SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES PROSPECT OF RENEWED INDIA-PAKISTAN DIALOGUE AT HIGHEST LEVEL

SECRETARY-GENERAL WELCOMES PROSPECT OF RENEWED INDIA-PAKISTAN DIALOGUE

AT HIGHEST LEVEL

      Following is the text of a statement issued today by the Office of the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General warmly welcomes the decision of the Government of India to invite the Chief Executive of Pakistan to come to New Delhi.  He is encouraged that General Musharraf has responded positively to this invitation and hopes that a summit between Prime Minister Vajpayee and General Musharraf will be arranged without undue delay.

The Secretary-General, who recently visited South Asia and conferred with both leaders, has consistently urged India and Pakistan to resume direct contacts to address outstanding bilateral and regional issues, including Kashmir.  He believes that a meeting now at the highest level would further ease tensions in the region and facilitate a resumption of a sustained Indo-Pakistan dialogue, which is very much in the long-term interests of both countries.

* *** *