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BERLIN, July 12: Pakistan and Germany on Tuesday agreed on the need for UN reforms, but differences persisted on when to introduce the much-debated changes to the world body.
“Germany and Pakistan are forcefully in favour of the UN reforms, the only difference is about timing,” German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder told a reporter at a joint press conference with visiting Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
The two leaders met earlier for about an hour to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues.
Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, Minister for Information Sheikh Rashid Ahmad and Minister for Privatisation Hafiz Sheikh accompanied the prime minister during his meeting with Chancellor Schroeder.
Mr Aziz reiterated Pakistan’s stand on the proposed UN reforms. “It is based on principles,” he insisted.
“There is a need to re-invent, revitalize and re-invigorate the UN,” he repeated, but maintained that the reforms should be broad-based and done through consensus. “That’s how you create ownership,” he remarked. “We need time. We need to deliberate on it and create consensus.”
KASHMIR: Mr Schroeder said Pakistan and India should resolve their dispute over Kashmir amongst themselves.
“Pakistan and India need to solve this one issue amongst themselves. I don’t think anybody can be called upon to play that role,” an emphatic German Chancellor told a Pakistani reporter. Both were affected parties, he said.
WAR ON TERROR: Mr Schroeder appreciated Pakistan’s role in the war on terror. He appreciated that Pakistan had placed 70,000 ‘pairs of booths’ on the ground along its border with Afghanistan to plug illegal border-crossing.
Earlier, in his opening remarks, the German chancellor appreciated Pakistan’s ‘fantastic performance’ in the economic field and said economic bilateral relations between the two countries was the focus of discussions between the two leaders.
He said ties between the two countries had not only increased in the field of direct investment, but also trade services.
He said that there were broad-based agreement on the importance of international war against terror and appreciated Pakistan’s role. He said there was also agreement on issues concerning Afghanistan and the Middle East.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, while reciprocating the good feeling, said Pakistan valued its relationship with Germany.
He said that he discussed bilateral situation as well as situation prevailing in the region.
Mr Aziz said that both countries agreed on issues concerning Afghanistan. He said that a strong and stable Afghanistan was not only in the interest of the people of that country, but also for Pakistan, the region and the whole world.
On relations with India, the prime minister said that both countries had made good progress on several issues.
