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EU Gives $100 Million in Aid to Pakistan at EU-Pakistan Summit
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by alia_d | June 17, 2009 at 03:50 pm
57 views | 16 Recommendations | 2 comments
The EU has pledged $100 million in humanitarian aid to Pakistan at the first-ever EU-Pakistan Summit currently taking place in Brussels. The majority of the money will go towards providing food, water, and shelter to assist victims of the recent fighting the Swat Valley. In exchange, Pakistan will do more to combat terrorism on its home front.
"I welcome President Zardari's commitment to reinforce the democratic institutions, reform the economy and defeat extremism and terrorism, which pose a threat not just to his country, but to its neighbours and to the rest of the world," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said.
Zardari, who had said before the meeting that he wanted "trade, not aid," welcomed the donation and called the invitation to the summit a "positive step and an assurance that no dictator will ever be welcomed in the halls of the EU."
EU officials hope that the $100 million in aid will help decrease terrorist threats by decreasing instability in Pakistan. EU officials also hope that the humanitarian aid, which is in addition to more than $670 million over 5 years that the European Commission plans to give to Pakistan for long-term development, will encourage Pakistan to develop secular and democratic governance. The EU and Pakistan also hope to strengthen trade ties.
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Recommendations (16)
enlargetom
Pune, Maharastra, India
albertacowpoke
Canada
Ostia
Yokohama, Japan
Paschen
Narita, Chiba, Japan
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (2)
at 17:32 on June 17th, 2009
I am not sure if that will help, the EU gave Millions to India and Bangladesh as well and the corruption as well as the political set up has eaten most of it and the people are left out to dry.
at 17:52 on June 17th, 2009
I fully agree with Paschen. Generally it seems to be the case that the EU hopes to solve every issue with money alone without making any other commitment. Shouldn't they know that money cannot buy everything?