Menon, Narayanan to attend Munich Conference

New Delhi/Kolkata, Feb.5 (ANI): Two representatives from India will for the first time be taking part in the Munich Security Conference which starts today.

National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon and his predecessor and now Governor of West Bengal M.K. Narayanan will attend the security meeting, informed sources said.Raj Bhawan sources in Kolkata confirmed that Narayanan will be away till February 8.Naryanan has been a regular participant in the Munich Security Conference before heading off to the Raj Bhawan in Kolkata last month. This is the 46th annual conference and it is a rarity that a former NSA is invited to the event, diplomatic sources said. Narayanan's personal rapport with German NSA Christoph

Huesgen has earned him the invitation even after his departure from South Block.

Interestingly, China is taking part in the conference for the first time. India has been using the Munich podium to apprise the world about its security concerns viz-a-viz Pakistan and to highlight its role in Afghanistan. This year, however, Iran and US arms sale to Taiwan are likely to dominate the discourse.

Nuclear arms safety, NPT, disarmament, the future of Afghanistan, maritime security, especially off the Somali coast, stability in the Persian Gulf and the Middle East are also expected to be discussed.

The German contingent will be led by Chancellor Angela Merkel. Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai is also expected to take part.Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jeichi will deliver the keynote address. By Naveen Kapoor (ANI)