The Hindu

India offers itself as partner of EU in Asia

October 13, 2006

Helsinki: India made a renewed pitch for a multi-polar world order based on well-defined rules and effective institutions, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stressing to European Union leaders the "strong geo-political underpinnings" between India's rising economic profile and global vision and the EU's integrated foreign and defence policies.

In his opening remarks to the seventh EU-India summit here on October 13, 2006, Dr. Singh spoke of India as "a unique partner for the EU in the region extending from Gibraltar to the Malacca Straits", the two geographical extremities presumably marking the outer limits of European and Indian interests vis-à-vis the influence wielded by the United States and China.

Welcoming the recent decision to include India in the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) process, the Prime Minister said the EU's engagement with Asia would be incomplete without India. He added that India was not only a safe, secure and profitable trade and investment destination for European companies but also a "hub" for reaching "adjoining areas with which India enjoys close ties — South-East Asia, West Asia and Central Asia".

This formulation, which represents the first Indian attempt to leverage its "Asian" identity in the economic sphere, comes at a time when the EU too is increasingly looking at India as a bridgehead to the continent.

India and the EU "expressed deep concern" at North Korea's recent nuclear test, which they described as a violation of its international commitments. They also discussed the situation in West Asia, Sudan, Iran's nuclear programme and the need for Myanmar to make progress towards "democracy and inclusive national reconciliation".

On Nepal, India and the EU said the restoration of democracy had "paved the way for finding a peaceful political solution to the challenges facing that country". Dr. Singh and his EU counterparts "welcomed the dialogue between all political groups for restoring political stability in an atmosphere free from violence". The two sides also stressed that violence is not the answer in Sri Lanka and called on the parties to return to talks immediately.

Dr. Singh told his European counterparts that "an international norm of zero tolerance against terrorism" was needed to "send the right signal to those countries directly engaged in terrorism or which are allowing their territories to be used for terrorist purposes". Asked at the press conference to name the countries he had in mind, the Prime Minister preferred silence.

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