PM reiterates no solution found in battlefield
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk during a meeting, in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (PTI Photo)
NEW DELHI: In the first visit to Poland by an Indian PM in 45 years, and after talks with its Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Warsaw on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that both nations had decided to elevate their relations to a strategic partnership, besides strengthening ties in several areas, including defence manufacturing, and agreeing on a social security pact that is expected to benefit the Indian workforce there.
In a clear message on the Russia-Ukraine conflict just hours before reaching the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Modi reiterated his words — first spoken by him in Moscow last month -- that there can be “no solution on the battlefield”. He also reiterated that “dialogue and diplomacy” was the way forward and declared that India was “ready to extend any cooperation with partner countries” to help resolve the conflict. Mr Modi expressed “deep concern” at the ongoing Ukraine and West Asia conflicts and pointed out that the loss of innocent lives is the "biggest challenge to humanity". It may be noted that Poland is a key supporter of Ukraine in the conflict and every world leader visiting Ukraine after the conflict began has had to enter that country through Poland.
The Indian PM will leave for the Ukrainian capital on board a train later on Thursday evening and the journey will take around 10 hours. He will then be in Kyiv for around seven hours on Friday, before returning to Poland the same way.
The Polish PM said the two leaders had discussed important “emotional” issues and appreciated Modi’s readiness to work towards ending the Ukraine conflict through peaceful means. Tusk added that “India can play an important and constitutional role” in this. He also described Modi's forthcoming visit to Ukraine as “historic”. Tusk expressed Poland’s readiness to invest in the defence manufacturing sector and also strengthen ties in the agro-food sector.
Stating that India can never forget the help given by Poland in helping New Delhi evacuate thousands of Indian students from war-torn Ukraine two and a half years ago, Modi said the two nations had identified many areas to boost ties, including food processing, in which “Poland is one of the world leaders”. He invited Poland to be part of mega food parks in India.
Referring to bilateral defence ties as proof of the mutual trust of the two nations in each other, Mr Modi invited Polish companies to “make in India” and “make for the world”. He said India had made great strides in areas such as fintech, pharma and space and would be “pleased to share this expertise with Poland”.
Modi said the two nations had agreed on the issue of several global challenges, including the need for reform in the UN and other international institutions and the need to combat climate change in order to usher in a “green future”. He also raised the menace of terrorism facing India.
Recognising the gesture more than eight decades ago of two Indian erstwhile princely states of Jamnagar and Kolhapur that had provided refuge to thousands of Polish women and children during the Second World War, Modi announced a “new initiative called the Jamsaheb Memorial Youth Exchange Programme under which 20 Polish youth would be invited to (visit) India each year”.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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