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Belgium considering swap of 60m euro debt with quake aid

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD: Belgium is considering allowing Pakistan to swap its 60 million euro debt to the European country with aid for reconstruction work in the earthquake-affected areas, Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht told reporters on Wednesday.

“My country will consider seriously to write off the loan of 60 million euros,” Mr De Gucht said after talks with his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Kasuri.

“We have made a request to the government of Belgium to convert this loan into aid for quake survivors. Belgium has shown its willingness in this regard ... Belgium has already written off a loan of $5 million,” Mr Kasuri said. Mr De Gucht said Belgium and Pakistan should increase judicial cooperation, and recalled how two Belgians arrested in Pakistan were handed over to the US, where they ended up in Guantanamo Bay. Mr Kasuri said the two countries had agreed to enhance judicial cooperation, for which Belgium would provide a draft mutual legal assistance treaty.

Mr Kasuri said that Pakistan and the European Union had agreed on re-admission policy under which legal Pakistani immigrants would be entitled to stay in Europe. He and the Belgian foreign minister also discussed ways to enhance education cooperation by allowing more Pakistani doctoral students into Belgian universities. Belgium is also reviewing a memorandum of understanding proposed by the Higher Education Commission in this regard. Mr Kasuri said he briefed the Belgian foreign minister on Pakistan-India relations and their peace process, besides exchanging views on the war on terror and Afghanistan.

Mr De Gucht said Pakistan-India talks on disputes including the Kashmir issue should continue and he and his prime minister would go to India, pressing the same point. “Talks should be purposeful and solid,” he added.

Asked when he expected NATO victory in Afghanistan, he said it was not a question of victory, but of NATO forces helping Afghans. He said his country has sent troops to Afghanistan because it wanted peace and stability there. About 350 Belgian troops are stationed at Kabul Airport.

The Belgian foreign minister also met with Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, who urged him to help provide Pakistan more market access in Europe. “Increased market access creates sustainable development in developing countries and needs to be expended and encouraged,” the prime minister said.

The two also discussed bilateral relations between Pakistan and Belgium, regional and international issues, and defence and security matters.

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