The Hindu : 'India-Mauritius ties umbilical and sacred'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Nov 23, 2003

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'India-Mauritius ties umbilical and sacred'

By Amit Baruah

Paul Berenger

NEW DELHI NOV.22. Paul Berenger believes that his taking over as the first non-Indian origin Prime Minister of Mauritius has been accepted with "a lot of serenity". In an exclusive interview with The Hindu, Mr. Berenger said: "Me becoming Prime Minister is not targeted at anybody. It simply means that anybody in Mauritius, if the people so choose, if he has worked for it, can become Prime Minister."

"We are being taught a lesson in unity in diversity and democracy. We are very proud of that. But, at the same time, it has raised certain questions, certain eyebrows. One doesn't choose his origin...but let me tell you over the years through my reading, through my interaction with people...I know more about the history of people of Indian origin, not just in Mauritius, but in Fiji, in Guyana, in Surinam, in Trinidad and Tobago."

Asked about the Mauritian identity, Mr. Berenger said today that after the Dutch left the island, there was no one left on it. "Everybody has come from the outside world. No indigenous people, no one can pretend to have been there and afford to be superior..."

Saying that he was "1000 per cent" satisfied with his visit to India, his first trip abroad since taking over as Prime Minister in September, Mr. Berenger said India-Mauritius ties were "umbilical and sacred".

The Prime Minister said that he had come with a strong message — that despite being of non-Indian origin — India and the people of Indian origin would always find in him a "genuine and dedicated" friend.

Pointing to the decision to achieve a comprehensive economic cooperation and partnership agreement, he said that this would develop into a free trade agreement in due course. "We've agreed on a fast track procedure...we'll do it in months; not years."

This, he said, would include joint Indo-Mauritius action in the direction of Africa, specially southern and eastern Africa - in particular Madagascar and Mozambique.

"The second item of importance is cooperation in matters of defence and security. We are doing a lot together..." Mr. Berenger, who recently visited the Naval shipyard in Mumbai, said.

"We are going to buy an OPV [Offshore Patrol Vessel] plus helicopter [from India]. Security cooperation is intense," he said, adding that India had been very helpful as far as surveillance of his country's exclusive economic zone was concerned.

He said it was "fantastic" that two Indian Navy vessels, at the request of the Government of Mozambique, were stationed off Maputo during the last African Union summit.

Referring to the double taxation avoidance treaty between the two countries, the Prime Minister denied that "Al-Qaeda, terrorist" money could go through his country's financial sector and "do damage" in India. "There can be nothing farther from the truth."

He denied that residence permits were available for the asking in Mauritius. "This is totally wrong. We will not tolerate any abuse, any national using our financial sector to evade tax."

On the decision to set up a Joint Working Group [JWG] on counter-terrorism, Mr. Berenger stated: "We stand by India, we condemn terrorism worldwide; cross-border terrorism, particularly in Jammu & Kashmir. It's not new [his Government's position]."

"Mauritius is free from terrorist activity but we have to be careful...we want to share information with India and take all precautions and be helpful within our needs," he said.

Asked if there was a deadline by which India and Mauritius planned to set up a free trade area (FTA), Mr. Berenger replied in the negative. "Little Mauritius will have to look carefully because India is massive. India is a huge economy. You finalise an FTA with us and it won't change anything in your set-up, whereas we have to be very careful specially these days because of what is happening in the World Trade Organisation but also at the level of the European Union, [where] there is a reform going on about their agricultural set-up."

The Prime Minister said his country's sugar and textile exports could be threatened. "And, we have to ensure that our local markets are not wiped out in the context of any FTA. So, we'll be careful, but I'm sure that, as usual, India will understand our problems as a small island developing State."

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