Press Secretary to President (Shri Venu Rajamony): Friends, it is a privilege to have the Hon. President here for this interaction, along with the Minister of State for Home Affairs. As is normal practice, the President will read out a statement briefly first and then take your questions.
Hon. President of India (Shri Pranab Mukherjee): Friends; Mr. R.P.N. Singh, Minister of State for Home Affairs:
I have just concluded my three-day visit to Mauritius as Chief Guest at the 45th anniversary of Independence Day celebrations. This was my second overseas and the first visit to Africa since I assumed the office of the President of India.
I was deeply touched by the warm welcome and generous hospitality accorded to me and my delegation. Once again I wish to thank the Government and people of Mauritius for the excellent arrangements made for my visit.
As you are aware, relations between India and Mauritius are unique and special given the historical relationship based on close ancestral ties. I had a rich, wide-ranging and useful exchange of views with the leadership of Mauritius on issues of bilateral, regional and global interest, in a very friendly atmosphere.
Over the last two days I had the opportunity to meet all members of the Cabinet of Mauritius and also had useful exchanges with the Speaker of National Assembly, Leader of Opposition, Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Mauritius. It pleases me greatly to see first hand that the desire for expanding positive relationship with India is shared by all Mauritian stakeholders. India and Mauritius share values of democracy, rule of law and secularism. There is convergence of views between India and Mauritius on all major issues. The warm and good feelings towards India were evident in all matters.
During the visit, three Memorandums of Understanding were signed, which I believe will further expand our cooperation in new areas of tourism, health and medicine, senior citizens and persons with disability, to the mutual benefit of both our countries. On behalf of India, all the agreements were signed by Shri R.P.N. Singh, Minister of State for Home Affairs, and I think from their side it was their Foreign Minister. These represent a small vignette of the range of areas the two countries are working together.
My visit to ‘Apravasi Ghat’ was a moving experience as this place resonates with indomitable spirit of Indians who landed there, struggled against all odds and triumphed. Twenty-five years after Independence, Mauritius has made tremendous strides in socioeconomic development, and I wish them an even more prosperous future. I am honoured to receive Doctor of Civil Law honoris causa by the University of Mauritius.
I concluded my visit to Mauritius with a civic reception hosted by people of Grand Bois. It was an opportunity to meet with the rural people which Prime Minister Ramgoolam described as Soul of Mauritius. I was overwhelmed by the warmth and goodwill showed by the people of Mauritius and their respect for values and ideas that India represents.
I am happy that Shri R.P.N. Singh, Minister of State for Home Affairs, three hon’ble Members of Parliament – Shri Satyavrata Chaturvedi, Shri Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Shrimati Kusum Rai – from leading political parties in India could accompany me to meetings with the leaders of Mauritius.
I return to India convinced that India and Mauritius can further build on the existing multifaceted, mutually beneficial relationship. I am convinced that India should do its utmost to support Mauritius in every way possible and that together we should strive to take this relationship to greater and greater heights.
Thank you.
Question: His Excellency, how would you react to such an unprecedented reception and response at Mauritius airport where the entire Cabinet had come to receive you for the first time? Secondly, would you like to take up the issue of poor air connectivity between India and Mauritius when you go back to Delhi?
Hon. President: Firstly, this is emotion. Of course, before me number of Presidents had visited Mauritius and so a Presidential visit as such is not new. But people of Mauritius have good feelings for India. And they have cultivated, which you have seen, their old connection in the new context, in the new environment. They have not forgotten them. That is the beauty of the people of Mauritius. I deeply appreciate the warm reception. As you have mentioned, the entire Cabinet was present. I have noticed a new method they have had that in my every journey one Cabinet Minister accompanied me. So, apart from meeting them ceremonially I had the opportunity of talking to almost all Cabinet Ministers for seven or eight minutes because the journey from the hotel to the place was a minimum of ten to twelve minutes. That time we could utilize for discussion with them. This is a new way of having interaction.
Question: Sir, we got a feeling that Mauritians were really upset about the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) issue. Hon. President: DTAA is an old issue. It is nothing new and the discussions are going on. As I mentioned in my discussion with the Mauritian leaders, two rounds of discussions have already taken place last year of the Joint Working Group. The mechanism which is dealing with this is a Joint Working Group. So, there have been two rounds of discussion in the Joint Working Group. We have narrowed the areas of divergence. Next meeting has been decided sometime in the first week of April. I do hope it would be possible to resolve the issue which will be beneficial and acceptable to both sides through dialogue.
Question: Sir, while looking at or listening to the speeches of the Mauritians here, it seems they think that they expect more …(Inaudible)…initiatives from India and I think they are a bit …(Inaudible)…Hon. President: We have provided some lines of credit. Earlier we provided about US$ 100 million; that has been exhausted. Now we have provided US$ 250 million line of credit and US$ 20 million as grant. I have suggested that they utilize this grant; as and when the grants are utilized, fresh lines of credit are being given.
Question: Sir, after your visit is there any common ground or understanding that emerged on the DTAA?Hon. President: Unless the issues are resolved, it will have to wait. What I feel is that there has been some progress in the first two rounds, and it may be possible to resolve the issues which will be mutually acceptable and beneficial to both sides, in the third round or the fourth round.
Question: …(Inaudible)… As far as investment in Mauritius is concerned, I think China …(Inaudible)… China seems to be investing heavily. So, what is your view on that?
Hon. President: I would not like to make any comment about the relations between two countries. Each country is sovereign; each country decides its relations with other country keeping its own national interest, geopolitical situation in view. China is showing lot of interest in Africa and they are providing assistance. Naturally they may show interest in Mauritius. But during my talk with leaders of Mauritius I have assured them that whatever possible, India will try to help them in areas of investment, expanding trade, and also especially in the areas of education, health, telecommunications – I have identified about nine subjects – where we can have good equation and good relations with Mauritius. In fact, a large number of Memorandums of Understanding and agreements have been signed which provide the institutional framework in which we can work in close cooperation with each other.
Question: Your Excellency, did China figure in the discussions between you and Mauritian leadership either tangentially or directly?
Hon. President: When we have a bilateral discussion, unless there is any urgent, relevant, contemporary issue, there is no question of discussing in relation with other countries.
Thank you.
