Labels

Germany sharing 'substantial' info with India on black money

New Delhi, Sep 23 (PTI) Germany is sharing substantial information with India on black money stashed overseas and will continue to do so, the country's Ambassador said today. Yes. We are doing that. Very substantial kind of information (we are sharing it with India). We are already doing it, German Ambassador to India Thomas Matussek told reporters here in response to a volley of questions on the black money issue. However, he refused to elaborate on the sharing of information saying it was too technical issue for him comment. Matussek said both countries are satisfied with the progress being made in this regard. I can say that soon we hope to come to a satisfactory conclusion (on the issue), he said on the sidelines of an event. To repeated questions whether Germany is sharing with India the names of those Indians who have accounts abroad, he said: I don't have it. I don't have the names of the account holders and I don't have the account numbers. On the Indian Air Force's MMRCA deal, for which Eurofighter Typhoon, built by four nations including Germany has been short-listed, he described India as an anchor of stability in the region and said that was why Germany was giving it the best technology it possesses. Asked whether the ties between India and Germany would be affected if the Eurofighter does not get shortlisted, he said, We don't take this hypothesis. We will work very very hard to show that our product is a very good product. So we are not talking about Plan B. We are concentrating on Plan A. The German Ambassador said India and Germany are sharing intelligence on terror attacks and the frequency of the exercise has increased since the 26/11 strikes in Mumbai. We are working very closely. Intelligence sharing is happening between India and Germany, But there is always room for improvement, he said. To a question on India's stand on nuclear energy and the recent protests in Kudankulam against atomic reactors, Matussek said India has a right to decide its energy policy. We took a decision to get out of nuclear form of power. But we respect India has chosen a different path from that of ours, he said. Matussek said Germany would support the draft resolution that India plans to move at the United Nations General Assembly on the issue of reforms of the Security Council to reflect the geo-political realities of the current times. He said India and Germany have common interest in the stability of Afghanistan and Pakistan and both countries share same set of ideas. The Ambassador said the Bonn conference on Afghanistan was primarily convened to discuss the current situation in the war-torn country and the way forward. In reply to a question, he said he was not aware whether the Taliban has been invited for the conference. To another question on death penalty being awarded in India, he said Germany opposes death sentence but respects the Indian judiciary which has given the judgement.

No comments:

Post a Comment