Press Release No. 191-03
24 April 2003
SOUTH ASIAN LEADERS’ CONCILIATORY MOVES RAISE HOPES FOR SOUTH ASIAN PEACE – OPLE

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople today welcomed the overtures for peace that were recently made by the leaders of India and Pakistan.

“The Philippines welcomes the separate statements indicating a willingness to engage in peaceful dialogue that have been made by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee of India and President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan.  We view these as positive developments that we believe could lead to the eventual resolution of the long-standing issues between India and Pakistan,” Secretary Ople said.

Last weekend, during a visit to Kashmir, an area claimed by both India and Pakistan, Prime Minister Vajpayee announced the willingness of the Indian Government to hold talks with Pakistan on their outstanding issues.  Subsequently, on 23 April, at a banquet in Islamabad in honour of visiting Afghan President Hamid Karzai,  President Musharraf publicly responded to the peace offer made by Prime Minister Vajpayee, saying Islamabad was prepared to engage in a comprehensive dialogue with New Delhi on their territorial disputes and other outstanding issues.

Also on 23 April, Prime Minister Vajpayee publicly repeated his peace offer when he informed the Lok Sabha (the Lower House of the Indian Parliament) of his peace initiative to Pakistan.  He expressed the hope that a new beginning can take place between India and Pakistan.

There have been, however, mention of conditionalities as well as negative rhetoric, which, according to Secretary Ople, makes the Philippines guardedly optimistic but hopeful. “The issues and tensions between the two countries are deeply seated.  We continue to hope that these will be resolved peacefully,” the Secretary added.