The Hindu : `U.S. has not discussed substance of Vajpayee-Musharraf meeting'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 07, 2004

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International - India & World

`U.S. has not discussed substance of Vajpayee-Musharraf meeting'

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington Jan. 6. In warmly welcoming and saying it is pleased at the meeting between the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, the United States has said that it has not discussed the "substance of this meeting" with the two countries.

At the State Department, the Deputy Spokesman, Adam Ereli, was asked if Washington had an "ear" to the Vajpayee-Musharraf meeting.

"I would say we are in contact with both India and Pakistan as befits our close bilateral relationships with both countries, but I am not aware that we have discussed the substance of this meeting with them at this point," Mr. Ereli said.

He was also asked if the administration had a "positive spin" on the meeting or just the fact that the two leaders met gave cause for "cheer and exuberance."

"I think the fact that they met is important and noteworthy. As to the substance of their meeting and what they discussed, I would leave that to the parties to comment on," Mr. Ereli said.

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