CONFERENCE BACKS LIZ LYNNE CALL FOR PEACE INITIATIVE IN KASHMIR

12.00.00am GMT Sun 10th Mar 2002

The Liberal Democrats adopted a new policy today to call for the international community to launch a peace initiative over the disputed territory of Kashmir.

An emergency motion on the crisis in India and Pakistan was carried without a single vote against by the party conference in Manchester. West Midlands Euro MP Liz Lynne jointly proposed the motion with former Birmingham Sparkbrook parliamentary candidate Qassim Afzal. Liz Lynne said she was delighted that the compromise resolution had been so clearly

supported by the party.

Liz Lynne MEP said:

"The international community has a moral duty to facilitate peace between India and Pakistan over the situation in Jammu and Kashmir, where the UN resolutions passed over 50 years have not been acted upon. These peace talks must involve the people of Kashmir, whose situation is a central source of tension between Pakistan and India.

"This motion makes a strong statement condemning terrorism of any kind. But it is not about looking back at the atrocities committed on whatever side. It is not about attributing blame. It is about looking forward to the future and to the real potential we have now to move forward and find a permanent peaceful settlement.

"In the European Parliament I successfully proposed an amendment to the Common Foreign and Security Policy that the EU should play the role of 'honest broker' and helps India and Pakistan to find a way forward.

"The type of initiative would be similar to the role played successfully by Senator Mitchell in Northern Ireland.

"It is not just a question for the EU. Whether it is the Commonwealth, the United Nations or through the Americans, all of us must recognise that there is a moral duty to work to facilitate a peaceful solution. Not to tell India or Pakistan what to do, but perhaps through a special envoy to work behind the scenes evaluating every possible way forward, with the

agreement of the Kashmiri people.

"I am delighted that this compromise motion was supported so strongly today. It is a step forward - I hope Charles Kennedy and the Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs team do their best to persuade the British Government and others to work actively for a reduction in tension in the region and for a peace process to begin."