Transcript of Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (April 13, 2023)
India - Ministry of External Affairs
April 13, 2023
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: A very good afternoon to all of you. Thank you very much for joining this weekly media briefing. I don't have any announcements as such. I saw your hand first, I'll come to you. Yeah, go ahead.
Rishabh: Sir, Rishabh from Times Now. Sir, we have seen airstrikes in Myanmar territory very close to Indian borders and two villages have been destroyed, the photos have come out. What's MEA's take on that, Indian MEA's take on that?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Which one, the recent one?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: The recent one, sir, day before yesterday.
Yeshi Seli: Yeshi Seli from The New Indian Express. Two questions, one of course on....Can you give us some insight on what is happening? These guys have been charged individually...
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Who? Qatar?
Yeshi Seli: ....the naval officers. How long is the road ahead to any transfer (Inaudible)?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Okay, fair enough. Shailendra.
Shailendra: Sir, Shailendra News 18 se. Aapne dekha hoga ke Pakistan Foreign Ministry ki taraf se ek statement aaya hai, jaha pe unhone Kashmir me hone wale G20 meeting ko lekar aapatti jatai hai. Is par aapka reaction chahta hu.
(Questioned in Hindi: Approximate translation:) Sir, Shailendra from News 18. You must be aware of the statement from Pakistan Foreign Ministry where they raised concerns regarding G20 meeting being held in Kashmir. I would appreciate your response on that.
Sidhant: Sir, Sidhant from WION. Sir, we have seen China encircling Taiwan and doing military drills. How does India sees these developments, given that China has been provocative with India as well in past few weeks, including by coming out with new invented names?
Pranay Upadhyay: Sir, Pranay Upadhyay ABP News se. Sir, Bharat me SCO desho ke raksha mantriyon ki baithak honi hai isi mahine. Kya Pakistan, China ya tamam desho ki taraf se iske confirmation aa gaye hai. Aur iske bad foreign ministers' meeting bhi honi hai kuch hi din me, to in dono meetings ke bare me agar aap bata sake.
(Questioned in Hindi: Approximate translation:) Sir, Pranay Upadhyay from ABP News. Sir, the SCO defense ministers meeting is to be held this month in India. Have Pakistan, China and other countries given their confirmation on that? And after few days, Foreign Ministers' Meeting is going to be held. So can you please comment on both of these meetings?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Let me start with your question Rishabh. Look, we have seen disturbing reports of violence on April 11 near Kanbalu Township in the Sagaing Region, I think it's called of Myanmar. As a neighbor and friend of the people of Myanmar, we have repeatedly called for cessation of violence by all sides and peaceful resolution of all issues. India reiterates its call for return of peace, stability and democracy in Myanmar.
Yeshi, on your question regarding Qatar, look we have been trying to get you updates as we have...of course, they don't always follow with our weekly schedule, so sometimes we are unable to get you a specific update. This week, as I mentioned to you last time we were discussing, this is now in the legal process, formally in the legal process. Let me emphasize that we are making all efforts to assist these Indians who are detained and we are also extending consular assistance as well as legal assistance as part of the system, legal process that is underway. We are also engaged with the Qatari authorities. Our embassy in Doha continues to remain in touch with the families. And then I understand that the next date of the hearing....the last date I think was 29th of March, next date of the hearing is in early May, and we are trying to see what can be done before that and in connection with that hearing. I don't have any specific update apart from this.
Shailendra, aapne pucha ek Pakistan statement tha, unka ek bayan tha. Dekhiye G20 ke bare me unhone actually, comment dono issues pe ki thi, dono jagah ke bare me. Ye jo G20 ke jo events ho rahe hai, ye jo meetings ho rahi hai, ye pure Bharat me aur matlab Bharat ke har kshetra me ho rahi hai, organize ki ja rahi hai. Aur isme Jammu and Kashmir mei aur Ladakh mei karna bahut natural hai, aur kyu ke ye jagah ham hamesha se Bharat ke abhinn aur abhivajya ang mante hai aur hamare hai. Isiliye mai itna hi kahunga ke har kshetra me kar rahe hai, aur ye hamara natural response hai ke ham yahi karenge.
(Answered in Hindi: Approximate translation) Shailendra, you asked about Pakistan's statements, see they commented on both places. These G20 events that are taking place, these meetings, they are being held across and all over India, being organized in all parts of India. So it's natural them being conducted in Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, because we consider them both integral and inalienable parts of India. So I will just say that we are conducting these meetings in all parts of India, and it's our natural response in doing so.
Sidhant, on your comment, look you made certain suppositions, I'm not getting into that. I think on the South China Sea we have made our position quite clear. I don't have an immediate comment on the recent developments, but we have talked about rules based order and the need to maintain peace and resolve issues by dialogue as well as our position on, you know, settlement of disputes there. As regards on our bilateral issues with China, you all know our position. So I think those are slightly different and we have been...I don't think there's a change in either of them with the recent developments.
Pranay you had mentioned, aapne pucha tha ye SCO ke abhi meetings hai kuch, sirf ye do nai, aapne sirf raksha mantriyon ke baithak ka zikr kiya hai aur foreign minister wale bhi hai. Dekhiye maine jaisa kaha, ham invitations sabko bhejte hai, confirmations aathe rehte hai. Mai har meeting ka us tarah se confirmation rakhta nahi hu. I know media chahti hai ke har meeting ka mai bata pau, par meeting ke pehle pata chal jana chahiye. Wo different ministries bhi handle karti hai. Certainly foreign ministry wali meeting ke liye ham aapko bata denge kaisa participation hai. Ham to expect karenge ke har member attend kare.
(Answered in Hindi: Approximate translation:) Pranay you asked about SCO meetings, you mentioned Defense Ministers' meeting as well as Foreign Ministers' meeting. See, like I said, we send invitations to everyone, and we keep receiving confirmations on them. I don't keep track of all of those confirmations. I know media wants us to update about each meeting, but this will be informed before the meeting. Also, different ministries are involved as well. Certainly, regarding Foreign Ministers' meeting, we will inform you about participation, although we expect everyone to attend.
Okay, next round. I think I saw your hand. I'll come to you. Yeah, go ahead.
Ayushi Agarwal: Sir, Ayushi Agarwal from ANI. Sir, Ukrainian first Deputy Foreign Minister was here in New Delhi and she has urged India to consider the participation of representatives from Ukraine for G20 meetings, and she's also said that President Zelensky would...
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Sorry. Could you repeat your question, she has urged participation of?
Ayushi Agarwal: Ukrainian officials and representatives of Ukraine for G20 meetings and she's also said that President Zelensky would be happy to speak on that. I wanted to know if there are any discussions on that or if we are considering to invite any representative from Kyiv either virtual or physically?
Shashank: Thank you sir, Shawn Mattoo from the Mint. The foreign minister is currently in Mozambique. There is a Total Energy operated project that has a 30% Indian stake by Indian oil companies, and it has been currently shuttered because of terrorist attacks and instability. This is expected the restarting of this project is going to expectedly help with India's energy security. Does the foreign minister plan to raise this issue with the Mozambique Government?
Madhurendra: Madhurendra News Nation se. Sir, hal ki tasveeren Doklam ke trijunction se aai hai, jaha par kafi build up China ki taraf se dekha ja raha hai aur deployment bhi lagatar badte ja rahe hai.
(Questioned in Hindi: Approximate translation:) Madhurendra from News Nation. Sir, there have been recent pictures from Doklam trijunction, where a lot of buildup can be seen on part of China, and deployments are continuously rising.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Deployments are seen where?
Madhurendra: Doklam ke trijunction pe jaha, 2016 me hamare aur China ke bich kafi tanav bada tha. Waha par kafi build up dekha ja raha hai, deployment bhi dekha jar aha hai. Kya Bharat ne isko concern liya hai, aur agar liya hai to kya jawab hai.
(Questioned in Hindi: Approximate translation:) At Doklam trijunction, where in 2016 there was rising tension between India and China. There is a lot of buildup and deployment that's been seen in that area. Has India taken any concern about that, and if it does, what is India's position on this?
Srinjoy: Sir, first of all, there have been all these reports that India is called off trade talks with Britain because of all these Khalistan issues. You have of course spoken about it. But is a delegation going to London in the last week of April? And also this would be the first time ever is an IIT going to be set up in Tanzania, now that External Affairs Minister will also be --
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: They've got nothing with the other question.
Srinjoy: No.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Okay, sorry. I was completely taken away. Why don't I just come back to you.
Srinjoy: It's the first time I think an IIT will be set up outside.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: I'll come back to you on that one. Let me just come back to another question. There was one more hand I saw earlier, oh yours. Yeah Kallol, I'll come back to the second questions in a minute.
Kallol: Kallol from The Hindu. We saw the reports today that FEMA has been sort of slapped on BBC. And I'm not actually getting to that. I'm getting into the earlier concerns about Khalistan that India had with the United States...
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Sorry. BBC or Khalistan, what is your question?
Kallol: Yeah, the question is that...Were you satisfied with the British response to your demands of action against the kalistan elements in the United Kingdom, and is today's action against BBC and Indian response of British delay in acting against Khalistan elements.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Sorry. I didn't get your question at all in the second part. I will come back to your first question. Okay, let me try this round of questions or some other second round, I'll take.
Ayushi you asked about the issue of... as you know the first Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine was here. Your specific question was whether invitation has been extended you said? to officials....and you said President of Ukraine would be happy to speak. Look, I think we have answered this question in the past, on occasions I think, including by Foreign Secretary. To be honest, I have nothing to add to that for the moment in terms of participation. I think our Foreign Secretary had mentioned about the list of participants having been already declared. So I don't have any update on that.
Shashank, on your query...look, I think External Affairs Minister is just about landing in Mozambique. I don't want to pre-judge what he will discuss. Yes, of course what you mentioned is an element there in our bilateral relationship. Whether he will take it up or not, let the visit happen and hopefully we'll be able to get back to you with more info.
Madhuranjan ji tri-junction ke upar ya Doklam issue pe... pichle hafte jo actually, jab visit huwi thi, humare Bhutan se, Bhutan ke raja aaye the, to us samay detail mai is bareme kaha gya tha aur bataya gaya tha ki hum kis taraha se dekhte hai aur security situation mei hum kis taraha se nazar rakhte hai. Mujhe uske baad aur kuch add karne ke liye abhi hai nahi mere pas is hafte aur kuch specific. Apne generally kaha ki kuch ho raha hai waha pe. Main comment nahi karna chahunga.
(Answered asked in Hindi: Approximate translation) Madhuranjan ji, regarding the tri-junction or Doklam issue....last week during the visit from Bhutan, when the King of Bhutan had come to India, we gave our stand on the Doklam issue and how we view it and also how we keep an eye on the security situation. I don't have any specific information to add to that this week. You said generally that something is happening there. I don't want to comment on that.
Madhurajan: (Inaudible)
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Main keh raha hu jo security issues hoti hai uspe hum nazar rakhte hai. Jo necessary measure leni hoti hai hum lete hai. Par aisa koi particular update nahi hai mere pas.
(Answered asked in Hindi: Approximate translation) I am saying that we keep an eye on the security issues and take necessary measures, but I don't have any particular update on that at the moment.
Srinjoy on your specific issue of trade, I would refer to you the Ministry of Commerce, to be honest. But as far as I know, 24 to 28....or around that period, there is next round of talks on the, you know, India-UK possible FTA. But if you want a little more details on that, let's leave it to the trade negotiators rather than me getting into the details. Your second question I'll come back to you on that. I'll place it on.
Kalol your question I didn't understand. So let me answer what I understood, which I answered last week. Are we satisfied with....you know, action taken against the vandalism and attacks at the High Commission. Look, as I mentioned, the issue is not of satisfaction. We wanted to see action on the ground. We have been urging host countries including the UK to take action against those who vandalize our flag and as well as you know, our High Commission, identify them take action against the perpetrators. My suggestion would be, ask them on what action they've taken. We are certainly pressing them to continue to take measures to ensure security of premises, security, safety of our personnel, diplomatic and consular personnel, who are there in London. And so this is the ongoing conversation that we are having with the UK authorities.
Next round of questions....Srinjoy since your second question, I didn't answer. Could you ask it again, what was your second question?
Srinjoy: First time since independence --India is looking to have an IIT outside the country and this could well be in Tanzania. We also know that EAM is going to go there? Is an announcement likely?
Speaker: The deputy foreign minister of Ukraine had handed over a letter from President Zelensky for PM Modi. Was it only about humanitarian aid or were there other things that?
Niraj: Sir letter ke bare mai tha sawal ki kya usme Pradhan Mantri -
(Question asked in Hindi: Approximate translation) The question was regarding the letter, whether the Prime Minister....
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Niraj identify kar lijiye.
(Approximate Translation) Niraj, please identify yourself.
Niraj: Niraj News 18 India se.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Thank you.
Niraj: Kya Pradhan Mantri Narendra Modi ko patra mai Zelensky ne Ukraine aane ke liye aamantrit bhi kiya hai?
(Question asked in Hindi: Approximate translation) Did President Zelensky also invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Ukraine in the letter?
Sridhar: Sir Sridhar from the Asian Age... this Qatar case. You mentioned that it's formally in the legal process. So does it mean has had the charges been revealed to the Indian authorities exactly what our eight former naval personnel have been booked under? And the second, this is more clarification on, you spoke, you said FS has said that list of participants have already declared this for the G20.
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Summit. That's what the question was? Okay, who else? Quick. Second question. Okay Sushant go ahead.
Shashank: Sir, Shahank Matoo from the Mint. Sir, very quick question on the Ukrainian deputy foreign minister's visit. In the statement had mentioned that she had requested that it might be an opportunity for Indian firms to participate in the reconstruction of Ukraine, particularly on infrastructure. Is there a sense of did she put any more meat on the bones in terms of that proposal? What they were specifically looking for? And also has the Ministry of External Affairs received any interest from Indian companies looking to participate in any infrastructure projects in Ukraine?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Infrastructure projects in Ukraine? Who had the hand up? Pranay go ahead.
Pranay: Sir, small clarification on another question. Clarification ispe ki apne jo press release Ukraine ke deputy foreign minister ke visit pe nikali thi usme apne defense cooperation ka bhi agreement ka bhi mention kiya hai. To kya possible defense cooperation India aur Ukraine ke bich mai agar aap thoda sa bata sake. Aur dusari chij ye ki Pentagon Papers kafi trench leak huwa hai last week U.S. mai usme bahut saari disturbing details hai to Bharat ko le kar, kya Bharat ki koi chintaye hai un papers ko le kar, kyunki uspe kafi spying ya uske data hai.
(Question asked in Hindi: Approximate translation) A small clarification on another question - The press release that was issued on the visit of Ukraine's deputy Foreign Minister, it also mentioned about defense cooperation agreement in it. Could you provide some information on possible defense cooperation between India and Ukraine? Also, the second thing is that the Pentagon Papers were leaked last week in the US and there are many disturbing details in them. Is India concerned about these papers, as they contain a lot of spying or sensitive data?
Manas: This is relating to a recent report, media report on UN Democracy Fund, which was established around 2005, following efforts, joint efforts by India and U.S. The report, the media report says that, in fact, the projects being implemented by the UN Democracy Fund, it is also going to George Soros's Open Society and Foundation and each associates. So when we are taking a very hardline stand on George Soros, so it seems India is not putting that kind of approach in allowing the George Soros Foundation to carry out these projects in various parts of the world. So do you have a comment on that?
Suhasini: Just in addition to the other questions about Ukraine. Firstly, I would like to clarify that there is no plan at present to include Ukraine in the G20 process as they were included last year during the Indonesian G20 Summit. And the second is your reaction to a statement made by the Ukrainian deputy foreign minister, who said that some of India's actions demonstrate an unbalanced position. She was specifically referring to the visits to Moscow, by senior Indian ministers, including National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and said, why don't they come to Kyiv as well, to balance out India's position. How would you respond to this idea that by not going to Kyiv, India has not demonstrated that it is balanced in the war?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Okay. Let me try to, there are a few second round questions. Srinjoy, yes, there have been talks of trying to get the IITs there. I don't know what EAM's visit to Tanzania. He went to Uganda and Mozambique. But IIT is something that we are working on. And also once we have a confirmation, which will be the first one...I think there are a couple of places that discussions are going on. But yeah, Tanzania could be one of them. Once we have the good news we will certainly share with you.
Yeshi, there were few questions on Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Ministers visits and various elements. Yeshi, no, I will not be able to position, to share the contents of that letter much as though you would like it. We had issued, you know, detailed press release on what, you know discussions covered. And that's a good sense of how the conversations went. You wanted to know (inaudible) in that perspective. So let me not prejudge that already to your part of it.
Niraj apka sawal tha koi invite aaya tha usmai? Dekhiye high level visits jis taraha ka apne....invite kya tha?
(Answered asked in Hindi: Approximate translation) Niraj, your question was whether any invitation had come. Look, at the type of high-level visits that you have....what was the invitation?
Niraj: Maine pucha patra me kya tha (Inaudible)
(Question asked in Hindi: Approximate translation) I asked what was in the letter?
Shri Arindam Bagchi, Official Spokesperson: Dekhiye aise, unhone nahi....patra me kya tha main nahi keh sakta jaise maine, thick nahi hoga. Par unhone khud kaha tha ki hum chahenge ki wo aaye, Pradhan Mantri. Par aise visits, jaise aap jante hai, high level visits, abhi is taraha se announce nahi hote hai. Agar mere pas kuch update ho to jarur apko bateyenge.
(Answered asked in Hindi: Approximate translation) See, I cannot tell what they said in the letter because it will not be appropriate. But he himself had said that he would like Prime Minister to come. As you know, high-level visits are not announced in this way. If I have any update, I will definitely let you know.
As regards, let me just take actually, the defense Ukrainian one. On the G20, Suhasini, your query....look, let me repeat what I said. The question was specific about will India invite Ukrainian officials or President of Ukraine to address the G20. And my answer remains the same. We have answered this question. Most recently, foreign secretary answered it here. And I have nothing new to add to the matter. As regards, I'm not going to get into comments of a visiting leader. I don't know in what context it was made. If there is a visit to Ukraine from any leader here, we will certainly announce that. Our position on the conflict in Ukraine has been articulated many times. I don't know the word is unbalanced.....is not something that we have worked with. We certainly have worked towards peace and I think that's what, dialogue and diplomacy is what we've been stressing. So if there is a visit or anything like that, I will certainly share that but I don't want to respond to a specific word without knowing the full context.
As regards Pranay, apka prasna tha defense cooperation bhi usi mai. Humne usme jikar kiya tha ki hum assistance dene ke, de sakte hai, medicine, medical equipment waigairaha. Main humare jo press release ki baat kar raha hu. Aur usme humne is bare mai bhi baat ki thi ki humare taraha se strengthen kar sakte hai cooperation Ukraine ke saath. Par mere pas abhi immediate defense sector me hum kya karne wale hai ya kar sakte hai iske bareme mai koi aisa update hai nahi. Par kafi humara deep cooperation raha hai. Aur uske kafi elements us press release me hai.
(Answered asked in Hindi: Approximate translation) Pranay, regarding your question was about defense cooperation, and we mentioned in it that we can provide assistance such as medicine, medical equipment, and so on. I am referring to our press release. And we also talked about how we can strengthen cooperation with Ukraine in this regard. But I do not have any immediate update on what we are going to do or can do in the defense sector. However, we have had deep cooperation, and many elements of it are in that press release.
Pentagon papers, let me start with that. Apka jo question tha. Maine kuch dekha nahi hai us papers ke bare mai, na koi India ke bareme koi jikar hai, mujhe itna jarur malum hai. Toh isi liye abhi mere pas koi comment nahi hai uske bare mai.
(Answered asked in Hindi: Approximate translation) Now, about the Pentagon papers, let me start with that. I haven't seen anything about those papers, nor is there any mention of India that I am aware of. So, at the moment, I don't have any comment on that.
Sridhar you asked about charges on the Indians detained in Qatar. My understanding is that, the charges have not been unsealed. It's not yet public. But as the legal process unfolds, perhaps they will be. Let's....we're keeping an eye out on that.
Manas your question was regarding media report, regarding the UN Democracy Fund. You mentioned something about George Soros. I don't want to get into exactly what the report is. There are a couple of reports. But let me just make a larger point which you are saying about dealing with organizations of George Soros versus UN Democracy Fund. I think these are separate issues. And I think there's been an attempt to mix all this and have a perhaps little misleading image of the overall situation. So let me clarify. One as a responsible member of the UN, India participates in and promotes various UN activities. This includes contributing to a number of voluntary funds and programs of the UN. The UN Democracy Fund, the UNDEF, as you refer to, is one of them. Incidentally, this fund, this UN Democracy Fund receives funding from I think nearly 45 member states, including, of course, India, that you refer to. Now UNDEF allocates the funds or allocates the funds received, through numerous projects across the world. That projects being executed by various organizations. And in this process, it is guided by UN norms and procedures. So as I said, these funds are sent, allocated for various projects and across the world, and then various organizations implement this. So that's our contribution and participation in the UN, UNDEF advisory board or UNDEF organization itself.
Now, there are comments also related to, as you said, George Soros, etc. And I remember the report, there was some reference to EAM's comments. Look, on the EAM's comments, I think they stand on their own merits. And I certainly wouldn't, you know, I don't think they require any clarification. All I would say is that, EAM's main point was that democracy, or people's verdict in democracies must be respected, not undermined. And this important principles should not be obfuscated. And if I remember, the other last element was....Soros organization related to OSF....I think it was the Open Society Foundation, are not being allowed to send money here. That's a completely different issue. Insofar as any regulatory action is against any institution sending money to India is concerned, these are governed by our rules and regulations. And when necessary, relevant agencies take suitable measures as per the law. So I think these are three separate elements and I thought I'll explain at length on that. Okay. Thank you very much for joining. Good afternoon.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
