Speech by Ambassador Chinmaya Gharekhan,
Special Envoy for West Asia
Government of India
1230 hrs on Sunday,4th December 2005
Regional Security and International Cooperation
Dr Chipman, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I thank the International Institute of Strategic Studies for inviting me and my delegation to this regional security conference, the Gulf Dialogue, here in this friendly and brotherly Bahrain. I also express our deep appreciation to the Government of Bahrain for the warm and extremely generous hospitality extended to all of us during our stay in Manama.
I believe I can state without fear of contradiction that of all the "key outside countries", the phrase used by the IISS, that are participating in the Conference, none has had more ancient, more civilization links with this region than India. India's relations with the countries of the Gulf go way back before oil became a factor in international relations. Thus, our links with this region are not energy driven though, of course, energy resources now form an important component of the relationship.
India and this region have left an indelible imprint on the history and culture of both sides. Arab traders carried Indian spices, precious metals and stones. It was through them that the concept of zero and Indian numerals were transmitted to the West. India received the rich Islamic culture including the famed pearls of Bahrain and Oman, the Arabic script, Arabic chemistry and philosophy. Arab writers have left us the recorded history of our medieval courts and our peoples.
In modern times, the bonds between India and the Gulf have been further strengthened. The Middle East region, which we in India correctly refer to as West Asia, is an area of immense significance for us. The Gulf region, in particular, by its very proximity constitutes an immediate neighbourhood of ours, separated only by the Arabian Sea. As such, India has a vital stake in the stability, security and well-being of the Gulf region. For us, in India, security is not only a military concept but has multi-dimensional facets — energy, economic growth and development, environmental issues as well as geo-politically stability. We are convinced, only such a holistic approach will have a realistic chance of reducing and perhaps eliminating the causes that give rise to terrorism. We take pride in the fact that not a single Indian citizen has been implicated in any of the terrorist attacks across the world.
The region's energy resources are of vital importance to us as nearly 65 per cent of India's oil and gas requirements come from the Gulf. The region, as a whole, hosts the largest expatriate Indian community abroad with the strength of over 3.5 million. The Gulf is also a major trading partner of ours, with the current annual two-way trade being worth over $ 16 billion. The economic reforms initiated in India since the beginning of 1990s have led to an ever-increasing growth rate in our GDP which currently averages about 7.5% and is expected to exceed 8% next year. In other words, India is poised to become a major player on the international economic scene. Indian companies are investing in other countries in increasing numbers every year. There is no doubt that the countries in the Gulf will discover enhanced opportunities for investment in India as will Indian capital for investment in the Gulf.
As the proceedings in this Conference have so clearly brought out, the over-riding preoccupation of the international community in recent years has been with the emergence of terrorism as a global phenomenon. While it took the tragic events of 9/11 to focus world's attention on the threat posed by international terrorism, India has been no stranger to this menace. Indeed, India has been a victim of terrorism for much longer than other countries. Recently about two weeks ago, an India citizen, who was engaged in helping the people of Afghanistan in building its roads, was brutally murdered by the Taliban in Afghanistan
Recent events in Iraq have brought home the fact that a politically unstable area can become the spawning ground of terrorists. Linkages with illicit trafficking in narcotics as well as in small arms have enhanced the ' destructive potential and lethal reach of the terrorists. The fight against terrorism has to be long-term, sustained and comprehensive. It cannot be ad hoc, selective or compartmentalized in terms or region or religion. No terrorist network can sustain itself without a safe haven and without external support. Thus, the fight against terrorism must not be restricted only to the perpetrators but should also encompass states which support, sponsor or harbour them.
India appreciates the initiative taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to convene an International Counter-Terrorism Conference in Riyadh in February 2005. India had participated in that Conference. In pursuance of the recommendations of the Riyadh Conference, India supports in principle, the proposal for a draft resolution to be introduced in the United Nations General Assembly by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
West Asia is at the cross roads today. The way in which events evolve during the next few years will have a significant impact not only on the region, but on the whole world. It is imperative that stability and tranquility be preserved and maintained or restored where they have been disturbed. In this highly inter-connected world of ours, the very instruments of globalization will contribute to the spread of instability from one country to another and from one region to another. Let me take two examples – Iraq and the question of Palestine.
The people of India have feelings of genuine friendship and sympathy for the people of Iraq. We have been deeply pained at the sufferings of the Iraqi people for the past many years. We strongly support the right of the Iraqi people to freely determine their political future and control their natural resources. India welcomed the participation of all sections of Iraqi's population in the constitutional referendum and adoption of the new constitution. We are confident that the forthcoming elections on December 15 would see the involvement of all the people of Iraq, leading to the formation of a truly representative Government. Unstable, strife-torn Iraq is a matter of concern to us in India, since it might also have adverse consequences for our own peace and tranquility. There is urgent need for intensification of the intra-Iraqi dialogue and the need for an inclusive political process. The Iraqi Reconciliation Conference which was held in Cairo in late November under the aegis of the Arab League was a significant initiative undertaken by Mr. Amre Moussa , the Secretary General of the League of Arab States. Only a truly inclusive Parliament and Government will be able to tackle the twin challenges of fighting insurgency and rebuilding the country. India is committed to cooperate with Iraq in its humanitarian and nation-building endeavours. We have offered our assistance, especially for human resource development in any field desired by Iraq. India is a member of the Iraq Donor Committee from its inception and has participated in the Donors Conferences.
As for the Palestinian issue, support for the Palestinian cause has been a central feature of India's foreign policy since even before we achieved Independence in 1947. We believe that there can be no military solution to the Palestinian issue. Both sides must eschew violence and fully cooperate with the efforts of the international community. There should be immediate, permanent and accelerated movement towards tangible political progress and a series of defined steps leading to permanent peace, involving mutual recognition, normalization and security between the two sides. India has welcomed the Gaza disengagement and hopes that it will lead to a resumption of the peace process on the basis of the Roadmap presented by the Quartet and accepted by both sides. As my Prime Minister's Special Envoy, I have visited the region a few times. My most recent visit there was just about two weeks ago. India welcomed the 15 November agreement between Israel and the Palestine authorities on the Rafah border crossing. We appreciate the role played by the US Secretary of State as well as the Envoy of the Quarter in bringing about this agreement. The appointment of a Special Envoy for the Middle East process is an indication of the importance that the Government of India attaches to it as well as of our readiness to be of whatever help that we can render to the two parties. The President of the Palestine authority Mr. Mahmoud Abbas visited India in May this year and held detailed talks with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. During his visit, India announced an additional grant of US$15 million for the institution and capacity building for the Palestinian people.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that the security and stability of the Gulf region as well as of the wider Middle East is of paramount concern to India. As such, we are ready to contribute to the security and stability of this region in any manner feasible. We could identify areas for cooperation like sharing our experiences and expertise in combating terrorism, maritime security, military training, etc. As His Excellency Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa said in his speech on Friday 2nd December, the many challenges facing the region and by extension the world, cannot be solved by any one country. I endorse his call for a strong, cooperative and complimentary web of international links as the best long-term guarantee of regional security and stability. He also recognized that other countries, and international organizations should recognize the strategic importance of this region and make important contributions. India is willing and able to participate in this cooperative endeavour.
Thank you.
