The Prime Minister also called for reinforcing the normative framework by stressing strict adherence to the principles of inter-state relations enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
Gilani said Pakistan has been stressing the need for NAM to expeditiously evolve a mechanism for conflict resolution.
He said sustainable success would come from resolving long-standing political disputes and promoting socio-economic development, as he believed that advancement of Pakistan’s economic development goals was possible only in an environment of regional peace and stability.
“We are, therefore, steadfastly pursuing friendly and cooperative relations with our neighbours on the basis of equality, mutual interest, and mutual benefit,” he said.
He mentioned that there has recently been some forward movement in relations with India and hoped to sustain this momentum and move towards comprehensive engagement.
“We believe durable peace in South Asia is achievable. It will be facilitated by the resolution of all outstanding disputes, including Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
He said similarly peace and stability in Afghanistan was in country’s vital interest.
He said Pakistan was engaged bilaterally with Afghanistan to realize the objectives of peace, security and development.
Gilani said Pakistan believes that the core of NAM’s efforts today should be the quest for sovereign equality, and said the Movement must renew its emphasis on giving full life and meaning to the immutable principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-aggression, non-intervention, mutual benefit, and peaceful co-existence.
He suggested for developing a new global consensus covering arms control, disarmament and non-proliferation as well as access to nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
Gilani said there was a need to pay urgent attention to the threat of climate change, including in South Asia, in view of prospects of the melting of glaciers. He also called for deepening South-South cooperation.
The Prime Minister extended warmest felicitations to Egypt for assuming the chair of the Non-Aligned Movement for the second time, adding that as a founding member, Egypt had made a tremendous contribution to the promotion of the goals and objectives of the Movement.
He paid rich tribute to Cuba and its leader Raul Castro for outstanding leadership during his country’s term as the NAM Chair.
He said that summit was taking place at another defining moment in history, with a time of immense challenges but equally immense opportunities.
Prime Minister Gilani stressed for promoting inter-faith dialogue.
“It is our conviction that the vision and principles outlined by the NAM’s founding fathers are not only valid today, but are indeed indispensable. The solidarity which helped us promote collective good in the past is equally essential for the future,” he said.
He said security including the economic security was indivisible.
“We must utilize this opportunity to fashion a holistic response. Our approach should be balanced, premised on the mutuality of interests of developed and developing countries. A conceptual rethink is required regarding the optimal balance between the role of governments and markets,” he said.
Gilani said the temptation for protectionism must be resisted at all costs, and the market access should significantly expand, generating trade and employment opportunities. Stimulus packages and special dispensations to help particularly the vulnerable economies are essential, he added.
The Prime Minister said, “We must also work for comprehensive reform of the global financial and economic architecture, especially in the realm of enhanced regulation, more accountability, and inclusive decision-making.”
He said in Pakistan, peace and development are the core national priorities of the democratic government.
“The guiding light for us is the vision of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the Father of our Nation, of a progressive, modern, democratic, Islamic Pakistan – at peace within, and peace without,” he added.
He said Pakistan was currently engaged in a resolute national effort to eliminate terrorism and militancy, and mentioned the enormous sacrifices rendered by its valiant security forces and the people in fighting terrorism.
He said Pakistan deeply appreciates the support and solidarity it received from friends in the international community.
At the opening session of NAM summit, President Hosny Mubarak took the rotating chair from Raul Castro Ruz, President of the Councils of State and Government of the Republic of Cuba, who presented a report about the activities of NAM during last three years.
Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of United Nations, the Ambassadorial Chairman of G-77 and China, and the representatives of regional groups also delivered statements and expressed commitment for multilateralism to finding solutions to the fundamental problems affecting humanity.
Earlier, Prime Minister Gilani was received at the summit venue by Egypt’s President Hosny Mubarak, who grouped together along with other heads of state and government for an official photograph.
Prime Minister Gilani and First Lady Begum Fauzia Gilani also attended the official lunch hosted by Egypt’s President Hosny Mubarak and Mrs Suzanne Mubarak in honour of the heads of state and government and the first ladies
Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah is set to deliver a speech through a large screen on Friday afternoon commemorating the first anniversary of the Operation Al-Redwan in which all Lebanese detainees in Israeli prisons were freed, at the top of whom is their chief Samir Qintar.
Pro-government tribesmen killed 23 militants in clashes in Pakistan’s northwest in the latest violence between tribal militias and Taliban insurgents. According to AFP, elsewhere in the volatile northwest, suspected militants attacked an oil tanker carrying fuel to NATO occupation forces in Afghanistan, killing two people.
The Head of the Supreme Islamic Assembly of Iraq (SIAI) stressed the necessity of increasing efforts for enhancing security and stability of his country. According to FARS News Agency, Seyyed Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, said in a meeting with Minister of Youth and Sport, Jassem Mohammad Ja’far that it is necessary to improve unity between political groups, increase efforts for eliminating terrorism and achieving complete national solidarity.
Pakistani Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Abdul Basit, said in Islamabad on Sunday that there is absolutely no pressure on his country by the US to cancel the gas pipeline deal with Iran. Talking to IRNA, he claimed that no country in the world whether Muslim or non-Muslim could ask Pakistan to cancel the project.
South Korea’s intelligence agency told lawmakers Friday that cyber attacks that caused a wave of Web site outages in the U.S. and South Korea used 86 IP addresses in 16 countries, amid suspicions North Korea was behind the effort. According to AP, a member of the parliamentary intelligence committee, told reporters that the countries include South Korea, the United States, Japan and Guatemala.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says his country will not unilaterally reduce its nuclear weapon cache unless other countries engage in disarmament. According to Press TV, the British premier said in Italy on Thursday “Unilateral action by the United Kingdom would not be seen as the best way.”
Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in Tehran on Thursday evening that rendering sincere services to people is the key to conquering all peaks of national aspirations.
Emergency officials were evacuating more than 400,000 people after an earthquake hit southwest China, killing one person, injuring hundreds and flattening more than 18,000 homes. According to AFP, a government relief official in Yao’an county, a mountainous area of picturesque Yunnan province, said that one person had died and 328 had been injured.
The Italian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maurizio Massari has once again emphasized on continuation of negotiations with Iran. Throughout an interview with IRIB correspondent in the Italian city of L’Aquila on Thursday on the sidelines of G8 Summit, the Italian official referred to this Summit’s political statement in support for talks with Iran.
Tehrani citizens held symbolic funeral for the ‘Hijab’s Martyr’, Marwa Sheribini, the Egyptian woman who was stabbed to death by a man at German Dresden courtroom on July 1. According to IRNA, in the funeral that was held after weekly Friday prayers congregation, the demonstrators chanted `O my martyred sister! Congratulations on your martyrdom’, `I swear by your holy blood that your path will be trodden,’ `Down with Israel’ and `Down with the US’, thus voicing outrage at the merciless killing of the Muslim woman.
KHAR: Four Levies personnel were killed in a militants attack on Levies check post in Bajaur Agency.According to sources, militants attacked Levies check post last night in Khar killing four Levies officials. The attackers managed to flee after retaliatory fire by the forces. Levies sources said funeral prayers of those killed in the attack will be offer in Levies Line Khar at 10 am.
Both the US and Israel believe Iran has the technical capacity to build one nuclear bomb within a year if it decides to do so, but both countries also believe the chances that Teheran will indeed make that decision are slim, according to assessments made known to The Jerusalem Post.
Security forces kept a firm grip on the tense Xinjiang capital Thursday after days of ethnic violence that killed 156 people, and alarmed Chinese leaders vowed to deal firmly with those behind the attacks. According to AP, crowds of Han Chinese cheered as trucks full of police and covered in banners reading “We must defeat the terrorists” and “Oppose ethnic separatism and hatred” rumbled by. The minority Uighurs became far more fearful about talking to reporters.
A deadly bomb explosion has claimed the lives of more than two dozen people, including children, on a crowded road south of the Afghan capital. According to AFP, the incident occurred on Thursday when an explosive-laden truck blew up 30 kilometers south of Kabul in Logar province, killing 25 people including many school children.
South Korea was on high alert Thursday for more cyber attacks amid suspicions that North Korea was behind a recent wave of Web site outages in the South and in the United States. The South Korea warned that computer networks of key infrastructure could be targeted. According to AP, the National Intelligence Service said in a statement that it was strengthening cyber security measures for government computer networks, citing a possible new wave of attacks which could target national infrastructure operators like energy, telecommunications and media companies.
A suicide bomber on Thursday killed at least 34 people and injured 70 near a judge’s house in northern Iraq, and two roadside bombs in Baghdad killed seven people. According to AP, the attacks came one day after car bombs in two Shiite villages near the northern Iraqi city of Mosul killed 16 civilians and injured more than two dozen.
Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), General Mohammad-Ali Jaafari, said in Tehran on Wednesday evening that Iran is ready to cooperate with regional states to guarantee security of the region. According to IRIB, in a meeting with visiting Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces, Hamad Bin Ali El Atiya, on Wednesday, General Jaafari said defense cooperation between Iran and Qatar is important for security of the region.
The Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ambassador to Iraq, Hassan Kazemi Qomi has reported on the release of the Iranian diplomats, abducted in Arbil, Iraq. In an interview with Fars news agency, the Iranian ambassador noted the five abducted Iranian diplomats have been handed over to Iraqi government by the US occupation forces. He added following the meeting of the Iranian diplomats with the Iraqi premier, they will be handed over to the Iranian Embassy in Iraq.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Hassan Qashqavi denounced the terrorist action of the German racist elements in martyring an Egyptian Muslim woman inside a German courtroom. According to IRIB World Service, Marwa el-Sheribini, the 33-year old Egyptian woman last Wednesday was martyred by a German racist in a court in Dresden, Germany due to her commitment to Islamic Hijab.
ISLAMABAD, Jul 9 (APP): Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani on Thursday said the government had achieved the targets of military operation in Malakand division and the return of displaced people to their homes would start from July 13. “We have achieved the targets,” the Prime Minister said while addressing a press conference at PM House, however made it clear that the army would remain present in the area even after culmination of the operation.
The Lebanese army intelligence confirmed Thursday that Israeli occupation forces handed over Lebanese national Yassine Abdel Latif Yassine to the UNIFIL in Naqoura at dawn. The army is now questioning the man on his entry into occupied territories the day before.
Four youths connected to so called ‘Jewish Defense League’ were arrested on suspicion of vandalizing a book store owned by a pro-Palestinian couple.
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