Brussels, 25/01/2005 (Agence Europe) - In a meeting with the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, in Brussels on Monday, Prime Minister Saukat Aziz of Pakistan, said Pakistan had 'gone all the way' to fight terrorism, reports Pakistani newspaper Dawn, quo6ting Saukat Aziz as saying that fighting extremism required a battle against poverty and deprivation and the injection of 'hope for the future'. In a press release, the Commission says that European External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner had commended Aziz for the very constructive role Pakistan played during presidential elections in Afghanistan. Barroso said: 'I want to see our relationship continue to deepen'. (A third generation Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Pakistan came into force in September 2004.)
Other issues discussed in Brussels (where the Pakistani delegation also met with Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson) included Pakistan's demands for upgraded access to EU markets and become eligible again for the EU's GSP Plus scheme of duty-free benefits. Dawn quotes Aziz as arguing that increased exports will help create jobs and fight extremism in Pakistan. Dawn quotes a spokesperson for Barroso saying that the EU President had underlined that the EU wanted Pakistan to move on negotiations on a so-called 'readmission agreement'. The spokesperson is quoted as saying that Aziz had suggested that current discussions on the pact (the 'readmission agreement') could now be held at a higher level.