PM leaves for UN, Musharraf says: hope our Sept 24 meet’s wholesome

Singh and Musharraf, who will attend the UN General Assembly in New York, would be meeting each other on September 24. While the Pakistani president will address the world body on September 22, Singh, who will meet Bush on September 21, will press for India’s inclusion in the UN Security Council a day later. Meanwhile, Musharraf, before departing for New York, told reporters in Islamabad that he looked forward to ‘‘positive indications’’ for progress in his meeting with Singh.

‘‘I look forward to a… wholesome meeting, dealing with all issues, very much including Kashmir. And I look forward to positive indications for progress,’’ said Musharraf.

Manmohan Singh said his meeting with Musharraf would be a ‘‘further step in the ongoing dialogue process with Pakistan.’’ He is also slated to meet other heads of state of Japan, Afghanistan, Germany and Brazil.On his UN address, Singh said: ‘‘We will make our case for India’s candidature as permanent member of the UN security council, which is gaining increasing international support.’’ During his meeting with Bush, the PM said he would ‘‘convey that the government is determined to carry forward the process of economic reforms, which will increase opportunities for greater economic interaction… both our countries are determined to endow our vital relationship with greater content, paticularly in economic and high technology fields.’’

The nine-day trip though will begin with a day’s stopover in London where Singh said he would ‘‘further consolidate a strong and historical relationship’’ during a meeting with Blair. ‘‘The firm determination of both our countries to carry forward our relations will be reflected in a joint declaration on the conclusion of our talks,’’ Singh said.The PM is being accompanied by External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, National Security Adviser J N Dixit and Principal Secretary T K A Nair, besides senior officials.

At the UN, the PM will raise India’s concerns on terrorism and convey in clear terms that there should be no double standards in the fight against terror.

India’s ‘‘priorities’’ at the UN meet would be nuclear disarmament, eradication of poverty, sustainable development and making positive contribution to achieve development goals.