Press Briefings

Press conference of Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon at Yekaterinburg

16/06/2009

Thank you for waiting. I will talk to you about Prime Minister’s engagements today and yesterday.

As you know the day started with a meeting with President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, where they had detailed discussion on bilateral relations. You may remember that the President Nazarbayev was the chief guest of Republic day in Delhi this year, when several ideas of cooperation were discussed, many of them in the energy sector both in civil nuclear and in the oil and gas sector which are now in the process of fructifying -- so they discussed that briefly. They also discussed the other areas of cooperation which they have been agreed upon earlier.

There is considerable interest in amongst Indian companies in setting up petrochemical complex in Kazakhstan also in Pharma cooperation with Kazakhstan because there is raw material. So they reviewed the progress which has been quite rapid since January when there was a ministerial meeting and lot of detailing happened. It was decided to set a joint working group under the foreign ministers. Both sides have agreed to set a time frame and to make sure there is movement on all fronts as quickly as possible.

There after the Prime Minister went to the SCO meeting which began with the restricted session where each of the leader was accompanied by one person. They spoke really openly and frankly about the SCO and its future. Most people agreed that the SCO really works its way forward on three legs. One is of course security in the broader sense. Secondly economic cooperation and thirdly people to people contacts, cultural exchanges and that there is unanimity around the table that all the members and observers would cooperate in practical ways.

On the issue of expansion of membership I think they have a committee which will draft out a criteria for the expansion and which is supposed to report back to the leaders. But quite rightly our interest as PM then subsequently said in the preliminary meeting which I think you must have got the text that we will concentrate on our specific concrete interests in cooperating with the SCO. You can take a look at the listed areas in which we can work together and I won't go over that all over again. Also this time the summit has been structured quite differently. That is why the Prime Minister participated in the restricted meeting, he participated fully in the plenary as well.

Thereafter PM had a meeting with the President of Pakistan. They met for about 40 min most of it alone. As PM mentioned to him right at the beginning I think, when the ladies and gentlemen of the media were still in the room. He said that he was happy to meet but that his mandate was clear that he wished to see how Pakistan could fulfill its assurance that the Pakistani territory is not used for terrorist attacks on India - the assurance which has been given several times.

They had a detailed discussion where they reviewed the India - Pakistan relations, which has you know remained under considerable stress. The primary cause of which is the terrorist attacks on India from Pakistani territory. Prime Minister conveyed to President Zardari full extent of our expectation that the Government of Pakistan takes strong and effective action to prevent the use of Pakistani territory for terrorists attack on India.That it acts against the perpetrators of the past attacks and it dismantles the infrastructure of terrorism in Pakistan. The President of Pakistan explained to Prime Minister some of Pakistan's efforts to deal with it in this manner and also explained the problems that they faced in this regard.

After considerable discussion they have agreed that the primary issues of terrorism to be addressed will be discussed by the two foreign secretaries of the two countries before the two leaders meet again at Sharm-el-Sheikh, on the sidelines of the NAM meeting in the mid of July. The Foreign Secretaries will discuss what Pakistan is doing and what it can do. And we will then take stock of the situation again.

The two leaders also spoke briefly about the potential of India - Pakistan relations. And there is no question which has not been taken up in dialogue process in the past. For the rest, I think, the Prime Minister will speak to you tomorrow and let you know and you can be ask questions also.

The other thing I want to mention was that the Prime Minister had a meeting with President Hu of China quite late last night. The meeting finally broke up at about just before midnight. It must have lasted for about 45 - 50 minutes. I will give you a brief read out. Of course they discussed bilateral relations. President congratulated Prime Minister on his re-election as Prime Minister. Both of them stressed our strategic and cooperative partnership and the determination to carry it forward and to see our relations develop even better in the future. The Prime Minister made it clear that both India and China were playing an increasingly important role in promoting stability in the international system. He described the immense scope that he sees for bilateral relations and the congruence that is emerging on global issues which face us both.

They both felt that we should have an early meeting of the Joint Economic Group which is led by the Commerce Ministers of both sides They stressed satisfaction at the defence exchanges which have been growing between us both which have been built from level of trust between the armed forces. We have held two joint military exercises so far and we will be holding another one during this year. On a number of global issues we share common concerns and aspirations such as the creation of a new global architecture, climate change, strategies which support development in other words sustainable development and the new global financial order. They agreed that the sides should stay in touch and that both countries would work closely together and keep consulting. We also recognized that we have differences with each other and they expressed satisfaction with what the special representatives have done so far. The SRs will be meeting in the 7th - 8th of August in India. Our President will be visiting China and we also expect high level visits from China. Foreign Offices are working out the details.

It was a good and positive meeting and we covered I think a whole series of questions which we will now start implementing very seriously now that we have clear indication of leadership’s of both sides carry this relationship forward. For me the fact of the meeting in itself, that we managed to squeeze these meetings in when Prime Minister himself has 24 hour working time, really one day if we look at it.

Now for the rest of the day he will be at the Summit where there will be restricted meeting with BRIC leaders followed by BRIC Plenary and a Joint Press Conference by the leaders. And after the dinner, I think there is a meeting between Prime Minister and President Medvedev. So he has, as you can see, full and busy time at Yekaterinburg. I will take few questions as we have to go to the BRIC but I thought I owe you this much.

Question: Prime Minister’s opening remarks, would you consider unprecedented? Leaders make remarks once you know the cameras left the room but you started these remarks when…(inaudible) --- was PM trying to address his constituency in India or what? How will you explain this? I think last year…..

FS: I think it is clear that he wanted to say something and he said it. I think you don’t need too much to read into this. He meant what he said.

Question: You said Pakistan Government explained some of the steps Pakistan Government has taken…

FS: He also described that. I can’t say because I was not in the room. I can tell only what I know. Tomorrow, you will get a chance to ask PM.…..

Question: There was talk of the Foreign Secretary’s meeting. Are we moving towards some type of dialogue?

FS: I was very careful with my words. I said the Prime Minister met with the President. The Foreign Secretaries will discuss the primary issue – terrorism, what Pakistan has done about it. I was very careful with words. Then the leaders will take stock when they meet again at Sharm-al-Sheikh. That’s it. The rest is astrology.

Question: What is your sense of what our markers will be? What is that we want Pakistan to do?

FS: First we would like to hear what they have done. We will tell them what we expect. Then, we will see what they come back with. Then we will see what will be done.

Question: When the leaders meet at Sharm-al-Sheikh, can we expect resumption of dialogue?

FS: I told you that the rest is astrology. I was very clear in what I have said. This is a meeting between the leaders. Foreign Secretaries will meet to discuss the primary issue of terrorism. Then, the leaders will take stock. That’s it. Rest is all speculation. What will happen, what could happen is all speculation.

Question:Where will the Foreign Secretaries meeting take place?

FS: Nothing is decided as yet. We have just been told, like you, two minutes ago.

Question: How will this dialogue be different from the previous one decided in Colombo?

FS:We have a very clear mandate now agreed by the leaders. We know exactly what we are supposed to do..the mandate that I just spoke to you about. Thereafter the rest we will report to our leaders. Then they will decide what happens after that.

Question: They explained the steps taken by Pakistan as also the problems faced by Pakistan? Can you explain what were these?

FS: I can’t. As I said I was not in the room and I can only tell what I know.

Question: Can we assume that the Foreign Secretaries will look at what Pakistan has done to address terrorism?

FS: I think that’s what we are supposed to do. They will tell us what they have done. We will tell them what our expectations are. We will then report to our leaders. They will then see what to do with it. They will take stock. There is very specific clear mandate for us.

Question: In the meeting with the Chinese President, did they discuss restructuring International Monetary Fund (IMF)?

FS: They discussed only in the general sense restructuring the international financial system. That we do in the G20. We coordinate very carefully. We also discuss in some detail in BRIC. The Finance Ministers meet before every round of G20 Meeting and we have coordinated that in some detail among ourselves. We have a separate channel to do that. At this level, they spoke of our common aspirations and our common concerns about the restructuring of the International Financial Order.

Question: Did Pakistan agree that terrorism is the primary issue?

FS: I don’t want to put words on their mouth? I don’t want to say that yes they agreed or they did not agree and so on. I am telling you the outcome agreed by the two leaders and what they told us themselves exactly in the words that I told you. I don’t want to overload this with interpretation.

Question: To what extent do we agree that Pakistan is also a victim suffering from terrorism?

FS: There is terrorism in Pakistan. But that’s not the issue here. What has paused our dialogue is terrorism from Pakistan against India. Our mandate is clear. We are supposed to discuss what Pakistan has done on terrorism, whether it is Mumbai or previous attacks. We will tell them our concerns. We will then report to our leaders who will take stock when they meet. I am trying to be very precise in what I say. We have a clear mandate, a clear job to perform here. I don’t want to get into larger philosophical questions where it could lead, what it could mean, whether Pakistan is a victim, I don’t think that is relevant to what we have been told to do. And I think that is what is relevant to India-Pakistan relations and that’s what needs to be addressed. We have made it quite clear that we too would like a dialogue. PM said this that we must make an attempt at peace again. He said this in Parliament. But the primary issue and this is the way we are trying to address it. And we have agreed today with Pakistan that the two Foreign Secretaries will do it, will discuss that.

Question: How did you find Mr. Zardari after …

Foreign Secretary: They are all leaders, they are quite relaxed. I did not see any difference between ‘before’ and ‘after’. But that is not what I was looking for. I was more interested in getting my orders from the leader.

Question (Mr. Vijay): ..(inaudible)..

Foreign Secretary: Usi liye main aapko bata raha hoon. Na to main ne dialogue ka lafz istemal kiya…(Free Translation: That is why I am briefing you. And I did not use the word dialogue.)

Question: … ki kisi idhar udhar se …

Foreign Secretary: Zaroor baat kuchh to shuru ho gayi. Unki mulaqat ho gayi, lekin dialogue process to shuru nahin hua. Aur hum baat kis masle par kar rahen hain? Hum ek hi masle par baat kar rahen ab to. Terrorism par. To aap agar bolenge baat kar rahen hain, haan baat to kar rahen hain. Zaroor. Lekin hum ne kabhi yeh bhi nahin kaha ki hum kabhi bhi baat nahin karenge. Lekin jo hamara masla hai, jo terrorism ka masla hai, usko … …(Free Translation: Talks have resumed. They have met. But dialogue process has not commenced. And what are we talking about? Just on one issue. Terrorism! We have never said that we will not talk. But the issue of concern for us is terrorism.)

Question: Did you take any assurance?

Foreign Secretary: Nahin, humne assurance …(inaudible)…, humne kaha aap pehle aake hamein batayen kya kiya apne. Aur phir dekhenge.

Question: …(inaudible)…

Foreign Secretary: Dekhiye, assurances to hamare paas bahut hain. Aap dekhiye, January 6, 2004 mein assurance hua. 24th September, 2008 mein New York mein. Kitne assurance mile ab tak? (…(Free Translation: We have received many assurances. On 6 January 2004, on 24 September 08 in New York ---)

Question: Abhi assurance de diya aap ko?

Foreign Secretary: Agar woh humein khaali assurance denge, to phir hum baithke dekhenge iske saath kya karen. Humne kya kaha? We will take stock of those discussions.

Question: Did Prime Minister specifically talk about Hafiz Sayeed’s release?

Foreign Secretary: As I said, we were not informed. You ask him tomorrow, he will tell you. I do not want to say yes or no. I would assume that all this came up. But I do not want to put it on record categorically.