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EU wants no disruption during J&K poll process

India on Friday conveyed to the European Union its concerns on the continuing infiltration and cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan while the EU hoped that the Jammu and Kashmir polls would pass off peacefully, ministry of external affairs spokeswoman Nirupama Rao said.

Javier Solana, Secretary-General of the Council of the European Union and High Representative, Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) is in India for talks with Indian leaders.

Briefing reporters on the talks, Rao pointed out that both 'were fully agreed that the fight against terrorism must be global'.

"It was pointed out that Pakistan President Gen Pervez Musharraf had reneged on his pledge to put a permanent end to infiltration and cross-border terrorism, dismantling the infrastructure of terrorists and not to promote terrorism in the name of Kashmir," Rao said.

She said concern was also expressed on the whereabouts of the surviving Taliban and Al Qaeda leadership.

"Solana recognized the validity of the requirement that infiltration and cross-border terrorism must be permanently ended. He also stated that the European Union looked forward to the holding of free and fair elections in J&K in a peaceful manner and that it was essential that there should be no disruption during the election process and the exercise of demographic choice by the people of J&K by the forces of terrorism," she pointed out.

According to the MEA spokesman, the Gujarat issue was not discussed.

Terming the discussions as "constructive and held in a positive atmosphere," Rao pointed out that the visiting dignitary, having the rank of a minister, had a one-to-one meeting with Minister of External Affairs Yashwant Sinha.

According to Rao, the Solana-Sinha talks covered a wide range of subjects, including India-EU relations, the world economy, Iran, Afghanistan and the situation in South Asia.

Sinha referred to the interest with which India was watching the growth of the EU, the success achieved by it in economic terms and the steady evolution of a common security and foreign policy.

She said Sinha expressed the hope that the forthcoming India-EU summit in October would provide further momentum to the various initiatives being taken to strengthen relations.

Sinha suggested that the dialogue between India and the EU at the political level be further intensified by more frequent contact, Rao said. The external affairs minister also felt that a more pro-active mechanism of India-EU consultation on foreign and security policies should be set up, she said.

The discussions also focused on Iran and Afghanistan and Sinha briefed Solana on Indo-Iran relations, including high-level visits, growth in economic and commercial interaction and the fact that Iran had taken a clear position against terrorism in the region, Rao said.

Both sides agreed that the situation in Afghanistan required the continuing attention of the international community, Rao told reporters.

The one-to-one talks was followed by delegation-level talks and a lunch hosted in Solana's honour by Sinha.

Solana also called on Sinha's deputy Omar Abdullah and would also be calling on National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra and Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani during the course of his stay.

Terrorism Strikes in Jammu and Kashmir: The complete coverage

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