The President Mrs. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil has said that India wants to deal effectively and seriously with the issue of corruption. In a statement after meeting her Austrian counterpart, Mr. Heinz Fischer today in Vienna, Mrs. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil said that India is actively considering becoming a member of International Anti- Corruption Academy, IACA, which is a joint initiative by the United Nations Office on Drugs And Crime, UNODC, the Republic of Austria, the European Anti Fraud Office, OLAF and other stakeholders. IACA is a pioneer institution in Vienna, Austria that aims to overcome current shortcomings in knowledge and practice in the field of anti- corruption.
Briefing the media, the President informed that India and Austria signed two Memoranda of Understanding today – one on Technology Specific Cooperation in the field of Railways and the second on Cooperation in Science and Technology. She said that over the past six decades, India and Austria have developed strong ties and institutional framework for dialogue and cooperation in the political, economic, commercial and science and technology fields.
Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil further informed the media that the entire gamut of bilateral relations, as well as regional and multilateral issues of concern to countries came up for discussions. She said that the issue of international terrorism which has emerged as a fundamental threat to global peace and security was discussed. It was felt that open and democratic societies like India and Austria are particularly vulnerable to this menace. Mrs. Patil said, the terrorist attacks in Mumbai and recently in Delhi and elsewhere in the world, make it essential that we remain resolute and determined in our joint efforts to eliminate terrorism.
Mrs. Patil said that India sees Austria as a partner in all international forums. India strongly believes that there is an urgent need to reform the United Nations. The Security Council needs to be restructured to reflect the contemporary realities if it wishes to react effectively to the many emerging collective security challenge further said the President.
Mrs. Patil said that a business delegation from India has accompanied to explore business opportunities that exist between our two countries, and to give greater content to this important sphere of our interaction.
The Austrian President said that India being the biggest democracy in the world deserves a stronger position in UN Security Council. He said that trade between the two nations has increased substantially over the years. He informed that an International Anti-Corruption Academy has been set up in Austria.
