Zardari meets Sarkozy at start of Europe trip
By DPA, IANSMonday, August 2, 2010
PARIS - Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris Monday during the first leg of a visit to Europe.
A spokesman for the French president said the two leaders discussed the situation in Afghanistan and ways to combat international terrorism.
Aid to help Pakistan recover from devastating floods that have claimed more than 1,500 lives and cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy were other subjects on the agenda.
The talks came a day before Zardari flies to London on a visit overshadowed by tension over British Prime Minister David Cameron’s controversial remarks on Pakistani attitudes to terrorism.
Britain’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Adam Thomson, was called to the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad Monday to explain his prime minister’s remarks suggesting Islamabad’s complicity in terrorism.
Cameron said during a visit to Bangalore last week: “We cannot tolerate in any sense export of terrorism, whether to India, Afghanistan or anywhere in the world.”
The blunt words created tension between the two countries, with Pakistani opposition parties demanding President Zardari to call off his visit to Britain.
Zardari is expected to meet Cameron Friday.
