asem 6jun2

 Kuala Lumpur, June 5, IRNA -- Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid   
Albar said on Wednesday that the Fourth Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) for
foreign ministers in Madrid, Spain, will discuss the Pakistan-India   
conflict and urge the two countries seek dialogue rather than war.    
    Malaysia which has good ties with both countries does not wish    
to see a war break out and wants both sides to come to the negotiating
table, Syed Hamid told newsmen at his ministry here.                  
    He was scheduled to leave for Madrid later on Wednesday to attend 
the two-day meeting which begins on Thursday. The ministerial-level   
meeting is the run-up to the Asem summit for heads of states in       
Copenhagen later this year.                                           
    Asem believes in dialogue as the best solution to conflicts, he   
 said.                                                                
    "It is clear to everyone that should war errupt between Pakistan  
and India, the peace and security of the region and the whole world   
will be jeopardized."                                                 
    He said the foreign ministers would also discuss economic and     
other political matters to enhance Asia-Europe ties.                  
    On Malaysians in Pakistan and India, he said the Foreign Ministry 
would not call for an evacuation. Malaysians there were instead urged 
to keep close contact with the high commissions in New Delhi and      
Islamabad and assess the situation for themselves to decide if they   
should return.                                                        
    However, the families of diplomatic staff in India have been sent 
home and most of them arrived yesterday, he added. No such move has   
been taken for the families of Malaysian diplomatic staff in Pakistan.
    "We don't intend to withdraw our diplomatic staff from either     
country, but we are monitoring the situation for the safety of their  
families."                                                            
    Syed Hamid also said he would be visiting Pakistan and India as   
part of a Commonwealth delegation but the dates had not yet been      
fixed.                                                                
    On Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's visit with Pope John Paul II 
in the Vatican City this Friday, Syed Hamid said the meeting would    
also help Malaysia decide if it should establish diplomatic ties with 
the Holy See Government.                                              
    Currently, the only Asean countries with diplomatic relations with
the Holy See are Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand,  
he said.                                                              
    Mahathir is to visit Switzerland and Luxembourg after that, where 
he will deliver the keynote address at the 90th session of the        
International Labour Organisation on June 11.                         
 BN/JB                                                                
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