Brussels, 20/07/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Belgian Presidency issued the following declaration on behalf of the European Union:
"The European Union welcomes the resumption of the dialogue between India and Pakistan at the highest level as witnessed at the Summit Meeting held in Agra on 15 and 16 July 2001 between the Indian Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. The European Union equally welcomes the goodwill and confidence building measures taken in the run up to the Summit which contributed to the constructive atmosphere that surrounded this event. The European Union has noted with satisfaction that India and Pakistan are determined to continue their dialogue at the highest level. The European Union expresses the strong hope that despite the lack of immediate progress at the Summit, the invitation extended by President Musharraf to Prime Minister Vajpayee will allow the continuation of a dialogue leading to a comprehensive solution in the spirit of Lahore. The European Union believes that the complete normalisation of relations between India and Pakistan is a matter that not only concerns both countries and the region but also the rest of the international community. Therefore the European Union encourages both parties to take further steps in the direction of the final resolution of all their differences in a constructive manner, thereby laying ground for a future-based and mutually beneficial relationship. Meanwhile, the European Union calls upon all parties to show the utmost moderation on the ground. The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the European Union, the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA countries, members of the European Economic Area align themselves with this declaration".