Official Spokesperson (Shri Syed Akbaruddin):
Good afternoon friends and thank you very much for being here this afternoon.
I have a readout on one of the meetings today following which I will answer questions on that. Other than that, I am available for responding to any other questions that you may have. The readout that I have relates to the meeting of the External Affairs Minister with the visiting UK Secretary of State Mr. William Hague.
The meeting started on a good note. As you are aware, this morning the UK had announced that they are setting up a statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Parliament Square and EAM began by thanking them for this gracious gesture.
The discussions were wide ranging and extensive, and they covered a broad canvas in terms of a variety of issues. We started off with discussions on economic ties because these are very robust and there are great expectations from the UK that these would be moving to the next level.
In this context perhaps you are aware that the UK is the third largest investor in India, and India is the fifth largest investor in UK. There are approximately 700 Indian companies in UK, and I understand by last count they were employing more than 7000 people there in the UK.
The focus of the economic ties was on issues relating to the Bangalore-Mumbai Economic Corridor. External Affairs Minister did indicate that the perspective plan on this should be available by the end of the year, that will indicate the nodes where we would like infrastructure investment related opportunities to be provided; and we hope that UK and British companies would be involved in this major infrastructure project in India.
In addition, there was a discussion on security issues. These include counterterrorism and cyber issues.
Given that the UK is home to approximately 1.5 million of the Indian diaspora, there was a discussion on various aspects of people-to-people relations. These include consular relations, visa matters, and extradition-related issues.
Also, India and UK are partnering in a range of issues. These relate to skill development, science and technology, and nuclear cooperation. So, there were discussions on how to take the relationship forward in this.
As regards the people-to-people interactions the External Affairs Minister did indicate to the UK counterpart that she will be visiting UK for the regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in her capacity as the Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs in October. The UK Secretary of State immediately responded saying that he would also wish to have bilateral interactions during that period and this will be discussed through diplomatic channels.
And finally there was a discussion on regional issues and international issues across the globe. This included of course the security situation in Iraq, security situation in Afghanistan, the discussions of P5 + 1 with Iran, as well as matters relating to reform and restructuring of the United Nations Security Council.
I will stop at that. If any of you have questions on any of the aspects relating to UK I will respond to them. Subsequent to that, the floor will be open for anything else that you may want to know.
Question:Sir, there is a British citizen called Raymond Varley, who is a paedophile and is wanted in India. Did Mrs. Swaraj bring the issue of extradition of Raymond Varley?
Official Spokesperson: Yes, this issue did figure during the context of issues relating to extradition. The External Affairs Minister did point out the details, as you have indicated, that he is required in Goa; and that India is very keen on his extradition.
Question:Sir, were there any discussions on the Vodafone tax dispute?
Official Spokesperson: No, there were no discussions on that in the context of the meeting that I am talking of.
Question:Akbar, there have been 40 Ministerial visits from UK to India in the past four years. How many Ministerial visits there have been from India to UK in this period?
Official Spokesperson: Rajiv, I do not have the calendar of visits. What you said is perhaps correct because I was told that there were 50 in the last few years in terms of Ministerial visits. But I do not have a record and itinerary of the number of Indian senior level visitors visiting UK. But let me assure you that UK is an important partner and there have been a large number of visits from Indian Ministers across the board to the United Kingdom. I do not have an exact number on that. If you are very keen, we will find it out and let you know.
Question:Did the MMRCA deal figure in this meeting or in any other meeting that you are aware of?
Official Spokesperson: There are other meetings which are under way. Mr. Osborne was to meet his counterpart Mr. Arun Jaitley who is also the Defence Minister. Also, Mr. Osborne and Mr. Hague are meeting the Prime Minister. So, obviously issues relating to defence may figure, I am not aware of that. However, as regards this meeting, yes the UK Foreign Secretary did indicate the technological advantages, etc., of the product that they have available with them.
Question:Was there any discussion on Finmeccanica and AgustaWestland deal and the investigations happening in India?
Official Spokesperson: No, there was no discussion on that aspect.
If there are no more questions on UK, I am willing to answer other questions.
Question:Akbar, could you please shed some light on the exact date of departure of the Prime Minister for the BRICS summit, and whether he is touching down in Berlin or Frankfurt or will that depend on tonight’s game?
Official Spokesperson: I see that football fever is catching up with all of you and I understand that we are all football fans. I find it very interesting that not only are you football fans but are interested in linking it up with diplomacy. Let me tell you the dates. I think the dates, if any of you had asked, I would have indicated before because I have previously said that it was not going to be the 11th because there were reports to that effect. Now that you have asked me a direct question I can answer to you that the date will be the 13th and the Prime Minister, as I have previously said, will transit through Germany. As regards anything else, I have also said previously that should there be anything beyond a transit we will certainly share that information with you. Until then it is what it is. If there is a change, we will share that information with you because you seem to be very excited about mixing football and diplomacy. And it is good because diplomacy gains a higher profile because of football.
Question:There are reports that the Government has asked the United Nations Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan to vacate the government housing in the capital, and also communicated to the UN that UNMOGIP has no relevance today. Would you confirm this?
Official Spokesperson: I think it is not new that we have said that as far as we are concerned the UNMOGIP has outlived its relevance. This is a consistent stance that we have articulated on several occasions since the Shimla accord. Your question is beyond that and it is about the accommodation that they have in Delhi. Yes, I can confirm that we have asked the UNMOGIP to vacate a government bungalow which was provided to them free of charge. And this is in line with our effort to rationalise UMOGIP’s presence in India. As part of this exercise we have also monetised various other facilities that were being provided to UNMOGIP free of cost till now. In that context we have communicated to them.
Question:Have you given some deadline to them to vacate this bungalow?
Official Spokesperson: We have indicated to them that we would like the house vacated. As is normal, these are diplomatic communications and in diplomacy you are aware that these things are worked out quietly behind the scenes. Once it is worked out we will let you know. It is a decision that we have taken that they will need to vacate.
Question:You mentioned that you want to rationalise their presence. What exactly do you mean by the term rationalise? Also, is it a part of the changed policy of the new government that has come in? They have been here for forty years and all of a sudden now we have asked them leave.
Official Spokesperson: Snehesh, we are in budgetary season and everybody is tightening their belts. That being so, this rationalisation means that you pay for what you get. As I said, it also means monetisation of the services that are provided. As far as the UN is concerned, I am certain this is an organisation with adequate resources and no paucity of funds. So, we should not bother about this so much.
Question:Is there any update on the 39 Indian captives in Iraq?
Official Spokesperson: If I have, I will let you know. I do not have anything on that.
Question:Has there been any report which you have received of a possible Indian being shot in Iraq? There are some families in Bharaich which claim so.
Official Spokesperson: I am glad you raised that question. We find it extremely difficult that one day there is a report coming from somewhere without any corroboration based on an individual who has told another individual about it regarding a third individual’s death. And today in another newspaper there is a report which says that this did not happen in Iraq at all, it happened in Saudi Arabia. So, please understand, the Gulf is a very wide canvas. There are seven million Indians there. That is the point that I always make. These reports are unsubstantiated and it is only fair that you give us a fair chance to check and find out and respond to it.
This report that you mentioned was of yesterday and immediately we got in touch with people to find out. If this is a report by somebody who has come back from Iraq on a chartered flight provided by the Government of India, then nobody had told us about this situation when he was there. And it was found out that no, this was not the case, there is no such thing that had happened there; it is apparently a report which has today been clarified that it relates to somebody who was in Saudi Arabia. And the distances are very vast in that part of the world.
Question:Has the evacuation process of Indian nationals from non-conflict areas of Iraq been completed?
Official Spokesperson: No, it has not yet been completed because there were some scheduling issues. I understand tomorrow another plane will be coming from Najaf to Delhi. It will have approximately 200 people from a company which has been in the news for some time, this is the Marmara company. Some of you are aware, there were again news items that actually 200 people were kidnapped. If you remember, there was a news item saying that 200 were kidnapped in Karbala. Actually they were not kidnapped, they were having labour disputes. Following that labour dispute we understand that they decided to no longer stay with the company in its premises. So, the Embassy has arranged for them to be taken out from there. They are now being taken care of by our officials. They have bussed them from there to Najaf and they are looking after them. They are in the accommodation provided by the Embassy. Hopefully tomorrow those 200 plus will return. Some of them who were there in addition to these people have already travelled back but these are in very small numbers. The large chunk of more than 200 people, who were attributed by some of you as being held captive, are not captive. They were having labour disputes; they have now moved out; they are with the Embassy and we hope to bring them back tomorrow.
Question:…(Inaudible)…
Official Spokesperson: My understanding is, tomorrow latter half of the day. I will confirm to you the timing once we have it tied up.
Question:The Arbitral Tribunal of Hague has pronounced their judgment on India-Bangladesh maritime boundary. Would you like to comment on the judgment whether it has gone in favour of India or Bangladesh?
Official Spokesperson: Gautam, you know our approach previously. You had asked this question a few days ago and I had delineated our approach. That said, you are right that the judgment was passed yesterday and we respect the verdict of the Tribunal and are in the process of studying the award and its full implications. We believe that the settlement of the maritime boundary will further enhance mutual understanding and goodwill between India and Bangladesh by bringing to closure a long pending issue. This in our view paves the way for the economic development of that part of the Bay of Bengal which will be beneficial to both countries.
Question:Now that the maritime boundary resolution is in, I know it is not connected but yesterday the Bangladesh High Commissioner had said that the government hopes that in the next three to four months there will be the possibility of bringing the Land Border Agreement for ratification. On the Indian government’s side is there any move or any timeline yet?
Official Spokesperson: I do not know about that statement that you are saying of what he told you. As far as I know, what the External Affairs Minister did indicate to her interlocutors in Bangladesh was that we are examining the issue. This is a matter which is now on the floor of the House in terms of being referred to a Parliamentary Committee. She also mentioned that the Parliamentary Committees are in the process of being constituted with some new members, and once this is done, the normal parliamentary processes will continue. Whether that has been interpreted to mean a timeframe, I do not think she said that timeframe at all? This is what she said. I was also present there. There was no reference to a certain timeframe. But she did indicate that the process in India is under way.
Question:Do you have anything to say on the outcome of the Afghan Presidential elections?
Official Spokesperson: We are monitoring the situation in terms of the political developments in Kabul pertaining to the elections. Like all of you we are also aware that the preliminary announcements have been made in this regard. We understand that subsequent to those preliminary announcements, both the candidates have filed their respective complaints before the electoral authorities. It is now for the Afghan electoral institutions to assess these and then make a final announcement about the outcome of the elections.
In elections there will always be a winner and a loser. This is normal in election processes. But we are confident that the Afghan leadership cutting across party lines knows that while winning an election requires simple arithmetic, running a country requires inclusiveness and an ability to carry everyone along.
Question:After Mr. Modi attends the BRICS summit, what would be his next overseas destination?
Official Spokesperson: We already have an issue about when he is attending that one. Let us go step by step. As you are aware, we are a little bit slow in terms of working these things out unlike all of you who are smart young people who get it all right in the first go and every time too.
If that is all, then we will end this interaction. Thank you very much.
(Concluded)
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