MAURITIUS BACKS INDIA's STRUGGLE AGAINST
CROSS BORDER TERRORISM
Mauritius fully supports
India, in its struggle against cross-border terrorism. It is also
against terrorism of any kind anywhere in the world. This was
stated by the Prime Minister of Mauritius, Mr. Paul R. Berenger
here yesterday at a reception hosted in his honour by the Indian
Council for International Cooperation i.e. the Antar-Rashtriya
Sahayog Parishad. The Minister for Human Resource Development
and Science & Technology, Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi chaired
the reception committee.
This is Mr. Paul
Berenger’s first visit to India, after becoming the Prime Minister
of the island nation. As Deputy Prime Minister and Minister he
has visited India several times earlier. As head of government
his visit to New Delhi assumes greater significance, said Dr.
Joshi at the Reception. One of his first official engagements
today included a meeting with Dr. Joshi, at which the two leaders
discussed among other things, bilateral matters including co-operation
in educational and scientific fields. They decided to enhance
and strengthen the collaboration further in these areas.
Mr. Berenger particularly
sought India’s help in setting up of an International Institute
for Inter-cultural Dialogue and Peace, as well as establishing
an IIT like institution in the island and linking it with IIT,
Mumbai. Mauritius plans to set up headquarters of the Institute
in the island under UNESCO. He also wanted India’s help in coastal
and ocean development. Mr. Berenger came to Delhi after visiting
the National Institute of Oceanography in Goa.
Dr. Joshi congratulated
Mr. Berenger for having become Prime Minister of the Indian Ocean
nation and thanked him for the preservation of cultural heritage
of Indian diaspora in Mauritius. He also reiterated India’s commitment
to the setting up of the World Hindi Secretariat in Mauritius.
Dr. Joshi conveyed the Government of India’s gratitude to Mauritius
for supporting India’s fight against terrorism as well as for
a permanent seat for India in the UN Security Council.
