Vajpayee warns against terrorism

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, OCT. 4. The Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, today cautioned against the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy saying that this cannot be allowed.

It was an indirect reference to Pakistan's use of terrorism as a foreign policy instrument. In the only other indirect reference Mr. Vajpayee made to India's problems with Pakistan, he said ``we have desired friendly and cooperative relations with the countries in our neighbourhood,'' relations which should be based on ``mutual respect and civilised norms of behaviour.''

But the rest of the speech was devoted mostly to recalling the great historical ties of friendship between the two countries. India and Russia were not simply fair weather friends, their friendship had withstood the ``twists and turns of history and politics,'' Mr. Vajpayee said. He was speaking after the Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, at the joint session of Parliament today.

Complementing the Russian people for their legendary bravery - Mr. Putin himself belonged to Petersburg, which withstood a siege of 900 days during the Second World War - Mr. Vajpayee noted the ``mutuality of interests and shared perceptions'' between the two countries and the ``significant overlap and intersect'' on a host of international issues.

Both countries recognised the need for multipolarity, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, and non- interference in internal affairs. He also welcomed Russia's ``continued support'' for a permanent seat for India in the Security Council.

In fact the theme of the long friendship between India and Russia was picked up by the Rajya Sabha Chairman, Mr. Krishan Kant, in his welcome address as well as by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Mr. G. M. C. Balayogi, who said the ties had been maintained ``through thick and thin''.

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