No ‘maltreatment’ of Indian fishermen - Narayanan
CHENNAI: Indian fishermen arrested in Sri Lanka will be released in
the “shortest possible time,” Indian National Security advisor M.K.
Narayanan said.
They would be given “humanitarian treatment as far as possible,” and
there would be no “maltreatment” of the Indian fishermen, Narayanan told
journalists, emerging from a 40-minute-long meeting with Chief Minister
M. Karunanidhi and senior officials of the State government at the
Secretariat on Monday.
Describing as “positive understanding” the outcome of discussions at
bilateral meetings between India and Sri Lanka
early this month prior to the summit of the South Asian Association
of Regional Cooperation, Narayanan said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in
his meeting with President Mahinda Rajapaksa went into great detail on
each of the points raised by the Chief Minister in his letter to Dr.
Singh and personal discussions with him.
On the basis of the discussions, a “tentative understanding” was
reached, he said.
On the demand of some parties for the retrieval of Kachatheevu ceded
to Sri Lanka [under the 1974 bilateral agreement], Narayanan said:
“International treaties and agreement cannot be changed overnight. If
there is any requirement, that will be discussed at the appropriate
time.”
To a question whether the fishermen would be allowed to carry out
their operations in the islet, he said the Government had raised the
issue of traditional rights enshrined in the 1974 agreement. “We believe
that the Sri Lankan side is willing to accept that there are certain
traditional fishing rights that should be observed,” he said, adding
that the details would be finalised in the next few weeks.
To a query whether India would walk out of the 123 agreement, if some
countries put unacceptable conditions in the draft waiver at the Nuclear
Suppliers Group meeting, likely to take place next month, Narayanan
retorted: “Why should you anticipate and be speculative? We are hopeful
that we will get the NSG through.”
- The Hindu
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