NEW DELHI, 30 August 2003 — India and Palestine yesterday discussed closer cooperation on the issue of international “terrorism” ahead of the United Nations General Assembly session due to open in New York at the end of September, a spokesman said.
The discussions took place between delegations led by visiting Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath and Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Vinod Khanna.
“Other issues discussed included closer cooperation at the United Nations, particularly on the issue of terrorism, so that we can better coordinate our positions,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters.
He said the talks were a “build up to further cooperation at the forthcoming UN General Assembly session.”
Shaath, who arrived early yesterday for a two-day official visit, also met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and was due to call on President Abdul Kalam.
He will call on India’s national security adviser Brajesh Mishra today.
The two sides held two-hour long delegation level talks in the afternoon during which a range of bilateral economic and international issues were discussed.
Shaath also briefed the Indian side on “his perspective of the peace process and the recent developments” in the region.
The talks were held in a “constructive spirit and traditional cordiality” the spokesman added.
On the economic front, cooperation in the small scale sector, IT and energy fields was discussed, the spokesman said.
On India’s position on the Middle East, Sarna said India has “clearly always called for peace” and that “anything that involves violence must be abjured.”
Sarna said India’s standard position has been that “terrorism cannot be justified for any cause.” Shaath’s visit comes shortly before a scheduled visit by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon early next month.
Palestine’s ambassador to India, Osama Musa, told the Indian Express newspaper yesterday that the foreign minister’s trip had “no connection” with Sharon’s visit.
“We believe you support us in our struggle to end the occupation of Palestine. Nabil Shaath is coming to apprise the Indian government about the road map, what the situation on the ground is,” Musa said.
He added that Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas may visit India by the end of the year.
However, Musa said India could send a strong message to Sharon during his visit. “Ask him one simple question: When are you going to end the occupation of Palestine? It’s enough for us.”
Sharon is due to visit India from Sept. 9 to 11 with defense cooperation high on the agenda in his talks with Vajpayee, according to Indian Foreign Ministry sources.
