The Hindu : National : Natwar, Kasuri to press ahead with talks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 26, 2004

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National

Natwar, Kasuri to press ahead with talks

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 25. The Pakistani Foreign Minister, Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri, today telephoned the External Affairs Minister, Natwar Singh, to congratulate him on assuming office and discussed bilateral relations between the two countries.

The conversation between the two foreign ministers and the telephone call made by the Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, to the new Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, on Sunday, augur well for continuing the peace process between the two countries.

The External Affairs Ministry spokesman told presspersons today that Mr. Kasuri and Mr. Singh "expressed their determination to continue and further expedite the present process in India-Pakistan relations, building upon the support provided by the people in both the countries".

Mr. Singh told his Pakistani counterpart that during the conversation with Gen. Musharraf, the Prime Minister had also conveyed support for the process and "emphasised the need for it to continue in an atmosphere free from the menace of terrorism and violence".

"Both ministers agreed to remain in constant touch. The conversation lasted seven minutes," the spokesman said.

In another development, Mr. Singh has summoned Indian heads of missions from the seven SAARC nations for discussions on May 31-June 1. This, the spokesman said, reflected the importance India attached to its ties with its neighbours.

Yesterday, Mr. Singh had called the Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Shyam Saran, for consultations on bilateral relations and to discuss the political situation in the Himalayan Kingdom.

In a related move, Mr. Singh has also summoned Indian Ambassadors to Iraq and Afghanistan, B.B. Tyagi and Vivek Katju, to the capital for consultations. Obviously, the new External Affairs Minister wants to get a first-hand view of the situation both in Iraq and in Afghanistan.

According to the spokesman, the consultation with Indian heads of mission from the SAARC countries would be the first of Mr. Singh's meetings with Indian envoys around the world.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Ambassador to India, David Mulford, became the first foreign envoy to call on the External Affairs Minister today. The meeting lasted an hour, according to the spokesman.

Mr. Singh said that India attached exceptional importance to the India-U.S. bilateral relationship. India, the External Affairs Minister said at the meeting, would closely watch events of importance in the neighbourhood.

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