960424

Add Benazir

Replying to a question, the Foreign Secretary said there had been discussions to enlarge economic contact. In this connection, he said a number of agreements have been reached with Syria, namely;

i) Cultural and Educational Agreement,

ii) Agreement to promote trade and economic ties,

iii) Agreement on security matters

iv) Central Banks cooperation and coordination

agreement

v) Agreement on exchange of information.

vi) Agreement of cooperation, and

vii) Chamber-to-Chamber agreement to promote business activities.

He said it has also been decided that Pakistan will hold a 'single-country exhibition' in Damascus, this year.

Pakistan has also offered Syria a soft-loan credit of Rs. 10 million besides assistance in setting up a 400 KW station, he added.

Replying to a question, he said Agreement on Security pertains to checking international terrorism, drug-trafficking, and other security matters, etc.

Pakistan, he said, has also offered Syria to provide defence cooperation on items about defence production.

Syria has also hinted about buying 'Mashaq' planes which were gifted to it earlier in 1994, he added.

During the press briefing , Afzal Akbar Khan, Pakistan's Ambassador, was also present.-PPI/APP