Pakistans Musharraf begins visit to Kuwait, Yemen, Saudi Arabia

KUN0016 4 GEN 0241 KUWAIT /KUNA-GGL8 POL-PAKISTAN-KUWAIT Pakistans Musharraf begins visit to Kuwait, Yemen, Saudi Arabia ISLAMABAD, Dec 3 (KUNA) -- Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf Saturday embarked on a six-day visit to Kuwait, Yemen and Saudi Arabia with aim to further enhance economic as well as political ties with the three Gulf States. During his first leg of his visit in Kuwait, first-ever as the president of Pakistan, he will hold bilateral discussions with Kuwaiti leadership. In his interview with KUNA, Musharraf had said that he will seek relaxation in oil payments during his discussions with the Kuwaiti leadership and may also sift-term loan as a support to Pakistans economy. His visit to Yemen is also first ever since he took power in 1999 in a bloodless coup. In Yemen, the President said, he would like to enhance cooperation and also intelligence sharing to better fight terrorism. After completing his visit to Kuwait and Yemen, the President will attend special summit of Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and also seek extension in Special Oil Facility (SOF). Pakistans major suppliers, notwithstanding the petroleum sector deregulation, are Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait and its total oil imports amount to around USD three billion. The two Kuwaiti companies, Bakri and Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC), together provide around 90 per cent of total oil imports. (end) amn.bs KUNA 031049 Dec 05NNNN