Germany talks anti-terror pact

Enhancing the security cooperation in combating global terrorism and measures to improve the business ties dominated the agenda as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks with visiting German President Horst Koehler on a wide range of bilateral and global issues.

Enhancing the security cooperation in combating global terrorism and measures to improve the business ties dominated the agenda as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held talks with visiting German President Horst Koehler on a wide range of bilateral and global issues. The issues of climate change and energy security also came up for discusions.

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The two leaders discussed a proposed accord on counter-terror cooperation and a framework agreement on economic and technological cooperation involving $500 million. The security pact envisages creating a legal basis and framework for the training of Indians by anti-terror specialists in Germany. The home ministry is looking at a draft of the pact sent by German officials.

The German president backed the inclusion of major emerging economies like India in key global financial institutions. Koehler will discuss issues relating to fiscal regulation with RBI Governor D. Subbarao and Chief General Manager Grace Koshie in Mumbai Friday.

Koehler began the official leg of his week-long visit to India Tuesday with a ceremonial reception at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Koehler also met Vice-President Hamid Ansari, ruling United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj. President Pratibha Patil will host a banquet for him Tuesday night.

Germany for binding rules

As 55 nations submitted to the UN their planned mitigation actions to tackle global warming, Germany on Sunday made a pitch for “binding and verifiable rules” for everyone on climate protection.

“Climate protection can only work if — as in the case of cricket — there are binding and verifiable rules for everyone which are accepted by all as fair and just,” German President Horst Koehler said.

He lauded India’s national action plan to tackle climate change as “far sighted” and said there was a need to focus on the question of “global per-capita emissions” as has been argued at international fora by both the sides. (PTI inputs)