Discussions on public appearances of leaders are standard protocol, government sources said on Monday following remarks by US envoy Sergio Gor that New Delhi told the American side before a meeting between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in France that it would not prefer a press interaction.

Modi and Trump held talks in France’s Evian-les-Bains on June 17 on the margins of the G7 summit.

Gor, speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had conveyed to the US side that it would prefer no media interaction by the leaders after the meeting.

The US envoy suggested that Trump had forgotten the request and ended up taking many questions as the media interaction lasted for almost 45 minutes after the meeting with Modi.

The sources said it was normal to have discussions on arrangements before public appearances of leaders.

“Discussions regarding arrangements for public appearances of leaders are normal practice ahead of any VVIP visit,” a source said.

“In this regard, the Indian side communicated its standard practice for such visits,” it added.

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