HIS EXCELLENCY BHARRAT JAGDEO
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GUYANA
TO THE ACCREDITATION SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY
MR SHAHID MALIK, HIGH COMMISSIONER OF PAKISTAN TO GUYANA - May 8, 2003

Excellency, I am pleased to receive the Letters of Credence by which His Excellency President Pervez Musharraf accredits you as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Guyana.
Please accept my gratitude for the warm sentiments that you have conveyed and be so kind as to express, in return, my greetings and best wishes to His Excellency President Musharraf and to the Government and people of Pakistan.
Excellency, I wish to salute the warm and mutually beneficial ties that our two countries have enjoyed. The spirit of friendly relations is reflected in the support which Guyana has received from the Government of Pakistan for of the concept of the New Global Human Order and which has contributed to its adoption for debate in the United Nations. Our successful co-operation is also visible in many international organisations where we champion the issues that are of vital concern to developing countries.
Excellency, Your accreditation takes place at a time of economic transformation for both our countries. Like Pakistan, Guyana is striving to accelerate economic growth and development for all its citizens in the face of a challenging international economic climate. My Government remains deeply committed in its efforts to ensure economic growth and expansion so as to reduce poverty and unemployment and to provide better social services for all Guyanese.
My Government recognises that the maintenance of a peaceful and stable political and economic environment is a prerequisite for national development. Within this context earlier this week I signed a Communique with the Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition. We are confident that this will facilitate a more dynamic democratic process and enable the effective utilisation of all our resources for the enhancement of our national well being.
Excellency, the principles of peace and stability, obtain even greater relevance at the international level. It is for this reason that the Government of Guyana has always advocated the peaceful resolution of disputes and will continue to support the use of dialogue between Pakistan and India in the search for a lasting settlement to the Kashmir problem. In this regard we are encouraged by the recent engagements between the two countries.
Excellency, I am confident that your appointment as High Commissioner of Pakistan to Guyana will contribute to the strengthening of the existing amicable relationship between our two countries as we work for the improvement in the lives of our peoples.
In extending a warm welcome to you and my best wishes for a successful tour of duty, I wish to assure you of the full support of my Government in the execution of your responsibilities as High Commissioner of Pakistan. I trust that your tour will be both pleasant and productive.