ID :
209166
Sat, 09/24/2011 - 13:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/209166
The shortlink copeid
PM to visit Iran
From Yoshita Singh and V S Chandrasekar
New York, Sep 24 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh will visit Iran on a date to be decided mutually after
consultations.
Singh accepted in principle the invitation of Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad to visit Iran when the two
leaders met Saturday on the sidelines of the UN General
Assembly session currently on here.
The dates for the visit will be decided by the two sides
after diplomatic consultations. This was the first meeting
between the two leaders after a long time and they reviewed
bilateral relations, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told
reporters while briefing them about the meeting.
If Singh visits Iran, it will be the first Prime
Ministerial visit after 10 years when former PM Atal Bihari
Vajpayee made a trip to Tehran in 2001. There have been visits
at other levels over the years between the two countries. Lok
Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar will also be visiting Iran shortly.
The meeting also decided the Joint Economic Commission
between the two sides will be meeting soon to be co-chaired by
the Foreign Minister of Iran.
The two leaders reviewed situation in Afghanistan and
discussed developments in West Asia and North Africa. They
also agreed to review the Non-Aligned Movement which will be
chaired next by Tehran.
Replying to a question whether the meeting between Singh
and Ahmedinejad will have any impact on the Indo-US relations
against the backdrop of American officials walking out during
a speech by the Iranian President earlier in the week, Mathai
said the focus of the two leaders was on bilateral issues.
The Iranian President would be the next Chairman of the
NAM, he noted.Asked about the issue of safety net against the backdrop of Iran and Israel emerging as nuclear powers in the region,
Mathai said the nuclear problem was not discussed.
The emphasis was on bilateral ties and this issue was
not discussed, he said.
On Afghanistan, both the countries felt that the
dispensation in Afghanistan should be Afghan-led.
To a question on India's reaction to General Mike
Mullen's comments that Haqqani network and Pakistan's ISI were
involved in the killing of former Afghan President Rabbani,
Mathai said India's position on terrorism was well known but
he would not comment on what the US official had said.
The Prime Minister also met Sri Lankan President Mahinda
Rajapakse and discussed bilateral relations and issues of
mutual interest. Rajapakse briefed him on proposals for
devolution of power and the discussions between Tamil National
Alliance.
The President also told Singh that parallel discussions
were on in the Parliament Select Committee on the issue.
The leaders also discussed the resettlement of displaced
persons and the fishing issue. A Joint Working Group on
fisheries was also discussed.
Asked whether the issue of alleged human rights abuses
in Sri Lanka was discussed in the context of a case being
filed in a New York court, Mathai said the discussion was in
general terms for addressing these issues in the island.
"Our Prime Minister noted that successful conclusion of
the problems of the Tamil people preclude the need for outside
intervention in Sri Lanka."
Singh also met the newly elected Japanese Prime Minister
Yoshihiko Noda and congratulated him on his election. The two
Prime Ministers noted that there has been an intensification
of the relationship with Japan in the last few years.
The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement,
regional affairs in the context of the upcoming East Asia
Summit and global partnership between India and Japan also
came up in the meeting.
He also said the gas pipeline proposal between India and
Iran was not discussed, adding a wide range of economic issues
including long term cooperation were discussed.
PM-IRAN 3 LAST
The two agreed to continue discussion on nuclear
cooperation, noting that all countries were reviewing safety
aspects. Japan suffered a severe nuclear accident when it was
hit by a tsunami earlier this year. It was agreed at the
meeting that the G-4 cooperation should continue on the UN
Security Council reforms.
Meanwhile, Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna
attended a meeting of the G-4 countries involving India,
Brazil, Japan and Germany, when they reiterated their common
vision for the enlarged UN Security Council taking into
account the contributions made by the countries to
international peace and security.
Krishna also attended a meeting of the BRIC (Brazil,
Russia, India and China) as Chair of the grouping which will
have its next summit in March-April in 2012. The BRIC foreign
ministers discussed the situation in Libya, Syria and
Palestine, early accession of Russia to WTO and climate
change.
New York, Sep 24 (PTI) Indian Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh will visit Iran on a date to be decided mutually after
consultations.
Singh accepted in principle the invitation of Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad to visit Iran when the two
leaders met Saturday on the sidelines of the UN General
Assembly session currently on here.
The dates for the visit will be decided by the two sides
after diplomatic consultations. This was the first meeting
between the two leaders after a long time and they reviewed
bilateral relations, Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told
reporters while briefing them about the meeting.
If Singh visits Iran, it will be the first Prime
Ministerial visit after 10 years when former PM Atal Bihari
Vajpayee made a trip to Tehran in 2001. There have been visits
at other levels over the years between the two countries. Lok
Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar will also be visiting Iran shortly.
The meeting also decided the Joint Economic Commission
between the two sides will be meeting soon to be co-chaired by
the Foreign Minister of Iran.
The two leaders reviewed situation in Afghanistan and
discussed developments in West Asia and North Africa. They
also agreed to review the Non-Aligned Movement which will be
chaired next by Tehran.
Replying to a question whether the meeting between Singh
and Ahmedinejad will have any impact on the Indo-US relations
against the backdrop of American officials walking out during
a speech by the Iranian President earlier in the week, Mathai
said the focus of the two leaders was on bilateral issues.
The Iranian President would be the next Chairman of the
NAM, he noted.Asked about the issue of safety net against the backdrop of Iran and Israel emerging as nuclear powers in the region,
Mathai said the nuclear problem was not discussed.
The emphasis was on bilateral ties and this issue was
not discussed, he said.
On Afghanistan, both the countries felt that the
dispensation in Afghanistan should be Afghan-led.
To a question on India's reaction to General Mike
Mullen's comments that Haqqani network and Pakistan's ISI were
involved in the killing of former Afghan President Rabbani,
Mathai said India's position on terrorism was well known but
he would not comment on what the US official had said.
The Prime Minister also met Sri Lankan President Mahinda
Rajapakse and discussed bilateral relations and issues of
mutual interest. Rajapakse briefed him on proposals for
devolution of power and the discussions between Tamil National
Alliance.
The President also told Singh that parallel discussions
were on in the Parliament Select Committee on the issue.
The leaders also discussed the resettlement of displaced
persons and the fishing issue. A Joint Working Group on
fisheries was also discussed.
Asked whether the issue of alleged human rights abuses
in Sri Lanka was discussed in the context of a case being
filed in a New York court, Mathai said the discussion was in
general terms for addressing these issues in the island.
"Our Prime Minister noted that successful conclusion of
the problems of the Tamil people preclude the need for outside
intervention in Sri Lanka."
Singh also met the newly elected Japanese Prime Minister
Yoshihiko Noda and congratulated him on his election. The two
Prime Ministers noted that there has been an intensification
of the relationship with Japan in the last few years.
The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement,
regional affairs in the context of the upcoming East Asia
Summit and global partnership between India and Japan also
came up in the meeting.
He also said the gas pipeline proposal between India and
Iran was not discussed, adding a wide range of economic issues
including long term cooperation were discussed.
PM-IRAN 3 LAST
The two agreed to continue discussion on nuclear
cooperation, noting that all countries were reviewing safety
aspects. Japan suffered a severe nuclear accident when it was
hit by a tsunami earlier this year. It was agreed at the
meeting that the G-4 cooperation should continue on the UN
Security Council reforms.
Meanwhile, Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna
attended a meeting of the G-4 countries involving India,
Brazil, Japan and Germany, when they reiterated their common
vision for the enlarged UN Security Council taking into
account the contributions made by the countries to
international peace and security.
Krishna also attended a meeting of the BRIC (Brazil,
Russia, India and China) as Chair of the grouping which will
have its next summit in March-April in 2012. The BRIC foreign
ministers discussed the situation in Libya, Syria and
Palestine, early accession of Russia to WTO and climate
change.
