NEW DELHI, 26 February 2005 — India’s diplomatic approach toward the Middle East, the Gulf and other neighboring regions is determined by its foreign policy, domestic needs as well as established and traditional interests, President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said yesterday.
He was addressing a joint meeting of both houses of Parliament on the opening day of the three-month budget session. Describing the country’s growing energy security needs as an integral part of its foreign policy, Kalam said: “The convergence of our foreign policy and domestic needs is striking in the context of our energy security. My government will give importance to synchronizing our diplomatic activity with our need for energy to fuel our development needs.”
“Our established and traditional interests in the Middle East, the Gulf and proximate regions, including the substantial presence there of our citizens, shall continue to be reflected in out interactions,” said Kalam. India last month hosted the first energy conclave of major oil and gas suppliers in the Middle East with four principal Asian buyers.
Regarding Palestine, the government remains committed to the global efforts to find a just and durable solution to problems faced by the Palestinian people, Kalam said.
Describing India’s relations with Pakistan as of “utmost importance in our endeavor to create a neighborhood of peace, stability and prosperity,” Kalam said: “We are engaged in a serious dialogue with Pakistan and have taken several initiatives in furtherance of that.” Elaborating on confidence- building measures that may lead to “longer term economic cooperation,” the president cited the agreement reached recently to start a bus service between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad. It has also been agreed in principle to start bus services between Lahore and Amritsar, including to religious places such as Nankana Sahib, Kalam said.
Asserting the need to strengthen SAARC, Kalam said: “We will reaffirm the importance we attach to realizing the potential inherent in SAARC at its forthcoming summit meeting.”
Voicing concern over the situation in Nepal, Kalam said that the problems faced by the country could only be addressed by a constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy working together harmoniously.
He said Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s ongoing visit to India would strengthen New Delhi’s participation in the country’s reconstruction efforts.
While India’s “Look East Policy” has substantially strengthened, Indo-US ties were on a “steady course,” Kalam said. With India’s ties with European Union and its 25 member states having expanded “steadily,” New Delhi would work to add momentum to this strategic partnership, he said.
Referring to India’s “time tested and strategic partnership with Russia,” Kalam said: “The depth of our cooperation illustrates the priority we attach to defending and consolidating this important relationship.” At the same time, the government aims to accelerate its dialogue and engagement with China, the president asserted.
During his 75-minute address, the president also declared the government’s firm commitment to ensure communal harmony. He said: “My government will deal resolutely with any attempts to spread communalism, disturb law and order and deny a life of peace and security to any citizen.”
A model comprehensive law to deal with communal violence is on the anvil, he added.
Referring to terrorism, he said the government will not hesitate to take any steps required to deal with the threat of terrorism or attempts to spread disaffection and disturb law and order.”Be it the northeast or Jammu and Kashmir,” Kalam said, “my government is willing to engage any group abjuring violence in a meaningful dialogue.”
Asserting that POTA, enacted during the NDA’s rule, was misused and was in fact not required since the existing laws could adequately handle the menace of terrorism, Kalam said: “The government there repealed the POTA and amended the unlawful activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, to put in place a legal regime to deal with the various facets of terrorism.”
