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http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1811329,001302500000.htm
India, SA see eye to eye on UNSC, nuke cooperation
South Africa, which controls about a tenth of the world's uranium supplies, is a staunch opponent of proliferation, and its support could be vital at the forum, which includes a more intransigent Australia.
The Declaration stepped very carefully around the precise nature of next steps on nuclear cooperation. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the elimination of all nuclear weapons, and crucially said, " nuclear energy could play an important role in ensuring safe, sustainable and non-polluting sources of energy to meet the rising global demands of energy, particularly in developing countries".
They said they support the "inalienable right" of all countries to the "peaceful application of nuclear energy" and concluded that if nations adhered to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) rules, civilian nuclear cooperation could be enhanced through "acceptable forward-looking approaches".
Mbeki told the news conference: "We are all awaiting the outcome of the (vote at the) U.S. Congress." He noted that there had been no agreement on the issue at the IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) summit in Brasilia last month. "When the matter has to be formally decided, surely it has South Africa's support," he said.
Singh and Mbeki have spent the weekend celebrating the "umbilical cord" of Gandhian values that links their countries. But Monday's talks, which coincided with Mahatma Gandh's 137th birth anniversary, underlined a new awareness of one another's strategic importance.
A senior Indian official, speaking on condition he not be identified, had told the Hindustan Times earlier that Pretoria's perception of New Delhi's attitude had distinctly warmed after India chose to plump for South Africa as its choice for an African seat on the U.N. Security Council in preference to the two other candidates, Nigeria and Egypt.
The official also noted that South Africa and India are both Indian Ocean powers with large navies. Military cooperation is very much on the cards at the talks the two leaders held this morning in Pretori
South African officials are also apparently becoming conscious that their country is becoming a favourite rest-and-recreation post for terrorist groups, which might also be setting up sleeper cells in the republic. "South African intelligence will now be keeping a much closer eye on all comings and goings, and share this intelligence with India," the Indian official said.
Mbeki told the news conference, when asked if he thought the war on terrorism was succeeding: "If any act of terrorism occurs, it must mean that the war on terror has not been won. Surely I don't think anybody would say it has been won."
He said it was crucial that information on terrorism was shared. "So it's a partnership so that in the end we empower each other...with regard to intelligence, forewarning, ability to act in particular ways, preferably to stop these acts of terrorism before they are committed."
Trade and business opportunities also formed an important plank of the Declaration. The two countries pledged to treble bilateral trade, which totalled about $4 billion last year, by 2010.
Agreements on cooperation were also signed in health, education and science and technology.
A Preferential Trade Agreement is also on the cards. Senior business leaders from the two countries met in the third India-South Africa CEOs' Forum held separate talks in Pretoria. Ratan Tata, who heads the Indian CEO delegation, is also an adviser to Mbeki. Indian companies are expanding their presence in South Africa, and IT firms have led the way in establishing a foothold in the republic.
The prime minister noted that South Africa is India's biggest trading partner in Africa.
It was clear that Manmohan Singh, who turned 74 last week, and Mbeki, 64, had struck a good frirendship. Mbeki also displayed a quick wit.
Asked if he and Singh aimed to take the concept of satyagraha beyond their relationship, he said: "I suspect that India and South Africa have got other ways to make our voices heard. I do not think therefore that it is necessary for the prime minister and I to...run a campaign of civil disobedience in order to get the change in the UN Security Council. We will use other means."
More seriously, Mbeki said satyagraha was attractive because of its inherent principles. He said it was important to use the centenary of satyagraha to "try to re-infuse his ideas and vision, that value system". In order to construct a better world, he said, "it must not only mean not only more houses, or clean water, or jobs, but it also means the soul of the people and satyagraha, in addition to the actions, contained these values and principles and I think they are critical to the reconstruction of the world".
India, SA see eye to eye on UNSC, nuke cooperation
South Africa, which controls about a tenth of the world's uranium supplies, is a staunch opponent of proliferation, and its support could be vital at the forum, which includes a more intransigent Australia.
The Declaration stepped very carefully around the precise nature of next steps on nuclear cooperation. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the elimination of all nuclear weapons, and crucially said, " nuclear energy could play an important role in ensuring safe, sustainable and non-polluting sources of energy to meet the rising global demands of energy, particularly in developing countries".
They said they support the "inalienable right" of all countries to the "peaceful application of nuclear energy" and concluded that if nations adhered to International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) rules, civilian nuclear cooperation could be enhanced through "acceptable forward-looking approaches".
Mbeki told the news conference: "We are all awaiting the outcome of the (vote at the) U.S. Congress." He noted that there had been no agreement on the issue at the IBSA (India-Brazil-South Africa) summit in Brasilia last month. "When the matter has to be formally decided, surely it has South Africa's support," he said.
Singh and Mbeki have spent the weekend celebrating the "umbilical cord" of Gandhian values that links their countries. But Monday's talks, which coincided with Mahatma Gandh's 137th birth anniversary, underlined a new awareness of one another's strategic importance.
A senior Indian official, speaking on condition he not be identified, had told the Hindustan Times earlier that Pretoria's perception of New Delhi's attitude had distinctly warmed after India chose to plump for South Africa as its choice for an African seat on the U.N. Security Council in preference to the two other candidates, Nigeria and Egypt.
The official also noted that South Africa and India are both Indian Ocean powers with large navies. Military cooperation is very much on the cards at the talks the two leaders held this morning in Pretori
South African officials are also apparently becoming conscious that their country is becoming a favourite rest-and-recreation post for terrorist groups, which might also be setting up sleeper cells in the republic. "South African intelligence will now be keeping a much closer eye on all comings and goings, and share this intelligence with India," the Indian official said.
Mbeki told the news conference, when asked if he thought the war on terrorism was succeeding: "If any act of terrorism occurs, it must mean that the war on terror has not been won. Surely I don't think anybody would say it has been won."
He said it was crucial that information on terrorism was shared. "So it's a partnership so that in the end we empower each other...with regard to intelligence, forewarning, ability to act in particular ways, preferably to stop these acts of terrorism before they are committed."
Trade and business opportunities also formed an important plank of the Declaration. The two countries pledged to treble bilateral trade, which totalled about $4 billion last year, by 2010.
Agreements on cooperation were also signed in health, education and science and technology.
A Preferential Trade Agreement is also on the cards. Senior business leaders from the two countries met in the third India-South Africa CEOs' Forum held separate talks in Pretoria. Ratan Tata, who heads the Indian CEO delegation, is also an adviser to Mbeki. Indian companies are expanding their presence in South Africa, and IT firms have led the way in establishing a foothold in the republic.
The prime minister noted that South Africa is India's biggest trading partner in Africa.
It was clear that Manmohan Singh, who turned 74 last week, and Mbeki, 64, had struck a good frirendship. Mbeki also displayed a quick wit.
Asked if he and Singh aimed to take the concept of satyagraha beyond their relationship, he said: "I suspect that India and South Africa have got other ways to make our voices heard. I do not think therefore that it is necessary for the prime minister and I to...run a campaign of civil disobedience in order to get the change in the UN Security Council. We will use other means."
More seriously, Mbeki said satyagraha was attractive because of its inherent principles. He said it was important to use the centenary of satyagraha to "try to re-infuse his ideas and vision, that value system". In order to construct a better world, he said, "it must not only mean not only more houses, or clean water, or jobs, but it also means the soul of the people and satyagraha, in addition to the actions, contained these values and principles and I think they are critical to the reconstruction of the world".
