SAARC situation vital: Wahid

By Amit Baruah

JAKARTA, JAN. 12. The Indonesian President, Mr. Abdurrahman Wahid, has said it is ``impossible'' to improve the relationship between India and Indonesia without a ``further improvement in the situation of the SAARC''.

Mr. Wahid, who spoke exclusively to The Hindu at his Jakarta office in a wide-ranging conversation, also qualified Jakarta's support for India's entry into the United Nations Security Council as a permanent member. While personally he supported India, the President said Indonesia had ``other obligations''.

The President, who spoke warmly of the visiting Prime Minister, Mr. A.B. Vajpayee, described him as a ``considerate'' leader.

On Kashmir, Mr. Wahid seemed wary of saying too much, but supported the idea of a meeting between Mr. Vajpayee and the Pakistani Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

Candidly stating that he supported a separate India- ASEAN summit, the President once again brought in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, which could be interpreted as a euphemism for Pakistan.

``It has to be understood that no decision in ASEAN can be taken by one side. Although, I am very preferable to the idea of putting India there, but India is part of SAARC. And, the relationship between India and SAARC should be considered. That's the point of Malaysia,'' Mr. Wahid said.

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