Shaath starts official visit to India

Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee held talks in New Delhi yesterday with the Palestinian foreign affairs minister Nabil Shaath that dealt with conditions in the Middle East and bilateral relations.

Shaath arrived in New Delhi yesterday in an official visit to India lasting three days. The visit comes before the visit due by the Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon to India on September 9th.

A statement issued by the Indian foreign affairs ministry said that "India supports strongly the Palestinian issue and this continued position is strongly rooted since a long time in the traditional relations with the Arab world." He added " India's commitment to contributing to peace and stability in this region constitutes a main element in our foreign policy."

The statement said that "India also helped the Palestinian national authority to develop its human resources and possibilities of establishing a state." Shaath will be also meeting with the minister of state at the external affairs Vinod Khanna, and President Abdul Kalam and the advisor for the national security Brajish Meisra.