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Indian
Defense Minister George Fernandes
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By
Zafarul-Islam Khan, IOL
South Asia Correspondent
NEW
DELHI, October 8 (IslamOnline) - India and Oman Sunday, October 6,
discussed ways and means to step up defense cooperation with special
focus on areas where New Delhi has technological know-how.
The
two sides are currently discussing a number of defense pacts,
according to Indian sources. When concluded these will be India’s
first such pacts with any Arab country.
Visiting
Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes called on the ruler of Oman,
Sultan Qaboos, in Salalah and their discussions covered collaboration
in defense production which is considered significant as India has the
technological know-how in the area.
Fernandes,
the first Indian defense minister to visit the Sultanate, had an
hour-long meeting with the Omani sultan.
Indian
sources said there is much scope for bilateral cooperation in the
defense sector, including training and sale of equipment. The two
leaders also discussed issues relating to the current international
developments, Indian sources said.
Fernandes
arrived in Muscat Saturday night, accompanied by Defense Secretary
Subir Dutta and other high-level defense officials.
The
Indian Defense Minister held talks today with Omani Minister
Responsible for Defense Affairs Sayyid Badr bin Saud Al Busaidi on
“open agenda” without focusing on any specific issues. Fernandes
will attend a reception by overseas Indians in Muscat during his
three-day visit to Oman.
The
two countries have scaled up ties with the finalization of
one-billion-dollar Oman-India fertilizer plant near the gas fields of
Sur in Oman’s Sharqya region. Oman is the staunchest Indian ally in
the Gulf.
Fernandes
will hold talks with Omani Defense Minister Sayyid Badr, on whose
invitation he is visiting the Gulf sultanate.
The
fertilizer plant deal was officially finalized during a visit of
Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa last
month.
Work
on the project, which is being set up by Oman-India Fertilizer
Company, has already begun and the two-train plant is expected to go
on stream by the middle of 2005.
