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PM winds up three-nation tour

By Amit Baruah

The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, waving to the crowd outside the Omayyad Mosque in Damascus on Sunday. — PTI

DAMASCUS NOV. 16. India and Syria have agreed that their economic and commercial relationship needs to be developed extensively to raise it to a level commensurate with their political relations.

In a statement at the end of a six-day tour to Russia, Tajikistan and Syria, the Prime Minister said new vistas of cooperation had emerged with economic change in Syria and India. ``We remain concerned at the continuing cycle of violence and counter-violence in the region. I reiterated India's continued commitment to the Middle East peace process, and to a comprehensive and lasting peace, based on full implementation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, and the land for peace principle.''

On his tour to Russia, Mr. Vajpayee said all aspects of ``our very wide'' bilateral relationship as well as regional and international issues had come up for discussion. ``Russia has shown understanding on all major issues of our concern and shares our perspectives on developments in our common neighbourhood. This identity of views is reflected in our joint declaration.''

On the daylong visit to Tajikistan, the Prime Minister said New Delhi and Dushanbe had agreed to strengthen cooperation against terrorism, particularly in our shared neighbourhood. ``We are intensifying our interaction in defence and security, while building an equally extensive economic and commercial relationship,'' the statement added.

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