14 May 2004	Friday	23 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1425

ISLAMABAD, May 13: Pakistan on Thursday welcomed the decision of the ARF senior officials meeting to recommend Pakistan's admission to the regional security forum.

Senior officials of ASEAN's Asian Regional Forum (ARF) had on Wednesday unanimously recommended Pakistan's admission to the Forum at the next ARF Ministerial meeting that will be held in Jakarta from June 30 to July 2.

"This is yet another success for Pakistan's foreign policy and comes close on the heels of EU's decision to ratify the Third Government Agreement, thereby raising the level of Pakistan's political and economic interaction with the European Union as well as notification of Pakistan as a major non-NATO ally," Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri said.

Talking to reporters here, the minister said he was grateful to the governments of the ARF member states who strongly endorsed Pakistan's request.-APP