Brussels, 23/05/2002 (Agence Europe) - The Spanish Presidency made the following declaration on behalf of the European Union on recent tensions between India and Pakistan:
"The Presidency, on behalf of the EU, expresses its deep concern over the deterioration of Indo-Pakistani relations during the past days. Recent terrorist attacks in Jammu-Kashmir and the military incidents that have taken place over the last 48 hours at the border, could pose a serious threat, not only for the Indian and Pakistani people, but also for stability in the whole region. The EU hopes that steps will be taken promptly to improve the current situation, and urges both parties to make the necessary efforts to avoid a spiral of confrontation of unpredictable consequences. In this sense, the EU wishes to stress that the common enemy of us all is terrorism, wherever and against whomever it is directed. The Union urges the Governments of New Delhi and Islamabad to take all measures to decrease tension, as a first and necessary step towards the resumption of productive dialogue between the two countries.
The Central and Eastern European countries associated with the EU, the associated countries Cyprus, Malta and Turkey, and the EFTA countries members of the EEA, align themselves with this declaration."