Date:21/01/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/01/21/stories/2003012108571100.htm

National

Advani leaves for France, Qatar

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JAN. 20. The Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, left today on a two-nation tour of France and Qatar. The war against terrorism is the main issue on his agenda.

Mr. Advani will have meetings with the French Interior Minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, and the Justice Minister, Dominique Perben, in Paris on January 23 and 24. He will also call on the French premier, Jean-Pierre Raffarin. The substantive outcome of Mr. Advani's visit will be the formalisation of an extradition treaty between India and France, to be signed by him and Mr. Perben and the "operationalisation" of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, signed in 1998.

Mr. Advani's visit to Qatar on January 21 is being projected as another high-level meeting with the Gulf country that is seen as India-friendly. Qatar had proposed that India be granted observer status at the Organisation of Islamic Conference, something India has not taken up. Mr. Advani will call on the Amir of Qatar, Hamid bin Khalifa Al Thani, and meet the Foreign Minister, Hamad bin Jasin bin Jabir Al Thani.

While no agreements are to be signed during this hurriedly-organised leg of the tour, it is expected that Mr. Advani will initiate a discussion on the creation of a joint working group on terrorism. The Deputy Prime Minister's visit will, it is believed, also move forward the proposed extradition treaty, which has been under discussion for some years.

Mr. Advani will be accompanied by officials of the Home Ministry, including the Special Director of the Intelligence Bureau, Ajit Doval, and the Officer on Special Duty to the Deputy Prime Minister, Ajay Prasad. Travelling by a special plane on his first official visit abroad as Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Advani will make refuelling halts in Greece, Turkey and Bahrain before returning to New Delhi on January 25.