Belgium considering over aid for quake-hit areas
By Hina Kiyani

ISLAMABAD—Belgium is favorably considering debt swap of Pakistan’s official development assistance of about 60 million Euros against reconstruction in earthquake affected areas.
This was stated by Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri and his Belgian counterpart Karel De Gucht following their talks here on Wednesday afternoon.
The Belgian Foreign Minister said his country is also willing to waive state to state loans of five million Euros against an agreed project.
He expressed satisfaction over bilateral trade that has reached 500 million Euros and expressed the confidence that it has the potential to grow much more. The two sides also discussed enhancing educational cooperation through Ph.D. programs for Pakistani students at Belgian universities.
The Belgian Foreign Minister said Belgium is reviewing a MoU proposed bythe Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan for this purpose.
He offered to organize a round table involving HEC and representatives of concerned universities and state governments to discuss modalities of the program.
Kasuri said the two countries have agreed to enhance cooperation in judicial assistance. Belgium will provide a draft for Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty to further upgrade relations in the field.
Appreciating support of Belgium within the European Union, he said they also discussed the early preparation of the third generation agreement between Pakistan and the European Union through formation of a Joint Commission.
He said it has been agreed that the reactivated Joint EconomicCommission of Pakistan and Belgium would meet biannually to review the ongoing projects and explore possibility for further avenues of cooperation.
Mr. Kasuri said he briefed the Belgian foreign minister on Pakistan-India relations and the composite dialogue for resolution of core issues including Kashmir dispute. They also exchanged views on war against terror, Afghanistan, civilian nuclear cooperation and other international issues of mutual interest.
To a question about cooperation in the field of civilian use of nucleartechnology, the Belgian Foreign Minister said he has asked Pakistan to engage more closely with IAEA.
Foreign Minister Kasuri said he told the guest that Pakistan is alreadya declared nuclear power capable to deliver weapons through missiles. The rational behind non-cooperation in civilian use with countries that don’t have nuclear weapons is understandable but it doesn’t hold well in the case of already nuclear Pakistan. He said Pakistan is seeking cooperation in view of its rapidly increasing energy needs to sustain its economic growth.
Asked when NATO expects victory in Afghanistan, the Belgian Foreign Minister said they are not thinking in terms of victory as they are there to help Afghan people. He said his country has troops in Afghanistan especially at Kabul airport and wants peace and stability in that country.