M A I N   N E W S

Annan sidesteps UN resolutions
Lays stress on Indo-Pak dialogue

New Delhi, March 16
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan today swept the Security Council resolutions on Kashmir under the carpet and stressed on resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan to end the instability in the volatile South Asian region.

Holding indepth discussions with Indian leaders including External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh which covered a broad spectrum of issues, Mr Annan told mediapersons that UN resolutions on Kashmir were important but not “self-enforcing”.

President K.R. Narayanan with U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Friday.  — PTI photo

“The only way out is negotiations between the parties (India and Pakistan) and they have to come together to initiate a dialogue. I am encouraged that both parties are open to a dialogue,’’ he said after his meeting with Mr Jaswant Singh during which they discussed a host of issues including Afghanistan, UN peace-keeping operations and re-structuring of the world body.

India informed the Secretary-General that it remained committed to the dialogue process but wanted a conducive atmosphere to be created first. The time and venue had to be decided by the parties concerned themselves, Mr Jaswant Singh emphasised.

Mr Jaswant Singh informed him about India’s decision to keep a brigade as standby for UN peacekeeping operations. The Secretary-General highly appreciated India’s gesture stating that New Delhi had played a pioneering role in peacekeeping operations the world over. Mr Annan met parliamentarians in the Lok Sabha.

Welcoming the United Nations delegation, Lok Sabha Speaker G.M.C. Balayogi thanked the UN for providing prompt relief to the victims of the Gujarat earthquake.

The Speaker said India was interested in peace in the sub-continent and had taken several steps in that direction.

“India is of the firm view that all issues with Pakistan should be sorted out bilaterally,” Mr Balayogi said, adding that the first and foremost requirement was to stop cross-border terrorism.

He expressed concern at the situation in Afghanistan and destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas and other historical monuments by the Taliban.

There was a greater need for the UN Security Council to be more representative, Mr Balayogi said, adding India was willing to shoulder greater responsibilities of permanent membership in an expanded Security Council.

Regarding India’s claim for permanent membership in the Security Council, Mr Annan observed that India had the potential, but a final decision rested with its member countries.

The parliamentarians who attended the meeting included Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson and President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Najma Heptullah, Union Ministers Pramod Mahajan, T.R. Baalu and Arjun Sethi and members Somnath Chatterjee, Sharad Pawar, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Madhavrao Scindia, Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, K. Yerrannaidu, Jai Narain Prasad Nishad and Raghuvansh Prasad Singh. UNI

Annan declines to meet APHC team
Prashant Sood
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 16
In a major disappointment to the All-Party Hurriyat Conference, the visiting United Nations Secretary-General Mr Kofi Annan, declined to meet APHC representatives here.

The Hurriyat had put high hopes on the visit of Mr Annan to India and had deputed its senior leader Abdul Ghani Lone to convey the 23-party conglomerate’s views on the Kashmir problem.

Sources said the UN office here conveyed to the APHC that Mr Annan could not meet its representatives due to his busy schedule. The APHC had made a request at the UN office and Ministry of External Affairs to meet Mr Annan during his three-day stay in the country. Describing the development as disappointing, Hurriyat leaders said “a good chance has been lost.” They said Mr Annan should have met the representatives of political parties desirous of finding solution to the Kashmir problem.