Japan Press Weekly

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2008 February 27 - March 4 [JCP]

JCP chair meets outgoing Pakistani ambassador

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on February 28 met Pakistani ambassador to Japan Kamran Niaz at the Pakistan Embassy in Tokyo.

Shii expressed gratitude to Niaz for his effort to develop relations between the JCP and Pakistan.

Niaz, who was at the Pakistani Foreign Ministry when Shii first visited Pakistan in December, 2002, said he has had productive discussions with the JCP.

Referring to the February 18 general election in Pakistan, Shii said, “I think the fact that it was basically a fair and free election and that all major parties accepted the result marked a very important step of progress for Pakistani democracy.”

“Only the Pakistani people themselves have the right to decide on their future,” Shii said.

Expressing his agreement with Shii, the ambassador explained that there are many issues that his country must deal with at home and internationally. The Pakistani people want stability to be achieved under the new government which is to be inaugurated no later than March 15.

Shii expressed his hope for relations between JCP and the Pakistani government to be further developed.

Niaz responded to Shii by saying that the Pakistani government considers relations with the JCP to be very important.