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EU urges India, Pak to restart dialogue

"India and Pakistan should use the SAARC forum to set the ball rolling once again for a peaceful and negotiated settlement of all contentious issues between them," European Commission Ambassador Michel Caillouet said.

Asked if he advised Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to travel to Pakistan to attend the SAARC meeting scheduled for January, he said, "We cannot advise, but we believe in the virtue of dialogue to settle disputes."

The prime minister is non-committal on his participation in the SAARC summit, saying there is sufficient time to take a decision.

Earlier, inaugurating the seminar 'India, Europe and changing dimensions of security', Caillouet praised India's withdrawal of troops from the border and reopening of its air space for Pakistan, terming them 'gestures aimed at reducing tensions'.

"It is now Pakistan's turn to put a permanent stop to cross-border terrorism and create conditions conducive for talks," he said.

Fully subscribing to Vajpayee's views on the United States's threats to Iraq, Caillouet said, "No power can enforce its will on any country."

He also felt that all issues relating to Iraq should be sorted out at the United Nations.

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