Spokesman Briefings
Date: 12/03/2008
Record of the Press Briefing on 12 March, 2008
Opening Statement
OIC Summit in Dakar
Foreign Minister Inam-ul-Haque will lead Pakistan 's delegation to the 11 th OIC Summit on 13-14 March 2008 in Dakar , Senegal . Mr. Inam-ul-Haque is already in Dakar attending the Ministerial Meeting of the OIC being held on 11-12 March 2008. Earlier, Foreign Secretary Riaz Muhammad Khan led Pakistan 's delegation to the Senior Officials Meeting on 8-9 March.
The OIC Secretary General Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and Chiekh Tidiane Gadio, Foreign Minister of Senegal in their speeches at the inaugural session of the Ministerial Meeting, termed the Kashmir dispute as a pressing and burning political issue that the Ummah was confronted with.
The Ministerial meeting unanimously adopted resolutions on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and Reform of the United Nations and Expansion of UN Security Council membership.
While expressing deep concern over the alarming increase in the indiscriminate use of force and gross violation of human rights committed against innocent Kashmiris by India, the resolution on Jammu and Kashmir called for the expeditious implementation of the recommendations contained in the report of the OIC mission led by Secretary General's Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistan and Azad Kashmir in March 2007. It regretted that India had not allowed the OIC fact-finding mission to visit Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir .
The resolution supported the composite dialogue process between Pakistan and India and expressed the hope that India will reciprocate the spirit of flexibility being shown by Pakistan and work towards finding a just and peaceful final settlement to the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the aspiration of the Kashmiri people.
In the resolution on the reform of the Security Council, it was reaffirmed that any proposal which neglects the adequate representation of the Islamic Ummah in any category of membership in an extended Security Council will not be acceptable to the Islamic world. The leaders stressed that the OIC's demand for adequate representation in the Security Council was in keeping with the significant demographic and political weight of the OIC countries. Underlining the importance of the negotiated solution with the broadest possible agreement, it called for constructive consultations between UN member states to agree on a common basis and framework for further progress. While rejecting artificial deadlines, it reaffirmed that a decision on Security Council reform should be made by consensus.
Foreign Minister of Pakistan will make a statement at the meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir which is meeting on 13 March 2008 on the sidelines of the OIC Summit. The OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir includes the Foreign Ministers of Senegal, Turkey , Niger , Saudi Arabia and Kashmiri representatives and Secretary General of the OIC.
Following is the backgrounder distributed to the journalists:
Backgrounder
OIC Contact Group on Kashmir
• The OIC Contact Group on Kashmir was formed in 1994. It comprises of Pakistan , Saudi Arabia , Turkey and Niger and is the OIC focal point on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
• OIC Contact Group meetings are regularly held at the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly Sessions, OIC Summits and Islamic Conference of the Foreign Ministers; meetings.
• Over the years OIC Contact Group on Kashmir has reaffirmed OIC's commitment for a just resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute, expressed concern over the intensification of gross and consistent human rights violations in the Indian occupied Kashmir (IoK) and has called for the grant of access to international human rights bodies and media to monitor the human rights situation in IoK. The OIC Contact Group has been consistently urging the Government of India to allow the visit of OIC Fact Finding Mission to Indian occupied Kashmir .
• Ambassador Ezzat Kamel Mufti, was appointed Secretary General's Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir in 2006. He presented his report on Jammu and Kashmir dispute to the OIC Secretary General in March 2007.
• The True Representatives of the Kashmiri People (TRKP) enjoy special status at the OIC Contact Group. They present Memorandum and give statements on the updated situation in IoK during the Contact Group meetings.
Note: OIC Contact Group meeting is scheduled to be held on 13 March 2008 during the 11 th OIC Summit (11-13 March 2008) in Dakar , Senegal .
Question/Answer Session
Q: Is OIC taking up any other important issue other then the one mentioned in your opening statement?
A: My opening statement essentially dealt with what happened in the OIC meeting so far. The two most important issues the OIC will be taking up are the rising Islamophobia in Europe and the reform of OIC system to make it an effective organization.
Q: Why Pakistan has given heroic farewell to Kashmir Singh while India sent the dead body of Mr. Khalid Mehmood to us? What Pakistan is doing about it?
A: The people and Government of Pakistan are deeply shocked and angered at the death of a Pakistani prisoner in India in mysterious circumstances on 12 th February 2007. The media reports of torture and inhumane treatment meted out to him during the custody merit strong condemnation. It is regrettable that India did not inform our High Commission in India about the arrest of the deceased as required under the international diplomatic norms in such cases. The Indian authorities did not provide consular access to the High Commission during the custody of late Khalid Mehmood. The High Commission was only informed about the death of Mr. Khalid Mehmood on 13 th February 2008 by the Indian authorities. As soon as the matter was reported to our High Commission, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs was asked to have the matter thoroughly investigated and to share the outcome/medical report with the Mission . We are in contact with the Government of India and have asked them to specify the charges under which the deceased was detained, explain the circumstances of his death and provide any other relevant information. The incident has dampened the goodwill generated by the recent release of the Indian prisoner, Mr. Kashmir Singh, and has also negated the spirit of the recent Pakistan – India agreement on the establishment of a Judicial Committee on Prisoners. We remind the Indian authorities of their obligation to ensure humane treatment of all Pakistani prisoners in their custody. Our efforts for early repatriation of Pakistani prisoners will continue.
Q: Has any one been called from Indian High Commission and is any demarche made on the Indian side for Khalid Mehmood's death?
A: The matter has been taken up in New Delhi by Pakistan 's High Commission. Once the detailed reports are received and the facts of the case established, a decision will be taken on further course of action.
Q: Has the family of Mr. Khalid Mehmood contacted the Government after his arrest?
A: As far as I know, nobody contacted the High Commission in New Delhi or Ministry of Foreign Affairs here regarding the arrest of Mr. Khalid Mehmood.
Q: How would you view the Indian External Affairs Minister's statement about security situation in Pakistan ?
A: We have seen the statement, I believe it is regarding yesterday's explosions in Lahore . We do not believe that any comment by us is required on that statement.
Q: What are your comments about India 's Tibet policy? Dalai Lama, while sitting in India has kept criticizing China ?
A: As a matter of policy Pakistan is against interference of any state in the internal affairs of another state.
Q: How do you view the appointment of US Special Observer to OIC?
A: We have noted that the US has appointed a Special Observer to OIC. This is a recognition of OIC's importance. We also noted that the nominee, Mr. Sada Cumber, is a US citizen of Pakistan origin and we are very happy for him.
Q: What is the update on IPI gas pipeline project? Has China confirmed its participation in the project?
A: Pakistan is committed to the IPI project as it is important for our energy security. I do not have any news about IPI gas pipeline project this week. Pakistan will welcome China 's participation in the project if so proposed by the Government of China.
Q: Is there any follow up on Pakistanis held in Iran ?
A: According to reports 23 out of 36 Pakistanis held in Iran have reached Pakistan . We have conveyed the names of the remaining 13 persons to the Iranian Foreign Ministry yesterday. The Foreign Office continues to be in touch with the Iranian Embassy in Islamabad and Iranian authorities in Tehran and Zahidan on this issue. We hope the remaining Pakistanis illegally held in Iran will return to their families in the shortest possible time.
Q: Are there any suggestions by the Government of Pakistan that CD number plates should be removed and replaced with white number plates?
A: We have seen the news regarding asking the diplomats to use white number plates on their cars. This news item is incorrect.
Q: Some diplomats already use white number plates. Is it possible for the diplomats to use white number plates without Foreign Office knowledge? Isn't it illegal?
A: I do not have any information about this. If any diplomats are using white number plate, I am not sure if they are using them without Government of Pakistan's permission. We, however, have noted that some offices, other than Diplomatic Missions, now use white number plates for a variety of reasons. I can get you specific information on this issue if you want.
Q: Is there any bar on having a women Secretary in the Foreign Office?
A: There is no bar on our women colleagues to become Foreign Secretary. The Foreign Office is proud that it is one of the best organizations in Pakistan for women to work in.
Q: Any lessons to be learnt about peace dialogue with India from Khalid Mehmood's death?
A: Pakistan is committed to composite dialogue process to establish long term peace in South Asia . Khalid Mehmood's regrettable death is a condemnable incident. We have asked for a full investigation in the arrest and death of Mr. Khalid Mehmood. We hope that Pakistani prisoners in India will be treated humanely and no such incident will be repeated.
Q: Does OIC want membership in UN Security Council on the basis of religion?
A: OIC speaks for the Muslim world. OIC consists of more than 50 states and deserves representation in UN.
Q: Any development regarding missing Ambassador?
A: All possible resources are deployed to locate and recover Ambassador Tariq Azizuddin. In the interest of safety of Mr. Tariq Azizuddin we are unable to share any further information. Since a number of people present in this room are friends of Mr. Tariq Azizuddin, we hope you would bear with us on our inability to share much information in this case.
Q: How many Pakistanis have been handed over to US who are now in Guantanamo Bay ?
A: Pakistan has not handed over any of its nationals to the United States for imprisonment in Guantanamo Bay . Pakistanis who landed in Guantanamo Bay were arrested outside Pakistan , mostly in Afghanistan .
Q: What are your comments about the State Department's report on human rights situation in Pakistan ?
A: We have seen the media reports about State Department's annual report on human rights situation in Pakistan . We are obtaining the full text of the report and an appropriate government agency would respond to them after studying it.
Q: At what stage the proposal for OIC mission to Indian Held Kashmir was made?
A: This is a fairly old proposal. The OIC's Mission led by the Secretary General's Special Representative had already visited Azad Kashmir and Pakistan . However, India did not allow its visit to the Indian occupied Kashmir .
Q: How do you view General Rashid Qureshi's statement that Saudi Arabia has given 300 million dollars to President Musharraf? Has Saudi Arabia given this amount to Pakistan or President Musharraf?
A: I am not sure what General Rashid Qureshi said about Saudi assistance. However, General Qureshi is always available to media and you can seek a clarification from him.
Q: What was Pakistan 's response to the 11 demands made by US Government regarding facilities for their personnel in Pakistan?
A: We, from time to time, receive requests from foreign governments and international institutions based in Pakistan for securing facilities and privileges for their personnel in the event of temporary assignment or transit. Only those proposals are considered that are in line with our domestic laws and international instruments such as Vienna Conventions on Privileges and Immunities. Nothing is accepted that is not consistent with our national interest and impinges upon our sovereignty.
Q: Do you confirm that these 11 demands were made?
A: Foreign governments seek facilities for their personnel transiting through Pakistan or on temporary duty here, but our decision on these proposals is dictated by the principles I enumerated in response to your earlier question. However, I can neither confirm nor deny any of the reported suggestions.
|