The Spanish government Monday called on India to resume talks with Pakistan, in a bid to ease tensions between the two nuclear-capable South Asian countries.
Spain's Foreign Minister Josep Pique, whose country holds the rotating presidency of the European Union (EU) during the first half of this year, made a phone call to his Indian counterpart, Jaswant Singh, said a communique released by the Diplomatic Information Office.
During the phone talk, Pique reiterated the EU's solidarity with New Delhi after the December 13 attack on the Indian parliamentary building and expressed Spain's condemnation of
terrorism of all forms.
Pique concured with New Delhi in the generally "positive assessment" of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's speech.
He stressed the importance of Musharraf's announcement over the adoption of measures for a greater control of Koranic schools and mosques, and on banning radical Islamic organizations.
The Spanish foreign minister asked India to favor "with generosity and sense of historic opportunity" the resumption of talks with Pakistan, to lessen prevailing tensions in the region.
Singh expressed gratitude for the active concern shown by the 15-nation EU and confirmed that his government was prepared to "take two steps for every one taken by Pakistan".
He said India awaited the commitments made by the Pakistani government to be implemented.
(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2002)
