A comprehensive dialogue between the West and the Muslim World is needed to avert the clash of ignorance and a strong and efficient European Union (EU) is in the interest of the Muslim countries.
These views were given by the participants at a workshop on "Reflections on the Current Crisis of the European Union" organised by the Area Study for Europe, University of Karachi in collaboration with the Hanns Seidel Foundation, at a local hotel on Wednesday.
The Consul General of Germany in Karachi Verena Grafin von Roedern said that her country stands in favour of the European constitution and will work for its ratification.
She said that the European constitution was passed with an overwhelming majority in the German Bundesrtag and met with the same unconditional approval by the government and the opposition alike. The coalition partners also had no difficulties in agreeing in their reaction to two unsuccessful referendums in France and the Netherlands.
"We stand in favour of the European Constitution treaty. Therefore, we will work for its ratification and shall give under the German presidency in the first half of 2007, new impulses", the German Consul General said adding that since the EU has already decided to start accession talks with Turkey, we will in the long term have to take Turkish membership into account as a possible part of the enlargement process.
Moinuddin Haider, in his speech said that Europe is a very important region for the Muslim world especially for Pakistan. He said Pakistan has decades old ties with Europe, which is also our big trading partner.
He pointed out that after 9/11, trade concessions and market access was made available to Pakistan especially in the textile sector. This contributed towards picking up of Pakistan's economy resulting in creation of employment opportunities.
Haider further stated that the attitude of the European countries towards Pakistan is quite mature and exhibit quite an understanding.
Pakistan's public at large is satisfied with this relationship by and large. He called for interaction with the European countries for our progress and prosperity, employment opportunities, transfer of technology and for gaining the knowledge.
Resident Fellow Areas Study Centre for Europe Sheila Zulfiqar,
Uzma Shujaat, Senior Research Fellow of the Area Study Centre for Europe, French Consul General, Pierre Seillan, Dr Andreas Rieck, Resident Representative of the Hanns Seidel Foundation Islamabad, Ambassador Tariq Fatemi (Retd), Professor Dr Naveed Ahmed Tahir, Director Area Study Centre for Europe also spoke on the occasion while a large number of students and other people attended the workshop.
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