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Transcript of Weekly Media Briefing by Official Spokesperson (May 26, 2016)

May 27, 2016

Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:We now begin the regular press briefing, the Thursday 4:00 pm press briefing, so the floor is now open to questions.

Question:Sir, this is in relation to Congolese National who was attacked in Delhi. Now a video has emerged from Congo of three Indian shopkeepers who have been attacked now. Has there been any, has the Indian Government approached the authorities there and any security warning for the Indian Nationals?

Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:Yes, it has come to the notice of our mission in Kinshasa that some Indian establishments and shops in the commercial area were attacked on May 23 and May 25 as a reaction perhaps to the killing of a Congolese national in New Delhi last Friday.

It has also been reported that there were some gunshots fired, injuring a couple of Indians living in the area. Our Ambassador took up the matter immediately with the Congolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A note verbale was issued to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with a copy to the Ministry of Interior and the Police authorities to ensure safety of life and property of all Indians residing there.

It was reported that by the end of yesterday, things had calmed down with no further untoward incident. There was police presence in the commercial area where Indians have their shops and establishments.

In a message to the Indian community our mission, while informing them about the request to the Congolese authorities for deployment of police to secure the life and property of all Indians, did advise them to exercise caution and to remain calm.

I would also like to add that India’s relationship with the Democratic Republic of Congo goes back to many years. In the initial years after the formation of the Congolese Republic, Gurkha soldiers were posted there. Many Indians stay in Congo and view the country as their second home. They have always had very friendly and cordial relations with the people of the Democratic Republic of Congo and we hope that the situation is diffused at the earliest.

Question: Vikas, we saw some of the African ambassadors yesterday making a statement that they will advise their governments not to send the students here. How would government react to it?

Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:I would say that it would be unfortunate if a few isolated cases are generalized to portray a climate of insecurity for African students.

It is also not right to characterize criminal acts as being racially motivated. As is clear from the CCTV footage of the attack on Mr Oliver by some goons, some Indian by-standers who were present there at the time, they did try to protect Mr Oliver and, in turn, they were also thrashed by the same goons.

So as I mentioned in my remarks yesterday, thousands of African students continue to benefit from the Indian education system without any issues. We are committed to work closely with the African diplomatic as well as student communities to ensure full safety and security of all African students in India.

External Affairs Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj is personally monitoring this matter. We are also instituting a practice of regular interactions with the Africans Head of Missions. Minister of State, Gen V K Singh will also do an outreach with the African student community.

I would like to reiterate that India remains open to our brothers and sisters from Africa and there is no cause for undue concern.

Question: Sir, is there any update on Vijay Mallya, Lalit Modi for their extradition?

Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:In so far as Mr Vijay Mallya is concerned we continue to await advice from Enforcement Directorate, but on Lalit Modi there have been some fresh developments.

The Enforcement Directorate has sent us an extradition request. It is currently being examined by our legal experts. Once we make sure that it is in good shape we will send it to the UK side for consideration.

Question: Sir, after the Congolese national was killed last week, did the MEA not anticipate this kind of a strong reaction, I mean the government waited till the envoys had met and then they came out with such a strong statement. The government seem to have reacted after that. Did you not anticipate?

Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:As I said, the moment MEA came to know about the attack, we immediately got in touch with Delhi Police and as I mentioned yesterday, Delhi Police has taken immediate action. We have identified the three culprits. Two have already been arrested and one is on the run and as you know, one of the culprits was a known history sheeter. So it’s not as if, that we did not, I think maybe…

Question: My question is that, was any attempt made to establish contact with the embassies and to convince the ambassadors that..

Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:Well, this was a case involving a Congolese national and contact was established with the Congolese embassy. Absolutely. In fact our ambassador in Kinshasa, also immediately established contact with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and conveyed our condolences on the unfortunate demise of Mr Oliver and also conveyed the steps that the Delhi Police were taking to ensure justice for him.

Question: Is there any update on the repayment of all dues to Iran?

Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:As you know, Prime Minister has just returned from a very successful bilateral trip to Iran. Some part payment of the oil dues has already been made and the remaining payments are also in the pipeline subject to the establishment of banking channels in Euro.

Question: Mr Swarup, thank you. Bodies of two Indian climbers from West Bengal have been found on Everest death zone and was wondering that Nepalese tourism ministry has been quoted by German News agency saying that it’s on such a high and very treacherous terrain that it is difficult to bring the bodies back, so I was wondering if their families will get the bodies back?

Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:I have no information on this. I will try to find out.

Question: Sir, in the Augusta Westland case, the investigating agencies have sent Letters Rogatory to some of the countries. Now, specifically to Mauritius, I believe they have come back with some queries. Has CBI or ED contacted the Ministry of External Affairs to see if this matter can be taken up diplomatically?

Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:I am not aware of this. I will get back to you on this particular point.

Question: Sir, the Taliban has appointed a new chief. I was wondering if MEA has a reaction on that?

Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:Well, we have no views on the internal processes within the Taliban, but we do support all efforts that contribute to peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan and help in reducing violence and terrorism inflicted on the people of Afghanistan.

Question: A related question to Afghanistan sir. Afghanistan High Peace Council is understood to have entered into an agreement with Hizb-e Islamiof GulbuddinHekmatyar. Do you have somethingto offer, comment?

Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:Well, we welcome developments that contribute to efforts at peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, which are Afghan-led and Afghan-owned and are in accordance with the aspirations of the people of Afghanistan for peace and stability in their country. We hope that such developments will encourage others to also give up violence and join the peace talks with the government of Afghanistan.

Question: Sir, could you tell us why did the MEA or the Government of India chose to not oppose the Supreme Court decision on Italian marines. Also, the WTO DG was in Islamabad recently. The Pakistanis raised witrh him the issue of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and there were references made by Pakistan of non-tariff barriers being an obstruction for them in the region. Do you read that as being indicated towards India?

Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:Well, in so far as the Italian marine case is concerned, as you are aware, the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has today allowed the application of the Republic of Italy to relax the bail conditions of SgtGirone, who is presently in India, so as to enable him to remain in Italy during the pendency of proceedings in the Annexe VII International Arbitration Tribunal regarding the issue of jurisdiction over the EnricaLexie incident.

It may be recalled that the Annexe VII Tribunal in its order dated 29April, 2016 had directed both India and Italy to cooperate including in proceedings before the Supreme Court to achieve such relaxation.

Pursuant to this order, Italy approached the Supreme Court on the 23rd of May 2016, seeking implementation of the Tribunal’s order. As directed by the Tribunal, Italy has also indicated the conditions for bail, which may be imposed by the Supreme Court during SgtGirone’s stay in Italy, duly recognizing that he will remain under the authority of the Supreme Court of India during this period.

Given that the Tribunal’s order is binding on India under international law, India conveyed its no objection to Italy’s application, subject to certain additional bail conditions. In addition to supplementary bail conditions, suggested by the Union of India, the Supreme Court has stipulated that Italy submit an undertaking assuring that SgtGirone will return to India, not only if required by the Tribunal, but also if required, in the interim, by the Supreme Court of India.

I will reiterate that the Supreme Court has only relaxed the bail conditions of SgtGirone. He will continue to remain under the authority of the Supreme Court and will be required to return if and when required by the Supreme Court.

In so far as your other question was concerned, I think it was pertaining to Pakistan’s meeting with the DG, WTO in Islamabad and reference to the CPEC.

Well CPEC, as you know, is a two country initiative, a part of which is proposed on Indian Territory under Pakistan’s illegal occupation. Our views in this regard are already well known.

Pakistan is a member of SAARC and as such is expected to contribute constructively to regional connectivity initiatives including those which it did not support at the last SAARC summit.

As far as we are concerned, there are high non-tariff barriers in the region not ON Pakistan, but FROM it. Pakistan does not allow movement of all importable items from India through Wagah.

In fact it allows only 138 items through Wagah. This is the biggest non-tariff barrier for thousands of Indian tariff lines which have to be now routed through Karachi, raising costs including for consumers in Pakistan. Moreover, the fact that Pakistan has not extended Most Favored Nation treatment to India, even aftera lapse of close to 20 years since India unilaterally did so, is also not in keeping with WTO norms.

Question:Returning to the African situation. Given the fact that the VP is visiting Africa and expecting a series of high level visits to Africa in the coming few weeks and months, how much has this recent incident and concerns raised by the African diplomatic community here, I mean what kind of impact do we anticipate that to have in terms of the discussions that we are expected to meet or face when he visits there and what are the kinds of assurances that we feel we need to give in order to emphasize as you did already that they remain open?

Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:Well, certainly, I will not deny that this incident has not had any impact. The fact that the African HoMs were forced to issue a statement shows that there was a depth of concern on their part, but at the same time we have also shown our credentials as a country which is welcoming to foreigners, which is specially welcoming to African students by taking swift action, by having immediate meetings of Secretary Economic Relations and MoS Shri V K Singh, with the African HoMs, which has assuaged their concerns and as a result, as you know very well, they are attending the ICCR Africa Day Annual Event.

So my sense is that things are back on track. We will, of course, continuously monitor the situation.A regular interaction mechanism for African HoMs with the Indian Foreign Ministry leadership has been instituted so that we can nip in the bud any issues that may crop up in the future and I think there is understanding on both sides that this is a relationship that needs to be preserved, that needs to be strengthened and we should not allow us to be deterred by some unfortunate incidents.

Question: What report was given by the Indian High Commissioner on Sri Lankan proposing a Church on Katchatheevu Island?

Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:The St Antony’s Church in Katchatheevu Island is believed to have been built in 1905 and, being in a dilapidated state, is repaired every year for the annual Katchatheevu festival in February-March. We understand that a new Church is planned to be constructed adjoining the existing St Antony’s Church.

The Sri Lankan Navy is undertaking the construction of the new Church in response to a request made by the Bishop of Jaffna to the Commander of Sri Lankan Navy during the Katchatheevu festival on the 22nd of February, 2016.

It has been reported that the existing Church would be retained unchanged and a second shrine is proposed to be constructed approximately 100 meters away from the present shrine.

The pilgrims from India to the Katchatheevu festival are mostly fishermen from Tamil Nadu as you are well aware. While last year, 4003 pilgrims participated, this year 3248 pilgrims, including 26 media persons, participated and paid homage at the Church.

The Sri Lankan Navy has dismissed media reports that it was planning to build a naval facility at Katchatheevu.

Question: Recently a lady paramedic and her infant son was killed in an attack in Libya. How many Indians are still there in Libya and what the Government of India is doing in this case?

Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:As you know, we have now imposed a ban on Indians travelling to Libya. The ban has been imposed in view of the fragile security situation prevailing in Libya.

There have been incidents of deaths, kidnappings and missing Indians. The step has been taken after much deliberation in the interest of safety and security of Indian nationals.

The ban has been imposed after undertaking evacuation of Indian nationals by the government of India since July 2014 and issue of as many as 18 travel advisories by our mission in Tripoli and by MEA advising Indian nationals to return to India.

Some Indian nationals who were evacuated at government costs, in fact have returned to Libya, risking their lives.

Presently we believe, there are close to 1500 Indians in Libya. Libya has political instability and there is no unified political authority which makes dealing with State organs difficult in raising issues concerning Indian nationals in Libya.

It is the primary duty of the government to ensure safety and security of Indian nationals abroad, particularly in conflict zones. Libya continues to be a conflict zone.

In this context I would also like to point out that some people have raised the issue of safe and unsafe areas in Libya. We cannot segregate areas into safe and unsafe. The ban is for the whole of Libya and I would appeal through you and through all my friends in the media here to persuade Indian nationals in Libya to return for their own safety. It is no longer an advisory, it is a complete ban and it will only be reviewed once the situation has normalized.

Question: Sir, which are the new banking channels which have been established to make crude oil payments to Iran and have all the disputes and differences been sorted out?

Shri Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson:No new banking channels are needed. As I said, the existing banking channels have to accept payments in Euro. Payments in US dollars continue to remain banned because you know all the sanctions against Iran have not been lifted. So once the banks start accepting payments in Euro freely - through Halkbank some payments have been made, but you know other banks still have not resorted to opening a banking channel in Euro for Iran - so once that happens, the remaining balance with us will also be paid. We are committed to that, of course.

Ok, that concludes the press briefing. Thank you all.

(Concludes)

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