‘Landmark’ visit: Pakistan, Egypt seek end to Syria violence

Mursi, Zardari voice concerns over humanitarian crisis in Damascus.

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan and Egypt have voiced ‘deep concerns’ over the deteriorating humanitarian and security situation in Syria and have jointly urged all parties to engage in an ‘all inclusive national dialogue’ to resolve the conflict.

Following their talks, visiting Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi and his Pakistani counterpart Asif Ali Zardari have sought an immediate end to the continuing violence in Syria through peaceful means.

Mursi’s day-long trip to Islamabad was the first in four decades, which the foreign ministry described as ‘watershed and landmark’ in the bilateral ties between the two countries. Apart from talks with Zardari, Mursi also met Army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.

Mursi and Zardari discussed a wide range of issues, including bilateral, regional and international situations — with an emphasis on the Middle East.

The Egyptian president expressed a deep desire to cultivate close relations with Pakistan and stated that both countries were two important “pillars of the Islamic world which have an important role in the Ummah as well as in the region”.

An official statement said that President Zardari has called for “working together to end the bloodshed in Syria and to find a peaceful solution to the crises”.

The president also warned against foreign interference, stressing that “the drive for peace in Syria must be led and owned by the Syrian people” — offering Pakistan’s complete readiness to play its due role in the process.



The conflict in Syria has killed some 70,000 people and forced millions from their homes according to UN figures.

Pakistan, Egypt to expand cooperation

In an effort to expand their existing bilateral cooperation, the two countries agreed to hold a bilateral summit on a biennial basis alternately in Pakistan and Egypt, a joint statement issued at the conclusion of Mursi’s visit said.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the increase in bilateral trade and agreed to intensify efforts to further expand and diversify their commercial and trade relations.

The two leaders agreed to hold the 4th session of the Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) in Islamabad later this year.

They shared the view that there were numerous opportunities for enhancing bilateral investments and undertaking joint ventures between the two countries in various sectors of their respective economies.

Both leaders called for an increase in people-to-people contacts which they believe are extremely important in cementing the bonds of friendship between the two countries.

The leaders also signed several memorandums of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in science, investment and shipping.

The signed documents include the MoU for the cooperation in the field of money orders and international postal service, the MoU for cooperation in the field of merchant shipping, an MoU between the Board of Investment in Pakistan and the General Authority of Free Zones and Investment of Egypt.

President Mursi was also conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Philosophy by Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf at a ceremony held at the National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad (NUST).

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2013.