India issues 'clarification' on Iran

New Delhi
28 September 2005

India on Wednesday said she was aware of the
remarks made by the Iranian envoy in Vienna but denied receiving
information of Tehran's intentions to review its bilateral ties with New
Delhi.

Soon after Saturday's voting in the IAEA Board of Governors, when India
and 21 other countries voted for the EU-3 resolution against Iran, the
Iranian ambassador in Vienna is reported to conveyed Tehran's message
to India's permanent representative in Vienna that the LNG deal was off.

"We are aware of the remarks made by the Iranian ambassador to our
ambassador in Vienna. We have also seen remarks made by the Iranian
spokesman concerning economic cooperation with countries that had
voted in favor of the resolution on the Iranian nuclear programme at the
IAEA," the spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The spokesman, however, went on to state that no indication has been
given (by Iran) to review its traditional ties with India.

"The foreign secretary has met the Iranian ambassador in Delhi and
explained the background to our decision to vote in favor of EU-3
resolution at the IAEA. We have been given no indication in these
interactions of Iran's intentions to review its longstanding and extensive
cooperation with India which is of benefit to and in the interest of both
countries," he observed.

The spokesman added that India attaches importance to maintaining
traditionally close relations with Iran and that the same was reiterated in
recent interactions.

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