Robin Cook, Pm Backpaddle On Statements

PRIME MINISTER IK Gujral145s managers and British Foreign Secretary (Minister) Robin Cook backpaddled yesterday, denying both145s recent antagonistic remarks. The result: Kashmir did not figure in their hour-long talks. Nor did Indo-Pakistan relations, or the British Queen145s speech to the Pakistan Parliament.

A promise of British backing for India145s membership of ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) was, and Cook145s hope for intensified economic cooperation.

India145s desire for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council figured. Cook said Britain strongly supported its expansion, to reflect the world as it is rather than what it was in 1945. Gujral said objective criteria should be evolved for the expansion.

Asked whether India145s anger at the Labour party145s recent offers of mediation on Kashmir had been conveyed, a spokesperson grinned like a cat: 145I think that has been made adequately clear. It had, though both sides seemed happy enough as long as their comments were not on record any more.

The ministry of external affairs had stated that reports quoting Gujral in Cairo calling Britain a 145third rate power had no foundation. Cook welcomed that and said he 145gave no interview, press conference or public statement on Kashmir while in Pakistan. (ends)