The Hindu : National : Robert Gates coming today

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Tuesday, Jan 19, 2010
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National

Robert Gates coming today

K.V. Prasad

NEW DELHI: Deliberations on the security situation in the region and enhanced trade and military cooperation between Washington and New Delhi are on the cards during the visit of U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates that starts here on Tuesday.

Mr. Gates will be the first top-ranking member of President Barack Obama’a administration to visit New Delhi after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Washington in November last.

Mr. Gates is scheduled to meet Defence Minister A.K. Antony, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and call on the Prime Minister, besides meeting officials.

Among the issues pending from the viewpoint of Washington are the Logistics Support Agreement and the Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement.

These two form part of three pacts — the first being the End User Verification Agreement (EUVA), which the U.S. wants India to sign. While New Delhi gave the go-ahead for a standardised EUVA that was cleared during Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit last year, the Defence Ministry is not enthusiastic to push the other two agreements.

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