Brussels, 04/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - During her visit to Brussels the head of Pakistani diplomacy, Hina Rabbani Khar, welcomed the EU's efforts to support the economy and human rights in Pakistan.
Speaking to the foreign affairs committee at the European Parliament on Monday 3 December, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khar hailed the close links between the EU and her country, welcoming “the support [of the EU27] to democratic Pakistan”. Khar thanked the EU for its support to an economy ravaged by floods in August 2010 - support through autonomous tariff preferences for which the EU27 obtained a special derogation from the WTO last February. The Parliament gave its green light to the trade preferences (until the end of 2013) to support Pakistan in mid-September (see EUROPE 10688). “We are grateful to Europe for its support in terms of trade preferences, and we hope that thanks to the system of generalised preferences, we will be able to work for prosperity to have an alternative to extremism”, Khar commented.
Welcoming the importance of human and social rights in Pakistan in the eyes of Europe, Khar said that her country should consider the EU “as a model to follow” because society has to protect the population. Reminding her listeners of Islamabad's efforts for women's rights and their protection, Khar gave assurances that Pakistan would be happy to have the EU's help to achieve this. “The situation can't change completely overnight. That takes time”, she said.
Khar also gave assurances that the young Malala Yusufzai - whose attack by the Pakistani Taliban was condemned by the EU (see EUROPE 10716 and 10720) - will have the protection she needs when she returns to Pakistan. “Our responsibility is to react and we will do it”, she said. She stated that the young girl's health expenses (she is being cared for in the United Kingdom) will be taken in charge by her government, which had offered protection before the attack although this was refused by Malala and her family.
Earlier on Monday, Khar had met NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen. On Tuesday, she was due to met European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht. (CG/EH/transl.fl)