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Mansingh meets Powell

Lalit Mansingh, who is here to take up his new assignment as India's Ambassador to the United States, has discussed prospects of further consolidating bilateral relations, with US Secretary of State Colin Powell.

The 30-minute meeting on Friday was his first high level contact with a US official. External Affairs Ninister Jaswant Singh's three-day visit to the US beginning April 5 figured prominently in the discussions.

Mansingh, who called on Powell to present a copy of his Letter of Credence, said Jaswant, who is also defence minister, was looking forward to fruitful discussions with Powell, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice.

"Indo-American relations are the best they have ever been," he said and assured Powell of India's keen desire to build on the momentum that has been established.

Mansingh briefly raised the issue of post-Pokhran sanctions against India and conveyed New Delhi's viewpoint on them, to which Powell reiterated that the entire issue of sanctions, including those slapped on India, will be reviewed.

"Basically, what we discussed was about the way Indo-US relations have evolved in the past and the outlook for the future," he told reporters after the meeting.

Powell, who received Mansingh, said he had closely followed Indo-US developments and that it was the Bush administration's policy to continue to build on the momentum established in bilateral relations in the past year.

"India is a highly impressive democracy and the Bush administration is keen to expand bilateral relations in every area," he said.

He said he was looking forward to a full discussion on a whole range of issues with Jaswant.

Mansingh said, "The secretary of state clearly reiterated the policy of President (George W) Bush to build on the good work done in the past and expand relations with India. Powell said he was himself committed to the process."

This indicated a desire on the part of the United States to build on the solid foundation laid during the high level exchange of visits last year, he said.

He assured Powell of India's commitment to achieving the goals and objectives jointly identified by the two countries.

Mansingh said New Delhi and Washington were "natural allies" - a phrase used by Prime Minister A B Vajpayee during his visit to the US in September last year.

He also touched on several areas of co-operation identified in the Vision Statement signed by the two countries during former President Bill Clinton's visit to the country last year.

Mansingh also expressed appreciation of contacts established between Bush and Vajpayee. Bush, as a candidate for President, had a telephonic conversation with Vajpayee during his US visit.

Later as President, Bush telephoned Vajpayee to express sympathy for victims of the Gujarat earthquake and also to convey his commitment to furthering closer ties.

Powell recalled Mansingh's earlier tenure in Washington as Deputy Chief of Mission and his own visit to India two years ago.

Mansingh extended an invitation to him to visit India.

PTI

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