GENERAL MUSHARRAF LEAVES FOR TURKMENISTAN TOMORROW

GENERAL MUSHARRAF LEAVES FOR TURKMENISTAN TOMORROW ISLAMABAD, MAY 14 (KUNA) -- CHIEF EXECUTIVE, GENERAL PERVEZ MUSHARRAF LEAVES FOR TURKMENISTAN MONDAY ON A TWO-DAY VISIT TO HOLD AN IN-DEPTH EXCHANGE OF VIEWS WITH TURKMEN PRESIDENT SAPARMURAT NIYAZOV ON IMPORTANT REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON AFGHANISTAN AND KASHMIR.
A FOREIGN OFFICE PRESS RELEASE TODAY SAID THE TWO LEADERS WOULD REVIEW PROJECT FOR BRINGING GAS PIPELINE FROM TURKMENISTAN TO PAKISTAN AS BOTH COUNTRIES ATTACH GREAT IMPORTANCE TO EARLY COMPLETION OF THE PIPELINE PROJECT.
DURING GENERAL MUSHARRAF'S STAY IN THE CAPITAL ASHGABAT, THE TWO SIDES WILL DISCUSS ENHANCEMENT OF BILATERAL COOPERATION IN VARIOUS FIELDS SPECIALLY IN DEVELOPING COMMUNICATIONS AND ECONOMIC LINKS.
THE RELATIONS WITH TURKMENISTAN CONSTITUTE ONE OF THE KEY INGREDIENTS OF PAKISTAN'S FOREIGN POLICY IN CENTRAL ASIA.
IT WILL BE GENERAL MUSHARRAF'S FIRST VISIT TO THE CENTRAL ASIAN REGION, WHICH REAFFIRMS THE IMPORTANCE PAKISTAN ATTACHES TO CORDIAL AND FRATERNAL RELATIONS WITH TURKMENISTAN. HIGH LEVEL CONTACTS BETWEEN TURKMENISTAN AND PAKISTAN ARE A PART OF THE LONG-STANDING TRADITION OF CLOSE AND COOPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES.
THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF TURKMENISTAN VISITED PAKISTAN IN MARCH AND HELD EXTENSIVE DISCUSSIONS ON BILATERAL, REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES.
AMONG THE MINISTERS TO ACCOMPANY GENERAL MUSHARRAF IS COMMUNICATION MINISTER, LT-GEN. (RETIRED) SEYED IFTIKHAR HUSSAIN SHAH AND MINISTER FOR PETROLEUM USMAN AMINUDDIN. (END) SA.BZ/FS KUNA 142100 May 00NNNN