India, Uzbekistan to Fight Terror, Promote Regional Stability
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P.M. IN GERMANY, UZBEKISTAN India, Uzbekistan to fight terror, promote regional stability Continued from page 1 “Despite the presence of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan, the production of opium, instead of decreasing it, has gone up,” Karimov said. “The main issue is to address the problem in Afghanistan, which accounts for 80 per- cent of the total global production of opium,” he said. “We have been establishing different groups but what is the use of these if the problem is not addressed at the source?” said the Uzbek President as he called for greater cooperation between India and Uzbekistan in promoting stability in Afghanistan and in the region. “Uzbekistan will support India’s well-bal- Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel inaugurating anced policy on terror,” Karimov said. the India Pavilion at the Hanover Fair in Germany on April 23. Also seen in the photo are He also reiterated his country’s firm sup- Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath and the Union Minister of Science and port for “India’s presence in an expanded Technology and Ocean Development Kapil Sibal. (Photo: Press Information Bureau) U.N. Security Council”. Later, a memorandum of understanding expertise in knowledge industries like IT to eration in Hanover. Germany indicated its (MoU) was signed between India and these countries. willingness to support the India-U.S. civil Uzbekistan for the establishment of an “Investment in education and training is an nuclear deal if it clears the U.S. Congress. Uzbekistan-India Entrepreneurship Centre in investment in the future of the country,” “We will be following closely the process the Uzbek capital, which will be the training Manmohan Singh said as Uzbek Prime of ratification in the U.S. Congress and the ground for young business entrepreneurs and Minister Mirziyaev looked on. discussions within the NSG (Nuclear lead to generation of extra employment. Suppliers Group),” Chancellor Merkel said Another accord was signed between the “We have been after her talks with the Prime Minister. Indian Ministry of Coal and Mines and the establishing different “The two countries also agreed to further State Committee of Uzbekistan for coopera- groups but what is the deepen their strategic and security dialogue and work towards an agreement on bilateral tion in the field of geology and mineral use of these if the resources. Two accords on energy coopera- defence cooperation,” said a joint statement tion were signed — one MoU was signed problem (of drug issued at the end of the talks. between the Indian Ministry of Petroleum and production and Later, the two leaders, who were meeting the national holding company of trafficking) is not for the first time, jointly inaugurated the Hanover Fair on April 23, where India is the Uzbekneftegaz and the other was inked addressed at the between the Gas Authority of India Limited partner country. (GAIL) and Uzbekneftegaz. Three other source?” said the Uzbek Manmohan Singh made a strong pitch for pacts are in the fields of agriculture, trade President as he called attracting German investments in key sectors and education. India also offered to set up for greater cooperation of the Indian economy in a speech after inau- gurating the Hanover Fair. satellite-based tele-education and tele-medi- between India and cine facilities in Uzbekistan. The two coun- Stressing on intensifying trade between the tries agreed to “qualitatively enhance com- Uzbekistan in promoting two countries, Manmohan Singh said they mercial and economic relationship” and stability in Afghanistan were close to reaching the bilateral target of intensify cooperation in sectors of knowledge and in the region. 10 billion euros. At the Hannover Fair Prime industry like information technology (IT). Minister Singh and Chancellor Merkel on Prime Minister Singh also inaugurated a “I am confident that the centre will train April 24 inaugurated the India Pavilion that centre for teaching information technology in knowledge workers in Uzbekistan to enable showcased the country’s new business and Tashkent on April 26, named after India’s first them to compete with confidence in the technological prowess to the world. prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. global marketplace,” Manmohan Singh said. Later, Manmohan Singh and Merkel Called Jawaharlal Nehru India-Uzbekistan Earlier, during his three-day visit to opened the Indo-German business summit Centre for Information and Technology, the Germany, the Prime Minister on April 23 held that was attended by German businessmen institute symbolises the “modern and dynam- talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel representing the industrial elite of that coun- ic face” of India’s engagement with develop- on a wide range of bilateral issues, including try. Singh also met the president of ing countries of Central Asia, especially trade and technological ties, military cooper- Bundestag (German Parliament) Norbert ■ Uzbekistan, and seeks to transmit its proven ation, energy security and civil nuclear coop- Lammert in Berlin. I N D I A R E V I E W J U N E 2 0 0 6 2.