Pranab to visit Cyprus, Libya, Germany, Belgium

New Delhi, May 23 (UNI) External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will leave tomorrow on a week-long visit to Cyprus, Libya, Germany and Belgium for discussions on bilateral, regional and international situation and to attend the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) of Foreign Ministers.

The External Affairs Minister will first visit Cyprus from May 24-26 during which he will have an official meeting with his counterpart Yiorgos Lillikas. He will also call on President Tassos Papadopoulos.

The two countries will also sign two agreements on combating terrorism and illegal drug trafficking and organised crime and on abolition of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and official passports.

On the second leg of his tour, the Minister will visit Libya from May 26-28.

The visit, his first to an African country since taking the External Affairs portfolio, is part of the regular process of high-level exchanges between the two nations, an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said here today.

The visit assumes significance as it takes place at the highest level in 22 years since the last visit of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Mr Mukherjee will have talks with his Libyan counterpart Shalgem and will call on the Prime Minister.

''The forthcoming visit will attempt to fabricate a framework thereby enabling the elevation of our bilateral exchanges to move with the times where technology and traning can bring greater benefits to both countries,'' the spokesman added.

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