(a)
whether several countries had condemned the hijacking of Indian Airlines Aircraft in December, 1999;
(b)
if so, the details thereof;
(c)
whether it is a fact that Canada had suggested to resort to negotiations with hijackers instead of condemning the incident of hijacking; and
(d)
if so, the reaction of Indian Government thereto?
THE MINISTER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI JASWANT SINGH)
(a)-(b) The hijacking of IC-814 received widespread international condemnation. This was elaborated in the official statements issued by several foreign Governments. These statements of condemnation left no room for doubt that the hijacking of IC-814 represented an unacceptable act of international terrorism and that any action undertaken by Government would receive full support.
(c)-(d) The Government of Canada issued a statement saying that as it considered the safety of the passengers on board to be of the utmost importance, it was actively supporting a negotiated settlement to the hijack crisis. The Government of Canada also said that they could not overlook their wider concerns about terrorism and the threat that this posed to the international community.