Pranab apprises RS of foreign policy related developments

New Delhi, Mar 3 (UNI) External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today apprised the Rajya Sabha of the foreign policy related developments since the conclusion of the winter session in December.

Mr Mukherjee spoke on the developments regarding the negotiations over the Indo-US nuclear deal, China's claim over the territories in Arunachal Pradesh and other issues.

He said the government had made vigorous efforts to promote the country's objective of an external environment that would enable India's accelerated development and enhance its strategic importance.

Earlier, the External Affairs Minister made a similar statement in the Lok Sabha.

He clarified that New Delhi had ''clearly conveyed'' to China that Arunachal Pradesh was an integral part of India.

He said the government would continue to seek a broad political consensus within the country to take forward the nuclear issue, he said.

Negotiations were on with the International Atomic Energy Agency to arrive at an agreed text of an India-specific safeguards agreement to operationalise the Indo-US nuclear deal and have similar cooperation with other countries, he said.

UNI SN/RT YA KP1907