January 07, 2002

'5'

UNION HOME MINISTER’S VISIT TO UNITED STATES

    The Union Home Minister, Shri L.K. Advani will visit USA from 8^th to 13^th January 2002. Shri Advani will be accompanied by a high level official delegation consisting of Union Home Secretary, Director, Intelligence Bureau and other senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs.

    During his visit Shri Advani is likely to meet US President Bush, Vice President, Secretary of State, National Security Adviser, Attorney General and other dignitaries. Besides this, meeting with the Mayor/Governor of New York, Congressional Leaders, Indian Community Groups, Indian-American Community Group, members of the Think Tank and foreign media have also been planned.

    He happens to be the first ever Indian Home Minister to have been extended an invitation by the United States for an official visit in the recent past. While a large number of heads of States or Governments and Foreign Ministers have visited United States since 11^th September, visit by any Interior or Home Minister to US has been quite a rare event.

    The visit assumes significance in the context of recent developments namely terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre (WTC) on September 11, and terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament on December 13, 2001. The visit will give an opportunity to emphasize the strategic convergence in the long term battle against terrorism and Counter Terrorism cooperation between India and US.

    Shri Advani is likely to have extensive discussions with the Secretary of State and US Attorney General. Besides meeting top US officials the delegation will also acquaint itself with the latest strategies being used in countering terrorism. Anti-terrorism training assistance including consequence management in the case of nuclear and bio-chemical terrorism etc., strengthening of Indo-US cooperation in tackling criminal matters and narco-terrorism, coordination on multi-lateral counter terrorism initiatives including support for India’s proposal for a UN Comprehensive convention against International Terrorism are also likely to figure in the discussions.