The Hindu : `Road map' being drawn for talks: Fernandes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 14, 2003

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`Road map' being drawn for talks: Fernandes

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE MAY 13. The Defence Minister, George Fernandes, today reiterated the decision of the Government against any third party coming between India and Pakistan to resolve the issues between them.

Asked if he was satisfied with the talks between the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, had with the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and others, Mr. Fernandes said he had not met the former, but was sure that those who had discussions were satisfied or must have conveyed their feelings.

Mr. Fernandes, who was talking to presspersons who met him after the inauguration of the golden jubilee celebrations of the Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL), in reply to another question said a "road map'' was being drawn for talks with Pakistan. "At the moment, confidence building measures are going on and it will take some time. One cannot rush into it or fix a time for it.''

On infiltration of militants from across the Pakistan border, Mr. Fernandes said it had its ups and downs. "At the moment it is a little down, but that does not mean it will not go up tomorrow.''

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