EU FOREIGN POLICY CHIEF'S VISIT ENHANCES RELATIONS WITH PAKISTAN

KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 (Bernama) -- The visit of European Union (EU) High
Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), Javier Solana,
to Pakistan has further enhanced relations between Europe and Pakistan.

In a statement to Bernama, Solana said that he was pleased to be in Pakistan
just one month after the first Summit between the EU and Pakistan that took
place in Brussels.
"We are plannning for a second one next year," he said, adding that this
showed the strategic partnership that was being built between Pakistan and the
EU.
Solana made a two-day stop in Pakistan before leaving for Phuket, Thailand
to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional forum
meetings Wednesday. In Pakistan, he met President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime
Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi
and Interior Minister Rehman Malik.
"A year ago, after the elections, I visited your country. Since then, we
have had numerous meetings, we have attended a good number of conferences
together dealing with Pakistan or the region," the EU foreign policy chief said.
On the humanitarian aspect, after visiting the Jalozai camp where displaced
people from the northwest regions are being sheltered, Solana said he was very
impressed with the way the civil society and Pakistani leaders are dealing with
the situation, which he described as "very difficult" and affected over two
million refugees.
He said what he saw was a very well organised system to provide relief to
the refugees, pointing out that the EU is also helping with humanitarian aid
where the European Commission has offered 120 million euros and member states
have pledged 150 million euros.
"One must admit that Pakistan is going through difficult moments, that is
why my presence here is a message of solidarity from the EU. We care for
those most in need."
As for EU-Pakistan relations, he said that he had various discusssions with
the Foreign Minister, in particular on how to upgrade bilateral relations.
"We are aware of the importance for Pakistan to have better market access to
the EU and deeper economic relations. On these issues, we are implementing the
agreements we reached at the summit of June 17," he said.
Commenting on the fight against terrorism, he said that cooperation among
like-minded countries is fundamental.
"Military actions are just one part of the instruments we have to fight
against terrorism. This battle is more comprehensive, it is a superposition of
different strategies and tactics."
He said that the EU was also working together with Pakistani authorities to
help stabilise Afghanistan.
-- BERNAMA