Former Prime Minister of India - Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee

OPENING REMARKS BY PRIME MINISTER SHRI ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE AT JOINT PRESS INTERACTION WITH UK PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR

Following is the text of the opening remarks made by the Prime Minsiter Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the joint press interaction with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair at London ,on November 12, 2001 :

~Thank You, Mr Prime Minister.

I was happy to be able to continue our discussions from last month in Delhi. Relations between our two countries have a strength and vitality of their own. Therefore the more often we meet, the better it is.

As always, our discussions today have been cordial and useful. We have similar or identical views on a number of international issues. Our trade turn over of about 5 billion pounds supports our political relations. The 1.5 million people of Indian origin in this country are also an asset to our bilateral relationship.

Recent events have reinforced some areas of our cooperation. We have a continuing dialogue on counter-terrorism. In February this year, UK became the first country to ban six terrorist groups, which have caused much death and destruction in India. I also welcome the additional measures, which have been taken, and those that are being contemplated. They will strengthen the regime against international terrorism. I will be meeting the Home Secretary later this afternoon.

The ongoing fight against terrorism provided an important context for our discussion today. Both our countries have been familiar with the ugly face of terrorism for long before September 11. We have to go beyond Al-Qaeda in our global war against terrorism and target all its sponsors, who finance, train, equip and harbour terrorists.

In Afghanistan, we talked about the urgency of putting a post-conflict political structure in place before the military campaign ends. A political vacuum can only worsen matters in that country. We should work quickly, together with other interested parties, on arrangements for a post-Taliban administration and reconstruction of the country.

Mr Prime Minister, I thank you for the warm and gracious welcome which you and your government have extended to my delegation and me. I look forward to receiving you and Mrs Blair in Delhi for a full-fledged official visit. Though we have met twice in two months, we still have considerable ground to cover. The range and depth of our bilateral relations deserves this. We look forward to receiving you in India.