December 10, 2003	Wednesday	Shawwal 15, 1424

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PARIS, Dec 9: French Prime Minister Jean Pierre-Raffarin on Tuesday announced that Paris would send a multi-sector mission to Pakistan next year to identify and explore ways and means for increasing cooperation in economic, defence and other fields.

Talking to reporters together with Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali after formal talks, Mr Raffarin appreciated “pragmatic and positive” approach Pakistan showed towards domestic reforms and in normalizing relations with its neighbours.

Mr Jamali said bilateral ties and international issues such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan-India relations came under discussion during the meeting. The two countries shared similar views on regional and international issues, he added.

He said the two countries agreed to interact more frequently and exchange trade delegations.

On the Iraq issue, the French prime minister said Paris and Islamabad had similar views that sovereignty should be restored to people of Iraq swiftly.

Mr Jamali briefed Mr Raffarin about the steps Pakistan had taken to improve its ties with India.

The French prime minister hosted a luncheon in honour of Mr Jamali.

Earlier, Mr Raffarin received Mr Jamali when he arrived for bilateral talks at the prime minister’s office, Matigonon.

Information Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed, Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar and Information Technology Minister Owais Leghari assisted the prime minister at the talks.

MORE CBMs SEEN: Mr Jamali has said that talks with Indian Premier Atal Behari Vajpayee on the sidelines of the Saarc summit will help increase the number of confidence building measures.

Talking to PTV, he said that during a telephone conversation on Monday he had felicitated Mr Vajpayee on the election victory of his party in three states.

He said Mr Vajpayee called upon Pakistan to provide maximum facilities to Indian cricket team which would visit Pakistan soon. Appreciating Indian premier’s positive approach, Mr Jamali vowed to continue ceasefire along the LoC.—APP