Clinton to Gujral: US does not want to interfere in India's problems
C K Arora and Dhirendra Bisht in New York
President Bill Clinton has sought to remove
India's apprehensions by declaring that the United States has no intention to
interfere in its problems with Pakistan.
The assurance came at a 45-minute meeting with Prime
Minister I K Gujral in New York.
Avoiding any direct mention of Kashmir,
the president preferred to refer to the
50-year-old dispute as India's problem with Pakistan.
The talks, however, did not include India's candidature for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
President Clinton explained, ''We are very careful not to
interfere in any way with the issues you have with Pakistan.''
He said the US extended full support to the recently resumed
India-Pakistan dialogue and believed it would ultimately lead to
a solution.
He expressed his
appreciation of the Gujral Doctrine which aimed at improving
India's relations with its neighbours.
US officials, at a press briefing on
the summit, stated that Clinton commended
Gujral for his policy towards other nations in the region.
The discussion also featured the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban
Treaty, CTBT, with the intention of exploring the
possibilities of arriving at a common agenda on disarmament.
Gujral accepted Clinton's offer for greater
co-operation between the two countries on the issue of disarmament.
The prime minister, on his part, explained India's stance on CTBT
and other issues related to disarmament. ''I would be
pleased to engage with you on these issues,'' Gujral said on
global security and peace.
Acknowledging their differences on
disarmament, Clinton said, "But we want to have full
relations with India, across the board, and on the issue of
disarmament.''
A senior state department official stated that
discussion on the issues would continue in
the months ahead, especially during the president's proposed
visit to the region early next year.
In response to a specific query on whether the Kashmir issue was discussed, the state department official
revealed that the two leaders were aware of the sensitive nature of the subject.
He, however added that everyone understood the issues that existed between the two
countries.
The official further described the discussion between the two
leaders as ''very cordial, warm and thoughtful.''.
He stated that the president and prime minister agreed to maintain
their engagement on a variety of issues.
At the outset, Gujral clarified that India had
been trying to sort out its problems with Pakistan. He added that though it would
take time, the United Front government had the will and capability to solve
them.
Official sources revealed that India's candidature for a permanent seat in the reformed UN Security Council did not
figure at the summit.
The official further stated that India's position on the issue was
very well known to the Clinton administration. The issue, however, would
be discussed at several levels between the two countries during the session
of the UN General Assembly.
The two leaders also exchanged views on strengthening
ties, especially in economic and trade relations. The US is
India's largest trade partner and tops the list of foreign
investors in the country. The leaders agreed on the great potential for
closer economic ties between the two countries which should be realised.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who was present at the meeting, explained the steps India had
taken to attract more investment in spheres like power and
infrastructure.
Gujral was also assisted by
Foreign Secretary K Raghunath, his Principal Secretary
N N Vohra and India's Ambassador to the US
Naresh Chandra.
President Clinton's team consisted of Secretary of State Madeleine
Albright, National Security Advisor Sandy Berger, Undersecretary of
State Thomas Pickering and Assistant Secretary of State for South
Asia Karl Inderfurth.
Before his meeting with Gujral, Clinton met
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief. Kashmir featured as a major issue during
the discussion.
The CTBT, however, did not figure in the Clinton-
Sharief discussion as Pakistan has supported the pact at the
United Nations.
Earlier, the prime minister also held bilateral
discussions with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma and the foreign
ministers of China, France, Iran and Russia.
Official sources said the supply of tanks from Ukraine to Pakistan was among the issues discussed with the Ukrainian president.
The prime minister's talks with Chinese Vice-Premier
and Foreign Minister Qian Qichen were described as ''very substantive.''
Qian said India and Pakistan should sort
their bilateral problems, including Kashmir mutually.
The prime minister, due to visit France next month, discussed
India's case for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council
with French Foreign Minister
Hubert Vedrine.
Meanwhile, speaking at a dinner hosted by him for members of the India Caucus and selected CEOs, the prime minister
said India and the United States were far closer
today than before.
Among those who attended the dinner were Congressmen Frank
Pallone, who was part of the US delegation that attended Mother
Teresa's funeral in Calcutta recently. Others present were James Mcdermott,
Gary Ackerman and Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney.
UNI
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