Neighbours can't be changed, says Antony

Kannur (Kerala), May 28 : For better relations with India, Pakistan will have to dismantle the terror camps on its soil, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Saturday pointing out that friends can be changed but not neighbours.

India has a policy of having good relations with all neighbours. We can change friends but neighbours can't be changed," Antony said addressing the media after laying the foundation-stone of the Indian Coast Guard Academy near here.

"Even when we have problems with our neighbours like China on border disputes, we have good relations with them. With regard to Pakistan, the biggest problem in permanent good relations with them is there are 42 terrorists camps functioning there," he said.

"To have excellent relations with Pakistan, they have to first destroy those terrorist camps and without that it is practically impossible to have the best of relations with them.

"But nevertheless bilateral discussions are going ahead and we are having one such meeting shortly when the defence secretaries of the countries will meet," said Antony.

He also said that the US is giving a lot of arms and money to Pakistan to help flush out Afghan terrorists taking shelter in Pakistan. "But these are being used against us, which is not a nice gesture on the part of (the) US and we have raised this issue with them many times," added Antony.

--IANS

Share this article at

View the original article here

Posted on 4:44 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Neighbours can't be changed, says Antony

For better relations with India, Pakistan will have to dismantle the terror camps on its soil, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Saturday pointing out that friends can be changed but not neighbours.

"India has a policy of having good relations with all neighbours. We can change friends but neighbours can't be changed," Antony said addressing the media after laying the foundation-stone of the Indian Coast Guard Academy near here.

"Even when we have problems with our neighbours like China on border disputes, we have good relations with them. With regard to Pakistan, the biggest problem in permanent good relations with them is there are 42 terrorists camps functioning there," he said.

"To have excellent relations with Pakistan, they have to first destroy those terrorist camps and without that it is practically impossible to have the best of relations with them.

"But nevertheless bilateral discussions are going ahead and we are having one such meeting shortly when the defence secretaries of the countries will meet," said Antony.

He also said that the US is giving a lot of arms and money to Pakistan to help flush out Afghan terrorists taking shelter in Pakistan. "But these are being used against us, which is not a nice gesture on the part of (the) US and we have raised this issue with them many times," added Antony.

View the original article here

Posted on 2:22 PM / 0 comments / Read More

Adarsh scam guilty will not be spared: Antony

Kannur (Kerala), May 28 : Defence Minister A.K. Antony Saturday said it is too early to say who are the accused in the Adarsh Society housing scam but stressed that all those involved in it will be taken to task.

Asked about the progress of investigations into the Adarsh scam, the minister pointed out that the probe is being done by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and not by his ministry.

"All those who are responsible for the scam will certainly be taken to task. At the moment, it is too early to say who are all the accused. I am not the judge but one thing what I can assure is that the guilty will not be spared," Antony told reporters.

Antony earlier laid the foundation stone for the Indian Coast Guard Academy (ICGA), the first in the country, in Azhikkal near here.

The Coast Guard personnel are traditionally trained at the Indian Naval Academy. But in the backdrop of the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, it was decided by the government to significantly increase the Coast Guard's force, their infrastructure and assets.

The ICGA will cater for all maritime specific courses for personnel of the coast guard, navy, marine police and members of the littoral countries on faculties like search and rescue, marine oil spill response, maritime law, fisheries, boarding and rummaging, technical and managerial staff. It will have state of the art infrastructure for training to meet the increasing maritime challenges, according to a defence ministry spokesperson.

--IANS

Share this article at

View the original article here

Posted on 11:45 PM / 0 comments / Read More

Adarsh scam guilty will not be spared: Antony

Defence Minister A.K. Antony Saturday said it is too early to say who are the accused in the Adarsh Society housing scam but stressed that all those involved in it will be taken to task.

Asked about the progress of investigations into the Adarsh scam, the minister pointed out that the probe is being done by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and not by his ministry.

"All those who are responsible for the scam will certainly be taken to task. At the moment, it is too early to say who are all the accused. I am not the judge but one thing what I can assure is that the guilty will not be spared," Antony told reporters.

Antony earlier inaugurated the country's first Coast Guard Academy near here.

View the original article here

Posted on 10:55 PM / 0 comments / Read More

Pakistan must dismantle terrorist camps: Antony

Kannur, May 28 : Defence Minister A K Antony today said there cannot be ''permanent cooperation'' between India and Pakistan unless the latter dismantles terrorist camps functioning in that country.

Talking to reporters here, he said about 42 terror camps were functioning in Pakistan. So, normal relations would be possible only if Pakistan dismantles all the camps, he added.

However, the dialogue process between the two countries has been going on. A meeting of Defence Secretaries of both the countries would be held on May 30 and 31, he said.

--UNI

Share this article at

View the original article here

Posted on 8:53 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Adarsh scam guilty will not be spared: Antony (Lead)

Defence Minister A.K. Antony Saturday said it is too early to say who are the accused in the Adarsh Society housing scam but stressed that all those involved in it will be taken to task.

Asked about the progress of investigations into the Adarsh scam, the minister pointed out that the probe is being done by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and not by his ministry.

"All those who are responsible for the scam will certainly be taken to task. At the moment, it is too early to say who are all the accused. I am not the judge but one thing what I can assure is that the guilty will not be spared," Antony told reporters.

Antony earlier laid the foundation stone for the Indian Coast Guard Academy (ICGA), the first in the country, in Azhikkal near here.

The Coast Guard personnel are traditionally trained at the Indian Naval Academy. But in the backdrop of the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, it was decided by the government to significantly increase the Coast Guard's force, their infrastructure and assets.

The ICGA will cater for all maritime specific courses for personnel of the coast guard, navy, marine police and members of the littoral countries on faculties like search and rescue, marine oil spill response, maritime law, fisheries, boarding and rummaging, technical and managerial staff. It will have state of the art infrastructure for training to meet the increasing maritime challenges, according to a defence ministry spokesperson.

View the original article here

Posted on 5:16 AM / 0 comments / Read More

Antony assures central assistance for development of ports

Kannur, Kerala, May 28 : Defence Minister A K Antony today assured Central assistance for the development of Azhikkal Port.

Speaking to reporters here, Mr Antony said he would do everything in his powers to facilitate the Central assitance for the project.

He also said infrastructure development in Cantonment Board areas would be undertaken only with the help of the state government.

Mr Antony said the Centre had extended cooperation to the previous LDF Government as it took only development and growth of the states into consideration and not the party or the Front ruling the state.

He expressed the hope that the current UDF Government in Kerala will extend full cooperation to the Centre.

Mr Antony said if the government, Opposition, industrialists and the bureaucracy worked together, Kerala can become a developed state in ten years.

--UNI

Share this article at

View the original article here

Posted on 4:26 PM / 0 comments / Read More