PRESS RELEASE                                                                     
Department of Foreign Affairs
2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                        *      Tel. No. 834-4000                                 *     www.dfa.gov.ph
SFA-DDA-360-04                                                                                                                                03 June  2004

ALBERT LAUDS CONTINUED SOUTH ASIAN PEACE DIALOGUE

 
3 June 2004, Islamabad, Pakistan – Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert said the Philippines is confident that the continuing round of talks between Pakistan and India will ensure the holding of the current ceasefire and that the Philippines is hopeful that the talks will lead to a lasting and eaceful solution.  The Secretary made this statement from Islamabad, Pakistan, where she is currently on an official visit.

“The leaders of both countries have shown great statesmanship in deciding to continue with their talks.  The peace and stability of South Asia are dependent on these talks and all of Asia and the rest of the world are hoping for the best,” the Secretary said.

“We are confident that the ceasefire will hold while these talks continue and we hope that these talks will eventually lead to a lasting and peaceful solution to the differences between the two countries,” she added.  The Secretary said that the peace talks were touched upon during her meetings with Pakistani officials in Islamabad.

“In all my meetings here in Pakistan, I was impressed by the resolve, determination and sincerity shown by government officials to engage in these talks,” Secretary Albert said.

The Pakistani and Indian governments made simultaneous announcements today that both sides would meet on June 19-20 to discuss nuclear issues and their foreign secretaries would hold separate talks on June 27-28 to discuss the Kashmir dispute. Last week, Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh talked by telephone and agreed to press ahead with the peace talks, begun under the previous Indian government.
 
Pakistan and India have fought three wars, two of them over Kashmir, since independence from Britain in 1947. Kashmir, which is divided between India and Pakistan, is claimed in its entirety by both.  END.