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NEW DELHI, May 10 (KUNA) -- The Arab League Thursday said India should use
its voice and clout in the international community to strengthen the West Asia
peace process and called for upgradation of ties between the two sides.
"We want India to use its weight in the international community and its
contacts with other countries to advance peace in the Middle East," Hesham
Youssef, the visiting envoy of the Arab League, told reporters at Delhi
tonight.
"The voice of India is listened to with respect in the world. We want the
voice of India to advance the Arab cause," said Youssef, chief of the cabinet
of the Secretary General of the Arab League.
"We are in favour of a fair and equitable Security Council. India is an
emerging power. We hope India will become a bigger power in the days to come,"
Youssef said.
Ambassador Hesham Youssef led a five-member delegation to New Delhi on 9-10
May 2007 for the third round of the India-Arab League bilateral dialogue. The
Indian delegation was headed by N Ravi, Secretary (East), Ministry of External
Affairs. The dialogue took place within the framework of the Memorandum of
Understanding signed between the Ministry of External Affairs and the
Secretariat of the League of Arab States on 6 March 2002, an Indian External
Affairs Ministry statement said here tonight.
During the talks, the leader of the two delegations exchanged their views
and assessments of regional and multilateral issues. Ravi emphasized the
importance India attaches to its long-standing relations of friendship and
cooperation with the Arab world, the statement said.
The recent high-level exchange of visits between India and the Arab
countries and Indias expanding trade and economic relations with West Asia
and North Africa and the Gulf were noted with satisfaction. Ravi reaffirmed
Indias strong support for the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian
people. Indias strong commitment to the just and legitimate rights of the
Palestinian people, to the establishment of a sovereign, independent, viable
and united state of Palestine, within well defined and recognized borders,
living in peaceful co-existence with its neighbours, was reiterated, according
to the statement.
Both sides agreed that possibilities of strengthening economic and
commercial relations and cooperation in Human Resource Development, Science,
Technology and Tourism within the India-Arab League framework should be
studied and developed. In this context, a preliminary exchange of views took
place on establishing an India-Arab Cooperation Forum. It was agreed to
continue discussions on this subject, the statement added.
During the visit, Ambassador Hesham Youssef also called on India's Minister
of State for External Affairs, E Ahamed.
The Arab League delegation also had discussions with leading Indian
business chambers here on enhancing trade and joint ventures in traditional
and new sectors between the Arab nations and India, the statement said. (end)
dr.bz.
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