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Journalism of Courage
India has been chosen as a member of a six-nation group appointed by Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, on the contentious issue of Zimbabwe’s re-entry into the Commonwealth.
The issue had threatened to divide the body along racial lines at CHOGM 2002 when the demand of the White nations for Zimbabwe’s expulsion had been opposed by the African nations. Finally, Zimbabwe had been suspended for a year.
The new group, which is meeting this afternoon, will submit its report to the plenary session tomorrow for a final decision. The other members of the group are Jamaica, South Africa, Mozambique, Australia and Canada.
External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha told journalists accompanying Vajpayee that India was keen to avert the escalation of a racial divide and would work for a consensus. It was a reflection of the faith in India that the Nigerian President walked up to Vajpayee at the summit to seek his consent to being on the panel.
On revoking Pakistan’s suspension, Sinha said the meeting of all heads of state and Government felt since there had been no progress on the issues on which Pakistan was excluded, the status quo would continue.
Sinha was at pains to point out that India’s bilateral stand on Pakistan had nothing to do with the Commonwealth decision, as the group was based on principles of democracy and good governance.
Sinha said PM Vajpayee also had one-on-one discussions with Australian Prime Minister John Howard. ‘‘They even discussed the progress of the cricket Test between the two countries in a mood of joviality,’’ he added.
On cross-border terrorism, Howard said he understood India’s position and asserted that Pakistan must put an end to this. Vajpayee, on his part, pointed out to Howard that it was not just a question of Pak infiltration but of dismantling terrorist structure there.
