News
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Pakistan, European Union discuss political, commercial relations
* EU delegates appreciate Pakistan’s transition to democracy through Feb 18 general elections
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and European Union (EU) on Monday discussed bilateral political, economic and trade relations and immigration issues during a meeting of Pak-EU Political Directors. The two sides also reviewed Indo-Pak composite dialogue, Iranian nuclear programme, situation in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iraq and Middle East, nuclear non-proliferation and counter terrorism. EU President Matjaz Sinkovec, who is also Slavonic State Secretary, led the EU delegation and Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe) Akbar Zeb the Pakistani side, said a news release of Foreign Office (FO). The release said the meeting discussed the Pak-EU Third Generation Agreement, the Pak-EU Joint Commission, the EU’s Country Strategy Paper (CSP) and Multiyear Indicative Program (MIP) on Pakistan, and Pakistan’s proposal for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with EU, inclusion in the GSP Plus Scheme and cooperation in the field of science and technology, especially on higher education and research. It said Pakistani team discussed and handed over a set of proposals on EU’s cooperation and assistance pertaining to development assistance, trade, and science and technology to the EU delegation. The meeting also discussed internal developments in Pakistan and Europe, it said. The release said Pakistani delegates appreciated EU’s support to the country for socioeconomic development. Democracy: The EU delegates appreciated the holding of elections in Pakistan and the transition to democracy. They appreciated Pakistan’s socioeconomic development, the progress in the fight against terrorism and extremism, and Pakistan’s contribution towards regional peace and stability. They later called on caretaker Foreign Minister Inamul Haque and attended a working luncheon hosted by Foreign Secretary Riaz Muhammad Khan.
Courtesy Daily Times