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Musharraf begins European visit EU urges a 'secure' Pakistan vote
(about 3 hours later)
Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf has begun an eight-day visit to Europe, with democracy and tackling terror on the agenda as he meets EU leaders. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has told President Pervez Musharraf that Pakistan's general elections next month must be "free and fair".
Beginning in Brussels, the visit will take him to the UK, France and the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. Mr Solana said that the level of the EU's future engagement with Pakistan depended on these criteria.
The tour is President Musharraf's first trip abroad since his controversial re-election and the murder of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto. He was speaking as Mr Musharraf began an eight-day visit to Europe, with democracy and tackling terror on the agenda as he meets EU leaders.
He aims to clear "misperceptions" of recent events in Pakistan, he said. The EU is Pakistan's biggest trading partner, with annual trade worth $9bn.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says Mr Musharraf is deeply unpopular at home - members of civil society and opposition political parties do not accept his leadership, especially after his recent imposition of emergency rule. Market access
Many Pakistanis see Mr Musharraf and the army's dominant role in political life as a cause of instability, our correspondent says. Mr Solana said that the EU's "future cooperation" with Pakistan would be dependent on the fairness of the vote.
Charm offensive But correspondents say that the EU chief did not give any details as to what the EU's "future cooperation" may entail.
Mr Musharraf on Monday met the EU's foreign policy chief Javier Solana, and is due to meet Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. Many blame the government for Benazir Bhutto's death
The president is also due to address the influential foreign affairs committee of the European Parliament. President Musharraf told a Brussels news conference that he raised issues such as Pakistani market access to the EU.
Not everyone is impressed by the president's 'charm offensive' "I look forward to it in Pakistan because we need to sustain economic growth," he said.
BBC Brussels correspondent Oana Lungescu says the Pakistani leader is bound to face tough questions about the conduct of a postponed general election scheduled for next month, democratic reforms and the role of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism. Earlier President Musharraf said that he was determined the country would hold "free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections".
BBC Brussels correspondent Oana Lungescu says the Pakistani leader was bound to face tough questions about the conduct of a postponed general election now scheduled for next month, democratic reforms and the role of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism.
The president immediately tried to reassure those worried about the course of democracy in his country and the delay in holding the vote, which was initially scheduled for January.The president immediately tried to reassure those worried about the course of democracy in his country and the delay in holding the vote, which was initially scheduled for January.
"We must have fair and transparent elections on February 18," he said in Brussels."We must have fair and transparent elections on February 18," he said in Brussels.
"Whoever wins, obviously power will be handed over to them."Whoever wins, obviously power will be handed over to them.
"We are going to be returning to free, fair and transparent elections, and peaceful elections," he said."We are going to be returning to free, fair and transparent elections, and peaceful elections," he said.
"We are for democracy and I have introduced the essence of democracy, but we cannot be as forward looking as you (in the West) are. Unpopular
"Allow us some time to reach that state," he said. The president's visit will also take him to the UK, France and the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
Strategic interest Not everyone is impressed by the president's 'charm offensive'
The tour is President Musharraf's first trip abroad since his controversial re-election and the murder of Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
He aims to clear "misperceptions" of recent events in Pakistan, he said.
The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says Mr Musharraf is deeply unpopular at home - members of civil society and opposition political parties do not accept his leadership, especially after his recent imposition of emergency rule.
Many Pakistanis see Mr Musharraf and the army's dominant role in political life as a cause of instability, our correspondent says.
Mr Musharraf is also due to meet Nato Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer and address the influential foreign affairs committee of the European Parliament.
Terrorist suspects
The trip is seen by EU officials as a charm offensive designed to show Mr Musharraf is still in control, after his credibility has been undermined by months of instability and violence in Pakistan, our Brussels correspondent reports.The trip is seen by EU officials as a charm offensive designed to show Mr Musharraf is still in control, after his credibility has been undermined by months of instability and violence in Pakistan, our Brussels correspondent reports.
MEP Michael Gahler, who will head a 100-strong team of European election observers, told the BBC that Pakistan still had much to do to ensure that next month's poll would be free, fair and transparent. Along with Nato - which leads a force of about 40,000 troops in Afghanistan - the EU has a strategic interest in the stability of nuclear armed Pakistan, Oana Lungescu says.
EU officials are also expected to question Mr Musharraf's commitment to democratic reforms and his record on fighting extremists both at home and in neighbouring Afghanistan.
The EU is Pakistan's biggest trading partner, with an annual trade worth $9 billion.
Along with Nato - which leads a force of about 40,000 troops in Afghanistan - it has a strategic interest in the stability of nuclear armed Pakistan, Oana Lungescu says.
Press reports in Spain have linked the arrest of 14 mainly Pakistani terrorist suspects in Barcelona on Saturday with the possibility of attacks in several European countries to coincide with Mr Musharraf's trip.Press reports in Spain have linked the arrest of 14 mainly Pakistani terrorist suspects in Barcelona on Saturday with the possibility of attacks in several European countries to coincide with Mr Musharraf's trip.
But Belgian authorities said that the security measures in place would be the same as for a visit by any other head of state.But Belgian authorities said that the security measures in place would be the same as for a visit by any other head of state.
During his trip, President Musharraf is also due to meet his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.During his trip, President Musharraf is also due to meet his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
He will also hold talks in Davos with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.He will also hold talks in Davos with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.