Javier Solana due in Islamabad tomorrow

ISLAMABAD - Javier Solana, High Representative for the European Union (EU) Foreign Policy will reach Islamabad on July 20 on a two-day visit to discuss the prospects of increased economic cooperation with Pakistan, terrorism and other vital issues with President Asif Ali Zardari and other Pakistani leaders. Apart from President Zardari, the EU official will also call on Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and other officials during his stay in Pakistani capital. An official requesting anonymity said that Javier Solanas visit to Pakistan was in the follow-up of recent Pak-EU summit meeting between President Zardari and European leaders in Brussels where the two sides decided to enhance trade and commercial relations. He said the EU leadership was considering to enter into a free trade agreement with Pakistan as an 'option in the long term but at the same time they also wanted to focus on short-term measures to help Islamabad diversify its exports and attract more investments from abroad. He said that apart from that the EU leaders had assured their full support for consolidating democracy and fighting extremism in Pakistan. Javier Solana would discussed all those issues in detail with Pakistani leaders and his visit would go a long way in strengthening Pak-EU ties in coming years, he said.

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