CHENNAI: The Union Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has decided to set up its Regional Branch Secretariat Office in Chennai, Union Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee announced at the All India Passport Officers Conference here on Friday.

"The branch MEA office is being set up acceding to the request of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. The office will become operational soon," he later told a press conference. Similar offices functioned in Hyderabad and Kolkata. The branch offices would facilitate certain cross-references made by the MEA.

Sri Lankan issue

Referring to the Sri Lankan situation, Mr. Mukherjee ruled out any direct intervention to resolve the ethnic strife. Rejecting the demand for Tamil Eelam, he explained that India favoured a solution within the constitutional framework of the island nation that would maintain its territorial integrity while meeting the legitimate aspirations of Tamils.

Asked about training of Sri Lankan armed forces in India, Mr. Mukherjee said it was part of an on-going process that was taking place for a long time. "We have institutions that train people from many countries. This is one of our strengths. Our academies are acclaimed the world over and there is a huge demand." Sri Lanka, like many other countries, had sought these facilities. "We are only providing training programmes. We are not providing any lethal weapons."

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