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EU in Pakistan election warning EU in Pakistan election warning
(10 minutes later)
EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has told President Pervez Musharraf that Pakistan's general elections next month must be "free and fair".EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has told President Pervez Musharraf that Pakistan's general elections next month must be "free and fair".
Mr Solana said that the level of the EU's future engagement with Pakistan depended on these criteria. Mr Solana said that the level of the EU's future cooperation with Pakistan depended on these criteria.
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 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.
The EU is Pakistan's biggest trading partner, with annual trade worth $9bn.The EU is Pakistan's biggest trading partner, with annual trade worth $9bn.
Market accessMarket access
Mr Solana said that the EU's "future cooperation" with Pakistan would be dependent on the fairness of the vote. Correspondents say that the EU chief did not give any clues as to what the EU's "future cooperation" with Pakistan may entail if it was satisfied over the fairness of the vote.
But correspondents say that the EU chief did not give any details as to what the EU's "future cooperation" may entail. Not everyone is impressed by the president's 'charm offensive'
Many blame the government for Benazir Bhutto's death
President Musharraf told a Brussels news conference that he raised issues such as Pakistani market access to the EU.President Musharraf told a Brussels news conference that he raised issues such as Pakistani market access to the EU.
"I look forward to it in Pakistan because we need to sustain economic growth," he said."I look forward to it in Pakistan because we need to sustain economic growth," he said.
Earlier President Musharraf said that he was determined the country would hold "free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections".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.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.
class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYEuropean leaders should listen and offer advice and help where needed.Brendan Keegan, Dublin, Ireland class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?sortBy=1&forumID=4120">Send us your comments The president 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 18 February," 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. 'Positive development'
"We are going to be returning to free, fair and transparent elections, and peaceful elections," he said. The president also tried to assuage the concerns of those worried about Pakistani human rights.
Critics say that the judiciary has been neutered
He said that Western preoccupation with the issue was "obsessive".
"You have taken centuries in reaching wherever you have come. Allow us time for going for the values that you have established for yourselves," he said.
The popular Pakistani independent television station, Geo TV, resumed broadcasting on Monday after the government lifted a ban imposed during emergency rule in November.
Correspondents say that the move could offset criticism that the president is gagging the media ahead of the elections.
"It is a wise and wonderful move, as elections are coming up (and) more media coverage would make the elections more credible and contribute to the positive development of the country," the station's President, Imran Aslam, told the AP news agency.
UnpopularUnpopular
The president's visit will also take him to the UK, France and the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. President Musharraf's visit will also take him to the UK, France and the World Economic Forum in Switzerland.
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.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.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.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 His itinerary also includes meetings with his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
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.
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.
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.
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.