Embassy Newsletter September –October 2013
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Embassy Newsletter September –October 2013 MESSAGE FROM DR. ASAD M. KHAN PRIME MINISTER MUHAMMAD NAWAZ CHARGÉ D’AFFAIRES SHARIF MEETS WITH PRESIDENT OBAMA The month of October witnessed the beginning of a new era in Pak -U.S. relations marked by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s first official visit to Washington, DC from October 20-23, 2013 at the invitation of President Barack Obama. The Prime Minister also visited New York to address the 68th Session of the UNGA in September. The Prime Minister’s visit to Washington, D.C was truly historic in that it was the first official visit to the US by a Pakistani head of government since 1989. Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and President Obama held wide ranging discussions on all aspects of bilateral cooperation. The Prime Minister also engaged with a wide cross-section of leadership in the US Administration, Congress, academia, the Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif business community and media. The Joint Statement after the meeting is a reaffirmation of met with U.S. President Barack Obama at the a shared desire by both sides to foster an enduring partnership and lays down a White House in Washington, D.C. The comprehensive framework for forthcoming Pakistan-US Strategic Dialogue. meeting marked the commitment of both The decisions taken during the visit will be followed up actively to realize the true leaders to strengthen Pakistan-US relations potential of a robust bilateral relationship for mutual benefit of the two countries. and advance shared interests in a stable, secure, and prosperous Pakistan and the In October we also received Finance Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar in Washington, DC region. where he met with leaders of financial institutions during the Annual Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. Joint Statement issued after the meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and I am also very pleased to inform that the Government of Pakistan has appointed Mr. Jalil President Barack Obama is available at Abbas Jilani as Pakistan’s new Ambassador to the United States. Mr. Jilani is an http://embassyofpakistanusa.org/news602_010222013_ accomplished diplomat, currently serving as Foreign Secretary. We look forward to WH.php receiving him in Washington, DC.. PRIME MINISTER MUHAMMAD NAWAZ In the coming days we will be working together with our US counterparts, both civil and SHARIF AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE military, through a series of high-level engagements under the strategic dialogue, which, I UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY am confident, will inject new vigor and momentum in the relationship. IN THIS ISSUE… 2-6 Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif visits Washington, DC 6 Pakistan at the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly 6-7 Embassy News and Events Text of Address: http://pakun.org/statements/Plenary_of_General_Assembl y/2013/09272013-01.php PRIME MINISTER MUHAMMAD NAWAZ SHARIF VISITS WASHINGTON, D.C. PRIME MINISTER MUHAMMAD NAWAZ SHARIF ARRIVES AT SECRETARY OF STATE ,JOHN F. KERRY HOSTS DINNER IN ANDREWS AIRFORCE BASE ON OCTOBER 20, 2013 HONOUR OF PRIME MINISTER MUHAMMAD NAWAZ SHARIF Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif arrived at the Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, D.C. for a four day official visit to the United States. The Prime Minister was accorded a warm welcome by senior officials. A smart contingent of the US armed services also presented honour guard to the Prime Minister. Secretary of State John F. Kerry hosted a dinner in honour of Prime PRIME MINISTER MUHAMMAD NAWAZ SHARIF MEETS WITH Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and his delegation at the State VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN Department in Washington, DC. Welcoming the Prime Minister, Secretary Kerry expressed the confidence that the visit would provide the necessary impetus to further deepen and expand the Pakistan-US relations. Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif reiterated his determination to revive the economy and improve the law and order situation in Pakistan. Outlining his vision of promoting peace and stability in the region, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to work together in meeting the common challenges of extremism and terrorism. Senior US Administration officials including Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Director CIA John Brennan and SRAP James Dobbins were present during the dinner. The Prime Minister was accompanied by Advisor to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani. PRIME MINISTER MUHAMMAD NAWAZ SHARIF MEETS WITH MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS AT CAPITOL HILL The U.S. Vice President Joe Biden hosted Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at a breakfast at his residence. Both the Prime Minister leaders reaffirmed their keenness to work together to maintain Muhammad Nawaz the positive trajectory in the bilateral relationship. They reiterated Sharif was welcomed that the revived Strategic Dialogue process was the ideal vehicle by Congressman Ed to further strengthen a people-centric, broad based and mutually Royce, Chairman of beneficial relationship. Vice President Biden appreciated the House Committee Pakistan’s contribution and sacrifices in fighting the scourge of on Foreign Affairs, terrorism. He praised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s leadership in ranking member promoting peace and stability in the region and also Congressman Eliot acknowledged Pakistan’s important role in facilitating peace and Engel and other reconciliation in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif members of the Committee from both reassured Pakistan’s commitment to facilitate an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. Both leaders agreed on the need to sides of the aisle at further strengthen coordination and cooperation amongst Capitol Hill. During Pakistan, the U.S. and Afghanistan to ensure success of the the meeting the Prime reconciliation process. Minister spoke on a EMBASSY of THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN in Washington DC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 PRIME MINISTER MUHAMMAD NAWAZ SHARIF VISITS WASHINGTON, D.C. broad range of issues in the bilateral relationship. The Prime DR. ASHTON CARTER, DEPUTY SECRETARY OF DEFENSE AND Minister noted that both countries had cooperated closely at GENERAL MARTIN DEMPSEY, CHAIRMAN JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF important junctures of history and a strong Pakistan-US CALL ON THE PRIME MINISTER bilateral relationship was important for peace and stability in the region. He also underscored the importance of enhanced trade and expanding people to people contacts between the two nations. The Prime Minister also drew US Congressmen’s attention to Pakistan’s concerns on the continued use of drones. Chairman Ed Royce recognized the sacrifices rendered by the people of Pakistan in the fight against terrorists and said that a strong relationship between Pakistan and the United States was critical to achieve shared objectives. DR. ERNEST MONIZ, U.S. SECRETARY OF ENERGY, CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER MUHAMMAD NAWAZ SHARIF The US defense leadership including Dr. Ashton Carter, Deputy Secretary of Defense and General Martin Dempsey, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff called on the Prime Minister in Washington, DC. Matters related to bilateral defense cooperation and regional security were discussed during the meeting. The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction on the robust momentum in bilateral defense exchanges and expressed the hope that both sides will continue to work together towards shared goals. Dr. Ashton Carter expressed satisfaction that GLOCs were facilitating movement of the US/ISAF retrograde and sustenance cargo through Pakistan. The two sides noted that substantial progress had been achieved in the areas of Counter IEDs, counterterrorism and border coordination mechanism Dr. Ernest Moniz, U.S. Secretary of Energy, called on Prime with Afghanistan and ISAF. It was agreed that expanding Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. Dr. Moniz was joined by cooperation in areas such as maritime security was in common interest. Ambassador Carlos Pascual, U.S. Special Envoy for IEC, Ms. Elizabeth Littlefield, President OPIC, Dr. Rajiv Shah, USAID FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MS. MADELEINE ALBRIGHT, Administrator and Deputy National Security Advisor Ms. NOW SERVING AS CHAIR OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC Caroline Atkinson. The U.S. Energy Secretary lauded the efforts INSTITUTE (NDI) CALLS ON THE PRIME MINISTER of the Government of Pakistan in dealing with the serious energy challenges facing the country and offered continued U.S. support to Pakistan in meeting its growing energy requirements. The Prime Minister appreciated U.S. assistance in the energy sector and emphasized that U.S. support would prove critical in executing all the projects in the energy sector. The U.S. Secretary expressed his appreciation and admiration for the most comprehensive and effective reforms introduced by the Government, both to overcome the energy crisis and to improve the energy mix. Both sides agreed to continue working closely in the Energy sector through the existing mechanism of the Energy Working Group under the Strategic Dialogue. The Energy Working Group meeting took place in mid-November in the U.S. Former U.S. Secretary of State Ms. Madeleine Albright, now serving as Chair of the National Democratic Institute (NDI) called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. She