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India to consider SAFMA plea

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JULY 22. The External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh, has assured a delegation of the South Asian Free Media Association (SAFMA) that India would consider grant of multiple one-year visas to the National Executive Body members of SAFMA. He also promised to take up the issue of liberalisation of the visa regime in the composite dialogue process between India and Pakistan.

Talking to a SAFMA delegation, Mr. Singh appreciated the initiative taken by the association and assured the delegation of his Government's moral support to SAFMA's conferences and activities promoting better understanding among the nations of South Asia.

The delegation had sought facilitation of visas and allowing SAFMA to hold its conference on interstate conflicts and second parliamentary conference in New Delhi. It asked for help in exchange of delegations between the two Punjabs and exchange of journalists across Kashmir. On SAFMA's demands to adopt its protocols on free movement of mediapersons and media products across the South Asian region and on freedom of information, besides granting it a status of an Apex Regional Body of SAARC, the External Affairs Minister said he would do his best to accommodate these proposals.

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