SECRETARY-GENERAL HOPES ISLAMABAD MEETINGS GIVE NEW IMPETUS TO SUSTAINED DIALOGUE BETWEEN INDIA, PAKISTAN

SECRETARY-GENERAL HOPES ISLAMABAD MEETINGS GIVE NEW IMPETUS

TO SUSTAINED DIALOGUE BETWEEN INDIA, PAKISTAN

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes meetings held in Islamabad yesterday and today between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of India with the President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali of Pakistan.

He considers that these meetings represent another important step forward in the continuing bilateral efforts to improve relations and resolve outstanding issues between the two countries.  The Secretary-General urges both sides to continue with these efforts and hopes the summit meetings will give a new impetus to serious and sustained dialogue.

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