Pakistan fully supports EU engagement with Iran
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Brussels, Jan 25, IRNA -- Visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana met in Brussels Tuesday afternoon and discussed bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues. "The meeting was very important. We were able to talk about many issues, economic, political and strategic issues," Solana told reporters after the 2-hour luncheon meeting. "The dialogue on all these issues have been very, very constructive. This is going to be another beginning for the very good relationship that the EU has with Pakistan," he added, On his part, Shawkat said "this has been a very important visit for us and we believe engaging with the EU is extremely important for Pakistan." He said Pakistan and Europe have supported each other in many ways and "we are looking for a peaceful world." Today we have discussed our relations with great length. We have agreed to interact more frequently," he said. Asked if the issue of democracy in Pakistan was raised in the meeting, Solana replied "yes, we have talked about everything. We have got very good guarantees that the process is going to continue and democracy is there to stay." Shawkat said Pakistan`s relations with Afghanistan were improving. "Afghan and Pakistan economies are integrating more and more and trade this year will be about a billion dollars. That itself is a fact that the relationship is going well," he said. Solana and Shaukat also discussed Indo-Pakistan ties. "Pakistan strives for peace with India. We have a composite dialogue process going. We have also offered many initiatives to India like the energy corridor, like the bus service from Srinagar to Muzaffarabad and the opening of banks and other economic links. "We think we are taking a step at a time in the right direction and we are optimistic that the dialogue process will take peace in South Asia to new levels." An EU sources told IRNA that the two sides also had an "extensive exchange" of views on Iran. Solana briefed Shaukat on the EU`s engagement with Iran and underlined that the European bloc was determined to pursue the process of dialogue with Tehran. For his part, Shaukat underscored Pakistan`s total support for the EU`s engagement policy with Iran. The issue of recent threats made by some US officials against Iran was not raised in the meeting, said the sources. The EU side noted that the proposed gas pipeline from Iran to India via Pakistan is essential to promote regional peace. Kashmir was also discussed, with the EU side calling for restraint and for the peace process to move forward. The first visit of Shaukat Aziz to Brussels has helped in "changing Pakistan`s image as regional trouble maker, " said the sources speaking on condition of anonymity. Earlier, Aziz met EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, and later in the afternoon he held talks with European Parliament President Josep Borrell. Pakistan-EU two-way trade amounted to 5 billion euros in 2002. Pakistan`s exports came to 2.8 billion euros, its imports to stood at 2.1 billion euros. The Pakistani premier arrived in Brussels Monday at the head of a delegation including several cabinet ministers for a 4-day visit. Aziz is the first Pakistani premier to visit Brussels since Nawaz Sharif`s trip in 1998. On Wednesday, he will meet the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. On Monday, Aziz met the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso and Commissioner for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner in Brussels and discussed EU-Pakistan ties. "Pakistan is a key partner for the EU, and we appreciate the very positive role Pakistan has played in enhancing stability in this important region," said Barroso after the meeting. 260/2324/1432
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