September 14, 2005

With hours to go for the much awaited dinner date between Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, the rumours doing the rounds here is that Musharraf may yet again hog the media limelight, an art at which he has been a past master.

The individual addresses to the 60th session of the U.N.General Assembly notwithstanding, a look at Musharraf's programme while in New York is mindboggling to say the least.

If Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Naeem Khan is to be believed, the Pakistan President will not only be addressing world leaders on the eve of 60th session, he will also be addressing the Jewish Congress where he is expected to lay emphasis on inter-faith dialogue and put forth proposals to evolve harmony among various religions.

Musharraf will also be meeting the heads of different states, attend receptions and dinners, besides addressing the US and world media. A meeting with U.S.President George W Bush is also scheduled. President Bush will host a reception for President General Pervez Musharraf and Pakistan's First Lady Sehba Musharraf

Khan also said Pakistan holds the presidency of UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and president Musharraf will chair a breakfast meeting of the ECOSOC Bureau at the Head of State/Government level on September 15.

In addition, Musharraf will also chair a High Level Roundtable on "Innovation and Investment: Scaling Science and Technology to meet MDGS". Several other leaders and senior industry executives and civil societies representatives will also attend the Roundtable.

He will also attend an informal Summit Meeting on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace, convened by the President of the Philippines, an event co-sponsored by Pakistan.

Musharraf will also attend a dinner hosted by the President of Mexico Group of friends. The Group of Friends was formed at the Mexican Initiative and has evolved common positions on a number of issues in the context of the UN reforms.

On the sidelines of the UNGA, the president will hold a large number of bilateral meetings including with the presidents of China, Iran, Austria, Algeria, Gambia, King of Jordan and Prime Ministers of United Kingdom, Bangladesh and Norway. The meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be followed by a press stake out.

Musharraf will also have extensive media engagements. These include an interaction with Time Magazine with participation of journalists and business leaders, interviews with leading media networks including CNN, New York Time, Washington Post, NBC and MSNBC.

He will round up his U.S.visit with a trip to the CENTCOM headquarters in Tampa, Floridam where he will meet CENTCOM chief General John Abdizad

In contrast, Dr. Manmohan Singh has already had a 30-minute meeting with President Bush, which was originally unscheduled. He is now meeting with captains of American industry, and according to his media adviser, Dr.Sanjaya Baru, does not consider it necessary to engage in a media blitz.

"The fact is that General Musharraf is giving interviews galore does not make Dr Manmohan Singh change his mind," Baru said.

He further went on to say that apart from a few bilateral meetings, Dr. Singh would be meeting the Editorial Board of the New York Times on September 16 before his departure. He is also likely to give an interview to the FORTUNE magazine.

The impression in New York is that General Musharraf is a squash player. He would like people to come into his court, whether at home or abroad, to enable him to dictate the the speed and sequence. There are many who have tried to engage him and failed.