Indian PM to discuss security; ink extradition treaty with S Arabia

NEW DELHI, Feb 23: Issues of security and combating extremism in the region are likely to dominate parleys between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and leaders of Saudi Arabia, who are also expected to sign an extradition treaty during the former's three-day visit to this country later this week.

Singh will lead a high-level delegation of senior ministers, officials and businessmen to Saudi Arabia on 27th February, and will hold talks with King Abdullah on a number of bilateral and regional matters of mutual concern.

Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Talmiz Ahmad told the media that the talks will also focus on Palestine, besides the situation in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen.

"Security cooperation will constitute the basis of our dialogue. Both countries are extremely concerned about the rise of extremism and violence, directly threatening our security," he said.

Ahmed said both India and Saudi Arabia are aware of the connectivity of extremist forces that have sanctuary and safe haven in the Af-Pak border area and are seeking to penetrate other countries of the region, the envoy said.

"India is concerned about the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia is concerned about the situation in Yemen," he said.

The two countries will sign an extradition treaty, a number of MoUs and agreements on transfer of sentenced persons, scientific and technological cooperation, peaceful use of outer space and cooperation in the IT sector, he said.

Ahmed said the two countries hoped to put in place an "institutionalised dialogue" to promote mutual interest in foreign affairs, intelligence, defence, energy and other areas of immediate and direct interest to the two nations.

Some other bilateral agreements are under negotiation and will be signed at a later date, he said.

During his visit Singh will address the Shoura Council or the Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia on 1st March, a rare honour for a visiting foreign dignitary.

"Dr Singh will highlight the important and constructive role played by Majlis Al-Shoura in the political and economic development of Saudi Arabia," he added.

In his address Singh will also share his perspectives on Indo-Saudi ties, and the political and economic challenges facing the regional and international communities, he said.

Singh's visit comes four years after the visit of King Abdullah to India in January 2006.

"It was a landmark visit because it put in place the vision of a joint partnership between India and Saudi Arabia based on substantial political and cultural exchanges," the ambassador said.

Singh will also address the Indian community before leaving Saudi Arabia on 1st March.

Heads of private and PSU refiners, including Mukesh Ambani of RIL and Essar's Shashi Ruia, and IT poster boys Azim Premji and S Ramadorai figure in the business delegation accompanying Singh on his maiden visit to Saudi Arabia.

Effective action against terror groups by Pak is must for talks: Rao

NEW DELHI, Feb 23: Clearly giving the Indian perspective, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao has said effective action against terror groups by Government of Pakistan was an absolute must for sustaining bilateral talks.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said in London that Pakistan has initiated some selective steps to fight terrorism under pressure and is facing with the threat of terrorism in its own country.

However, continuing open calls of jihad, hostility and aggression against India are the real and tangible difficulties that India is facing in dealing with Pakistan.

She hoped both countries could slowly build better communication and a serious and responsive dialogue to address issues of concern between the two countries.

Rao has said the focus of the talks would be on India's "core concerns" over cross-border terrorism.

Terming the proposal of talks from India as "another sincere attempt" to initiate dialogue with Pakistan, Rao said "we hope we can build, in a graduated manner, better communication and a serious and responsive dialogue to address issues of concern between our two countries."

On whether Kashmir will figure during the talks, Rao has said "the issue of Jammu and Kashmir is something we must discuss bilaterally and resolve peacefully. But at the talks, our core concern is terrorism and it is essential to focus on it. We will move in a manner, slow and deliberately."

While making the offer of talks, India had made it clear that composite dialogue could not be resumed until "the environment of terror or the threat of terror" persisted.

The composite dialogue was suspended after the terror attacks in Mumbai in 2008 with India pressing for punishment to perpetrators of the attacks and dismantling of terror infrastructure in Pakistan.

Describing terrorism as the pivotal security challenge for the country, Rao said terror groups implacably opposed to India continue to recruit, train and plot attacks "from safe havens across our borders.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir, along with a five-member delegation, will reach New Delhi on Wednesday for talks with his Indian counterpart Nirupama Rao, the first formal bilateral talks in 14 months after the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008.

Iran tells UN of enrichment plan as US, France call for new sanctions

TEHRAN, Feb 9: Iran said on Monday it has formally told the UN nuclear watchdog of its plan to produce higher enriched uranium, sparking US and French calls for "strong" sanctions against the defiant Islamic republic.

"Iran's official letter about commencing the 20 percent enrichment activity in order to provide fuel for the Tehran reactor has been handed over to the IAEA," Ali Asghar Soltanieh, Tehran's envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency, told state-owned television from its Vienna base.

Iran's atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi announced late on Sunday that Tehran would begin enriching uranium to 20 percent from Tuesday, and that the IAEA would be informed of its decision beforehand.

The announcement was met with a sharp riposte on Monday from world powers, which fear that Iran's nuclear enrichment programme masks a bid to make atomic weapons, despite Tehran insisting its purpose is entirely peaceful.

France's President Nicolas Sarkozy and US Defence Secretary Robert Gates agreed in talks in Paris that "strong" new sanctions must be passed against Iran over its nuclear drive, the French presidency said.

Sarkozy and Gates "agreed that the time has come for the adoption of strong sanctions, in the hope that dialogue will be resumed," an official at the French presidency said.

Gates, whose aides said earlier the United States would ask France to submit a sanctions motion at the council, which it currently chairs, said: "We are very much agreed that action by the international community is the next step."

In Washington, a US official said the plan was "a provocative move in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions."

"The Iranian government knows that this will not meet the humanitarian needs of the Iranian people, and risks creating more regional instability," the official told AFP, on condition of anonymity.

"If the Iranian government takes this step, it would further undermine confidence and raise serious concern about Iran's nuclear intentions."

Ehud Barak, defence minister of Israel which is widely believed to be the Middle East's sole if undeclared nuclear-armed power, told a meeting of his Labour party that new sanctions were needed.

He said Tehran's enrichment decision was "further proof that Iran is deceiving the whole world and the correct response is to begin a determined campaign of decisive and permanent sanctions against Iran."

Neither the United States nor Israel has ruled out taking military action against Iran's nuclear facilities.

IAEA chief Yukiya Amano "noted with concern this decision, as it may affect, in particular, ongoing international efforts to ensure the availability of nuclear fuel for the Tehran research reactor," his agency said.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, meanwhile, insisted that Iran does not have the ability to enrich uranium to 20 percent and accused Tehran of "blackmail."

At the IRIS institute for strategic and international relations in Paris, Karim Pakzad saw hardline President Mahmoud Ahaminejad's move as a "bluff, because the Iranian government is weakened domestically."

On the domestic scene, Iran's opposition criticised Ahmadinejad's handling of the crisis.

"On the nuclear issue, which influential nation do we have on our side?" Mir Hossein Mousavi asked in a talk to university students, his website kaleme.org reported on Monday.

"Unlike you, we do not agree to proceed with an adventurist policy, to insult them one day and smile at them the next," he said.

Germany and Britain on Monday also warned of fresh sanctions, while Russia, a close ally of Iran, reiterated that Iran should send its uranium abroad for higher enrichment in line with a UN-brokered deal.

Salehi's announcement of plans to enrich uranium to 20 percent -- the level required for reactor fuel -- came just hours after he was ordered on Sunday to do so by Ahmadinejad.

"The higher enrichment will begin at the Natanz plant from the day after tomorrow (Tuesday)," Salehi said.

Iran's main uranium enrichment facility is in the central city where it has continued sensitive atomic work defiantly for years despite three rounds of UN sanctions.

Soltanieh told the official IRNA news agency that Iran's letter to the IAEA invited the agency's inspectors "to be present at the site, since all nuclear activities of the Islamic republic are under the IAEA supervision."

Atomic chief Salehi, however, said Tehran would stop further enrichment if the long-negotiated UN-drafted deal with world powers is concluded.

Lanka ex-army chief Fonseka held, may face court martial

COLOMBO, Feb 9: Former Lanka army chief Sarath Fonseka, who lost last month’s presidential elections to incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa, was arrested by the military police on Monday.

Fonseka is likely to be court-martialled for military crimes, a government official told state TV. He is accused of revealing military secrets and plotting to kill Rajapaksa, the Daily Mirror reported on its website.

Opposition leader Mano Ganeshan said the police “carried him (Fonseka) out by grabbing his hands and legs”.

Under Emergency laws in Sri Lanka, no warrant is needed to take a person in custody.

The government has alleged that Fonseka had planned a coup in case of defeat and plotted to kill Rajapaksa. Fonseka, on his part, said the government wanted him dead.

Rajapaksa is in Russia and will be back on Wednesday.

Iran to enrich uranium to 20% as nuclear fears grow

TEHRAN, Feb 8: Iran has announced immediate plans to step up its nuclear programme, which Western nations fear could be used to make a bomb. Its nuclear chief said Iran would start enriching uranium to 20% from Tuesday, and that 10 new uranium enrichment plants would be built in the next year.

Ali Akbar Salehi said the enrichment would take place at Natanz, Iran's main uranium enrichment plant.

The move heightens fears Iran is moving closer to weapons-grade uranium.

The West has criticised Iran for stalling on a deal over its enrichment programme.

The latest development comes days before Iran celebrates the 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution, which is expected to see pro- and anti-government demonstrations.

Witnesses say the situation in the Iranian capital Tehran is increasingly tense, with a series of checkpoints already set up across the city.

Speaking on Sunday evening, Mr Salehi said he would inform the UN's nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), of the enrichment plan in a formal letter on Monday.

Almost by the day, Iran is stepping up the pace of its nuclear confrontation with the West.

If the aim is to have all 10 new enrichment plants running in a year, then it is almost laughably ambitious - it has taken many years to get the first plant at Natanz running and it still has problems.

But this flurry of announcements reflects the turmoil faced by President Ahmadinejad's government, as they square up for a major day of pro- and anti-government demonstrations on the anniversary of the revolution on Thursday.

However, he added that production would be halted if Iran received fuel enriched to 20% from abroad.

The country earlier appeared ready to exchange its low-enriched uranium for higher-grade foreign fuel but wanted changes to a UN-drafted plan.

"Iran would halt its enrichment process for the Tehran research reactor any time it receives the necessary fuel for it," Mr Salehi said.

Iran currently enriches uranium to a level of 3.5% but requires 20% enriched uranium for its Tehran research reactor, which is meant to produce medical isotopes. A bomb would require uranium enriched to at least 90%.

To achieve 20% enrichment would be such a major step for Iran, David Albright of Washington's Institute for Science and International Security told the Associated Press news agency, it "would be going most of the rest of the way to weapon-grade uranium".

News of the enrichment move, which was ordered by President Ahmadinejad on Sunday, alarmed Western diplomats.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith called the announcement a "serious provocation" that "risks testing the patience of the international community".

A UK Foreign Office spokeswoman said the report was "clearly a matter of serious concern", while US Defence Secretary Robert Gates called for further "international pressure" on Iran.

"The international community has offered the Iranian government multiple opportunities to provide reassurance of its intentions," he said on a visit to Rome.

"The results have been very disappointing."

He added that he believed there was "still time for sanctions and pressure to work" if the international community united on the issue.

Canadian PM for stronger ties with India

TORONTO, Feb 1: Canada and India must forge stronger trade, investment and educational ties to build a more productive friendship, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has said. "Canada stands besides India as a steadfast and faithful friend," Harper said in a message to a function organised by Panorama India to commemorate India's 61st Republic Day celebration in Toronto.

Outlining the many historical, cultural, social and economic ties between the two countries, Harper said: "These bonds are a solid foundation upon which we can build an even stronger, more productive friendship".

The prime minister's message that was read by lawmaker Bob Dechert said the two countries must forge stronger ties in the filed of trade, investment and education, pointing out that Canada and India have a strong shared belief in the values of liberty, pluralism and religious tolerance.

He said his country would not be the same without its strong bond with India and outstanding contributions made by the Indo-Canadian community in the economic development.

With two-way trade approaching $5 billion, Indo-Canada relations have strengthened over the past few years, Preeti Saran, India's Consul General in Toronto, said and added that both countries were committed to fight against terrorism.

"Both countries are united, as free and democratic nations, in an effort to defeat those who pursue political violence against innocent people," Saran said

Saran said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was expected to visit Toronto to attend the G-20 summit in June this year, the dates however were yet to be finalised.

5 ex-army officers hanged for killing Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

DHAKA, Jan 28: Five ex-army officers have been hanged to death a little after midnight on Wednesday for assassinating Bangladeshs independence leader and first President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in a bloody coup staged on 15th August 1975.

Dhaka Central Jail officials said Lt Col (retd) Syed Faruque Rahman, Lt Col (retd) Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Lt Col (retd) Muhiuddin Ahmed, Maj (retd) AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed and Maj (retd) Bazlul Huda were hanged 15-minute past midnight.

The ex-army officers killed most members of slain Mujibs family and overthrew his three and a half-year old post-independence elected government 35 years ago.

Newly independent Bangladesh was placed under a military and quasi-military rule for nearly 25 years with the assassination of Sheikh Mujib.

Fool-proof security measures were taken in and around the Dhaka Central jail and all other 66 jails of the country soon after the Supreme Court verdict rejecting the review petitions of five convicts.

The Appellate Division upheld the verdict of the High Court that confirmed the death sentence of the former army officers.

President Zillur Rahman rejected the mercy petition of the convicts tonight.

On 19th November last year, the apex court upheld the High Court confirmation of the death sentence on a total of 12 ex-army officers. Of the rest of the condemned convicts in the case, six have been on the run while one has died in the meantime.

LeT behind 26/11 attack; Sufficient evidence against Lakhvi

ISLAMABAD, Jan 28: Pakistani investigators in a report to an anti-terrorism court of Islamabad said that all the seven terrorists arrested in Pakistan for their involvement in the Mumbai attack belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba group.

The report presented to the court conducting their trial including LeT operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi states that there is "sufficient incriminating evidence on record against those arrested for orchestrating the Mumbai attacks.

The report further said that evidence collected by Pakistani investigators had corroborated the statement made by Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone attacker arrested in Mumbai.

It also stated that Lakhvi was the mastermind behind the November 2008 attacks and the accused have worked in active connivance of one another in planning, training, aiding, abetting and making preparations to carry out the deadly terror attacks through their co-accused.

The dastardly Mumbai terror attacks saw brutal murder of 166 innocent persons and injury to 304 others besides property destruction.

Krishna meets Miliband, says nothing like good or bad Taliban

LONDON, Jan 28: India has cautioned against accepting the "superfluous distinction" between good and bad Taliban and asserted that as a regional power it would like to be a part of the solution in Afghanistan.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Wednesday met his British counterpart David Miliband in London on the eve of a crucial meeting on Afghanistan convened by Britain and told him that "India would like things to get settled" in that country.

"I had a bilateral meeting with Foreign Secretary David Miliband. We had a useful exchange of views on few issues which concern both of our countries, in particular a reference to Afghanistan which happens to be in our neighbourhood," he said after the meeting.

Krishna told Miliband that al-Qaeda's propaganda of creating a distinction between the good and bad Taliban should not confuse the issues of terror.

"I drew Foreign Secretary's attention to the fact that al-Qaeda and its various manifestations and incarnations in different names and in different times should not confuse the issue on terror.

"India has seen through the games of Taliban that they were trying to create a superfluous distinction between good Taliban and a bad Taliban," he said.

Krishna said Talibanism was "terror driven" and India's assessment on the issue was "somewhat different".

Rajapaksa wins Prez poll; Fonseka wants foreign protection

COLOMBO, Jan 27: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Wednesday won a second term in office trouncing united opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka, his one-time army chief in jointly eliminating the LTTE who later parted ways.

In dramatic events on a tension-filled day when scores of heavily-armed soldiers surrounded a lake-front luxury hotel in central Colombo, where 59-year-old Fonseka was staying, the defeated candidate sought protection from "a neighbouring country", apparently India, fearing for his safety.

Government, however, dismissed suggestions of any foul play against Fonseka, who quit as army chief late last year following differences with the President, with both claiming credit for eliminating the Tamil Tigers.

In a bitterly-fought contest after the two war heroes fell apart, 64-year-old Rajapaksa secured 5.9 million votes or 58 per cent against Fonseka's 4.1 million or 40 per cent in the total of 70 per cent votes cast.

"It is a resounding victory for the President," the state-run Rupavahini channel said, although the Election Commission has not yet announced the result officially.

Presidential office sources said that "by all accounts, His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa has won the Presidential elections as one only needs over 50 per cent of the votes."

Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the troops had been deployed at the hotel, where Fonseka was staying, following information that suspected army deserters were among 400 people present inside.

"We don't know what is their motive... whether these are suspected army deserters providing security and whether they are associated with Gen (retd) Sarath Fonseka," Nanayakkara said.

Fonseka wrote to the Election Commission demanding steps to ensure his security as he claimed that attempts were being made to arrest him, local media reported.

He said he had moved to the hotel as there were attempts to surround his office and arrest him, adding that 10 of his guards had been taken into custody.

Fonseka's camp said the 10 arrested men were part of the security contingent given to the opposition presidential candidate by Election Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake.

An unnamed senior leader of the main opposition UNP was also quoted as saying by media that Fonseka's movements had been restricted.

Mano Ganesan, a close aide of the former army chief, said "We want Sarath Fonseka safe."

"I am going to meet a diplomat of a neighbouring country to seek assurances of Fonseka's safety," Ganesan said.

"We do not accept the verdict given by electronic media and the result should be declared by the Election Commission. It seems the role of Department of Election is minimal," he said.

Rajapaksa's supporters came to the streets in many parts of the country bursting crackers to celebrate his victory.

Regional cooperation can bring about energy security for India and ASEAN nations: S M Krishna

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Jan 21: India's External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has underlined the need for a regional approach to bring about energy security In India and the ASEAN nations which can accommodate competing demands and constraints while shifting the focus from competition to cooperation based on mutual interests.

Inaugurating the "Delhi Dialogue II – Regional Security and Cooperation Dialogue" here on Thursday, Mr Krishna said “We look forward to continued engagement with ASEAN countries and our partners in the East Asia Summit on this issue.”

The Delhi Dialogue II has been organized by FICCI in association with the Ministry of External and co-partnered by Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS) and Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Jakarta and supported by SAEA Research Group, Singapore.

Mr. Krishna said that India-ASEAN FTA in goods, which came into force on January 1 this year, has opened new possibilities for the expansion of India’s trade with the region and expressed the hope that agreements on trade-in-services and Investment would also be concluded soon.

The External Affairs Minister noted that people-to-people contacts and cultural and academic exchanges between India and the ASEAN region have continued to grow. The revival of the Nalanda University as an international institution of excellence, he added, has emerged as an important initiative that underlines the ancient linkages of the two regions.

“We strongly believe in sharing our developmental experiences with our fellow developing countries. We have been happy to participate in development cooperation programmes with ASEAN countries, and in the ‘Initiative for ASEAN Integration’ Programme. We have given particular emphasis to human resource development through training, scholarships, establishment of entrepreneurship development centres and language training centres,” Mr. Krishna declared.

He said that the ASEAN-India S&T Fund, which has been operationalised, would promote joint collaborative research projects in Science and technology. The proposed India-ASEAN Green Fund, with a corpus of US$ 5 million, would promote adaptation and mitigation technologies in the area of climate change.

The Minister said that at the 7th India–ASEAN Summit in October last year, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh had announced several initiatives to further strengthen the links between India and ASEAN.

These links included establishment of an India-ASEAN Round Table comprising think tanks, policy makers, scholars, media and business representatives that would provide policy inputs to the governments of India and the ASEAN countries on future areas of cooperation; intensification of negotiations on an open skies policy; further simplification of the visa regime to encourage business and tourist travel; more youth exchange programmes; enhanced cooperation in the agriculture sector to meet the challenges of food security; cooperation in the application of space technologies; holding an ASEAN trade and industrial exhibition in India; among others.

“We are ready to allocate up to US $ 50 million to support these initiatives. We would continue to explore ways to further enhance our cooperation and benefit from our complementarities,” he said.

Mr. Krishna said that in the wake of the recent global financial and economic crisis, it was imperative to develop greater cooperation among developing countries, so that these countries have an effective voice in the international financial architecture and a new global economic order.

In his welcome address, Mr. Harsh Pati Singhania, President, FICCI, pointed out that while India and the ASEAN nations have to work closely with the western economies on addressing the global challenges, there are many things that could be done at the regional level to ensure that the long term growth path is sustainable. The global crisis has clearly shown the limitations Asia faces on account of vulnerabilities to external shocks.

He said that Asian economies are heavily dependent on the western markets for their exports. The bulk of foreign funds that flow into these economies also come from the western capital markets. This dependence on the west, needs to be reduced, he said.

Mr Singhania said that India-ASEAN bilateral trade has crossed the US $ 45 billion mark and we will top the US $ 50 billion mark in 2010.
“While our next immediate target for bilateral trade is US$ 70 billion, FICCI would like to propose that the two sides aim to achieve US$ 100 billion in trade by 2015”, he said, adding that with the first essential step towards this already taken – India–ASEAN FTA is now operational – this target is certainly achievable.

A FICCI analysis shows that ASEAN and India have much to offer to each other. While ASEAN countries can benefit from India’s strengths in IT, BPO, pharmaceuticals, space science and oceanography, India can learn valuable lessons from ASEAN countries in infrastructure development and maintenance, tourism management and urban area development.

“We need to cover a lot of ground and cooperate even more in the fields of maritime security and energy security. We also need to strengthen our connectivity and improve our logistical links. This is particularly relevant form the point of view of development of India’s North East which is in a way our superhighway to the ASEAN countries. More channels of communication and travel between India’s North East and ASEAN countries would prove to be a strong stimulus to regional growth,” the FICCI President declared.

Countries, he said, can prosper and grow only in a secure environment, adding that terrorism is a regional and global problem and we will have to deal with this in a collective manner on a mission mode.

Mr. K Kesavapany, Director, ISEAS, noted that the target of achieving a US$ 100 billion trade turnover between India and the ASEAN countries by 2015 was a “signpost that we must all aspire for” and concurred with Mr. Singhania that the target was achievable if the borders were kept open and trade was free of barriers.

Immediately after the inaguration, the first session was held on the topic “A New Asian Century”. It was moderated by Ambassador See Chak Mun, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore. Sam Pitroda, Chairman, National Knowledge Commission, delivered the keynote address.

Manish Tewari, Member of Parliament and Spokesperson, Indian National Congress, Prakash Jawakar, Spokesperson, BJP, and Gautam Adhikari, former Editor-in-Chief, Times of India and Consultant World Bank, Washington D.C., also addressed this pre-lunch session.

Lao Minister invites Indian companies to set up joint venture

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Jan 21: Dr. Nam Viyaketh, Minister of Industry and Commerce, Lao PDR, today invited Indian wholly-owned or joint ventures in his country as Lao initiates steps to turn the disadvantage of being landlocked into an advantage of being land-linked through the implementation of the north-south and east-west economic corridor projects to link the transport network with the neighbouring countries, and other parts of the world.

Addressing the post-lunch session on “India-ASEAN: The Way Forward for Economic Cooperation & Integration after the Free Trade Agreement” at the Delhi Dialogue II, Dr. Viyaketh said, “Lao PDR is endowed with abundant natural resources, especially in mining and hydropower sectors. The Lao Government has improved its laws and regulations to facilitate trade and attract foreign investors. Yet, it has to do more on issuing and harmonise laws and regulations as the country prepares for its accession to the WTO.”

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Anand Sharma could not attend the session due to the Cabinet meeting.

The session was moderated by Dr Amit Mitra, Secretary General, FICCI and Mr Hidetoshi Nishimura, Executive Director, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Jakarta, also addressed the session.

Dr. Viyaketh said that Lao cooperates actively under the sub-regional frameworks that would contribute to the acceleration of ASEAN integration moving towards its goal of establishing an ASEAN Economic Community in 2015.

He said, bilaterally, India was the seventh largest investment partner of the Lao PDR between 2000 and 2009, with an approximate investment of US$ 351 million. In 2008, the total trade between Lao and India was US$ 3.2 million, an increase of 21.5 per cent compared with 2007, covering 0.13 per cent of the total value of trade between Laos and the rest of the world in 2008.

Although bilateral trade between Laos and India was insignificant, “I strongly believe that due to the coming into force of the ASEAN-India FTA, our bilateral trade will expand at a healthy rate,” he said.

Latha Reddy, Secy (East), External Affairs Ministry hosts dinner for delegates at Delhi Dialogue II

S M Krishna to inaugurate ‘The Delhi Dialogue II -- Regional security and cooperation Dialogue’

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Jan 20: External Affairs Minister S M Krishna will inaugurate a two-day conference on “Delhi Dialogue II -- Regional Security and Cooperation Dialogue” beginning here on Thursday.

Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma will give the special address the same afternoon. The conference is being organised by FICCI, SAEA Group Research of Singapore in collaboration with the India's Ministry of External Affairs.

The inaugural session will be “India and Southeast Asia in the Changing Regional Economic Dynamics of Asia: Shared Interests and Concerns” and will be moderated by Dr Amit Mitra, Secretary General, FICCI and the welcome address will be given by Harsh Pati Singhania, President FICCI.

Ambassador K Kesavapany, Director, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, ISEAS, will deliver the concluding remarks of the inaugural session.

The first session will be on the topic “A New Asian Century” and it will be moderated by Ambassador See Chak Mun, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore. Sam Pitroda, Chairman, National Knowledge Commission, will deliver the keynote address.

Manish Tewari, Member of Parliament and Spokesperson, Indian National Congress, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Member of Parliament and Spokesperson, BJP, and Gautam Adhikari, former Editor-in-Chief, Times of India and Consultant World Bank, Washington D.C., will also address this pre-lunch session.

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Anand Sharma will address the post-lunch session on “India-ASEAN: The Way Forward for Economic Cooperation & Integration after the Free Trade Agreement”.

The session will be moderated by Dr Amit Mitra, Secretary General, FICCI. Dr Nam Viyaketh, Minister of Commerce & Industry Lao, PDR and Mr Hidetoshi Nishimura, Executive Director, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Jakarta, will also address the session.

Friday’s morning session on the topic “India – ASEAN Roadmap in the New Millennium” will be moderated by R Ravindran, former Member of Parliament and Chairman, SAEA Group Research, Singapore.

Mr Johnny N Chotrani, Chairman, Philippines-India Business Council, Philippines Chambers of Commerce and Industry; Ms Roopa Kudva, Region Head, Standard & Poor’s, South Asia & Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, CRISIL; Mr Rodolfo C Severino, former Secretary General, ASEAN and Head of ASEAN Studies Centre, ISEAS; and Mr Deepak Mittal, Chairman, Trade Policy Committee, Board of Trade of Thailand, will address this session.

The valedictory session on “Enhancing India’s Connectivity With ASEAN: Challenges and Opportunities” will see the keynote address by Mr. Pushpanathan Sundaram, Deputy Secretary General, ASEAN.

Prof. Fukunari Kimura, Chief Economist, Economic Research Institute (ERIA) will address the session. Ms Latha Reddy, Secretary (East), India’s External Affairs Ministry, will deliver the valedictory speech. The session will be moderated by Dr Amit Mitra.

Hundreds feared dead as 7.0 quake strikes Haiti

Port-Au-Prince, Jan 13: A devastating earthquake measuring 7.0 rocked the impoverished Caribbean nation of Haiti on Tuesday toppling buildings and triggering fears that hundreds had been killed in a wave of destruction.

"When we get an idea of the toll it will be measured in the hundreds," said a local doctor, who was bloodied and nursing a injured left arm.

Rescue efforts were hampered when communications were snapped in the minutes after the earthquake struck at 2153 GMT.

But early pictures sent on the micro Internet network site Twitter showed scenes of devastation with crumbled walls, and crushed cars. A pall of grey smoke hung over a part of one city, as dazed residents stared around them.

"I think it's really a catastrophe of major proportions," Haiti's ambassador to the United States, Raymond Alcide Joseph, told CNN television.

The US State Department said it also feared there had been casualties, but as they desperately tried to reach embassy staff and aid workers could only provide sketchy details.

Quoting an embassy worker, State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said: "A number of structures have collapsed. He has seen walls down, a number of people injured and killed. Can't put a magnitude on it at this point."

He added there had been significant damage.

A correspondent said the ground shook for more than a minute. Later three aftershocks measuring 5.9, 5.5 and 5.1 on the moment magnitude scale hit, US officials said.

Rachel Wolff, international director for World Vision, said when the quake first struck she managed to speak to their national director in Port-au-Prince, but since then they had had no word.

"He said he heard quite a bit of screaming the capital where he works, people seemed very frightened, people were out in the streets, there was a bit of a panicked situation," she said.

"He also said just outside World Vision headquarters that roads were blocked by buildings, residences that had fallen into the street and traffic was piling up."

In Port-au-Prince, local media reported that the presidential palace, parliament, cathedral and several ministries were badly damaged.

The headquarters of the UN mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), which has served as a peacekeeping mission there since 2004, was also destroyed by the temblor, according to a local employee.

UN chief Ban Ki-moon late Tuesday said he was "very concerned" over the plight of Haitians and of the UN staff serving in the nation.

A correspondent in Petionville, a suburb east of the capital, said one three-story building was toppled by the quake, and a tractor was already at the scene trying to dig out victims as people fled onto the streets in panic.

The up-scale area is home to many foreign diplomats and members of the UN mission to the country.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the powerful quake was initially measured at 7.3 and struck 16 kilometers (ten miles) from the capital Port-au-Prince, and 27 kilometers (17 miles) from Petionville.

A tsunami alert for the Caribbean region was immediately issued, but swiftly lifted again.

In Washington, President Barack Obama said the United States stood ready to help. "My thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by this earthquake," Obama said.

A US Southern Command spokesman in Miami said the agency was "monitoring the situation and coordinating everything to respond rapidly."

"We'll work very closely with the Pentagon in terms of flowing significant assistance and manpower to Haiti in the coming days," Crowley said.

Already the poorest nation in the Americas, Haiti has been hit by a series of disasters recently and was battered by hurricanes in 2008.

Four big storms -- Tropical Storm Fay and hurricanes Gustav, Hanna and Ike -- pounded Haiti in August and September 2008, killing a total of 793 people and leaving more than 300 others missing, according to government figures.

The country was also gripped by a tense political standoff in April 2008 amid riots over skyrocketing food prices. UN troops are a regular sight throughout much of the country.

The Inter-American Development Bank said it was immediately approving 200,000 dollars in emergency assistance in the wake of the quake.

Seventy percent of Haiti's population lives on less than two dollars per day, and half of its 8.5 million people are unemployed.

According to official figures, food insecurity already affects more than a quarter of Haiti's population.

Failure to check attacks will strain ties: India tells Oz

NEW DELHI, Jan 11: Conveying its "grave concerns", India on Monday demanded "immediate corrective measures" by Australia to stop assaults on Indians and said "non-redressal" of this "vital issue" will cast a "shadow" on bilateral relations.

This was conveyed by External Affairs Minister SM Krishna when he received a phone call from his Australian counterpart Stephen Smith on Monday. Smith had called to convey his condolences on the tragic death of Indian citizens in Australia in recent attacks.

Pointing out that the issue had consistently figured in Parliament, Krishna reiterated the need for immediate "corrective measures", according to a statement by Foreign Office in New Delhi.

Recalling that Australian leaders had time and again, assured India that they were treating the incidents of assaults with utmost seriousness, Krishna said, however, the incidents seem to be continuing.

Krishna emphasised to the Australian foreign minister that "non-redressal of this vital issue will cast a shadow on our otherwise excellent bilateral relations".

Australian government should immediately ensure that the concerned State police authorities deal with ongoing investigations with sensitivity and a sense of urgency, Krishna told Smith.

Responding to concerns conveyed to him, Smith said he was conscious of the need for an early breakthrough in the ongoing investigations concerning these incidents and his government attached the highest priority to ensure the continued well-being of Indian students.

Safety of Indians Australia's prime responsibility: India

NEW DELHI, Jan 11: In a strong message, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi on Monday asked Australia to take "all possible steps" to contain assaults on Indians there, saying it was their "primary responsibility".

Ravi said Australia will have to convince the Indian government and the people of this country about steps taken to protect Indian citizens.

"Australia needs to take all possible steps to ensure security of our citizens. They need to convince not only the government but also the people of the country about steps taken to ensure safety of our citizens."

Expressing serious concern about the recent attacks, including killing of 21-year-old student Nitin Garg a week ago, Ravi said "for India, every life of its citizen is precious".

"We need preventive steps. Why cannot they identify the anti-social elements responsible for the assaults and arrest them. Police know these elements," he said.

"We want them to take certain strong action. I am not saying they are not taking action. But they need to take strong action," Ravi added.

Wondering why the Australian government has not been able to contain the attacks, the Minister said "it is their primary obligation to ensure safety of the foreigners. We take all the care to protect foreign nationals here".

"This is not the first time these incidents are taking place. These attacks are taking place for the last one year. What they are doing to contain them," he asked.

Ravi said some of the attacks have had "racial overtones", adding, the government was putting pressure on Australia to ensure safety of Indians.

"In spite of all the assurances by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his ministerial colleagues, attacks are taking place. We are really concerned," he added.

40,000 Indians 'missing' in Malaysia, says Prime Minister Mohd Najib Tun Razak

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Jan 11: Nearly 40,000 Indian nationals have gone "missing" in Malaysia after the expiry of their tourist visas, Malaysian Prime Minister Mohd Najib Tun Razak said on Monday, indicating that he may take up the issue with New Delhi during his forthcoming visit to India.

"Almost 39046 are missing...These people, who came to Malaysia through the visa on arrival facility, could be back in India or be among people here. They have gone missing from our records," Najib told visiting Indian journalists here. Most of the missing Indians in Malaysia belong to Tamil Nadu.

"We want Indian people to visit Malaysia as tourists. We have been quiet liberal. We want genuine ones. They are most welcome," Najib, who leaves for a three day official visit to India on January 19, said.

The Premier felt that the only problematic exit point in India was Chennai and that there was not any problem with tourists from Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

He said that Malaysia had been quiet liberal in allowing priests and barbers from India to come and work in the country.

The problem of over-stayers is only from Chennai, he stressed adding that is why immigration was not keen on visa on arrival from the southern city.

Bangladesh vows not to allow anti-India terror, gets $1 bn

NEW DELHI, Jan 11: Bangladesh on Monday promised not to allow its territory to be used for terror against India as they signed three agreements to jointly combat the menace while India announced a one-billion dollar line of credit to that country.

The significant Line of Credit offered by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during talks with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina marked the highest one-time grant by India to any country.

India decided to give 250mw of power to Bangladesh from the central grid while they signed a power-sharing agreement.

New Delhi sought to address Dhaka's concerns with regard to non-tariff barriers by agreeing to remove these on more items and assured that India will not take any step on Meghalaya-based Tapaimukh dam which would hurt Bangladesh's interests.

At the wide-ranging talks in New Delhi between Singh and Hasina, the two sides reached a number of decisions to revive the traditional links of connectivity, which included Akhaura-Agartala railway line.

The discussions covered the entire gamut of bilateral ties, with particular focus on terrorism, security, connectivity, trade and investment, border-related issues and sharing of water and power resources.

During the discussions, Hasina told Singh that her government will not allow Bangladesh to be used for terrorism directed at India, an assurance aimed at addressing a major concern here about North East insurgents taking shelter there.

The two leaders discussed ways in which the countries could cooperate in checking the menace of terrorism.

Indian media must wait for full facts while reporting on 'race' attacks: Australia

MELBOURNE: Australia today asked the Indian media to exercise restraint and "wait for the full facts" while reporting on alleged racism in this country, but feared the appeal would fall on "deaf ears".

Acting Foreign Minister Simon Crean said it was too early to conclude that the recent attacks on Indians were racially motivated, an AAP report said.

"We are dealing with sensitive issues here, but the fact is... there is no evidence that they're racially based (attacks)," he said.

There has been a series of attacks on Indians, particularly students, in Australia over the last few months and the latest have resulted in two deaths, straining ties between the two countries.

Australia, however, has maintained that the latest attacks were not racist in nature, and cautioned against overreacting.

"It is far better to... wait for the full facts, we would urge the Indian newspapers to do that," Crean said.

"But I think that will fall on deaf ears in a number of cases because we are used to that," he said, referring to the continuous reports in the Indian media following several attacks on Indian nationals.

Crean had yesterday expressed satisfaction over the Indian government's "constructive and responsible advice" to the media to exercise restraint while reporting attacks on the community members here.

India issues advisory to its students in Australia

NEW DELHI, Jan 5: In the wake of unabated assaults and killing of its citizens in Australia, India today issued an advisory asking its students studying or planning to study in that country to take certain basic precautions to ensure their security.

Pointing to several incidents of robbery and assault on Indians in Australia, particularly in Melbourne including the killing of a young Indian on January 2, the advisory said Indian students studying in Australia as also those planning to study there are advised that they should take certain "basic precautions in being alert to their own security while moving around."

"These incidents are continuing to occur despite efforts by the local police to step up anti-crime measures, and are occurring all over Melbourne without any discernable pattern or rationale behind them", the advisory issued by the External Affairs Ministry said.

It asked the students to ensure that someone knows where they were going and at what time they were expected to return, not to carry more cash on person than what is required, not to make it obvious that they are in possession of expensive items, such as ipods or laptops.

The advisory, which also gave details of the welfare officers in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne for students to contact, also asked them to always carry some identification with them as well as details of who should be contacted in an emergency.

"If in danger, dial 000 to get police help. In case you have a complaint, get in touch with the officer responsible for students welfare in the High Commission or the Consulate nearest to you", it added.

India Goes Green, Ontario Gets Green Jobs

New partnerships worth $650 m will create Green Tech jobs in Ontario

By Deepak Arora

HYDERABAD, Dec 11: Ontario’s trade mission wrapped up its eight-day visit to India in Hyderabad on Friday, delivering new deals that will create jobs in Ontario and a greener environment for all.

All together, the 27 businesses and institutions on the mission signed agreements totaling $650 million and with additional Memoranda of Understanding that will see Ontario and India firms continue to develop stronger ties into the future.

One major highlight of the trade mission was the International Indian Film Academy’s announcement that their 2011 awards ceremony will be coming to Toronto — the first time this ceremony has taken place in North America.

The festival will bring 40,000 visitors to the city, millions in revenue and reach a worldwide television audience of 350 million people.

While in Hyderabad, Premier McGuinty participated in a plenary session He also visited the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad to promote Ontario with academic and leaders and students at one of the top-ranked Business Schools in the world.

He also met the faculty at the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad. The Premier held a round-table discussion to promote Ontario with academic and business leaders and students at one of the top-ranked Business Schools in the world.

The visiting leader also participated in a tree planting ceremony at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Green Busines Centre in Hyderabad.

In Hyderabad, the delegation hosted a dinner that also included a selection of Ontario wines. The event brought Ontario business and academic leaders together with their counterparts in Hyderabad.

Ontario’s trade mission features delegates from 27 green technology firms, including new and renewable energy experts.

Ontario Trade Mission signs $250 m in new deals, partnerships in Mumbai

By Deepak Arora

MUMBAI, Dec 10: Ontario’s trade mission to India moved from Mumbai to Hyderabad today, as the Premier and the delegation met with Indian business leaders who are keen to see their economy grow green.

In Mumbai, Ontario green tech firms signed more than $250 million in agreements with Indian partners during the fifth day of Ontario’s Clean Technology Mission to India.

Premier McGuinty led a signing ceremony between Indian companies and Ontario’s clean technology companies.

Together they announced the following:

@ RV Anderson of Toronto, Mott MacDonald Limited and PHE Consultants have been working together since 2007 on the design and implementation of the Mumbai Sewage Priority Works Projects, which includes improvements to the City of Mumbai’s waste water system. The project was initially secured during Ontario’s 2007 Trade Mission to India and has now expanded significantly.

@ Ontario’s Canasia Power Corp and Chem Process Systems Pvt. Limited signed a Memorandum of Understanding to produce and develop heat transfer technologies, energized and powered by Canasia designed Solar Power Systems.

@ PCI Geomatics announced an agreement with Rolta Inc. to provide Rolta with world-leading environment monitoring and market access technology.

Ontario’s trade mission features delegates from 27 green technology firms, including new and renewable energy experts.

Speaking at a function, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said “India’s business leaders are among the loudest proponents of clean, green, sustainable growth. They are natural partners for Ontario’s green tech companies.”

Premier McGuinty mission nets $200 m in new deals for Ontario companies in India

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Dec 7: Ontario clean technology companies signed more than $200 million in agreements with partners in New Delhi during the second day of Ontario’s Clean Technology Mission to India.

Premier Dalton McGuinty led a signing ceremony between Indian companies and Ontario’s clean technology companies. The first agreements and announcements of Ontario’s six-day trade mission featured two companies from Mississauga – Admira Distributed Hybrid Energy Systems Inc and Electrovaya, and two from Toronto — Canasia Power Corp and Norr Limited.

Together they announced the following:

Admira Distributed Hybrid Energy Systems Inc. and Bhagwati Gases Ltd. announced the formation of a joint venture agreement to deliver turnkey engineering of renewable energy products, energy efficient and green building projects and chemical process plants including industrial gas plants.

Electrovaya and Hero Electric signed an MOU to cooperate on electrification of two-wheeled vehicles using lithium ion batteries and to investigate the feasibility of a joint venture production plant in India.

Canasia Power Corp., Admira Distributed Hybrid Energy Systems Inc. and Bhagwati Gases Ltd. signed an MOU to collaborate on the design, construction and commissioning of renewable energy projects.

NORR Limited and Studio u + a announced the results of their successful collaboration — the design and delivery of 2.45 million sq. ft. of development in India.

During his three-day stay in New Delhi,S Premier McGuinty held talks with also held talks with India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma and Delhi Premier (Chief Minister).

The Premier discussed how Ontario can help India fulfill its goal of building a greener economy. India’s high rate of growth is putting a great deal of pressure on its energy and water supply. Ontario companies have solutions to those challenges.

Speaking here, McGuinty said “Ontario’s expertise in green technology was hard-won. We had to learn from our mistakes. By avoiding the mistakes we’ve made in the past, India and its people can enjoy sustained economic growth that creates jobs in both our countries.”

McGuinty is leading a week long 'Clean Technology Trade Mission' to India from December 6. He left for Mumbai Tuesday afternoon. Later, he will also visit Hyderabad.

More than 100 leading Ontarians -- representing 26 companies, universities and other organizations are participating in the mission.

Sandra Pupatello, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Harinder Takhar, Minister of Consumer Services and several Member of Parliament are part of the delegation.

India, Russia sign landmark nuclear deal, 5 more pacts

MOSCOW, Dec 7: India inked a nuclear cooperation agreement with Russia in Moscow on Monday that officials said entailed no restrictions of the type envisaged in a similar agreement signed with the United States a year ago. The officials claimed the pact ensures the supply of uranium to fuel nuclear reactors even if a bilateral pact with Russia on the issue falls apart if India tests another atomic weapon. They described the deal as "even better" than the 123 Agreement with the US.

But it was unclear whether a blunt statement by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was directed at Iran or at India. "Here, nothing changes for us ... I will be very frank. We’re not interested in increasing the nuclear club," Mr Medvedev said at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the Kremlin’s gilt and green Malakite Hall.

Mr Medvedev was responding to a question on terrorism and control of nuclear technologies and to another question about a Group of Eight statement that sought to curb nuclear fuel enrichment and reprocessing technology to non-NPT nations.

Officials, when asked about the Russian President’s statement, would not confirm what exactly Mr Medvedev had meant but said he might have been talking about Iran. Mr Medvedev did say later that Moscow was "extremely attentive towards the subject" of Iran’s nuclear programme and other nations developing nuclear weapons.

Highly-placed sources, speaking while the actual text of the agreement had not been made public, said the agreement is broadbased and provides for "upfront consent for reprocessing of spent fuel". They said it also includes a provision that "any termination will be without any prejudice to ongoing contracts and fuel supply obligations".

In addition, it includes "provisions that are common with other agreements and as application of IAEA safeguards, retransfer mechanisms and non-interference in our unsafeguarded programmes".

The "Agreement on Cooperation in the Use of Atomic Energy for Development Purposes" will mean more Russian-built nuclear reactors in India as well as full knowhow transfers.

"The successful conclusion of negotiations on an Intergovernmental Agreement on Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy is a major step forward in strengthening our existing cooperation in this field," Dr Singh said at the Kremlin.

Five other pacts were signed on Monday. They are the Agreement on Programme of Military and Technical Cooperation for the Period 2011-2020, Agreement on After-Sale Support for Arms and Military Equipment supplied by Russia to India, a Protocol to the Agreement on Cooperation in Development and Production of Military Transport Aircraft of 12 November 2007, an Agreement on Dollar Credit-line between Exim Bank of India and Russian Bank of Development and Foreign Economic Affairs and a Programme for Cultural Exchange for 2010-2012.

Dr Singh, emphasising that it was the second time he was visiting Russia this year, said: "Relations between India and Russia are characterised by deep mutual trust and confidence... This is a relationship that stands on its own footing and is not influenced by our relations with any other country."

On the economic front, he said the two countries had decided to set a trade target of $20 billion by 2015. "We have identified the areas of energy, information technology and communications and pharmaceuticals as the new thrust areas for cooperation," Dr Singh said, adding that he welcomed Russian participation in the expansion of India’s nuclear programme.

The Prime Minister said he reiterated to President Medvedev India’s interest in a similar expansion of ties in the hydrocarbon sector. Another thrust area would be trade in rough diamonds.

The two leaders also discussed regional security, "including the situation in Afghanistan". Dr Singh said both India and Russia have an interest in a stable and prosperous Afghanistan and have "agreed to regularly consult each other on this important issue".

They also agreed to enhance cooperation to meet the challenges of "terrorism and religious extremism that emanate from our region and threaten both our societies".

India, Canada conclude negotiations on Nuke deal

PORT OF SPAIN, Nov 29: India and Canada concluded negotiations on a civil nuclear cooperation with PM Manmohan Singh and his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper describing the development as a "milestone" opening up "tremendous opportunity" for the two countries.

The negotiations were firmed up at a meeting between Singh and Harper in Port of Spain on the sidelines of Commonwealth Summit.

Canada, which is the world's largest producer of uranium, has become the eighth country with which India has reached civil nuclear agreement since the NSG lifted a 34-year-old ban on India to join global nuclear trade in September last year.

The other countries with which India has already signed the civil nuclear deal are the US, France, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Argentina and Namibia.

The Canadian Prime Minister was in New Delhi on 17th November when the two countries had announced that they are working to complete the civil nuclear deal.

Singh said "the civil nuclear agreement is a very important step forward, a milestone for the development of our relationship."
Pointing out that the civil nuclear agreement with Canada was hanging fire for sometime, he said Harper "proved to be absolutely true to his words" as he had said the negotiations should be complete in a short period of eight to ten days.

"I thank the Prime Minister (Harper) from the core of my heart for having expedited this process beyond my expectations. It augurs extremely well for the development of our relation," Singh said.
Harper pointed out he had discussed the civil nuclear agreement issue with Singh when he was in Delhi earlier this month.

"Prime minister and I agreed that it should be brought to a conclusion very rapidly," he said.

Singh said "we have discussed ways and means of expanding the content of our relationship, to widen it and to deepen it in every possible way."

He said "India's needs for nuclear energy are enormous and we need a lot more energy to make our development process a success."

Harper said "increased collaboration with India's civil nuclear energy market will allow Canadian companies to benefit from greater access to one of the world's largest and fastest expanding economies".

"We have now got an agreement which means this is a tremendous opportunity for both countries," he said.

The agreement will allow Canadian firms to export and import controlled nuclear materials, equipments and technology to and from India, a statement issued by Harper's office said.

"We will be seeking a little bit of time to complete the normal legal text and the ratification process. But this is a tremendous economies step forward and tremendous step forward in our relationship," Harper said.

PM invites Indian diaspora to see new creative India

PORT OF SPAIN, Nov 27: Identifying education and business as areas of reconnecting with Indian diaspora, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday invited them to undertake a "pilgrimage" to the "new creative India" and be active partners of the country's development and progress by making use of investment and business opportunities.

He said India, whose education system was once an envy of the world, had "lost ground" over last three decades and his government was committed to correct the situation.

Addressing a reception for Indian community here soon after his arrival from Washington, Singh told them that India is on the move and is reaching out to the world with confidence and in a spirit of live and let live.

Reaching out to the People of Indian Origin, he said, "You are, for millions of Indians, the most visible symbol of our own globalisation process... For us, globalisation is a natural means of linking up with the international community of Indians."

Education and business are the "two major areas through which we are reconnecting with the people of Indian origin worldwide," he said in the capital of Trinidad and Toboga, whose almost half of 1.3 billion population is of Indian origin.

Noting that India seeks to tap the wellspring of Indian creativity and enterprise from around the world, Singh said his government was committed to cementing a "new bond of mutually-beneficial collaboration" between India and the people of Indian origin around the world.

"Our ability to do so will depend on our ability to forge partnerships, on the one hand, and our ability to provide the proper environment for the flowering of such partnerships at home," Singh said at the event attended by Indian-origin Ministers, MPs and business leaders of Trinidad and Tobago.

"I want all those people of Indian origin who have never been to India to make a pilgrimage and discover the new creative India that is in the making. I invite you to make use of investment and business opportunities that India now offers," the Prime Minister said.

Referring to the education sector, Singh said there was time when the Indian gurukul system and universities at Takshila, Nalanda and Nagarjuna were the envy of the world.

"Even after independence, Indian colleges and universities continued to attract students from all over the world. In the last 20 to 30 years, we have lost ground both because both because we failed to incentivise our institutions to become global players and foreign universities became more aggressive in marketing," he said.

"I invite you to be active partners of a new India and walk with us in finding new pathways of development and progress. I invite you to feel the love and affection of Mother India and feel the warmth of her embrace," Singh said.

He said the cornerstone of India's interaction with its diaspora remains its shared culture -- both ancient and modern -- and that he would like to see children of people of Indian origin get opportunities wherever they are living to learn classical Indian dance and music.

"At the same time, we must expand modern means of satellite-based communication so that Indian film, music and television can reach your homes even though you may be distant from India physically," he said.

"As I have often said, if there is one phenomenon in the world over which the sun truly never sets, it is the phenomenon of the global community of people of Indian origin," the Prime Minister said.

Observing that the 21st century would be the "knowledge century", he said India was proud of its inheritance in this respect and in overseas Indians have played an extremely important role in global brand building in this respect.

Indian PM reviews bilateral relations with Stephen Harper

NEW DELHI, Nov 17: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held wide ranging talks with his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harpe on Tuesday evening and agreed on the importance of working collaboratively towards global economic recovery.

The two leaders also discussed approaches to address climate change with attention to the upcoming negotiations in Copenhagen.

Prime Minister Harper strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in Mumbai in November 2008 and expressed the hope that those behind the attacks would be swiftly brought to justice.

He also assured that Canada stood firmly with India in dealing with global terrorism.

The two leaders announced the setting up of a Joint Study Group that will explore the possibility of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

An MoU for Cooperation in the area of energy was also signed.

At a joint press conference with Dr Singh here, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper described India as a safe and reliable country and Canada had no reservations in negotiating a civilian nuclear deal with it.

Both leaders revealed that they had discussed the case of Canadian born Lashkar-e-Taiba operative Tahawwur Rana and resolved to step up exchange of information on terrorism. While declining comment on the case, as investigations were under way, Dr. Singh said he and Mr. Harper had useful discussion on expanding the area of cooperation in combating international terror.

“We work closely with the U.S. [which has Rana and his associates in custody] and have resolved to work closely with India on cooperation and exchange of information in this area,” added Mr. Harper.

In a joint statement at the end of delegation-level talks, Mr. Harper reiterated Canada’s commitment to be India’s ally in tackling global terrorism. Both Prime Ministers also called for an early conclusion of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the United Nations framework.

Although an agreement on civil nuclear energy could not be finalised despite three previous rounds of discussions, India and Canada signed pacts that would advance bilateral trade and sourcing of raw materials for conventional as well as non-conventional energy.

With the second largest oil reserves after Saudi Arabia and proven expertise in advanced mining and oil extraction technologies, the memorandum of understanding on energy aims to enhance cooperation in energy research and development as well as in sustainable exploration and production, mining and drilling. Canada is one of the biggest suppliers of uranium and also has substantial reserves of iron ore, nickel, zinc and diamond.

With the U.S., Canada’s main market, still facing recession, the formation of a Joint Study Group (JSG) to examine the feasibility of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement would be the first step in improving the business climate in both countries as well as deepening trade and investment flows. The JSG would identify trade barriers and suggest streamlining of regulations, noted Mr. Harper.

He met top Indian corporate leaders in Mumbai on Monday to encourage them to step up investments in his country.

Mr. Harper leaves for Amritsar on Wednesday to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple.

Dr. Singh and Mr. Harper have met several times in the past, including at CHOGM in Kampala in 2007 and the G-8 summit in Hokkaido last year.

There are over 10 lakh people of Indian origin in Canada, and Punjabi is the fourth largest spoken language. The Indian community is politically active, with 12 MPs in the House of Commons and one in the Senate.

Canada, a member of the G-8, will host the next G-20 summit.

Earlier the Canadian Prime Minister called on President Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, Vice President Hamid Ansari, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and leader of opposition LK Advani.

He also held bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister SM Krishna. The visiting Prime Minister paid homage to the Father of Nation.