The Hindu : Counter-terrorism, key area of cooperation with Israel: Vajpayee

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 10, 2003

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Counter-terrorism, key area of cooperation with Israel: Vajpayee

By Amit Baruah

The Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, offering floral tributes at Rajghat in New Delhi on Tuesday. - PTI

NEW DELHI SEPT. 9. The Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, called on the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and held 40-minute-long "restricted" and separate delegation-level talks with the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, this evening.

Mr. Sharon also met the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, and had a 75-minute-long interaction with the External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha. The National Security Adviser, Brajesh Mishra, also called on him.

The Israeli leader, who visited Rajghat this morning, told presspersons at the Rashtrapati Bhavan that he regarded India as one of the most "important countries" in the world. "I believe this visit, the first by an Israeli Prime Minister, will help us move forward."

Mr. Vajpayee, who hosted a banquet for Mr. Sharon after the formal talks at Hyderabad House, said the Israeli leader's visit was an "important landmark" in bilateral relations. "The people of India and Israel have a long history of civilisational contact. Our lands have supported the birth of great and ancient religions and civilisations. Jewish communities in India have, over the centuries, painted rich colours into the mosaic of Indian society."

Mr. Vajpayee said that in the relatively short span of 11 years of formal diplomatic relations, India and Israel had established a "vibrant" partnership. "India is one of Israel's strongest trading partners in Asia today."

"Our defence cooperation rests on a foundation of mutual understanding of security concerns. Our people-to-people interaction has been enriched through tourism, student exchanges and cultural contacts. All these strands are tied together by a political understanding between us," he said.

Counter-terrorism was a key area of cooperation between the two countries, Mr. Vajpayee said and added that "another aspect" of "our common experience" is the menace of terrorism. "Bilaterally and on the international plane, we are contributing to the global fight against terrorism. It is a menace that particularly targets democratic societies, which have to fashion a global and comprehensive response to it," he said.

"Simultaneously, we are engaged in the process of improving relations with all our neighbours. West Asia and the Gulf region are a part of our extended neighbourhood, with which we have long-standing cultural and civilisational links," he said.

Without making a direct reference to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Mr. Vajpayee said that India would "very much like" to see an end to violence and restoration of "peace in these troubled lands".

The two countries signed six agreements in the field of environment, health, combating illicit drug trafficking, visa waiver for diplomatic, service and official passport holders, education and an exchange programme on cultural education.

The agreement on anti-drug trafficking measures, signed by the Israeli Deputy Prime Minister, Yosef Lapid, and the Finance Minister, Jaswant Singh, envisages information sharing and exchange of experts.

The External Affairs Ministry spokesman told presspersons that the two Prime Ministers agreed that a Joint Economic Committee should identify measures to stimulate bilateral trade. The situation in West Asia came up for discussion during the "restricted" talks between the two Prime Ministers.

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