June 2nd 2002
Defense ministers from Asia-Pacific nations Sunday ended their three-day security talks here, stressing the importance of settling the conflicts between India and Pakistan in a peaceful way.
The ministers said they will continue diplomatic efforts to prevent the two South Asian military powers from starting a war.
In the meeting, Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes denounced Pakistan for threatening his country with a possible use of nuclear arms and for its insufficient measures against terrorists.
He stressed the importance of self-restraint, dialogues and diplomatic efforts, however, to deal with the situation.
To eradicate terrorism, ministers from Southeast Asian nations called for solving poverty and other social and economic problems.
The conference, hosted by the British think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies, was the first multilateral meeting that brought together defense ministers in the Asia-Pacific region.
The participating nations are considering holding such a meeting regularly, and the next meeting is scheduled to take place in Singapore in May 2003.
