A real friendship in the offing, says Sharon
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on Tuesday that Israel and India could do “many things together,” setting the tone for a historic visit to this country that both countries hope would strengthen their growing ties.
“We can do many things together in many fields,” a beaming Sharon told reporters after Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee accorded him a ceremonial welcome in the red, gravelled forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the imposing presidential palace, in balmy weather conditions.
This is the first trip by an Israeli premier to India, which established diplomatic ties with Tel Aviv in 1992, an event that many interpret as a shift from the pro-Palestine, pro-Arab stance that marked New Delhi’s foreign policy since independence in 1947.
Muslim groups and leftists have organised protests against Sharon, who arrived here Sunday night on a three-day trip, accompanied by a 150-strong delegation, including senior ministers, top businessmen and journalists.
An overcast sky hid the sun and brought down the temperature as Sharon took the salute from an inter-services guard of honour from a special saluting base, a rectangular maroon canopy with golden frills and shiny brass supports, as the navy band played the national anthems of the two countries.
A former brigadier general of the Israeli Defence Forces, the burly Sharon, 75, wearing a black suit with white shirt and light blue tie, then briskly marched to inspect the honour guard.
Presidential guards mounted on thoroughbred horses flanked either end of the sprawling forecourt, impressive in their white tunics, blue and gold turbans and knee-length leather boots, red and white pendants atop the lances they held aloft.
Thanking Vajpayee for the invitation, Sharon noted that this was the first visit by an Israeli prime minister to India and said he had brought along greetings from Jerusalem.
He described India “one of the most important countries in the world” and said Tel Aviv was keen to develop and strengthen bilateral ties.
“We are very much interested to develop and strengthen relations with India because India is one of the most important countries in the world,” he said.
A smiling Vajpayee, who introduced Sharon to his senior ministers and officials, echoed similar sentiments and termed Sharon’s visit as “historic”.
“The visit will give a new shape to our relations. I am confident relations between our countries will become closer,” he said.
From the Rashtrapati Bhavan welcome, Sharon drove to the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat on the bank of the Yamuna river and paid homage to the apostle of peace by placing a wreath.
Hectic engagements await Sharon during his two-day stay in the capital and a day in Mumbai before returning home on Thursday.
Besides holding delegation level talks with Vajpayee, he will also call on President A P J Abdul Kalam and hold talks with almost all key senior Indian ministers.
Military cooperation and a strategy to combat terrorism, besides enhancing economic and trade ties, are expected to dominate the talks.
The two sides will sign six agreements at the end of the delegation-level talks and possibly a joint statement, charting out the future course of their bilateral ties.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=173593
Very interesting to see Israeli premier in India. This had never happened since the birth of the israeli state. I am surprised why suddenly Israel is seeing India now? (or India seeing Israel now?). Anyway let us hope something positive comes out of the meet.
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