NEW YORK: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday addressed the United
Nations General Assembly during which he condemned all forms of terrorism and
sought better relations between Pakistan and its immediate neighbours.
At the beginning of his address, Prime Minister Sharif drew attention
towards climatic change and its affects in Pakistan especially the recent heavy
rains and floods.
The prime minister said Pakistan was facing the grave danger of
terrorism and added that the country’s military had rendered great sacrifices
during the past 13 years and continues to make efforts to eliminate terrorism.
Sharif said he condemned terrorism of all forms including the ‘genocide
of Palestinians in Gaza’.
“Pakistan wants to improve relations with its neighbours,” Sharif
said adding that Pakistan and Afghanistan face similar challenges.
He also expressed
disappointment over India’s cancellation of secretary-level talks between the
two countries.
“People of the
sub-continent are losing out opportunities of progress and development due to
regional conflicts,” the premier added.
He said Pakistan will pursue a policy of nuclear restraint and
credible minimum deterrence.
Sharif also said that
“As a responsible nuclear weapon state, we will continue to support the
objectives of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation; and pursue a policy of
nuclear restraint and credible minimum deterrence.”
“Pakistan is not
participating in any arms race in the region. Yet we cannot be oblivious to the
emerging security scenarios and build up of armaments. We too, have the
obligation to maintain a robust and reliable deterrence,” he added.
He reiterated the need
for an “inter-linked mechanism for pursuing nuclear restraint, conventional
equilibrium and conflict resolution. To promote stability, we are prepared to
explore new Confidence Building Measures.”
Pakistan, he said, has
maintained the highest standards of nuclear safety and security. “At the last
Summit at The Hague that I attended, Pakistan's recent nuclear measures,
especially the establishment of a Centre of Excellence, were appreciated.”
He said, “Pakistan is a
State with advanced nuclear technology, with an experience of more than 40
years. We are a mainstream partner in the international non-proliferation
regime.
Pakistan also has a
stringent national export control system that is fully harmonised with
international export control regimes. Though a non-member, we are abiding by
their guidelines.”
He said: “Pakistan ought
to be a part of these export control regimes, especially the Nuclear Suppliers
Group. Pakistan also qualifies for full access to civil nuclear technology, to
overcome its energy shortages and spur economic growth.”
Prime Minister
Sharif earlier addressed the United Nations peacekeeping summit during which he
said Pakistan was playing a key role in the organisation's peacekeeping
missions and expressed the country's resolve to continue with the efforts.
Sharif also paid tribute to those who had sacrificed their lives
in the fight against terrorism and said Pakistan was willing to provide
training for the UN peacekeeping missions.
He also called for the
expansion of the domain of talks between members of the peacekeeping mission.
The premier said that
140 military personnel of the country had lost their lives while serving with
the UN peace corps, adding that Pakistan had also sent its troops to the
Central African Republic on the call of United Nations Secretary-General Ban
Ki-moon.
He further said that
Pakistan had been serving the United Nations peacekeeping missions since 1960.
Earlier, Nawaz Sharif met with United Nations Secretary-General
Ban Ki-moon at the UN headquarters in New York on Thursday.
According to a statement
released by Ban's office, the UN Secretary-General offered his condolences to
Sharif for the victims of the recent floods in Pakistan.
Ban also spoke about the
security situation in the country and Pakistan's relationship with neighbours
Afghanistan and India.
Prime Minister Sharif
urged the United Nations Secretary General to take steps for the peaceful
settlement of Kashmir dispute, in accordance with the relevant resolutions of
UN Security Council.
The prime minister also
met with World Bank president Jim Yong Kim, UN Secretary General's Special
Envoy for Global Education and former British prime minister, Gordon Brown and
other global leaders.
Speaking to the Pakistani community in New York, Prime Minister
Sharif defended his mandate and downplayed the anti-government protests being
held in the country's federal capital. He pledged to pull Pakistan out of
difficulties.
The prime minister was
accompanied by Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz,
Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi, Ambassador to the United States Jalil Abbas
Jilani and Consul General in New York Raja Ali Ejaz.
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