Foreign Secretary on ''normal visit'' to US: PM

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, Mar 29 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran was on a ''normal visit'' to the United States, implying that it was not aimed at mobilising support for the approval of the Indo-US nuclear deal at the US Congress.

The issue was already before the US Congress and it was for the US administration to secure its approval, Dr Singh said while talking to reporters at Rashtrapati Bhavan after the Padma Award function.

Mr Saran, who reached Washington yesterday, would be there till Friday to hold bilateral discussions with his US counterpart, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns.

Mr Saran is also slated to call on the members of the US Congress, and other senior officials in the Bush administration in a bid to clarify any lingering doubts about the deal and other issues.

He will also give a talk on 'Indo-US Relations: An agenda for the future' on March 30 at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank based in Washington.

Before flying back to New Delhi on March 31, he will address a press conference at the Indian Embassy.

Besides Mr Saran, a host of Indian ministers and officials, including Petroleum Natural Gas Minister Murli Deora, Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal, Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia are expected to visit the US later this month to participate in several meetings and events, aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.

UNI SN/YJ PR HT1822

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