PM Singh to attend UN session; won't be meeting Obama

PM Manmohan Singh, Minister of External Affairs, SM Krishna, National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon and other senior officials will be in New York from September 22 to 26 to attend the high-level segment of the 66th UNGA. Sahim Salim reports.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh will not be meeting United States President Barack Obama on his visit to New York for the 66th session of the general assembly of the United Nations. Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told reporters that President Obama will not be in the US during Singh's visit.

"As of now, no meetings have been planned with President Obama. We have learnt that President Obama will be leaving New York before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reaches New York," Mathai told reporters during a briefing on the PM's New York visit.

Mathai also said that as of now, no bilateral meetings have been scheduled with Pakistan or China.

"What we have heard is that the prime minister of Pakistan will not be visiting New York. No meetings have been planned as of now with the delegation from Pakistan. Bilateral meetings with several heads of state will be conducted during the PM's visit. As we speak, notes are being exchanged and a list of bilateral meetings that may be possible is being prepared," Mathai said.

PM Manmohan Singh, Minister of External Affairs, SM Krishna, National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon and other senior officials will be in New York from September 22 to 26 to attend the high-level segment of the 66th UNGA.  

Mathai said that India will try to gain a 'global consensus' on terror at the high-level UN event.

India currently chairs the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee, which was established in the wake of the September 11 terror attacks in the United States.

"It will be the 10th anniversary of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee meeting. In this meeting, our idea is to refocus international attention on terrorism. We want to seek an international consensus on terrorism, as the recent terror attack in New Delhi shows the constant threat of terrorism in a democratic society," Mathai said.

Asked whether India will support the Palestinian bid for statehood, Mathai affirmed India's "continuing" commitment to Palestine.

"India had recognised the state of Palestine in November, 1988. We will support the membership of Palestine as a state in the UN," Mathai said.

In the current session, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will forward a formal request to the United Nations to accept Palestine as its 194th member. India will also support Libya in its political transition.

"We have already established contact with Transitional National Council. We have a humanitarian assistance of USD 1 million through the UN and another USD 2 million is being processed," Mathai said.