ISTANBUL: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has reiterated Pakistan’s firm commitment towards the GSP+ preferential trade regime and effective implementation of the 27 related international conventions.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi met EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell on the side-lines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Turkey today (Friday).
During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the entire spectrum of Pakistan-EU relations as well as global and regional situation including Afghan peace process and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K).
The foreign minister stressed that Pakistan-EU relations had further strengthened with the implementation of SEP signed in June 2019. Emphasising the importance of bilateral trade, Qureshi highlighted that the GSP+ played an important role in the growth of trade between the two sides.
FM Qureshi also briefed the EU vice president on Pakistan’s progress towards the comprehensive implementation of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Action Plan and sought the EU’s support in the review process.
He emphasised that at a time of rising Islamophobia, racism and populism, the international community must show a common resolve against xenophobia, intolerance and incitement to violence on the basis of religion or belief.
Referring to Afghan Peace Process, Qureshi briefed Borrell on Pakistan’s vital contributions to the peace process, stressing that the conflict could only be settled through an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned political process.
Both sides urged all the Afghan factions to seize the historic opportunity presented by the current peace process to settle the conflict through political means. He also emphasised the need for continued engagement of the international community after the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan.
The foreign minister also briefed the EU official on the continued precarious human rights and security situation in occupied Kashmir. He urged the EU to take note of the systemic and gross human rights violations in the occupied territory and play its role for resolution of the dispute.
The two leaders agreed to continue to maintain high level engagement to further strengthen Pakistan-EU relations. The EU High Representative extended an invitation to Prime Minister Imran Khan for a working visit to Brussels.
