The Hindu : Front Page : We have given bilateralism a final chance: Musharraf

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Sep 23, 2004

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Front Page

We have given bilateralism a final chance: Musharraf

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

U.S. President George W. Bush with his Pakistan counterpart Pervez Musharraf in New York on Wednesday. — AP

UNITED NATIONS, SEPT. 22. . The Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, has said that "after several aborted attempts, Pakistan and India have been able to initiate confidence-building measures (CBMs) and a composite dialogue this year to address all outstanding issues. Pakistan has pursued this process with complete sincerity, giving bilateralism a final chance."

In his address to the United Nations General Assembly here this morning, he said: "We feel that the dual channels of CBMs and the dialogue process must proceed in tandem. We are also firmly committed to resolving all disputes with India peacefully, including the Kashmir dispute. This cannot be ignored. Its resolution cannot be inordinately delayed. We desire a resolution of Kashmir which is just and acceptable to India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir."

Gen. Musharraf noted that Pakistan also sought "strategic stability" with India.

"I am glad to say ... that uptill now the normalisation process has progressed well, in a cordial atmosphere. Now that the negotiations are entering the difficult stage of grappling with solutions to previously irreconcilable disputes, Pakistan hopes that India shows the same sincerity, flexibility and boldness that Pakistan will demonstrate," he said.

`Moment for peace'

"I look forward to my meeting day after tomorrow with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. I would like to convey to him that this is the moment for peace — we must not allow it to slip away," Gen. Musharraf said.

It had always been his conviction that Pakistan and India could resolve differences "including over Jammu and Kashmir" through a sincere dialogue; and that the dangerous confrontation of 2002 and three wars prior to this had demonstrated that there was "no military solution" to the problem.

"The aspiration for peace enjoys popular support in Pakistan and, I also believe, in India. Neither country can achieve its ambition for social and economic progress in the absence of peace. We must achieve peace for the sake of the impoverished people of South Asia — for their development and for their prosperity," Gen. Musharraf said.

U.N. reform

He touched on the issue of the reform of the United Nations Security Council which, in his view, should become more effective, democratic and representative. But without mentioning any country by name, Gen. Musharraf addressed the issue of the expansion of the Security Council.

"There is no agreement on the aspiration of a few states to acquire permanent membership of the Security Council. The overwhelming majority of the states are against the creation of new centres of privilege. The Council should be enlarged to ensure the representation of the mostly small and medium states which have joined the United Nations over the last three decades. We have to consider new ideas to craft a consensus on the enlargement of elected members on the Security Council."

Gen. Musharraf referred to many areas of the challenges faced by the international community, including terrorism, economic disparity and the continuing tragedy of Palestine. "Too many fronts have been opened, too many battlelines drawn. The time for closing fronts has come. The world today is crying for peace, reconciliation and reform. Our objective today has to be harmony through reconciliation and accommodation, globally and regionally," Gen. Musharraf said.

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