Annan welcomes peace talks

UNITED NATIONS: United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan welcomed Monday’s joint statement from India and Pakistan that the peace process between the two nuclear-armed rivals was now “irreversible”.

Annan’s spokesman said in a statement, “The secretary general warmly supports the efforts by India and Pakistan to advance the ongoing dialogue.” He said that Annan welcomed the joint statement issued by the leaders which outlined additional confidence building measures for durable peace in the region, adding that Anna was particularly encouraged by their declaration that the dialogue had become “irreversible”.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf issued the statement earlier on Monday in New Delhi. “The two leaders had substantive talks on all issues. They determined that the peace process was now irreversible,” they said. afp

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