Israeli and Pakistan foreign ministers hold first high-level meeting
web.israelinsider.com ^ | September 1, 2005
 

 

Israeli and Pakistan foreign ministers hold first high-level meeting By Associated Press September 1, 2005

The Israeli and Pakistani foreign ministers were holding the first acknowledged high-level talks between the two countries in a meeting in Turkey, in the first diplomatic spinoff from Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, an Israeli official said Thursday.

The meeting was arranged at the initiative of Pakistan's president, General Pervez Musharraf, who asked Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to arrange it, said Israeli Foreign Ministry officials.

Pakistan, a Muslim country which has taken a hard line against Israel, was encouraged to meet the Israelis following Israel's evacuation of Jewish settlers from the Gaza Strip, which was completed last week, the officials said.

"There is no conflict whatsoever between Israel and Pakistan and no logical reason why the two countries could not have a constructive and positive bilateral relationship," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Mark Regev.
 

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