Summit in itself significant: Fernandes

By Our Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW, JULY 10. The Agra summit talks between the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, and the Pakistan President, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, is not expected to produce any spectacular result but if it paves the way for further negotiations, it should be considered significant, the convener of the National Democratic Alliance, Mr. George Fernandes, said today.

Speaking to presspersons, Mr. Fernandes, here to address a conference of his party workers, said Mr. Vajpayee had shown exemplary courage by inviting Gen. Musharraf after the Lahore process had been derailed.

As for the General, he could not take any decision on his own. There were differences among Pakistan's Army ranks on important issues. The Inter-Services Intelligence too played its own role in making and unmaking the foreign policy of the nation. Then, there were the Opposition leaders to handle. If Gen. Musharraf was coming here despite these constraints, the act in itself indicated a lot of things.

`Non-issue'

On the Pakistan President's invitation to the leaders of the All- Party Hurriyat Conference for tea, Mr. Fernandes said it should not be made an issue. The Pakistan High Commissioner's office was technically the territory of Pakistan. And Pakistan had played its role in encouraging the Hurriyat's activities. If Gen. Musharraf now wanted to invite its leaders, the matter should rest there.

When asked if the Samata Party leaders would attend the tea party, Mr. Fernandes said it would depend on individual leaders. As for him, he would be out of the country during the visit of Gen. Musharraf. To another query, he said withdrawal of the Army from Kargil and Siachen was not related to confidence- building measures. It was a question of the country's security and should be viewed as such.

Mr. Fernandes later met the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. Rajnath Singh, and suggested that a platform of alliance partners be formed in the State. In the coming Assembly elections, they should have a common manifesto and policy document.

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