'It Requires Credible Action On The Part Of Pakistan'

PM's on-board press conference en-route from Rome to New Delhi


Manmohan Singh: I am returning to India after attending meetings of the G5 leaders (India, Brazil, China, Mexico and South Africa) , of the G5 + G 8 andEgypt, and of the G 8, G 5, Egypt and African Countries. There were alsomeetings of the Major Economies Forum on Trade and Climate Change.

These meetings took place when the world is attempting a recovery from therecession caused by the financial crisis in the heart of the developed world.After our discussions, it is my sense that while there are some signs ofrecovery, the world economy is still a long way from recovering the earliergrowth momentum and there must be questions whether that will soon be possiblefor the global economy.

We also discussed other global issues such as Climate Change and SustainableDevelopment, and the elimination of hunger through food security. On trade, thedangers of protectionism were highlighted. It is clear to me that meaningfulglobal action on all these issues requires a restructuring of the institutionsof global governance, starting with the UN Security Council. The sentiment hasbeen recognized in the declarations of our meetings.

I return home convinced that we must continue to strengthen our steps at home toregain the 8-10 % growth path. The international environment will not be assupportive as before for some time to come. I am however, confident that ourdomestic economic strengths will enable us to return to our earlier path ofrapid and inclusive growth.

I also had useful conversations with the leaders of Angola, Japan, the USA,Russia, the UK, Australia, our host Italy, and several other world leaders.

About the discussions on climate change: Where does India stand in regard toreduction of emissions?

Manmohan Singh: We are not able to undertake quantified emissionreduction targets but we are also quite clear that as citizens of the globaleconomy we have an obligation to do our bit to control emissions and thereforeall countries have an obligation to be prepared to depart from business asusual.

In my own statement I said we are quite alive to the dangers of climate change;in fact we recognize climate change is already taking place. We recognize ourresponsibility to do more by way of mitigation as well as by way of adaptation.In this context I presented India's climate action plan and I mentioned aboutthe eight national missions which we have set up in this regard. We are willingto do more provided there are credible arrangements to provide both additionalfinancial support as well as technological transfers from developed todeveloping countries so that green sustainable development can really become aneffective instrument of strengthening the atmosphere to tackle climate change.

Aap jin lakshyon ko lekar yehan aye kitni santhusti huee? [How many ofyour objectives with which you came here were fulfilled?]

Manmohan Singh: Yeh bahut badi struggle hai. Bharat ke jo vichar haiunko maine G-8, G-5 meeting me, duniya ke tamaam states unke saamne rakha hai.Mera yeh maana hai ke hamaare viewpoint ka kaafi appreciation hai. Lekhin abhiyeh kehna unchit nehin hoga ki baakhi sab mulk hamaare se sehmat hai; khaasthour climate change pe Bharat aur China par dabaav badnewala hai. Usko humnerokhna hai saath saath humne duniya ko jathana hai ki hum global citizens keroopme bharat ki responsibilities ko samajthe hai. Hum jo bhi munasib hogaclimate change ko rokne ke liye hum karenge aur hum kar rahe hai

It is a very big struggle. I placed India's point of view before the world inthe G-8 + G-5 meetings. I believe that our viewpoint is quite appreciated. Butit would not be correct to say that all other countries are in agreement with us- particularly, on climate change, India and China are going to face increasingpressure. We have to stop that (or withstand?) that and along with that we haveto show to the world that we understand our responsibilities as global citizens.We will do whatever is possible to stop climate change -- and, we are alreadydoing it.

It is said that if the monsoons are good and the US economy recovers, theIndian economy will revive. What happens if the EU economy slips?

Manmohan Singh: In my statement yesterday I did mention that allavailable indicators for 2009 point to a deceleration in the US economy, in theEuropean Union economies and, therefore, one can say that the global environmentfor the development of the countries of the Third World has undergone a sharpdeterioration. Our exports have suffered, capital flows from abroad havedeclined, international bank lending to the developing countries has declinedand therefore the challenge before us is to sustain and revive the growthmomentum which we have built up in the last five years, notwithstanding thedeterioration in the international environment for development.

It is not going to be easy but I am convinced that India's savings ratewhich is as high as 35 %, with a normal capital output ratio of 4:1 we should beable to sustain, with a little bit extra effort, a growth rate of about 8 to 9percent, notwithstanding the difficulties on the international front.. So Iremain confident that India will come out of this crisis stronger but the roadahead is also going to be a difficult road to traverse.

UPA I and UPA II, any change in your agenda?

Manmohan Singh: I have always viewed that our role as a government is toenable our country to get rid of chronic poverty, ignorance and disease whichstill afflict millions and millions of our people. We have made some importantgains in the last five years. We managed to impart to our economy a strongergrowth momentum, we strengthened the forces which make for inclusive social andeconomic development, we have put in place social safety nets which soften theharsh edges of extreme poverty substantially. But this is a long and arduousjourney and our challenge is to take full advantage of the instrumentalitieswhich are now in place for inclusive growth to plug loopholes, to reduceleakages and to ensure that these instruments become more effective instrumentsof social and economic change, accelerated growth, more inclusive developmentand more emphasis on rural development and agriculture. So it is a continuationof the journey we undertook for five years, with renewed commitment and withrenewed determination even though we must recognize that the internationalenvironment is not as supportive as we had imagined at one time.

There apparently is an impasse with Pakistan, is there anything that Indiacan do to break that impasse?

Manmohan Singh: I have often said India and Pakistan are closeneighbours, we can choose our friends but we have no choice with regard to ourneighbours. I have always believed that for India to realize its developmentambitions, to realize its place in the comity of nations, requires to work withits neighbours to bring about peace and amity in South Asia. And we will do allthat is necessary to resolve all outstanding issues that have bedevilled India'srelations with Pakistan. But it requires credible action on the part of Pakistanto deal with terrorist elements directing their energy to disrupt anddestabilize our economy and polity.

So I look forward to the meeting with Prime Minister Gilani for an exchange ofviews and I do hope that out of that meeting we will have a renewedreaffirmation on the part of Pakistan that they will bring the perpetrators ofthe Mumbai massacre to justice, that they will not allow Pakistani territory tobe used for terrorist acts directed against our country. If they do that we arewilling to walk more than half the distance to normalize our relations.

IT and textiles have been badly affected by the global slowdown, do you seethe situation getting worse or getting better?

Manmohan Singh: As far as IT is concerned, the world financial system wasthe greatest source of demand for our IT services. I think things arestabilizing -- the global financial system seems to have reached a new plateau.It is not a high growth plateau; so I do expect there should be some improvementin the international environment for IT.

And also with regard to exports of textiles and garments, I do feel that if theworld economy can effectively stand up against protectionist sentiments, thedemand pressures can move in the reverse direction as well. It is also possibleto do more at home to create demand for IT services. I think given the egovernance processes in our own country, we have a vast unexplored market and wecan take full advantage of the global slowdown, the Indian InformationTechnology industry need not face such a bleak future.

You have been talking about the need for reforms in the UN structurespecially the Security Council, how do you feel your views have been received byother leaders ?

Manmohan Singh: There is today growing support that the internationalstructures and systems which were put in place soon after the end of the WW II,they are not reflective of the current realities of the global structures andglobal equations. There is a growing support for the view that the SecurityCouncil membership should be enlarged both in the permanent category members aswell as in the non permanent category members. And countries like India have alegitimate claim to be considered for permanent membership of the SecurityCouncil.

But having said that let me also say that International relations in the finalsense are power relationships. And no body gives up power willingly; those whohave the power want to hold on, so I don't think an easy solution is in sight.It will have to be a long drawn out struggle and I do believe that we have everyreason to feel that in the long run our views will prevail.

Zardari se roos me mile the ab Gilani se mil rahe hai, kya is beech kuchprogress hua? Doosri baath dunia ke leadron ko Pakisatan ke ooper dabhav dalneke liya aapne baath kiya? [After meeting Zardari in Russia, you are nowgoing to meet Gilani. Has there been any progress in this period? Secondly, haveyou talked to world leaders asking them to put pressure on Pakistan?]

Manmohan Singh: Dekhiye, meri jo Zardari sahib se bath hui thi, uskibaad hamare high commissioner ki bath cheeth hui hai, ISI chief ke saath hui hai,Foreign Office ke saath hui hai. Unhonne kuch sujaav di hai, jaankari di hai kiwoh Mumbai main joh massacre hua tha unke apradhiyon ko dhand dene keliye kyakuch kar rahe hain. Abhi hamein umeed hai ki kuch aur woh shayad is disha mainaage badenge. Yeh umeed hai aur is umeed ke saath Prime Minister Gilani sahib kesaath baath karoonga.

Doosri cheez main yeh kahna chahta hun ki jahan bhi meri bath hui hai, G8 G5 aurhar ek forum mein mai bharat ke jo vichaar hai ke ham terrorism ki victim hai,25-30 saal se terrorism hamara desh ko destabilize karne ki koshish kar raha hai.Aur iskeliye koun log zimevar hai uske evidence bhi hai. Joh duniya ki thamamleaderon ke meri yahi appeal rahthi hai ki woh Pakistan par is baath par dabavdalen ki woh terrorism ke rasthe ko chodkar dosthi ke rasthe par bharath kesaath aage baden.

After my meeting with Mr Zardari, there have been discussions with our HighCommissioner, with the ISI chief and the Foreign Office. They have have givensome suggestions, some information on what they are doing about punishing thosebehind the Mumbai massacre. We hope that they will move forward some more inthat direction. And I will meet with Mr Gilani with this hope.

Secondly, I wish to say that wherever I have talked to leaders in the G-8 andG-5 and other fora, there is appreciation for India's stand that it has been avictim of terrorism for the last 25-30 years which has tried to destabilise ourcountry and there is a lot of evidence against the people responsible for it.Our appeal to all the international leaders has been that they should putpressure on Pakistan to leave the path of terrorism and proceed forward withIndian on the path of friendship.

Delhi HC recently gave a ruling on Section 377 of the IPC. Has the Govt.crystallized its views on whether to appeal further on it?

Manmohan Singh: I haven't discussed this matter with my cabinetColleagues and when I go back, I will seek their views as to if anything furtherneeds to be done or said in this regard.

Can we expect more private experts in government following Nandan Nelakani'sinduction into the government?

Manmohan Singh: I would like to involve more and more intellectuals inthe processes of governance of our country. It is a process, and we have made abeginning and it is my hope that in due course of time, we can enlarge thisprocess. We need all the wisdom, knowledge and experience and there is enormousreserve of knowledge, wisdom and experience available outside the politicalsystem. It has to be harnessed in the service of the Indian people. It will bemy effort to do so at a pace at which it does not create any side-effects. Ithink Nandan Nilekani's appointment has been widely welcomed and I sincerelyhope that in due course of time we can enlarge the involvement of topintellectual elements in the processes of governance.

Rail budget 2008 aur rail budget 2009 surplus me bada farak hai- aap karai kya hai? There is a lot of difference between Rail Budget 2008 and RailBudget 2009 surplus. What is your opinion on it?

Manmohan Singh: Aankaron par vichar kiyaa jaa saktha hai. Mai nedetailed me dekha nahin hai itna Railway Mantri ne bathaya hai ki is silsile mewhite paper jaari karnewalli hai tho muje umeed hai yeh white paper is masle pejaankhari dega ki kya wajeh hai, kiyoon hua hai aur kya kiya jaa saktha hai.

We can think about the figures. I have not seen in detail. The railwayminister has said that she is going to issue a white paper in this regard and Itrust this white paper will throw light on this issue as to the reasons, why ithappened and what can be done about it.

In Yekaterinburg you were frank with President Zardari. Is it back tobusiness as usual with Pakistan and do such messages work.

Manmohan Singh: Well, there are difficulties, But I have not given uphope. Let me say that what I had said to Zardari Sahib, I had not intended tosay that in the presence of all the media. I simply forgot that the media werepresent there. It was not my intention in anyway to hurt Zardari Sahib'sfeelings.

Can Doha round be concluded early.

Manmohan Singh: We have a strong interest in the success of themultilateral trade negotiations, because we as a country are not member of anyregional groups, so we need a rule based, liberal multilateral trading system torealize our development ambitions. And we have an obligation to contribute tothe success of the Doha round. We also hope that the world will recognize thatthe Doha round started with the promise of making development the centrepiece ofglobal trade negotiations. If those commitments are honoured, I don't thinkthere would be problems in reaching the satisfactory outcome of the Doha round.

A perception that Obama may be good for the world, but not for India. Yourmeetings with him?

Manmohan Singh: I find President Obama to be very supportive of India'sdevelopment ambitions. He has great admiration for India. I spent considerabletime this morning, he and I were sitting side by side in the session onAgriculture. We exchanged notes on a large number of issues and I look forwardto my visit to Washington to meet with him and as I said earlier, we haveinvited President Obama to pay us a visit and therefore there is no basis forapprehension that the Obama Administration will be less sensitive to India'sconcerns than the previous US Administration.

Interruption

I find him very supportive of India, that he mentioned to me on more than oneoccasion in the last 2 days, that is the impression he gave me in London, andthat is the consistent impression that I have got that we have a very responsivePresident Obama, as far as India's aspirations are concerned.