Brussels, 24/07/2002 (Agence Europe) - Following his visit to Belgrade (see below) the EU High Representative for CFDP, Javier Solana, set off on Friday for five countries in Asia:
26 July, New Delhi (India) for talks with deputy prime minister Advani and foreign minister Sinha to take stock of progress in EU-India relations ahead of October EU-India Summit in Copenhagen.
27 July, Islamabad (Pakistan) to meet President Musharraf and foreign minister Inam ul Haque to discuss EU-Pakistan relations following signature of Cooperation Agreement in November 2001. In both India and Pakistan, he will discuss ways of de-escalating tension in Kashmir, including through confidence-building measures and a resumption of dialogue.
28 July, Kabul, where he will convey to President Karzai the EU's continued support for the implementation of the Bonn process (see yesterday's Europe, p.8 on EU Council's conclusions supporting the UN's crucial role and the role of the Secretary General's Special Representative).
29 July, Teheran, for talks with Iranian president Khatami and foreign minister Kharrazi on prospects of negotiations for an EU-Iran Trade and Cooperation Agreement. He will say that the EU expects progress on economic and commercial relations to go hand in hand with political aspects such as combating terrorism, non-proliferation, human rights and regional issues such as the Middle East and Afghanistan.
On 30 July and 1 August, Solana will lead the EU delegation at the 9th ASEAN Regional Forum in Brunei, on the margins of which he will have bilateral contacts and will participate in ministerial meetings of the EU Troika with North and South Korea and Australia respectively.