figure might have. President Tito expressed the conviction that a human approach to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman would be in the interest of the peaceful political solution and in the interest of peace and stability in the sub-continent, as he had laid down in his appeal to the President of Pakistan, Mr. Yahya Khan, on August 14, 1971. The Prime Minister of India reiterated that Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the selected leader of East Bengal, should be released unconditionally as an essential pre-requisite to a peaceful solution.
The Prime Minister of India stated that the Government of India are determined that the refugees must go back to their homeland without delay and that urgent measures need to be taken to that end. The Yugoslav side agreed with this. Pending the speedy return of the refugees, both sides agreed that the care of these millions of refugees must be concern of the entire world community and effective and prompt international action needed to be undertaken to that end.
The two sides noted that in Europe, although still divided and burdened by the vestings of the last war, conditions have improved, creating an atmosphere for strengthening security and peace and for constructive co-operation among the European countries on a basis of equality.
It was felt during the talks that-in spite of certain positive trends and serious attempts to solve some major world problems by negotiation-the policy of force, aggression and interference in internal affairs continued in international relations, constituting a danger to the independence and security of countries and an obstacle to their independent development.
Both sides were firmly of the view that their policy of non-alignment was an important bond between them. Yugoslavia and India dedicated to the principles and objectives of non-alignment and considering that the present international situation calls for international activities by the non-aligned countries, agreed to take resolute steps for the implementation of the programme adopted by the Conference in Lusaka.
Both sides considered the disquieting international monetary crisis and economic situation. They noted that no progress had been achieved in reducing the gap between the developed and the developing countries and in removing the discriminatory measures negatively affecting the developing countries.
They reaffirmed that the developing countries, which are most affected by the present world economic crisis, should take more energetic steps collectively to improve the situation.
Both sides agreed that the concrete programmes for development, co-operation and integration amongst developing countries at inter-regional, regional and sub-regional levels for accelerating economic growth agreed to at the Lusaka Conference of nonaligned States should be implemented for more rapid development of the developing countries. In this contest, they stressed the importance of the Conference of Asian Foreign Trade Ministers of Bangkok and the Ministerial Conference of the Group of 77 which will be held in Lima later this month.
