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UK not to mediate on Kashmir, says Sir Rob Young
P.P.S. Gill
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 11
The British High Commissioner in India, Sir Rob Young, today said that there was no question of mediation on Kashmir, an issue between India and Pakistan that had to be solved by the two countries. “But if the UK can help to reduce tension and create the right conditions for a productive dialogue, we shall help”.

Kashmir issue used to be a bone of contention between India and the UK. The former ever suspicious, indeed critical. “But mutual concern about terrorism, and the need to work for an end to support for cross-border terrorism, have brought our two governments together”, he added.

On a farewell visit to the city, Sir Rob Young also assured India of UK’s “open approach” to support developing countries on agriculture-related issues now dominating the minister-level meeting of the WTO at Cancun. He also hoped all member countries would make the meeting a success to “help keep the Doha development agenda on track”.

Elaborating, he appreciated the concerns of the developing countries and stressed that even in the European Union, the UK had opted for a liberal policy so as to encourage export of steel, textiles and agricultural produce and products to the developed countries. Also that the UK recognised the limitations of the developing countries that must move at a pace that they can manage.

Sir Rob Young was speaking on “India and the UK: Reflections on a modern partnership” at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here. The outgoing High Commissioner presented a bouquet of vignettes of his four-and-a-half-year stay in India recounting his brush with Indian “hospitality, surprises, diversity, vitality and dynamism” that had had an overwhelming effect on him and his wife.

He began by referring to the “shared history” and went on to unfold the events that over a period of time had melted away the bitterness between the people of the two countries and given birth to “emotional and cultural bonds”. The people-to-people and government-to-government relationship have flourished and blossomed into strong bi-lateral associations, covering a wide spectrum of issues and aspects.

He devoted a considerable part of his address reflecting on his experiences in India and eulogising 1.3 million strong Indian community settled in the UK that had contributed tremendously to the economic development, particularly in information technology, medical and health services. “Punjabis and Punjabi culture is dominant in the UK, where music, films and broadcasting have spread a wide net rejuvenating the cultural bonds”.

CII’s Immediate Past Chairman, Mr S K Bijlani, welcomed Sir Rob Young and gave an overview of the role played by the CII and its counterpart, the Confederation of British Industries’ in bringing the two countries closer through trade and commerce. The vote of thanks was proposed by CII’s Chairman, Economic Affairs and Taxation Subcommittee, Mr R M Khanna. There was a brief question-answer session, as well.

Earlier in the day, Sir Rob Young called on the Punjab Chief Minister, Capt. Amarinder Singh, where he was briefed about the steps taken to improve the living standards of the people and reforms initiated to make the government effective, responsive and transparent. He was also told of the measures to develop industries and diversification of agriculture.

Vultures & politicians

The British High Commissioner, Sir Rob Young, had the audience in splits when he quoted Elliot Morley, who was in Chandigarh in connection with a vulture conservative centre near Pinjore.

Talking of vultures and politicians he had said: “You may be surprised to learn that, in my assessment as a keen ornithologist, vultures and politicians share a few common characteristics. Neither of us enjoy universal popularity. We are not always particularly beautiful. And we can create quite a flap if disturbed too much. But I think, and I am sure India’s vulture population will agree with me, that we both do society an essential service. However, whilst there is little risk of politicians dying out as a breed, the same cannot be said of the vultures”.