Date:04/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/04/stories/2007110461021100.htm

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Kissinger optimistic about nuclear deal

Special Correspondent

‘Hurdles did not end India, U.S. cooperation ’

— Photo: Sushanta Patronobish

Nobel laureate and the former U.S. Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at the Writers Building in Kolkata on Saturday.

Kolkata: The former U.S. Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, said that while he was optimistic about the India-U.S. nuclear deal, he felt that even otherwise, there would still be cooperation between the two countries.

“I am amazed at the scope of India-U.S. cooperation at the government level and that of the private sector,” he said while answering queries during a nearly hour and a half long session organised by the Confederation of the Indian Industry (CII).

Pointing out that while the deal will benefit both the countries, hurdles now being faced by the proposed agreement did not end the need for co-operation between the two countries.

The Nobel laureate also had a one-hour meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee at the State Secretariat, although Mr. Bhattacharjee declined to divulge any details.

On his first visit to West Bengal, Dr. Kissinger said as against customary visits to Delhi and meetings with government officials with perhaps Bangalore as an add-on, he was keen to visit and “see the vitality of the State of West Bengal which had a 60 million population and a Communist government – I also wanted interactions,” he said. He refuted suggestions that India was growing slowly as compared to some of her neighbours saying nine per cent, was a fantastic growth rate. “If this can be sustained it is an achievement, more so in a democracy.”

Deliberating on the CII topic “The Asian Century: where will India be?” he said international socio-economic and political scenario was at a stage where fundamental changes were taking place, and the shifting balances of power were instrumental in the U.S. and India, sharing common concerns. He said just as it was in the U.S. interest to develop partnerships with China and India, so it was in India’s interest to develop good relations with China and the U.S.

On Iran, he said many would applaud the country’s efforts to become a prosperous nation.

However, if it tried to dominate the region in any way that would add to the region’s problem of nuclear armament.