20000403

CE willing to

meet 'anybody,

anywhere, any time'

over Kashmir

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf on Sunday expressed his readiness for resumption of dialogue with India, saying, Kashmir dispute remains the major cause of tension in South Asia.

"Kashmir problem is the real cause of tension and other issues are mere irritants. It needs to be addressed", the Chief Executive told reporters here before his departure for Bangkok at the last leg of his week-long visit to East Asian countries by a commercial flight.

He said, the cause of tension between India and Pakistan is Kashmir dispute.

"I have made my position unambiguously clear that I am willing to meet anybody, any time, anywhere", he told a questioner.

General Musharraf has set aside the old practice of VVIP's travel by a special plane and prefers to travel by commercial flight. He has already surrendered the special plane to PIA which was used by the former rulers for both their domestic travel and visits abroad.

To another question, he said, during his stay he had discussed with the Sultan of Brunei the ways the two countries could undertake the joint projects for their mutual benefit.

"We are looking forward for investment in Pakistan", he said: Gen Pervez Musharraf said, he had invited the Sultan of Brunei to visit Pakistan. He said, the two countries have great scope in further increasing their trade.

For instance, Pakistan can export a lot of fruit to Brunei, he added. There is a lot of scope of sending Pakistan's textile products to Brunei.

To a question on return of democracy in Pakistan, he said, there was concern in the West that Pakistan should return to democracy. He said, Pakistan is more important to him than democracy.

First Pakistan has to be strong and then it could return to democracy. Gen Musharraf said, he would certainly like the country to return to democracy and his government has announced plan for introducing, "the essence of democracy", at the grass roots level, that is at the district level.

There is much more democracy in Pakistan now than was there in the past, he added.

Afterwards, the country can move upward to the Provincial level, he added. "We are looking for the essence of democracy", he said.

On the privatisation of Public Sector units in Pakistan, he said, the Pak-Brunei joint commission could discuss the possibility of Brunei's investment in Pakistan.

In response to another question, he said, during his audience with Sultan of Brunei, he explained his government's plans for the development and progress of Pakistan.

To a question on the economic revival of the country, he said, the government was endeavouring to boost its exports. Pakistan's, economy was suffering because of three-fold problems of debt burden, budget deficit and trade deficit and his government was determined to turn the economy around.

To a question, Chief Executive said, during his tour of the East Asian countries, he held talks with friends who have some interest in purchasing our units.

He said the government is working out a strategy to generate the resources and revive the economy. Pakistan, he said, has all their resources required for an advancement of a country without assistance from any body. It has been endowed by Nature with water, fertile land, one of the best agriculture system and with the dynamic manpower. But what Pakistan lacks, is problem of Administration and Governance. If this can be put right Pakistan's potential for progress can be optimised, said the Chief Executive.

The only way to retire the country's debt burden specially short term heavy interest debt, he said, was through the privatisation of the public sector units.

Asked about the future of deposed prime minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif, he said, "the court has to decide his fate. I am not a judge", he said. Even his appeal will end up with the president of Pakistan under the judicial process, he added. He said subsequent process will follow after the verdict by the court.ÑAPP