Communicated by the
Prime Minister's Media Advisor
Jerusalem, July 3, 2000 Ehud Barak yesterday evening (Sunday), 2.7.2000, met with Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh. PM Barak meets Indian FM Jaswant Singh Prime Minister
Prime Minister Barak stressed the great potential in economic and technological cooperation between Israel and India and proposed a series of measures in order to strengthen and improve bilateral relations.
Prime Minister Barak briefed Foreign Minister Singh on the peace process and emphasized that as we are approaching the moment of truth, Israel is willing to make difficult decisions but added that there is a need for the other side to compromise as well.
Foreign Minister Singh commended the withdrawal from southern Lebanon and emphasized that India supports the peace process and understands Israel's security needs. He gave Prime Minister Barak an official invitation, on behalf of Indian Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, to visit India in the near future. Prime Minister Barak accepted the invitation; a date for the visit, that is convenient for both countries, will be worked out. The two men also discussed the current situation in the Indian sub-continent.