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Vajpayee
speaking at a Sikh function Tuesday, November 19
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By
IOL South Asia correspondent
NEW
DELHI, November 19 (IslamOnline) - In an oblique reference to the
United States, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Tuesday, November
19, warned that “no power should enforce its will on any country”
and said that all issues relating to Iraq should be sorted out under
the auspices of the United Nations.
“We
hope no more war takes place in Iraq. All issues should be sorted out
through discussions under the auspices of the United Nations. No one
should try to enforce its will on others,” he said in a speech at a
Sikh function in Delhi.
On
the reported nuclear capabilities of Iraq, he said if it had “such
weapons which endangered humanity, it (Iraq) should give it up on its
own.”
In
a statement aimed at the United States administration, Vajpayee said
everyone should understand that “people of all nations have a right
to rule themselves and choose their own leader… No country should
try to impose its will on any other country.”
Junior
Indian leaders and officials have spoken earlier in support of Iraq
but this is the first time that the prime minister himself made such
remarks, the most categorical since tension mounted between U.S. and
Iraq.
In
a related development India said yesterday it would “swiftly”
evacuate Indians from the Gulf in the event of a U.S.-led war with
Iraq if Baghdad failed to comply with the U.N. resolution asking it to
disarm weapons of mass destruction.
India
would definitely be affected if the U.S. attacked Iraq as over three
million Indians work in the Middle East and send money to the country.
So
far as oil is concerned, the entire world would be affected and India
is no exception, Junior Foreign Minister Digvijay Singh told reporters
in New York.
Asked
if he did not see any need at present to evacuate Indians from the
region, he said “there is no war as yet. However, should such a need
arise, the government would act swiftly and effectively.”
In
this connection, he said Air India has sufficient planes to undertake
such a mission.
