New British envoy arrives in Islamabad

Islamabad, Dec 4 (UNI) Robert Brinkley, the new British High Commissioner to Pakistan has arrived here to replace Sir Mark Lyall Grant, who has returned to London.

Mr Brinkley was previously British Ambassador to Ukraine, and between 2000-2002 he was the head of the UK visas, a release from the high commission said.

''I'm delighted to have arrived here in Pakistan as the new British High Commissioner over what is a very exciting time for Pakistan and for its relations with the United Kingdom,'' the Dawn quoted him as saying.

With around one million British citizens claiming Pakistani heritage, and two billion dollars worth of trade between the two countries each year, there is much that unites us, Mr Brinkley said.

''The two high-level visits we had, just before I arrived - those of the Prince Charles of Wales and Prime Minister Tony Blair - illustrates how important this relationship is to the United Kingdom,'' he added.

Mr Brinkley has served in Moscow twice other than Bonn and Geneva. He is accompanied by his wife Mary.

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