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US cautions India against Syria oil deal
Indo-Asian News Service
New Delhi, January 28, 2006
Saying Syria was on "the wrong side of history", the US has
cautioned India against going ahead with its decision to buy a Syrian
oilfield along with China.
But US diplomats insist this is no pressure tactic on New Delhi.
"Our views on Syria are well known. A communication was made from
our side to the Indian government early December conveying our objections
to the oil deal," US embassy spokesman David Kennedy said.
Kennedy was referring to an aide memoire listing Washington's
objections that was handed over to the Indian government by US diplomats.
In December, ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) and the China National Petroleum
Corp (CNPC) jointly purchased a 37 per cent stake in the al-Furat oil and
gas fields in Syria from Petro-Canada for $573 million.
"Syria has been on the wrong side of history. Increasingly, the rest
of the Middle East is moving towards democracy and freedom. On the other
hand, Syria has always supported terror," Kennedy said.
The aide memoire says: "Now is not the time to send mixed messages
to the (Syrian government) either through investment deals or any form of
economic or political reward to the Damascus regime."
The US has accused Syria of obstructing investigation into a probe
into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and
of continuing to instigate violence in Lebanon.
In view of the national furore sparked by US envoy David Mulford's
remarks linking the success of the India-US nuclear deal to New Delhi's
stand on Iran, Kennedy appeared to soft pedal Washington's objections to
the India-China joint venture in Syria.
"It doesn't imply pressure. It reflects that we are important
strategic partners and we have a good communication on all issues," he
said.
"And this is the big difference about India-US relations now that we
can talk on all these issues frankly. Not too long ago, we were not
talking on global issues," he added.
"At the end of the day, India will make its own decisions in its
national interest on any issue, whether it is Iran, Iraq or Syria. We
respect that."
The Indian government has not reacted to the US aide memoire on the
Syrian oil deal.
On Iran, however, the external affairs ministry ticked off the US
ambassador and made it clear that it would decide on Tehran's nuclear
programme on the basis of India's national interests.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1610701,0005.htm
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| User: "" |
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| Title: Re: US Cautions India Against Syria Oil Deal |
31 Jan 2006 03:57:02 PM |
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In the scramble for dwindling resources, we always seem to go to war,
in this little game, just have to find some plausible excuse to justify
the actions against the other players.
LB
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