Union Home Minister, Shri
L.K. Advani is leaving New Delhi for Spain late tonight on a
5-day visit to that country. He will be accompanied by high
level official delegation consisting of the Home Secretary,
Director, Intelligence Bureau and senior officials. During his
stay in Spain, Shri Advani will meet the Spanish Deputy Prime
Minister who is also the Interior Minister, Shri Mariano Rajoy
Brey and Shri Angel Acebes Paniagua, Minister for Justice.
Extradition Treaty between India
and Spain will be signed during the visit. The Bilateral Extradition
Treaty was initialled in June 2001 after more than seven years
of discussions. A Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal
Matters between India and Spain would also be signed during
the visit. The Treaty has recently been finalized at the official
level. India has already signed Extradition Treaty with eleven
countries (Belgium, Bhutan, Canada, Hong Kong, Nepal, Netherlands,
Russia, Switzerland, U.K., UAE, USA) and has also signed Mutual
Legal Assistance Treaties in Criminal Matters with thirteen
countries (Canada, Russia, Switzerland, U.K., UAE, Uzbekistan,
Turkey, France, Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan,
USA).
Enhancing bilateral cooperation
on fighting international terrorism and related issues are also
likely to be discussed during the visit. Both India and Spain
have been victims of terrorism for a long time. Spain has strongly
supported the Indian initiative on the UN comprehensive convention
against international terrorism. During EU Presidency, threemajor
terrorist organizations operating in India viz. Lashkar-e-Toiba,
International Sikh Youth Federation and Babbar Khalsa International
were included in the EU list of proscribed organizations. The
visit would give an opportunity to highlight our commitment
to stronger bilateral cooperation in law enforcement, and fight
against global terrorism.
