New Delhi
24 September 2005
Iran President Mahmud Ahmedinejad on Friday night
telephoned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss among other issues of bilateral
concern, the Iranian nuclear programme.
The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Prime Minister received a
phone call from President Ahmadinejad at the Iranian request. "The President raised the
issue about Iran's nuclear programme in the International Atomic Energy Agency," the
official told reporters.
Detailing the Indian response, the spokesman said, "[The] Prime Minister advised
[President Ahmedinejad] that Iran should consider taking a flexible position so as to
avoid a confrontation."
"The Prime Minister repeated the necessity for Iran to make concessions to this end.
India supports the resolution of all issues through discussion and consensus in the
IAEA," the spokesman added. The two leaders also reviewed bilateral relations.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh has underlined that India has always
followed an independent foreign policy and will continue to do so, guided by our national
interest and strategic calculations.
Addressing a joint meeting of the Council of Foreign Relations and the Asia Society in
New York earlier in the week, Mr Natwar Singh said India and the United States share
common values and have converging interests that make us natural partners.
He added that India-US ties have attained a high degree of maturity and the two
countries are currently in a position to engage in a constructive and candid dialogue on
major international issues.
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