Pakistan wants civil nuclear technology: Prime Minister

25 Mar, 2012

The Prime Minister was talking to mediamen at Chaklala airbase before departing for a four-day visit toSeoul,South Koreato attend second Nuclear Security Summit on 26-27 March.

Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar andPakistan's ambassador toUnited States, Sherry Rehman are accompanying the PM.

The Prime Minister said, "Civil nuclear technology has been our requirement and we have been demanding it."

He said the nuclear technology was important forPakistanto maintain balance withIndiaand to promote regional stability.

"If we do not have balance withIndia, then there will be lack of stability in the region," he added.

Gilani said the Nuclear Security Summit will be follow-up of the first summit held inWashingtonin 2010.

He said during the Nuclear Security Summit, he will exchange views with world leaders and the talks will focus on strengthening security of nuclear assets.

He saidPakistanhas 40 years experience of using nuclear technology and it has an effective command and control system for the safety of nuclear assets.

"This security system is beyond doubt and well protected."

On the sidelines of theSummit, Yusuf Raza Gilani said he will meet with United States President Barack Obama and discuss the situation inAfghanistan.

To a question, the Prime Minister said the Parliament will decide about the opening of NATO supply route.

Consensus will be built among the political parties on the issue of NATO supply, he added.

He said the government itself took the decision to close NATO supply, got vacated the Shamsi airbase and declined to attend theBonnConference and these steps were not taken on the demand of the Opposition.

"On the very first day, in the meeting of the DCC, we decided to close the NATO supply and at least, the government should be given credit for this," he said.

To another question, he said the recent statement of the Opposition makes it evident that the government never bulldozed proceedings in the Parliament.

The Prime Minister said the government has been taking along the Opposition in the Parliament on matters of legislation and parliamentary proceedings.

"Whenever amendments were made in the Constitution and resolutions were adopted, our objective was to build consensus."

He said all the parties had representation in Parliamentary Committee on National Security.

The recommendations of the Committee on foreign policy were not only of the government but the members of the Opposition also put their signatures on them, he said.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2012

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