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Sunday, Jun 12, 2005

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Neutral expert on Baglihar proposes site visit

Diplomatic Correspondent

Meeting between Raymond Lafitte and the Indian and Pakistani teams held on June 9-10 in Paris

NEW DELHI: "Neutral expert" Raymond Lafitte, appointed under the terms of the Indus Waters Treaty to give an opinion on the Baglihar dam dispute on the Chenab, has proposed a site visit on mutually convenient dates.

Giving this information after the first-ever meeting between Prof. Lafitte and the Indian and Pakistani delegations on June 9 and 10 in Paris, the External Affairs Ministry said that discussions were held in a "cordial atmosphere."

Focus on procedures

"The first meeting focused on setting the procedures, which the neutral expert would adopt to enable him to arrive at a determination of the differences in a fair and equitable manner. The discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere and the neutral expert heard the views of the delegations of India and Pakistan on issues of procedure and documents," a Ministry statement said.

"The procedure settled by the neutral expert affords both parties three occasions each to explain their respective stances which is in line with the practices followed by international courts and other tribunals to reach a just and equitable resolution."

Opening the meeting, Roberto Danino, senior vice-president and general counsel, World Bank, appreciated the constructive manner in which the Indus Waters Treaty had operated for the past 45 years.

He pointed out that Prof. Lafitte, of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne, was appointed neutral expert in consultation with the Indian and Pakistani Governments and that he was happy that the Bank had a constructive and positive role to play in the process.

Water Resources Secretary J. Hari Narain led the Indian delegation to the Paris talks, while Attorney-General Makhdoom Ali Khan headed the Pakistan team.

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