Briefing by Official Spokesperson on Fourth IBSA Ministerial Level Trilateral Commission Meeting

16/07/2007

Official Spokesperson: Good afternoon and welcome. We are meeting after quite a few days.

Essentially, I wanted to give you a heads up on the 4th IBSA Ministerial Level Trilateral Commission Meeting which is being held tomorrow. The Indian delegation will be led by External Affairs Ministry Shri Pranab Mukherjee. His counterparts are - from Brazil Mr. Celso Amorim, the Foreign Minister; and from South Africa Ms Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the Foreign Minister. The IBSA Focal Points have already met on 13th of July, and for that the Indian delegation was led by Shri Nalin Suri, Secretary (West). The last such Trilateral Commission meeting was held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in March, 2006.

In terms of the areas of cooperation, thirteen areas have been identified for sectoral cooperation. These are: transport, health, education, defence, information society, science and technology, trade and investment, tourism, culture, agriculture, energy, social issues and public administration.

Tomorrow we will brief you after the meeting. There will be a Joint Press Conference held by the three Ministers just before lunch. We expect that the Foreign Ministers would review the progress that IBSA has made since the first landmark IBSA Summit in Brazil in September 2006, and would also provide a direction for its future functioning, in particular to prepare for the second IBSA Summit which is expected to be held in South Africa later this year. I have more details but I think we will get much more tomorrow.

Question: I have a question on the detention of Dr. Mohammed Haneef in Australia. There have been protests by civil rights groups in Brisbane today saying that he has been harshly treated by the Government there and his family has also asked MEA to help. Will the Government be intervening in any way?

Official Spokesperson: Let me give you the status as far as that is concerned from what I have gathered so far. Dr. Mohammed Haneef is an Indian citizen and was working as a doctor in the Gold Coast Hospital, Queensland, was detained, as you know, on the night of July 2nd by the Australian authorities, the specific suspicion being investigated at that time was “assisting a terrorist organisation". The High Commission of India in Canberra has exercised Consular jurisdiction in this case. Dr. Haneef is in good health. High Commission is also assisting the family in arranging legal assistance. The Australian police authorities have requested for assistance in this case. This assistance will be considered and decided upon in accordance with relevant provisions of Indian Government. Dr. Haneef was charged with "intentionally providing SIM card to a terrorist organisation under the relevant section of the Australian Criminal Code". On July 16, 2007, an Australian Magistrate granted Dr. Haneef bail in the case against him. However, thereafter the Australian Minister for Immigration Affairs announced the revocation of the visa of Dr. Mohammed Haneef who has been detained under Australia’s immigration laws. This has been done on the grounds of failure in character test on account of association with someone else or with a group or organisation whom the Immigration Minister reasonably suspects has been or is involved in criminal conduct.

Having said that, I must tell you that the Ministry of External Affairs has expressed its concern to the Australian Government that Dr. Mohammed Haneef should be treated fairly and justly under Australian law.

Question: What about the character test?

Official Spokesperson: That I have explained as to what they have done.

Question: You said he failed the ‘character test’. What is that?

Official Spokesperson: He was granted bail. Thereafter the Minister for Immigration Affairs announced the revocation of the visa, since he has been detained under immigration laws, on the grounds of failure in the ‘character test’ on account of association with someone else, or with a group or organisation whom the Immigration Minister reasonably suspects has been or is involved in criminal conduct.

Question: What does revoking the visa mean?

Official Spokesperson: The visa has been revoked. They have granted him a visa to stay. So, obviously they have revoked the visa. We have taken up the matter, as I said, with the Australian authorities.

Question: Isn’t it odd that after fourteen days of detaining this man they suddenly cancelled or revoked his visa after he has been granted bail?

Official Spokesperson: I think I have given you a fair assessment of the facts as they exist, the action taken by the High Commission, the Government of India, thereafter I think the conclusions and analysis have to be yours. I cannot get into that.

Question: In what way was concern expressed?

Official Spokesperson: We expressed concern and it has been conveyed to the Australian High Commission here.

Question: Here or in Australia?

Official Spokesperson: Here, certainly. I am not sure whether already in Australia.

Question: What modalities have been followed to express concern?

Official Spokesperson: I am not sure exactly the modalities that have been followed. But, yes, to the Australian High Commission it has been conveyed.

Question: Is there anything on the arrest of Sheikh Hasina?

Official Spokesperson: Let me again say, as we have said earlier, as a close and friendly neighbour India would like to see a peaceful, stable and liberal democratic Bangladesh. India notes the roadmap announced by the Bangladesh Election Commission with regard to the next Parliamentary Elections to be held between October and December 2008. We hope that this roadmap includes reconstitution of the Election Commission, electoral reforms, preparation of electoral rolls and delimitation of constituencies, leads to early restoration of democracy in Bangladesh. It is our expectation that the people of Bangladesh will be able to participate in a process leading up to a free, fair, credible and democratic election. We are closely monitoring the internal developments in Bangladesh including arrests of high level politicians in Bangladesh. In all such cases, it must be ensured that there is no violation of due process as established by law and that basic individual rights are fully respected.

Question: Isn’t it interference in the internal affairs of Bangladesh?

Official Spokesperson: I said we are closely monitoring the internal affairs. As a close and friendly neighbour, we have certain views.

Question: Amnesty International issued a statement saying that India is selling the Advanced Light Helicopters to Myanmar in spite of embargo.

Official Spokesperson: Completely baseless.

Question: This is on the IBSA meeting. Both Brazil and South Africa are members of Nuclear Supplier Group. EAM had bilateral meetings with his Brazilian and South African counterparts today. Did they give an assurance that they will support India at the NSG meeting?

Official Spokesperson: The fact is that I do not have a read-out from the meetings. I am not even sure that both have already taken place. I think they are supposed to be this evening. It is a fair question. But I think you should address it tomorrow to the Joint Press Conference. Yes, they are both members of the NSG. I think it is a fair question that you can raise tomorrow. Let the meetings take place.

Question: Has Hasina been a friend of India?

Official Spokesperson: I think I have said all that I can say on the subject.

Question: Has any senior leader spoken to Sheikh Hasina considering that she has been in custody?

Official Spokesperson: I do not have any information.

Question: Is there any information on Sabeel Ahmed?

Official Spokesperson: All I know is that so far we have not got consular access.

Question: On Bangladesh, I wanted to know whether our concern has been expressed through a bilateral channel.

Official Spokesperson: I will have to check. I do not have any information on that.