US to help Pakistan to overcome food, economic crises, says Bush
19 May, 2008
SHARM-EL-SHEIKH: US President George W. Bush has assured Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani that US would help Pakistan to overcome food and economic crises.
Addressing a joint press conference followed by meeting here in a local hotel on the occasion of World Economic Forum on Sunday, US President Bush added his country would extend all possible help to meet the food and overcome economic crises in the country.
Both US President and Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani discussed various issues including war against terrorism, peace negotiations with local Taliban, overall situation in South Asia, Pak-US defense, trade and economic cooperation.
They also discussed Pakistan political situation, deposed Judges issue, high food prices, energy issue and economic cooperation during the meeting also attended by Special Advisor to Prime Minister hailing from FATA Begum Shahnaz Wazir Ali, Advisor to Chief Minister on Finance and Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar and Additional Foreign Secretary Zahir Akram.
Pakistan’s nominated ambassador to US Hussain Haqqani was scheduled to attend the meeting but he could not do so due to some unavoidable reason.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani has assured US President George W. Bush that the reason behind the peace negotiation with local Taliban is to ensure peace in the region and blockage of foreign terrorist at Pak-Afghan border, US based news agency reported.
Later, addressing joint press conference, President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani pledged to fight terrorism with strong relations between the two nations.
US President George W. Bush said his country was fully aware about food crisis in Pakistan and would help Pakistani to overcome it. Pakistan faces food crisis severally due to its front line role in war against terrorism and extremism while Pakistan must collaborate with Afghanistan by producing more wheat so that poppy cultivation could be controlled there, he added.
President Bush said he held comprehensive talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on various issues and hoped that the bilateral ties will be further strengthened. He lauded Pakistan’s role in war against terrorism.
Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani said terrorism and extremism were the biggest threat to the world and pledged that his government was committed to fighting. I have lost my own great leader Benazir Bhutto because of terrorism, he said, adding that, relations are good between Pakistan and US and they would continue to be good.
Asked whether the missile strike had been discussed, Gilani said Yes while Bush did not comment.
End.
|