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Indian Prime Minister praises improvement in relations |
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September 17, 2000
WASHINGTON (AP) - India's Prime Minister praised the progress in U.S.-Indian relations during his visit this week, agreeing on more cooperative programs, particularly economic deals, but still he refused to budge on nuclear issues. His meeting with U.S. President Bill Clinton on Friday "reflects the considerable progress made between the two countries even within six months," Atal Bihari Vajpayee said. In March, Clinton visited India and laid the groundwork for the White House session. The prime minister met with U.S. and Indian business leaders Friday night and discussed recent and planned changes in Indian regulations to privatize state utilities and other industries. He was there to woo foreign investment to help India gain the high-tech infrastructure it needs to expand its economy. At the same time, he expressed awe at U.S. economic power. "The continued U.S. prosperity is almost a miracle," he said, adding that it has "inspired India." At a welcoming ceremony on the White House South Lawn, Vajpayee said: "This is a time of new hope and new opportunities in Indo-American ties." Agreements were announced on enhancing cooperation on such issues as trade, investment, counterterrorism, counterdrug issues, energy and the environment, among others. Disagreements over nuclear issues remained, but as the day unfolded a strong sense emerged of a new comfort level between the two countries and a perception that problems can be dealt with in a trusting atmosphere. The chief bilateral problem is India's refusal so far to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, which has yet to take effect. The United States has signed the nuclear pact, but the Senate has refused to ratify it. The Clinton administration has tried to persuade India to sign and ratify regardless of what this country does, arguing that it would be in India's national interest. India has said it would not stand in the way of the treaty's implementation, indicating that once major powers such as the United States and China ratify it, India will be prepared to follow. In the meantime, India has vowed to maintain a moratorium on nuclear testing, which drew praise from Clinton at the welcoming ceremony. Vajpayee, 75, has been hobbled by a bad knee throughout his U.S. visit. Departing from custom, he remained seated as Clinton spoke to the gathering, and sat during the meeting with business leaders. A planned midafternoon news conference was canceled because Vajpayee complained of exhaustion, White House press secretary Joe Lockhart said. On the Net: State Department background on India: http://www.state.gov/www/regions/sa/index.html Embassy of India: http://www.indianembassy.org Prime Minister's Office of India: http://pmindia.nic.in |