EUHR Solana meets with Pakistan's PM Aziz

Javier Solana, European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), today met the Prime Minister of Pakistan, H.E. Mr Shaukat Aziz, to discuss EU-Pakistan relations as well as developments in Pakistan and the region.

The High Representative confirmed the EU's strong commitment to building a comprehensive relationship with Pakistan, including by formalizing and upgrading regular political dialogue and through a political agreement on non-proliferation and the fight against terrorism. This would provide a framework for future dialogue and cooperation in these areas. Prime Minister Aziz assured Mr Solana that Pakistan was looking forward to enhancing relations with the EU and to moving forward to a higher level of dialogue and cooperation.

Mr Solana encouraged Pakistan side to maintain its commitment to further democratisation. He called for the parliamentary elections to be held in Pakistan towards the end of 2007 to be free, fair and inclusive, and hoped that they would mark a significant step in the development of sustainable democracy in Pakistan. Prime Minister Aziz provided assurances that the elections would be free and would be contested on performance.

The High Representative stressed that the EU attached the greatest importance to good Afghanistan-Pakistan relations and remained strongly committed to long-term support for Afghanistan. Acknowledging the critical role of Pakistan for the success of efforts to stabilize Afghanistan, he encouraged Pakistan to build on current efforts to prevent the use of its territory by the Taliban. Prime Minister Aziz expressed Pakistan's total commitment to the security and stability of Afghanistan.

Mr Solana reiterated the EU's support for continued improvement in relations between Pakistan and India and welcomed the commitment of both sides to take forward their "composite dialogue".

| Arriba |

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