India, Portugal to sign Extradition Treaty

New Delhi, Jan 9 (UNI) India and Portugal are likely to sign an Extradition Treaty here on Thursday during the visit of Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva beginning tomorrow.

Prof. Cavaco Silva, who arrives here tomorrow afternoon on an eight-day visit to India, the first by a Portuguese president in about two decades, will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday after which the two countries will sign several agreements.

The focus of the visit is economic cooperation between the two countries as Prof Silva will be accompanied by a high-level business delegation.

The Extradition Treaty with Portugal is significant as underworld don Abu Salem, an accused in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blast case and who was apprehended in Lisbon, could be deported to India only after many rounds of discussions and with great difficulty in the absence of such an agreement.

According to European Union (EU) laws, a EU national cannot be awarded capital punishment and Salem has the advantage of EU nationality. India had to give an assurance that he would not be awarded capital punishnment.

Salem was finally sent to India under a United Nations convention which both countries have signed.

Professor Cavaco Silva who will be here till January 17, will be given a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 11.

He will later have talks with the Prime Minister which will be followed by the signing of agreements.

In the evening, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, L K Advani, will call on him separately.

Prof Silva will meet President A P J Abdul Kalam at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

The next day, the Portuguese President will interact with the representatives of Indian industry at a meeting organised by CII/FICCI/ASSOCHAM On Saturday, he wil leave for Goa, Mumbai and Bangalore.

UNI