Gujral's rare gesture to CMs

In a rare gesture, Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral has apprised all the chief ministers of his interaction with President Bill Clinton and his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharief during his recent visit to New York.

In a letter, written after the three-nation visit to Tanzania, the United States and Italy, Gujral summed up the outcome of his visit as purposeful and productive in developing relations on a more realistic basis.

The letter said that President Clinton has expressed appreciation for the new orientation in India's policy towards its neighbours.

''I explained the thinking behind our initiatives, our desire to develop more co-operative relations with countries of South Asia. Given the proper political climate, it is possible to resolve long-standing issues as has been achieved with Bangladesh and Nepal,'' the letter said.

''I also underscored the need for countries of this region to settle issues among themselves through direct dialogues as interventions from outside generally tended to have an adverse impact,'' he said in the letter -- the first of its kind in Indian history.

On his meeting with Sharief at New York, Gujral said the meeting was useful in imparting a degree of momentum for foreign secretary-level talks between New Delhi and Islamabad. The meeting with Sharief was also meaningful, but rife with speculation that the United States was keen to mediate between India and Pakistan.

A day prior to the meeting, the prime minister recalled Sharief had criticised India in his statement at the United Nations General Assembly. This India-centric address had proved to be ''counter-productive'' as many, including UN secretary general, did not approve of the forum being used for this purpose. ''I decided not to react to Sharief's comments both in my statement at the UN and also during my meeting with him.''

About his visit to Tanzania, the prime minister said the African nation was supportive of certain issues that were important to India. Their ''principled abstention'' at the General Assembly resolution on Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty last year was one example of their support. ''It is specially significant that, during my visit, President Mkapa made a public announcement of his country's support for India's claim to a permanent seat in the UN Security Council,'' he said.

On his stopover at Rome, the prime minister said it was ''brief but productive'' in the context of growing Indo-Italian trade in recent years and Italian investments in the Indian transportation sector.

Gujral also promised to keep the chief ministers apprised of important matters. ''I hope to remain in touch with you from time to time not only on important developments and initiatives but also on significant domestic issues of national concern.''

UNI