JCP chair holds talks with India's defense minister

Japanese Communist Party Executive Committee Chair Shii Kazuo on December 17 held talks with Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes at his official residence in New Delhi. The Indian defense minister welcomed the JCP delegation and expressed hope for further exchanges with the JCP.

Shii and Fernandes briefed each other on their policies concerning issues relating to international peace, including the Iraq question and nuclear weapons. They also discussed the issue of globalization, the history of Japan-India relations, and future bilateral cooperation.

On the issue of the international peace, Shii emphasized the importance of a peaceful solution to the Iraq question within the U.N. framework in opposition to the use of force against Iraq.

Fernandes expressed his complete agreement with Shii and criticized the U.S. government for trying to rush into attacking Iraq regardless of Iraq's response to UNSC Resolution 1441, pointing to the danger of the United Nations being turned into an instrument that serves U.S. aims.

Referring to the UNSC resolution that excluded the automatic use of force by the United States, Shii pointed out that non-aligned countries as well as international opinion for peace played an important role in adopting it. Citing the recent tour by a JCP delegation of six Middle Eastern countries, the joint statement by France, Russia, and China, and the joint declaration issued on December 8 by the Indian and Russian leaders stressing the importance of a diplomatic solution to the Iraq question and the role of the United Nations, Shii emphasized the need to exert all efforts to achieve a peaceful resolution based on Resolution 1441. Fernandes agreed with Shii's statement.

The Indian defense minister explained how India came to possess nuclear weapons.

In explaining the JCP position on the issue of nuclear weapons, Shii said that the JCP protested against the nuclear test explosions by India and Pakistan in 1998 but that it sent letters to the leaders of the five nuclear weapon countries calling on them to begin international negotiations aimed at abolishing nuclear weapons, pointing out the contradictions and failure of the nuclear non-proliferation regime.

Shii said that the JCP, which is working in the only Atomic bombed country, wants nuclear possessing countries to take the initiative for the elimination of nuclear weapons.

Fernandes explained that India's government has made efforts at the United Nations to get nuclear weapons outlawed, that he himself was imprisoned because of his political commitment to the anti-nuclear weapons movement, and that he has photos of Gandhi and the A-bomb dome of Hiroshima in his office.

Shii suggested that India might look at the possibility of its officials' participation in the World Conference against A and H Bombs in Hiroshima/Nagasaki. Fernandes said it would be good if India's officials can attend the World Conference.

Shii also explained the JCP policy of working toward the establishment of a new democratic and equitable international economic order. Fernandes stated that a new economic cooperation is needed in Asia by defending the economic sovereignty of each country, and that Japan has a great role to play in this regard.

Concerning the Kashimir issue, a source of tension between India and Pakistan, Shii referred to letters signed by JCP leaders (Central Committee Chair Fuwa Tetsuzo and Shii) and sent to both governments in June, and requested India, as a member of the non-aligned movement, to take the initiative in peacefully settling this issue.

Fernandes explained India's position on this, and promised that India will never initiate a nuclear war. (end)