PM Gilani Seeks India-like Access in Civil Nuclear Technology

Pakistan News: Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on Saturday welcomed European Union’s Action Plan for Pakistan and its commitment to remain engaged with Islamabad by helping it through financial assistance for socio-economic development.
He particularly appreciated EU’s support in education, infrastructure and energy sectors and for the capacity building of Pakistan’s Law Enforcement Agencies personnel. He, however, emphasized that the European Union must realize that its relations with Pakistan are to be developed on stand alone basis and not for the reasons of contiguity with or neighbourhood of Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister also called upon the European Union to treat Pakistan at par with India and accord it the same access in the civil nuclear technology, as given to India.
He was talking to the Troika of European Union Ambassadors consisting of Ambassador of Sweden, Spain and European Union who called on him here at the PM House on Saturday, to brief him on European Union’s Action Plan on Pakistan as approved by the EU’s External Relation Council, at the end of October, 2009.
The Prime Minister said that he was looking forward to participate in the second Pakistan-European Union’s Summit scheduled to be held in Brussels in April to forge a long term strategic partnership with European Union based on mutual trust and mutual interests.
He underlined the need for regular interaction and institutionalization of summit level dialogue between Pakistan and European Union, to achieve this common objective.
The Prime Minister appreciated European Union’s pledge to assist his government in implementation of Malakand strategy, further liberalization of trade in goods and services and the continued support for Pakistan’s socio-economic development bilaterally, through FoDP and through international financial institutions.
While underlining the need for expeditious fulfillment of commitments made to Pakistan at the Tokyo Donors Conference last year, the Prime Minister noted with satisfaction that the European Union had taken lead in timely disbursement of the pledged amount.
He, however, hoped that the EU would utilize the established transparent government mechanisms for channelizing its assistance in the interest of its optimum utilization and benefits for the targeted populations and areas, in Pakistan.
The Prime Minister also hoped that the major countries in the European Union would fully support Pakistan’s case for greater market access of its products to the European markets by facilitating expeditious grant of GSP Plus facilities as well as start of meaningful negotiations for Free Trade Agreement.
The troika of European Union Ambassadors informed the Prime Minister that the European Union and its member countries were fully cognizant of Pakistan’s importance and its immediate requirements to pursue its campaign against terrorism.
They acknowledged Pakistan’s great human and economic sacrifices on that account and assured the Prime Minister that European Union will stand by Pakistan in the reconstruction phase of militancy affected areas.
They also assured that EU will help Pakistan in developing capacity of its Law Enforcement Agencies, in establishment of technical and vocational training institutions and in reform of various socio-economic sectors.