President Zardari’s Address To NAM Summit Gets Wide Media Coverage

Islamabad, Sept 2, IRNA – All Pakistani major newspapers on Saturday gave wide coverage to the address of President Asif Zardari at 16th Summit of the 120-member Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Tehran. Daily ‘Dawn’ reported that President Asif Ali Zardari has called for a new role for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to address the challenges of the 21st century. Daily ‘The News’ has said that President Asif Ali Zardari has called for avoiding the use of force against Tehran as it would be destructive, and forging a common vision to ensure a new role for the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) by enabling it address the challenges of the 21st Century. Daily ‘The Nation’ reported that President Zardari said since its inception, the NAM represented the aspirations of more than half the humanity living in the developing countries and served as a strong force and offered great promise to the future. NAM member states, he said, represent nearly two-thirds of the UN members. Another news daily ‘Express Tribune’ said that President Asif Ali Zardari has proposed establishing an ad-hoc Working Group to forge a common vision for new challenges and the role of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in the 21st century. Stressing need for harmony‚ tolerance, respect for diversity‚ President Zardari said Pakistan has tried it in its domestic politics and found great promise in inter-state relations. ‘Daily Times’ reported that President Asif Zardari has said that Pakistan wanted durable peace in the region and is engaged in a comprehensive dialogue with India and wanted a peaceful resolution of all outstanding issues. ‘Pakistan Today’ in its story reported that President Asif Zardari addressing the 16th Summit of the 120-member Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) said that the NAM represented the aspirations of more than half the humanity living in the developing countries, served as a strong force and offered great promise to the future. Daily ‘Pakistan Observer’ reported that President Zardari, while expressing deep concern over the continued bloodshed in Syria, demanded in categorical terms its immediate end. Daily ‘Jang’ in its story said that President Asif Zardari addressing the 16th Summit of the 120-member Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) said that victory against militancy requires that the hearts and minds of people are won and it can be addressed by removing the feelings of helplessness and deprivation. Urdu daily ‘nawaiwaqt, in its report said that President Asif Zardari has said that Pakistan fully respected the right of the people of Palestine for self-determination, as establishment of an independent state of Palestine was critical to peace. Another national daily ‘Express’ said that that the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people must be respected. Meanwhile major newspapers also reported exclusively the meeting of President Zardari with Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei on the sidelines of NAM summit. Pakistan Observer said that during his meeting at the Beit-e-Rahbari, the President conveyed his deepest condolences to the Supreme Leader over the loss of precious lives as a result of recent earthquake that hit Ahar and the areas adjoining the historic city of Tabriz. Daily ‘Dawn’ said that President Zardari called on Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei and discussed with him a range of issues, from bilateral relations to the prevailing regional situation and current challenges faced by the Ummah. ‘The News’ reported that during a meeting with Iran’s Supreme Leader President Zardari said that Pakistan was determined to build an enduring partnership with Iran and to further strengthen relations to promote mutual cooperation. Express Tribune in its editorial comments said that the NAM Summit gave leaders from developing countries an opportunity to meet and discuss issues of mutual concern. It removed the domination of the West and allows other schools of thought to be put forward. “The Summit gave an opportunity to Pakistan to demonstrate where it stands. Defying its key ally Washington, with whom relations have been uneasy,” it said. It further said that the Summit was also significant in that it provided a valuable opportunity for Mr Zardari to meet India’s Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. During NAM summit President Asif Ali Zardari held meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. ‘The Nation’ reported that talking to reporters in Tehran, Interior Minister Rehman Malik said Pakistan had finalized work on visa with India and hoped it would be signed during the visit of Indian Foreign Minister to Pakistan in September. Pakistani newspaper Pakistan Today have also reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad urged Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to rally divided groups of Palestinians together to “free their land.” “All Palestinian groups should be united, because then they will have more chance of freeing their land,” Ahmadinejad told Abbas, who was making his first visit to Tehran to participate in a two-day Non-Aligned Movement summit,” said Daily Times. The Nation said that Ahmadinejad told Abbas, ‘Any time that you and other Palestinian brothers in different groups are ready, we will warmly welcome you in Iran so you can sit and talk with one another and come up with understanding and unity among all Palestinians.’ Meanwhile The Nation, The News, Express Tribune and Pakistan Today have reported that Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a speech at the Non-Aligned Movement summit this week that his country would “never” cease its nuclear activities./end