Thursday, Jan 09, 2003
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By Amit Baruah
The Japanese Foreign Minister, Yoriko Kawaguchi, with the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, in New Delhi on Wednesday. — Photo: V.V. Krishnan
Mr. Vajpayee told the visiting Japanese Foreign Minister, Yoriko Kawaguchi, that those who called upon India to hold talks with Pakistan should instead tell Islamabad to end terrorism directed against New Delhi. In her public remarks, Ms. Kawaguchi went beyond the traditional Western position of asking Pakistan to end infiltration from across the Line of Control, saying Tokyo had called upon Islamabad to dismantle the "terrorist bases'' on its territory. Ms. Kawaguchi, who called on the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and the Prime Minister as well, said that "terrorism for whatever reason'' was not acceptable. She also reiterated the traditional Japanese agenda that India should sign the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. On whether Japan supported India's entry into the United Nations Security Council as a permanent member, Ms. Kawaguchi said the first requirement was the need to fix the number of additional seats in the Council. "First, we need to agree on the numbers.'' Delivering a speech under the aegis of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, she said that India-Pakistan tensions last year had "resulted in considerable impact on the Indian economy'' and the foreign companies operating here. ``Improvement in India-Pakistan relations is vital for Japanese companies here to be able to conduct stable economic activities. Such improvement will make the Indian market more attractive for investors and contribute directly to the economic development of India itself.'' Welcoming India's decision to re-deploy its troops, Ms. Kawaguchi said, "I hope strongly that even more positive steps will be taken to lead to the early resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan. Japan continues to urge Pakistan to put a permanent end to infiltration across the Line of Control.'' Asked who should take more steps to resume the dialogue, she said it was for India and Pakistan to decide. "You are the direct parties....'' Were not the lack of sanctions against North Korea for possessing nuclear weapons a "double standard,'' given the "economic measures'' taken against India in 1998? Ms. Kawaguchi claimed that some steps had been taken against North Korea to make it conform to non-proliferation regulations. "We are waiting for the reaction of the North Korean Government.'' Referring to Japan's involvement in the Sri Lankan peace process, Ms. Kawaguchi said one round of the peace talks would be held in Japan in March. "India is a vital presence in the quest to bring peace to Sri Lanka. As we strive to help the Sri Lankans, Japan will continue to work closely with India through its strategic partnership." She was appreciative of the recent ASEAN-India summit and referred to Japan's own efforts to have closer economic relations with the Association of South East Asian Nations. "Depending on what steps toward economic collaboration are forthcoming between India and ASEAN, it may prove possible to create an expansive, pan-Asian economic area, extending from East to South Asia." On India-Japan ties, she said, "Cooperative maintenance of the security of maritime traffic in the sea lanes that stretch across the Indian Ocean and the Strait of Malacca are among the security issues which deserve our increased attention. Both countries share common interests and concerns regarding these issues."
$900 m loan pledged
Ms. Kawaguchi said Japan had decided to pledge $900 million to India for the current fiscal year in the form of fresh concessional loans. Some of the loan amount was likely to be used in the Japan-assisted Delhi Metro project. Japan would also send a mission to conduct water quality studies in conjunction with the Indian authorities for a possible "clean Ganga" project. Pointing to the success stories such as Hero Honda and Maruti Suzuki, Ms. Kawaguchi said the full potential of the Japan-India economic partnership had yet to emerge. "I hope India will continue to reduce its remaining obstacles to trade and investment."
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