Washington, June 4 (IANS) US President Barack Obama’s history making visit to India in November would usher in a new era of cooperation over a broad spectrum where each one is mindful of other’s concerns, but their relationship, India says would not be at the expense of the other.
‘The whole idea of the visit was to move closer in terms of addressing the concerns of the two countries,’ External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna told reporters Friday at the conclusion of the first ever India-US strategic dialogue here.
‘I think there have been so many gestures on the part of the United States,’ he said noting that it was the first time that Obama had come to the State Department to attend a reception for a visiting ministerial delegation as he did for India.
‘The whole purpose of that is to convey the kind of relationship that the United States is looking forward to have with India, which should be culminating in President Obama’s visit in November,’ Krishna said expressing satisfaction over the outcome of the dialogue.
‘Our concerns should be addressed by the US and theirs by us. This is the ground rule,’ he said.
‘The relationship between India and the US is not going to be at the cost of other country. As we understand where our concerns and interests lie, we also understand (where their concerns lie).’
On the less than full support expressed by US for India’s bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council (UNSC), Krishna said India has been raising this issue at every multilateral forum.
‘Not only UNSC, but also other organisations need to reflect the contemporary realities of the present world.’
The top decision making organ of the world body needs to reflect the contemporary realities, he said noting that the UN charter drafted in 1945 ‘was so hopelessly out of date. So the kind of world that we are dealing with today is totally different’.
Noting that at one point of time more than 130 countries had supported India and Brazil’s candidature, Krishna said: ‘Now I am looking forward to some more movement when the General Assembly session starts’ with permanent representatives conducting text based negotiations.
On lack of forward movement on the issue of liberalisation of export controls on high technology items in the wake of the India-US civil nuclear deal, Krishna said: ‘This is one of the important issues, which the two countries are facing and any satisfactory resolution of this would let the two countries to move forward in a mutually cooperative endeavour.’
Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao has had discussions with US officials on this issue.
On Iran, Krishna said India hopes that the International Atomic Energy Agency and Tehran would come to an understanding to solve the stalemate over Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.
‘India’s position is very clear. We are against all proliferation. I was in Iran just a few weeks back and our point of view was duly conveyed to them.’
Krishna said any country which wants to use nuclear technology for peaceful purpose should have the liberty to do so, but that liberty has to be within the parameters of IAEA.
‘We are hoping that Iran and IAEA will come to some understanding.’
