* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Comments, feedback, suggestion? Post to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more info on Goanet: http://goanet.netfirms.com To join Goanet, Goa's premier mailing list (estd 1994) http://joingoanet.shorturl.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * PARRIKAR IN TOUCH WITH NEW DELHI, OVER GULF ISSUE
>From Frederick Noronha Panjim: March 20, 2003 Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar has assured all possible assistance to the Goans working in the Gulf Countries in view of the Iraq war that has broke out. "Mr. Parrikar said he was closely monitoring the situation in the gulf countries and was in constant touch with the Union Government taking up the cause of Gulf Goans in providing assistance to those in need," an official Department of Information release said here. The CM was also further quoted saying that he was also in touch with the NRI Cell set up in this State to supplement efforts to assist those in need.. Parrikar appealed to the families of Goans working in the Gulf countries to maintain "a calm composure" in view of the war, stating that his government was working in all areas to ensure safety to lives and property of their breadwinner. Goa has a significant proportion of its population working as expats in the Gulf region. There are however no accurate figures or reliable guestimates about the numbers of Goan expat workers in the Gulf region. During the 1990 Gulf War, the figures of Goans based in Kuwait -- the world's second-largest exporter of petroleum -- ranged from a low of about 8,000 (the official estimate) to as many as 25,000, living in that small Arab state among its total population of 2 million. The latter figure was put out by expat groups based there. INDO-ASIAN NEWS SERVICE reports from New Delhi: An inter-ministerial group set up by India to monitor the Iraq crisis concluded Thursday that there was "no cause for panic" for the safety and security of 3.5 million Indians living in the Gulf region. The Crisis Management Group, headed by R.M. Abhyankar, secretary (Asia and North Africa) in the external affairs ministry, made a comprehensive review of the situation in the wake of the U.S.-led attacks against Iraq. External affairs ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said the group took stock of the feedback received from Indian embassies in Gulf countries and came to the conclusion that there was "no cause for panic" at present. At the same time, the government was prepared for any eventuality should the need arise, he said in response to queries whether evacuation of Indian nationals was being contemplated. Officials from the labour, defence and petroleum ministries participated in the meeting. The group's control room was fully functional and in contact with Indian embassies in Gulf countries. Sarna stressed that Air-India flights that brought Indians back from Kuwait on Thursday were not part of any evacuation measures. "They were normal commercial flights," he said. Air-India had arranged additional flights as schools in Kuwait had closed and Indian employees were returning with their families, he said. Four Air-India flights were despatched to bring from Kuwait some 1,200 Indians who had sought help to come back. Two of the flights carrying 750 Indians landed in Mumbai on Thursday morning, one before and another shortly after the U.S. started bombing Baghdad. Sarna further said in response to questions that India was in touch with international interlocutors on the Iraq crisis.(ENDS) -- Frederick Noronha : http://www.bytesforall.org : When we speak of free Freelance Journalist : Goa India 403511 : software we refer to Ph 0091.832.409490 : Cell 0 9822 122436 : freedom, not price. _______________________________________________ Goanet-news mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.goanet.org/mailman/listinfo/goanet-news