UK recognises Manmohan Singh's decision is a "difficult" one

KOCHI: United Kingdom today said it recognises that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's decision not to personally attend the CHOGM summit in Colombo from November 15 is a "difficult" one.

"We recognise that it is really a difficult decision which we have thought hard about. We know that other countries, including Canada, for example, as well have decided not to send their heads of government. It is a very difficult decision," British Deputy High Commissioner to Chennai Bharat Suresh Joshi told reporters here.

Joshi, who is here in connection with the four-day visit of Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker Bowles to Kerala from today, was reacting to queries on India's decision not to send its Prime Minister to the CHOGM meet.

"Our government has taken the decision that the meeting is about the Commonwealth and we believe that for the wider interests of Commonwealth, we should be attending", he said.

This was also an opportunity to raise our concerns on human rights issues with the Sri Lankan government, he said.