Other State Department Archive Sites

The State Department web site below is a permanent electronic archive of information released online from January 1, 1997 to January 20, 2001. Please see www.state.gov for current material from the Department of State. Or visit http://2001-2009.state.gov for information from that period. Archive sites are not updated, so external links may no longer function. Contact us with any questions about finding information. NOTE: External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein.

U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Press Statement by James B. Foley, Deputy Spokesman
February 23, 1999

India/Pakistan Summit

The Department of State warmly welcomes the successful summit meeting of the Indian and Pakistani prime ministers on Saturday and Sunday in Lahore, Pakistan. Prime Ministers Vajpayee of India and Sharif of Pakistan have committed their governments to intensify efforts to resolve the issues that have divided their countries for too long, including Kashmir.

We are pleased that they have discussed steps to address nuclear concerns, including confidence building measures and methods to avoid accidental conflict. We also commend the attention paid in the Lahore declaration, issued at the end of the meeting, to improving the quality of life of the people of India and Pakistan. The two leaders clearly understand that economic growth and social progress are central to the futures of their countries, as they are to all countries around the world.

The success of the weekend's meeting demonstrates the ability of Pakistan and India to work together to resolve their differences and to look to the future, not to the past. While the United States and the international community have encouraged them to resolve their differences through face to face discussions at a senior level, the decisions to take this courageous step were made by the two prime ministers. They deserve the full credit for this successful meeting.

[end of document]