Tunisia for 'workable compromise' to solve Indo-Pak. issues

By K.K. Katyal

NEW DELHI, DEC. 7. Welcoming the announcement of ceasefire by India, the visiting Foreign Minister of Tunisia, Mr. Habib Ben Yahia, said today: ``Tunisia stands always for peace, especially in a region which is sensitive and closer to its heart''.

In a conversation with me, he favoured a ``workable compromise'' to resolve India-Pakistan problems. Tunisia, according to him, had been encouraging all the parties to settle differences through negotiations, with reference to the Shimla Agreement and the Lahore Declaration. ``For a workable agreement, it is to be a compromise''. It was imperative for this region to have peace and stability on the basis of understanding as to what all was at stake, while realising that peace has its own dividends.

His attention was drawn to the one-sided position taken by the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) on Kashmir and related matters and the dismay and annoyance caused in India that the grouping had thrown its weight on the side of violence. He replied: ``We hope positions of India and Pakistan get closer. We are sure regional organisations like the OIC would applaud such an agreement. We are sure any relaxation will be hailed by the U.N., the OIC and the non-aligned countries''.

Mr. Yahia, who arrived here in the afternoon, immediately began what was going to be a hectic round of consultations. He spoke of the excellent political relationship between India and Tunisia, while recalling New Delhi's support for his country's freedom. ``We have common understanding of objectives of bilateral relationship in promoting economic partnership, technical cooperation and joint ventures. We are interested in the Indian market, the biggest in the world.''

He mentioned the advantages of Tunisia - its strategic location in the present era of globalisation, when the name of the game was competition, low cost of production and quality - its openness, democratisation of society and economic competitiveness. Tunisia had had an association agreement with the European Union since 1995 and would become part of the Euro- Mediterranean free trade zone in 2010 for which ``we are getting ready and making our economy competitive''. This along with free trade arrangements with North Africa, and Arab countries made Tunisia attractive to India on various counts, especially investment.

Dealing with the current stalemate in West Asia, he said that Tunisia, which was among those to have triggered the peace process, felt highly disturbed. Israel, he said, talked peace but acted war and was now targeting the economic infra- structure of Palestine. He stressed the need for world-wide consensus to convince Israel of the importance of going back to peace.

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