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Following is the full text of the address delivered by Defence Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee at the release of the report of Observer Research Foundation (ORF) – Pacific Council on International Policy (PICP) at Brookings Institution, Washington, yesterday:-
“It is a great privilege for me to release the report of the Joint Task Force of the Pacific Council on International Policy and Observer Research Foundation at the Brookings Institution here today. I would like to congratulate the Task Force and its key members, amongst them Ambassador Abid Hussain, Ambassador Richard Celeste, Gen. VP Malik, Mr. RK Mishra and all those closely associated with the Jamnagar Seminar and the Task Force Report. The report effectively captures the excitement and potential that the transformation of US-India relations is generating at present. Its recommendation are particularly timely on the eve of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's upcoming visit to the US which we hope will be a prelude to President Bush's visit to India, the first after President Clinton's visit in March 2000.
I will not go into the details of the Report as I am sure, copy of this would be available to you. But I would particularly like to underline the emphasis on cooperation in the sphere of the economy, trade, science & technology, healthcare and education. US-India relations have been nourished by a highly professional relationship in which Indians who have settled in the US have made a huge contribution. Today, when the relationship changes as the Report has described, "from uneasy cooperation to incipient partnership", it would be fair to recognize the role played by those in the strategic community as well as the range of Indian professionals who have contributed to this re-evaluation of India and US-India relations.
Once again, I would like to congratulate the ORF and PCIP on the publication of the Task Force Report. I assure you from the side of the Government that its recommendations will be taken most seriously. Thank you,”
SKS/ HS
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