'Inappropriate And Not Conducive...'

Statement by MEA Official Spokesperson

Foreign Secretary called in the US Ambassador this afternoon to convey to himthat the remarks made by him in an interview to the PTI were inappropriate andnot conducive to building a strong partnership between our two independentdemocracies. Foreign Secretary informed the Ambassador that India’s vote onany possible resolution on the Iran nuclear issue at the IAEA would bedetermined by India’s own judgement of the merits of the case. Concerning theproposed India-US civil nuclear energy cooperation agreement, the ForeignSecretary reaffirmed India’s stand that both countries needed to work in thespirit of the 18 July 2005 Joint Statement and in strict conformity with thereciprocal commitments contained therein.

The Ambassador expressed his sincere regrets, saying that his remarks had beentaken out of context. It was not at all his intention to question India’sright to take decisions on various issues on the basis of its own nationalinterests.

The Foreign Secretary and the Ambassador agreed that the two sides would workclosely together for a successful visit by President Bush to India.

New Delhi
January 26, 2006