National   

Swiss President backs PM's peace moves

By Mahesh Vijapurkar

The Swiss President, Pascal Couchepin, trying to grip the `fortune' pillar at the Qutub Minar complex in New Delhi on Tuesday . — PTI

Mumbai NOV. 11. The Swiss President, Pascal Couchepin, today backed the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 12-point confidence building measures with Pakistan as being "in the right direction" because when things are done "step by step, it means more peaceful relations".

Addressing a press conference at the end of his five-day visit to India, Mr. Pascal said the "demobilisation of the aggressiveness was the best way" to normalise relations between India and Pakistan "which is very important to the world". Pakistan should go more towards democracy, he said.

Switzerland, he said, "was open to the idea of wanting to help" the two countries improve their relations but made no specific offer of mediation.

Today, Mr. Pascal met Mr. Vajpayee, the External Affairs Minister, Yashwant Sinha, and the Disinvestment Minister, Arun Shourie, in New Delhi and said "the logic of the situation is it will and has to improve."

President Couchepin was optimistic about India — the growth has been steady and it has been moving steadily forward on the economic and scientific and technological front. "I am struck by this and think you have a great future. But the rural areas where 70 per cent of your population lives is still lagging behind," he said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Learn from ASEAN, says PM
• PM on `Ram rekha'
• Steps planned to reduce tension with Pak. in the sea
• AIDWA spells out stand on proposed amendment to Factory Act
• Sonia to launch election campaign from Mizoram
• Tea not a `foodstuff': SC
• Journalists fined for contempt of court
• Proposal to ease visa regime for SAARC journalists
• `A move to bury voice of democracy'
• An inspiring tale
• Mongolian Minister calls on Fernandes
• Amend rules to protect scribes, says IPI
• Centre to raise subsidy for urban poor scheme
• RJD, Cong. working out seat adjustments
• Exercise begins for selection of new CBI Director
• Central Review Committee on POTA meets today
• Swiss President backs PM's peace moves
• Jayalalitha's full text

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu