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Thursday, Jan 06, 2005

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International - India & World

French Minister hails India's decision

By Vaiju Naravane

PARIS, JAN. 5. The French Defence Minister, Michelle Alliot-Marie, today attributed criticism of India's decision to refuse international aid to "a lack of knowledge about India and the country's economic, technological and financial capabilities." She said India's decision was a gesture of solidarity towards countries that needed it most.

Mrs. Alliot-Marie paid a condolence visit on behalf of her Government and the European Union to the Indian embassy here during which a three-minute silence was observed in memory of the tsunami victims. Her visit was part of a gesture of solidarity undertaken by the E.U. Governments, marked by silent tributes across Europe in memory of those who perished.

Media criticism

French newspapers, radio and television stations have tended to deride India's efforts to go it alone, saying the country was determined to prove its worth as a regional power. This morning the national French radio carried reports from Tamil Nadu suggesting the State Government had not honoured its promises of boats and financial help to fishermen. It also quoted French NGO workers who said the fishermen had been distributed sub-standard "smelly rice" and used clothes. "However I cannot comment because there will be repercussions from the Government," said the person questioned.

The influential daily Le Monde in a despatch today said India was " fuelled by her desire to assure its supremacy in the Indian Ocean zone, which will soon be reinforced by the launch of a second Oceansat satellite. The extension of the Nicobar air base aimed at making it a strategic and humanitarian pivot in the region. A good part of the base with its second runway still under construction was destroyed by the tsunami. In the same vein, the country, which is discovering the need to prevent further catastrophes is floating the idea of constituting its own tsunami alert system in conjunction with its neighbours."

Describing India as a "great and powerful nation," Mrs. Alliot-Marie said the French President, Jacques Chirac, was "ready to undertake joint action with India aimed at other countries." Asked about the international tensions on who should take the lead in coordinating the international aid effort, Mrs. Alliot-Marie replied: "All polemic over such a subject is out of place. I think the initial friction and misunderstanding was also due to the fact that the enormity of the catastrophe had not become apparent."

India's Ambassador, Dilip Lahiri, explained India's efforts to help not just Indian victims but those in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. He emphasised the need to establish an early warning system though the Indian Ocean is not naturally prone to disasters of this nature.

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