Blackwell Calls For Lifting Of Sanctions

The post-nuclear sanctions imposed on India in 1998should be removed "swiftly", U.S. Ambassador-designateto India Robert D. Blackwell said in Washington today, notingthat there was "enormous" promise in the relationship betweenthe two multi-ethnic democracies.

"The flowers have begun to bloom, but there are some deep historicalruts from which both countries have to get out and exploitthe opportunities," he said at his confirmation hearingbefore the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

He, however, made it clear that at this stage he could onlyspeak in his personal capacity, for he would get official standingonly after he was confirmed by the Senate.

The US' commitment to Indo-US relations "will certainly be manifestedwhen the President visits India in the not too distantfuture," he said.

Blackwell said President George W. Bush believed that theworld could be made freer, more peaceful, and more prosperousif the U.S. and India cooperated closely together over thelong term.

"If confirmed, I especially look forward to working with theIndian American community and U.S. business to promote thisvision. And I will urge this Committee and other members ofCongress to play their crucial role in transforming the U.S.-Indiarelationship, to visit India regularly and to receive yourIndian counterparts here.

"I think it is a very rich agenda...there is enormous promisein this relationship," Blackwell said. Elaborating on the task at hand,Blackwell, who has 22 years experience as a career ForeignService Officer said, the issue of the future of nuclearweapons was important and it seemed to him that the U.S.should have an intense dialogue with the Government ofIndia on that subject.

On the economic-commercial side, the U.S. has a trade imbalancewith India. "But it seems to me we should be doing muchbetter working with India to promote this economic relationship."

Another area of cooperation was anti-terrorism. "It seems tome," said Blackwell, New Delhi and Washington both faced seriousproblems with respect to terrorism -- in some countries thesame groups. "I hope we can find more intensive ways to cooperate."

The fourth issue to be looked into, he said was the futureof the relationship between India and Pakistan. Notingthat "General Musharraf" and Prime Minister of IndiaAtal Behari Vajpayee would be meeting next month, he saidthe U.S. was not going to mediate in this but "We can be helpfulif both sides want us to be helpful. Of course, in the end,they are going to have to find a way to resolve this issue-hopefullypeacefully-between them."

Another subject, he hoped the U.S. would be able to discuss withIndia was the energy security in the Persian Gulf. India, hesaid, was importing more than 50 per cent of its energy fromthe Persian Gulf and the imports are likely to grow.

"Then there are global issues, the UN issues," he said. Ifthere is full interaction with the Indian Government andthere is mutual understanding, it will help us to be amorepersuasive advocate for our position, and then we can interactwith New Delhi," he added.

PTI