The UK government finally came round, and the President is on his first official visit here. After the UK he is off to the US, France and Germany…
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=story_17-6-2003_pg7_39
Tough schedule awaits Musharraf in London
Tough schedule awaits President General Pervez Musharraf on his arrival here today (Tuesday) on a three-day official visit, first since 1999 military coup, on the invitation of Prime Minister Tony Blair. A wide range of bilateral and international issues would figure in talks between Mr Musharraf and Mr Blair at 10-Downing Street, the official residence of English premier. Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz and Human Resource Development Commission Chairman Dr Nasim Ashraf will accompany the president. “Indo-Pak relations with a focus on the recent peace initiatives on Kashmir besides Afghanistan, Iraq and political situation in Pakistan will be discussed during their meeting,” Pakistan’s High Commissioner in London Abdul Kader Jaffer told a group of journalists. The issues of development assistance in the areas of health, education and economic management, defence cooperation, trade relations, cooperation in judicial matters including extradition, corporate/financial crimes and legal assistance, terrorism and narcotics would also figure in the talks and both the leaders would also explore ways to enhance people-to-people contact between the two countries. Lady in Waiting for the Queen Baroness Crawley and High Commissioner Mark Lyall Grant will call on the president soon after his arrival. It will be followed by a meeting with Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. In the afternoon, Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Michael Walker, Secretary of State for International Development Rt Hon Baroness Amos, and leader of the opposition, Rt Hon Ian Ducan Smith will separately call on the president.
“This visit of the president is of great significance. After the events of 9/11 and Pakistan’s support against terrorism as a coalition partner, relations between Islamabad and London are strengthening,” Mr Jaffer said, adding cooperation in all areas, including defence and trade, was increasing. The Pakistani community will host a luncheon for President Musharraf on Wednesday. After the lunch, the president will meet with Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Donald Anderson and the All Party Parliamentary Pakistan Group. In the evening, the president will attend a cultural show ‘Rhythms of Indus’ at the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate the cultural diversity of Pakistan. On Thursday, Mr Musharraf will attend a reception by the Asia House and then visit the Royal College of Defence Studies. On the second leg of his four-nation visit, the president will leave for the Untied States on Friday where he is scheduled to meet with President Bush on June 24. From the US, he will fly to Germany and France before returning home.
