PM Gilani rejects Clinton's call to attend Bonn Conference
04 December, 2011
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani rejected on Saturday US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's request to attend the Bonn Conference.
During a telephonic conversation, the secretary of state conveyed her personal condolences on the deaths of Pakistani soldiers. She added that the attack was not intentional and that they should wait for the outcome of the investigation. She said that the US had the highest regard for Pakistan's sovereignty and that the incident should not be allowed to jeopardise the bilateral relationship. Pakistan and US had a common interest, she added.
She also raised with the prime minister the issue of Pakistan's participation in the Bonn Conference.
Gilani responded that he had promised to refer the matter of Pakistan's participation at Bonn to the Parliament's National Security Committee when German Chancellor Merkel raised it with him. The committee had supported the decision of the Cabinet not to participate in the Bonn Conference, he said.
Prime Minister Gilani said that Pakistan had played a positive role for peace and stability in the region and had rendered many sacrifices in fighting terrorism.
He said that parliament was considering the terms of cooperation with the US, which would ensure national ownership and clarity about the relationship.
Gilani informed Clinton that the decision to boycott the conference had been taken by the Defence Committee of the Cabinet and the Parliamentary Committee on National Security.
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