December 14, 2006	Thursday	Ziqa'ad 22, 1427

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ISLAMABAD, Dec 13: The first Pakistan-EU workshop on `Export Controls’ concluded here on Wednesday with the hope that it would pave the way for cooperation in the field of civilian nuclear technology.

The key objective of the two-day workshop was to explore further avenues of cooperation between Pakistan and the European Union.

The EU delegation was led by Ambassador Annalisa Giannella, Personal Representative to EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Javier Solana on weapons of mass deatruction (WMD) and nuclear non-proliferation. Pakistan’s inter-departmental team was led by the Foreign Ministry’s Additional Secretary (UN&EC), Mr. Tariq Osman Hyder.

Ambassador Giannella called on Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri here on Tuesday. During the meeting Mr Kasuri reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to WMD and non-proliferation.

He said the workshop was held as part of Pakistan’s bilateral and multi-lateral cooperation in the area of global WMD and non-proliferation in which Pakistan was a partner. He said that this process of interaction should facilitate cooperation with the EU in dual use of technology to meet Pakistan’s nuclear power generation needs under safeguard.

Ambassador Giannella appreciated the proceedings of the workshop and stated that it was a manifestation of the European Union desire to engage in a forward looking manner with Pakistan in this important field.

Mr Kasuri informed Ambassador Giannella that Pakistan had put in place a multi-layered legislative and administrative export control regime consistent with international standards.

He maintained that the export control regime would be consistently updated, taking into account best practices of the developed countries, including of the European Union and all its members.—Q.A.