7, April 2005	Thursday	27 Safar 1426

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ISLAMABAD, April 6: Ministers from 26 Asian countries, at the conclusion of the 4th Asia Cooperation Dialogue, extended an invitation of membership to the Russian Federation and Saudi Arabia and demanded the next UN secretary general should be from Asia. Briefing journalists after the conclusion of a two-day meeting here on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said the invitation had been incorporated in the Islamabad Declaration.

He said the 4th ACD meeting agreed to demand that the next UN secretary general should be from Asia in recognition of the continent’s contribution in world affairs.

Mr Kasuri said the ministers from 26 countries agreed to extend cooperation and share resources to overcome the challenges of energy scarcity, poverty and financial instability.

He said the Asian ministers emphasised the need to have an Asian energy grid to meet the needs of the people and keeping in view the growing number of deals being negotiated for gas pipelines across Asia.