International

We have no permanent enemies, says Negroponte

Washington: Asking young Indians and Pakistanis to learn from the key “principle” of U.S. foreign policy that “there are no permanent enemies,” a top American diplomat has in a pep talk told them to promote tolerance and understanding for lasting peace between their countries.

“Your dedication to religious and cultural tolerance, coexistence, and dialogue is important to achieving lasting peace,” Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte told a group of 32 teenagers from Mumbai and Lahore at the State Department.

The top Bush administration official was participating in the “Seeds of Peace” Programme, an event attended by senior officials at Foggy Bottom and the diplomatic corps, including Indian Ambassador Ronen Sen and Pakistani envoy Husain Haqqani.

“Progress is often frustratingly slow, and worse, sometimes suffers major setbacks.... A principle of U.S. foreign policy is that we have no permanent enemies. This principle challenges us to imagine that our enemies today can be our friends tomorrow, and to work to make that vision a reality,” Mr. Negroponte said.

The teenagers from India and Pakistan had spent three weeks at a camp in Maine and are now on the way home after a brief visit to Washington where they had the opportunity to interact with administration officials and on Capitol Hill.

Mr. Negroponte as also the top envoys of India and Pakistan later mingled with the students. — PTI

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