January 15, 2002	Tuesday	Shawwal 30, 1422

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BRUSSELS, Jan 14: The European Union urged India on Monday to give a positive response to President Musharraf’s drive for peace with New Delhi and praised the Pakistan leader’s positive efforts to stamp out terrorism.

Diplomats said Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Pique had spoken to his counterpart Abdus Sattar on Sunday evening and planned to also make a telephone contact on Monday with Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh. Spain is the current holder of the rotating EU presidency.

Earlier, EU security chief Javier Solana also lauded Gen Musharraf’s efforts to eradicate terrorism and called for a prompt renewal of India-Pakistan discussions on Kashmir.

The joint EU statement welcomed Pakistan’s drive to find a peaceful solution to an extremely tense situation with India.

The 15 EU governments also voiced approval of Musharraf’s clear condemnation of all forms of terrorism and his assurances that he will not tolerate any type of terrorism originating inside Pakistan.”

The statement especially welcomed the banning of the two Kashmiri separatist groups Jaish-i-Mohammed and Lashkar-i-Taiba as well as the adoption of a series of measures in defence of tolerance and moderation.

The EU urged India to respond positively to the Pakistani leader’s key initiative in a bid to reduce tensions between the two South Asian neighbours.

EU diplomats said the bloc was ready to help modernize Pakistan’s state education system in a bid to reduce the influence of Madaris.