Brussels, 26/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - In Islamabad last Saturday, the visit of EU representatives to Pakistan was concluded with the EU and Pakistan signing a third generation co-operation agreement. This agreement should strengthen trade relations and political ties between the two parties, a relationship that has clearly become warmer these last few months. President of the European Council and Belgian Premier, Guy Verhofstadt, who led the European delegation, together with the President of Commission, Romano Prodi, and Commissioner for Trade, Pascale Lamy and his Belgian counterpart, Annemie Neyts, declared that they needed to talk about politics more and not just during periods of crisis. The joint statement adopted also calls on the international community to address the root-causes of terrorism and not waver from the consensus on the future political dispensation in Afghanistan, which should be broad-based, multiethnic and acceptable to all Afghans.
European and Pakistani leaders were keen to point out that, "The European Union and Pakistan warmly welcome the signature of a Co-operation agreement that will substantially contribute to strengthening further their relationship". The EU mission also expressed its "appreciation for the decision taken by Pakistan to join the international community in its fight against terrorism". The European mission's last visit to Pakistan on 25 September had, "expressed its desire to deepen and broaden its relationship with Pakistan. This co-operation agreement is an element of that enhanced relationship". The two partners can now affirm, "their commitment to the respect, protection and promotion of human rights and democratic principles as laid down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights" as contained in Article 1 of the co-operation agreement. Pakistan reiterated is "firm commitment return to democratic government". On the issue of anti-terrorism, the two partners reaffirmed, "their commitment to implement fully anti-terrorism measures in pursuit of UNSC resolution 1373" and other relevant resolutions and conventions, "which they believe to be an important element in their relationship". Both parties believe that a, "comprehensive strategy for dealing with the root-causes of terrorism is vital for the success of the efforts by the international community to eradicate terrorism". "The valuable contribution" of Pakistan in this contribution was also recognised. The two parties urged the international community to remain steadfast in achieving its goal of a broad-based, multi-ethnic government that was acceptable to all Afghans. The events made it doubly urgent for the international community to take measures to ensure peace, stability and the reconstruction of Afghanistan and they said they would be contributing to the process in an appropriate manner.
The EU could help Islamabad cover the economic losses connected with the War on Afghanistan. The package of preferential trade measures put forward by the Commission last month (see EUROPE of 17 October) includes a pretty substantial exchange of concessions with regard to market access. It will be put to the General Affairs Council of 10 December for approval. Relations between Brussels and Islamabad took a decidedly frosty turn in 1999 when General Perwez Musharraf took power by kicking out the democratically elected Prime Minster, Nawaz Sharif. The negotiations over a co-operation agreement - which were close to conclusion - broke down, but last summer when General Musharraf (who had just proclaimed himself President) promised a return to democracy, the Europeans came back to the negotiating table. They have provided decisive support since 11 September. Ms Neyts said it would be difficult to consider Pakistan as a democracy, but it was never a good idea to completely isolate a country since that led to its population looking inwards and pushed the country in another direction.
At the final press conference President Musharraf said that a United Nations military force would be welcome in Afghanistan to provide moral support to the new Afghan government "once a political agreement had been reached". The EU and Pakistan share the same attitude and the same opinion on the future of Afghanistan, pointed out Mr Verhofstadt, stressing the "absolute" necessity of achieving broad-based, multiethnic political support that would be "acceptable" to the Afghan population. He added that the Union would encourage political dialogue between Pakistan and India over Kashmir, while Mr Musharraf said that he had called on the EU to take an active role in resolving the conflict, adding that his feeling was mirrored in the recent European Parliament resolution calling on the Union to fulfil just such a role. He explained that a solution to the dispute was vital for stability and progress in the region. General Musharraf said he was prepared to put everything on the table with India, as long as this issue was at the heart of the discussions he might be holding with his Indian counterpart in January 2002 and refuted the allegations by India of cross-border terrorism with Pakistan supporting Muslim separatists in Kashmir. He said that the Kashmir dispute was a struggle by the native peoples for the freedom of Kashmir, rather than a cross-border issue.