PM’S STATEMENT
ON HIS DEPARTURE FOR
CYPRUS, DENMARK AND UNITED KINGDOM
Following is the
text of the Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s statement
on his departure for Cyprus, Denmark and UK, from October 07-13,
2002, here today:
"I leave today on a visit
to Cyprus, Denmark and the United Kingdom.
The visit to
Cyprus continues the tradition of regular exchanges of high-level
visits commensurate with our close bilateral relations with that
country. I look forward to my discussions with President Clerides
on all aspects of our bilateral relations as well as issues of
regional and international concern.
In Denmark, I
will lead the Indian delegation to the 3rd India-EU
summit and also address a special plenary session of the India-EU
Business Summit. Our growing relationship with the EU is reinforced
by strengthening political relations with its member countries
and an increasing economic engagement with the EU. The summit
and the Business summit will provide an opportunity to review
the state of relations, identify bottlenecks to progress and to
chart out an agenda for future cooperation.
I will take the
opportunity of the visit to Denmark to hold bilateral discussions
with the leadership of that country.
On my way back
to India I will stop over in London for discussion with the Prime
Minister of UK. Prime Minister Blair and I have established a
process of regular bilateral consultations which benefit the bilateral
relationship and enable discussions on a number of important international
issues. While in London I hope to meet a cross-section of the
community of Indian origin.
India’s immediate
concerns on terrorism and the status of the global coalition against
international terrorism will remain major themes in my discussions
with my interlocutors in all the three countries."
