- News>
- India
Ariel Sharon arrives
New Delhi, Sept 08: Ariel Sharon, the first Israeli Prime Minister to set foot on the Indian soil, arrived here tonight amid tight security on a historic visit that is expected to cement strategic alliance with strong military bonds with the Jewish state.
New Delhi, Sept 08: Ariel Sharon, the first Israeli Prime Minister to set foot on the Indian soil, arrived here tonight amid tight security on a historic visit that is expected to cement strategic alliance with strong military bonds with the Jewish state.
Heading a 150-member delegation including top representatives of Israeli defence industries, Sharon will hold wide-ranging discussions with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee tomorrow on a range of bilateral, regional and international issues.
The Israeli leader was received at the Delhi Airport by Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Vallabh Bhai Ramjibahi Kathiria, Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal, India's ambassador to Israel R S Jassal, diplomats and senior officials. He would be accorded a ceremonial welcome tomorrow
in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Hours before his arrival, Vajpayee voiced confidence that Sharon's visit would pave the way for further consolidating bilateral ties and said there was no dilution of the country's stand on the Palestinian issue.
"Our relations will be further strengthened," he told reporters when asked how he viewed the four-day landmark visit, the first by an Israeli Prime Minister since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1992.
Asked whether there was any dilution by India of the Palestinian cause, the Prime Minister said, "We have taken a principled stand on it.” Six agreements will be signed after Sharon-Vajpayee talks tomorrow during which middle east peace process and US-backed 'road map' for peace, counter-terrorism and the Iraq situation are expected to figure prominently.
The agreements are on environment protection, combating illicit trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and visa free travel for diplomatic officials and service personnel between the two countries.
Both countries will also ink accords on cooperation in the field of health and medicines, education and culture.
The two sides are negotiating a joint statement that is expected to reflect concerns over terrorism, perceptions on West Asia as also focus on bilateral economic cooperation. India is attaching great importance to the visit. Several Muslim organisations, including All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and All India Milli Council, today protested against the Indian government's invitation to the Israeli premier, accusing him of being a "war criminal".
Terming the visit as an "official seal on the reversal of India's traditional support for the ...Palestinian people", they claimed there could be no meeting point between India- a secular democracy and Israel- "a racist theocracy".
The visit is taking place under a strict security umbrella with officials drawing similarities with the unprecedented arrangements made during US President Bill Clinton's tour.
Bureau Report
Hours before his arrival, Vajpayee voiced confidence that Sharon's visit would pave the way for further consolidating bilateral ties and said there was no dilution of the country's stand on the Palestinian issue.
"Our relations will be further strengthened," he told reporters when asked how he viewed the four-day landmark visit, the first by an Israeli Prime Minister since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1992.
Asked whether there was any dilution by India of the Palestinian cause, the Prime Minister said, "We have taken a principled stand on it.” Six agreements will be signed after Sharon-Vajpayee talks tomorrow during which middle east peace process and US-backed 'road map' for peace, counter-terrorism and the Iraq situation are expected to figure prominently.
The agreements are on environment protection, combating illicit trafficking and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and visa free travel for diplomatic officials and service personnel between the two countries.
Both countries will also ink accords on cooperation in the field of health and medicines, education and culture.
The two sides are negotiating a joint statement that is expected to reflect concerns over terrorism, perceptions on West Asia as also focus on bilateral economic cooperation. India is attaching great importance to the visit. Several Muslim organisations, including All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and All India Milli Council, today protested against the Indian government's invitation to the Israeli premier, accusing him of being a "war criminal".
Terming the visit as an "official seal on the reversal of India's traditional support for the ...Palestinian people", they claimed there could be no meeting point between India- a secular democracy and Israel- "a racist theocracy".
The visit is taking place under a strict security umbrella with officials drawing similarities with the unprecedented arrangements made during US President Bill Clinton's tour.
Bureau Report