India, Pak. urged to observe Olympics Truce.

By K.K. Katyal.

The Hindu

(Copyright) 2002 Katsuri & Sons Ltd

02/07/2002

NEW DELHI, FEB. 6. Invoking the spirit of Olympic Truce, Greece has approached India with the suggestion for taking steps, calculated to reduce tension during the winter games, due to start on February 8. A letter to this effect, addressed to the President, K.R. Narayanan, from his Greek counterpart, Stephanophoulos, was delivered to the foreign office today. A similar plea is being made to Pakistan.

The XIX Olympic Games are to be held in Salt Lake City in the U.S. from February 8 to 24. Greece, at whose instance the ancient tradition of Olympic Truce was revived in 1992, had since secured active U.N. support for the idea. On December 11 last year, the General Assembly adopted a resolution, requesting the member states to observe the Olympic Truce during the winter games. Earlier, on more than one occasion, the world body had commended its observance, individually and collectively, in the interest of the peaceful settlement of international conflicts through diplomatic means.

The Greek initiative now (in relation to India and Pakistan, apart from other trouble spots) seeks to consolidate the universally acclaimed idea of peace during the period of Olympic Games, whenever and wherever these are held. The appeal to India (and Pakistan) is sought to be based on humanitarian factors, avoiding the question of rights or wrongs of their positions.

India and Pakistan are not involved in active hostilities and, as such, the Greek appeal boils down to a plea for steps for reducing tensions, through dialogue or whatever other means are considered appropriate. Greece, it is pointed out, is not initiating, directly or indirectly, any move for mediation or a third-party role nor is it suggesting reduction of vigilance against terrorism or, in any way, implying infringement of the sight of self-defence. The emphasis is on the spirit of the Olympic Truce idea which, in the recent past, had manifested itself in different ways - such as North and South Korea taking part in Olympic Games under one flag and the U.S. suspending bombing of Iraq.

A special envoy, Y.A. Zafos, till recently the Greek Ambassador in India brought his President's letter. There was another letter for Jaswant Singh, from his counterpart in Athens, George Papandreous. The Greek side took the initiative in the hope that the Olympic Truce will send to the world a powerful message of moderation and humanity, with far-reaching repercussions, and that the culture of sport and peace could be come a strong inspiration for the youth of the entire world.

India's official position, presumably explained to the Greek envoy, is that it is not initiating any hostile action and is awaiting implementation by Pakistan of the anti-terrorism agenda, enunciated by its President, Pervez Musharraf.