December 14, 2006	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 22, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: Visiting Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store has termed Jammu and Kashmir conflict as flashpoint between Pakistan and India and observed that it must be addressed with great care and responsibility.

Speaking on “Norwegian Foreign Policy” at a function organized by South Asian Free media Association (Safma) here, he pointed out that both Pakistan and India were nuclear powers, but stressed that war was no option.

He said both the countries should try to find out a negotiated settlement to the dispute. He said both the countries need to talk to each other and emphasized that no third country can play significant role unless both India and Pakistan express willingness for this.

Asked to comment on the proposal of demilitarisation and self- governance floated by President General Pervez Musharraf, he said the peace process had gained momentum and both the sides had made progress on it. “The two sides have taken the responsibility and it is a positive sign,” he remarked.

Store who is scheduled to meet General Musharraf on Thursday termed democracy as key to development. “Every country has its own experiences and requirements and different roles have to be respected,” he said while expressing his views about democracy in Pakistan. He said democracy was all about freedom of press, freedom of religion and freedom of expression.

He expressed the hope that the upcoming general elections in Pakistan will be open, free and fair. “That is what we have been assured,” he remarked.

He said Norway was a supporter of the United Nations as a multilateral system, its mechanism and procedures. “We remain committed to the United Nations not only as a mechanism for peace and security, but for development as well.”

He said Norway seeks to build relations with its friends, Pakistan being one of them. He said Norway was fifth largest investor in Pakistan. He said Telenor was the largest Norwegian investor in Pakistan having invested substantive capital in the country and providing jobs to thousands of Pakistanis.

He said Norway was ready to support Pakistan in the health sector, particularly in immunisation programme to bring down infant mortality rate. He said the average immunisation rate worldwide was 80 per cent while it was 99 per cent in Norway. “Countries should work strategically together to bring down infant mortality rate,” he remarked.

The Norwegian Foreign Minister said Norway had an ambition to reach the target of allocating 1 per cent of its GDP for development in the developed countries.

He said he did not believe in clash of civilization. “The philosophy of either with us or against us is dangerous,” he remarked. He said there was a need for dialogue across religions and cultures to understand each other.

Answering a question about environmental degradation, he agreed that there was more responsibility on the rich countries to do something about it. “But we cannot end up pointing finger. We should innovate a way to negotiate,” he opined.

Responding to another question about the accusations against Pakistan that continue to emanate from Afghanistan, he said the countries should find out a just settlement enabling both of them to live in peace.

Secretary General Safma Imtiaz Alam, earlier in his brief address of welcome said Norway was ahead of many countries in supporting poverty alleviation initiatives by the developing countries.

He particularly lauded Norway for taking initiative for peace in Sri Lanka, consolidation of democracy in Nepal, poverty alleviation in Bangladesh besides praising the role it played in relief and reconstruction after a devastating earthquake hit parts of Pakistan last year.