NSA's Clarification on Media Interview

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Prime Minister's Office
NSA's Clarification on Media Interview
New Delhi: February 4, 2009.

The National Security Adviser, Shri M.K. Narayanan, has clarified that references made in the course of an interview by him to Karan Thapar which was aired on 2 Feb 09, were answers to specific questions put by the interviewer. It is further clarified that the underlying theme of the reply to the question on Indo-US relations was the high expectation India had from the Obama Administration with a hope being expressed that it would be possible for India to make the new Administration appreciate India's position and views on the region, including Kashmir. Similarly, the reference to the situation in Pakistan and the role of former President Musharraf were also made in the context of specific questions put by the interviewer. Selective quotes taken out of context from the detailed answers have tended to give a distorted idea of what was actually said.

akt/sh/lv/dk-s.pandey/kol/14:00 hrs.

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
Sports Minister congratulates hockey team for their performance at four Nation International Hockey Tournament
New Delhi: February 4, 2009.

Dr. M.S.Gill, Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports has congratulated the Indian Hockey Team for their performance at the on going Four Nation International Hockey Tournament at Chandigarh. While conveying his good wishes , he hoped that that the Hockey team will continue to fight hard and would lift the Cup.

In his message, Dr Gill said that "I am following, the Four Nation, International Hockey Tournament at Chandigarh, closely. I congratulate, the Indian Team, on its great effort so far. I am confident, they will continue to fight hard, and God willing lift the Cup. They have my Good wishes.

I have also seen today, unnecessary comments regarding the Team. I want to repeat, what I said to the Selection Committee, when they were first formed, 'Please concentrate with full integrity on your job, of making the best selection for India, and pass your recommendations, to the President of the Ad-hoc Committee, Shri Kalmadi, who should, as in Cricket, inform India'. It is damaging to have individual members of the Committee, comment in the middle of the Tournament. The Committee functions collectively, and the final authority, lies with the Ad-hoc Managing Committee, and it's Chairman."

rm/as/dk-s.pandey/kol/14:00 hrs.

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Need to create a balance in Indo-French Bilateral Trade: Kamal Nath
New Delhi: February 4, 2009.

Shri Kamal Nath, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, has stated that India is in a phase of rapid economic growth and its engagement with the world community is increasing. During the bilateral meeting with the French Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Ms. Anne Marie Idrac here last evening. Shri Kamal Nath informed that Indo-French trade was US $ 8.85 billion during 2007-08 (exports - $ 2.6 billion and imports - $ 6.25 billion) and added that there is a need to work together to create balance in bilateral trade. The meeting was attended by Shri G.K. Pillai, Commerce Secretary; Shri Ajay Shankar, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion; senior government officials and representatives from trade and industry from both the countries.

Interacting with the French Minister, Shri Nath informed that India is a growing market for French products, including luxury products and stressed about the importance of establishing linkages between SMEs on both sides for laying a strong foundation for growth of trade and investment flows. Both sides agreed for enhanced bilateral cooperation in areas like information technology & telecommunications, posts, energy, roads, urban development, railways and agriculture.

Discussing about the status and progress in WTO negotiations, Shri Kamal Nath said: "India continues to believe strongly in a rule-based, transparent and fair multilateral trade regime. One of the factors which will have an important bearing on the conclusion of the Round is whether the developed countries would be willing to show the necessary flexibility for finalising a multilateral deal. However, India has been engaging constructively and actively with other fellow member countries of the WTO in the expectation that this would be forthcoming. A conclusion would of course depend on whether the WTO Members are faithful to the mandate and the final outcome reflects a clear balance between market opening and the development needs of the majority of the membership".

France is the 9th largest investor in India with cumulative FDI of US $ 1.3 billion since August 1991. Top sectors that attracted FDI inflows during 2000 to 2008 were: services; chemicals; cement & gypsum; automobile industry and petroleum & natural gas. Top Indian companies who invested in France are Ranbaxy Laboratories; Electrosteel Castings; Pan Music & Magazines. The major French companies who have invested in India are – Aventis Cropscience SA; Essilor International; Alcatel CIT; Arevat & D Holding SA; and Ciments Francails.

India's main exports to France during 2007-08 included RMG cotton; petroleum (crude & products) machinery & instruments; transport equipments; footwear of leather etc., while India's major imports from France were: electronic goods, iron & steel; gold; chemical products; machinery etc.

rj/mrs/dk-s.pandey/kol/14:01 hrs.

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Status report on Avian Influenza outbreak as on 3.02.09
New Delhi: February 4, 2009.

West Bengal

Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, GOI has notified Avian Influenza outbreak in two villages namely Uttar Dankoba [block Mathabhanga-I], Nagar Bhagni [block Dinhata-I] in the district of Coochbehar, West Bengal on 30th January, 2009. Containment operations are continued. Central Rapid Response Team of MOHFW is reaching by tomorrow.

So far 689 birds have been culled. 85 Animal Husbandry workers involved in culling activity have been medically examined and they are on chemoprophylaxis.

Active house to house human surveillance has been started. In 0-3 Km area the total population is about 40,000. On 2.2.2009 a population of 3325 have been covered. No case of URI with fever has been identified.

In the 3-10 km area the population is covered in phases. The total population is about 1,00,000. On 2.2.2009 a population of 11,150 was covered. No cases of fever with URI have been detected.

In the identified health facility, 10 cases with URI and fever have been detected but none of them had exposure history to infected poultry.

State Govt. has adequate stock of Oseltamivir, personal protective equipments etc.


Sikkim

Avian Influenza in poultry was notified in the Hospital Road locality of Ravongla Municipality in South Sikkim District on 19.1.2009. Culling/moping operations are over. So far 4129 birds have been culled.

Active house-to-house surveillance for 10 days post culling/ mopping is over in the notified area. In these areas passive surveillance is continuing.

Situation is monitored on a daily basis. As of now there is no suspect human case of avian influenza.

ds/gk/flu-456/dk-s.pandey/kol/14:01 hrs.

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
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Ministry of Defence
India and Maldives to tackle sea-borne terrorism
New Delhi: February 4, 2009.

India and Maldives will work together to meet the threat of sea-borne terrorism. This emerged during a meeting between the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony and the visiting Minister of Defence and National Security of Maldives, Mr. Ameen Faisal in New Delhi on Tuesday, February 03, 2009. Mr. Faisal is leading an 8-member Maldivian delegation on a visit to India from 1-5 February, 2009.

Shri Antony assured the Maldivian leader of India's continued support to the island nation in meeting all its security and development needs. He said that the strategic interests of India and Maldives are interlinked and that New Delhi was keen to strengthen and expand the defence relations between the two countries in the coming years. The two leaders agreed that we have a joint interest in the security of the sea lanes of communication. They also decided to enhance training and joint exercises.

The Indian Army conducts a joint exercise 'Ekueuvrin' with the Maldivian National Defence Forces on counter-terrorism. The Indian Coast Guard also conducts an exercise on maritime rescue operations and patrolling of seas around Maldives called 'Dosti'.

pk/dk-s.pandey/kol/14:01 hrs.