VP to raise issue of cross-border terror with Hungary, Algeria

Vice-President Hamid Ansari today said the issue of cross-border terrorism, which has badly affected India, will be raised with the top leadership of Hungary and Algeria during his five-day trip to the two nations as he arrived here in the Hungarian capital.
"Fight against terrorism is a universal subject now. It will figure in our discussions with both the countries," he told reporters accompanying him on board Air India One.
Ansari was replying to a question on whether he would raise the issue of cross border terrorism affecting India with the leadership of both Hungary and Algeria, in the wake of the terror attack in Uri in which 19 soldiers were killed.

The Vice President said that Algeria had dealt with its domestic terrorism very effectively in the past.
"This is an area where we can have ties and cooperation with Algeria," he said.
In Hungary, the issue of cross border terror emanating from across India's border will be raised in his bilateral meetings with Hungary's President Janos Ader, Prime Minister Viktor Orban and other top leadership.

Two MoUs, including one on river management will be signed by India and Hungary during the Vice-President's visit.
Ansari said Hungary has immense experience in cleaning river as well as making it navigational and the MoU on river management is expected to help India get expertise in cleaning Ganga and other rivers.

The Vice-President said that bilateral relations at the highest level of the government was very limited in the past and his visit would fill up the gap.
Ansari's visit to Hungary comes over two decades after then President Shankar Dayal Sharma had visited the central European country in 1993.
On the second leg of his visit from October 17, Ansari
will tour Algeria, the North African country being a major source of oil and gas.
"Algeria has extensive deposits of phosphate. We want to explore whether joint venture industries could be set up in Algeria with Algerian phosphate and gas and Indian funds and technology so that fertilisers could be brought to India from Algeria instead of raw materials," he said.

The visit to Algeria comes after a long "cooling off" period in bilateral relations.
Algeria's President Abdelaziz Bouteflika was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations way back in 2001.
In his deliberations with the Algerian President, Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and other top leadership, Ansari said he would like to revive the old and deep ties that India has with the Arab nation.
He said due to some difference of opinion on some third country, there was a "cooling off" period in relations but that time is over now.
"They (Algeria) want cooperation and we want cooperation. Both sides want the relations to be strengthened," he said.

Ansari is accompanied by union minister of state for chemicals and fertilisers Mansukh L Mandava, MPs Prabhakar Kore, Javed Ali Khan and Saugata Roy.