Delhi Says No to Kofi Annan Visit

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Delhi Says No to Kofi Annan Visit

By Raja Mohan

"Sources here insist that the decision to discourage Annan had

nothing to do with the past record of frosty relations between New

Delhi and the UNSG."

 

NEW DELHI, JANUARY 10: Reinforcing the message that it is fully

capable of dealing with the domestic consequences of the tsunami on

its own, India politely turned down a request last week from the

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan to visit Tamil Nadu.

 

After attending the tsunami summit in Jakarta last Thursday, Annan

has been visiting the badly affected regions in Indonesia, Sri Lanka

and Maldives. Annan's office apparently expressed a desire on the

part of the Secretary General to see relief work in India.

 

The Manmohan Singh government, which has been discouraging its own

ministers from travelling to the tsunami-affected areas, was in no

mood to have a high-profile international visitor like Kofi Annan

adding to burden of the local administration.

 

It is also being pointed out that once the doors are opened to one

foreign visitor, there will be no end to similar requests from other

international personalities.

 

More important, the government is determined to stay with the

message that no foreign involvement is necessary in the massive

relief effort under way in various states.

 

Following the tsunami strike, New Delhi had rejected offers of

assistance from other governments.

 

Amidst widespread criticism of its policy, the government clarified

that it had adequate resources to deal with the immediate task of

relief and that it would consider taking international aid when it

comes to reconstruction and modernisation of coastal infrastructure.

 

The government also made it clear that contributions to the non-

governmental organisations in India would be permitted. It also said

India's long-standing partnership with the UN agencies already

working in India on humanitarian assistance would continue.

 

Sources here insist that the decision to discourage Annan had

nothing to do with the past record of frosty relations between New

Delhi and the UNSG.

 

During his many visits to the United Nations in New York as Prime

Minister during 1998-2003, Atal Behari Vajpayee did not meet Annan.

 

During his maiden visit during September 2004 to the United Nations

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had an amiable and productive meeting

with Annan. The decision to turn down Annan's request to visit Tamil

Nadu, sources say, was in consonance with the firm policy decision

not to lend any international dimension to the tsunami relief effort

at home.

 

Annan has wound up his travel today in Male, the capital of

Maldives. He is heading to Geneva where an international conference

convened by the United Nations will discuss aid commitments to the

tsunami-affected nations.

 

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