New Delhi: Safety of Indians in Australia, a
matter of serious concern for India, will dominate tomorrow's
talks between External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his
Australian counterpart Stephen Smith who arrived here on Tuesday.
The issue of commonwealth security and ways to enhance
trade and investment ties will also figure in Smith's meetings
with other Indian ministers during his three-day visit here.
The visit starts amid a fresh incidents of violence
against Asians in Australia even as Smith, in his first
remarks after arrival here, assured Indians about steps taken
to ensure their security in his country.
"We have zero tolerance for assaults on any individual in
Australia. We have zero tolerance for assaults on Indians in
Australia...Regrettable, we know as I said to my Parliament
that there have been some racial or racist overtones to a
small number of those assaults and we condemn them
absolutely," Smith said.
Briefing reporters on the visit, External Affairs
Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said Krishna and Smith would
discuss entire gamut of the bilateral relationship including
"safety, security and well-being of Indians, which is a
serious cause of concern."
He said the issues had been taken up at every level with
Australian government with India stressing that the steps need
to be "effective". Prakash also noted that Australia has taken
a "slew of measures" to address the issue.
Prior to his departure, Smith said he will also brief the
Indian government on Australia's recently announced
Counter-Terrorism White Paper. Asked specifically about the
Paper, Prakash only said the two countries share a "similar
outlook" on the issue.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, March 02, 2010, 19:39