UNSC seat: India seeks support of Uganda, Kenya

New Delhi, Sep 4: India has sought the support of Uganda and Kenya for its membership in the UN Security Council and also for the candidature of Shashi Tharoor as UN Secretary General.

Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi, who had visited these countries to seek their support in the context of the members of the African Union holding different perceptions on the two issues, today apprised Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi of the details of the discussion he had with the two countries.

Mr Ravi, who returned here on Saturday, told mediapersons that he had held discussions with Uganda Preesident Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and Kenya Foreign Minister Raphael Tuju during his tour which had helped to improve relations between India and African Union.

Asked if both the African countries had responded positively to the Indian request, he said " they are very sympathetic, to say in diplomatic language." He said his visit to Uganda was the first by an Indian dignitary during the last nine years. Mr I K Gujral was the last to visit that country in 1997 when he was Prime Minister. He had then unveiled a statue of Mahatma Gandhi.

Mr Ravi said he had held discussions with the Indian diaspora in Uganda and Kenya. There are 80,000 Indians in Uganda and 60,000 in Kenya.

The Minister said during his discussion with Uganda, it was agreed to step up cooperation between the two countries on agricultural technology, agro-processing, hydro-electric project, oil exploration, training in defence sector, tourism, cashew and chillies, fish production, especially cage culture, training in health care facilities and IT sector.

Mr Ravi said both the countries wanted Indian investment in infrastructure in their countries. There was a huge potential for Indian entrepreneurs to invest in service sector in Uganda and Kenya.

"The general feeling was that more avenues would open up if the relationship with the two countries was strengthened," he said, adding that he had invited the Ugandan President and Kenyan Foreign Minister to visit India.

He said the representatives of Indian diaspora organisations requested him to expedite the issuance of PIO cards and OCI cards and increase the number of Air India flights to Nairobi.

UNI