British MEP to host Friends of Pakistan event focusing on countering violent extremism
Posted, January 23, 2012 @ 18:00
ECR Legal Affairs Spokesman and Chair of the European Parliament Friends of Pakistan Group, Sajjad Karim MEP, is hosting the first European Parliamentary reception for the group.
The high profile event will focus on the subject of countering violent extremism in the context of closer relations between Pakistan and the European Union. Attendees will include high-profile diplomats and key players in the fields of international relations, security and counter-terrorism, such as:
· Saudi Arabia Ambassador, Faisal Trad
· The EU Foreign Service
· Delegates from the EU-US Combating Violent Extremism conference
· Deputy Head of Counter Terrorism Department FCO, Mr Colin Smith
· The EU Counter Terrorism Coordinator, Mr Gilles de Kerchove
· MEPs
· FBI
· US Embassy
· Kashmir Council EU, Ali Raza Syed
· Cordoba Foundation UK, Zia Chaudhary
· Counsellor of the Embassy of Pakistan, Syed Moazzam H. Shah
An invitation has also been sent to the Ambassador of Pakistan.
Mr Karim, also Vice-Chair of the European Parliament Friends of the Commonwealth Group, says:
"There is a need to engage more positively with Pakistan, and there is a need for Pakistan to engage more positively with the EU. It is positive to see new efforts being made to address this issue with the EU increasing funding packages to mitigate current instability and also agreeing to strengthen dialogue with its five year engagement plan.
In recent times, the EU has significantly upgraded its relationship with Pakistan. The first EU-Pakistan summit was held in 2009 and an EU trade concessions package was offered to Pakistan to help its textile industry after the devastating floods affected the country in 2010.
"Cooperation between Pakistan and Europe is mutually beneficial, and this reception in the Parliament seeks only to highlight this growing tie. Both Europe and Pakistan are built on the same values of democracy, equality and freedom. The very same values are cherished in Pakistan; however the country is a front line state and these values are being sacrificed. The EU's programmes can influence and aid stability and transformation"
Mr Karim, the first British Muslim MEP to be elected to the European Parliament in 2004, also hosted a conference last year in the European Parliament to promote democracy in Syria and give Syrian Opposition Groups a platform to air their views.
The reception, which is being sponsored by the ECR Group, will also feature an address from the new ECR Group Chairman, Martin Callanan.
Details of the event:
Tuesday 24th January
18.30-20.30
Members Restaurant, European Parliament