ID :
195602
Mon, 07/18/2011 - 13:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/195602
The shortlink copeid
Aus refusal to sell uranium is not anti-India: Varghese
From Natasha Chaku
Melbourne, Jul 18 (PTI) Australia's refusal to sell
uranium to India is "not anti-India" and it should not derail
the growing bilateral relationship, Peter Varghese Australian
High Commissioner to India has said.
"Our policy on uranium sale is not anti-India policy but
pro-NPT policy and we ought not make the whole relationship
hostage to just one issue. And I don't think either government
wants to see that," Varghese told PTI here adding, "for the
moment our policy stands and we continue to talk to Indian
side".
In the past, ties between the two countries have suffered
because of two major issues- Australia's refusal to sell
uranium to India and violence against Indian students here.
Varghese, whose appointment came amidst overseas student
attack issue in 2009, said Australia was now focusing on
building a stronger relationship with India and post Indian
student attack crisis it was evident that there was a clear
need to build a strong people-to-people relationship.
"I think we need to do a lot of work in regards to
people-to-people relationship and student issue," he said.
Australia will be hosting cultural activities across
India next year to promote the country to Indian youths.
"We are doing a big cultural promotion of Australia in
India that will be held from September 2012 to January 2013.
We are going to take Australian innovations and art, culture,
design, architecture, to present Australia as a innovative and
creative country," Varghese said adding, the initiative would
be structured to target Indian youths.
On geo-strategic dialogue with India, Varghese said, "We
work well together in regional organisations that are
addressing questions of Asian security and Asian integration.
We are now working closely on Indian Ocean issues."
The diplomat said, "India has recently taken over as
chairman of the body (Indian Ocean Rim Association for
Regional Cooperation) and Australia has the vice-chairmanship.
We will have two years to work very closely on Indian Ocean
regional issues".
Further elaborating on the ongoing focus towards
building the ties, he said after US and Russia joining the
East Asian Summit, there was now right membership in place and
there was a need for finding a matching mandate for the group
during the summit.
"Building an agenda for the summit will be important and
we see it as the single important regional institution as its
inclusive not just for East Asia but also from US, India and
Australia," he said adding that for the first time the summit
will have a meeting of education ministers.
On multicultural cooperation, particularly G20, Varghese
said the two sides were also working together.
"Australia and India will be part of smaller group of
countries that are trying to get an outcome on Doha. So our
trade ministers are consulting daily on how the negotiations
are tracking.
We both are worried about a possibility of Doha round
not concluding in time. we both recognise the risk to the
international trading system if we don't get a good outcome,"
he said.
Varghese also said that he was also keen to develop
service to service linkages.
"We would like to see bilateral Naval exercise as held
at least regularly," he commented.
Currently, naval exercises between the two sides are
based opportunistically.
There was also interest to strengthened dialogue on
defence and security issues to be held at senior official
levels, he said.
Australia and India have also vowed to double two-way
trade flows within five years and agreed to work out a
far-reaching free trade deal to underpin further growth.
Australia's trade with India has been growing rapidly,
with exports, dominated by gold and coal, soaring from USD
11.8 billion to USD 20.0 billion over the past two years.
Trade is heavily in Australia's favour, with imports in
the past year of only USD 2.5 billion from India.
The Australian side has been particularly interested in
improving the ability for Australian services firms to operate
in India, while Australian farm producers want improved access
to Indian meat markets.
Trade between the two nations is now worth almost USD 20
billion a year.
Melbourne, Jul 18 (PTI) Australia's refusal to sell
uranium to India is "not anti-India" and it should not derail
the growing bilateral relationship, Peter Varghese Australian
High Commissioner to India has said.
"Our policy on uranium sale is not anti-India policy but
pro-NPT policy and we ought not make the whole relationship
hostage to just one issue. And I don't think either government
wants to see that," Varghese told PTI here adding, "for the
moment our policy stands and we continue to talk to Indian
side".
In the past, ties between the two countries have suffered
because of two major issues- Australia's refusal to sell
uranium to India and violence against Indian students here.
Varghese, whose appointment came amidst overseas student
attack issue in 2009, said Australia was now focusing on
building a stronger relationship with India and post Indian
student attack crisis it was evident that there was a clear
need to build a strong people-to-people relationship.
"I think we need to do a lot of work in regards to
people-to-people relationship and student issue," he said.
Australia will be hosting cultural activities across
India next year to promote the country to Indian youths.
"We are doing a big cultural promotion of Australia in
India that will be held from September 2012 to January 2013.
We are going to take Australian innovations and art, culture,
design, architecture, to present Australia as a innovative and
creative country," Varghese said adding, the initiative would
be structured to target Indian youths.
On geo-strategic dialogue with India, Varghese said, "We
work well together in regional organisations that are
addressing questions of Asian security and Asian integration.
We are now working closely on Indian Ocean issues."
The diplomat said, "India has recently taken over as
chairman of the body (Indian Ocean Rim Association for
Regional Cooperation) and Australia has the vice-chairmanship.
We will have two years to work very closely on Indian Ocean
regional issues".
Further elaborating on the ongoing focus towards
building the ties, he said after US and Russia joining the
East Asian Summit, there was now right membership in place and
there was a need for finding a matching mandate for the group
during the summit.
"Building an agenda for the summit will be important and
we see it as the single important regional institution as its
inclusive not just for East Asia but also from US, India and
Australia," he said adding that for the first time the summit
will have a meeting of education ministers.
On multicultural cooperation, particularly G20, Varghese
said the two sides were also working together.
"Australia and India will be part of smaller group of
countries that are trying to get an outcome on Doha. So our
trade ministers are consulting daily on how the negotiations
are tracking.
We both are worried about a possibility of Doha round
not concluding in time. we both recognise the risk to the
international trading system if we don't get a good outcome,"
he said.
Varghese also said that he was also keen to develop
service to service linkages.
"We would like to see bilateral Naval exercise as held
at least regularly," he commented.
Currently, naval exercises between the two sides are
based opportunistically.
There was also interest to strengthened dialogue on
defence and security issues to be held at senior official
levels, he said.
Australia and India have also vowed to double two-way
trade flows within five years and agreed to work out a
far-reaching free trade deal to underpin further growth.
Australia's trade with India has been growing rapidly,
with exports, dominated by gold and coal, soaring from USD
11.8 billion to USD 20.0 billion over the past two years.
Trade is heavily in Australia's favour, with imports in
the past year of only USD 2.5 billion from India.
The Australian side has been particularly interested in
improving the ability for Australian services firms to operate
in India, while Australian farm producers want improved access
to Indian meat markets.
Trade between the two nations is now worth almost USD 20
billion a year.
