PM's highly successful Iran visit

[Guest guest]

Press statement on Prime Minister's visit to Iran

 

 

Press statement on Prime Minister's visit to Iran

by Foreign Affairs Cell of BJP:

 

 

The BJP welcomes the recent highly successful visit of the Prime

Minister, Shri Vajpayee to Iran.

 

 

The visit has helped further reaffirm and reinforce the historic,

cultural and civilisational dimensions of Indo-Iranian relations.

Both countries have emphasised their commitment to the preservation

of peace, security and stability in the region and have expressed

concern at the increasing threat of terrorism and extremism to states

in the region.

 

 

The Prime Minister was able to secure Iran's support and

understanding for an examination of alternate schemes for pipeline

option through appropriate mechanisms for offshore and on land

pipeline from Iran to India.

 

 

India's offer of a credit line of US dollars 200 million as a token

of India's desire to play a role in Iran's economic reconstruction

process, holds considerable promise for the future of Indo-Iran

economic relations.

 

 

Indo-Iran relations have been imparted a major thrust by the Prime

Minister's visit and a relationship which has always held much

promise is now poised for extensive flowering to the mutual benefit

of both countries.

 

 

The visit has also heralded distinct gains for India regionally,

especially among the Islamic countries. These can be summed up as

follows:- i.

 

i. The Prime Minister's affirmation of India's secular credentials

and his assertion that we do not consider any religion foreign to us,

will greatly help reassure our friends in the Islamic world;

 

ii. Terrorism has been condemned in all its forms;

 

iii. The unity, territorial integrity as well as independence of

Afghanistan has been highlighted;

 

iv. The establishment of a genuinely broad based government in

Afghanistan, representing the aspirations of the Afghan people, has

been strongly supported;

 

v. The entire area, presently in the grip of extremism has been

described as an area of terrorism and illegal trade in narcotics;

 

vi. The overall tone and tenor of the visit would, no doubt, have

prompted the Chinese Government, as stated a few days ago in Beijing,

to recognise a role for India in the resolution of the Afghan

situation.

 

(Dr. Ram Kripal Sinha)

Office Secretary