May 11, 2003	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 8, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, May 10: Foreign Minister of Bosnia Herzegovina Dr Mladen Ivanic has expressed the hope that the ongoing efforts to bring peace in South Asia will succeed and both Pakistan and India will resolve their outstanding issues through negotiations.

Talking to newsmen at the conclusion of his two-day visit to Pakistan here on Saturday, the Bosnian foreign minister said that he was very optimistic that India and Pakistan would resume talks soon.

Ambassador of Bosnia Herzegovina to Pakistan Avdo-Abdullah Hodzic was also present on the occasion.

Mr Ivanic said before coming to Pakistan he had visited India and he had the impression that both sides were willing to start negotiations. About the Kashmir dispute, he said there had to be a compromise sooner or later.

Describing his visit to Pakistan as “extremely successful”, the Bosnian FM said his visit would help increase cooperation between Bosnia and Pakistan in all fields.

He said Pakistan fully supported Bosnia during and after the war and particularly mentioned Pakistan’s role in the UN peace-keeping force and police missions in the post-war period.

“We want to rebuild excellent political and bilateral relations with Pakistan which have remained in low profile for the past few years,” the minister said.

He further said that Pakistan and Bosnia had common approach on many international issues. He said Bosnia supported Pakistan to become a UN Security Council member.

He said his country had a vast experience of post-war rebuilding process, therefore, Pakistan and Bosnia together could play an important role in the reconstruction of Afghanistan and Iraq.

He was of the view that Pakistan could gain access to the European markets through Bosnia which enjoyed free-trade agreements with neighbouring and other regional countries, including Albania, Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria.