That is the main difficulty about it. They feel that Indian’s Foreign Minister, when he talks about India as a peace zone, has to put up this point of view as a routine thing. Big powers don’t go by advises. Having a base in Diego Garcia is one of the worst sins that USA has committed as far as our part of the world is concerned. This will have to be challenged. I think Mr. Chandrajit Yadav said about the need to give an ultimatum. I don’t know how you can give ultimatum. I don’t know how you can do it. You will have to work through International diplomacy, through the instrumentality of UN, You should work out dynamic unity among the litioral countries of the Indian ocean will help.
In this matter, I would like to say, though it is not strictly an External Affairs problem that the problem requires some projection in the Defence policy also. We still continue to allow our Navy to play a junior partner’s role in our Defence forces. It is a long term thing because from my experience of the Defence Ministry, I can say that we can build our army within 3 or 4 years, we can build our air-force within half a decade, but we cannot build our Navy within this period unless you concentrate on it for a decade or so. It takes longer time to do that. That is why in the last 15 or 16 years, we have done a lot. My argument is that we are not going to meet the challenge of Diego Garcia with our Navy. But where a danger is growing in the sea, at least we should be able to guard our coast and defend our coast, particularly in the context of the changed situation. Therefore, Pam just making a mention. I think if you can pass it on to the persons concerned or the authority concerned, they can act accordingly.
Now, the main line of argument that I was making is that the world situation is not easy today but it is a changed situation, extremely grave and in this grave situation, if you have to carry on the foreign policy of India, you will have to be very alert. You will have to be very conscious of your fundamental policies, you will have to be more creative in your approaches. If you do that, it will be a good thing. I want to make 3 or 4 specific suggestions and after having done that, I will conclude.
The network of the bilateral relations both in the political an economic field is more important for India. But this network will have to be built up more properly. Yesterday, Mr. Yadav made suggestion about the Helesinki type conference. I am not ambitious to think in terms of Helesinki conference, I would say, if I am permitted, that it is unrealistic because the Helesinki type conference is quite different proposition.
