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Musharraf visit will be a new chapter in ties with Russia

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD Feb. 2 The Pakistan Foreign Secretary, Riaz Khokar, has expressed the hope that the coming visit of the President, Pervez Musharraf, to Russia beginning on February 4 would be a "new chapter" in relations between the two countries.

Addressing a news conference here today on the visit, the first by any Pakistani Head of State since the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Mr. Khokar said Pakistan desired to begin a "new era" of friendship with Russia while burying the past differences.

He said the two countries would sign four Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) during the visit aimed at bolstering relations and improving economic ties. He said Pakistan was interested in getting Russian cooperation for oil and gas exploration. Apart from discussing the ways and means of improving bilateral relations, Gen. Musharraf and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, would also discuss debt servicing ranging between $75 million to 80 million.

On nuclear issues, Mr. Khokar said Gen. Musharraf would convey to Mr. Putin that Pakistan was an "extremely responsible" country which had complete confidence and capacity to take care of its nuclear assets.

If anything, the visit signifies the first serious attempt by Pakistan in years to normalise its ties with Moscow. The Taliban factor was undoubtedly a major stumbling block in normalisation of ties between the two countries. The collapse of the Taliban and the desire in some official quarters in Pakistan to look at alternative source of support could prove helpful in putting the Pakistan-Russia relations on a more even path.

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