ISLAMABAD, Aug 25: Pakistan and Guinea on Thursday agreed to harmonize their positions at the United Nations and other international fora while Islamabad offered military training courses for Guinean personnel.
A joint statement issued after talks between the visiting Guinean Foreign Minister Sidibe Fatoumata Kaba and her Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri said there was a close understanding between the two sides on the issue of UN reforms.
The two countries agreed on the following points aimed at promoting mutual understanding and developing and diversifying bilateral relations and cooperation:
- The two foreign ministries will hold consultation every two years at the Guinean capital of Conakry and Islamabad alternately to exchange views and experience on their foreign policies.
- Both ministries will consult each other and harmonize their positions at the United Nations, the Organization of Islamic Conference and other international organizations of which the two countries are members.
- The ministries will regularly exchange information on their foreign and national policies and international policy issues.
- The Pakistani foreign ministry, which is already providing diplomatic training courses at its Foreign Service Academy to Guinean diplomats, will offer more such opportunities, including English language training courses.
- Guinea can utilize the Pakistan foreign ministry’s special technical assistance programme for Africa for training in banking, agriculture and other technical areas to be mutually explored and agreed upon.
- Pakistan’s foreign ministry will help the Guinean foreign ministry’s diplomatic library to build up its collection.
- Exchange of visits by commerce delegations will be encouraged to promote economic ties.
- The two sides will work towards the establishment of a joint economic commission.
- In response to a Guinean request, Pakistan will offer military training courses, particularly in the field of assistance in peacekeeping, under its mutual cooperation programme.—R.A
