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| 07 October 2004 | Thursday | 21 Shaban 1425 |
Natwar says Israel ties not against third country
NEW DELHI, Oct 6: Indian Foreign Minister Kunwar Natwar Singh said on Wednesday that India's ties with Israel were not directed against any third country
, thus effectively rejecting a proposal by the Vajpayee administration to establish a three-nation security pact with the Zionist state and the United States.
India's relations with Israel are purely bilateral in nature and are not directed against any third country, Mr Singh said in an address at the Jamia Islamia. We take special care to ensure that our relations with Israel do not have a negative impact on relations with Arab countries.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's United Progressive Alliance has considerably toned down the shrill pro-Israeli stance of the previous administration. Mr Natwar Singh stressed the need for a continued role of the Non Aligned Movement in world affairs. He categorically ruled out sending Indian troops to Iraq.
"We want the Iraqi people to freely determine their political future and exercise control over their natural resources. It is our belief that the UN has a crucial role to play in the process of political and economic reconstruction of Iraq.
It is in this spirit, that we welcomed the unanimous adoption by the Security Council, on 8th June 2004 of Resolution 1546," he added. The priority now should be to ensure an early return to conditions of security and normalcy for all the people of Iraq, he said.
A stable and peaceful Iraq is vital for the stability of the region, which is home to about 3.5 million Indians, the source of our energy requirements and an important destination for our goods and services, Mr Singh said.
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