January 22, 2006	Sunday	Zilhaj 21, 1426

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PESHAWAR, Jan 21: French Ambassador to Pakistan Regis De Belenet has urged the governments of Pakistan and India to initiate dialogue in a bid to resolve the Kashmir issue.

Speaking at a function held at the Sahibzada Abdul Qayyum Auditorium of the University of Peshawar on Saturday, the envoy said his government supported the composite dialogue between the two countries, and underlined the need for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute according to the aspirations of Kashmiris.

“Our government does not want to interfere in the affairs of India or Pakistan, but we want a positive and result-oriented dialogue between the two countries. We regard good relations between the two states to be in the interest of the entire region,” he said.

Delivering a lecture to faculty members of University of Peshawar, he said the cordial relations between the two countries were of paramount importance for the stability of the region.

Good relations would help foster economic development, which was important for the people of India and Pakistan, he added.

About the situation in Iraq, the French envoy said they would like to see the institutions in that country strengthened. He said the French government was supporting measures aimed at ensuring the sovereignty and integrity of Iraq.

According to him, it was not difficult to enter Iraq and launch war, but it was extremely difficult to get out of that country because of the particular situation.

The devastation caused by the December 2004 tsunami and the Oct 8 earthquake in Pakistan forced the world to think about new technologies and inventions to cope with such calamities and reduce loss of lives.

He said there were new technologies around the world, but stressed on more inventions to safeguard the existing infrastructure. Among the new challenges being faced by the world community, he said was population explosion, which had reduced employment opportunities.

He said China’s emergence as a big power was also a threat to the world community.

“It was because of these challenges that we have based our foreign policy on five basic principles. These principles are risk of terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, degradation of environments, principle of security and fighting terrorism with full force, respect to human rights, control of cultural diversity, globalisation and its impact on the international scene and the role of China,” he added.

He said his country wanted elimination of terrorism and related organisations to establish peace and security on the face of the globe.