The Hindu : Kashmir problem poses risk for entire world: de Villepin

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 01, 2002

International

International

Kashmir problem poses risk for entire world: de Villepin

By Vaiju Naravane

Paris Aug. 31. September 11 had definitely made the world a more dangerous and complex place to live in, the French Foreign Minister , Dominique de Villepin, told France's ambassadors meeting in Paris this week for the annual review of the country's foreign policy.

Citing the example of Kashmir, Mr. de Villepin said that long-term regional conflicts had acquired a new "urgency'' in the light of September 11, making them more unpredictable and therefore more dangerous. Since the World Trade Centre attacks, the problem of Kashmir had acquired a new acuity.

The non- resolution of the Kashmir dispute between two nuclear powers harboured incalculable risks for the entire planet, he said.

Although this time the Minister did not touch upon what ought to be done for the resolution of the Kashmir issue, his views on the subject are well known.

An enthusiastic advocate of "action''and "movement'', Mr. de Villepin is of the opinion that India should initiate dialogue while combating terrorism and should persist in establishing a dialogue despite a continuing terrorist threat from Pakistan.

``Reform'' and "Action'' are two words dear to the heart of the new Foreign Minister. In that he is not alone.

His predecessors, the socialist Hubert Vedrine and conservative Alain Juppe, also attempted to transform the French Foreign Office exhorting diplomats to respond more pro-actively to the challenges posed by globalisation and the information revolution.

Mr. de Villepin is in the happy position of being able to by pass the French Prime Minister altogether with constant direct access to President Jacques Chirac who places seemingly unlimited confidence in the man who ran his presidential cabinet for almost seven years.

Contrary to tradition, the French Prime Minister did not address the annual meeting of ambassadors in Paris this week and Mr. de Villepin was the uncontested master of ceremonies.

With the disappearance of the old order marked by a bi-polar world, society today was becoming increasingly complex, Mr. de Villepin said.

The advent of multilateralism, NGOs and the growth of civil society coupled with unbridled capitalism was making society more complex and unstable, changing at an extremely fast pace.

The Minister called for a "result-oriented'' foreign policy and asked his envoys to become flexible, quick and open-minded in order to forge alliances with other arms of the Government or with NGOs.

With this in mind Mr. de Villepin has floated the idea of having embassies that will play a regional and not just a national role.

He has also proposed creating a Foreign Office task force that could swing into action or go to foreign capitals in the event of a crisis.

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