May 10, 2003	Saturday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 7, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, May 9: Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri talked to four foreign ministers in the past 24 hours and informed them about the latest developments regarding the situation in South Asian region.

The foreign minister held telephone conversations with Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov of Russia, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepine, Japanese Foreign Minister Ms Yoriko Kawaguchi and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

He exchanged views with them concerning peace initiative in South Asia, developments with regard to the future of Iraq and bilateral relations.

Mr Kasuri briefed his counterparts about Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali’s positive response to Prime Minister Vajpayee’s speech of April 18.

He referred to Prime Minister Jamali’s announcement of a comprehensive package of Confidence-Building Measures along with an offer of a composite, sustained and structured dialogue to address all issues of concern to India and Pakistan, including the issue of Jammu and Kashmir.

Mr Kasuri informed his counterparts that President Pervez Musharraf had for the last year-and-a-half been offering a composite dialogue to India. Pakistan, therefore, welcomed Prime Minister’s Vajpayee’s speech in Srinagar.

He noted that recent communication and contacts had created a conducive environment for dialogue and resolution of all differences between the two countries.

He asked his counterparts as friends of India and Pakistan to remain engaged to push the process forward so that the two countries could create a peaceful and prosperous South Asia.

The foreign ministers welcomed recent moves of peace in South Asia and expressed the hope that Pakistan and India would be able to resolve all issues peacefully.

The foreign minister also exchanged views with his counterparts with regard to the future of Iraq, in the light of various proposals contained in the draft resolution under discussion.

Pakistan is holding the Presidency of the Security Council for the month of May. During this period Pakistan will organize a special event at the Security Council on May 13 to be presided over by Foreign Minister Kasuri in New York to explore the potential for promoting a pacific settlement of international disputes.

In these discussions the foreign minister reiterated the commitment of Pakistan to resolve all issues with India, including the core issue of Kashmir, through a composite and sustained dialogue.

He also reiterated Pakistan’s desire to play a constructive role in the Security Council on the question of the future of Iraq in the interest of world peace, security and multilateralism.—APP