The European Union (EU) considered Pakistan as an extremely important country, especially in the context of peace and stability in the region. This was stated by French Ambassador while speaking at a dinner last evening hosted in honour of Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi on behalf of the European Heads of Mission.
The French Ambassador is currently holds the EU Presidency and the dinner meeting is a regular feature during every EU Presidency. The French Ambassador in his address underlined that the EU considered Pakistan as an extremely important country, especially in the context of peace and stability in the region.
He reaffirmed that the EU countries were close friends of Pakistan who were committed towards a stronger and stable Pakistan- politically, democratically and economically. He said that the EU was keen to comprehensively upgrade its relations with Pakistan and the EU agreed with the Roadmap drawn up by Pakistan.
The Foreign Minister, while appreciating the EU's consistent political and economic support to Pakistan, stated that Pakistan attached the highest importance to its relations with the EU, which constituted its largest trading, investment and development assistance partner.
The Foreign Minister briefed the EU Ambassadors on important developments in the last six months such as the presidential election in Pakistan, which completed the democratic transformation, the internal political and economic situation, establishment of Friends of Democratic Pakistan forum, the holding of the Mini-Jirga, high level visits to Pakistan from Europe, the government's counter-insurgency operation, and Pakistan's relations with its neighbours.-PR