BRUSSELS, Belgium - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf opened a European tour today by offering assurances that his government is committed to democracy and the global fight against terrorism.
Before meeting with senior European Union and NATO officials in Brussels, Musharraf said his country, while plagued by terrorism and extremism, will have `fair, transparent and peaceful elections' on Feb. 18.
The Pakistani leader, who will meet with several European leaders during his eight-day visit, said it was important for the West to understand that it has a reliable ally in Pakistan.
Musharraf said he expects EU leaders to be understanding about his country's predicament and, in return, they can expect Pakistan to stay the course on democracy and the rule of law.
He acknowledged that 2007 was an extremely `turbulent' year for Pakistan but underlined that hs country's nuclear arms are safely in the hands of the military.
Musharraf was reproached in the West for his brief declaration of emergency rule late last year. The criticism was compounded by the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto.
