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OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON (SHRI
NAVTEJ SARNA): Good evening everybody. It is a great pleasure
welcoming Foreign Secretary accompanied by Joint Secretary (Americas)
Dr. Jaishankar for this briefing on Prime Minister’s visit to the
United States. We will have a list of questions after that.
FOREIGN SECRETARY (SHRI SHYAM SARAN): Good afternoon. As you are
aware, the Prime Minister would be visiting the United States of
America from the 18th to the 20th of July. This will be a state visit
with full honours. Prime Minister will be staying at the Blair House
and given a ceremonial welcome at the White House. President Bush will
be hosting a formal dinner for him and Secretary Rice will host a
lunch in his honour. The Vice President of the United States, the
Defence Secretary, the Treasury Secretary, the Heads of the Senate
Caucus, will also be calling on the Prime Minister. Prime Minister has
also been invited to address the Joint Session of the Congress which
is, of course, a very signal honour. The Senate Majority Leader,
Senator Frisk will be hosting a meeting for the Prime Minister to meet
other members of the Senate. Prime Minister will also meet members of
the House International Relations Committee, and also have a lunch
with the India Caucus.
As you know, this visit
is taking place against the background of some significant progress
that has been made in the bilateral relations between India and the
US. Over the past several months we have established a number of new
mechanisms of cooperation. We have undertaken new initiatives;
developed and taken forward some of the ongoing initiatives; and have
expanded our dialogue really across the board, of course, encompassing
both bilateral as well as regional and international issues. So, in a
sense, we have really a very broad agenda in our developing relations
with the United States of America. What this visit would really be
doing is reaffirming at the highest level the transformation which is
taking place in India-US relations.
As you know, a number of notable developments have taken place
recently. You are aware of the fact that we have established the
Economic Dialogue between the two countries which is headed by the
Deputy-Chairman of the Planning Commission on our side and by the
Economic Advisor to the While House Alan Hubbard on the US side. Very
important, we have also set up the India-US Energy Panel which is
looking at a whole range of energy-related issues, issues which are
very important to energy security both of the United States as well as
of India. One of the aspects that we would be looking at within this
energy dialogue is also the question of civilian nuclear energy
cooperation.
We have also concluded
an open-skies agreement between the two countries. This is likely to
really lead to a major expansion in air services between the two
countries. The investment climate in India has improved attracting
greater attention from US investors. This follows, for example, the
passing of the Patent’s Act as also the liberalization in several
sectors of the economy including banking and insurance, and also the
abrogation of Press Note-18.
In recognition of the fact that the economic relationship between the
two countries is likely to be one of the most dynamic aspects of our
relations in the coming years and it is a relationship which would be
very much private sector driven, we have agreed to set up a CEO’s
Forum. This CEO’s Forum would have as its members several of
India’s top business leaders. There are also a similar number of
business leaders from the US side who have been also selected by the
White House itself. The idea is that these business leaders meeting at
a time when India-US relations in all spheres but particularly on the
business side are looking up, we will really be able to energise the
business relationship. The first meeting of this CEO’s Forum will be
taking place during Prime Minister’s visit to Washington itself.
I would like to focus
our attention on certain important aspects of the relationship
because, I think it is necessary to understand what is the kind of
relationship which is developing between the two countries. I think it
is important to understand here that what we are really looking at is
a genuine partnership between India and the US. In each of the
initiatives that we are looking at, India is also bringing something
to the table. This is important to understand. If there is a greater
focus today on India in the United States, it is not because India is
weak but it is because India is strong. That is why people are looking
today at India because today we are being recognized as a country
which has an array of capabilities and has the potential to emerge as
a very very important power in the future. And that is why there is a
desire for engagement, there is a desire for partnership. Not only in
the United States of America - but if you look at our relationship
with China with which we have recently established a strategic
partnership, if you look at our relationship with Europe with which we
also have a strategic partnership and we are currently looking at a
Joint Action Plan that we are going to be announcing during the next
Summit, if you look at our relationship with Russia - across the board
there is a new level of engagement, there is a new level of activity
virtually in all our relationships with major countries and major
regions of the world. Therefore, we go into this new relationship with
the United States of America in the same spirit of confidence and in
the sense that this is going to be a partnership which brings benefits
to both India as well as to the United States of America.
We attach a great deal
of importance to this visit because the path of development India has
chosen, the United States of America undoubtedly has a great deal to
offer whether it is in terms of high technology, whether it is in
terms of being a source of major investment capital, also in terms of
the service sector of India which is developing, the knowledge sector,
and if we are looking at a world tomorrow which is going to be more
knowledge based, then we are very well placed to take advantage of
this and to emerge in the front ranks. And there, a closer
relationship with the United States of America is undoubtedly going to
be an asset for India.
So, there will be a
number of initiatives that we have been working on. These initiatives
will come together, will converge together during the visit. We expect
that there will be a substantial outcome.
Thank you very much.
QUESTION: … Indo-US
relations will have in any impact on Sino-Indian relations?
FOREIGN SECRETARY: I just mentioned that we do not look at the
development of our relations with the United States of America as
somehow detracting from our relations with other countries. We believe
that we are able to upgrade our relations with all our major partners
and this is not something which should impact adversely on any
relationship. If you are looking at India-US relations and juxtapose
it with, say, US-China relations, I think you need to keep this in
perspective, I think the current level of trade between India and the
US is about maybe 25 billion dollars. If you look at the trade volume
between China and the US, I think it is almost close to 150 billion US
dollars. So, you look at the range that we are talking about here. If
you are looking at, say, investment relationship between India and the
US and China and the US, again there is a difference of almost perhaps
a factor of ten. Even when we are talking about relationship in high
technology, despite the fact that there are restrictions on US exports
of high technology items to China, I think the current level of high
tech exports from the US to China is something like a half a billion
dollars, more than 500 million dollars, while for India it is less
than a 100 million dollars. So, I think we need to keep these
relationships in perspective. We have a long way to go before we even
reach the level of relationship which exists currently between China
and the US. So, China does not have any sense that it’s developing
its relationship with the United States of America across the board
will somehow or the other detract from its relationship with other
countries. Why should India?
QUESTION: What about
the sanctions which are still there and the pipeline question? Will
our present cooperation impact in any way on the Russia-Indian
cooperation which also involves joint partnership and joint marketing?
FOREIGN SECRETARY: As far as US restrictions against India are
concerned, we have conveyed to the United States of America that if
the United States of America looks at India as a partner, then
obviously it cannot also treat India as a target for its restrictive
regimes. Therefore, if there has to be a fundamental change in the
relationship between India and the US, then obviously this
relationship must also undergo a change. I think the United States of
America is very aware of this and some of the restrictive regimes have
been relaxed. We hope that it will come towards a logical conclusion.
As far as the pipeline issue is concerned, I presume you are referring
to the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, I think again this is
something on which our viewpoint has very publicly been made known.
Our External Affairs Minister himself had stated that we have a very
special relationship with Iran. These relationships are civilizational
in nature. They are very important to India. Iran is a very major
source of energy for India, has been so in the past, will probably
remain so in the future. Iran has also given importance for India
because it is currently our access route to Central Asia through
Afghanistan because we do not have access to Pakistan. So there are
various reasons why the relationship with Iran is important. Energy
supplies for India are important. Therefore, whatever decision we take
concerning this pipeline will be based on our interest.
You mentioned the
defence question. I think there is a certain misunderstanding about
the framework agreement signed between India and the US. This is
precisely what it is, it is a framework agreement. It is not as if it
is an agreement for establishing a military alliance between India and
the US. What it sets out is parameters within which India and the
United States of America can potentially cooperate with one another if
it is in their interest to do so. I do not think that anybody can take
any exception to that. So, I do not see how this can really impact
adversely on the very substantial defence relationship which we have
with Russia and also the defence relationship we have with several
other countries. I do not think there needs to be any apprehension in
this regard.
QUESTION: Mr. Foreign
Secretary, you might have seen the comments coming out of New York of
Shirin Tahir Khalili on G4 Resolution and from whatever I have read,
the US has apparently asked for opposition to the G4 Resolution. So,
are you disappointed that the US has taken such a position and will
this in any way affect Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit
tomorrow?
FOREIGN SECRETARY: No, I do not think that we are disappointed or that
this would in any sense impact adversely on the visit because the US
position has been well known for some time. The United States of
America has taken a position against the procedure that has been
adopted. I have had occasion to explain before that in terms of the
basic principles underlying the G4 Draft Resolution, these are very
different from what the US has been saying. After all, what does the
G4 Draft Resolution ask for? It asks for an expansion of the Security
Council both in the permanent category as well as in the non-permanent
category. The US position acknowledges that. We say that there should
be greater representation of developing countries in the Security
Council. This is what the United States of America is saying as well.
So, there may be some differences between ourselves and matters of
detail as to numbers or the procedure, but I think in terms of the
principles that are incorporate in the G4 Draft Resolution, I think
there is not much of a difference. If the United States of America has
decided to oppose the Draft Resolution, there is not much that we can
do about it. But, I think whether or not we go ahead with this
Resolution will again be based on the assessment that we together with
our partnerships, the G4 partners, make along with our consultations
which are currently taking place with our African brothers and
sisters, let us see whether we can take this forward or not.
QUESTION: The Communist
Party of India, the Left parties have a serious reservation about what
India and how India … particularly about this visit they have issued
a press release also. How serious do you think it is? If it comes out
that this visit is a historical visit or a path-breaking visit, they
will have a serious objection. As you know, this Government depends on
the Left parties for a majority in the Parliament.
FOREIGN SECRETARY: I cannot go into the political nuances involved
here. All I can say is that India is a non-aligned country, India has
been a non-aligned country and will continue to be a non-aligned
country. I think it is nobody’s case that India should not strive to
have the best relations possible with all the countries in the world.
The United States of America is an important country in the world. The
United States of America is an important trade partner for India. It
is an important source of technology for India. So, in terms of
India’s interest and in terms of promoting India’s interests I do
not think that any one can really object to an effort being made for
upgrading our relationship with the United States of America just as
we are upgrading our relationship with China, we are upgrading our
relationship with Russia, we are upgrading our relationship with
European Union. In fact, the fact that India is really the object of
engagement from a number of different powers in the world is something
that we should celebrate. We should try to utilize this opportunity of
really maximizing the opportunities that are available to us for
achieving the objective of making India a developed country and
bringing the benefits of development to our people. So, I do not think
that in terms of what we are trying to achieve with the United States
of America, there is really any cause for concern or there should be
any cause for doubt in the minds of the people.
QUESTION: … Prime
Minister... (Inaudible)… could you verify a statement Mr. Pranab
Mukherjee has made that …
FOREIGN SECRETARY: The last part of your question, I think I have
already answered by saying that the framework for defence cooperation
with the US precisely just that, it is a framework for defence
cooperation. As far as the centre piece of the visit is concerned, I
think right in the beginning I mentioned the fact that we have a very
broad agenda for this visit. We have a very broad agenda of our
relationship with the United States of America. So, I do not think
that it would be appropriate to hang this visit on just one peg or one
or two pegs. I think it is necessary to look at the totality of the
relationship. As I mentioned to you, there are number of initiatives
which will converge together at the time of the visit. We are looking
at, for example, an initiative on cooperation on HIV/AIDS. We are
looking at, on the economic side I mentioned to you the CEO’s Forum.
We are looking at a new initiative on agricultural research and
extension. So, there are a number of initiatives that are being looked
at and all these are going to be on the agenda of the visit. So, it is
a broad agenda. It is not something which is limited to merely the
consideration of UN Security Council membership or any other single
issue.
QUESTION: I think
democracy and this dialogue on democracy is high on the agenda of the
Prime Minister’s visit. What …(Inaudible)… specific initiatives
…
FOREIGN SECRETARY: As you know, a very important affinity between the
two countries is really our attachment to democratic values. We
believe that it is possible for India and the United States of America
to really work together for strengthening the institutions of
democracy. In countries which are in transition, countries which need
such kind of assistance or support, it is possible for us to work
together in that respect. This is being put in the context of an
initiative which was taken by the United States of America last year
which India has supported - but it is being operationalised now - this
is the UN Democracy Fund. This Fund has now been set up under the
United Nations. we will be contributing to it along with several other
countries. The idea is to utilize this Fund for capacity building.
What do we mean by capacity building? For example, India as you know
assisted several countries for Constitution-making. We have sent out
our Constitutional experts for helping countries write their
Constitutions. We have a very very elaborate Election Commission which
handles elections on a very very large scale. This is a resource which
a number of countries are interested in. We have a very strong
institution in the Human Rights Commission. This is another capacity
which people are interested in. So, there are a number of what I would
call the nuts and bolts of democracy which we can really assist
countries with, particularly countries in transition. So, the
Democracy Fund which has been set up under the United Nations is
precisely for giving this kind of assistance, this kind of support
particularly to countries which are in transition or post-conflict
countries. This is where also, therefore, India and the US can work
together.
QUESTION: Could Iraq be
one such country which you could assist in capacity building?
FOREIGN SECRETARY: Let me recall that with Iraq, we have already
stated in the past that we would be prepared to extend support, for
example, for Constitution-making. We have said that we would be ready
to extend support to Iraq by bringing some of their personnel here for
training through our Election Commission. These elements are already
there in terms of what this Democracy Fund could achieve.
QUESTION: Would that be in conjunction with the United States?
FOREIGN SECRETARY: It is not just limited to the United States but it
could be, of course, with the United States as well because the United
States is also a contributor to this Fund.
QUESTION: Would it happen under the UN umbrella?
FOREIGN SECRETARY: It is under the UN umbrella.
QUESTION: …
(Inaudible)… Civilian nuclear-energy cooperation with the US…
FOREIGN SECRETARY: You should look at this particular issue as a
process. If you compare the situation today with a situation one year
ago I think you will find that there is a major change which has
already taken place. What is that change? That change is, in the
context of a global energy situation that is becoming increasingly
more challenging, a global energy situation which is likely to become
a constraint on our development, we are today looking at the
possibility of cooperation with major partners on civilian nuclear
energy cooperation. We already have an energy panel with the European
Union where also civilian nuclear cooperation is a subject for
discussion. We now have a similar India-US energy panel in which also
civilian nuclear cooperation is a subject for discussion. This is
something which is a very major change in the international
environment. So, actually if you look at the past and if you look at
what we currently have been able to achieve, it is a very major
transformation. Now, what will be our effort? Our effort will be to
take this further. So, something which is at the level of a dialogue,
we would like it to be taken to the level of action. However, this is
not an event. You must understand this as a process which will, in the
coming weeks, in the coming months, we will try to nudge it in the
direction of actual cooperation. Naturally, there will be changes
required in the way the world looks at India. But already, I would
submit, there is an important change in the way the world is looking
at India.
QUESTION:
…Inaudible…deliverable in civilian nuclear-energy…
FOREIGN SECRETARY: Well, concrete deliverable is in the sense that
something which is already conceded that is, that India and the United
States of America can cooperate together in civilian nuclear energy,
is something which we look at for an affirmation at the highest
political level. I think this would be very important in terms of what
we want to do after this.
QUESTION: Legitimacy of
American approach to India is questioned on two counts. One you have
already dealt with is the existing sanctions which should go.
… Second is the selective approach which the US has always had in
tackling terrorism globally. This visit is coming in the backdrop of
two important terrorist incidents – one in Ayodhya and another in
London. At what level and with what emphasis are you going to raise
this question because it is increasingly becoming a major issue of
dispute in the domestic politics in India?
FOREIGN SECRETARY: I would hope that this is not a matter of dispute
in the domestic politics of India because I think there is a
recognition across the board in this country that terrorism is a very
major challenge and that we need to stand together and fight this
menace. Beyond this, it has always been India’s view as a long-term
victim of terrorism that there can be no segmentation in the fight
against terrorism. That is, if you want to fight terrorism at one
place, you must be ready to fight terrorism everywhere. So, success in
the global struggle against terrorism demands that we do not adopt a
segmented approach.
I think we are going
with a rather strong hand to Washington precisely for the reasons that
you mentioned that just when the G8 were having their Summit in
Gleneagles, that was the time when terrorist attacks took place in
London, came just a few days after a major terrorist incident in
Ayodhya. I think the Prime Minister was able to put across in a very
effective manner precisely the point that there can be no segmentation
in this struggle against terrorism. I think terrorism will be very
high on the agenda. I think the point that we will be making is that
unless we stand together, unless we have the same kind of cooperation
amongst countries who are victims of terrorism, as there appears to be
the case amongst the terrorists themselves, how do we expect to win
this battle? So, this is something which will be an important subject
for discussion. I think this Government is very focused on dealing
with the issue of terrorism.
QUESTION: Is the
US-India relationship also improving because of the Indo-Pak peace
process?
FOREIGN SECRETARY: I think the peace process between India and
Pakistan has its own logic. I do not think that India is engaging in a
peace process with Pakistan because the United States of America wants
it or because any other country wants it. There are very strong
reasons why it is good for India and Pakistan to be engaged in a peace
process. But let it also be clearly understood, as we have said again
and again, that this peace process can only be taken forward if there
is public opinion support behind this. And public opinion support
behind this is linked to precisely what happens to cross-border
terrorism. Our ability to carry our own people with us in this peace
process will be undermined if there continues to be the kind of
terrorist incidents we have seen take place in Ayodhya. So, I think if
the international community has a role to play in this, it has a role
to play in this by precisely addressing the issue of terrorism.
QUESTION: Mr.
Secretary, when your US counterpart Nicholas Burns came to Delhi last
month, there were reportedly discussions on the Indian candidature for
a permanent seat in the UN Security Council. Will this subject come up
for discussion during the visit of the Prime Minister? Do you expect
the United States to open its cards during the talks with the Prime
Minister?
FOREIGN SECRETARY: Number one, India and the US are engaged in a
dialogue over the entire range of United Nations reform. It is not
just focused on the single issue of Security Council reform. So there
are a number of other very important issues where we are not only in a
dialogue with the United States of America but we are also working
together with the United States of America.
On the issue of Security Council membership, I think you are aware of
what Mr. Burns said. I think he set out a number of criteria which he
said would be important in terms of deciding who should be a new
aspirant for UN Security Council membership. By the way these happen
to be precisely the criteria which ourselves have put forward way back
in 1994 as to why we think we should be a member of the Security
Council. Now, whether the United States of America will take the step
during the visit to declare its support for India or whether it will
hold back, I am afraid this is not a question that I can answer. This
is a political decision which has to be taken by the US leadership.
QUESTION: You said just
now that if attacks like the one in Ayodhya continue, the peace
process will suffer. Are you indirectly saying that Pakistan is behind
it? What are you saying?
FOREIGN SECRETARY: I am not saying anything about this or that
specific incident. But I think I would draw your attention to the fact
that time and again this Government has said that there is an
infrastructure of terrorism across the border which has not been
dismantled, that there are training camps across the border which have
not been dismantled, that attempts at infiltration continue from
across the line of control and the border, and that this will of
course impact the peace process.
QUESTION: In the wake of this visit, what is the position of India on
PSI?
FOREIGN SECRETARY: We have said that unless India is in the core group
of countries and is familiar with what kind of procedures are being
drawn up for this kind of initiative, it would be difficult for us to
say yes or no. That is because for us it is very important to know
that whatever this initiative is coming up with is in accord with the
international law, is in accord with maritime law. So, this is
something which is very important to us. What is the context within
which we are talking about such a Proliferation Security Initiative?
So once we have clarity in terms of the various provisions of this
initiative, and when we are in a position to also contribute to the
drawing up of those measures; it is still an open question.
Thank you
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