Speaker of National Assembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain meets with Assistant Secretary of State Ms. Christina Rocca

WASHINGTON, Apr 27 (APP)- Of cordial U.S.-Pakistan relations, Assistant Secretary of State Ms. Christina Rocca Monday said "We'rein it for a long haul."

She stated that because of the ups and downs of the relationship over the past, people in Pakistan at times are suspicious about the reference to long-term relationship.

Ms. Christina said this while talking to Speaker NationalAssembly Chaudhry Amir Hussain at the State Department. At the meeting, she assured the Speaker: "We're in it for the long haul."

The senior U. S. official on South Asian Affairs lauded Pakistan-U.S. relations, and expressed her gratitude for Pakistan's "bold and effective" cooperation in the war on terror.

The United States, she stated, wants to promote regional stability, which helps Pakistan achieve socio-economic well being.

She referred to the multi-year U.S. assistance program, and stated that the United States has made such a commitment in a very few cases only- the other being Israel and Egypt. "It's a very rare thing that the United States does, and the Administration hasdone it in case of Pakistan."

"The U.S. is interested in building a long term relationship with Pakistan, and it is committed to its friendship."

The National Assembly Speaker referred to the close Pakistan-U.S. relations, and cooperation in the war on terrorism.

He said the Pakistan Government has taken effective measures to control extremism and promote moderation, based on the concept of enlightened moderation.

He said Pakistan has itself been a victim of terrorism, and added; hence, rooting out terrorism was "in our own interest."

On the occasion, Chaudhry Amir Hussain apprised Ms. Rocca of the working of Pakistan's elected National Assembly, and the Senate, and the undertaking of the legislative business.

In the important meeting, deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Torkel Peterson, a USAID official, besides other officials and representatives of NGO, World Vision were present, while from Pakistan side those attending included Secretaries of the Senate and the National Assembly, DCM Mohammad Sadiq and other officials.

The Speaker thanked U.S. authorities for considering sharing of knowledge about conduct of valuable research work, and said it would prove helpful for law-makers. The concept of workshops on dissemination of better knowledge for those interested in improving research skills, sharing of established rules of business, precedents and finer legal points would certainly prove helpful in the conductof substantive proceedings of a House.

The US-AID and UNDP funded project for live broadcast of proceedings of the elected Houses on the pattern of the Congressional Research Service (CRS), was, therefore, a praiseworthy outlook.

Meanwhile, the delegation is scheduled to visit the C-SPAN broadcast system on Tuesday (April 27).

It is also scheduled to visit the Library of Congress (LoC) to see working of the Congressional Research Service, and meet the staff of the Republican and Democrat parties' legislators, atthe Capitol Hill. Later, the delegation will also meet Michael Green, Advisor to the U.S. President at the White House.