Press Briefing Thursday, 9 Apr 2009

Shri Anand Sharma addressed the media today.

The Congress-led UPA Government pursued a pragmatic, effective and coherent foreign policy in the last 5 years to enhance India’s engagement with all regions of the world, to enable India to play a meaningful role in the global arena. The policy, rooted in the philosophy of Panchsheel, propounded by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru the architect of independent India’s foreign policy, reinvigorated India’s engagement with its traditional partners in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The core of this foreign policy has been marked by our determination to ensure sovereign autonomy in decision making and adherence to principles of non-alignment.

We took into account contemporary global realities and the imperative to engage with regional and international organizations, which influence global political and economic affairs. This was mirrored in our strategic partnerships with the European Union, African Union and East Asia Summit and ASEAN.. India has become a full Dialogue Partner in the ARF.

The UPA Government re-energized India’s historic engagement with Africa by institutionalizing a partnership with the African Union. The convening of the first ever India-Africa Forum Summit in April 2008 has opened new pathways of cooperation. India has gifted a dedicated satellite to the people of Africa as a shining example of its commitment. The Pan-African e-Network is our contribution to the people of Sub-Saharan Africa to bridge the digital divide and promote tele-education and tele-medicine.

India has entered into strategic partnership with major countries of the world, including France, Russia, UK, USA, Japan, South Africa, Brazil and Nigeria.

The Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement was a major milestone in international diplomacy and marked an acceptance of India in the global mainstream ending three decades of nuclear isolation. The unconditional waiver by the NSG is an acknowledgement of India’s nuclear prowess and our impeccable credentials. We have been able to successfully conclude Civil Nuclear Agreements with USA, France, Russia and are negotiating similar agreements with other countries. This will help in addressing the twin challenges of energy security and climate change.

The Congress-led Government has always been committed to uphold and secure India’s supreme national interest and the Civil Nuclear initiative shall be registered by posterity as a major contribution.

The UPA Government has always endeavoured to engage with countries in our immediate and extended neighbourhood in a spirit of friendship and mutually rewarding cooperation. The 14th SAARC Summit held in New Delhi saw the induction of Afghanistan as its 8th Member. We have strived to create a robust economic partnership which would have the beneficial impact of healing the political divisions in South Asia.

India successfully hosted the Third IBSA Summit. This trilateral initiative brings together three major democracies and emerging economies from the continents of Asia, Latin America and Africa for robust strategic partnership.

The UPA Government has mobilized international support to tackle the challenge of terrorism emanating from our immediate neighbourhood. We have followed a coherent policy guided by aggressive diplomacy which has seen the international community act in solidarity with India. Within two weeks of the Mumbai carnage, the UN Security Council adopted a Resolution proscribing and naming terror outfits operating from the soil of Pakistan compelling the State of Pakistan to act.

India’s voice is heard with respect and admiration in highest international forums established to tackle global challenges, including G-20. It was the leadership of the Congress-led UPA Government which has seen India on the high table as the process of redrawing the international financial architecture is being initiated. We are fully engaged in this process and India was included in the Financial Stability Forum in the G-20 Summit.

It was a singular achievement of this Government to register the historic contribution of Mahatma Gandhi with the global community and the United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted India’s Resolution co-sponsored by 142 countries to declare October 2nd as the International Day of Non-Violence. This came on the 60th anniversary of Martyrdom of Mahatma Gandhi and the centenary of the Satyagraha Movement.

It is only the resolute efforts of the present Government which has seen a global acknowledgement of a growing profile of India and this fact cannot be disputed by our critics. This is in sharp contrast to the BJP-led NDA Government which was totally clueless on its foreign policy agenda and during their term, there was no achievement worth noting and their foreign policy lacked a comprehensive vision and direction. Their approach was marked by incoherence and hollow statements.

On a question of Shri L.K. Advani’s statement on a muscular foreign policy, Shri Sharma said that he does not know what a muscular foreign policy is. Shri Advani is not being correctly advised by his back-room boys. At this age, he should not be taken to a gym and then make a statement that foreign policy has to be muscular. We are not talking of a competition in muscle building. Foreign policy has to be smart. It has to be intelligent. It has to be pragmatic. It must engage the entire world. Shri Sharma said that above all, foreign policy is integral to your own internal national interest. Therefore, it must have that ability to respond to situations and uphold India’s supreme national interest without compromising on your stated policies and principles as India has done when we were engaged with the world to join the global mainstream. We upheld our principles, our stated policy positions. We never refused to accept any conditions and we have respectfully accepted for what we are.

On the question over the candidature of Shri Jagdish Tytler, Shri Sharma said that much has been said about it yesterday and day before also. There is no fresh development and in any case if there is any development, it will reach the media.

On a further question whether the Congress Party was buying time in Shri Jagdish Tytler’s case in view of the court adjourning the case, Shri Sharma said that there is no question of buying time. The Congress party’s attention has been drawn to the development. Comments have been made. We will get back to you if we have something to share or any development related to this issue. Shri Sharma further said that he can only make a comment when a view has been taken.

On the question of absence of any visible change in the approach of Chinese on Arunachal Pradesh, Shri Sharma said that India’s position is very clear. Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of Republic of India. India’s sovereignty and integrity is not negotiable. The President of India has every right, like earlier Prime Minister has done, to visit any part of our country. We have an on-going process of talks with China. That includes only the territories of the border on which clarity is required or the dispute is there. What is settled part of India, there cannot be any new objection or dispute which India will entertain?

On the question over the statement of Shri Vaiko, Shri Sharma said that the Government of India’s policy on Sri Lanka developments has been very clear, firm and unwavering. There is a distinction to be made. We have impressed upon the Sri Lankan Government at the highest level that the issues pertaining to the rights of the ethnic Tamil civilians has to be constitutionally and democratically addressed through dialogues and negotiations.

Shri Sharma further said that we have also urged for the safety of all the civilians for which our External Affairs Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee has personally gone there more than once to meet with the leadership. Our Foreign Secretary has gone to Colombo and we stand by the rights of the ethnic Tamil civilians. Even after the intensification of the conflict in Sri Lanka, India is the only country providing every possible humanitarian assistance. Even now the Doctors and Para medical staff of our three armed forces is operating a hospital in Sri Lanka particularly in the area affected by the conflict.

Shri Sharma further said that we should make a clear distinction between the sufferings of the civilian population who have the legitimate rights to be addressed and recognized with a terrorist outfit which is banned in this country, which is banned in that country and which is banned by all the major countries of the world. We must not make the mistake of equating the terrorist who indulge in brutal acts of violence and assassination of honest civilians.

Shri Sharma further said that may be in the electoral heat has made Mr. Vaiko lose his balance and sense of emotion. India is united, shall always be united and have the ability to withstand any challenge.

On the question of Left making a statement that the foreign policy of India has made them the junior partner, Shri Sharma said that let him make it clear to the Left so that let there is be no allusion. The Left never had any comprehension of the foreign policy of the Republic of India. Left’s has never made any contribution in the shaping of independent India’s foreign policy. The policy which has upheld supreme national interest of India and its people, if a credit belongs, then honestly, it goes to Shri Jawahar Lal Nehru for giving independent robust foreign policy and the Non-Aligned movement and the credit goes to Indian National Congress for preserving it, for nurturing it and reaffirming it. Left blinkered world view and the frozen ideology cannot and will not ever replace India’s independent foreign policy.

Shri Sharma in this regard further said that the foreign policy means engagement with the entire world. The Left never had any opportunity for any such situation where they had to define and shape India’s foreign policy and in foreseeable future in many decades to come, I do not see Left making any contribution or having any understanding of the foreign policy.



(Tom Vadakkan)

Secretary, AICC