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Germany for resumption
of Indo-Pak talks: PTI

Germany will encourage resumption of bilateral dialogue between India and Pakistan while the South Asian situation would be a high priority area of discussion during Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer's visit to India beginning Friday.

Though Fischer is going to India... for the inauguration of the Festival of Germany, he will "certainly address" the South Asian situation when regional issues come up during official talks with Indian leaders on Saturday, a German foreign ministry official said.

Fischer, also Germany's vice-chancellor, will meet External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and national security adviser Brajesh Mishra, ahead of the launch of a six-month German cultural extravaganza in the presence of President K R Narayanan on Saturday.

The meetings will be utilised by Fischer to underpin his country's desire for restoration of the Lahore peace process initiated by India and Pakistan, the official told PTI.

Indo-German political and economic relations, nuclear disarmament, United Nations reforms and progress in the German government's green card initiative are expected to figure in discussions during Fischer's three-day visit.

Fischer is leaving for Jaipur on Thursday night en route to Delhi, heading a 21-member delegation, including members of parliament.

German President Johannes Rau was originally scheduled to inaugurate the event, but could not make the trip as he is recuperating from surgery.

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