New Delhi: Dismissing criticism about the "middle path" adopted on the Iraq crisis,
External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha says India will calibrate its position as
and when it becomes necessary but feels that under no circumstances Iraq's
sovereignty should be disturbed.
Notwithstanding the unilateralism displayed by US-led coalition in waging the war
bypassing UN, New Delhi is keen that the post-war reconstruction politically and
economically should be under the UN aegis.
Maintaining that the war is "far from over", the minister said it was inappropriate
to talk about economic reconstruction at this point of time.
Sinha said "too much" has been made of the middle path adopted by the
country.
"The Prime Minister had spoken of the middle path in another context before the war
had actually started. Once the war started, there is no question of the middle path.
We have clearly stated that this war lacked justification and was
avoidable."
"We have never supported the war. We still stand by our position that unilateral
action was not warranted and whatever has to be done should be through the UN and
that war is not a preferred solution".
Observing that the Iraq situation was still evolving, Sinha said, "Keeping both the
country's principles and interests in mind, we will review, reconsider and calibrate
our position as and when it becomes necessary."
India was in touch with other countries at the UN as also in various capitals on the
Iraq developments in the wake of the military action.
Asked about US Secretary of State Colin Powell's statement that the interim
authority in Iraq after the war would be initially headed by Tommy Franks, Commander
of the coalition forces, he said, "We have seen some such statement. Our preference
will continue to be for an arrangement under the UN and sovereignty of Iraq to
remain with the people of Iraq."
"Sovereignty covers everything," he said in reply to a question whether the same
principle applied to both political and economic issues that would crop up at the
end of the war.
To a question on how India sees the talk of reconstruction of Iraq in certain
capitals, he said, "Some people talked of reconstruction even before the war began.
Post-war reconstruction will be clearly a major issue. But there will be many other
issues that will have to be tackled like humanitarian assistance to the suffering
people of Iraq."
PTI
