Brussels - The European Union is set to turn its spotlight
firmly on Pakistan and Afghanistan at a series of top-level meetings
next week, pushing for more cooperation on trade, democracy and the
fight against extremism, according to draft EU documents.
The EU 'attaches great importance to stability in Afghanistan and
Pakistan and the wider region,' a declaration drafted for a summit of
the leaders of the EU's 27 member states on June 18-19 says.
'The complex and urgent challenges facing Afghanistan and Pakistan
... are closely interlinked and can only be solved through
collaboration between those with a stake in the stability, security
and development of the region,' it says.
Separately, EU foreign ministers are set to debate relations with
Afghanistan and Pakistan both on Monday and on Thursday, urging the
bloc's bureaucracy to propose 'additional concrete measures' to boost
ties, according to a second draft document.
Between the two debates, top EU officials are set on June 17 to
host Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari for the first-ever EU-
Pakistan summit in Brussels.
That meeting should focus on issues of security, especially in the
war-torn provinces along the Afghan border, human rights, trade and
development, and relations with India, according to a third draft
also seen by the German Press Agency dpa.
'Violent extremism represents the greatest threat to the security
and integrity of Pakistan,' and the two sides 're-affirmed their
commitment to fight the scourge of terrorism,' the draft says.
To face the threat, the draft calls for international support for
Pakistan's efforts against Taliban-led extremists.
But it also calls for an 'integrated long-term strategy, which
includes social economic development, civilian law-enforcement
structures and the rule of law, in order to secure the gains of the
present counter-insurgency operations on a permanent basis.'
The EU is ready to provide 'further assistance if necessary' to
help civilians displaced by recent fighting, on top of the 5.5
million euros (7.6 million dollars) it pledged on May 14, it says.
The June 17-18 EU summit is also set to address the issue of
stability in the so-called 'AfPak' region, urging 'the holding of
inclusive elections in Afghanistan in line with international
standards in order to provide the next Afghan government with the
required legitimacy to rule the country.'
The EU 'reconfirms its intention to prominently support the
elections by the deployment of a comprehensive election observation
mission' for the August 20 poll, the draft says.
The bloc also 'will encourage Pakistan to lift rules that limit
intra-regional trade, in particular with India and Afghanistan,' the
draft says.
The draft for the EU-Pakistan summit also stresses the latter
point, calling for more talks on trade liberalization and possible
Pakistan access to an EU preferential tariff regime from 2012.
It further emphasizes the 'importance of efforts to normalize
relations with India,' amidst ongoing tensions between the nuclear-
armed neighbours.
The EU and Pakistan 'should work together to prevent the
proliferation of nuclear materials and technology' and should hold
regular expert meetings on non-proliferation, it says.
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