Joint press conference with Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar (unofficial transcript)
Press events | Kofi Annan, Former Secretary-General
Pakistan is a consistent and strong supporter of the United Nations and we have great respect for the Secretary-General. He personifies humanity's hopes for a world free of the scourge of war, a world in which the United Nations will bring about settlement of disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the principles of justice and international law, and promote economic and social progress.
The Secretary-General's present visit is taking place in a transformed regional environment. Happily, the sun is beginning to shine to our West. Unhappily, the eastern horizon is dark with clouds that threaten peace.
We discussed both the subjects during the meeting this afternoon. I have assured the Secretary-General that Pakistan's policy is cast in the mould of the UN Charter and principles of international law. As always, and as required of the members of the United Nations, Pakistan carries out the decisions of the Security Council.
Security Council Resolution 1378 of 14 November 2001 encapsulates the hopes of the world community for the peace and unity of Afghanistan, and for an end to the travail of its people. I take this opportunity to felicitate the Secretary-General and his Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi for their great contribution to the success of the Bonn Conference.
As a neighbour and well wisher of Afghanistan and its people, Pakistan has extended full cooperation to Chairman Hamid Karzai's Administration. We are confident that the Administration can and will achieve its objectives in the service of the Afghan people.
Peace, unity and reconstruction of Afghanistan will be a blessing for its people. Equally it will be a blessing for Pakistan and other countries of the region. We have decided to extend cooperation within the limits of our means for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction of Afghanistan.
Turning to the other side, I have appraised the Secretary-General of Pakistan's earnest efforts for preservation of peace, de-escalation of tension and resumption of dialogue with India.
While we have noted the prevalent perception of diplomatic and political amelioration in the state of tension, there is little change so far in the concentration of forces on the border and the line of control. Inherent in this situation are dangers that need to be defused by the return of forces to their peacetime locations. Pakistan will promptly respond to any such move by India.
The Secretary-General underlined in his comments on arrival last night the need for dialogue between Pakistan and India. We on our part remain ready to enter bilateral negotiations as well as utilize any of the other peaceful means for impartial settlement of disputes.
SG: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and Mr. Minister, let me thank you for your very warm welcome. I am pleased to be back in Islamabad for the second time in less than a year. I've had very good meetings with the Minister, as you've heard, and I'm looking forward to having a meeting with the President later on today.
I have come at a turbulent time, and a lot has happened since I was last here. And it is being said that the events of the last several months have acted as a catalyst in Pakistan's search for democracy and stability. And the international community is now fully aware of the global implications of what happens in this region.
President Musharraf, in my opinion, deserves high praise for the courageous speech he delivered 12 days ago, in particular the emphasis he placed on tolerance, the rule of law and the need to fight terrorism and extremism, and also for the anti-terrorist measures he announced. These are steps in the right direction; it is important now to build on them.
Here I would like to stress the need to resolve Pakistan's differences with India, including over Kashmir, through peaceful means. Pakistan and India have much in common, much to lose from tension and confrontation, and much to gain through cooperation. The immediate need is for military de-escalation. But de-escalation and an end to the immediate crisis is not enough. The world does not want another crisis in a few weeks' or a few months' time. What is needed are two things: sustained and determined action against extremist armed groups, of the kind announced by President Musharraf; and an equally sustained and determined dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve their differences by peaceful means. There is enormous support and encouragement in the international community for this twin-track approach. My own good offices remain available, should both parties wish to avail themselves of them.
Of course, Afghanistan has featured prominently in my discussions with the Minister, and I am going on from here to Kabul and to Tehran. I was encouraged by the support shown by the international community in Tokyo. The attendance at the Conference was quite extraordinary and the donations were very good, and therefore I consider the meeting extremely successful. Pakistan, as you've heard, made a generous contribution of $100 million for reconstruction. Lakhdar Brahimi, who is here with me, and his team, have done a good job in Afghanistan. We've made a good start but there are many hurdles ahead of us, and I hope we can count on sustained international support, sustained not only in terms of financial and material terms but also political and moral support as we move forward with our attempts to reconstruct Afghanistan.
I think it is important, as we move forward, that Pakistan and the other neighbours of Afghanistan, as well as countries in the region, work closely with the Interim Authority and with each other to give Afghanistan a chance for a peaceful and stable future. A stable Afghanistan, as the Minister has indicated, is in the interest of all its neighbours, and constructive cross-border relations would give a real boost to stability throughout the region.
I think I will end here, and take some questions.
Foreign Ministry Moderator: I invite now Mr. Azim Mian, President, United Nations Correspondent Association, to ask the first question.
Q: [The journalist welcomes the Secretary-General and asks about support to Pakistan in exchange for his support in the war against terrorism and about the need for "UN observers"]
SG: I think on your first question, which is the one I'm going to answer, I believe in my opening remarks, I dealt quite a lot with that. I think the Security Council Resolution 1373, requires all Member States to take action against terrorism. And I think the only way we are going to defeat terrorism is through international cooperation, and Pakistan is doing its part and I hope all other countries would also play their part.
As far as your relations with other governments are concerned in economic and trading arrangements, I know that there are lots of discussions going on between Pakistan and other governments regarding economic and trading arrangements, and I trust these would be beneficial and successful to the countries involved and to Pakistan, and I would urge Pakistan to continue and pursue these discussions.
Q: In his speech at the Human Development Conference today, President Musharraf talked about democracy and he said the real point is not whether the government is elected but how it functions and that Pakistan will fine-tune democracy to its own requirements. How do you interpret these comments?
FM: The Supreme Court of Pakistan gave President Musharraf's Government a period of three years for rectification of the problems that arose because of economic mismanagement, poor governance, corruption in the country, and so on. Some months ago, I was [inaudible] the President announced a road map for democracy. Elections will be held before the 12th of October 2002. The Election Commission is proceeding with the necessary arrangements. The number of seats in the National Assembly has been substantially increased from 220-some to 350. You would be particularly happy to note that 66 have been reserved for women in the Parliament. So we are on course. At the same time it is very important that Pakistan should not return to that kind of democracy we had before October 12th, 1999. That period witnessed the dismissal of four governments on charges of mismanagement, etc. Pakistan got buried under debt mounting to 39,000,000 dollars; through a great deal of sacrifices by the people of Pakistan, in the form of evolution of subsidy, etc.
The country is nursing the economy back to health and Incha'Allah, President Musharraf's present government will lead the country to better economic health, better governance, and so on. And we devoutly hope and pray that the leaders who come forward in the elections in October next, will bring a resolve addressing the agenda of the mission.
Mr. Secretary-General, I am sorry to have taken so much time but I think it is important for our friends, including yourself, to know that President Musharraf remains committed and resolved to bring genuine democracy to Pakistan.
Q: [The same journalist asked the Secretary-General if he would reply to the same question].
SG: I think the Minister has answered your question.
Q: [Journalist questions Secretary-General regarding treatment of those arrested in connection with the conflict in Afghanistan as contrasted with the treatment accorded the US citizen arrested there].
SG: On the question of those arrested in connection with the conflict in Afghanistan, I believe that first of all they should be treated humanely and that they should be treated in accordance with accepted international norms, and that their rights should be respected.
The US government has decided that Walker, being an American citizen, will be tried in a court in Virginia. There is quite a bit of controversy over those in Guantanamo Bay and that also is today in the court. I think there's a case in California, and we will all wait to see what the Judges decide. But in the meantime, I believe that whatever happens, the international norms must be respected. The US itself is a nation of laws, and I'm sure would want to do that.
Q: Mr. Secretary-General, last evening, you have been reported saying that you are in touch with Pakistan and Kabul. Do you have any timeframe in your mind that you will be able to bring both parties across the table, and do you think that without driving the troops from the international border, there is any possibility of fruitful dialogue between the two countries ? And the last part of my question is, how do you view the Pakistan's offer that the UN observers across the [inaudible] may be shifted into the peace-keeping forces on the Line of Control?
SG: Let me remind everyone that the moderator suggested one question each. On the issue of the troops on the border, I think in my opening remarks, I said the most immediate concern is to reduce tensions, which implies also withdrawal of the troops, and de-escalate. And then, of course, I talked about the longer term, which will mean getting the parties together, negotiations, and not just being satisfied with de-escalating, but making a genuine search for a final settlement, which is in the interest of both countries and in the region. This is a region with great potential. If India and Pakistan were to resolve their differences, this sub-region can see growth and stability that we haven't even began to imagine.
Q: UN observers?
SG: I don't think there is any...if you are going to have UN observers transformed into a peace-keeping force or enforcement group, you would need another resolution by the Security Council and I don't see it happening now.
Q: [A journalist asked the Secretary-General to comment on the fact that some countries respect UN resolutions, while others do not.]
SG: I'm not sure it is quite fair to put it in those terms. Yes, there are Security Council Resolutions and I think we discussed this issue when I was last here. But these resolutions cannot be self-fulfilling or self-implementing. In fact, you need to get the parties to cooperate. And there have been many other instances where Security Council Resolutions have served as a basis, but at the end of the day the parties have to talk and really resolve their differences. The Security Council Resolutions is always a help, is always a basis; in some cases both parties have accepted it and we have been able to put it in practice. So, there is still that need for the two parties to get together as I indicated. Many friends are supporting this.
Q: How would you view the validity of the Resolution regarding Kashmir?
SG: I don't know if I would use the word validity. I think the Resolutions are there. They offer a certain useful path in our search for peace, and I would hope that when the parties come to the table or as they discuss these issues, there will be elements in the resolution and they will find the resolution helpful as they try to resolve their differences.
FM: I wish to say that this is the first visit of the Secretary-General at the start of his second term. We want him to come back and we would like you to cooperate in giving him some time to catch up with the agenda of the day. Thank you very much.
SG: Thank you. *****