Pranab on four nation tour, likely to meet Kasuri

New Delhi, May 24: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who today left for a week-long tour of Cyprus, Libya, Germany and Belgium, is expected to meet his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri in Berlin. The Mukherjee-Kasuri meeting is likely to take place on the sidelines of Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM), a 45-nation grouping to which India and Pakistan were admitted last year.

Mr Mukherjee, who is accompanied by Mr Nalin Suri, Secretary (West), will be in Cyprus from May 24-26 where he will have an official meeting with his counterpart Yiorgos Lillikas, the maiden ministerial level meeting in two decades. He will also call on President Tassos Papadopoulos.

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

Before embarking on his four-nation tour, Mr Mukherjee said India had excellent relations with Cyprus over the years.

''Cyprus has supported India's candidature for a permanent membership at the United Nations Security Council,'' he said.

On the second leg of his tour, he will visit Libya from May 26-28, his first to an African country since taking over as External Affairs Minister The visit assumes significance as it takes place at the highest level in 22 years since the last visit of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

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

He will also travel to Brussels to chair a meeting of Indian Ambassadors in Europe.

Before his return home on May 31, he will visit Berlin for the Troika meeting of India, Germany and Portugal.

UNI