PM'S STATEMENT PRIOR TO HIS DEPARTURE FOR KAZAKHSTAN TO ATTEND
THE CICA SUMMIT
The Prime Minister,
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee left for Kazakhstan to attend the Conference
for Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA)
summit in Almaty, here today. Prior to his departure, the Prime
Minister made the following statement:
"I leave
today on an official visit to Kazakhstan.
Our relations
with Kazakhstan are excellent and my visit will provide another
opportunity to strengthen the bilateral political dialogue and
intensify our economic cooperation.
In Almaty,
I will also attend the CICA summit. This is an important initiative
of the President of Kazakhstan seeking to establish a framework
for mutual understanding and goodwill among the peoples of Asia.
Kazakhstan
shares our perspectives on the threat to peace from international
terrorism. The CICA summit will also adopt a declaration condemning
terrorism. I will be discussing with other leaders, including
President Putin of Russia and President Jiang Zemin of China,
our views on the cross-border terrorism, which has created the
present tension in our region.
In recent
days, we have seen some statements by General Musharraf. I have
also spoken with President Bush and Prime Minister Blair in these
days. If we see the result on the ground of General Musharraf’s
statements, we shall certainly give it our serious consideration".