N-convention must: India

DURBAN, Aug 30 (PTI) — India today said the non-aligned summit should take the lead by proposing a global conference on a nuclear weapons convention before the end of this century and asked NAM countries to take a firm stand to combat international terrorism.

Responding to widespread sentiments of NAM countries, for whom nuclear disarmament has been a priority theme since 1961, Minister of State for External Affairs Vasundhara Raje said such a convention would ensure "peoples of the world in the next millennium do not have to continue to live under the shadow of nuclear weapons.’’

In wide-ranging separate meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Myanmar, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and New Zealand shortly after her arrival here, Ms Raje said the five declared nuclear weapon states — the USA, Britain, France, Russia and China — must form part of the proposed international conference.

The minister’s talks with her foreign counterparts gave a clear indication of the stand New Delhi will take on issues like disarmament and terrorism at the summit, beginning on September 2.

During her meeting with the Egyptian Foreign Minister, which focussed on perspectives of the two sides on disarmament, New Delhi and Cairo shared the objective of complete and total disarmament while underscoring the fact that there was a great degree of harmony in their respective positions.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will arrive here on September 1 from Namibia to attend the summit.

On the work of the NAM political committee which was progressing "satisfactorily", Indian diplomats said New Delhi’s proposal relating to terrorism and mercenaries had found strong support among African countries, including host South Africa.

They said Sudan was expected to press for a NAM declaration calling for an impartial investigation of the facts regarding the pharmaceutical plant which was destroyed in the recent US missile attack. "This is expected to obtain widespread support, including from India,’’ they said.

Referring to the economic agenda for the South, they said India, Sri Lanka and South Africa were working together to develop a concrete proposal and specific mechanisms which could be adopted by the Heads of State and Government.

These would take into account the useful suggestion made by the ad hoc group of economists from NAM countries set up at the New Delhi NAM ministerial meeting in April 1997.

The diplomats maintained the uncertainty regarding representation of Afghanistan in NAM had been removed with the participation of the delegation of President Burhanuddin Rabbani in the deliberations.

The Afghan delegation has circulated a strong position paper regarding outside interference, including involvement of foreign military personnel in exacerbating the Afghan crisis.

Other issues which figured during Ms Raje’s discussions with her foreign counterparts included ways and means of reinforcing NAM’s relevance and its importance in the post-cold war period besides key steps to reinvigorate the movement’s emphasis on elimination of nuclear weapons.

They also focussed on setting in place a mechanism for developing a positive and forward looking economic agenda for the South and providing concrete support to NAM countries to project their interests and requirements in important forthcoming multilateral negotiations on international trade, finance and environment.

The New Zealand Foreign Minister sought India’s support for his election as the next Commonwealth Secretary-General, diplomats said.

The Bhutanese Foreign Minister informed Ms Raje about his country’s "positive interest" in a proposal that seeks to have an integrated hydel power grid for South Asia. The two sides also agreed to coordinate their approaches on disarmament and economic issues.

Thanking India for a $ 10 million credit for purchase of wagons, the Myanmar Foreign Minister discussed with Ms Raje a road construction project. Both sides also expressed keen interest in cooperating in the agriculture and health sectors.

Barring Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Iranian President M.S. Khatami, no prominent leader of the Asian region is attending the non-aligned summit being held keeping in focus the problems of global terrorism and growing concern over nuclear disarmament.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is facing a domestic crisis, and Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina Wajed, have decided to skip the 12th summit to be inaugurated by South African President Nelson Mandela. The cancellation of Mr Sharif’s visit has been a setback to the process of normalisation of Indo-Pak relations as he was slated to meet Mr Vajpayee on the sidelines of the summit to make another attempt to re-start dialogue.

Ms Hasina Wajed had to cancel her visit in view of the worsening flood situation in her country where an emergency has been declared to cope with the crisis. Indonesian President Habibie, who replaced Gen Suharto recently, has also conveyed his inability to attend the summit.

Call for Indo-Pak hotline

TOKYO, Aug 30 (AFP) — Nuclear experts from 15 countries gathered in the western Japan city of Hiroshima proposed India and Pakistan open a hotline to ease tensions heightened by their nuclear tests, a report said today.

It was among the several proposals by the experts attending a conference on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament initiated by former Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto, Jiji Press and Kyodo news said.

Experts suggested that, by establishing a hotline between leaders of India and Pakistan, the two countries could maintain contact with each other just as the USA and Russia did during the cold war, reports said.

Japanese Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura said at the start of the two-day meeting he expected proposals at the conference to "help raise international awareness in the nuclear arms development issue in the South Asian region."

The nuclear tests in may by the two countries "show that the threat of nuclear proliferation is still real," Mr Komura was quoted as saying by Kyodo.

The meeting drew 17 nuclear experts from 15 countries including India, Pakistan, the USA and Russia.

Japan is also willing to provide a venue for talks between India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir.

Vajpayee arrives in Namibia

WINDHOEK, Aug 30 (PTI) — Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee arrived here today to a red carpet welcome on a two-day visit that is expected to give a further fillip to bilateral and economic ties between India and Namibia.

Shortly after landing here on the second leg of his four-nation tour, Mr Vajpayee drove straight for state house for a tete-a-tete with President Sam Nujoma. Mr Vajpayee, had met Mr Nujoma in March 1990, during the celebrations of Namibia's independence.

The Prime Minister will also had talks with Mr Nujoma in the evening, after which the Namibian President will host a banquet in his honour tonight.

After official talks with Prime Minister Hago G. Geingob tomorrow, agreements will be signed between the two sides, including an 'umbrella' accord for providing technical cooperation and training of personnel in journalism and foreign office consultations.

Agreements will also cover assistance in agricultural research, animal husbandry, irrigation and in technologies that will help create more employment under the Africa Fund.

Earlier, on arrival from Salalah, Mr Vajpayee was received at the airport by the Namibian Prime Minister.

Namibian school children presented a traditional song and dance welcome to Mr Vajpayee who was also presented a guard of honour.

Barring Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Iranian President M.S. Khatami, no prominent leader of the Asian region is attending the non-aligned summit being held keeping in focus the problems of global terrorism and growing concern over nuclear disarmament.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is facing a domestic crisis, and Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina Wajed, have decided to skip the 12th summit to be inaugurated by South African President Nelson Mandela. The cancellation of Mr Sharif’s visit has been a setback to the process of normalisation of Indo-Pak relations as he was slated to meet Mr Vajpayee on the sidelines of the summit to make another attempt to re-start dialogue.

Ms Hasina Wajed had to cancel her visit in view of the worsening flood situation in her country where an emergency has been declared to cope with the crisis. Indonesian President Habibie, who replaced Gen Suharto recently, has also conveyed his inability to attend the summit.

India announces $ 5m credit
for Namibia

WINDHOEK, Aug 30 Agencies — India today announced a credit to the tune of $ 5 million (US) to Namibia, coinciding with the arrival of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today, as yet another goodwill gesture aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.

Mr Vajpayee who arrived here after a seven hour long flight from Salalah (Oman) was received at the local airport by the Namibian Prime Minister Hage Geingob amid booming of guns. The meeting assumes significance, coming as it does two days before the opening of the 12th NAM summit at Durban, the Namibian leader, according to official sources, has shown complete understanding over the rationale behind the nuclear blasts conducted by India in sharp contrast to the South African standpoint on the nuclear issue. South Africa, which had voluntarily given up its nuclear programme, has stopped short of criticising the Indian nuclear programme.

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee today said there was scope for increased economic and trade relations between India and Namibia, which can serve as the base for New Delhi's greater access to African markets.

"Our bilateral trade and economic relations have grown and yet we recognise that there is much more that we can do together. Our business communities need to come much closer," Mr Vajpayee said in his speech at a banquet hosted by Namibian President Sam Nujoma here.

"We also look upon Namibia as a base for our (trade and economic) operations in other parts of Africa," Mr Vajpayee who arrived here on the second leg of his four-nation tour from Oman, said.

He appreciated Namibia's support to India on various issues, especially for New Delhi's security concerns that prompted it to go for nuclear tests recently.

The Namibian President, who shares an excellent personal relations with the Indian Prime Minister, had written to Mr Vajpayee after the Pokhran tests showing understanding of Indian security concerns.

Stating that both the countries stood on the threshold of the new millennium, Mr Vajpayee said "Together we have to work for a world where there is greater empowerment, equity and peace".

Vajpayee's comments interference: Pak

ISLAMABAD, Aug 30 (PTI) — Pakistan today reacted sharply to Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s comments on its Islamisation process by calling it "an unwarranted interference" in its internal affairs.

"Vajpayee had no business to criticise us on our internal matters", Pakistani Information Minister Mushahid Hussain told newsmen here.

Mr Vajpayee had yesterday flayed Pakistan’s move to make Koran and Sunnah the supreme law of the land saying "growth of religious extremism in any country is a matter of concern for its neighbours."

Mr Hussain said the Indian leader’s statements were "contrary to diplomatic norms and practises of inter-state relations", adding that Pakistan has never impressed its views about the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its government.

The track record of the BJP is its "Hindu fundamentalism" which had been the basis of its policies, he said.

He said the Pakistan Foreign Ministry was likely to issue a formal protest tomorrow.