26 August 2002
U.S.-India Discussions Thorough, Productive, Armitage Says
(Deputy secretary continues tour through South Asia) (930)
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage characterized his
discussions with Indian officials August 23 as "thorough" and
"productive," covering issues from technical cooperation to the
question of Kashmir.
Speaking to reporters following a meeting with Indian National
Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra, Armitage said the United States
intends to continue using its good offices to resolve issues between
India and Pakistan. The deputy secretary was scheduled to meet with
Pakistani officials August 24.
Following is the transcript of Armitage's August 23 remarks to the
press:
(begin transcript)
U.S. Embassy New Delhi
Press Office
For Immediate Release
August 23, 2002
ON THE RECORD REMARKS TO THE PRESS BY DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE
RICHARD ARMITAGE Following Meeting with Indian National Security
Advisor Brajesh Mishra
August 23, 2002 New Delhi, India
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Good evening ladies and gentlemen.
First of all let me say that I am delighted to be back in Delhi. I've
just engaged in a full day of what I would consider a very thorough
and indeed productive discussions which covered the full range of our
relationship for the bilateral from every aspect, be it military,
economic, technological cooperation, etc. We talked about multilateral
endeavors. We exchanged strategic views of not only the neighborhood
but in a more far-ranging way. And obviously we spent a good bit of
time on the question of India and Pakistan, on Kashmir, and indeed we
talked at some length about the great aspirations here in India for
free, fair and open elections which Secretary Powell spoke about in
such a laudatory way about a month ago.
So if that's satisfactory to you all I'll try to take a question or
two or three and then move on.
QUESTION: We'd like you to say something about the Pakistani attack,
across the border in Pakistan by Indian troops.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I have seen press reports to that effect. I
am aware that generally for the last month or so there have been
exchanges of artillery fire in that same general area but I have no
further information on this matter and have no way to verify any of
it.
QUESTION: -- about the conduct of the upcoming elections in Kashmir.
(Inaudible) process forward.
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: When you say concerns, I think we have the
same concerns that we've talked about here in Delhi. That is we want
the elections to be free and fair and open. There have been some
difficulties historically to this, but it looks to this visitor as if
the Government of India is quite intent on having these as free and
fair and open as possible. We are concerned with the possibilities of
violence, obviously, and this is something I'll be discussing as I
travel further on this mission.
QUESTION: Would you encourage the Separatists to take a more
participatory action in this regard? What would you tell them?
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I've seen the gestures of the Government of
India as being willing to have a dialogue with the All Party Hurriyat
Conference. I thought that was significant. Ultimately these are
decisions that are going to have to be arrived at by the parties
themselves.
QUESTION: (Inaudible)
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I think that's something that the
government here and in Islamabad should best describe. The United
States is trying to use our good offices to bring about a reduction of
that tension. There has been entirely too much violence as a general
matter and we'll do whatever we can to just reduce the violence. I'll
let characterization of the temperature to others.
QUESTION: For some time the U.S. has been pressing Pakistan
(inaudible). There is a feeling in India that not enough has been done
by the U.S. on this pursuit. What is the message that is being brought
to Delhi and what is the message you are going to take to Islamabad?
And how can you meet the Indian desire to achieve more (inaudible)
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: First of all, the exact content of my
conversations with Pakistani officials tomorrow, particularly with
President Musharraf, should of necessity remain private. I'm sorry
that there are some here in India that don't feel the United States
has perhaps used all of our persuasive powers. But I'll note that
we're still at it. Secretary Powell has been out here several times.
This is my third trip to India. There is an extraordinary amount of
attention paid by my government to this issue. I'm sorry if in some
minds it falls a little short, but we're going to stay at it and
continue to use our good offices.
Thank you all.
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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