Pakistan calls for cooperation for peaceful use of nuclear energy
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Islamabad, Sept 12, IRNA
Pakistan-Spokesman
Pakistan on Monday urged the United States and the West to extend cooperation for peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Replying to questions at the weekly news briefing, the Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Naeem Khan pointed out that Pakistan has a plan to generate 8,800 MW of nuclear energy by 2030 and its civilian facilities are under IAEA safeguards.
He referred to Chinese cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology and hoped that the United States and the West would also extend similar cooperation.
IRAN - PAK - INDIA gasline: Responding to a question about Iran - Pakistan-India gas pipeline project, he said Pakistan and Iran have already agreed to complete necessary formalities by April next year for initiating development work.
Similarly, Pakistan-India joint working group established at the Secretary level has already held its two meetings and agreed to finalize framework accord in two months.
The two countries have asked Iran to provide independent studies of its gas reserves.
It has also been agreed to lay 56" diameter gas pipeline to supply 5.6 billion cubic feet of gas per day by 2050.
He said the joint working group will now meet in New Delhi in the second week of November and the tripartite framework agreement would be finalized in December this year.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Petroleum Minister will visit India in November and his Indian counterpart would pay a return visit to Pakistan in December to maintain the momentum of talks.
prisoners and fishermen.
The spokesman told a questioner that Pakistan does not subscribe to the idea of a greater Israel.
He said Israel should withdraw from Occupied Arab territories.
The spokesman said Pakistan wants an independent Palestinian state.
He said formal contact between Pakistan and Israel in no way means recognition of Israel.
Naeem Khan said that meeting between Foreign Ministers of Pakistan and Israel was just an encouragement to Tel Aviv to take further steps towards establishment of an independent Palestinian state.
The spokesman rejected a report that the United States has approached Pakistan for abolition of the negative trade list with Afghanistan.
He, however, pointed out that Pakistan has reduced items on the negative list from 24 to 3 and imports from Afghanistan have increased by 40% in 2003-04 as compared to 2000-01.
The spokesman told a questioner that Pakistan is still in touch with American and Iraqi authorities and the Kuwaiti company for release of eight Pakistanis, now in custody in Iraq.
He said according to the Kuwaiti company these individuals had no valid travel documents for Iraq and the company is trying to seek their early release.
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