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Wednesday, September 01, 2010 - 08.41 GMT |
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India, SL
addressing fishermen’s issues humanely and
practically – Krishna |
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Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna ruled out a call by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader T.R. Baalu to revisit the Indo-Sri Lanka agreement signed on the Katchatheevu islands in 1974 stating, “We cannot go back on the solemn agreement between two governments”.
During a debate at the Lok Sabha, the Minister added that India and Sri Lanka were discussing, through the Joint Working Group, and addressing such issues in a humane and practical way. The Joint Working Group is constituted to deal with issues related to fishermen and to work out bilateral institutional arrangements for ensuring the safety and security of the fishermen of both countries, the Hindu reported today (1 Sep).
Sri Lanka is a friendly country, an aspect that is needed to be kept in mind, the Minister stressed adding that Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao is currently in Colombo discussing such matters. Minister Krishna said he was planning to travel to Colombo in October, when issues related to fishermen would be discussed further, the Hindu added.
The Minister said that after the October 2008 understanding between the two countries on fishing arrangements, incidents of apprehension and firing on Indian fishermen in the waters between India and Sri Lanka had come down significantly.
In 2008, a total of 1,456 Indian fishermen were apprehended by the Sri Lankan Navy, while in 2009, the number had come down to 127 fishermen, and till July this year, only 26 fishermen were apprehended, quoting the Indian External Affairs Minister the Hindu reported.
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