Economic uplift in all regions must for peace

Kasuri says economic uplift in all regions must for peace
By Our Reporter
(DAWN March 29, 2005)
KARACHI, March 28: Foreign Minister Khurshid M. Kasuri on Monday emphasized that the best assurance for the consolidation of global peace was in the economic development and prosperity of all regions. Economic progress in one region supported and complemented prosperity in the other, he said while expressing confidence that "the moment of opportunity could be converted into an initiative of peace, which would usher the people of South Asia in an era of greater prosperity and peace". He said that the agreement on the SAFTA in this connection would augur well for the economic well-being of South Asia. According to a press release of the ministry of foreign affairs, he was addressing students and faculty of the Institute of Business Administration. He claimed that the foreign office was geared to meet the rapidly evolving challenges and in securing the string of successes in the realm of foreign relations. He said, "A host of new issues including globalization, human rights, democracy, terrorism and environment had made their way to the centre stage of international attention and international relations were being reconfigured to underline the primacy of these issues and a few international norms were being rapidly evolved in these and other areas". Mr Kasuri said that in these challenging times, the conduct and direction of our foreign policy had enabled us to make the right choices and protect the interests of Pakistan's security and promote its economic and social development. He claimed there was appreciation of the role Pakistan was playing in the promotion of regional peace and security and in the containment of terrorism. He pointed out that the current international configuration had immensely altered the traditional diplomatic functions and practices. The dispersal of authority away from states, the predominance of economics over politics, and the growing role of NGOs in social movements highlighted the need for national governments to alter their modes of interaction with each other and with the relevant actors in the multi-centric world, he said. The foreign minister said that economic diplomacy was assuming greater importance in planning and execution of foreign policy. International relations were being reconfigured to underline the primacy of these issues and new international norms were being rapidly evolved in these and other areas. He further said that in view of the persistent challenges, the contours of our foreign policy were being constantly re-examined, refined and redefined, as necessary. He said that the emerging new international economic environment, influenced in several different ways by the process of globalization, had placed new responsibilities on the ministry of foreign affairs. Cognizant of these external changes, the foreign office had continued to pursue the country's economic agenda with commitment and vigour in promoting exports, foreign investment inflows and industrialization.