M A I N   N E W S

Vajpayee’s visit to strengthen ties
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Sept 5 — Issues of international terrorism including Pakistan sponsored cross-border terrorism, international security, UN reforms and steps to augment bilateral economic cooperation particularly in energy, information technology and infrastructure sectors will dominate the agenda of bilateral talks during Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s US visit, commencing from September 7.

Mr Vajpayee’ who is leaving on a fortnight-long visit to the USA in the early hours on September 7, will have wide-ranging talks with the American President Bill Clinton during his stay in Washington beginning from September 14.

Earlier, Mr Vajpayee will be in New York to attend the UN Millennium Summit where he will address the UN General Assembly on September 8.

Notwithstanding his knee trouble, the Prime Minister has given his nod to a hectic schedule during his long visit except for three days from September 10 for which nothing has been fixed yet. During this period, Mr Vajpayee was earlier slated to visit San Francisco but this segment was dropped from his programme on his doctors’ advice.

When asked about the PM’s schedule during the three days, a spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said the media would be informed about his programme.

The spokesman further said that the purpose of the visit by the Prime Minister “is to consolidate the relationship and the understandings” that were reached during Mr Clinton’s visit to India in March this year and “impart greater content and dynamism to the relationship”.

Mr Vajpayee will stay in New York for almost 7 days, during which he will address the Asia Society and sign the Convention for the Suppression of Financing of International Terrorism at the UN. He will also have bilateral meetings with the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Mrs Sheikh Hasina and the Nepal Prime Minister, Mr G.P. Koirala.