Russia and India call for urgent political solution
MOSCOW, Sept. 29.-India and the Soviet Union today called for an urgent political solution to the problems created by the developments in East Bengal, in keeping with “the wishes, the inalienable rights and lawful interests’ of its people says UNI.
A joint statement issued here at the end of the discussions between the Indian Prime Minister and the Soviet leaders-Mr. Brezhnev, Mr. Podgorny and Mr. Kosygin-also made it clear that such a solution should ensure the speediest return of millions of refugees now in India to their homeland.
Taking into account “the seriousness of the situation which has developed in the Indian subcontinent, the two sides agreed to maintain further mutual cotacts and continue to exchange views on the questions arising in this conections.”
In this context, the speech of the Soviet Foreign Minister Mr. Gromyko, at the UN yesterday assumes added, significance. Mr. Gromyko told the General Assembly that the grave situation obtaining in East Bengal was not an internal problem of Pakistan.
Mr. Gromyko said the influx of refugees into India had generated serious difficulties and problems, and not only economic ones. “We are convinced that a relaxation of tension in the area can be achieved only through a political settlement of questions that have arisen in East Pakistan”, Mr. Gromyko said.
J. K. Banrjee from UN writes: Sweden and France along with the Soviet Union came out yesterday for a political settlement of the problem of Bangladesh.
Whether this settlement should mean the exercise of the right of selfdetermination of the people of Bangladesh was not spelled out, although one can correctly or perhaps wishfully interpret their statements on this problem to mean just that.
PTI from Moscow adds. According to the statement. Mrs. Gandhi informed the Soviet leaders of the serious setback to the socio-economic programmes of India as a result of their influx of the refugees which had also engendered social and political tensions and stains.
Discussion new opportunities for expansion of economic collaboration the statement announced that “the two sides decided to set up an inter-governmental commission on economic, scientific and technical co-operation”.
It mentioned that Mrs. Gandhi had invited Mr. Brezhnev, Soviet Communist Party General Secretary to visit India and the invitation had been accepted. Invitations were also renewed for the visit of the Prime Minister, Mr. Kosygin.
In Soviet protocol a joint statement has higher meaning and irnportance than a communique.
Speaking to Indian correspondents at a ceremony at the Vnuovo airport before Mrs. Gandhi took off for New Delhi, Mr. Kosygin proclaimed Soviet sympathy for democratic forces in Pakistan and said “theatrocities’ committed against the people there will never enjoy the support of the Soviet people.’
The Soviet leader had been asked to clarify the use of the phase “internal matter of Pakistan” by him in an earlier talk with Indian newsmen.
The Indian Prime Minister, who was nearby, interrupted to say. “We also think what is going on in that country is an internal matter between the people and the Government. We are involved only because of the spill-over of the problem to our territory”.
Mr. Kosygin said he entirety agreed with the statement of the Indian Prime Minister.
J. K. Banerji further adds:
“Only a political solution based on respect for human rights and on the will of the people as expressed through the ballot can solve the problem of East Pakistan, said Mr. Krister Wickman, the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs as he spoke of the fear of his Government of “a widening of the crisis.”
The French Foreign Minister Mr. Maurice Schumann, spoke of a “political and constitutional solution based on the consent of the Pakistani people.”
The most important part of Mr. Gromyko’s speech touching on this problem was his forthright statement that the present situation in the area (Bangladesh) was not only “actual” but that “this is not merely an internal matter”. It was only on Monday that Pakistani Ambassador, Mr. Aga Shahi tried in vain to cut short the statement of the Indian Foreign Minister, Mr. Swaran Singh on Bangladesh on the ground that the Bangladesh problem was an internal matter.
In line with previous Soviet statements of policy. Mr. Gormyko called for “a political settlement of the questions which have arisen in East Pakistan”. One should interpret this in the light of the accepted view that Moscow does not. view with favour Pakistan’s dissolution through the emergence of a free Bangladesh.
What is paradoxical, if not sad in yesterday’s statement touching of Bangladesh is that they all referred to the potential threat to peace in the subcontinent and consequently in the world. Yet it has not been possible until now for India to presuade anyone to raise the matter in the context of war and peace that should be the principal concern of the UN.
While the Swedish Foreign Minister spoke of the danger of the widening of the crisis, Mr. Schumann of France clearly stated that “if the tension is not relieved soon, we will have to expect tragic consequences for peace in Pakistan and in the sub-continent.”
Agencies said : The Indian External Affairs Minister. Mr. Swaran Singh, told the General Assembly yesterday that Pakistan wanted to divert the world’s attention from East Bengal by creating an IndiaPakistan dispute.
Mrs. Swaran Singh said the Pakistani delegation had suggested a dialogue between Mr. Yahya Khan and Mrs. Gandhi with a view to bringing about normalcy in East Bengal.
He said Gen. Yahya Khan should solve the issue through negotiations with the Awami League Leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Moscow statement text
The following is the full text of the Soviet-Indian joint statement on Mrs. Gandhi’s talks with the Soviet leaders:
At the invitation of the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Sriinati Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, paid a visit to the USSR from September 27 to 30, 1971.
The Head of the Government of friendly India and her party were accorded a warm welcome testifying to the profound feelings of sincere friendship and respect of the Soviet people towards the great Indian people and India’s leaders.
During her stay in Moscow, the Prime Minister laid wreaths at the Musoleum of V. I. Lenin and the tomb of the unknown soldier.
At a solemn meeting of Indo-Soviet friendship, the Soviet public warmly greeted the head of the Indian Government. The Lomonosov State of Srimati Indira Gandhi, had talks and discussions with the General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. L. I. Brezhnev, the Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR N. V. Podgorny, and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers A. N. Kosygin.
Talking part in the talks were:
On the Soviet side: N. S. Patolichev. S. A. Skatchkov, V. V. Kuznetsov. N. P. Firyubin, N. M. Pegov and A. A. Formin.
On the Indian side : D. P. Dhar. T. N. Kaul, K. S. Shelvankar, R. D. Satho, K. P. S. Menon, A. P. Venkateswaran, A. K. Damondaran, K. K. Bhargava. S. V. Purushottam and M. M.Malhotra.
The talks, which were held in an atmosphere of cordiality and mutual understanding, covered a wide range of subjects of Soviet-Indian bilateral relations as well as important current international problems of mutual interest.
Both sides expressed their profound satisfaction at the successful development of relations of friendship and fruitful co-operation between the Soviet Union and India in the political economic, trade, scientific field.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 30.09.1971