Bilateral matters discussed

ISTANBUL, JAN. 26, APP—British Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who was here to attend the Istanbul Summit on Afghan issue as observer, called on President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday.Later, the Iranian President Muhammad Raza Rahimi and Tajikistan’s Foreign Minister Hamrohan Zarifi also called on the President. Both of them were delegates to the Summit.
Speaking with Miiband, President Asif Ali Zardari said that Pakistan needed more access to European markets as a means to help it to develop rapidly.
“Development was one of the means of defeating the terrorists and more access to European markets and increase in trade with them will help us fight off poverty”, President Zardari told Miliband.
He said Pakistani economy had suffered due to war on terror and needed to be boosted with help from the concerned countries.
He said the governments close to Pakistan must maintain their full support to Pakistan to fight the menace of terrorism and bring peace and harmony in the region.
Miliband assured the President that he would take up the issue of market access to EU for the Pakistani goods when the EU held its summit meeting in March.
He was confident that Pakistani companies would take larger share of the markets in Europe as well as a bigger chunk of investment in Pakistan.
He asked the Pakistani entrepreneurs and companies to come up with specific programmes to realize the goals of more market access to EU and rapid investment of European companies in Pakistan.
Matters of security interest, war on terror and situation in Afghanistan were discussed during the call-on besides the upcoming London Conference on Afghanistan.
Tajik Foreign Minister Hamrohan Zarifi extended invitation by his President for Mr. Zardari to undertake a state visit to Tajikistan.
Underlining the strengthening of economic relations between the two countries, Mr. Zarifi said the project to build a road between the two countries through Afghanistan should be expedited.
The project was decided to be launched in principle during President Zardari’s Tajikistan visit.
The two sides also decided to open up bank branches in each other’s countries.
Reciprocating, President Zardari said Pakistan was also keen to cement economic ties with Tajikistan as there was great potential of growth in this field.
Iranian first Vice President Muhammad Raza Rahimi extended greetings on behalf of Iranian President Ahmedinejad to his Pakistani counterpart.
Iranian Vice President called for frequent exchange of political, economic and cultural delegations between the two countries.
He lauded the project of Islamabad-Istanbul, via Tehran, rail link project, which, he added, would greatly contribute in promoting trade not only among the three respective countries but also with other countries of the region.