'There Has Been No Scope For Any Third Party Role ...'

Navtej Sarna: As you know the visit of the Prime Minister of Bahrain H.H Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa is underway.This afternoon the visiting Prime Minister held discussions with our Prime Minister as well as delegationlevel talks. Prime Minister hosted a lunch in his honour and five agreements were signed, the details of whichyou may have already have got otherwise these are available. These are: MoU on Foreign Office Consultations,Extradition Treaty, Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, Agreement on Mutual LegalAssistance in Judicial, Commercial and Civil Matters, and Bilateral Investment, Promotion & ProtectionAgreement. So the stage is set for closer cooperation between the two countries in matters related to securityand law enforcement as well as trade and investments.

Besides this, you have also got the statement that the Prime Minister has issued on the Next Steps inStrategic Partnership with USA. You would have seen a similar statement issued by President Bush. Copies ofboth are available in case some of you have not got these.

Is it true that the United States is actively involved in promoting India-Pakistan dialogue?

Navtej Sarna: India discusses major foreign policy issues with friendly countries as part of normal diplomatic interaction.The United States has repeatedly offered its good offices to promote India-Pakistan dialogue. However, onIndia-Pakistan bilateral issues there has been no scope for any third party role in the past. It is not likelyto be there in future either.

What did Colin Powell mean when he said that he facilitated the talks?

[Background note: In the course of his interview by U.S.News and World Report, Colin Powell had said, inter alia, "the work we're doing with the Indians and the Pakistanis which produced a breakthrough over the last severaldays but there's more work to be done, and we offered our good offices to the Indians and the Pakistanis overthe last couple of days" and he had added, "with foreign policy, it takes time for ideas andprograms to germinate and start to grow, and we're starting to see a number of the things we started doing atthe very beginning of the Administration now starting to bear fruit. ... We've been working with the Indiansand Pakistanis for almost two years, from a period of, "We're going to nuclear war this weekend,"to, you know, this is a historic change. And so I think a lot of these seeds that were planted are nowgerminating and you'll us harvesting crops" - Ed]

Navtej Sarna: Well, I don’t know what this statement means. But I have told you our position.

Mr. Sinha is going to visit US. Will there be any discussion on this issue in view of strategic partnershipbetween the two countries?

Navtej Sarna: I think this particular statement is the beginning of cooperation in a number of areas, it is not theculmination and we hope to expand this progress. As the statement itself will tell you, there is a series ofreciprocal steps, which the two sides will take in actually playing out the shared vision of Prime MinisterVajpayee and President Bush outlined in November 2001 and as and when these reciprocals steps are taken wewill let you know. But this is a launching of a cooperation ……..

Will this agreement be sealed during the forthcoming visit of Mr. Yashwant Sinha to US?

Navtej Sarna: This statement and agreement has already been announced by the Prime Minister and the President. ExternalAffairs Minister is going to be there on January 19th and will stay there for two days. The visit will carryforward the ongoing discussions on various issues between the two countries. He will have a meeting withSecretary of State Colin Powell and other US Administration officials.

But the agreement is likely to be signed formally?

Navtej Sarna: It has already been announced by the Prime Minister and the President in identical terms.

Is there any particular reason why the statement was announced today?

Navtej Sarna: No, I think the two sides had mutually agreed that the announcement should be made after the holiday season,Christmas and New year, in the US and it was felt that January 12 or 13 would be an ideal time.

Is there anything on Brajesh Mishra’s visit to China?

Navtej Sarna: No

We had suggested the weeks of January 12 & 19 for talks on Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus link andMunabao-Khokrapar rail link to Pakistan. Anything on that?

Navtej Sarna: No, we have not had any official comeback on those offers.

Do you read anything in the delay?

Navtej Sarna: I would rather not read anything but wait for the official response.