I would like to say a few words about our relations with Iran and Iraq. In the last few years, Iran has shown greater understanding than before on a number of issues of concern to us and has also actively developed contact in the fields of economic co-opearion. Iran has demonstrated its interest in the stability of the region. Its friendly relations with Pakistan need not hinder the further strengthening of our bilateral relations, and it is our hope and desire that Indo-Iranian friendship and cooperation will continue to grow to mutual benefit.

With Iraq, our relations have been traditionally close an friendly. The Prime Minister was accorded a very cordial reception when she visited Iraq in January this year. Iraq was the first country to extend easy payment terms for oil when we were in need. In the circumstances, the news of an accord between Iran and Iraq in March this year over the boundary and other problems has been very welcome, and we hope that both these countries will work together in the interest of the whole region.

I had referred earlier in my speech to the threat of military intervention in this region .. I am talking about the west Asia region. Some contingencies will have to be faced by us with the confidence that gun-boat diplomacy is not an effective political instrument. The Suez misadventure of 1956 bears testimony to that. At the same time, we have to redouble our efforts to strengthen the solidarity of the entire non-aligned world, so that our unity and determination may serve as a warning to the potential inverventinist.

While we shall continue to direct our efforts towards getting the developed world to better appreciate the point of view of the developing countries and towards promoting proposals for international co-operation, the safeguarding of our own security interests would naturally assume paramount importance. In that context, we have to continue to build up and strengthen our relations with these countries which would stand by us.