Mandela kicks off four-day visit to India

Mandela kicks off four-day visit to India

NEW DELHI (AFP): South African President Nelson Mandela
praised India for its staunch opposition to apartheid as he
received a 21-gun salute and red carpet welcome at the start of a
four-day visit here yesterday.

The South African leader, who arrived here late Tuesday,
reviewed an army, navy and air force guard of honor outside the
majestic downtown presidential palace to officially kick off his
first visit to India as head of state.

A South African spokesman said meanwhile that the 76-year-old
Mandela had canceled the private part of his trip because of
unspecified "urgent business at home" and would be leaving on
tomorrow, two days ahead of schedule.

Mandela, after warmly greeting President Shankar Dayal Sharma
and Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, thanked India for its
support in the fight against white rule in his homeland.

"This is a country which has been a lifelong supporter of our
people in the struggle against racial oppression," he said.

Mandela, who recently underwent a cataract operation and was
wearing sunglasses to protect his eyes from the bright morning
sun, said: "India's support made it possible for us to overthrow
our brutal apartheid regime.

"I want to pay gratitude to Indian leaders for their
consistent support in the struggle against racism," he said.

Recalling that India's independence hero Mahatma Gandhi set up
the first non-white political organization -- the Indian Natal
Congress -- in South Africa in 1894, Mandela said he hoped his
trip would "cement" ties with a "lifelong ally."

"Successive Indian leaders have extended the hand of
friendship and helped us face one of the most brutal regimes," he
said.

The South African leader, who appeared relaxed and in good
health, said a joint commission to be established during his
visit would boost trade between the two countries.

Mandela, whose delegation includes a South African-based
granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi, visited Gandhi's mausoleum here
before sitting down for talks with Sharma and Rao.

Today, Mandela is to be chief guest at India's glittering
Republic Day parade down Rajpath, the capital's main avenue.

South African spokesman Joel Netshitenzhe said Mandela will
not go to Bombay and Ahmedabad over the weekend and will return
directly to South Africa tomorrow at the end of the official
portion of his visit.

"There is no truth at all in reports that he is cutting short
the visit because of health reasons," the spokesman said.

"On the basis of discussions with his colleagues and Indian
officials, it was felt that the rest of the trip which was to be
on ANC (African National Congress) business would be postponed
for some other day," Netshitenzhe said.

"Otherwise, the official state visit is as originally
planned," he added. "It is the ANC part of the visit that has
been postponed."

During his stay here, Mandela is also scheduled to address a
luncheon for Indian businessmen and sign agreements establishing
a framework for Indo-South African relations, Indian officials
said.

Mandela will sign an accord on the setting up of an Indo-South
African joint commission, a treaty on relations between the two
countries and a protocol on foreign office consultations.

Indian officials said transfer of South African defense
technology, arms sales and the possible formation of an Indian
Ocean trade bloc would figure during Mandela's meetings with
Indian leaders.

India lifted its economic embargo of South Africa in October
1993 and trade between the two countries is estimated to touch
US$5 billion within a few years.