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Skriven 2006-03-04 23:33:12 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0603041) for Sat, 2006 Mar 4
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Joint Statement on United States-Pakistan Strategic Partnership
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 4, 2006

Joint Statement on United States-Pakistan Strategic Partnership



President Bush and President Musharraf have affirmed the long-term,
strategic partnership between their two countries. In 2004, the United
States acknowledged its aspirations for closer bilateral ties with Pakistan
by designating Pakistan as a Major Non-NATO Ally. The U.S.-Pakistan
strategic partnership is based on the shared interests of the United States
and Pakistan in building stable and sustainable democracy and in promoting
peace and security, stability, prosperity, and democracy in South Asia and
across the globe.

The two leaders are determined to strengthen the foundation for a strong,
stable, and enduring relationship. This will require a significant
expansion of U.S.-Pakistan bilateral economic ties, including mutual trade
and investment. As a key step in this direction the United States and
Pakistan are making meaningful progress toward concluding a Bilateral
Investment Treaty.

Both leaders commit to working together with Afghanistan to make Pakistan
and Afghanistan a land bridge linking the economic potentials of South Asia
and Central Asia.

The American people feel profound sympathy for the victims of the tragic
earthquake that struck on October 8, 2005. President Bush reaffirmed the
United States' determination to stand by the Pakistani people as they
recover and rebuild.

President Bush and President Musharraf reaffirm their condemnation of
terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Following the September 11
attacks, the United States and Pakistan joined international efforts to
fight the scourge of terrorism. President Bush is grateful for President
Musharraf's strong and vital support in the war on terror. The two leaders
underscored the need for a comprehensive strategy for addressing the threat
of terrorism and extremism. President Bush and President Musharraf will
continue to work together to address political injustice, poverty,
corruption, ignorance, and hopelessness. They resolve to maintain their
close counterterrorism cooperation and to increase their efforts to reduce
the threat of terrorism regionally and internationally.

The two leaders recognize the need to promote tolerance, respect and mutual
understanding, and inter-faith harmony to strengthen appreciation of the
values and norms common to the world's religions and cultures. The two
leaders acknowledge with appreciation the various international initiatives
in this regard including President Musharraf's concept of Enlightened
Moderation. The two leaders agreed that acts that disturb inter-faith
harmony should be avoided.

President Bush and President Musharraf support the peace process and
composite dialogue between Pakistan and India for improvement of relations
and resolution of disputes and building a better future in South Asia.

Both leaders share concern about the threat to global stability posed by
the proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and the threat of
terrorist groups acquiring such weapons. President Bush and President
Musharraf commit to play leading roles in international efforts to prevent
the proliferation of WMD, their delivery systems, and related technology
and expertise.

STRATEGIC DIALOGUE

President Bush and President Musharraf are launching a Strategic Dialogue
under the Strategic Partnership. The Dialogue will be co-chaired by the
U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and Pakistan's Foreign
Secretary. They will meet regularly to review issues of mutual interest.

In implementation of the strategic partnership, President Bush and
President Musharraf commit both countries to undertake the following steps
in the areas of economic growth and prosperity, energy, peace and security,
social sector development, science and technology, democracy, and
non-proliferation:

ECONOMIC GROWTH AND PROSPERITY

  þ Establish and implement strong financial sector controls that can
    defend against illicit finance.

  þ Facilitate Pakistan's economic growth through increased trade and
    investment links with the United States and within the region and the
    global economy, including through an enhanced economic dialogue
    encompassing bilateral cooperation for Pakistan's economic development,
    regional economic cooperation, and the global economy.

  þ The United States will provide financial support for the establishment
    of a Center for Entrepreneurship in Pakistan under the Broader Middle
    East and North Africa (BMENA) Initiative. The Center will promote
    entrepreneurial training and skills development to young women and men
    to launch business initiatives that would generate employment
    opportunities.

ENERGY COOPERATION

  þ Hold a High-Level Energy Meeting to inaugurate an energy working group,
    which will explore ways to meet Pakistan's growing energy needs and
    strengthen its energy security.

  þ Work together to develop public and private collaboration on a broad
    range of energy sources.

PEACE AND SECURITY

  þ Build a robust defense relationship that advances shared security
    goals, promotes regional stability, and contributes to international
    security.

  þ Continue robust U.S. security assistance to meet Pakistan's legitimate
    defense needs and bolster its capabilities in the war on terror.

  þ Deepen bilateral collaboration in the fields of defense training, joint
    exercises, defense procurement, technology transfers, and international
    peacekeeping.

  þ Decide to increase the frequency of defense policy discussions to
    strengthen collaboration in the identified sectors.

  þ Work together to ensure the maintenance of peace, security, and
    stability in the South Asia region and beyond.

  þ Cooperate closely in international institutions, including bodies of
    the United Nations, on matters of mutual concern.

SOCIAL SECTOR DEVELOPMENT

  þ Continue U.S. support in the health sector through collaborative
    projects and programs.

  þ Reinforce Pakistan's efforts to reform and expand access to its public
    education through continuing U.S. cooperation.

  þ Encourage educational programs and greater interaction and linkages
    between the research and academic institutions of the two countries.

  þ Promote exchange of students and scholars, fellowship programs, and
    strengthened research collaboration, including through institutional
    support for higher education and training.

  þ Establish a wide-ranging High Level Dialogue on Education to enhance
    and strengthen cooperation in the education sector.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

  þ Build capacity in Pakistan and work toward increased cooperation in
    science, technology, and engineering.

  þ Improve the quality, relevance, or capacity of education and research
    at Pakistan's institutions of higher education in the field of science
    and technology.

  þ Establish Pakistan-U.S. Joint Committee on Science and Technology to
    develop collaborative activities and relationships between the
    scientific and technological communities and institutions of both
    countries.

  þ Enhance institutional capacity of Pakistan in the area of environment
    through exchange of experts and developing linkages and collaborative
    projects with relevant U.S. institutions.

DEMOCRACY

  þ Support Pakistan as it develops strong and transparent democratic
    institutions and conducts free and fair elections to ensure sustainable
    democracy.

NON-PROLIFERATION

  þ Support Pakistan's non-proliferation efforts and strengthen its
    capabilities, by:

      þ Supporting Pakistan's measures for implementation of its new export
        control law, including adoption of enforcement regulations and
        establishment of a new export licensing body; and

      þ Providing U.S. assistance through the Department of Energy's Second
        Line of Defense Program (Megaports) and the Department of Homeland
        Security's Container Security Initiative.

PRESIDENTIAL VISIT

  þ President Bush thanked President Musharraf and the people of Pakistan
    for the generous reception and warm hospitality accorded to him, Mrs.
    Laura Bush, and members of the Presidential delegation during their
    stay in Pakistan.

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