January 13, 2002	Sunday	Shawwal 28, 1422

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ISLAMABAD, Jan 12: Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri on Saturday expressed his country’s solidarity and support for Pakistan in the context of tense situation in the region, resulting from the massing of Indian troops on the border.

Talking to reporters after his tete-a-tete meeting with President Gen Pervez Musharraf here, the premier referred to the strong relations existed between Pakistan and Lebanon.

He appreciated policies of the Pakistan government and the steps taken by the president for de-escalation of tension which were in the best national interests of Pakistan as well as the Arab and Muslims world.

Earlier, Mr Hariri arrived here from Paris on a short trip. President Musharraf and Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar received the prime minister at the Chaklala Airbase.

Welcoming the prime minister, the president reiterated the strong relations between the two countries. He said that they had total unanimity of views on the prevailing situation in the region and the environment in Afghanistan.

“It was excellent interaction and we have total unanimity of views,” the president said.

Prime Minister Hiriri said: “We are against terrorism. We all suffered from terrorism.”

He said: “We are for moderation and we are very much part of the modern world. We are for all the steps taken by the president and I believe the whole Arab world is backing them.

“We look to Pakistan as a very important Islamic country and we care about Pakistan and its people. We believe that all steps taken by the president and the government of Pakistan give very strong message to the world,” Mr Hariri said.

He said Pakistan and Lebanon had very strong relations and he had come here to exchange ideas about the prevailing situation in the region “because it also affects us.”

President Musharraf said they had discussed the prevailing environment in the region and taken stock of what was happening in Afghanistan and the tension between India and Pakistan.

The president said he was grateful to the Lebanese prime minister for expressing concern over the present situation. “We discussed the ways and methods to reduce tension in the region,” he added.

The meeting between the two leaders also focused on Pakistan’s principled decision to join the international coalition against terrorism.

Talks were followed by working lunch.

Besides Prime Minister Hariri, the Lebanese delegation included Economy and Trade Minister Dr Basil Fulehin and former foreign minister Fadl Shalac. Prime Minister Hariri returned the same day.—APP