US ambassador-designate confident of finding 'common ground' with India

United States Ambassador-designate to India Richard F Celeste has made a strong case for raising Washington's engagement with India to the same level as with 'major nations' like Russia and China.

''I believe the recent visits of Assistant Secretary for South-Asian Affairs Karl Inderfurth and Under Secretary for Political Affairs Thomas Pickering have helped broaden the context of this engagement,'' he said before the Senate Relations Committee which met on Tuesday to decide on his confirmation.

Celeste, once confirmed, would fill the chair which Frank Wisner vacated in August.

He acknowledged the disagreement between the two countries on 'critical issues' including arms control, nuclear nonproliferation and missiles.

''(But) we share many goals, and with goodwill and perseverance we can find a common ground,'' he said.

Celeste said these issues were too complex and would ''continue to be an important part of our intensified dialogue with India.''

A former governor of Ohio, 58-year-old Celeste felt India could be a major force in support of global cooperation on matters like nonproliferation, anti-narcotics and terrorism, peace- keeping, environment and health, human rights and child labour and trade.

The ambassador-designate is not new to India. In the 1960s, he had served under Ambassador Chester Bowles in New Delhi.

''The four years I spent there has made a deep impression," he remarked.

He highlighted five elements of Indo-US relations: shared democratic institutions, growing economic and commercial relations, interest in regional stability, concerns related to nonproliferation and missile systems and cooperation on 'global issues.'

The two countries have much to offer each other, he said.

Echoing President Bill Clinton's stand that the US would not interfere about Kashmir, Celeste said his country did not want an 'artificial role' in the issue.

He noted that many Indians and Pakistanis, as they marked the 50th anniversary of their Independence, longed to put aside their ancient hostility.

''Deep-rooted differences over issues such as the status of Kashmir, missile and nuclear programmes and border delineation will not go away overnight,'' he said, ''Nevertheless, I hope that as we approach a new century, the advantages of co-operation over conflict will bring India and Pakistan closer. We look forward to good relations with both.''

Referring to the 'changes of major consequence' that, of late, had been taking place in India, Celeste said devolution of power and responsibility from centre to states was a profound change -- one in which he, as a former governor, would take a special interest.

He expressed confidence that the US would benefit from the market-oriented reforms in India.

''We can play an important role in supporting reforms,'' he said.

UNI