Date:22/04/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/04/22/stories/2003042204791100.htm

National

Sinha phones Jack Straw on Iraq

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

NEW DELHI April 21 . The External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, today telephoned the British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, and discussed the current situation in Iraq and the latest developments in South Asia with him.

A Foreign Office spokesman said that Mr. Sinha's talk with Mr. Straw was part of several conversations that he proposed to have with different Foreign Ministers. Mr. Sinha spoke to the U.S. Secretary of State, Colin Powell, last week.

The Sinha-Straw conversation, which lasted 15 to 20 minutes, focused on the Iraq situation and the set-up that is being worked out in the war-torn country.

The delivery of humanitarian aid and the reconstruction of that country were also discussed.

The spokesman also told presspersons that the Indian Ambassador to Iraq, Brij Bhushan Tyagi, who had temporarily relocated to Jordan, was now in New Delhi for consultations.

However, M.C. Pandey, First Secretary, had taken up position as Charge d'Affaires in Baghdad.

Asked when the Ambassador would be returning to Baghdad, the spokesman pointed out that envoys were accredited to governments and there was no government in place in Iraq.

The spokesman said the Government would have to see how the situation evolved and then decide what to do as far as the return of the Ambassador to Baghdad was concerned.

The Indian Charge d'Affaires, like those of countries like Cuba, Russia and some Arab nations, would look after New Delhi's interests in Iraq.