Prime Minister of India - Dr. Manmohan Singh

PM's onboard press conference enroute Yekaterinburg to New Delhi (Transcript)

I have had an intense and productive visit to Russia to participate in the Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and in the first ever standalone summit meeting of the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China yesterday. This has been my first visit abroad in the new term of the Government. The visit has reinforced my sense of the significance of India's engagement with the world, particularly at this time of economic crisis and political change.

In the short time that I was in Yekaterinburg, I had also had bilateral meetings with President Hu Jintao of China, President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, President Zardari of Pakistan and President Medvedev of Russia.

As you know, India is an observer in the SCO and has primarily attended Summits at the Ministerial level. I chose to attend this Summit because of President Medvedev's personal invitation and as the format this time provided for full participation by Observers in the restricted and plenary sessions with the other leaders. Central Asia, where the SCO is active, is part of India's extended neighbourhood. We look forward to increased functional cooperation with the SCO.

At the BRIC Summit, we discussed the need to intensify cooperation among ourselves and discussed the international economic downturn, and how we can prepare for the forthcoming G-8 and G-20 Summits. We live in times of rapid economic change when the BRIC economies are a factor of stability and growth. India has borne the global economic crisis well, though we have not been unaffected. There was general agreement on the need to continue our coordination in BRIC on economic matters, to seek implementation of G-20 decisions of interest to developing countries, and reform of present systems of global governance and the international financial system. We have agreed that our Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors will meet, and with the help of experts, examine the further steps we should take in this regard.

In my meeting with President Hu Jintao of China, we reviewed the progress in our bilateral relations and recommitted ourselves to carrying forward the Strategic and Cooperative Partnership that we established in 2005.

President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan was our honoured guest at our Republic Day earlier this year. We both expressed satisfaction at the rapid expansion of proposals for bilateral cooperation in diverse fields including energy, petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals. Our Foreign Ministers will lay out a road map with timelines for implementing these proposals.

When I met President Zardari of Pakistan, we discussed India-Pakistan relations, which remain under considerable stress. The primary cause of this, as everyone knows, is the terrorist attacks against India from Pakistani territory. I conveyed to President Zardari the full extent of our expectation that the Government of Pakistan take strong and effective action to prevent the use of Pakistan's territory for terrorist attacks against India, act against the perpetrators of past attacks and dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan. The President of Pakistan told me of Pakistan's efforts to deal with this menace and the difficulties that they face.

We agreed that our Foreign Secretaries will discuss what Pakistan is doing and can do to prevent terrorism from Pakistan against India and to bring those responsible for these attacks to justice including the horrendous crime of the attacks in Mumbai. They will report to us and we will take stock of the situation when we are at Sharm el Sheikh for the Nonaligned Summit in mid-July.

I have spoken before of my vision of a cooperative subcontinent, and of the vital interest that India and the people of the subcontinent have in peace. For this we must try again to make peace with Pakistan. It also requires effective and strong action against the enemies of peace. If the leaders of Pakistan have the courage, determination and statesmanship to take the high road to peace, India will meet them more than half-way. These were the ideas and sentiments that I shared with the President of Pakistan.

With President Medvedev, I exchanged views on the unique and close strategic partnership that we enjoy with Russia. We are both looking forward to its rapid development in the future.

I return to India satisfied with the results of my visit. International developments and the economic crisis will pose fresh challenges to Indian diplomacy. I am, however, confident that we will be able to convert challenge into opportunity for India.

Preliminary transcript of PM's Q&A session

Q. 1 Talks with President Zardari

Let us wait for the outcome of the meeting of the Foreign Secretaries. As I said the purpose of this meeting is to learn from Pakistan what it has done to control terrorist activities directed against India and what it plans to do. And in the process President Zardari mentioned to me the problems that they face. I explained to him that whereas Pakistan has now taken effective action against Taliban and Al Qaeda, we have a feeling that those elements who are actively engaged in perpetrating terrorists acts in our country, they are not being brought to justice. So my expectation is that this meeting of Foreign Secretaries will tell us whether Pakistan has taken effective action , if it plans to take effective action against these perpetrators of terrorism.

Q.2. Any Discussion on Kashmir ?

No discussion on Kashmir took place. He did not raise it nor did I raise it. He did mention to me the difficulties that Pakistan is facing in containing terrorism and asked us to bear with him, give him some more time. But there was no mention of Kashmir at anytime in our discussions

Q.3.

I have often said we can choose our friends but we have to live with our neighbours. It is necessary not to close our channels of communication with neighbours. I think that's what we should do.

Q.4. Anything tangible coming out of the talks ?

I did raise with him what tangible things we would like to see.

Q...?

I think that's better not said.

Q.5. Any timelines ?

We have said that the meeting of Foreign Secretaries should take place before the NAM Summit, that is in July.

Q.6.What will be the foreign policy agenda for next 5 years? Will BRIC be useful or just be a talk shop?

I hope it goes beyond being a talk shop. We are responsible for 40 % of the population and GDP. If all these countries act in concert , I think their voices will be heard in the global councils.

As for India 's relations we will pursue the path that has been outlined by the Hon'ble President in the address to parliament a few days ago.

Q.7. Comments on the situation in BJP

Well I am not in favour of gloating over the difficulties of other political parties. I wish them well.

Q.8. Spat with Mr. Advani ?

Well I was compelled to reply and I did say a few things which Advaniji said had hurt him. Then he rang me up on 16th May and he expressed regret. In exchange , I apologized to him if I had said anything to hurt his feelings. I look forward to a close relationship with the leader of the opposition.

Q.9. What are your Foreign affairs priorities ? Pakistan ?

You must have read the President's address.I think those are our priorities.

We wish Pakistan well in dealing with the Talebans, the Al Qaedas. But I would also like Pakistan to show the same determination in dealing with terrorists who operate from Pakistan's soil and conduct acts of terror against our country.

Q.10. Alternate Global Currency

Those were the ideas that were aired but no concrete conclusion emerged. It was agreed that these are highly complex issues replacing the dollar by anther currency �a national currency or SDRs. And it was felt that this matter required proper examination by our Foreign Ministers and Governors Of Central Banks.

Q.10. What difficulties were expressed by Zardari ?

President Zardari's point was that he is fighting a grim battle and there are difficulties in fighting on all fronts and therefore he said, while I am absolutely sincere in controlling terrorism from what ever source it emanates and at which ever country it is directed, you must bear with me.

Q.11. Presidents address and the budget ?

I would not like to disclose what's going to be in the budget. I think that would be improper.

Q.12. Any reduction of troops along the border by India and Pakistan?

Troop deployment is a matter of functional necessity and I won't like to speculate on that in public on what we should do or what they will be doing.

Q.13.Situation in Kashmir.

As regards Jammu & Kashmir , the Home Minister was there. The Home Minister made some important statements on he deployment of forces. And it is very unfortunate that these incidents have taken place. If there were any violation of human rights we will take effective action. And I have also promised the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister that once the new Government settles down, we will look at the problems of developing Jammu and Kashmir, update our development and reconstructive plans. I have always said that we would be happy to engage in a dialogue with any groups and I mean any groups in talking to us. That option is open and we would welcome even those groups who are not in the political mainstream . If they have any views ,we are quite willing to discuss with them. In the past also I have twice invited the Hurriyat .They said they would send us proposals, they never sent us any proposals. They said there are too many people detained. I asked them to give me a list of people who they felt had been detained without purpose, they never gave any list. I am not complaining. We are willing to engage in a dialogue with anyone who is willing to shun the use of gun.

Q -14 BRIC has no Secretraiat who will coordinate ?

This is the first meeting at Summit level of BRIC Countries. It is an evolving situation. As we grapple with the challenges that lie ahead, what modalities there would be in place to enable us to play an effective role. As I said, it is not a one time operation and we will be meeting again next year in Brazil to take stock.

Q.14.Membership of SCO ?

I believe it is for others, if they feel India will be useful as a member we would welcome it. But I am not lobbying for it.

Central Asia is our extended neighbourhood. We are expanding our contacts with the countries of Central Asia. The President of Kazakhstan was in Delhi for 26th January celebrations. We had very extensive agenda of cooperation in diverse fields. We will do more of this with other countries of Central Asia. I had on the sidelines a very good discussion with the President of Kazakhistan who is very keen I visit Kazakhistan as early as I can.

Q.15.Election results - Coalition Politics on way out - Are the days of single party governments coming back.

I am not an astrologer.

Q... ?

If wishes were horses beggars would ride.

Q.16.Kerala Governor Issue

I would not like to comment on the functioning of Governor, he is the constitutional head of the state. it will not be proper on my part to comment in public on the conduct of the Governor.

Q.17.Naxal menace in India

I had said many times that Naxalism is a great danger to our polity. The Home Minister has good ideas, we will take effective action and we have plans. I would not like to go public on what we propose to do to deal with this menace. But its seriousness is fully appreciated and recognized by our Government.

Q.18. West Bengal- politics of aid ?

Mamta Banerjee is an honoured member of my cabinet and we will work together as colleagues. But the relationship between the Govt. Of West Bengal or for that matter State and the Central Government are governed by constitutional norms. We will fully abide by constitutional norms which should guide the conduct of Center-State relations.