Monday, November 8, 2010

Goa Blog

Goa Blog

End terrorist safe havens, Obama tells Pakistan

Posted: 08 Nov 2010 05:24 AM PST

The US has made it clear to Pakistani leaders that all terrorist safe havens must end, President Barack Obama said on Monday.

Addressing members of Indian parliament, he also said — to thunderous applause — that the terrorists behind the Mumbai terrorist attack of 2008 should be brought to justice.

“We will continue to insist to Pakistan’s leaders that terrorist safe havens within their borders are unacceptable, and that the terrorists behind the Mumbai attacks be brought to justice,” Obama said in his address to Indian MPs in the Central Hall of Parliament complex.

He said the world needed to recognise the importance of a stable and prosperous Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Obama said the Pakistani government increasingly recognised that extremists were a threat to the Pakistani people as well. “They have suffered greatly at the hands of violent extremists.”

Courtesy:TOI

US welcomes India for permanent seat at UNSC: Obama at Parliament

Posted: 08 Nov 2010 05:10 AM PST

Declaring 'bahut dhanyavaad' to the people of India for their warm reception, US President Barack Obama told the Indian Parliament that partnership between India and the US will define the 21st Century and that India was already a global power.

Obama declared that like India was a prominent member of various international bodies like the G20, the US would welcome India as it prepared to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

“In future, I would look forward to India as permanent member of United Nations Security Council," Obama said to deafening applause, adding "..with great power comes responsibility,".

He said India and other countries aspiring for membership in UNSC will need to work together with other powers for a safer world – including sanctioning of Iran if needed.

This was a major demand of India which was expected to come up in the President's speech.

On the issue of Pakistan, he urged an end of terror against India.

"The safe havens to terrorists in Pakistan are unacceptable. The perpetrators of Mumbai attacks should be brought to justice," he said.

"I bring the greetings of from the people of the world's greatest democracy, the USA. I thank you for the honour of letting me address the Parliament of one billion Indians," he said, beginning his speech to repeated applause.

Taking forward his tone that India had already risen, Obama said it was not an accident that his India-stay was the longest ever in his career.

He said the world's information age is rooted Indian work what with the zero being invented here. He invoked Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi to convey how special the place of India is in the world since eternity.

"Gandhiji inspired me to be the change we seek in the world. After making his pilgrimage to India Dr Martin Luther King noted that Gandhi's philosophy was the only way to make progress in this era," he said, declaring that he stood before the MPs not as US President but as someone inspired by Gandhi.

He acknowledged how after independence at midnight India had launched various schemes like Green Revolution etc to uplift its people from poverty.

"The very idea and strength of India is embrace of all colors, all castes, all creeds….Swami Vivekananda said in Chicago that holiness is not the preserve of any particular religion or church," he said, lauding the democracy of India where "every voice is heard."

He acknowledged that relations between India and the US had transformed since the era of Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and went on to elucidate on what could be "next".

"The interests of US and India are best advanced in a partnership, I believe. We are two strong democracies whose constitutions begin with same great words – 'We, the people'. We have free market economies and that is why I believe in this relationship," he said.

He was received warmly at the gates of the Hall by Vice President Hamid Ansari, PM Manmohan Singh, Speaker Meira Kumar among others. From there he was led in a procession amidst applause from the assembled MPs to the spot where the new visitor's book awaited his remarks. After signing the book, he took his seat on the podium with Ansari, PM Singh and Kumar.

Courtesy:ZN

Terror tops agenda in Manmohan-Obama talks: Report

Posted: 07 Nov 2010 11:28 PM PST

After the resplendent display of bonhomie and a personal connect, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama Monday held bilateral talks on issues of mutual concern including defence deals and counter terrorism

Both the leaders first held restricted talks at the Hyderabad house, which were followed by delegation-level talks.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao were present with the Prime Minister at the restricted meeting with Obama.

Later, other senior ministers including P Chidambaram, Sharad Pawar, A K Antony and other officials joined the delegation-level talks.

Manmohan Singh and Obama had, yesterday, before the private dinner at 7 Race Course Road, one-on-one talks for close to one hour, far exceeding the scheduled 20 minutes.

The two leaders are expected to issue a joint statement covering a number of issues ranging from security, trade and economy, including cooperation in international fora like G20.

However, as per unconfirmed reports, the joint statement will not be issued immediately as both the sides are said to be working out the fine print – it would be released by 8 pm.

 

Courtesy:ZN

PM hosts dinner for Obamas

Posted: 07 Nov 2010 09:54 AM PST

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday hosted a private dinner for visiting US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle which was attended by political bigwigs, business leaders, actors and sports personalities. The Obamas drove to the 7, Race Course Road residence of Singh from ITC Maurya

where they are staying. They were warmly welcomed by Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur.

The guests included UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, senior Union Ministers Pranab Mukherjee, A K Antony, P Chidambaram, S M Krishna and Sharad Pawar, senior BJP leader L K Advani and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

Top business leaders Azim Premji, Ratan Tata, Swati Piramal and N R Narayanamurthy were among the guests which also included Bollywood personalities Aamir Khan, Shabana Azmi and Javed Akthar.

Chess wizard Viswanathan Anand and Environmental Activist Sunita Narain were also present at the dinner.

Ahead of the dinner, Singh and Obama were closeted for a one-on-one meeting for about 25 minutes during which the two leaders were understood to have taken stock of bilateral ties and ways to push these to higher levels of strategic partnership.

The two leaders are believed to have taken an overview of the bilateral relations, which have grown substantially over the last few years.

Earlier in the day, Singh set aside protocol and went to the Indira Gandhi International airport to receive the US First Couple who arrived here on the second leg of the visit after a hectic 26-hour stay in Mumbai.

Courtesy:HT
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