ISLAMABAD: Rodoslaw Sikorski, Foreign Minister of Poland, called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Monday.
He
was accompanied by Dr. Andrzej Ananicz, Ambassador of Poland, Mr. Lars
Gunnar Wigemark, Ambassador of European Union, and other officials of
the Polish Embassy.
Pak side included Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar,
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. M. Salman Faruqui, Secretary General
to the President, Spokesperson to the President Mr. Farhatullah Babar
and other senior officials.
Matters concerning Pak-Poland
bilateral relations, need to further enhance multifaceted bilateral
cooperation especially in the economic realm came under discussion
during the meeting.
Congratulating Poland and its Government on
assumption of presidency of European Union, the President wished them
success during their presidency of European Union. Terming this period
as extremely important for not only Pakistan–Poland relationship but
also for building a long-term strategic partnership between Pakistan
and the European Union, the President hoped that the spirit of
cooperation existing between the two countries would serve to translate
into a concrete plan of action in building a strategic equation.
He
emphasized upon the need for an early finalization of Five-Year
Engagement Plan between Pakistan and European Union. The President also
said that Pakistan looks forward to holding of Third Pakistan EU Summit
this year so to carry forward the momentum generated by the previous
two summits on one hand and to further advance progress on building
strategic partnership of the two countries, on the other.
The
President said that Pakistan was facing economic difficulties mainly
due to war against extremism and EU’s trade package for Pakistan would
help to overcome economic difficulties before a revised GSP plus takes
effect in 2014. Appreciating proposed revision of the GSP plus
criterion, the President hoped that Pakistan would qualify for GSP plus
status.
The President also emphasized upon early commencement
of negotiations for EU-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement. Discussing fight
against terrorism, the President underscored sacrifices made by
Pakistan and the huge losses that Pakistan had to face in terms of
human and material losses. He said that the menace of terrorism was
multi-dimensional and that Pakistan believes that political dialogue
and socio-economic development were no less important for fighting it. Online
