Lib Dems back EU Partnership with Pakistan

5.18.41pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 23rd Apr 2004

Liberal Democrat MEP Bill Newton Dunn has backed a Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Pakistan. However, he made it clear that the country must do more to improve its record on human rights.

The agreement deals with a wide range of issues including trade, economic cooperation, environmental protection and poverty alleviation. It has been in preparation for eight years due to concerns about human rights, nuclear testing and the military coup.

The report voted on by the European Parliament this week in Strasbourg accepts that some political progress has been made and that the press is largely free. However, it claims that torture and unlawful detention remain widespread, that women are subject to 'honour killings' and face severe discrimination, and that pressure is still exerted against opposition politicians.

British Liberal Democrat MEPs made it clear in the vote that they want the EU to help Pakistan develop and improve.

Euro-MP Bill Newton Dunn said: "A great many changes are needed before Pakistan can be described as a truly democratic country that respects the rights of every individual. But Europe needs to encourage Pakistan to make further improvements, not penalise it for a situation that was at least slowly improving."