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Musharraf Courts Wary Europeans

Pledges free elections, nuclear security, no coddling Al-Qaeda

By Peter Fearon,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 22, 2008 12:32 PM CST
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(Newser) – Pervez Musharraf visited Brussels yesterday and Paris today, reassuring leaders that Pakistan will hold fair elections and promising complete security for the nation's nuclear arsenal. EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana warned the Pakistani president that future cooperation between the EU and his government is contingent on those criteria, reports the BBC.

In Brussels, Musharraf asked for patience, rather than criticism, on his country's human rights record: "You have taken centuries in reaching wherever you have come. Allow us time for going for the values you have established." In Paris, he told foreign policy mavens the nuclear arsenal is secure; to breach that security, militants would have to either defeat the entire army or win the upcoming election. "There is a zero percent chance of either one of them," Musharraf said.

Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, left, and with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana gesture during a media conference at the European Council headquarters in Brussels, Monday Jan.21, 2008. Musharraf is on an eight-day trip in Europe to meet various leaders and to attend the world economic forum in Switzerland....
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf, left, and with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana gesture during a media conference at the European Council headquarters in Brussels, Monday Jan.21, 2008. Musharraf...   (Associated Press)
Protesters from Pakistani opposition parties gather to demonstrate in Brussels, Sunday Jan. 20, 2008. Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf arrived in Europe for an eight-day trip to meet various leaders and to attend the world economic forum in Switzerland. (AP Photo/Yves Logghe)
Protesters from Pakistani opposition parties gather to demonstrate in Brussels, Sunday Jan. 20, 2008. Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf arrived in Europe for an eight-day trip to meet various leaders...   (Associated Press)
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf addresses the committee on foreign affairs at the European Parliament in Brussels, Monday, Jan. 21, 2008. Musharraf, kicking off his eight-day European tour with meetings with high-ranked EU and NATO officials, said that despite the current turmoil in his country Pakistan's nuclear weapons were secure under...
Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf addresses the committee on foreign affairs at the European Parliament in Brussels, Monday, Jan. 21, 2008. Musharraf, kicking off his eight-day European tour with...   (Associated Press)
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Musharraf in Europe

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Pakistan • Pervez Musharraf • European Union • Javier Solana • Benazir Bhutto • nuclear arsenal • World Economic Forum • election

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