Krishna to represent India at G-15 Tehran meet
May 8th, 2010 - 9:04 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) Against the backdrop of escalating Western pressure on Iran over its suspect nuclear programme, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna goes to Tehran next week to represent India at the G-15 summit and to hold bilateral talks with his Iranian counterpart.
Tehran will host the May 17-18 G-15 summit of developing countries, a forum that now comprises 18 nations from Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Besides India and Iran, the G-15 comprises Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, Jamaica, Mexico, Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Zimbabwe, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
Krishna will go to Tehran after a three-day trip to Kazakhstan that ends April 13. He is likely to go to Iran March 15, sources said.
Krishna will hold bilateral talks with his Iranian counterpart, the Bangalore-educated Manouchehr Mottaki, with whom he shares a good personal rapport.
The visit comes against the backdrop of a plan by Western powers to impose new sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear programme suspected to be for making atomic bombs.
Krishna is likely to clarify India’s position on this issue to the Iranian leadership and stress that New Delhi has always advocated dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue.
India has voted in favour of IAEA resolutions on the Iranian nuclear programme - an issue that has caused much heartburn in Tehran.
The two ministers are set to discuss the proposed Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline project. Iran and Pakistan sealed pacts to launch the gas pipeline nearly two months ago, but India continues to have issues relating to pricing and security of the project.
These issues will be discussed afresh during this visit, official sources said.
Krishna will hold consultations on the evolving situation in Afghanistan, specially in view of a West-backed proposal for reintegration of the Taliban, an idea both New Delhi and Tehran are not comfortable with.
Krishna was set to go to Tehran in the last week of March for the Navroz celebrations, but had to call off the trip because the Iranians changed the dates of his visit twice.
- Krishna heads to Tehran; Afghanistan, pipeline on agenda - May 13, 2010
- Amid sanctions pressure, Iran to pitch for expanded India ties - May 30, 2012
- Krishna to meet Ali Larijani - May 16, 2010
- Unilateral sanctions shouldn't impact legitimate trade with Iran: India (Lead) - May 31, 2012
- Amid Western pressure, India, Iran seek closer economic ties (Roundup) - May 31, 2012
- Krishna arrives in Tehran on a four-day visit - May 16, 2010
- Clinton visit: India to juggle ties with US, Iran - May 05, 2012
- Sanctions will not impact trade with Iran, says India - May 31, 2012
- Days after sanctions, Iranian minister heads to India - Jul 03, 2010
- Meira Kumar meets Iranian President Ahmadinejad - Nov 05, 2011
- Amid sanctions, Indian business delegation heads to Iran - Mar 09, 2012
- India's growing economy gives good opportunity to boost ties: Iran - Mar 11, 2012
- Ahmadinejad calls for closer India-Iran ties - May 18, 2010
- Iran, India pledge to boost trade ties - Mar 12, 2012
- Iran has right to develop n-energy, says India - Jan 10, 2012
Tags: argentina brazil, atomic bombs, bilateral talks, counterpart, day trip, external affairs minister, gas pipeline, heartburn, indonesia malaysia, iran pakistan, krishna, latin america, manouchehr mottaki, nuclear issue, pacts, pakistan india, personal rapport, pipeline project, reintegration, tehran