Former Kazakh envoy recalls pitfalls of border talks with China

New Delhi

18 February 2007

The Central Asian republics have generally good relations with

China but some of them lost out territorially and politically to China on the negotiating

table, according to a former ambassador of Kazakhstan to China.

Murat Mukhtarovich Auezov, who was Kazakhstan's first ambassador to China from 1992

to 1995, is particularly critical of the manner in which China approached the boundary

dispute with Kazakhstan.

He told this newspaper in New Delhi that Kazakhstan and certain other Central Asian

republics may have resolved their border disputes with China to Beijing's advantage

and invited avoidable problems along the way.

Referring to the pitfalls of negotiating with a neighbour like China, he says it (resolution

of border) was a "big mistake" because Kazakhstan has ended up with an agreement

that "serves China's interests, not Central Asia's".

The Central Asian republics did not stand united then and they are only now beginning to

realise the enormity of the attendant problems, like Chinese migration, which has

brought in its wake demographic and political concerns.

According to data put out by the Chinese Foreign Ministry in 2005, China has signed

border treaties or agreements with 12 neighbouring countries and demarcated 90 per

cent its land boundaries, with the exception of India.

"The special representatives [of India and China] will intensify their work to seek for a

fair, rational framework acceptable to both in accordance with the political guiding

principles", Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Jiang Yu said recently.

Mr Murat Auezov (65) is in India on an 11-day visit. Last week he participated in a round

table discussion on "The Issue of Historical-Cultural Interactions between India and

Kazakhstan". The Indian Council of World Affairs organised it.

He is the son of the legendary writer Mukhtar Auezov, who wrote the book "My India",

based on his travels in India in 1955. Mr Murat, who is on his fifth visit to India, intends

to retrace his father's journeys in India. His first visit was in 1972.

Mr Murat says the Central Asian countries may have benefited from the oil transit money

received from China but they have had to pay a price for it by settling the issue of water

resources, including cross-border rivers, to the advantage of China.

He feels the expanding Chinese economic and trade ties has given rise to political and

demographic threats. China and the Republic of Kazakhstan established diplomatic

relations on January 3, 1992.

When Kazakhstan became an independent state almost a decade ago, it inherited a

border conflict with China that dates back several centuries. In 1998, China and

Kazakhstan reached a broad understanding on the border dispute.

Lot of homework to do before election can be held: Koirala daughter

New Delhi

14 February 2007

Nepal lawmaker Sujata Koirala has said that her country has "a lot of

homework to do" before constituent assembly election can be held, including instilling a

"fear-free atmosphere" so that people can vote freely and fairly.

"Fear-free atmosphere is still not there ... people are still scared so we have to make that

atmosphere so that people can go and vote peacefully," she told this newspaper. Ms

Koirala is in New Delhi on a private visit.

Ms Koirala is a member of parliament and the head of international relation department

of Nepali Congress party. She is the daughter of Nepal Prime Minister Girija Prasad

Koirala.

"Maoists are still carrying guns and running around Kathmandu ... their weapons have to

come into the container. The United Nations is monitoring arms management; first we

have to sort that problem as soon as possible," she said.

"We still have a lot of things to settle with different groups of people with dialogue, we

are still in the process of giving citizenship. There is a big citizenship propblem in Nepal

because only the citizens can vote.

"Then we have still not decided what kind of voting pattern will be ... proportionate, one

box or two box system ... some are demaiding for the country to be one constituency and

vote for the parties, not the persons.

"These are all kinds of electroal processes which we are still discussing ... which one is

the best for the country and how we should go, which would suit the best for Nepal," Ms

Koirala explained.

She reiterated that Nepal Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula must quit to save the

Nepali Congress party from embarrassment. The Madheshi Janadhikar Forum has said it

would not sit with the government for dialogue unless Sitaula resigned.

"Law and order is very weak and there is a demand from all groups of people ... people

are speaking in Parliament, I also spoke about the resignation of home minister. People

in Terai are especially insecure with this law and order situation.

Even in the big agitation only 19 people died in three and a half years and in one month

more than 30 people have died ... He should resign on moral grounds, otherwise it will

give a very bad impression on Nepali Congress," she said.

US scientist says attack on Iran will hit India the most, pose health hazards for generations to come

New Delhi

13 February 2007

An American geoscientist has warned that India is "downwind" of

Iran and is therefore predisposed to the harmful, radiation-laded winds that will blow

eastwards if the United States were to attack Iran using depleted uranium in dirty bombs

or bunker busters like it did in 2003 in Iraq.

Ms Leuren Moret, a former employee of the Livermore nuclear weapons laboratory in the

US who now works as an independent activist on the use of depleted uranium, warns of

the health and environmental effects of the use of depleted uranium by the US in armour-

piercing shells, which will have disastrous consequences for generations of Indians to

come.

"India has [already] been contaminated by the depleted uranium used in Iraq,

Yugoslavia, Lebanon and Afghanistan which is blowing off the Himalayas all over the

northern India," she told this newspaper during a visit to New Delhi. (A bunker buster is

said to contain about two tonnes of depleted uranium.)

Ms Moret says, "What India [needs] to under stand is first of all they've been nuked,

they've been completely contaminated through contamination of the Himalayas ... you

don't have to drop a nuclear bomb on a country to nuke it, you can contaminate the

water, the soil and the air, and no one even knows. India doesn't even realise this".

She cautions that this "covert nuclear war" extends to selling nuclear power plants to

India and other "tiger economies". "[Selling nuclear plants] is second covert nuclear war

we will have a tsunami of chronic illness [and] humanity won’t survive this covert

nuclear war," she observes.

Ms Moret, who is a past president of the Association for Women Geoscientists, warns of

an exponential increase in diseases like diabetes and cancer in India because of this

contamination. "India [has] a pandemic of diabetes and it is from the atmospheric testing

[conducted by certain countries] which contaminated the Himalayas," she asserts.

She cites Japanese, Norwegian and British government data to suggest that there is a

global increase in the incidence of cancer, diabetes and other diseases. "We've got it all

-- obesity, cancer, low birthweight, etc -- and we're exporting it to [India]," she told this

newspaper.

Adviser to Indian Space Research Organisation Prof MGK Menon says that what

constitutes a crime against humanity merits serious consideration. "We have a lot of

depleted uranium in India but we have never put it on armour piercing shells. We have

used tungsten," he says, referring to Ms Moret's claims.

Prof Menon adds, "The depleted uranium is used for its weight, burning capability and

armour piercing characteristic ... The US used it in Yugoslavia and Iraq. Uranium

vaporises [and can contaminate] soil, water and [can get] into humans. It is alpha-

emitting and has a long life, therefore anything ingested is damaging for generations to

come".

A former Union minister of state for science and technology, Prof Menon has held

several important posts including scientific adviser to Prime Minister, scientific adviser

to Defence Minister, director general of Defence Research and Development

Organisation and chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation.

Ms Moret tells skeptics who label all of this as conspiracy theory that there are "very

well established studies" on Hiroshima and Nagasaki victims and on the Chernobyl

survivors establishing that radiation causes diabetes. "It's not just a correlation, it's a

causal effect," she asserts.

"There are also studies around nuclear power plants linking radiation in the emissions

from nuclear power plants to diabetes. We've a lot of studies in the US [where]

hypothyroidism in babies is linked to nuclear power plants," she told this correspondent

when asked about the veracity of her claims.

Saarc must play political role for resolving conflicts: Chandrika

New Delhi

12 February 2007

The only way forward is for the SAARC to play a political role in conflicts in Sri Lanka and by extension across the region, according to a former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.

"Today ceasefire is officially there but we have a de facto military conflict [in Sri Lanka]. Bombs are going off from time to time, killing large numbers of people. I [can be] frank [that] the only forward is for the SAARC to play a political role in resolving conflict," she told this newspaper on the sidelines of Rotary South Asia Goodwill Summit 2007 in New Delhi. She said that the SAARC charter has not been implemented fully.

On the situation in her country, Ms Kumaratunga said, "[It] requires a government that is honest and truly committed for resolving problems through negotiations." In an oblique reference to the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, she said, "I do not know about the regime today [but] we have had governments that did not believe in [negotiating through dialogue]."

"I believe the first serious opening for negotiations [came during my presidency] but extremists on the Simhala side opposed it [despite the fact that] they had a five per cent vote. The Supreme Court made it difficult for us to implement by putting restrictions on the accord and my presidency ended," she recalled.

Ms Kumaratunga is expected to meet with President APJ Abdul Kalam during her stay in New Delhi.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has told the BBC that his government's peace pact with the LTTE was a mistake. He expected India to be more sensitive and support Sri Lanka in its efforts to help solve the conflict in the country.

"India is the closest country to Sri Lanka; it's the main country. There's a very close relationship where the culture, people and traditions are well connected. With the prevailing situation, India should be more sensitive. I would like to remind people that India has learnt lessons from Sri Lanka, and solved the problem in Nepal. That is why I think and I believe India can still play a major role in this issue, as compared to any other country," he has said.

Pakistan not doing enough to fight terror: Russia

Anatoly E Safonov

Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cooperation in the Fight Against Terrorism and Transnational Organised Crime

New Delhi

24 October 2006

Reserving its opinion on the India-Pakistan anti-terrorism

institutional mechanism, Russia has said Pakistan was not doing enough to fight

terrorism in general or to improve the security situation in Afghanistan in particular.

"Islamabad is doing a lot to fight terrorism but not enough ... it is insufficient ... this is my

impartial assessment," Special Representative of the President of the Russian

Federation for International Cooperation in the Fight Against Terrorism and Transnational

Organised Crime Anatoly E Safonov told this newspaper.

On Tuesday, Mr Safonov and his delegation met with their Indian counterparts led by

Additional Secretary (International Organisations) KC Singh in the Ministry of External

Affairs for the fourth meeting of the India-Russia joint working group on counter-terrorism.

Referring to the July 11 Mumbai train blasts, Mr Safonov said India and Russia would

continue "concrete cooperation" to further their "strategic goals". Alluding to "double

standards" in the cooperation against terrorism and disagreement among countries over

the definition of a terrorist, Mr Safonov said India had faced terrorism even before the

September 11, 2001 attacks in New York. "The enemy was not born on 9/11," he

observed, "[Russia] has noted with dissatisfaction that international cooperation is not

adequate to the scope of threat."

"The Taliban and the Al Qaeda are very active, inflitration is taking place and hostilities

are taking place too. [Elsewhere,] terrorism is spreading its roots, so the problem is

long-term. It is not enough to extinguish the flames, the need is for destroying the

breeding ground," he said, drawing a parallel with how malaria can be controlled not by

by doctors alone but by drying up the swamps that breed mosquitoes.

The Russian president's emissary was equally critical of Washington's role in

Afghanistan and of the US-backed government in Kabul in tackling the narcotics problem.

"Apart from his will which Karzai voices, we do not see noticeable results. The size of

seized drugs is larger and governors and officials may have been sacked or substituted

but [the response] does not correspond to the threat," Mr Safonov said.

Safonov said Afghanistan will see a "record-breaking" production of heroin worth an

estimated 6,200 tonnes, most of which will reach Europe via Russia or funnelled

eastwards through India. "No effort is also being made to stem the inflow of precursors

(used in the manufacture of drugs) into Afghanistan," he added.

Darfur: UN turns to India for diplomatic help

New Delhi

19 September 2006

The United Nations is desperately seeking allies who can influence the government in Khartoum to avoid a meltdown in Darfur and has turned to India for help -- diplomatic and military.

The world body believes India can play a crucial role by leveraging its traditional links with Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's Government to lean on him to welcome a UN peacekeeping force in Darfur.

"India has a special influential relationship with Sudan. [President] Bashir has himself

boasted of good links with India. India has profited from making investments in Sudan,

[so] you need to help us (UN) more actively to avoid meltdown in Darfur. I like to see a

more front row diplomatic exercise by India," UN Under-Secretary-General for

Humanitarian Affairs Jan Egeland told this newspaper via telephone from New York.

Mr Egeland said media reports have quoted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir as

saying on the sidelines of the recently concluded Non Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit

at Havana in Cuba that his country enjoyed strong trading links with countries like India,

Pakistan, China and Malaysia, suggesting that he was not particularly worried about

adverse international reaction.

"I make a strong appeal to India [because] Darfur is now really facing a moment of truth.

In Darfur, more than three million people are in acute need of assistance and we cannot

anymore protect them or provide as we should ... the situation is totally untenable

because of infighting among the groups and military operations," he observed as the

international community presses for deployment of a 20,000 UN peacekeeping force to

supplement or supplant the 7,000 African Union force.

"India is the largest democracy, it is a generous troop contributing country. India has to

be in the front row of diplomatic effort to convince parties in Sudan that [the world] cannot

tolerate another collapse. I hope India will make efforts to convince and influence the

Khartoum Government," Mr Egeland observed. "Western powers," he added as an

afterthought, "have limited influence and the UN needs to see a much more active

diplomacy leading to results [in Darfur]."

"Come October, there can be two possible scenarios. One, AMIS (African Mission in

Sudan) is extended and the African Union force is transformed into a UN force with

soldiers from Asia including India. Two, AMIS leaves to make a bad situation

catastrophic. Do the main trade partners of Sudan like India need a catastrophe?

Therefore an immediate high-level urgent action is needed now," he said, and suggested

India to send "envoys to Khartoum soon".

Mr Egeland said there has been an "active discussion" with India as a troop contributing

country and deployment of Indian peacekeeping troops in Darfur "will be very good".

"Our only hope is a general agreement on an effective UN force on ground because

African Union force, in spite of all efforts, has not been able to protect civilians or

stabilise the security situation. Large parts of Darfur are no-go areas," he added.

Pursue war on terror with common sense and sensitivity: David Cameron

New Delhi

6 September 2006

Conservative Party leader David Cameron believes Britain has made certain mistakes in the war on terror and it was time countries, including his own, employed "a mix of common sense and sensitivity and knowledge" to retain community cohesion while combating the threat posed by terrorists.

"All terrorists are not Asians," the Conservative Party leader on Wednesday said in a freewheeling interview to this newspaper. "It is possible to be both Muslim and repeat and Briton or Indian ... India is a good example [of this]," he said, extolling the virtues of pluralism and secularism he observed here.

The Opposition leader said he was for maintaining "maximum cross-party support and consensus" on foreign policy but maintained that Britain needed to "look back and make a candid assessment" of where it went wrong. "Inevitably, mistakes have been made," he said when asked about Britain's role in the war on terror.

There were lessons to be learned, he said, echoing a speech he delivered in Mumbai a day earlier. In that spech, he mentioned how the world admired the calm and measured way in which India has coped with terrorism and the role it can play in helping to resolve problems and in "rebalancing [a] changing world".

The 40-year-old Tory leader, who hopes to become Prime Minister in the next elections, felt open societies should resist the tempation of racial profiling of ethnic minorities or stereotyping a community as being fanatical or harbouring extremist tendencies. "Richard Reid was not an Asian," he wondered aloud.

(Reid, a British national, was arrested on December 22, 2001 for attempting to destroy American Airlines Flight 63 from Charles De Gaulle International Airport in Paris to Miami International Airport in the United States by igniting explosives hidden in his shoes. He is serving a life term in an American prison.)

"Britain is a tolerant country [but we need] to do more in that regard. There is a high level of threat to Britons from Islamist terrorism. Policing is needed to separate the terrorists from the communities in which they swim [for which] we need the help of the vast majority of moderates to weed out the extremists," he said.

He said India was an important ally in the war on terror but insisted that Britain would want to to work with Pakistan and "encourage [it] to come to grips with the problem". "Britain has an important role in Afghanistan's Helmand province ... Taliban insurgents are crossing over from Pakistan and this needs to be controlled."

Cameron clarified that his party welcomed immigration but it needed to be "controlled" and "measured". "I am pro-controlled immigration," he replied when asked about his position on the issue. He welcomed the "huge contribution" made by people of Indian origin living in Britain, both economically and culturally.

Stand-alone ceasefire serves no purpose, Hezbollah has to be neutralised: Israeli envoy

New Delhi

4 August 2006

Israel has no quarrel with Lebanon and does not wish to extend the over three-week-old conflict beyond the periphery of Lebanon but the Government of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has a stake in ensuring that Hezbollah never dares to attack Israel again. Therefore the conflict will continue until a satisfactory arrangement is achieved, according to Ambassador of Israel to India David Danieli.

"We have no interest in Lebanon's internal affairs and we do not wish to drag Syria or Iran [into the conflict] but at the same time we want them (Syria and Iran) to draw lessons from this conflict," he said in an interview to this newspaper. The Israeli envoy went on to state that ceasefire would not serve any purpose because doing so will enable Hezbollah to rearm and regroup.

"Ceasefire requires broader arrangement ... stand-alone ceasefire does not serve any purpose. [Ceasefire] is one element in overall sustainable, long-term arrangement so it can happen only if a multinational force brings to a complete halt the terrorist acts by Syria and Iran. Any arrangement will not hold water until then," Mr Danieli said justifying Israel's military incursions into Lebanon.

"Conclusion of conflict requires fundamental change in security situation along the border between Israel and Lebanon. The key elements are the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559, disarming of Hezbollah and asserting the authority of Government of Lebanon over its territory. A military and political mechanism is required besides removing [the] terrorist threat," he said.

The Israeli envoy said the "jehadi war" left Israel with no choice but to "take matters in its own hand" and retaliate. "The conflict is not about occupation of Lebanon or about Palestine. The Sheba Farms issue or the landmines supposedly left behind by Israel or even the Lebanese prisoners ... those are poor excuses. The main issue is jehadi war being waged by Tehran's agent," he observed.

He cited the "jehadi war by [Iran's] proxy in service of ideology which is repeated by its infamous president" to invoke Israel's "legitimate right of self defence". On Israel getting isolated, he said: "We wish to be loved [from] east [to] west but at what cost and for how long [can we be] good guys playing according to expectations?" However, he evaded a straight reply when asked if Israel could have played by the rules of combat.

EU jockeying for role in J&K, flaunts mediating skills

Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne

European Parliament's rapporteur on Jammu and Kashmir

New Delhi

28 June 2006

The European Union "hopes to be helpful" in nudging India and

Pakistan towards a rapprochement but will not "step in uninvited" to mediate, according

to European Parliament's rapporteur on Jammu and Kashmir Baroness Emma Nicholson

of Winterbourne.

She, however, believes the EU has the right credentials for facilitating reconciliation and

refers the "excellent mediating skills" displayed by the EU in negotiations with Iran on

the nuclear issue as a case in point. She is in India to prepare a dossier on Jammu and

Kashmir for the benefit of European Parliament.

In an interview to this newspaper, Baroness Nicholson says her report on J&K will focus

on political issues like terrorism, democracy and human rights. She has visited Pakistan

and met with Premier Shaukat Aziz and Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri. In

New Delhi she has met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Iran and Afghanistan also figured in her discussions with Dr Singh. In Islamabad she

discussed Indo-Pak confidence building measures with the Pakistani leaders and

recounts how during her travel to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir she "saw first hand" a bus

ferrying passengers across the Line of Control.

Baroness Nicholson's observations bear a similarity to to European Parliament's

resolutions in the past. For instance, the October 2001 resolution on Kashmir read, "[The

European Parliament] asks the EU to [act] as an honest broker to both India and Pakistan

with a view to facilitating the process".

A more recent resolution dated November 17, 2005, in turn, read: "[EU] calls [on India

and Pakistan] to continue with the process that should, while involving the population

concerned, lead to a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue". Pakistan has urged the

EU to remain engaged in the Kashmir issue.

Incidentally, Baroness Nicholson's visit to India comes 60 years after her father Sir

Godfrey Nicholson was sent by the British Crown to know first hand what Indians thought

about the British rule. Arriving in 1946, he escaped his official handlers to spend three

months in villages talking to people.

"I am here to listen too," she asserts before venturing to give details about how she

intends to divide her time talking to J&K Governor Lt Gen (Retd) SK Sinha and going to

the refugee camps. Her "modest" but "serious" report, she adds, will be used like "a

tuning fork to strike the right vibrations" among EU lawmakers.

Baroness Nicholson is a British politician and Member of European Parliament. She is

vice chairman of European Parliament's committee on foreign affairs and a member of

sub-committee on human rights. She was appointed rapporteur on Jammu and Kashmir

earlier this year.

As an insider I know UN's potential and possibilities: Tharoor

New Delhi

16 June 2006

Invoking Mahatma Gandhi, Mr Shashi Tharoor says the United Nations must be the change it wishes to see in the world. "I have a strong sense from the inside of the major issues the UN has to deal with, and I am passionately committed to the institution," he observes after India on Thursday officially announced his candidature for the post of UN Secretary General.

"I believe that reform and change are essential for the UN. Mahatma Gandhi put it best: "you must be the change you wish to see in the world." What is true for individuals is true also for institutions. If the UN wants to change the world, we must change too," he told this newspaper from New York. Mr Shashi Tharoor is Under Secretary General for Communications and Public Information at the UN.

"The UN has a lot of accomplishments, but it needs reform not because it has failed, but because it has achieved enough to prove that it's worth investing in. It is not just a question of having the money -- it is also having the political will of the countries to work effectively and in concert with each other within the UN," he observed barely hours after New Delhi picked him for the top UN job.

Sharing his thoughts on becoming only the first Indian to be nominated, he says: "Yes, but don't forget that Mrs Vijaylakshmi Pandit and Sir BN Rau were serious contenders to succeed Trygve Lie in 1953, even if they were not formally nominated by India." He envisions a UN that is "more nimble, more flexible, more efficient and more effective in facing the problems of the 21st century."

"It is a great privilege to stand as an Indian before the world and say, "I am ready. An Indian is ready to take on this challenge." I think it is a measure of how far our country has come, and I am both inspired and humbled by the opportunity," he adds. "I have been with the UN since the age of 22, I have worked with the body for 28 years now, and I know its potential and its possibilities."

On the task ahead for him, Mr Tharoor says, "I have a strong sense from the inside of the major issues the UN has to deal with, and I am passionately committed to the institution. So as far as I am concerned, I have so much personal stake in the success of the UN that I feel greatly honoured to be given an opportunity to lead it." He says New Delhi informed him about his nomination "just two days ago."

Delhi, Kabul should bring stability to Durand Line: Fazlur Rahman

New Delhi

19 May 2006

Visiting Leader of Opposition in Pakistan National Assembly

Maulana Fazlur Rahman says India should use the influence she enjoys over

Afghanistan to bring stability to Pakistan's western border.

"India's role is needed in [Pakistan's] western border," he said in an interview to this

newspaper. He called on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday. He has already met

with National Security Adviser MK Narayanan.

Maulana Fazlur Rahman heads the six-party Opposition alliance called the Muttahida

Majlis-i-Amal. His party, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, is a constituent of this grouping. He

arrived in India on an unofficial visit on Monday.

"India and Pakistan," he suggests, "should forge a joint cooperative management" to

address issues of interest or concern to both countries but which may lie outside the

state of Jammu and Kashmir, like Afghanistan.

He says attempts should be made by countries including India to bring the Taliban into

the political mainstream because some sections of the Afghan population "feel their

country is not independent yet."

India, he says, should use her good offices to lean on Afghanistan for bringing stability

to the region. He believes a perception of India and Pakistan engaging in proxy war in

Afghanistan and beyond should be removed.

The pro-Taliban cleric, who feels the Durand Line may pose a threat to Pakistan's

security, has been prompted to seek India's involvement at his country's western

borders partly because of domestic fears.

After Afghanistan claimed the 1893 Durand Line Agreement has expired after the lapse of

100 years, the Maulana fears unrest in North West Frontier Province and Balochistan

where his Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party has high stakes.

The newly formed Government of Balochistan In Exile, which is based in Jerusalem, too

challenges the legality of the Durand Line Agreement and maintains that the agreement

is illegal and therefore, it is null and void.

As Islamabad gets isolated by the strengthening of friendship between New Delhi and

Kabul, Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf in September last year called for

building a fence delineating the border.

The Maulana condemns the killings of Indians in Afghanistan and says he would like to

see India and Pakistan accelerate the pace of composite dialogue process and take

more confidence building measures.

On the "Charter of Democracy" agreed upon by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif in

London, he adds the MMA "will see how it can play a constructive role" when the

proposed elections draw near.

French N-reactors are better, safer: Official

New Delhi

23 April 2006

As the world capitals consider implications of the proposed India-United States civilian nuclear energy cooperation, France has reiterated that nuclear energy is here to stay and it was important that nations got together to formulate a coherent strategy for developing appropriate energy solutions.

The visiting scientific adviser of the French High Commissioner for Atomic Energy, Dr Jean Jacquinot, told this journalist it was not enough to respond to growing energy needs; nations need to deploy nuclear energy because renewable energy or fossil fuel alone would not suffice.

Dr Jacquinot interacted with Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr Anil Kakodkar and Institute of Plasma Research Director Prof PK Kaw during his visit and held discussions on the status of India's participation in the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) project.

Joining issue with the sceptics, Dr Jacquinot said nuclear fusion would become the source of energy in the future. Describing nuclear fusion as the model for the fifth generation reactors, he said projects like the ITER would overcome the problems of storage or reprocessing of radioactive waste and safety.

The only issue about the ITER project and fusion energy, according to him, was time. Referring to the "long lead time," he said it would take anything up to 50 years to harness the nuclear energy through fusion. He nevertheless believed nuclear energy, which had a good safety record despite Chernobyl, was here to stay.

Dwelling on the future prospects for Indo-French collaboration, Dr Jacquinot said France was working on building the fourth generation fission reactors after President Jacques Chirac mandated the French atomic energy commission with the task of replacing the present generation of reactors.

The French official noted that with the incorporation of additional safety elements like secondary containment systems in the "EPR" reacors, the "French reactors had become better than the Russian reactors". He also cited that France meets up to 80 per cent of its energy needs through nuclear energy.

Nepal army dropping mortar bombs on civilians, UN raps King for violating humanitarian law

Ian Martin

head of the Kathmandu-based Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal

New Delhi

17 April 2006

As the patience of the international community wears thin comes the

damning news of indiscriminate "aerial shooting and bombing" by the Royal Nepalese

Army over large swathes of civilian population. At least two children and one civilian

adult have died since the resumption of the full-scale armed conflict, according to the

representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Mr Ian Martin, who heads the Kathmandu-based Office of the High Commissioner for

Human Rights in Nepal, told this newspaper that the RNA has "continued with the

practice of dropping mortar bombs out of helicopters, at times over populated areas."

"Dropping bombs in this way risks civilians lives, as it is not possible to distinguish

between military targets and civilians, as international humanitarian law requires. Two

children and one civilian adult were killed and six others injured as a result of aerial

shooting and bombing by the RNA since the resumption of the full-scale conflict," he

said.

Mr Martin observed there has been a "dramatic deterioration" of an already bad situation

in the past week insofar as the protection of democratic rights was concerned. He was

also "increasingly concerned about the seriously unsatisfactory conditions in the many

improvised detention centres, especially in the Kathmandu area."

"Since the end of the unilateral ceasefire declared by the CPN (Maoist) in January this

year we have seen a return to full-scale, and often intense, armed conflict. Outside the

Kathmandu Valley there has been fierce fighting, with serious consequences for civilian

populations caught between the warring parties. The CPN (Maoist) has brought the

conflict into urban areas, inevitably resulting in civilian casualties," he said.

The official said there was "great stress on the lives of ordinary people" in the

countryside too. "There is serious disruption to access to services such as health and

education services, which can have a particularly serious impact on women and

children. Normal social and commercial life is virtually impossible," he said.

"Just this week," he went on to add, "UNICEF in Nepal made a plea this week that the

annual Vitamin A distribution to 3.3 million to children between six months and five years

be allowed to proceed across the country, and not be blocked by the political bandh or

the armed conflict. With half of Nepal's children suffering from malnutrition, the Vitamin A

capsules are essential to boost their immune system and prevent blindness."

Mr Martin's remarks come ahead of Tuesday's meeting the Swiss Government will host

in Geneva to discuss the human rights situation in Nepal. Switzerland was one of the

leaders of the consensual Nepal resolution under Item 19 at the Commission on Human

Rights on April 20 last year.

The Geneva meeting will be held in the backdrop of the Brussels meeting, which was

held in March this year, in which the representatives of the members of European

Parliament discussed "smart sanctions". Ireland too had proposed such sanctions.

'There are positive plans for further cooperation'

Sergei V Kirienko

head of the Russian Federal Agency for Atomic Energy (or Rosatom)

New Delhi

11 April 2006

There are good prospects and opportunities for cooperation given the strategic partnership that exists between India and Russia in the nuclear energy sphere, Mr Sergei V Kirienko told this newspaper before concluding his five-day visit (April 6 to 10) to India that took him to Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, the Kudankulam nuclear power plants near Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu, New Delhi and a short sightseeing trip to Agra. He believes the Nuclear Suppliers Group needs to change its attitude towards India because India has an impeccable reputation on nonproliferation. India, he observes, has set the right example for other countries to follow because true energy security cannot be provided without developing nuclear power. On the Iran nuclear issue, he maintains it is possible to take steps to implement peaceful uses of nuclear energy for Iran and calls or combining the Russian proposal for the setting up of international fuel centres with the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership outlined by the United States. Excerpts:

How did your talks with Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Dr Anil Kakodkar go? What are the outcomes, if any, from your visit?

This is my first visit. It was undertaken specifically to visit the site of the Kudankulam nuclear power plants. The main purpose [of my visit] was to personally see the progress of the construction works there and to also talk to Dr Kakodkar and others about the speedy implementation of the project. [Our two countries] can do a great amount of work together, [so] some significant decisions have been taken. There are good prospects and opportunities for cooperation given the strategic partnership that exists between India and Russia in the nuclear energy sphere. The priority task is to develop [relations] in all spheres of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The specific decisions in regard to new areas of cooperation can be taken after the Nuclear Suppliers Group amends its guidelines to allow trade in civilian nuclear technology and materials with India. The format for cooperation with India has to be changed and international norms and obligations agreed upon before that (nuclear trade) can happen. We fully support the move to amend the NSG guidelines. We think the NSG needs to change its attitude towards India [because] India has an impeccable reputation on nonproliferation.

You mentioned certain significant decisions were arrived at and about prospects and opportunities for cooperation. Would you elaborate?

Those decisions relate to coordinating and raising the effectiveness of our joint activities in Kudankulam. We also discussed future cooperation in the nuclear sphere. Russia and India have ambitious nuclear energy programmes. India is showing the right example that true energy security cannot be provided without developing nuclear power. The example shown by India can be followed by other countries. Russia has considerable experience in building fast breeder reactors and in [procuring] Uranium-238 for the fast breeder reactors. There are prospects for joint [activities] in the future. There is also the interesting involvement of thorium as fuel for nuclear power plants.

Were any agreements signed during your visit?

[We] do not require agreements because we have a framework of bilateral agreements in force. There is an agreement between our two governments and there are contracts between the companies. We share the same position with [India] on nuclear power and nuclear nonproliferation ... agreements can be signed after the international norms have been adjusted by the NSG. We will do everything to adjust the NSG rules in favour of India ....

Does competition worry you because there are other countries that are equally if not more interested?

Competition does not worry us, in fact competition is good. India has a large nuclear energy programme. We have great respect for that programme. The preliminary plans of India are for adding 40 giga-watt capacity from thermal reactors and 300 giga-watt from fast breeder reactors. This is a huge programme and any player that can offer competitive technology can participate. There is a large scope for cooperation.

What role do you foresee for Russian involvement and participation in India's nuclear energy industry?

Russia is already helping the Indian nuclear energy industry. The Kudankulam nuclear power plants currently under construction is a remarkable project. When commissioned, they will be a matter of pride for [both countries.] There are a number of new, updated technological decisions that have been incorporated in this project and Russian involvement in the joint activities is possible in the future too. Russia and India are strategic partners; they have not become strategic partners, they are already.

Would you give a sense of of the status of Russian cooperation in the Kudankulam atomic power plants? How soon will the power plants become operational?

We have set up a joint working group. Its goal will be to monitor and review the pace of progress and additional resources and to also take decisions to improve the efficiency of the project. We expect it to be commissioned as soon as possible while fully adhering to the safety norms. On safety, all possible threats have to be taken into account. We attach utmost priority to this aspect and have taken care to include events not taken into account before, like the tsunamis that occurred in 2004. I will say the Kudankulam plants have excellent safety features because the tsunamis [have had] no consequences on the site where the plants are located.

India is planning to have more nuclear reactors. In regard to future collaboration with Russia, did you receive any assurance or commitment from the Indian side?

No ... no commitments but we are ready to continue our cooperation. We have the accumulated experience of building nuclear reactors and there are positive plans for further cooperation. We are ready for this.

How is Russia's involvement in the Iran nuclear issue progressing?

Our position on Iran is a principled one. Iran has the right to develop civilian nuclear energy; that is the indisputable right of any country. At the same time, the world has the unconditional right to demand guarantees under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty regime. The task ahead is to combine these two rights. We believe it is possible. The proposal by Russia deals with joint ventures in Russia to enrich [nuclear] fuel. It is an attempt to combine [the two positions.] It is possible to take steps to implement peaceful uses of nuclear energy for Iran. The same objective is behind the international initiatives of the Russian president because the essence behind those initiatives are the two technical elements of the nuclear fuel cycle: One, uranium enrichment and two, spent fuel [reprocessing.] Our approach to Iran is based on this principle [and] our general approach [even otherwise] is to develop nuclear nuclear energy around the world.

Russia is proposing the establishment of international nuclear fuel centres for carrying out the nuclear fuel cycle. Would you explain your position and how you intend to go about it?

Russia has proposed the setting up of international fuel centres to combine these two technical elements of the nuclear fuel cycle I just now mentioned. This proposal is therefore a combined proposal; the objective is to combine [the two technical elements.] The essence of the Russian proposal is to set up international fuel centres for enriching uranium and reprocessing the spent fuel as new countries take the first step towards harnessing nuclear power for meeting energy needs. These countries will be assured of guaranteed supplies of low enriched uranium. They will send the spent fuel to these centres which will function as joint ventures under the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency). This systematic approach will help new countries gain access to the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Moreover, the countries that receive the services of these centres will not only get guaranteed supplies of fuel but also a share from the proceeds of the activities. They may also become co-founders of such [joint venture] projects and get a share from the proceeds. Also, the international community will be able to exercise its right to guarantee protection from nuclear proliferation and weapons of mass destruction. Having said that, the solution for problems should be found by diplomatic means.

What are your views on the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership proposed by the United States?

[Russian President Vladimir] Putin proposed the setting up of international fuel centres and [US President George] Bush later proposed the GNEP. We believe these two [proposals] can be combined [because] they have the same objectives. Today experts from Russia and the US are actively involved in the work of [evolving] joint approaches to various issues. Our principles and approaches coincide; only minor technical issues need to be finalised.

Do you see a scope for collaboration with India in making nuclear energy technology available in third countries?

Yes, it is certainly possible. There is a very good scope [for that.] India is already a member of the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) project. We must appreciate that there is a serious meaning behind the term strategic partnership between India and Russia. We have the joint experience and an excellent history of cooperation. [Our two countries] have accomplished a great amount of work [together.]

Regional issues no less important: EU official

Dr Benita Ferrero-Waldner

EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy

New Delhi

7 September 2005

The establishment of a security and political dialogue will see

India and the European Union "join forces at international fora" to address developments

in India's neighbourhood, according to EU Commissioner for External Relations and

European Neighbourhood Policy Dr Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

In an interview to this newspaper, Dr Ferrero-Waldner on Wednesday said the EU was

keen to work with India in ensuring that multi-party democracy was restored in Nepal and

the Sri Lankan peace process proceeded on course. This EU-India engagement would be

distinct from "result-oriented" initiatives on global issues like terrorism, disarmament

and nuclear nonproliferation.

Acknowledging that terrorism was an important issue and that the EU looked forward to

an enhanced cooperation with India in counter-terrorism operations, Dr Ferrero-Waldner

said the EU's counter-terrorism coordinator, Mr Gijs de Vries, would visit India to carry

forward the joint action plan and political declaration signed by both sides.

"The India-Pakistan composite dialogue," she said, "was highly appreciated [by the EU]"

but cautioned that the sub-continent could "not afford another backlash". Describing the

Nepal King's action as a serious setback to a negotiated settlement, she said the EU

was for speedy restoration of multi-party democracy.

The EU commissioner was hopeful of the Sri Lankan peace process gathering

momentum. The EU is actively pursuing the peace talks along with US, Japan and

Norway. She said the EU will install a new observer next month to monitor the dialogue

between the government and the LTTE in the island nation.

Dwelling on the strategic partnership between EU and India, Dr Ferrero-Waldner said the

"EU can already say India will take part" in the Galileo project although the same could

not be said yet about India's participation in the ITER project for which more

consultations were required among participating countries.

Both sides have adopted a two-page political declaration which commits them to block

access to terrorist financing and cooperate in the fight against money laundering. They

also announced a 19-page joint action plan to strengthen dialogue and consultation

mechanism.

The two sides will also work closely to promote effective multilateralism and strengthen

United Nations peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities. Also agreed was

establishment of a high-level trade group.

'India-Ukraine ties developing rapidly'

New Delhi

30 August 2005

Ukraine, where a new democratic government came

to power towards the end of last year, is a country with economic,

industrial and scientific potential. The visit to Ukraine by the President of

India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, in June this year has continued the dialogue

process between the two countries. In an interview to this newspaper, the

ambassador of Ukraine in India, Dr Oleh Semenets, says, "Ukraine may

be of interest for South Asia from the point of promoting its interests in

Europe." Excerpts:

How would you describe bilateral relations between Ukraine and India?

For the last few years, Ukrainian-Indian bilateral relations have been

developing at a rapid pace. I am happy to say that our partnership is

getting a new positive momentum. We have mutual political trust. We

have increased our interaction in the areas where we share similar views

and we openly address the issues that need our quick and effective

response.

What are the areas of convergence between the two countries?

Ukraine and India have a lot in common in their approaches. Both

countries share a belief that that new world order should be fair, honest

and should be based on principles of democracy, sovereign equality and

territorial integrity. Kiev and New Delhi agree that together with other

countries, we should resist the threats to peace and stability in the world

like international terrorism, illegal trade in arms and narcotic substances,

extremism and separatism in all their forms.

What are the potential areas for cooperation?

The Ukrainian-Indian cooperation has prospects in the field of science and

technology. Ukraine has a large scientific and industrial potential, which it

inherited from the erstwhile USSR. Further, the president of Ukraine, Mr

Victor Yushchenko, adopted market and social reforms, which has

accelerated the integration of Ukraine in the world economic system.

Owing to this, India will be interested in Ukraine. There is scope in space,

aviation, transportation and light industry. India has a significant place in

the new policy of Ukraine. The necessity of further development of

bilateral relations is determined by the increasing significance of India in

the political arena and her influence in global and regional fora by virtue

of the dynamic development of the Indian economy, science and

technology.

What is the volume of trade between India and Ukraine?

One of the significant results of our joint efforts is the sustained growth of

Ukrainian-Indian trade, which during the year 2004 totalled $ 708 million.

It was twice the volume of trade recorded during the previous year.

Realising that this volume still does not correspond to both countries’

potential, we are working hard to create proper conditions to ensure

further increase in our trade and economic interaction.

What are the future prospects of bilateral relations?

Ukraine and India are bound not only by the experience of economic,

technical and scientific cooperation, but also by the adherence to the

ideals of democracy, freedom and human rights. Personally, I believe that

the potential for cooperation between our two countries is inexhaustible.

And we are doing our best to enhance our cooperation in all spheres. Let

me express confidence that Ukrainian-Indian relations will continue to

develop dynamically for the benefit of our two nations.

PM's visit will pave way for strategic ties: Afghan envoy

New Delhi

24 August 2005

Afghanistan hopes Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's August 28-29 visit to Kabul will pave the way for establishment of a "strategic relationship" between the two countries.

Afghan ambassador in India Masood Khalili on Wednesday told this newspaper that Kabul is also keen on forging linkages with South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and a land corridor via Afghanistan could facilitate trade between south and central Asia.

"A strategic relationship [when established] would not be at the expense of regional countries; it will benefit all," Mr Khalili said before leaving for Kabul ahead of Prime Minister Singh's visit.

The envoy would not elaborate on the discussions for security cooperation between India and Afghanistan but observed nevertheless that "India is a friend on call" and given the new depth in Indo-US ties, "India will offer its services [for security in Afghanistan] if NATO and American forces [ask for it.]"

Appreciating India's support to reconstruction of war-torn Afghanistan, Mr Khalili said New Delhi had extended an aid worth US $ 500 million including supply of three aircraft with spares, construction of a cold storage in Kandahar and television transmitter in Jalalabad.

Observing that India was a "balancer" of power in the region extending from South Asia to Central Asia, the envoy said India had a key role to play in ensuring that "super-fanaticism" of the kind advocated by Al Qaeda and the Taliban did not resurface in Afghanistan.

Mr Khalili said India had also agreed to contribute to strengthening of democratic institutions in Afghanistan. Incidentally, Dr Singh's visit to Kabul comes ahead of the September 18 parliamentary elections.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be visiting Kabul at the invitation of President Karzai. The last such visit was 29 years ago when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Kabul in 1976.

Dr Singh will hold official-level talks with President Karzai and would call on Baba-e-Millat and former King Mohd Zahir Shah. He will lay the foundation stone for a Parliament building, to be constructed with India's assistance.