India PM's Post-trip statement

[Guest guest]

Prime Minister Vajpayee's statement after arriving from a

three-nation-tour to Russia, USA and UK

 

November 13, 2001

New Delhi

 

I return to Delhi from London tomorrow on completion of deeply

satisfying visits to Russia, USA and UK. I addressed the UNGA

and met the Presidents of Argentina, Cyprus and Iran and the

Prime Minister of Mauritius on the margins of the General

Assembly.

 

The visit to Russia enabled a further consolidation of our

bilateral strategic partnership. My discussions with President

Putin and the Russian leadership confirmed the congruence of

geo-strategic outlook between us, and the enormous scope for

further economic cooperation. The Moscow Declaration on

Terrorism and our bilateral joint statement, along with the

several agreements concluded during the visit, set out the

outlines of future cooperation. Our defence cooperation and

cooperation in atomic energy and space are proceeding

smoothly and we agreed on the contours of their future

development.

 

My talks with President Bush centered on our perspectives on

the India-US partnership for the future. President Bush was

categorical on the commitment of his Administration to a

comprehensive and all-round intensification of our bilateral

relations over a wide canvas. The lifting of economic sanctions

should facilitate high technology transfers, cooperation in space

and defence, and collaboration in the civilian applications of

atomic energy. We have agreed to discuss these aspects in

detail in the framework of a resumed and enlarged Bilateral

Economic Dialogue and in other bilateral forums. Our relations

with USA have strengthened significantly, and I believe there are

excellent long-term prospects for their expansion and

diversification.

 

During my working visit to UK, I exchanged views with Prime

Minister Tony Blair. The talks illustrated, yet again, the

convergence of our views on all major international issues. We

reviewed the entire range of bilateral relations. This will be

carried forward in greater detail during the forthcoming official

visit to India of Prime Minister Tony Blair and Mrs. Blair.

 

In my discussions with leadership of Russia, USA and UK and

in my other bilateral interactions, I found an identity of views on

tackling and countering international terrorism. All the leaders

agreed that terrorism should be tackled on a global and

comprehensive manner, that no political, economic or

ideological justification for terrorism is acceptable; and that the

international community should summon the necessary political

will to ensure that funding and all forms of safe haven for

terrorists are cut off effectively everywhere.

 

Similarly, there was a convergence of views on action for the

future of Afghanistan. I stressed the need or a broad-based,

representative and neutral government, and for effective

participation by the international community in rehabilitation and

reconstruction in that country. Our view that the 6+2 process

should be expanded to make it more representative and

effective, found wide agreement in Russia, USA and UK. We will

be discussing further, with these and other countries, the

formation of a representative group of countries, including India,

which would engage in the political and humanitarian

arrangements in Afghanistan.

 

In sum, therefore, my visit served to enlarge and deepen the

areas of understanding and agreement with our friends and

partners.