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Mamata says talks with Clinton constructive, creative | West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday described her meeting with visiting United States Secretary
of State Hillary Clinton as constructive and creative. Addressing media after
the nearly hour-long meeting with Clinton , Banerjee said: "We had a very positive,
constructive, creative and concrete discussion." "We discussed our burning issues
like Darjeeling and Jungle Mahal which are now settled, so that is a good situation...
We discussed everything in details - it was an one hour meeting. I will be happy
if we work together," she added. Banerjee further said that discussions had also
centered on culture, tourism, IT and entertainment, and added that she had told
Clinton to meet her again. On the issue of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), Banerjee
said: "We are part of the world, we will allow FDI where we need investment. We
did not discuss any strategic issue." She also said that Clinton appreciated the
West Bengal Government's passion for work and implementation of developmental
policies. Earlier, Clinton urged energy-starved India to reduce its oil imports
from Iran to maintain global pressure on that country to come clean on its nuclear
program. Addressing a town hall meeting here, Clinton said New Delhi could find
and tap alternative sources for oil, and added that Washington would like to see
New Delhi do more to reduce its imports from Iran . " India ... is certainly working
towards lowering purchases of Iranian oil. We commend the steps they have taken
thus far. We hope they will do even more," she said. Clinton also brings up Hafiz
Saeed, saying that she authorized the 10 million dollar bounty leading to information
leading to arrest, as a means of showing India that the US stands with it. She
said that both the US and India with their pluralistic societies are the biggest
threat to extremists because of their culture of tolerance. The extremists hate
tolerance. They want everyone to think the way she do. Clinton will head to Delhi
on Monday afternoon, where she will have meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj. On Tuesday, she
will have a meeting with External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna before addressing
a joint press conference with him. Clinton said the United States wanted a peaceful
solution and pointed to efforts by President Barack Obama early in his term to
reach out to Iran.
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