said, the opposition and ruling coalition parties in the National Assembly shared the same goal, that was “to ensure that democracy and democratically elected parliamentary government remain the basis of our political system.”

Mr Jamali added: “Even when parliamentary proceedings are interrupted, my dialogue with my political colleagues, both supporters and opponents, never ceases.”

INVESTMENT: The government’s success in turning around the national economy, he said, also augured well for the democratic system because a smooth transition to sustainable democracy rested on economic stability.

“We are now determined to translate our macro economic strengths into fulfilling the daily needs of our people,” the prime minister said, and appealed for “enhanced direct foreign investment” in Pakistan.

Only such an investment, he said, would enable the country to sustain recent positive trends in its economy and allow it to strengthen democratic traditions.

Mr Jamali urged the Bush administration to allow Pakistan greater access to the US market and remove discriminatory regimes that prevented emerging economies from accessing US markets.

Pakistan, he said, was particularly interested in receiving greater access to the markets for its textile products because it felt that it could compete with others in this field.

He asked the Bush administration to commence talks for a free trade agreement with Pakistan without delay. A free trade agreement and multi-year package of economic and security assistance, he added, would complement and strength Pakistan-US alliance in the war against terror.

WORLD ISSUES: The prime minister also spoke on major international issues, such as the situation in Kashmir and Iraq, and Pakistan’s offer to improve bilateral ties with India.

“India and Pakistan have no option but to settle their disputes peacefully and live as good neighbours. We are ready to engage India in an intense and sustained dialogue to resolve all our disputes, particularly Kashmir,” he said.

Pakistan, Mr Jamali further said, was ready to construct a new architecture of security in South Asia on agreed principles of inter-state conduct.

“We also believe that a continued US engagement in South Asia would be critical in ensuring lasting regional peace and security,” he added.

Without making any commitment on the US request for Pakistani troops for Iraq, the prime minister said: “The return of sovereignty of the Iraqi people is critical as is a meaningful role for the UN in the stability and reconstruction of Iraq.”

Mr Jamali once again pledged Pakistan’s support to the Karzai government, but said the Afghans should also try to implement the Bonn agreement singed two years ago that guarantees equal participation to all ethnic groups.

“We have a legitimate interest in a stable and friendly Afghanistan. We fully support the Bonn process and the Karzai government,” he said.

The prime minister said the ISAF must continue to fulfil its mandate in Afghanistan.