November 23, 2006	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 1, 1427

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: Pakistan will seek to upgrade its dialogue with the EU Troika at the meeting of the EU-Pakistan Political Directors’ Troika this week that will focus on the future direction of the relationship with the 25-member state European bloc.

“Pakistan currently has a ministerial-level dialogue with the EU and we will propose that it be upgraded to summit-level meeting annually with the EU Troika,” a Pakistani diplomat said.

The EU Troika consists of the current presidency, now held by Finland, the future presidency, Germany, and the European Commission.

Discussions at this week’s ambassador-level political dialogue are expected to revolve around institutionalising Pakistan-EU relationship and evolving new areas of cooperation.

The Third Generation Agreement between Pakistan and the EU, greater access to EU markets and the Re-admission Treaty on which both sides have reached an understanding, will high on the agenda, diplomatic sources said.

Other key talking points would be democracy, general elections in Pakistan in 2007, human rights, adoption of the Women’s Protection Bill, migration, terrorism and inter-faith dialogue.

Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe Division) Fauzia Nasreen will be leading Pakistan’s delegation at the talks. Pakistan’s ambassador in Brussels Saeed Khalid and director disarmament at the Foreign Ministry will assist her.

The Pakistani side will press for early operationalisation of the third generation agreement that essentially deals with various dimensions of bilateral cooperation including political, economic and security. In this context it will underline the need for early convening of the inaugural ministerial-level meeting of the Pakistan-EU Joint Commission in Brussels as the first vital step towards the implementation of the agreement.

“We would like the EU to get more engaged in resolution of problems in the region, facilitate normalisation and provide impetus to resolution of the disputes, particularly the issue of Jammu and Kashmir,” a foreign ministry official said.—Q.A.