Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 43: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he had the opportunity to raise the relationship between the EU and the Pakistani Government at the discussion on external affairs at the EU Council summit meeting. [21253/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The relationship between the EU and Pakistan did not arise either at the most recent meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 3 October, or at the European Council meeting on 16 and 17 June. An EU Troika meeting with Pakistan at foreign minister level took place in Luxembourg on 27 April 2005. Pakistani Foreign Minister Kasuri briefed the EU side on political developments in Pakistan and on Pakistan's dialogue with India. Other political issues discussed included Afghanistan, non-proliferation, effective multilateralism and counter-terrorism. The most recent bilateral political level contact was the visit by my predecessor, Deputy Cowen, to Pakistan in February 2004 when he led an EU ministerial Troika visit.