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Peace process has suffered a setback, says PM

New Delhi Sept. 28. The Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, tonight admitted that his peace initiative with Pakistan had suffered a setback owing to statements of the Pakistan President, Pervez Musharraf, but felt a fresh impetus was needed to bring about amity between the two countries.

``Yes, the peace process has suffered a setback,'' he told reporters shortly after arriving from Zurich at the end of his 13-day tour during which he visited Turkey and addressed the U.N.General Assembly in New York.

The Prime Minister was welcomed by the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, Cabinet colleagues, Murli Manohar Joshi and Sushma Swaraj, among others, and senior officials.

On Gen. Musharraf's statement on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly and other fora, the Prime Minister said ``despite the setback to the peace initiative, a fresh impetus needs to be given to ensure that all outstanding issues between the two countries are resolved peacefully and through dialogue.''

`U.N. must play a bigger role in Iraq'

On Iraq, the Prime Minister said developments in the war- ravaged country were high on his agenda of discussions with world leaders in New York, but asserted that the United Nations had to play a bigger role there.

The Prime Minister said he had clearly stated India's position on Iraq during his engagements at the General Assembly.

``The role of the U.N. in Iraq is not clear and the world body needs to have a greater say'', he said adding there was an urgent need for reforms in the U.N.

Mr. Vajpayee said that if the challenges facing the world had to be resolved then the U.N. required to be reformed. He hoped that reforms process would take shape soon.

Describing his visit to Turkey as ``successful'', Mr. Vajpayee said New Delhi shared democratic and secular principles with Ankara.

``All efforts will be made to give a boost to trade between the two countries as it would be advantageous to both'', he said.

On the Rae Barelli court verdict in the Babri Masjid demolition case and the subsequent resignation of Mr. Joshi from the Cabinet, the Prime Minister said he would discuss the issue. ``I have just reached Delhi. I will sit down and discuss the issue,'' he said.

Kannappan issue

Asked how he would deal with the demand of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, for the removal of the Union Minister of State for Non-Conventional Energy, Kannappan, in the wake of the POTA charges being levelled against him, Mr. Vajpayee said ``I will consider the issue.''

To another question whether he was considering assigning a portfolio to the Trinamool Congress chief, Mamata Banerjee, he said he would discuss the issue with his senior party colleagues.

Congratulates hockey team

Mr. Vajpayee congratulated the Indian hockey team, which registered its maiden Asia Cup triumph beating Pakistan 4-2 in the final in Kuala Lumpur today.

``I congratulate the players. This is the first time that India has won this coveted trophy,'' Mr. Vajpayee said. — PTI

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