|
|
|
| 28 April 2004 | Wednesday | 07 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425 |
Pakistan's efforts on war on terror bold and effective: Rocca
WASHINGTON, April 27: Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Christina Rocca on Monday lauded Pakistan's "bold and effective" cooperation in the global war on terror.
She said this during a meeting with National Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Amir Hussain at the State Department.
Referring to cordial Pakistan-US relations, she said: "We are in it for the long haul." Referring to the Pakistani people's wariness regarding long- term relationship between the two countries, she said that the people were at times suspicious because of the ups and downs in ties over the past.
The assistant secretary of state said the US wanted to promote regional stability, adding that it would help Pakistan achieve socio-economic well being. Focussing on the multi-year US assistance programme, Ms Rocca said that it was rare for the US to make such a commitment, adding that there were only a few such cases - other countries being Israel and Egypt.
The US, Ms Rocca said, was interested in building a long-term relationship with Pakistan, and it was "committed to its friendship". Focussing on the close Pakistan-US ties and highlighting the country's anti-terrorism cooperation, the National Assembly Speaker said the government had taken effective measures to control extremism and promote the concept of enlightened moderation.
The speaker National Assembly said Pakistan had been targeted by terrorists, adding that rooting out terrorism was "in our own interest." Chaudhry Amir Hussain apprised Ms Rocca about the working of Pakistan's elected National Assembly, and the Senate, besides informing the US official about various legislative businesses undertaken by the upper and the lower houses of parliament.
The Speaker thanked the US authorities for considering the sharing of knowledge about valuable research work, saying it would prove to be helpful for law-makers. The concept of workshops for improving research skills, sharing of established rules of business, precedents and finer legal points would certainly prove helpful in the conduct of substantive proceedings of a house.
The USAID and UNDP-funded project for the live broadcast of proceedings of the elected houses on the pattern of the Congressional Research Service, was, therefore, a praiseworthy effort.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani delegation was scheduled to visit the C-SPAN broadcast system on Tuesday besides visiting the Library of Congress to see working of the Congressional Research Service.
Members of the delegation are also scheduled to meet legislators belonging to both the Republican and Democratic parties. Later, the delegation would also meet Michael Green, advisor to the US President at the White House. -APP
|
|
|
|