23/11/2012
Following is the text of President Asif Ali Zardari’s speech at the
Eighth D-8 Summit in Islamabad on 22nd November 2012,
BISMILLAH-IR-RAHMAN-IR-RAHIM
As we pass through difficult times,
As the winds of change knock at our door,
As we swim through unchartered waters,
It is good to be among friends.
Honorable Heads of State and Government,
Honorable Delegates,
Excellencies,
Secretary General,
Ladies & Gentlemen
ASSALAM-O-ALAIKUM
At the outset, I would like to thank the outgoing Chairman of D-8, his Excellency the President of Nigeria for his leadership of the
Organization during the last 2 years.
I also wish to commend the Secretary General of D-8 and his able team.
I welcome you all to Pakistan.
And I welcome you at a unique moment in history.
A moment of pride for us, for you, for all of us.
Today, D-8 is not just eight developing countries.
Today, with the grace of Allah Almighty, we are eight democracies.
We always shared common bonds of religion and culture.
But, today we are also bound, by the will and spirit of our people.
As leaders of the D-8 democracies, we are answerable to one billion people.
We owe them a journey towards a better future.
This is not going to be easy.
I am humbled, when I realize the enormity of challenge.
But, I also feel a sense of pride.
And I must share with you.
Five years ago, my country began a dream.
A new democratic journey.
Our mission was to achieve a better future for our people.
A future of better lives, with dignity, with freedom, with rule of law.
Our history has been a difficult one.
The challenges we face on this journey are huge.
But by the grace of God, the resolve and resilience of our people is bigger.
Excellencies
Your presence here today is a measure of your solidarity with us.
It gives us strength and hardens our resolve.
I hope that the D-8 Summit in Islamabad will open new chapters of
cooperation and understanding.
Let me say how closely interconnected we are.
Pakistan’s deep commitment to and friendship with our brothers and sisters in Turkey is no secret.
For decades, our people have been like two hearts that beat as one.
Turkish leadership, on economic issues in particular, has been exceptional.
We owe Turkey our thanks and continue to bank on our brothers and sisters for their support.
With Iran Pakistan’s destiny is inter-linked.
We are neighbors and are located in the same region.
When one suffers, the other suffers too.
We have worked closely with our brothers and sisters in Iran.
We will continue to support peaceful ways to help resolve
disagreements between Iran and other parties.
Indonesia has a long and glowing record of standing by Pakistan in its hours of need across many decades.
Today, Indonesia helps light our path by demonstrating how to
negotiate the challenges of growing an economy, while maintaining
peace in a diverse society.
Democracy and the struggle against oppression is something we also share with our brothers and sisters in Egypt.
We were amazed as, last year, Egyptians took to Tahrir Square to build an Egypt of their choice.
We salute the heroism of the Egyptian youth, and say to you, we are with you.
We have also been on the same road.
It is a long journey, and we will stand by you.
I wish to congratulate President Morsi of Egypt.
We wanted him to be here today.
We are proud of the leadership he has shown.
We understand the reason for his absence.
Our brothers and sisters in Nigeria face a mortal threat at the hands of the Boko Haram extremist group.
In this, we are in solidarity.
Al-Qaeda affiliates in Pakistan, like the TTP, pose serious threats to
our aspirations for the future. Indeed, to our very identity.
I commend President Goodluck’s leadership in a time of great complexity.
We hope our countries grow closer as a result of this visit.
Malaysia is a model of how diversity and discipline can drive a
nation’s economy.
Pakistanis have a great admiration for our Malaysian brothers and sisters.
With our brothers and sisters in Bangladesh, we share deep cultural and historical links and a common region.
We join the world in admiring the strides it has taken on road to
progress in recent years.
Together, the D-8 countries represent eight very important nations.
Individually, they represent countries with whom our relationship goes far beyond the ordinary.
For us, the D-8 represents a partnership that can help cement these bonds.
Excellencies,
The challenges we face today are daunting.
The people of Palestine continue to suffer the Israeli aggression.
We condemn the recent attacks in Gaza which have led to the loss of innocent lives.
The people of Kashmir continue to suffer unjust occupation.
For decades they have been awaiting the promised self-determination.
We must address these issues.
Rather than blaming others, we need to take charge of our destinies.
We must grow our economies, and provide our people with jobs and security.
D-8 has the potential to advance this agenda.
The initiatives we will declare at this Summit will make a difference:
The D-8 Charter, that we would sign today, will cement our joint undertakings.
The D-8 Global Vision will be a giant step forward towards achieving our long term objectives.
And Islamabad Declaration will build upon the roadmap.
Today let us endorse once again the core values of D-8; Values of
-Peace, Dialogue and Cooperation,
-Justice, Equality and Moderation,
-Democracy, Rule of Law and Harmony, and
-Peaceful co-existence and inclusion.
I commend the Council of Ministers and D-8 Commissioners for their hard work in finalizing the Islamabad Declaration.
I wish to commend you all for making it possible.
Excellencies,
Let me say few words about D-8 agenda.
Just like our people, the D-8 agenda is diverse and is growing.
But it is also crucial for our collective economic success and a shared future.
D-8 Business Forum, meetings of heads of central banks, trade
promotion organizations and trade exhibitions are very important
initiatives.
These will help in economic growth.
But, to carry this forward, we also need Trade & Development Banks.
We need to encourage the private sector.
We need to facilitate contacts between our chambers of commerce and investment houses.
We also need to encourage interactions between our Parliaments,
scholars, students, judges, artists, media and civil society
organizations.
All this requires simplified visa and customs procedures.
Most of us have already ratified the PTA.
We need to work together to operationalize it.
It is also time to think of barter trade where ever possible.
If I sum it up: We need to encourage the free flow of goods, free flow of peoples and free flow of finances.
Excellencies,
The theme of this Summit – “Democratic Partnership for Peace and
Prosperity” - is rooted in our faith in democracy.
Democracy is at the very heart of our identity.
Pakistan was founded through a democratic struggle.
A struggle that was led by the eloquence and grace of our founder
Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah.
The same democratic means we seek to use today, to resolve our problems.
Democracy is in our veins.
When my leader, and wife, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was
assassinated by terrorists in December 2007, this country came
together to mourn, and to rebuild.
And that commitment continues to this day.
Excellencies,
The D-8 countries represent a huge untapped reservoir.
This reservoir can serve as a catalyst for peace and prosperity around the world.
The best way to harness our collective potential is to put trust in our people.
Our people want peace within the country and peace with our neighbors.
Our government is making unprecedented efforts to normalize relations with India.
We support Afghanistan’s own roadmap for peace and reconciliation.
This is the vision of a democratic people that seek peace and prosperity.
For ourselves, for our region, and for our brothers and sisters in the D-8 countries.
One of the most serious threats facing Pakistan is international terrorism.
Terrorists, both from within Pakistan, and from abroad, seek to impose their agenda.
We cannot and will not allow Islam to be hijacked.
We will fight for our values.
We will fight for the spirit of our great religion that our Holy
Prophet (Peace be upon him) gave to us.
We are fighting the terrorists’ dark and destructive vision every day.
Our soldiers, policemen and political workers serve on the frontlines of this fight.
I want to make a special note of their sacrifices here today.
And I want to thank you for hearing our voice, and supporting us.
Your support strengthens the resolve of our people, especially of the fighters on the front lines against terrorism.
Our soldiers are not alone in this fight.
You all have heard of our daughter, the young and heroic Malala Yusufzai.
She defied terrorists.
She stood for every girl child’s right to education.
Excellencies,
As we build the Pakistan of our Shaheed Leader, Mohtarma Benazir
Bhutto - a democratic, prosperous, peaceful Pakistan - we are proud to host this historic summit.
From food security to climate change to demographic pressures, we face many challenges.
The D-8 platform enables us to find development solutions for our one billion people.
The presence of the Heads of State and Government of all D-8 countries today reflects our collective determination to use this platform for finding solutions.
The people of Pakistan stand with their brothers and sisters across
the D-8 world in pursuit of democracy, peace and prosperity.
It is only together that we can achieve our common goals.
And together, we will.
Thank you.