New Delhi, June 2
After exploring one another for the past three years, India, Russia and China today took a significant but cautious step forward by announcing their trilateral cooperation in such areas as transport, agriculture, energy and high technology, besides fighting terrorism and drug-trafficking.

This was announced through a Joint Communique on the results of a trilateral meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the three countries in Vladivostok (Russia) which was released by the Ministry of External Affairs here. The development is significant as it is the first time in four trilateral meetings of the Foreign Ministers of India, Russia and China since 2002 that the three countries have come out with a Joint Communique and put on record their trilateral cooperation in terms of concept and format.

It is a cautious step because the three sides have called the Vladivostok meeting an "informal" one. Diplomatic sources here say that of the three countries, Russia is very keen to gallop down the road of trilateral cooperation while China is very cautious because of its friendship with Pakistan on the one hand and rivalry with the United States. While the Chinese are on the wait-and-watch mode, the Indians appear to be downplaying the development as the one which is not a military bloc against anyone.

Expectedly, during the three Foreign Ministers' talks in Vladivostok, the issue of United Nations reforms came up. However, the Chinese side kept its cards close to its chest on the issue of UN Security Council expansion and India's candidature for the UNSC permanent membership. This was reflected in the Joint Communique as well which, while talking about this issue, said the Ministers " agreed on the objective requirement for comprehensive reforms of the UN, including of UNSC, so that the Organisation becomes more reflective of contemporary global realities and more effective in discharging its functions."

On the issue of terrorism, the Joint Communique said: "The Ministers declared the intention of India, Russia and China to cooperate in trilateral format in combating new threats and challenges. They stressed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and irrespective of its origins and motivations posed one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. They agreed that it should be combated in a consistent, sustained and comprehensive manner without any double standards. They underscored the need for coordinated action between the law enforcement authorities of the three countries to act against illegal drug-trafficking and other manifestations of trans-border crimes."

Economic cooperation will be the mainstay of this trilateral cooperation.

New Delhi, May 2
The stand alone trilateral meeting among India, Russia and China at Vladivostak has paved the way for a possible summit level engagement next year, according to highly placed sources in the grouping.

Even as the trilateral meeting of the foreign ministers in the Russian port city today affirmed their commitment to launch a consistent, sustained and comprehensive battle against the menace of terrorism without adopting any double standards for international peace and security, the low key engagement over the last few years keenly watched by the US is on the threshold of receiving a major impetus.

Sources here maintained that the effort of the three countries is to give a push to trilateral economic and commercial relations without any military dimension to it. They emphasised their exercise is aimed at promoting global peace and development and that it should not be construed as a military arrangement aimed at any third country.

"The threesome want to give a push to mutually beneficial cooperation in various spheres encompassing transport, agriculture, energy and high technology apart from striving for a more equitable world which focusses on the aspirations of the developing and least developed countries."

As a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) keen to assist India in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, Russia believes that India needs to take more steps beyond the Weapons of Mass Destruction Act by banning nuclear tests. New Delhi is on the right track and Moscow has no doubt that India would compel the NSG to review the sanctions imposed against it after Pokran II in May 1998. This assumes significance as New Delhi's record of steering clear of nuclear proliferation is unblemished.

Russia is keen to resume supplies for the Tarapur Atomic Power Plant and move forward to the next stage of the Kundankulam project in Tamil Nadu. "Fuel for Tarapur will have to wait for some more time because the NSG needs to be fully satisfied before lifting sanctions." For this to happen, India will have to convince the NSG that it will put a ban on further nuclear tests even though it has emphasised in its policy of deterrence of no first use of nuclear weapons. A moratorium is already in place with regard with further nuclear implosions.

Sources said President A P J Abdul Kalam's visit to the Russian Federation was a "great success" as wide ranging issues were discussed including cooperation in space, science and technology as well as jointly developing the Fifth Generation aircraft which is still in a preliminary stage. Dr Kalam, considered as the father of the missile technology in this country, held intense discussions with the members of the scientific fraternity as well as those involved with the Brahmos which is an India-Russia joint venture. The President suggested a joint venture Sputnick being put in space for the benefit of students all over the world.

London, June 2
A court here has ordered an Asian fraudster to pay back £ 1.6 million to the British Government after finding him guilty of building a property empire from stolen government funds meant for the poor.

Though Kanubhai Patel, 53, was convicted in October, 2003, for the fraud, it took investigators 18 months to unravel the extent of his financial empire and to finalise a confiscation order.

The compensation order against Patel, reported on Wednesday, is unusual in that it takes into account the value of his property rather than the sum he actually stole from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which came to £ 69,000.

However, the crime of housing benefit fraud is taken very seriously in Britain, where people on low or no incomes are entitled to a range of state-funded financial support, including free housing and help with their rent.

Social security, which forms the bedrock of the post-war British state, is funded by a system of progressive taxation.

James Plaskitt, Anti-Fraud Minister at DWP, said: “This cheat’s £-69,000 fraud cost him over £ 1.6 million - that’s 25 times what he stole from taxpayers’ pockets. It sends a clear message that fraud doesn’t pay.” The Kingston Crown Court ruled that Patel’s current two-year jail sentence for the fraud could be increased to a further six years if he failed to repay the money within 12 months - and he would still be required to repay, this time with interest.

Patel, who came to the UK from India in the 70s, began his fraudulent activities in 1992 when he claimed income support, housing benefit and local council tax benefit on grounds that he had separated from his wife and was the sole person to take care of his children. — IANS

Amsterdam, June 2
Dutch voters have rejected the proposed EU constitution, dealing a devastating blow to hopes of salvaging a charter already decisively defeated by the French.

With 80 per cent of ballots counted, 61.8 per cent had voted against the treaty and 38.2 per cent in favour, according to the Dutch national broadcaster NOS.

“The Dutch people have spoken tonight. It is a clear result. Naturally I am very disappointed,” said Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende yesterday after an early exit poll had projected similar results.

“Let it be clear,” he added. “We will fully respect this outcome.”

The emphatic rejection came three days after France plunged the future of European Union integration into uncertainty with its own ‘no’ vote. It could prove fatal for the charter, which was designed to further unify the 25-nation bloc and give it more clout on the world stage but has instead polarised opinion across Europe.

“I think it’s the end of the story now that two important countries have said no,” said Wouter Bos, the opposition leader who joined Mr Balkenende in supporting the treaty.

The draft document needs approval from all nations to take effect in late 2006, but the resounding ‘no’ votes in both France and the Netherlands were a clear message that the project of European integration has gone awry.

Voter turnout was 62 per cent, far exceeding even the most optimistic expectations and a reflection of the heated debate in recent days.

RIGA: Lawmakers in new EU member state Latvia on Thursday ratified the EU constitution, giving the text a much-needed boost after its rejection by French and Dutch voters. — AP, AFP

Ankara, June 2
Turkey today reaffirmed its long-term plan to become a full member of the European Union after Dutch voters followed the French rejected a new EU constitution partly due to fears over Ankara’s EU drive.

The constitution makes no direct reference to Turkish membership, but “No” campaigners in both France and the Netherlands played on public fears of admitting Turkey, a large, relatively poor and overwhelmingly Muslim country, into the EU.

“Our fundamental aim in the coming period is to ensure a successful conclusion of the EU membership negotiation process which starts on October 3,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement responding to the result of yesterday’s Dutch vote. — Reuters

London, June 2
Indian actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai, who was once proclaimed as the most beautiful woman in the world, has been relegated to No. 9 in a list of 50 most beautiful women.

Angelina Jolie heads the list, followed by Christy Turlington, Queen Rania of Jordan, Sofia Coppola, Nigella Lawson, Uma Thurman, Emmanuelle Beart and Kate Moss. Aishwarya, at the ninth position, is ahead of Princess Charlotte of Monaco, comprising the top 10.

The list, released by Harpers & Queen yesterday, contains one more Indian-model and actress Padma Lakshmi, the fourth wife of Salman Rushdie, who figures on the 28th position.

Among some other known beauties, Julie Christie is at number 23, Sophie Dahl at 16, Vanessa Redgrave is at the 32nd position, Halle Berry at 37, closely followed by Jennifer Lopez at 39. Gwyneth Paltrow has been placed at 41 and Kate Winslet is at a lowly 46. — UNI