The Hindu : It is a benign forum, says Fernandes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 05, 2004

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It is a benign forum, says Fernandes

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 4. The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, today described the emerging India-South Africa-Brazil axis as a "benign forum."

Addressing a press conference at the Defexpo 2004, Mr. Fernandes, who is just back from South Africa after attending a meeting of Defence Ministers and senior military officers of the three countries, said the common concern was to ensure the safety of sea-lanes of communication (SLOC).

The troika felt that a strategy should be evolved to negate attempts at damaging defence or commercial vessels. The next meeting will be held in Brazil, where the possibility of institutionalising the close ties will be examined, he added.

Referring to the coming visit to Beijing by the Prime Minister's Special Representative on border talks, Brajesh Mishra, he said: "We have the best of relations with China. The smooth progress of talks on territorial disputes testifies to the fact that India-China relations have taken a positive turn during the last one year. The issue of Sikkim which had been hanging fire ceased to be an issue from what we understand of China's actions in this regard."

Recalling his visit to China in April last, he said his suggestion for joint naval exercises had fructified when frigates from both sides held a combined search-and-rescue exercise off the Chinese coast. Relations were also established at the Coast Guard level to coordinate activity against gunrunners and drug smugglers. "There should be no cause for worry about our ties with China."

Referring to the recently-announced defence modernisation fund, Mr. Fernandes said it would cater only to the import of capital goods. "This demonstrates that the Government is leaving nothing to chance so far as the defence sector is concerned. All shortcomings are being addressed. Not a rupee in the defence budget was unused this year. Whatever we set out to procure, we have procured.''

When it was pointed out that a considerable sum was shown in budget documents as having been unused, he said that allocations had been made for procurement.

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