*EPF108 08/26/2002
Transcript: U.S.-India Discussions Thorough, Productive, Armitage Says
(Deputy secretary continues tour through South Asia) (930)

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage characterized his discussions with Indian officials August 23 as "thorough" and "productive," covering issues from technical cooperation to the question of Kashmir.

Speaking to reporters following a meeting with Indian National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra, Armitage said the United States intends to continue using its good offices to resolve issues between India and Pakistan. The deputy secretary was scheduled to meet with Pakistani officials August 24.

Following is the transcript of Armitage��s August 23 remarks to the press:

(begin transcript)

U.S. Embassy New Delhi
Press Office
For Immediate Release
August 23, 2002

ON THE RECORD REMARKS TO THE PRESS BY DEPUTY SECRETARY OF STATE RICHARD ARMITAGE Following Meeting with Indian National Security Advisor Brajesh Mishra

August 23, 2002 New Delhi, India

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Good evening ladies and gentlemen.

First of all let me say that I am delighted to be back in Delhi. I've just engaged in a full day of what I would consider a very thorough and indeed productive discussions which covered the full range of our relationship for the bilateral from every aspect, be it military, economic, technological cooperation, etc. We talked about multilateral endeavors. We exchanged strategic views of not only the neighborhood but in a more far-ranging way. And obviously we spent a good bit of time on the question of India and Pakistan, on Kashmir, and indeed we talked at some length about the great aspirations here in India for free, fair and open elections which Secretary Powell spoke about in such a laudatory way about a month ago.

So if that's satisfactory to you all I'll try to take a question or two or three and then move on.

QUESTION: We'd like you to say something about the Pakistani attack, across the border in Pakistan by Indian troops.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I have seen press reports to that effect. I am aware that generally for the last month or so there have been exchanges of artillery fire in that same general area but I have no further information on this matter and have no way to verify any of it.

QUESTION: -- about the conduct of the upcoming elections in Kashmir. (Inaudible) process forward.

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: When you say concerns, I think we have the same concerns that we've talked about here in Delhi. That is we want the elections to be free and fair and open. There have been some difficulties historically to this, but it looks to this visitor as if the Government of India is quite intent on having these as free and fair and open as possible. We are concerned with the possibilities of violence, obviously, and this is something I'll be discussing as I travel further on this mission.

QUESTION: Would you encourage the Separatists to take a more participatory action in this regard? What would you tell them?

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I've seen the gestures of the Government of India as being willing to have a dialogue with the All Party Hurriyat Conference. I thought that was significant. Ultimately these are decisions that are going to have to be arrived at by the parties themselves.

QUESTION: (Inaudible)

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: I think that's something that the government here and in Islamabad should best describe. The United States is trying to use our good offices to bring about a reduction of that tension. There has been entirely too much violence as a general matter and we'll do whatever we can to just reduce the violence. I'll let characterization of the temperature to others.

QUESTION: For some time the U.S. has been pressing Pakistan (inaudible). There is a feeling in India that not enough has been done by the U.S. on this pursuit. What is the message that is being brought to Delhi and what is the message you are going to take to Islamabad? And how can you meet the Indian desire to achieve more (inaudible)

DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: First of all, the exact content of my conversations with Pakistani officials tomorrow, particularly with President Musharraf, should of necessity remain private. I'm sorry that there are some here in India that don't feel the United States has perhaps used all of our persuasive powers. But I'll note that we're still at it. Secretary Powell has been out here several times. This is my third trip to India. There is an extraordinary amount of attention paid by my government to this issue. I'm sorry if in some minds it falls a little short, but we're going to stay at it and continue to use our good offices.

Thank you all.

(end transcript)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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