ELECTIONS '98
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'By acquiring nuclear capability we can exert our influence more effectively in bringing about disarmanent'

During his address at the convocation at Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu on Saturday morning, President K R Narayanan cast some fresh light on the crisis in South Asia

Looking at the world from the Himalayan heights one sees the existence of two major set of facts prominently in the world situation. One is the enlargement of freedom and co-operation in the world and the spread of democracy in the relations among nations, the concept of equality and justice being accepted, along with freedom and liberty, as the goals towards which mankind is moving. But underneath these one could see the hard rocks of inequality lying hidden at the heart of the international order.

These rocks are represented by the economic, technological and the military supremacy of the developed nations of the world. The developing and the non-aligned world, on critical issues and in critical situations, comes up against these hard hidden rocks of inequality. For their own safety they shun from knocking their heads against these rock formations in the international order.

I believe that the economic crisis in South East Asia and East Asia will pass. I am bold enough to say that the recent confusion and the sound and fury caused by the technological demonstrations of military significance by some Asian countries, will also pass and the normal processes of peaceful dialogue that has been ongoing in the region as well as internationally will go on.

After all, Europe is today marching towards economic and political union, and in the wider world the United States, Russia and China, are engaged in working out co-operative relations with the full knowledge that they possess nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction in their armouries.

There is no reason why such process cannot go on in Asia. We are keen, and indeed determined, to go along this process of dialogue, reconciliation and co-operation with China even further than hitherto. So also in South Asia we had initiated a new policy of improving relations with all neighbours, and SAARC has been advancing steadily step by step towards a system of co-operation pregnant with immense constructive possibilities. If this can be achieved in Europe I do not see why this process cannot go on in South Asia.

I believe this ancient continent of Asia, while asserting its right to grow to the full potential in economic and technological terms, has the political wisdom to cling tenaciously on to its ancient tradition of peaceful co-existence.

India's objectives and efforts have been to bring complete and comprehensive disarmament in the world including the elimination of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. I believe that by acquiring nuclear capability we can exert our influence more effectively in bringing this about.

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