PM winds up European tour with hope, confidence

PM winds up European tour with hope, confidence
HARISH GUPTA

LISBON, JUNE 30: At the end of his two-nation foreign tour, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has the satisfaction of winning European hearts.

The first major roadshow in Rome and Lisbon may not have resulted in ensuring a permanent seat in the Security Council of the United Nations. But he was able to get an assurance from both the countries that India would have their support if the climate was congenial.

Vajpayee also left nobody in doubt that India is seriously considering the question of signing the CTBT to promote non-proliferation and that Parliament's ensuing session beginning July 24 could provide an opportunity to evolve a consensus.

It is now almost clear that India is heading towards signing the CTBT. Jaswant Singh, External Affairs Minister had said that it was not important that ``we sign it in July or September. What is important is a consensus.''

The Prime Minister also gave enough indications that India is seriously considering signing it. All this should reassure Europe that confrontation in the South-East Asian region would reduce.

The Prime Minister began his talks with the European Union (EU) on Wednesday, with his counterpart here, Antonio Guterres and other dignitaries of the Portuguese Government.

India and Portugal have also decided to consolidate their economic and political link by maintaining a continuity in the high-level dialogue and mutual interaction. The Prime Minister and the President of Portugal have been invited to visit India at mutually convenient dates.

On the economic front, India and Portugal signed the fourth agreement pertaining bilateral investment promotion and protection. The bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement was signed by Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha and Foreign Minister of Portugal Jamai Gama.