lEU stresses more aid for quake survivors
By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

ISLAMABAD—The European Parliament has adopted with consensus, a resolution entitled, “Access to humanitarian aid in Kashmir” pertaining to the 8th October, 2005 earthquake.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said on Wednesday that the Parliament has expressed sincere condolences, sympathy and solidarity with all those affected by the disaster. The European Parliament has called the level of human and economic devastation unprecedented in the history of the subcontinent.
She said the resolution, in addition to urging the international community for pledging more aid, insists that the donors should “commit themselves to the funds they have already pledged.” The Parliament has supported opening of other points for crossing the LoC, in addition to the five already operational, she added.
The spokesperson went on to say that the Parliament has also expressed the hope that this terrible catastrophe may bear the positive fruits of bringing the survivors closer to peace, free movement and prosperity in the near future an that this would be the beginning of a steady process towards peace.
“The resolution applauds the recent steps taken by Pakistan and India, towards reconciliation, especially the direct inclusion of the Kashmiris for the first time. It has called on Pakistan and India to continue the process of dialogue and expressed the hope that this would lead to a “peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue.”
The Parliament has urged the European Commission to revisit the Scheme of Generalized Tariff Preferences (GSP Plus Scheme) and to implement the model approved by the European Parliament on 9 March 2005. It has encouraged the Commission to give effect to those and other appropriate measures on an expedited basis, as per the timetabling of the GSP Plus Scheme following the South Asian Tsunami. She said that the Parliament has called on EU to support the redeployment and withdrawal of military forces in the Siachen Glacier area.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tasnim Aslam denied a report aired on an Indian television channel which said an agreement was signed between Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz and his Indian counterpart on the sideline of SAARC summit in Dhaka about self-government in Kashmir.
“No agreement was signed during the meeting between Shaukat Aziz and Manmohan Singh,” she said. She said the two leaders discussed various issues and composite dialogue but no agreement was signed.
The composite dialogue process has been continuing between the two countreis since long, she said, adding the discussion remained inclusive between the two countries over various issues including the Kashmir dispute. She said the new phase of the dialogue process would be initiated next year. However no major decision has yet been taken or an agreement signed, she maintained.