Sochi summit: President Zardari seeks international support for Pakistan.
President Asif Ali Zardari returned here on Wednesday after a few hours visit to the Russian city of Sochi during which he participated in the quadrilateral summit of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Russian Federation on regional peace, security and economic development.He also held separate bilateral meetings with Hamid Karzai President of Afghanistan, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan and President Dmitry Medvedev of the Russian Federation.President Asif Ali Zardari called for generous help and assistance of international community to overcome the challenges of relief and reconstruction, faced by Pakistan in the wake of devastating floods.
“We are meeting in Sochi at a sobering and tragic moment. Our region is once again struck by unprecedented natural disasters,” he said with reference to the worst devastation ever caused by the floods in Pakistan.
The floods have resulted in a humanitarian nightmare and Pakistan needs generous help and assistance of the international community to overcome the challenges of relief and reconstruction, President Zardari said while speaking at the Second Quadrilateral Summit of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Russia held here in Sochi.
He also mentioned the unprecedented forest fires in Russia and said, “We are also saddened by huge losses,”. The President urged the need for collective efforts and measures to be better prepared for such natural calamities.
President Zardari called for greater cooperation among the regional countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Russia to effectively tackle the complex challenges of security and development, faced by the region.
“Terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking, organized crime, need to be seen in terms of their root causes. They thrive on ignorance, deprivation and poverty. Our countries need greater cooperation to effectively tackle them”, he stressed.
He said the problem of security is deeply rooted in lack of development, adding, “it cannot be treated in isolation. Our meeting should therefore focus both on security and development.”
The President was accompanied by Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar, Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, Special Secretary Shaukat Haroon, Ambassador Khalid Khattak and Spokesperson Farhatullah Babar.
The joint declaration issued at the end of the four state summit reaffirmed the countries’ determination to counteract illicit trafficking of weapons, drugs, money laundering, terror financing and transboundary organized crimes and vowed to implement joint projects in energy and transport infrastructure development.
The four countries also launched an international appeal to provide urgent assistance to the flood victims in Pakistan.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, left, listens to his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari during their meeting in the Bocharov Ruchei residence near Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2010. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev offered Pakistan support in dealing with catastrophic floods.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev offered Pakistan support in dealing with catastrophic floods as he hosted the leaders of Afghanistan, Pakistan and Tajikistan for talks on efforts to stabilize the region
Medvedev began his meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari in Russia’s Black Sea resort of Sochi by expressing condolences over the floods that have killed about 1,500 and affected some 20 million people.
“We would like to continue cooperating in fighting terrorism, drug trafficking and international crimes. That’s why everything we discussed earlier could be continued, even though there is a good political dialogue, it is very important to develop economic ties,” Medvedev said in his televised remarks at bilateral meeting with Zardari.
“We are mourning together with you and we are ready to provide all the necessary assistance,” Medvedev said.
A Russian Emergency Situations Ministry plane delivered relief supplies to Pakistan on Tuesday, and another such flight will be conducted Thursday.
Briefing newsmen about the visit Spokesperson to the President. Farhatullah Babar said that the bilateral meeting with Russian President Medvedev resulted in an agreement to hold the inaugural session of Russia-Pakistan Inter-Governmental Commission next month in Islamabad to bolster economic cooperation.
The bilateral also produced a willingness by the Russian Federation to participate in the Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline project, renovation and expansion of the Pakistan Steel Mills, up-gradation of the railway tracks and some projects in the energy sector besides offer to increase the number of Pakistani students in Russian academic institutions.
President Zardari offered exploration concessions to Russian companies to help Pakistan overcome the energy shortage adding also that it was also keen to bolster security cooperation within mutually agreed parameters with the Russian federation.
The two sides also agreed to open their respective bank branches in each other’s country, Farhatullah Babar said.
The Russian President also called upon the international community to immediately provide tents and medicines to the flood victims for their immediate relief.
During meeting with President Karzai of Afghanistan President Zardari welcomed the conclusion recently of the Afghan Transit Trade Agreement.
He called upon early completion of necessary formalities in both the countries to operationalise the agreement which he said was necessary for the economic well being of the two countries.
Economic development holds the key to winning the war against militancy that thrived on poverty, deprivation and lack of economic opportunities Farhatullah Babar quoted the President as saying.
President Zardari reiterated non-interference in Afghanistan’s internal affairs and appreciated President Karzai’s decision to adopt reconciliation as a central pillar of its peace strategy.
President Karzai accepted the invitation to visit Pakistan which will take place sometime soon after Ramazan. The Pakistan government will also consider giving scholarships to Afghan students for study in the professional colleges in Pakistan, the spokesperson said.
In bilateral meeting with the Tajikistan President the two leaders decided to fast track implementation of the CASA-1000 mega project for importing power from Tajikistan and to work together for building a trade and energy corridor through Central Asia besides setting up joint ventures in energy, pharmaceutical, textiles and manufacturing sectors. The two sides also decided to revitalize the Joint Economic Commission and explore a trilateral trade agreement with Afghanistan. They also decided to pursue with Afghanistan, the road project linking Pakistan to Tajikistan and beyond. The proposed road will pass through Durra Pass and the Wakhan Strip in Afghanistan. Pakistan has already completed feasibility of the portion of the road on its side, Farhatullah Babar said.
The President on Thursday will accompany Senator John Kerry on a visit to the flood-affected areas.
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Tags: Asif Zardari, floods in Pakistan, Russia
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Following is text of joint statement issued by the Presidents of Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Russian Federation and Tajikistan:-
Text Begins:
“President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev and President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, having assembled at their second quadrilateral meeting in Sochi on August 18, 2010, held detailed discussion about the state and prospects of development of the regional cooperation.
“Underscoring the need for the consistent implementation of the agreements reached during their first meeting in Dushanbe on July 30, 2010,”
“Recognizing the particular significance of expanding and strengthening multifaceted cooperation between Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia and Tajikistan as an essential component of regional stability and economic development,”
“Welcoming the conclusion of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Trade and transit Agreement and looking forward to its successful implementation,”
“Expressing concern over the persistent terrorist threat in the region, as well as illegal drugs production and trafficking of such a scope that gives grounds to qualify this illegal activity as a threat to international peace and stability,”
“1. Welcome and support the launch of the Kabul process and the holding of the High-level International Conference on Afghanistan, which took place in Kabul on July 20, 2010. In this regard, they supported the priority programs developed within the five clusters of security, governance, economic and infrastructure development, agriculture and rural development, human resource development and supported the outcomes of the National Consultative peace Jirga as a milestone in the peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.”
“2. Stress the importance of regional cooperation in facilitating the stabilization of the situation in the region including through regional cooperation opportunities available within existing international and regional bodies, including the SCO, in areas such as anti terrorism and counter-narcotics, and call for increased harnessing of the potential of the SCO Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure for these purposes.”
“3. Consider it one of their priorities to combat drug threat in an integrated manner throughout the entire chain of illegal drugs production and trafficking – ranging from promoting alternative livelihood and agriculture development to eradication, as well as countering the supply of precursors and taking steps to reduce drugs consumption, and instruct heads of anti-drug agencies of their countries to convene as soon as possible a meeting for a substantive examination of relevant issues.”
“4. Underline the importance of the anti-drug preventive operation “Channel” conducted under the aegis of the CSTO, advocate increasing the number of states participating in the operation as observers.”
“5. Express readiness to continue active participation in implementing the provisions of the Plan of Action of the SCO Member States and the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan on combating terrorism, illicit drug trafficking and organized crime, adopted at the Special Conference on Afghanistan held under the aegis of the SCO in Moscow on March 27, 2009.”
“6. Confirm their intention to actively participate in the activities on combating money laundering and financing of terrorism, especially to eliminate financial channels, connected with illicit trafficking of drug substances and their precursors.”
“7. Declare their determination to actively counteract illicit trafficking of weapons, munitions, explosives and other types of transboundary organized crime.”
“8. Express interest in further enhancing regional economic cooperation in trade, economy, investment areas and improving investment environment in the countries of the region and establishing direct ties between the business circles.”
“9. Support the intention of business circles of Russia, Pakistan and Tajikistan together with the government and business community of Afghanistan to participate in restoring and reconstructing the facilities which have a key importance for the Afghan economy in areas such as transport, energy, natural resources management and urban development and emphasize the need for identifying concrete priority projects in the aforementioned areas including the Salang tunnel, oil and gas facilities in the north of the country nitric fertilizer plant and thermal power station in Mazar-i-Sharif, Kabul house-building plant and Nangarhar irrigation facility.”
“10. Advocate implementing joint projects in energy and transport infrastructure development in the region, such as the CASA-1000 project aiming to establish a system to transmit electric energy from Tajikistan to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and support the participation of the Russian federation in this project.”
“11. Express hope that international financial and economic institutions would actively assist in implementing regional economic projects aiming to rebuild the Afghan economy and improve stability in the country and the region as a whole.”
“12. The Presidents of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan express their solidarity and sympathy with the Government and the people of Pakistan over the colossal loss of precious lives and property caused by unprecedented floods in Pakistan, and appeal to the international community to provide urgent assistance to Pakistan to overcome the effects of this terrible natural calamity.”
“13. Decided to hold the next meeting of the Presidents of the Islamic republic of Afghanistan, the Islamic republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tajikistan in the city of Dushanbe. The concrete date of the meeting will be defined through the diplomatic channels.”
It is submitted that a fruad of about twenty crore (Rs: 20, 000, 00, 00/=) has been committed in five (05) Ismailia Co-operative Credit Societies, situated in the Area of Prince Aly Road Jamat Khana & Police Station Market, Hyderabad, Sindh running under the name of Prince Karim Aga Khan by a group of rich fruady fellows of Iamailia Khowaja Community, A famous Welfare Muslim Community of the world, in June, 2005.
By the fruad mentioned above, from 300 to 400 depositers, eighty percent people of Ismailia Community including Orphans, Widows, Old People , Special Persons & Retired Pensioners of Hyderabad city and surrounding villages have been effected worstly, because they have been depending only on mark-up, so received monthly OR quarterly .
Beside the societies Viz. (1) Aliabad Co-operative Credit Society. (2) Al-Rahim Co-operative Credit Society (3) Women Multipurpose Co-operative Credit Society. (4) Hyderabad Multipurpose Co-operative Credit Society, who have been depositing their respective amounts with (5) Mubarak Co-operative Credit Society, being a Principal Society, have seized due to said fruad .
All the poor depositers including a great number of non-Community depositers, are passing bad to worst time since about Six years.
However, approaches to the different Ismailia Institutions have been moved from time to time for our reserves, but none of leaders have given any response to our sentimental emotions.
Now, the only way for us is to request in your kind honour to solve our problem for early return of Principle amount plus including Up- to- date mark- up.
recovery process the ones there is uninstalled opportunity to air emancipating wetness then smell the aromas of,