Brussels, 23/07/2009 (Agence Europe) - The 5th edition of the Kashmir Week, organised by the Kashmir Centre in Brussels and the All-Party Group for Kashmir at the European Parliament, was opened at the European Parliament on Wednesday 22 July. Pakistan's Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira was at the opening ceremony as well as the executive director of the Kashmir Centre, Majid Tramboo, and the president of the All-Party Group for Kashmir, British Conservative James Elles.
The aim of this EU Week is to heighten public awareness of the conflict in Kashmir and to rally the international community to provide assistance in resolving the conflict.
Majid Tramboo welcomed the initiatives and the interest that the European Parliament shows in Kashmir. He expressed the hope that the Parliament would be more actively involved in combating human rights violations in the region. Qamar Zaman Kaira, for his part, stated his support for Kashmir's self-rule. “Kashmir should have the right to choose its own destiny”, he said. He also explained that Pakistan wished to enter into dialogue and establish peaceful relations with India. (L.P./transl.jl)