Annan's remark on Lahore Declaration wins him admirers in India

Annan's remark on Lahore Declaration wins him admirers in India
SONIA TRIKHA

NEW DELHI, MARCH 13: Kofi Annan is going to arrive in India on the 15th but he seems already to have done everything to make himself popular in these parts. The United Nations Secretary General's remark that the Lahore Declaration can form a basis for brokering peace between India and Pakistan has gained Annan many admirers here. Even among those who eyed UN officials with some suspicion before this.

The statement that a ``third party can play a role to encourage the process but cannot lead and act as a mediator in the situation'' was received even better.

Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee said in Parliament that the world was beginning to appreciate New Delhi's efforts to restore peace to Kashmir after its unilateral ceasefire and ``Kofi Annan's remarks are an indication of this''.

Indian officials, not ready to make any connections between the Kashmir situation and the visit of Annan till before the weekend, now seem more comfortable with the visit.

According to UN officials, Annan is likely to call for reducing tensions between India and Pakistan and the need to avoid an arms race in the region.

Indian officials in the Ministry of External Affairs only go so far as to say Kofi Annan will discuss the issue of international terrorism with India. Afghanistan is likely to figure prominently, and not merely in the context of the recent destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas. So may Pakistan. India is keen to bring up the instability in Afghanistan and its impact on this country because Indian officials point out that ``we share a border with Afghanistan and the situation there affects the stability of the subcontinent''.

India, along with Russia and the United States, sponsored a resolution in the UN to bring aviation and financial sanctions against the Taliban regime. India's efforts to cobble together a Comprehensive Convention Against Terrorism are also likely to come up for talks.

On its part, India will be keen to bring up the subject of reforms in the UN and its claim to a permanent seat in the expanded Security Council. India was, last year, the largest troop contributor to UN peacekeeping missions around the world. In his address to the special UN General Assembly session last year, Vajpayee had staked his claim. ``We believe ourselves qualified by objective criteria for responsibilities of permanent membership. Indeed, as the world's largest democracy, enormous potential, a rapidly growing economic power and a major contributor to peace-keeping operations, India has a natural claim to a permanent seat in the Security Council,'' he had said.

Annan will arrive in New Delhi after travelling in the region to Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Annan, who is returning to India after four years -- he last visited in April 1997 -- will hold discussions with Vajpayee, Minister for External Affairs Jaswant Singh, Defence Minister George Fernandes and Leader of the Opposition Sonia Gandhi. The UN Secretary General will also travel to Hyderabad for a meeting with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.