§ Mr. Rathboneasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in posting drug liaison officers in Bombay and Delhi.
§ Mr. EggarMy right hon. and learned Friend informed the House on 11 June that the Government of India had 143W agreed in principle to the posting of drug liaison officers. This reflected assurances in a letter from the Indian high commissioner to me dated 3 June, which also said that the modalities of the posting and the parameters of work for the officers should be worked out between the two Governments. Our acting high commissioner in New Delhi obtained oral confirmation from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs shortly afterwards that no questions relating to the modalities or parameters of the officers' postings were outstanding. Visas were issued for two officers on 12 June. On 24 June we heard from the Indian high commission that the designated officers should not take up their postings without written consent, pending the resolution of certain commercial matters unrelated to drugs co-operation.
We regret the fact that obstacles have been placed in the way of these postings. We are pursuing this matter vigorously in the hope of an early and satisfactory solution. We remain committed to close international cooperation, which is the only way to defeat drug traffickers. We have accordingly made plain to the Indian Government at the highest level our hope that this issue, which ought not to be a matter of difficulty between us, can be speedily resolved in our mutual interest.