27 September,2015 07:55 AM IST | | Agencies
Expressed worry to leaders of Jordan, Egypt and Sweden over ISIS threat
New York: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed ways of combatting radicalisation with Jordan's King Abdullah II, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah el-Sisi and Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven in separate meetings on Friday.
In talks with the three leaders, the threat from ISIS and other radical groups came up, according to external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup. They talked about ways to counter radicalisation in this context.
Modi met Abdullah at Hotel Mandarin, where he was staying - so far the only trip Modi has taken out of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel to specifically visit a leader at his lodging. To counter radicalisation, Modi told him, terrorism must be delinked from religion. He also advocated for the Comprehensive Convention Against Terrorism, which has been languishing due to opposition from certain countries over the definition of terrorists.
Abdullah backed Security Council reforms and supported India's bid for a permanent seat.
Besides how to counter radicalisation and terror, Modi and el-Sisi discussed economic issues. The New Suez Canal that was recently opened offered India investment opportunities, Modi was told during the bilateral meeting at the UN. Modi also met Kenny Anthony, the prime minister of St Lucia, a small Caribbean island nation of 173,000 people. Anthony told Modi that he appreciated the importance he gave to small countries like his.
Modi invited Sweden to participate in his "Make in India" and "Skills India" initiatives. Among areas that the two countries can cooperate, Modi mentioned railways for which he has ambitious expansion plans.
