• How would you describe the current state of Indo-German relations as both sides prepare for Chancellor Merkel’s visit?

Bilateral ties between India and Germany are closer than ever before. We have established a strategic partnership which is far more than establishing close economic ties that traditionally exist between our countries. Today, our political leaders meet regularly, even at the topmost levels. We know that none of the major global challenges and issues can be resolved without countries of global importance such as India and Germany. When at the end of October German Chancellor

Angela Merkel meets Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi political issues from Afghanistan to UN reforms or the G8 are on the agenda.

• How far has G8’s outreach effort known as the Heiligendamm Process moved since the June summit?

G8 heads of state and government together, with the leaders of the world’s most important emerging economies, India, Brazil, China, Mexico and South Africa decided to initiate the “Heiligendamm-Process” — a new form of topic-driven dialogue between G8 countries and their outreach partners. As we speak, the first high level meeting of the Heiligendamm Process is being held in Berlin under the German G8-presidency. This is an effort to upgrade the relationship to a continuous dialogue among equals.

• Can you tell us how difficult it is to get the Indo-US nuclear agreement through the NSG, of which Germany is the next chair?

Countries are not homogenous and have various interest groups... groups tend to believe that the Indo-US nuclear deal could have damaging effects on the nuclear non-proliferation regime as it exists. It needs to be pointed out that the kind of civil nuclear cooperation India is striving for is given to those countries who form part and parcel of the obligations under the non-proliferation treaty. In this regard, you are somehow undermining the attractiveness of the NPT-regime for others who have submitted to these conditions.

... contd.