French President Jacques Chirac and King of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah phoned President Pervez Musharraf and assured him support for the earthquake ravaged areas of Pakistan, an official statement said. Chirac said that a French delegation would participate in November 19 donors conference in Islamabad. He added that he had also talked to the European Union leaders and international financial institutions and urged them to express solidarity with Pakistan in its hour of need by taking part in the relief and reconstruction tasks. "France is committed to extending continued cooperation to Pakistan in rebuilding the devastated areas," the French president said, adding that Paris would also use its influence in the European Union and other international development partners to garner financial support for relief and rehabilitation of the quake survivors, according to the statement. "Pakistan is grateful to France for providing immediate relief and medical assistance and we look forward to continued support from all friendly countries," Musharraf said. Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah said the people and the government of Brunei share the sufferings of the affected people and stand fully with Pakistan in this hour of difficulty. "We will continue to extend all possible assistance for reconstruction and rehabilitation of quake survivors." He informed King Hassanal Bolkiah that Pakistan was planning to undertake reconstruction and rehabilitation tasks on the basis of a precise database being compiled ahead of November 19 donors' conference. The president thanked both the leaders for the support.
