BOSNIA AND PAKISTAN TO EXPAND DEFENCE COOPERATION

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (March 25,2008) - The President of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf said yesterday in the Pakistani capital Is;amabad that Pakistan was eager to expand bilateral cooperation with Bosnia.Talking to the Bosnian Defence Minister Selmo Cikotic, President Musharraf said that defence cooperation had enormous potential particularly in areas of defence production and training.

Minister Cikotic underlined that Bosnia was equally eager to further strengthen and expand defence cooperation with Pakistan.

The President of Pakistan warmly welcomed the Bosnian Defence Minister and underlined the extremely close relations existing between the two countries.
He said that Pakistan had always stood by Bosnia.

Minister Cikotic appreciated the close and cordial ties between the two countries and expressed gratitude for the support that Pakistan had consistently extended to his country.

He recalled with great pleasure President Musharraf’s visit to Bosnia last year.

He particularly mentioned President Musharraf’s address to both houses of the Bosnian Parliament and his visit to Srebrenica, where the genocide had taken place during the 1992-1995 Serbian aggression against Bosnia.

The Bosnian Defence Minister Selmo Cikotic also met yesterday with the Pakistani Minister for Defence and Defence Production Syed Salim Abbas Jilani.

The meeting reviewed the existing level of cooperation and underlined the need for promoting robust ties as their existed tremendous scope of cooperation in various fields. The meetings noted to increase cooperation in the areas of military training and exchange of visit by both sides which would help in promoting greater understanding and strengthening fraternal ties between the two countries.

The Pakistani Defence Minister told his Bosnian counterpart that Pakistan attached utmost importance to its ties with Bosnia as the two countries had cultural affinities and commonality of perceptions on regional and international issues.

He briefed the Bosnian Defence delegation about the capability and potential of defence production facilities in Pakistan.

He also thanked the Bosnian government and people of Bosnia for contributing generously in the relief and rescue efforts after the 8 October 2005 earthquake in Pakistan.

Minister Jilani hoped that the visit of the Bosnian Defence Minister to Pakistan would further boost military and defence cooperation between the two countries.

The Bosnian Defence Minister Selmo Cikotic, on his arrival at the Pakistani Ministry of Defence, was received and welcomed by the senior officials of the Pakistani Defence Ministry. A smartly turned out contingent of the three Services presented Guard of Honour to the distinguished guest, who reviewed the Guard and took the salute.
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