W O R L D

Pervez wants outside guarantees
on Kashmir issue
Islamabad, May 24
Adding a new dimension to the peace process on Kashmir, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said he will prefer some kind of “international guarantees” for implementation of any pact reached with India on the issue, which he wants to be settled in a year’s time.

Kalam, Putin explore possibilities of
‘just world order’
Moscow, May 24
President A. P. J. Kalam and Russian President Vladimir Putin today held an hour-long one-on-one meeting in the Kremlin and explored the possibilities of a just world order, where there is no interference in internal affairs of other countries.

Hillary Clinton lauds role of Sikhs
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s close association with the Indian American community and her fondness for Indian cuisine is a well-documented part of Clinton lore. So it came as no surprise when the former First Lady of the United States of America told an ecstatic gathering of Sikh Americans on Capitol Hill that she was delighted to be the “Senator from Punjab as well as from New York.”

Police suspects slain Indian a gangster
Kuala Lumpur, May 24
The Malaysian police is investigating if an Indian national found murdered here last week was gangster Balu Dokre, an alleged henchman of the Chhota Rajan gang.

Pervez wants outside guarantees on Kashmir issue

Islamabad, May 24
Adding a new dimension to the peace process on Kashmir, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said he will prefer some kind of “international guarantees” for implementation of any pact reached with India on the issue, which he wants to be settled in a year’s time.

“I don’t know, I haven’t thought of this point, but maybe the peace process should be guaranteed by the international community. I think if we reach an agreement, there should be something other than just bilateral guarantees.

“I think the international community should play a role in the guarantees. And this is a new thing that I am saying,” he said in an interview with a Pakistani daily.

The President had last week said a solution to the Kashmir issue could not be on “any religious basis” and had to be found within India’s stand of no redrawing of borders, Pakistan’s stand that the LoC could not be a permanent border and boundaries becoming irrelevant.

Elaborating the new element, General Musharraf said in the interview: “We are talking of guarantees which go beyond us. If we reach an agreement and we are reasonably sure that it will be followed, there is no harm why we should be so stuck up. .. I think we will have better permanence if the international community is involved, finally, in the guarantee,” Daily Times newspaper quoted him as saying.

To a question about where he saw the peace process headed in the next one year, General Musharraf said: “If we move forward, which we can, and if we have the courage, I am sure this (Kashmir) whole issue can be put behind in 12 months.”

“My only hope is Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stays and is allowed to move forward. I am very glad to say that my interaction with BJP leaders, Mr L.K. Advani and Mr Vajpayee, has been very good. The only thing that I said was please don’t oppose it because you are in the Opposition.” — PTI

Kalam, Putin explore possibilities of ‘just world order’

Moscow, May 24
President A. P. J. Kalam and Russian President Vladimir Putin today held an hour-long one-on-one meeting in the Kremlin and explored the possibilities of a just world order, where there is no interference in internal affairs of other countries.

Soon after the meeting in the Green Hall, followed by delegation-level talks, both Presidents held a joint press conference, saying the discussions today would further foster ties between the two countries, currently engaged in joint cooperation in various fields.

Hailing Dr Kalam’s visit as a “landmark development,” President Putin said one of the central themes in the discussion was to ensure stability in Eurasia and throughout the world.

“The two nations are in favour of a just world order, based on internationally-agreed laws and principles of mutual respect and interests,” he said, adding that all issues, “whether large or small should be solved through discussions and dialogue without any external interference.”

However, the Russian President did not elaborate further. The two leaders did not take any questions but read out their detailed statements.

“Today, beyond the bilateral matters, we exchanged views on the international issues,” President Putin said in his crisp observations.

“We were extremely pleased to welcome Dr Kalam, who is vesting Russia for the first time as the Head of State, and hope his landmark visit will pave way for a new level of cooperation”, he said, adding India was a “key partner in the Asia-Pacific region”.

Observing the relationship between the two countries was growing in a substantive manner, he identified new areas of cooperation and tie-ups, including space, metallurgy, information technology and said several joint projects were being implemented.

Refering to the Russian support in India’s nuclear power projects, he said cooperation in the energy sector was also growing.

Laying stress on his theme of developments in various disciplines, Dr Kalam gave an account of his discussions with the Russian President and details of his meetings with scientists and experts during his two days stay in Moscow.

The President said there was a need for increasing trade between the two countries, from the current level of $ 3 billion to $ 25 billion in the next 10 years. — Reuters

Malayala Manorama Editor on IPI board
Tribune News Service

Malayala Manorama Resident Editor Amit Mathew has been elected executive board member of the International Press Institute (IPI).

A Vienna-based international organisation of editors and senior journalists, the IPI works for the freedom of the press globally and strives for excellence in journalism.

It was at the IPI world congress and 54th general assembly in Nairobi that 31-year-old Amit was elected. He is the youngest person to hold the post, according to a press note issued from Nairobi, Kanya, today.

Amit, who has six years of editorial and management experience in dailies, television, radio and IT in India and abroad, joined the Malayala Manorama in June, 2001.

After graduating from St Stephen’s College, Delhi, Amit worked with A.F. Ferguson, Mumbai’s famous management consultancy organisation. Later, he took his MBA from Swinburne University in Australia and worked in British newspapers such as Western Mail and The South Wales Echo.

Amit has also worked with the Herald and Weekly Times, a newspaper owned by media baron Rupert Murdoch and Australia’s largest radio network, Austereo, in its marketing division. He has also been with the Channel 9 television company, which belongs to the Kerry Packer group and ninemsn.com, Australia’s largest portal that is run jointly by Microsoft and Channel 9.

Amit, son of Malayala Manorama Managing Editor Philip Mathew, is married to Diya. They have a daughter, Anaanya.

Hillary Clinton lauds role of Sikhs
Ashish Kumar Sen writes from Washington

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s close association with the Indian American community and her fondness for Indian cuisine is a well-documented part of Clinton lore. So it came as no surprise when the former First Lady of the United States of America told an ecstatic gathering of Sikh Americans on Capitol Hill that she was delighted to be the “Senator from Punjab as well as from New York.”

Senators and members of Congress gathered in Washington last week to celebrate Sikh American heritage at an event organized by the Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE).

Noting that as a senator from New York she represented “many Sikh American constituents,” Mrs Clinton applauded the community’s achievements and contributions to the United States of America.

The Dirksen Senate Office building resounded with cries of “Jo Bole So Nihaal, Sat Sri Akaal” as members of Congress praised the resilience of the community that after September 11, 2001, became the target of unprovoked racial violence.

Senator Richard Lugar, Indiana Republican, recalled his decades-long association with the Sikh community. “I have known Sikhs since I was mayor of Indianapolis,” he said, adding, K.P. Singh from his home state “has been a mentor for the last 37 years.”

Over the years, the Sikh population in America has grown steadily. Today there are approximately 500,000 Sikhs living here.

SCORE chairman Rajwant Singh hoped the event would send “a very important signal to the lawmakers and political leaders of this country that Sikhs are politically conscious and would like to participate in the political and social process of this country.”

“This would ensure an important presence of the Sikhs at the American political nerve center,” he said.

Mrs Clinton told the gathering she admired the manner in which the community had handled the challenges they faced following the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon outside Washington.

“The way the Sikh community responded so positively by educating about the Sikhs and serving fellow Americans is the great tribute to the value of the Sikh community and that also helped us to get the message across,” she said.

Other members of Congress who attended the event included Congressman Tom Davis, California Republican; Congressman Jim McDermott, Washington Democrat; Congressman Rush Holt, New Jersey Democrat, Congressman Joe Crowley, New York Democrat; Congressman Frank Pallone, New Jersey Democrat; and Congresswoman Sheila Lee Jackson, Texas Democrat.

Police suspects slain Indian a gangster

Kuala Lumpur, May 24
The Malaysian police is investigating if an Indian national found murdered here last week was gangster Balu Dokre, an alleged henchman of the Chhota Rajan gang.

The body of the man, who was identified as Suresh Krishnakant, was found in a field on Sunday, near Rawang town, with his throat slashed and his head almost severed off.

A senior police officer, Hadi Ho, said the victim’s documents identified him as Krishnakant, who purportedly worked for a mattress manufacturing company, but a police check found that he was never employed there.

The Malaysian police said it was investigating if the victim was Balu Dokre and added that it would seek help from Interpol and the Indian authorities.

Dokre is said to be high on the Mumbai police’s wanted list because of 43 criminal cases. — PTI