ID :
23847
Sat, 10/11/2008 - 09:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/23847
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India can join IPI pipeline project whenever it desires: Pak
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Oct 10 (PTI) The multi-billion-dollar I.P.I. pipeline project should be initiated bilaterally between Pakistan and Iran while India could join the venture whenever it desired so, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Friday.
During a meeting with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister
Manouchehr Mottaki, Gilani referred to the project's
"strategic significance" and said Pakistan would work with
Iran for the early establishment of a joint financing company
for the venture.
Gilani stressed that "Pakistan wants the gas pipeline
project should be initiated bilaterally between Pakistan and
Iran while India could join afterwards whenever it so
desires", said an official statement issued after the meeting.
Outstanding issues related to the Iran-Pakistan-India
(I.P.I.) pipeline project "must be resolved quickly" and the
gas sales and purchase agreement between Pakistan and Iran
should "be signed as early as possible", Gilani said.
Mottaki assured Gilani that Iran is determined to proceed
with the I.P.I. project and hoped remaining issues related to
the venture would be resolved during his current visit to
Pakistan.
Pakistani officials have accused India of delaying
participation in the 7.4-billion-dollar project. President
Asif Ali Zardari is expected to formally ask China to join the
project during his October 14-17 visit to Beijing.
Following a subsequent meeting with Mottaki, Foreign
Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Iran was willing to
undertake the I.P.I. project bilaterally.
"India is welcome to join this project at a subsequent
time of their choice and convenience," he told a joint news
conference with Mottaki.
Qureshi said the project "should not be delayed any
further" in view of Pakistan's growing energy needs.
A meeting of Iranian and Pakistani technical experts held
in Tehran during September 27-28 had resolved four out of five
outstanding issues related to the project, he added.
Gilani welcomed President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad's desire
expressed during his recent meeting with Zardari in New York
to proceed with the I.P.I. project on a fast-track basis.
Gilani was also quoted by T.V. channels as saying that
Pakistan wanted a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear
issue as any use of force against Tehran can destabilise the
region.
Referring to the existing economic relations between the
two countries, the Pakistan Premier regretted that bilateral
economic and trade ties had remained "far below their true
potential" despite the existence of an institutional
framework.
Bilateral trade has not even touched the one-billion
dollar mark and overall cooperation in other economic fields
is "not commensurate with the warmth in political relations,"
he said.
Mottaki described the "stability and security of Pakistan
as the stability and security of Iran". He agreed with Gilani
on the need to expand relations in politics, trade,
investment, culture and other fields. PTI RHL
Islamabad, Oct 10 (PTI) The multi-billion-dollar I.P.I. pipeline project should be initiated bilaterally between Pakistan and Iran while India could join the venture whenever it desired so, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Friday.
During a meeting with visiting Iranian Foreign Minister
Manouchehr Mottaki, Gilani referred to the project's
"strategic significance" and said Pakistan would work with
Iran for the early establishment of a joint financing company
for the venture.
Gilani stressed that "Pakistan wants the gas pipeline
project should be initiated bilaterally between Pakistan and
Iran while India could join afterwards whenever it so
desires", said an official statement issued after the meeting.
Outstanding issues related to the Iran-Pakistan-India
(I.P.I.) pipeline project "must be resolved quickly" and the
gas sales and purchase agreement between Pakistan and Iran
should "be signed as early as possible", Gilani said.
Mottaki assured Gilani that Iran is determined to proceed
with the I.P.I. project and hoped remaining issues related to
the venture would be resolved during his current visit to
Pakistan.
Pakistani officials have accused India of delaying
participation in the 7.4-billion-dollar project. President
Asif Ali Zardari is expected to formally ask China to join the
project during his October 14-17 visit to Beijing.
Following a subsequent meeting with Mottaki, Foreign
Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Iran was willing to
undertake the I.P.I. project bilaterally.
"India is welcome to join this project at a subsequent
time of their choice and convenience," he told a joint news
conference with Mottaki.
Qureshi said the project "should not be delayed any
further" in view of Pakistan's growing energy needs.
A meeting of Iranian and Pakistani technical experts held
in Tehran during September 27-28 had resolved four out of five
outstanding issues related to the project, he added.
Gilani welcomed President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad's desire
expressed during his recent meeting with Zardari in New York
to proceed with the I.P.I. project on a fast-track basis.
Gilani was also quoted by T.V. channels as saying that
Pakistan wanted a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear
issue as any use of force against Tehran can destabilise the
region.
Referring to the existing economic relations between the
two countries, the Pakistan Premier regretted that bilateral
economic and trade ties had remained "far below their true
potential" despite the existence of an institutional
framework.
Bilateral trade has not even touched the one-billion
dollar mark and overall cooperation in other economic fields
is "not commensurate with the warmth in political relations,"
he said.
Mottaki described the "stability and security of Pakistan
as the stability and security of Iran". He agreed with Gilani
on the need to expand relations in politics, trade,
investment, culture and other fields. PTI RHL
