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Vajpayee, Clinton express desire for closer ties

Addressing the joint session of Parliament on Wednesday morning, the American president said though India has the right to determine its own interests with regard to nuclear weapons, he had reservations about proliferation and cited the US experience during the Cold War period.

Describing economic relations between Washington and New Delhi as good, he said the US was the largest investor in India. The president expressed the hope of stronger ties in the fields of information technology and bio-technology in the years to come.

Reiterating the US stand that the Kashmir tangle had to be solved bilaterally through dialogue, Clinton said he had not come here to intervene. However, he asserted that both India and Pakistan could count on their friends. He reminded India about American contribution to the withdrawal of Pakistani forces from Kargil. He said both the US and India were victims of terrorism as well as drug trafficking and called for more cooperation in these areas.

During his 37-minute address, Clinton covered wide-ranging issues and praised India for its successful implementation of economic reforms and development of the IT sector in the recent past.

Referring to his interaction with Rachna Katyal, widow of Rupen Katyal who was killed by the hijackers of Flight IC 814 last December, he said it was very unfortunate. He also condemned the massacre of 35 Sikhs by militants in Anantnag district on Monday night and promised all help to combat terrorism.

On the issue of WTO, the president said the new trade regime had given more voice to developing countries but at the same time, expressed his country's reservations on various issues like labour and environment.

Terming as commendable India's polio immunisation programme under which more than 140 million children were given polio doses last December, he promised all help to eradicate malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS in this region. He also had a few words of praise for the Indian parliamentary system, noting that there were more than two million elected representatives in the country.

In turn, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee described Clinton's visit as the "beginning of a new voyage in the new century." He said India and the United States have all the potential to become natural allies. Speaking after Clinton's address to the joint session of Parliament, Vajpayee said that both countries must move beyond a mere intersection of interests to a "focusing of our vision". He said the 'vision statement' (signed on Tuesday by Clinton and Vajpayee) was the first step in this direction.

"Mr President, your visit marks the beginning of a new voyage in the new century by two countries which have all the potential to become natural allies," the prime minister said. Recalling the 'stirring words' of American poet Walt Whitman, Vajpayee said a 'passage to India' is always a 'passage to 'more' than India'.

He recited from Whitman's long and admiring poem on India calling upon the peoples of the two countries:
"Sail forth - steer for the deep waters only,
reckless Oh soul, exploring, I with thee, and thou with me,
for we are bound where mariner has not yet dared to go."

Asserting that India still remained committed to a world free of nuclear weapons, Vajpayee said the decision to maintain a minimum credible nuclear deterrent was prompted by a realistic assessment of India's security compulsions. India continues her traditional policies of acting with restraint and responsibility, he added.

"We are aware of the importance that you attach Mr President, to the subject of non-proliferation," he said and added that as democracies, we have to take all steps on the basis of wide consultation and cooperation. He said, our environment continues to witness proliferation of nuclear weapons and missiles with impunity.

He said aggressive use of force is no longer an acceptable language in international relations. "Our approach is realistic. We believe that mature nation states must seek durable and pragmatic solutions to differences only through peaceful and bilateral dialogue."

Vajpayee said India had always tried to develop its relations with its neighbours in an atmosphere of mutual trust and on the basis of mutually advantageous initiatives. Recent developments have, unfortunately, eroded that relationship of trust with one of them, he said in an apparent reference to Pakistan.

Referring to the thousands of Indians contributing to progress in every sphere in the US, Vajpayee said they offer a vivid and vibrant example of the kind of relationship that should exist between the two countries.

He said it was also satisfying that the two countries have started cooperation to address another vital aspect of international security, terrorism. The problem of terrorism with its link to ideologies of extremism and funding through the illegal trade in narcotics is one of the biggest challenges facing nation-states today, he said.

"We need to consider whether we are doing enough to strike at the root this menace, which breeds on hatred and violence and is the very anti-thesis of democracy."

The prime minister, who began his speech by thanking Clinton for a thought provoking address, said his remarks about democracy evoked many personal memories. "It was more than 45 years ago that I first entered this Parliament as a member of the Lok Sabha. I sat in the Opposition benches and saw the precepts and conventions of our great democracy being established under the guidance of our founding fathers."

He said India was the oldest civilisation in the world, though a young nation-state. But democracy, rule of law, pluralism and accommodation of different points of view, have struck such firms roots as to become unshakable, he added.

He said India's freedom struggle hinged on robust national awakening and on democratic debate, with the widest possible participation of people. "Our experience with colonialism rekindled even more forcefully our attachment to independence of judgement and autonomy of action, our opposition to systems and regimes that seek to perpetuate discrimination and inequality."

For half a century, India has been consistent in the pursuit of international peace and legitimate security for all through global disarmament, he said.

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The text of President's speech

CLINTON VISITS INDIA : The complete coverage

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