FM reaches Delhi with PM's letters
Pallab Bhattacharya, New Delhi
Foreign Minister M Morshed Khan yesterday promised to look to the future after his arrival in New Delhi on a four-day goodwill visit amid indications that Bangladesh and India may shed the baggage of the past.Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's special envoy, Morshed told reporters that all bilateral issues with India could be solved through dialogue. He was carrying two separate letters from Khaleda for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi "expressing desire to work with them for "a better future for South Asia and its people" and inviting both the Indian leaders to visit Bangladesh. On whether "illegal immigration" from Bangladesh and "presence of Indian insurgents" there -- the issues raised by India in the past -- would figure in talks with the Indian leadership, Morshed said: "Nitty-gritty of such subjects would not come up for discussion." His visit marks the first high political-level interaction with the new Indian leadership. "At times differences crop up even among brothers. But as brothers, we should solve them amicably through discussion," he said. Asked to comment on the issues to be sorted out with India, he said without going into specifics: "There is no issue which cannot be solved through dialogue." The visiting foreign minister said regional, international and other issues of bilateral interest would come up for deliberations with Indian leaders. Morshed said agreements would be of little value unless mindsets are changed, adding: "We should not sweep issues under the carpet and rather place them on the table." South Asian countries should chart a new roadmap for development of the region, he said. "The full potential of Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) is yet to be tapped and this could be done by further strengthening the regional economic grouping." "We are glad the Indian prime minister spoke about strengthening relations with neighbours. We will work together to advance the cause of the people of the region." Morshed will call on Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi and meet External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Mani Shankar Aiyer and National Security Advisor JN Dixit today. Morshed got down to interacting with Indian leaders yesterday evening, having met former prime minister IK Gujral and CPI (M) veteran Somnath Chatterjee, tipped to become the new speaker of parliament. Official news agency BSS quoted Gujral as saying: It's a great joy to receive Morshed Khan, a leading minister of Bangladesh and a personal friend of mine." Morshed said: "(I) came to see a great South Asian leader with outstanding contribution to Saarc."
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