European Union foreign ministers Monday said a summit with Indian leaders set to be held in The Hague had been cancelled due to "domestic circumstances" in India, but vowed to work with Delhi on a "strategic partnership" covering political, economic and cultural issues. A short statement by the Dutch presidency of the E.U. said India had given "pressing domestic circumstances as the reason for calling off the summit." Diplomats said Delhi made the request following gun and bomb attacks by suspected separatist rebels in the country's troubled northeast region. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had been due to attend the summit with E.U. leaders. Despite the cancelled meeting, however, E.U. foreign ministers said they would boost hitherto low-key relations with India by launching talks on a "strategic partnership" with Delhi. The talks would include discussions on reinforcing the United Nations, fighting terrorism and ensuring stability in South Asia. Responding to a first-ever Indian paper on relations with the E.U. published in August, E.U. ministers identified several key areas for reinforced cooperation: - strengthening economic relations through boosting trade and investments; - working for more effective E.U.-India cooperation in the U.N. and other multilateral fora; - increased cooperation to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; - pursuing a dialogue on human rights and democracy in a "mutually respectful and constructive manner;" - deepening cultural relations; - promoting sustainable development; - reinforcing cooperation on international migration. Ministers also urged India to pursue its economic reforms with "vigour" and highlighted E.U. interest in helping the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) to become a motor for regional integration and stability in the sub-continent. --SP 1458 Local Time 1158 GMT
