Russia keen to promote dialogue with Pakistan: envoy
Russian Ambassador Ganich says bilateral relations are based on mutual respect and partnership
PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
Russia is committed to further promoting political dialogue with Pakistan, said Russian Ambassador Danila Ganich on Thursday.
Dialogue is in the interests of peace and security of the region, Ambassador Ganich said at a reception held to mark Day of Russia.
On June 12, 1990 the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Russia was proclaimed. After the disintegration of former Soviet Union, the Federation of Russia went through several phases linked with the adoption of the new Russian Constitution, the national flag, anthem, and emblem of the Russian Federation.
June 12 marks the 1990 declaration that signaled the birth of the independent Russian Federation and official dissolution of the Soviet Union on the same day a year later.
Ambassador Ganich along with the deputy head of Mission Vladimir Berezyuk received the guests.
The reception as usual was a well-attended show. Federal Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan attended the event as chief guest.
Ganich said the Day of Russia was one of the major national holidays of his country. Both Russia and Pakistan are bound by strong ties of friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding based on mutual respect and partnership, desire for multi-faceted and equal cooperation.
Ganich, a seasoned diplomat, reminded that he had already served in Pakistan on a couple of occasions. He has returned to Pakistan as an ambassador this time.
He said Russia and Pakistan celebrated the 71st anniversary of diplomatic relations on May 1 this year. Pakistan is a valued partner for Russia, which significance is determined by its role in regional politics, its influence in the Muslim world and its geostrategic position.
The potential of bilateral partnership was significantly advanced when Islamabad became a full-fledged member of the Shangai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in June 2017.
“We maintain dialogue with our Pakistani partners on a wide range of issues of regional and international agenda through relevant consultative mechanisms between the foreign ministries of the two states,” he said.
He said both countries cooperate on multilateral platforms, first of all, in the UN and its specialized agencies.
Moscow and Islamabad are united by the aspiration for a multi-polar world order, respect for international law, denial of attempts of interference in domestic affairs of sovereign states including those under humanitarian pretext.
“We value the support that Pakistan gives to such Russian priorities in the UN as international information security, transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space and combat against glorification of Nazism”.
During the recent years, the cooperation between the two countries in the sphere of trade and economic relations has gained some additional impulse.
In 2018 the bilateral trade turnover increased by 35.4 per cent (up to $732.4 million) mainly due to growth of export by 60.5 per cent (up to $418.8 million) with increase of import by 12 per cent ($313.6 million).
Definitely, such trade amount still does not correspond to potential of economic cooperation between Russia and Pakistan.
“Various impartial factors have been affecting our links, including geographical distance and existing financial counterclaims between our countries related to the Soviet period,” the seasoned diplomat said.
He said Russia is a multinational state with around 185 ethnic groups and more than 100 languages spoken.
The majority of Russians identify with Orthodox, Muslims, Buddhist together with other religions live in one state as brothers. The population of Muslims in Russia for example is estimated more than 20 million people.
About 250,000 Muslims live In Russian Crimea only.
He said Russia is one of the biggest global economies, leading in science and technology, having a permanent seat in the UN Security Council and also playing a major role in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Commonwealth of Independent States, Collective Security Treaty Organization and G-20.
We are interested in transparent environment in order to promote cooperation with all partners in the West and in the East. In other words, building relations with Russia means working together to find mutually beneficial solutions to the most complex matters, but never to impose them, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2019.
Russia is committed to further promoting political dialogue with Pakistan, said Russian Ambassador Danila Ganich on Thursday.
Dialogue is in the interests of peace and security of the region, Ambassador Ganich said at a reception held to mark Day of Russia.
On June 12, 1990 the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Russia was proclaimed. After the disintegration of former Soviet Union, the Federation of Russia went through several phases linked with the adoption of the new Russian Constitution, the national flag, anthem, and emblem of the Russian Federation.
June 12 marks the 1990 declaration that signaled the birth of the independent Russian Federation and official dissolution of the Soviet Union on the same day a year later.
Ambassador Ganich along with the deputy head of Mission Vladimir Berezyuk received the guests.
The reception as usual was a well-attended show. Federal Minister for Energy Omar Ayub Khan attended the event as chief guest.
Ganich said the Day of Russia was one of the major national holidays of his country. Both Russia and Pakistan are bound by strong ties of friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding based on mutual respect and partnership, desire for multi-faceted and equal cooperation.
Ganich, a seasoned diplomat, reminded that he had already served in Pakistan on a couple of occasions. He has returned to Pakistan as an ambassador this time.
He said Russia and Pakistan celebrated the 71st anniversary of diplomatic relations on May 1 this year. Pakistan is a valued partner for Russia, which significance is determined by its role in regional politics, its influence in the Muslim world and its geostrategic position.
The potential of bilateral partnership was significantly advanced when Islamabad became a full-fledged member of the Shangai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in June 2017.
“We maintain dialogue with our Pakistani partners on a wide range of issues of regional and international agenda through relevant consultative mechanisms between the foreign ministries of the two states,” he said.
He said both countries cooperate on multilateral platforms, first of all, in the UN and its specialized agencies.
Moscow and Islamabad are united by the aspiration for a multi-polar world order, respect for international law, denial of attempts of interference in domestic affairs of sovereign states including those under humanitarian pretext.
“We value the support that Pakistan gives to such Russian priorities in the UN as international information security, transparency and confidence-building measures in outer space and combat against glorification of Nazism”.
During the recent years, the cooperation between the two countries in the sphere of trade and economic relations has gained some additional impulse.
In 2018 the bilateral trade turnover increased by 35.4 per cent (up to $732.4 million) mainly due to growth of export by 60.5 per cent (up to $418.8 million) with increase of import by 12 per cent ($313.6 million).
Definitely, such trade amount still does not correspond to potential of economic cooperation between Russia and Pakistan.
“Various impartial factors have been affecting our links, including geographical distance and existing financial counterclaims between our countries related to the Soviet period,” the seasoned diplomat said.
He said Russia is a multinational state with around 185 ethnic groups and more than 100 languages spoken.
The majority of Russians identify with Orthodox, Muslims, Buddhist together with other religions live in one state as brothers. The population of Muslims in Russia for example is estimated more than 20 million people.
About 250,000 Muslims live In Russian Crimea only.
He said Russia is one of the biggest global economies, leading in science and technology, having a permanent seat in the UN Security Council and also playing a major role in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Commonwealth of Independent States, Collective Security Treaty Organization and G-20.
We are interested in transparent environment in order to promote cooperation with all partners in the West and in the East. In other words, building relations with Russia means working together to find mutually beneficial solutions to the most complex matters, but never to impose them, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 14th, 2019.