Terrorism, energy security concerns addressed at G-8: PM

New Delhi, July 18 (UNI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who arrived here today from St Petersburg after attending the G-8 Summit, described his visit as successful which ''addressed India's concerns on energy security and terrorism''.

''These two concerns were uppermost in my mind.... I am glad both these have received universal attention,'' Dr Singh told reporters on his arrival.

He was received at the airport by Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Ministers of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma and E Ahamad, Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, and others.

Dr Singh said the G-8 and Outreach countries strongly condemned the barbaric terror attacks of July 11 in Mumbai and Srinagar, and expressed solidarity with India. They expressed their readiness to undertake all necessary measures to bring to justice the perpetrators, organisers, sponsors of these and other terrorist attacks and those who incite terrorists to commit them.

''We are greatly encouraged by this unified expression and support of solidarity by all major countries of the world,'' he said in a statement.

He also expressed happiness that India's views on global energy security, universal access to education and the fight against infectious diseases such as AIDS made significant contributions to the discussions with G-8.

''I find their willingness to explore trilateral cooperation in education to be particularly useful.'' On his bilateral meeting with US President George W Bush, Dr Singh said the US condemned the July 11 blasts, ''and we discussed ways to end the menace of terorism''.

On civil nuclear cooperation, he said Mr Bush expressed optimism on successfully carrying the process forward to an early conclusion and also expressed understanding at some of the concerns on the proposed legislation that India conveyed.

''We agreed to take effective steps to expand on the collaboration in areas such as science and technology, education, agriculture, trade and industrial cooperation.'' He said India was willing to join G-8 in its endevour to conclude the Doha negotiations, but progress would only be possible if negotiations took fully into account the development concerns of the developing countries.

During his two-day visit, Dr Singh also had a bilateral meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.

Dr Singh also attended the first-ever Summit-level trilateral talks between India, Russia and China.

He also had separate meetings with leaders of the outreach nations-- Brazil, South Africa, China and Mexico -- besides Congo and Kazakhstan.

UNI YJ VD KN1922