Date:26/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/26/stories/2007112659011500.htm

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India to attend West Asia peace meet

Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI: India will attend a West Asia peace conference beginning on Tuesday in the United States, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister for West Asia and Middle East Peace Process C.R. Gharekhan has said.

The meeting will be attended by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. U.S. President George W.Bush is expected to drop in briefly. India is an invitee, along with other major global players such as China, Russia, the European Union, the United Nations and the Arab League.

Speaking at a seminar on West Asia, organised by the Observer Research Foundation here, Mr. Gharekhan said it was of utmost importance that the Annapolis meeting did not fail or be perceived to fail by either side.

Mr. Gharekhan said he was told by his West Asian interlocutors of New Delhi’s ability to play an important role.

“India is a fully functioning democracy, a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual pluralist society. It could provide a model to West Asian societies. Indeed, this possible role of a model has been emphasised to me by leaders in responsible positions. It is in this spirit that India will participate in the Annapolis conference.”

‘Intensive negotiations’

Mr. Gharekhan said: “Mr. Abbas, as well as the Arab States, were understandably reluctant to attend the meeting if it was going to turn out to be merely another photo opportunity. The Palestinians would like the Annapolis meeting to be a genuine launchpad for intensive, meaningful and well-directed negotiations, covering all aspects, to be concluded within a definite timeframe.”