DCM Sadiq receives 'Common Ground International Diplomacy Award' on behalf of President Pervez Musharraf

On March 19th, 2004 Ambassador George Moose, former U.S. assistant secretary of state, presented the 'Common Ground International Diplomacy Awards' to President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at a ceremony at the Austrian Embassy, Washington,DC.

The 2004 awards were announced by the 'Search for Common Ground' - an international non-profit NGO- for the two South Asian leaders in recognition of "their courageous commitment to re-launch a peace process between their two countries." The awards are presented annually to recognize accomplishments in conflict resolution, community building, and peacemaking.

Deputy Chief of Mission, Mohammad Sadiq of the received the award on behalf of President General Pervez Musharraf.

In his remarks on the occasion, Mr. Sadiq said the resolution of the Kashmir dispute and establishment of peace between Pakistan and India would initiate an era of unprecedented prosperity in South Asia, where "A quick movement towards resolution of disputes and establishment of peace in South Asia is the only way to address the prevailing mass poverty."

He said conferring the Search for Common Ground International Diplomacy Award on President Musharraf and Prime Minister Vajpayee "indicates rightful optimism the world has about the two leaders."

DCM said, "as a man of peace and leader of great vision, President Musharraf has presented the alternate vision of enlightened moderation for the Muslim world in general and Pakistan in
particular."

Mr. Sadiq said the vision of an enlightened moderate Muslim world has a focus on economic prosperity, human resource development and expanding resources on social development. Internationally, the enlightened moderation envisions peace and stability.