March 26, 2008	Wednesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 17, 1429

ISLAMABAD, March 25: World leaders, including the US and Afghan presidents and Chinese, Turkish and British prime ministers, have congratulated Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on assuming the office of the country’s chief executive.

President George W. Bush welcomed his election with a large majority and reiterated Washington’s commitment to strengthening friendship and good relations with Pakistan.

The president assured Mr Gilani that the US would continue to support Pakistan. He praised Pakistan’s role in the war against terrorism.

President Bush also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Gilani to visit the US at his convenience.

Prime Minister Gilani reciprocated the sentiments expressed by President Bush and said that Pakistan was committed to maintaining long-term close ties with the US.

He said that Pakistan attached great importance to its cooperation with the US in economic and defence fields and in the social development sector.

He said that Pakistan would continue to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations since it was in Pakistan’s own national interest. However, he said, that a comprehensive approach was required in this regard, combining it with a political approach with development programmes.

Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in a message congratulated Mr Gilani and said: “I believe that under your leadership, the Pakistani government will continue its efforts for national stability and development and make greater achievements in all endeavours of national construction.”

He said: “Pakistan is China’s good neighbour, good friend, good partner and good brother. For more than 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, our two countries have always respected, understood, trusted and supported each other.”

“We have established all-weather friendship and conducted all-round cooperation,” said the Chinese premier.

He said: “The Chinese side would like to work together with the Pakistani side to unremittingly deepen and expand our mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas, carrying forward the China-Pakistan Strategic Partnership of Cooperation to new heights for the benefit of our two countries and peoples.”

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a telephonic conversation with Mr Gilani welcomed his election with a large majority and reiterated Turkey’s fullest support to Pakistan in every sphere of life. He expressed confidence that brotherly relations between two countries would move from strength to strength.

He said he would soon send the Turkish foreign minister to discuss means for further promoting relations with Pakistan, especially economic and commercial cooperation. He invited the prime minister to visit Turkey and said he hoped to see him soon.

Prime Minister Gilani thanked Mr Erdogan and said that the gesture reflected the feelings of goodwill, friendship and solidarity that the people and leadership of Turkey had for Pakistan.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai called Prime Minister Gilani and congratulated him on assuming the office of the prime minister.

He termed the relations between the two countries unique in which people were closely linked to each other. The brotherly neighbours, he said, needed to develop these relations for mutual benefit.

He invited Mr Gilani to visit Afghanistan and expressed the hope that Afghanistan would be the first country the prime minister would visit after assuming the office.

Referring to the struggle of Benazir Bhutto for peace and democracy, President Karzai said: “She was the torch-bearer of the journey which we all have to complete.”

According to Our Special Correspondent in London, the United Kingdom said on Tuesday it stand fully behind the newly-elected democratic government and offered to help Prime Minister Gilani meet the challenges of governance.

A statement issued by the Downing Street said Prime Minister Gordon Brown had offered his full support to Prime Minister Gilani, saying the UK was ready to assist the new Pakistani government meet the challenges it faces.

It said Mr Brown welcomed the election of Mr Gilani as prime minister and looked forward to working with him.

Quoting Mr Brown, the statement said February’s parliamentary elections were a crucial step towards a lasting democratic transition in Pakistan.

In an indirect reference to Britain’s contribution to democracy in Pakistan, the statement said during talks with President Musharraf following the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, Mr Brown had called upon President Musharraf to hold “credible elections.”

On Monday Britain had welcomed Mr Gilani’s announcement to release the detained judges.

AFP adds from Brussels: The appointment of Pakistan’s new prime minister marks an “important step” for democracy in the volatile country, the European Union’s Slovenian presidency said on Tuesday.

“The appointment of the prime minister is an important step in the development of democracy, stability and security in Pakistan,” the presidency said in a statement.

The EU’s presidency also said it “welcomes the release of judges detained under the recent emergency rule” and that the step “marks a positive move towards the restoration of rule of law in Pakistan.”