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Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 23, 2004

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European Union team for involving Kashmiris

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, JUNE 22. John Cushnahan, the head of the European Union parliamentary delegation now on a visit to Kashmir, today said that the Kashmir issue should be resolved by India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir.

Mr. Cushnahan, who is leading a six-member delegation which began a three-day "fact finding" mission to Kashmir, said: "India, Pakistan and the people of Kashmir should resolve the Kashmir issue. We are concerned because it (Kashmir) has been a nuclear flashpoint."

Mr. Cushnahan, who represents Ireland in the EU, said "the people of Kashmir are the most important party to the issue because it is they who are suffering."

His statement is seen as a damage control exercise by the EU after the statement of the EU Ambassador to India, Francisco Camara Gomes, on Friday that Kashmir was an integral part of India evoked strong resentment from separatist organisations.

The EU delegation is scheduled to meet people from all walks of life here over the next three days, Mr. Cushnahan said, adding, "We want to see the situation in this part of the world and frame the policies of the EU accordingly." The delegation had visited the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in December last year.

While in Kashmir, the EU team will visit the Line of Control in the Uri sector of north Kashmir. It will also call on the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, and senior State functionaries besides separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Mohammad Yaseen Malik and Shabir Ahmad Shah, sources said. The delegation comprises two members from Britain and one each from the Netherlands, Sweden and Italy.

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