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European Union willing to mediate on Kashmir

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The European Union is willing to mediate between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir dispute provided both agree to this role. This was stated by the Belgian Ambassador, Igor Haustrate, while replying to a question at a function held here on Monday.

Addressing the Frederick Douglas Language School, the ambassador said that the lessening of the Indo-Pakistan rivalry on the issue of Kashmir would help build prosperous nations in the region.

Haustrate hoped that India and Pakistan would try to end their differences through bilateral talks as in a civilised world there is no need for weapons of mass destruction. He stressed the need for signing the CTBT and the NPT. However, he foresaw, due to his European experience, the ending of conflicts between the two countries in the next 50 years and termed the start of political dialogue as the first step in that direction. He said that serious and sincere talks would help solve the problems.

While answering another question, the ambassador said that the process of revival of democracy in Pakistan would start as announced by the government. He appreciated the devolution of power plan and termed it essence of democracy, as decentralisation of power at the grass-roots level would benefit the ordinary citizens.

He said that the country could learn a lot from Belgium, as it is one of the most decentralised states in the world. He said in Belgium three communities, differentiated on the basis of French, Dutch and German languages, are living peacefully as the three regions are decentralised.

The Belgian ambassador said that a lot of potential exists for improving trade relations between the EU states and Pakistan. He said that the EU is a major investor in Pakistan and would like to further extend its trade relations. He said that at present the main Pakistani exports to Belgium are textile and leather products worth $ 2OO million annually and it could be increased, as Belgium is a densely populated country with a population of 10 million people.

He said that the single European Union currency, Euro, would become stronger in future with the emergence of common markets in the member states. He said that the EU is fast emerging on the political horizon of the unipolar world and would like to cooperate in the development of the third world.

The ambassador described the EU as a unique phenomenon formed by several European states, on the will of people after years of effort by sharing their sovereignty, trade, foreign affairs and defence. He said that efforts were also made in the past for a united Europe either by inter marriages among the royal families or by wars.

Haustrate said that the aim of the EU was to make its member states stronger and to bring back the importance of their opinion in the world affairs. He said that in the union all states work as equal and have equal powers in the decision making process. He said that EU headquarters at Brussels in Belgium signify that small European countries are an integral part of the organisation.

He said that it has been decided in principle among the member states that a joint EU defence force would be formed, however, this would not affect the ties of EU member states with Nato.

He said that in future the membership of the EU would be extended to the states of central Europe only and the Eastern bloc states had to wait a little longer as first they should overcome their economic problems.