Reiterating that his three-nation tour — including Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Namibia — aimed at further enhancing time tested ties with these African nations, President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday said he raised the issue of supply of uranium, air connectivity, terrorism and increasing trade with his counterparts.
Elaborating upon the issue of uranium, the President told the media team accompanying him on Saturday onboard the special aircraft while returning to India that he urged his Namibian counterpart Hage Geingob to honour the agreement signed with India in 2009.
The two countries had signed a pact in which Namibia, world’s fourth largest producer of uranium, is to supply the mineral for India’s civil nuclear programme. “However, the supply has so far not begun and I requested the Namibian President to honour the commitment,” the President said.
Admitting that “there was lack of understanding or misunderstanding” regarding the supply of uranium, the President said technical teams from both the countries will now follow up the issue in the right earnest.
On the issue of perceived misunderstanding, the President said “some” felt that a country has to be part of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) for procuring uranium. “I pointed out that there is no requirement” he said, adding “supply”(of uranium) has not yet taken place.
Namibia has assured India that it will honour the deal during delegations-level talks. However, it wants time to study the agreements India has signed with 12 countries for supply of uranium. The countries include the United States, the UK, Russia, France, Australia, Sri lanka, Canada among others.
Replying a question about poor air connectivity with the African continent with 54 countries, the President said this issue also came up during his discussions with counterparts of three countries.
India and the three countries agreed to take immediate steps to address the issue of connectivity and faster communication as it will help in quicker economic development and increased trade.
Fielding another question whether the African leaders raised the issue with him regarding recent spate of attacks on African nationals in India, Mukhejree emphatically said the matter did not come up.
As regards strategic importance of his visit as part of expanding India outreach to Africa, the President said the tour has helped reinvigorate the already strong and time tested bilateral relations. “They provide fresh momentum to our overall relations with Africa and we have through these visits conveyed the message that India takes its engagements with Africa seriously and intends to follow up on the announcement made at third India African Summit Forum” in New Delhi last year.
Given the importance of Africa for India’s interest, Vice-President Hamid Ansari visited Morocco and Tunisia before the President’s visit. Now, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on four nation tour next month.