Politics
Italy: Zardari and Berlusconi sign military pact
Rome, 30 Sept. (AKI) - Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday signed a joint intelligence-military agreement in Rome. They also signed an economic memorandum of understanding. Zardari was in the Italian capital to discuss economic, religious and military issues.
The memorandum "foresees an exchange of information and documents on intelligence, the facilitation of trade between both countries" and also covers bilateral military relations.
The military-intelligence agreement was signed by Zardari and Italy's defence minister Ignazio La Russa after the meeting with Berlusconi. The agreement did not mention the import and export of arms.
Berlusconi told journalists he wanted to boost cooperation between both countries in the tourism industry.
"We spoke about the possibility of letting those Italians that travel the world and are interested in Pakistan's artistic treasures, know more about it," said Berlusconi, adding that he would visit Pakistan "soon" with a group of businessmen.
"We are in favour of (Pakistan) signing a free trade agreement with the European Union," Berlusconi added.
The two leaders met at Berlusconi's office in Palazzo Chigi and discussed the conflict in neighbouring Afghanistan as well as the issue of religious minorities in Pakistan, including Christians, Zardari said.
"We are confronting the problem of religious minorities in Pakistan. We support all religious minorities in our country. They have the same rights, whether it is their religious practices or political rights," said Zardari.
"We also spoke about some episodes of religious intolerance in Pakistan and I found president Zardari to be very attentive," said Berlusconi.
"I guarantee absolute support so that the difficult job of consolidating democracy in Pakistan can be achieved with great success," said Berlusconi.
Zardari also praised Berlusconi for what he called his "personality, that has brought a great change in Italian politics."
Zardari is on a three day visit to Rome and met Italian president Giorgio Napolitano and foreign minister Franco Frattini on Tuesday. He was due to meet Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday.
The memorandum "foresees an exchange of information and documents on intelligence, the facilitation of trade between both countries" and also covers bilateral military relations.
The military-intelligence agreement was signed by Zardari and Italy's defence minister Ignazio La Russa after the meeting with Berlusconi. The agreement did not mention the import and export of arms.
Berlusconi told journalists he wanted to boost cooperation between both countries in the tourism industry.
"We spoke about the possibility of letting those Italians that travel the world and are interested in Pakistan's artistic treasures, know more about it," said Berlusconi, adding that he would visit Pakistan "soon" with a group of businessmen.
"We are in favour of (Pakistan) signing a free trade agreement with the European Union," Berlusconi added.
The two leaders met at Berlusconi's office in Palazzo Chigi and discussed the conflict in neighbouring Afghanistan as well as the issue of religious minorities in Pakistan, including Christians, Zardari said.
"We are confronting the problem of religious minorities in Pakistan. We support all religious minorities in our country. They have the same rights, whether it is their religious practices or political rights," said Zardari.
"We also spoke about some episodes of religious intolerance in Pakistan and I found president Zardari to be very attentive," said Berlusconi.
"I guarantee absolute support so that the difficult job of consolidating democracy in Pakistan can be achieved with great success," said Berlusconi.
Zardari also praised Berlusconi for what he called his "personality, that has brought a great change in Italian politics."
Zardari is on a three day visit to Rome and met Italian president Giorgio Napolitano and foreign minister Franco Frattini on Tuesday. He was due to meet Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday.
Bookmark whit:
