On invitation to SAARC heads

Ahmedabad, 24 May, 2014

Government of India’s invitation to Pakistan Prime Minister to attend Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony should be seen as part of the invitation extended to all SAARC country heads.

The decision to invite SAARC country heads is as per the basic custom of traditional Gujarati house. Whenever there’s some good occasions, neighbors are called to attend the function.

BJP’s partner in NDA Vaiko is raising his voice against the decision to invite Sri Lankan head. Vaiko is just playing his role. He is Tamil and his politics is based on Tamil/Sri Lanka issues. Modi is head of the nation and therefore Vaiko’s or Jayalalitha’s reservations don’t matter much. To solve the problems of fishermen of Tamil Nadu, a step forward is long awaited, and for that and the other causes, there has to be some engagements with Sri Lankan counterpart(Read: Srilanka: Invitation to Rajapakse and Beyond).

But there’s an opinion that the entire oath-taking ceremony should not be shadowed over by foreign policy affairs, Nawaz Sharif’s arrival and protest against invitation to Sri Lanka. The swearing-in ceremony is victory of voters after witnessing months long campaign and ten years of hardships.

Arun Jaitley’s note:

The Celebration of India’s Democracy
The General Elections 2014 has been a great celebration of Indian democracy. It is the world’s largest democratic elections. For such an election to be completed peacefully in a fair manner resulting in a democratic change of power is an occasion that does India proud. The swearing in ceremony of the Prime Minister designate Shri Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers on 26th May,2014 will be culmination of these celebrations. Thereafter the new government shall get down to work. The invitation to all leaders of SAARC nations to be present at the ceremony is to showcase Indian democracy and its strength to the world at large. It is a democracy event. It should not be viewed through the prism of bilateral issues between countries. While celebrating the success of India’s democracy the fact that our neighbours through its leaders will be represented reaffirms India’s faith in both democracy and greater integration of the region.

MEA spokesperson throws light over invitation to SAARC heads

Following transcript of official spokesperson of Ministry of External Affairs throw more light over invitation to SAARC country heads to Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony scheduled on Monday.

Question:How does the Ministry of External Affairs look at the move of Mr. Modi’s government to invite the leaders of SAARC nations? Do you think that it has come all of a sudden for the Ministry of External Affairs?

Official Spokesperson: I hear your question but I think philosophically I do not understand that. The invitations went from the Foreign Secretary Mrs. Sujatha Singh on behalf of the Government of India. So, why do you make that distinction between the Ministry of External Affairs which is implementing the decisions of elected representatives of India? Is that not what democracy is all about?

Question:Can you just recap for us who all has been invited for the inaugural among the regional countries? …(Inaudible)… Also there is tweet from President of Sri Lanka that in order to counter the reaction from the Tamil Nadu politicians he is considering bringing the Chief Minister of the Northern Province Justice Vigneswaran also with him. Could you just outline and confirm who is confirmed and whether you have a confirmation of the Sri Lankan President?

Official Spokesperson: Let me start with giving you the factual information that you have asked. Invitations were sent to eight leaders, and we have confirmation from seven of them. These are: from Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai, from Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom, from Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa, from Bhutan Prime Minister Shereen Tapge, from Mauritius Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam who is the Prime Minister of Mauritius, from Nepal Mr. Sushil Koirala, and from Bangladesh Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury who is the Speaker. These were the invitations sent which have been accepted. And as you all are aware, we had also invited the Prime Minister of Pakistan; we are awaiting their response on that.

As regards your question of what is the constitution of each of these delegations, it is normal diplomatic practice that it is the privilege and the prerogative of the leader of the delegation to choose who he or she would like to have in his or her delegation. As a host country India will be gracious and accept the delegation as is decided upon by the leader of the delegation of that country.

Question:I know the Prime Minister is going to host a banquet for the SAARC leaders and he will also be having bilateral meetings. But is there any possibility of having a mini summit of all the leaders at one place to sort of kick start the entire moribund SAARC process?

Official Spokesperson: I can take issue with you on several points, some factual and some that you have offered to comment on. First let me start by saying it is normal for a host to have an occasion when such leaders come for any event to host them for a dinner or a meal. And in this context a dinner is being is hosted. I think you have got your facts wrong about the host.

Secondly, you had asked about bilateral meetings. Again, it is normal practice that when a senior leader comes to your country as a gracious host you also have short meetings which are of a limited duration as a courtesy and as a gesture to the incoming guest.

We pride ourselves on being gracious hosts and therefore there will be short duration meetings on the basis of very limited number of participants between our leadership and the visiting leaders. These will be individual meetings; they will be structured on the 27th taking into account schedules of departure; and we will provide you these details because there will be photo opportunities for you to be present and capture these for history.

Question:I just wanted a bit of context. Is it correct that this is the first time that all SAARC leaders would be invited to a Prime Ministerial inauguration? Has it been the past practice of India to invite other foreign leaders to inaugurations? I just would like a bit of the context of this.

Official Spokesperson: I must confess my archival knowledge is limited. But that said, SAARC is an institution of the 80s and there are many colleagues here who have been following foreign affairs since then, and I am certain that they could confirm to you that as far as an invitation for the entire leadership of South Asian countries to an Indian swearing in ceremony is concerned, this is a first.

Question:Is it typical that say in inauguration like the last two administrations by Dr. Singh or previous to that were foreign leaders from any country typically invited?

Official Spokesperson: Again I am not an archival historian. I am a practicing diplomat who has a very limited vision, according to all of you. But I will take that and say that this is a first as far as Indian diplomacy is concerned. And that is why all our effort is to ensure success of this first event of its sort.

Question:My question pertains to Sri Lanka. I would like draw your attention on Sri Lanka. The entire political parties of Tamil Nadu and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu have expressed their displeasure about President Rajapaksa’s visit to India. How is the new government looking at this Tamil Nadu political parties’ and the Chief Minister’s reaction?

Official Spokesperson: I am afraid I only reflect issues relating to foreign policy. What you are referring to is beyond my normal domain because these impact on matters of a domestic nature relating to political parties and their approaches on a specific issues. So, I would not be able to answer that question. That said, I can say as the Ministry of External Affairs we take a whole of government and a whole of India approach. And it was based on that approach and understanding that an invitation was sent to a close and friendly neighbour that is Sri Lanka.

Question:Is it possible for you to disclose whether the new Prime Minister designate has sought inputs from the Ministry before the invitation was sent out for the SAARC Heads of State?

Official Spokesperson: Those of you who are here and who have come before are aware that I never use this pulpit to discuss intra governmental issues. That has always been the Ministry of External Affairs approach to take a whole of Government and a whole of India approach. And I will not deviate from that.

Question:Have any opposition leaders also been invited like Begun Khaleda Zia?

Official Spokesperson: In response to an earlier question I explained to you all the invitations that were sent. Beyond that it is the prerogative of the leader of any delegation to bring any member from his or her country who they may feel appropriate. And we will, as gracious hosts, give them the hospitality, and we have not invited anybody else that you are referring to who may not be the leaders of those countries.

Question:The invitation to the Prime Minister of Mauritius was sent along with the invitation to the SAARC leaders. Could you explain that one please?

Official Spokesperson: Let me explain. The invitations to the SAARC leaders were sent as a collectivity in terms of South Asian neighbours. Also there have been several leaders who have been congratulating and getting directly in touch on telephone to wish the Prime Minister designate their best wishes and congratulations. The letter or the invitation to the Prime Minister of Mauritius follows one such contact.

Question:About an hour back news emanated from Pakistan that their Foreign Office has strongly recommended Nawaz Sharif should attend Monday’s inauguration of Mr. Modi. Do you have any update on that, any corporation, confirmation, denial on that? Also, whosoever comes, whether he or he nominates somebody else, will there be a bilateral meeting structured on Monday?

Official Spokesperson: Rajiv, the internal processes of a country are best responded to by those in that country. It is not for me to respond to what are the processes under way in a country for decision making. We are a patient people and we will wait for the outcome of that process.

Question:Pakistan ki jailon mein hamaare Indian fishermen ki kya position hai? Aur kya kuch aise bhi signals hain ki unko kuch wo log chhodne ja rahe hain?

Official Spokesperson: My understanding is that there are as of today more than 360 I think if I am right, 362 Indian prisoners in Pakistani jails. These include some of them whom we understand are going to be released, but our approach has always been as far as we in India are concerned, that when the fishermen or a civilian prisoner completes his term, we release them, there are others who adopt other approaches and they may use occasions to release them.

Question: Today Dr. Hamid Karzai has talked to Mr. Narendra Modi the Prime Minister designate, I have heard what you have said in the media but I am asking that whether he has also shared the same perception that the elements beyond the border of Afghanistan are involved in this attack?

Official Spokesperson: When two leaders of two countries talk, they share a lot of information. And it is not my duty to share with you all elements of that information, because then it would be a public diplomacy effort rather than confidential conversation between two leaders at a very high level.

What I can tell you about that conversation however is that it was a conversation that lasted approximately ten minutes. It was initiated by President Karzai during which he did brief Prime Minister designate about the attack and assured him that Afghanistan would do everything to protect India’s Missions located there.

Prime Minister Designate thanked President Karzai for the efforts of the brave Afghan forces who had been able to thwart the attack. He assured President Karzai that the attacks of this nature will not dilute India’s commitment to assist Afghanistan. He also assured President Karzai about the abiding friendship between the people and Governments of India and Afghanistan and said that he looked forward to receiving President Karzai here in New Delhi next week.

Question: Did President Karzai also speak to …(Inaudible)… or vice versa?

Official Spokesperson: I do not have any information on that as of now.

Vaiko to protest, Shiv Sena mum

Opposing invitation to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for Narendra Modi’s swearing-in as Prime Minister, BJP ally MDMK today announced a black flag demonstration at Jantar Mantar Delhi, and also in Chennai on May 26.

Vaiko, who lost in the recent Lok Sabha elections along with six other party nominees contesting as part of the alliance formed by BJP, said it was not proper for Rajapaksa to attend the swearing-in of Modi as “it will spoil the sanctity” of the ceremony.

In another story, BJP ally Shiv Sena is mum on invitation to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Modi’s oath ceremony.According to a news agency, when Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Raut was called and asked to react, he refused to discuss the issue.