Government of India have seen the statement issued by the European Union
at Foreign Minister's level on Monday 25 May, 1998.
Decisions relating to India's security are based on a firm national
consensus. Any suggestion that India should conform to international regimes
or face economic consequences is unacceptable. India's policies will be
determined by its national leadership in India's interest alone. Whilst
we remain open to dialogue with our partners, we cannot accept suggestions
which either contain warnings or the suggestion of an ultimatum. India
is a responsible member of the international community and a country which
has an unblemished back record in the area of disarmament. Such suggestions
are all the more surprising coming as they do either from those who possess
nuclear weapons or those who enjoy the protection of a nuclear umbrella.
India's is a transparent and indigenously developed programme of defence
preparedness designed to safeguard our territorial integrity and sovereignty.
We dismiss suggestions which have the effect of eroding our independent
decision making.
26 May, 1998
Shri Inder Vir Chopra, High Commissioner of India to Trinidad and Tobago,
has been concurrently accredited as Commissioner of India to Montserrat
and Anguilla, with residence in Port of Spain.
