New York 
September 19, 2005

(Photo Gallery)

External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh had a cordial and friendly meeting with Dr. Condoleezza Rice, U.S. Secretary of State, at Waldorf Astoria in New York today.

The meeting was a follow-up to the meetings our Prime Minister had with President Bush on September 13 and with Condoleeza Rice on September 15. The External Affairs Minister and the Secretary of State reviewed recent developments on several multilateral and regional issues. The Secretary of State briefed EAM on the agreement reached in the six-party talks on the DPRK nuclear issue. They welcomed the landmark agreement which has led to the abandonment of the nuclear weapon programme of the DPRK and its return to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The agreement was testimony to the importance of relying on patient, multilateral efforts to resolve a difficult and complex issue. 

The External Affairs Minister and the Secretary of State reviewed developments on the issue of Iran’s nuclear programme and the consultations currently in progress at the IAEA in Vienna. The EAM conveyed the importance of engaging in intensive diplomatic efforts to evolve an international consensus on this issue. They agreed to remain in regular and close touch on this matter.