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Colin Powell, Ranendra Sen discuss bilateral issues

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, AUG. 12. The Secretary of State, Colin Powell and the Indian Ambassador designate, Ranendra Sen, (also referred to as Ronen Sen) on Wednesday discussed various issues mostly relating to the bilateral relationship, when he went to the State Department to present his credentials. The formal presentation at the White House is expected to take place soon. After the handing over of the letter, there was ``a brief focussed conversation on various issues'' primarily relating to India and the United States, Mr. Sen told presspersons later in the evening. ``The Secretary of State expressed satisfaction at the development of the bilateral relations, following the elections in India and in maintaining the momentum in these relations in diverse fields,'' Mr. Sen said.

No agenda for meeting

The top Indian diplomat said that efforts are under way to work out the meeting between the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh and the President, George W.Bush on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session in New York next month. The UNGA session gets under way on September 21 with Mr. Bush scheduled to address the world body that day. Mr. Singh is scheduled to make his presentation on September 23. There is no agenda for this meeting and ``what they choose to say is left to the leaders,'' Mr. Sen added.``India-United States relations is a relationship which is developing into a strategic partnership which is based on mutual benefit,'' Mr. Sen said.

Both sides attached importance to the Next Steps in the Strategic Partnership (NSSP) and in the political dialogue that is continuing, the Ambassador said, adding that the bilateral relationship had different facets including economics, counter-terrorism and cooperation in defence.A senior official from the Ministry of External Affairs, S. Jai Shankar, is already here having discussions on the NSSP, which is aimed at concluding the first phase of the process.

He stressed that there are several aspects to the ongoing discussion. The talks on the NSSP aside, India and the United States will be having their Joint Working Group Meeting on counter-terrorism later this month. At the State Department, the deputy spokesman characterised the meeting between Mr. Powell and Mr. Sen thus: ``This is a formality. It's not a substantive meeting. The Secretary often receives Ambassadors prior to their presentation of credentials as a sort of pre-meeting and that was the case in this meeting.''

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