Tribune News Service
India, Germany call for reforms in Security Council
Hannover, April 24 : India and Germany pledged to continue close cooperation in the fight against terrorism, called for comprehensive reforms of the United Nations Security Council and announced their decision to start negotiations on a treaty on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters for its early conclusion.
This was stated in a Joint Statement released on 23 April, after talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The joint statement also announced the establishment of an Indo-German Energy Forum aimed at addressing strategic energy concerns, including energy security, efficient use of energy, promotion of renewable energy sources and environmentally friendly technologies, taking into account the environmental challenges of sustainable development.
The joint statement said the two countries would continue cooperating in pursuing an agreement in the UN on the comprehensive convention against international terrorism. “Both sides agree to continue close cooperation in the fight against terrorism, both through regular bilateral consultations and cooperation in the multilateral context,” it said.
A pointed reference to UN reforms is significant as both India and Germany are members of the G-4 grouping (which also comprises Japan and Brazil). “Both sides agree to continue cooperation bilaterally and in the framework of the G-4 for the strengthening of the multilateral system and reform of the UN, including the reform of the Security Council,” the statement said.
Ms Merkel said her country was “running open doors with India” to intensify cooperation in the field of energy security. “We are running open doors with India including in the area of energy security and energy supplies. We want to build on this cooperation,” Ms Merkel said at the India-German Business Summit which she addressed along with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here.
The German Chancellor said India is a country with a GDP growth of over seven per cent and “we trust them.” Addressing India’s concerns over growing incidence of protectionism among the EU members, Ms Merkel said attempts on protectionism in Europe should be staved off, saying “Isolation is not right for any country.”
In another development, Kingfisher Airlines signed a one billion dollar contract with Airbus for purchase of five aircraft, which the Vijay Mallaya-owned airline will fly on the long-haul non-stop route to the US. The agreement for the purchase of five A-340-500 planes was signed between Mr Mallaya and Airbus CEO and President Guster Humbert in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the India-German Business Summit at the Hannover Fair which opened to the public today.
The other Memoranda of Understanding signed in the presence of the Prime Minister and the German Chancellor included the one between the Indian Railways and Deutsche Bahn AG, letter of intent between Force Motors Ltd and Neoman Bus Gmbh and between the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Helmholtz Association of National Research Centres.
Earlier, Dr Manmohan Singh and Ms Merkel jointly inaugurated the India Pavilion at the Hannover Messe (Fair), 2006 in which India is the Partner country. Both Dr Singh and Ms Merkel walked around different stalls put up by Indian companies like TVS Group, and the PSUs in the power sector. As many as 370 Indian companies are participating in the world’s largest trade fair, which began with an impressive high beam laser show combined with Kathak dancers from India.
The two countries welcomed the opening of the German Trade Office in Bangalore, saying it would further promote German trade and investment in India. They also welcomed the growing trend of Indian investments in Germany. The two sides also took note of the satisfactory progress made with regard to cooperation between the EU and India in the energy sector and the fact that the India-EU joint action Plan finalised in September 2005 at the sixth India-EU Summit in New Delhi provided for cooperation on achieving safe, secure, affordable and sustainable energy supplies.
Germany said it would place special emphasis on cooperation in science and technology with India during its Presidency of the European Union. Both sides would work towards jointly organising a Ministerial conference on Science and Technology in the first half of 2007. The two countries also took note of the ongoing cooperation in the space sector, including in the Chandrayaan project. India’s participation in the Global Navigation Satellite System (GALILEO) would be an important contribution to such cooperation.
The joint statement said the two sides agreed to actively promote their traditional cultural cooperation. India’s participation as the focus country in the ‘Bonn Biennial Art Festival’ in May and as the Guest of Honour in this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair were important events to further deepen the cultural ties between the two countries.
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