Annual Report 1976-77
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APPENDICES
NUMBER PAGE
I. Major International Conferences/Meetings/Seminars etc.
organised by Inter-Governmental Organisations at which
Government of India was represented in 1976-77 109
II. Major International Conferences/Meetings/Seminars
organised by Non-Governmental Organisations, at
which India was represented with Government
assistance in 1976-77 119
III. Miscellaneous International Conferences etc. in 1976-77
at which Government of India was represented or at which
India was represented with Government of India's
assistance. 120
IV. International organisations of which India became
a member or ceased to be a member during the year 1976-77 122
V. Treaties/Conventions/Agreements concluded or renewed by
India with other countries in 1976 123
VI. Statement showing the number of Indian experts deputed to
various countries under ITEC Programme (1976); and
Trainees from developing countries receiving training
in India (1976-77) under ITEC Programme 136
VII. Distribution of Reserved Medical/Engineering seats during
1976-77 138
VIII. Expenditure on Headquarters and Missions/Posts abroad
during 1976-77 139
IX. List of Indian Missions/Posts opened in the year 1976-77
141
(iii)
Jan 01, 1976 | | Introduction |
Jan 01, 1976
Against the background of an international situation relatively
free from tension, India was able to take during the year some
purposeful initiatives in improving relations with its neighbours,
with the developing world and with the developed countries.
Some longstanding problems were resolved and others contained.
India's constructive approach was acclaimed by the international
community and considered a positive contribution towards pro-
moting peace and furthering international cooperation. The
initiatives taken by India, (without a feeling of insecurity or diffi-
dence,) were made possible because of the dynamism and
resilience the economy and the foundations of technological
and scientific infrastructure laid in the decades since indepen-
dence. The peaceful change of government in March 1977,
following free and fair elections, had a favourable international
impact by projecting an image of strength and stability based
on sound democratic traditions. The substance of the country's
foreign policy, however, was not an issue during the elections.
The decision of the new government to hold the meeting of
the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Conference, sche-
duled for April, was a demonstration of the essential continuity
of India's foreign policy. The new Government reaffirmed its
commitment to the policy of non-alignment. The Prime Minister
made it clear that India would try to maintain cordial and good
relations with all countries and relations with any one country
would not be allowed to come in the way of another.
Though there were a number of important developments,
there was no dramatic change in the international situation. The
United States and the Soviet Union, despite their differences,
continued to reiterate their adherence to the spirit of detente.
Talks between them regarding the Strategic Arms Limitation
did not yield any fruitful results but there was no emergence of
a situation resulting in a confrontation. Political transition in
pg1
some other important countries inhibited any major initiative by
them affecting international relations. At the same time, there
was no extension of detente and conflicts continued to smoulder
in some parts of the world. While there was a definite improve-
ment in the situation in South-East Asia since the termination
of the conflict in Indo-China, the region was still not free from
tension. The littoral States did not succeed in their efforts to
remove external influence and rivalries from the Indian Ocean
area. In West Asia, the Arab-Israeli problem defied solution
and a precarious status quo continued between Israel and its
neighbouring Arab States. The unhappy and infructuous civil
war in Lebanon threatened to add a new and dangerous dimen-
sion to the already unstable situation in the region. In Cyprus,
the constitutional problem remained unsolved despite an inter-
communal dialogue, initiated under the auspices of the United
Nations, to bring about a settlement. In Africa, a major develop-
ment was the intensification of the liberation struggle by the
African people against white minority regimes in Southern Africa.
The killing of African children by the police in Soweto in June
1976 focussed world attention on the repressive and discrimi-
natory policies of the South African Government. The white-
dominated governments in Southern Africa found them-
selves under increasing international pressure to come to
terms with the African majority to avoid military con-
frontation and self-destruction. Economic dimensions of diplo-
macy focussed attention on the quest for a new economic inter-
national order. Efforts continued to find ways and means to
bridge the gap between the rich and the poor countries and to
reach a consensus among the developed and developing countries
for mutual cooperation on the basis of equality and justice to
solve economic problems that confronted and affected all of
them.
Taking into account the various aspects of the international
situation, India played an active role towards promoting the
cause of peace, freedom and security. Convinced that detente
should not be limited to any region and its scope should extend
pg2
to all parts of the world, it opposed the escalation of foreign
military presence and the establishment of bases in the Indian
Ocean. It supported the stand that the Indian Ocean should
be a zone of peace as agreed to by most of the littoral States
and according to the resolution adopted by the United Nations
General Assembly. Further, it considered the de-escalation of
the arms race, the convening of a World Disarmament Conference
to consider measures towards universal disarmament and the
non-use of force in international relations as vital steps to lessen
international tension. It further stressed that cooperative rela-
tions among nations should be established on the basis of non-
interference, equality and peaceful co-existence.
India worked for the extension of detente in its own region
by trying to normalise and improve relations with all the neigh-
bours. A number of issues were settled through bilateral nego-
tiations. The entire maritime boundary with Sri Lanka was
delimited on the basis of agreement signed with that country.
An agreement was concluded with the Maldives for delimitation
of the maritime boundary between the two countries. Friendly
ties were maintained with Afghanistan and Nepal. Exchange
of visits with Afghanistan and Nepal, at the ministerial and offi-
cial levels, and the discussions held during these visits reflected
a spirit of goodwill and understanding. Initiative was taken to
normalise relations with China and diplomatic ties were re-estab-
lished with that country at the level of Ambassador. This step,
it was hoped, would lead to the development of improved bilateral
relations.
Another significant development was the change achieved in
India's relations with Pakistan. The steps toward normalisation
envisaged in the Simla Agreement of 1972, which had been
delayed due to one reason or the other, were carried out in a
single diplomatic operation, during the middle of the year, in
which both countries cooperated fully. Diplomatic relations
were resumed at the level of Ambassador in July 1976. This
was accompanied by restoration of railway links and resumption
of private trade between the two countries.
pg3
Friendly exchanges were made between the leaders of India
and Pakistan after the formation of the new government in India.
The new government was hopeful of maintaining and promoting
friendly relations with Pakistan.
With Bangladesh also, India continued its efforts to normalise
and improve relations and some progress was registered in econo-
mic and commercial matters. There was almost a continuous
exchange of visits between the two countries to identity the basic
questions relating to the allocation of the waters of the Ganga
at Farakka in order to resolve the problem. It was India's hope
that, through a spirit of shared sacrifice and mutual goodwill
and friendship, this problem would lend itself to an acceptable
and lasting solution.
Besides its immediate neighbours, India continued to work
for strengthening bilateral ties and explore avenues of economic
cooperation with the countries of South-East Asia and West
Asia. An agreement regarding the maritime boundary was con-
cluded with Indonesia. The visit of the Deputy Minister of Ex-
ternal Affairs to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philip-
pines aimed at promoting friendly ties with these countries by
exploring avenues of economic and cultural cooperation. India
welcomed the efforts of the countries of the region towards re-
gional cooperation through ASEAN and supported the concept
of making South-East Asia a zone of peace, freedom and neutra-
lity.
The visit of the President of Laos to India opened up
prospects of closer economic cooperation. India welcomed the
reunification of the two zones of Vietnam and affirmed its sup-
port for the admission of Vietnam into the United Nations.
The visits of the Special Envoy of the Prime Minister and of
the Foreign Minister of Vietnam to India, could lead to greater
cooperation in many fields.
In East Asia close business and diplomatic ties were main-
tained with Japan through the meetings of the Indo-Japan
pg4
Business Cooperation Committee and the Consultative Committee
of the officials of the Foreign Affairs Ministries of the two
countries. Friendly relations were maintained with the Republic
of Korea and the Democratic Republic of Korea. During the visit
of the Minister of External Affairs to Mongolia, both sides
agreed to further strengthen political, economic and cultural ties
between the two countries.
As regards West Asia, India reaffirmed its support for the
Arab cause and worked for closer ties with all countries of the
region. It was India's firm belief that a just settlement of
the Arab-Israel problem could be reached on the basis of Israeli
withdrawal from Arab territories under its illegal occupation
and the restoration of the legitimate rights of the people of
Palestine. There was increase in economic and commercial ties
between India and West Asian countries. Apart from exchange
of goods and commodities, India's cooperation with the Arab
world was characterised by an enormous increase in the supply
of technical and semi-skilled manpower to this region. An
innovatory feature of international cooperation with countries of
this region was the contribution made by India towards their
industrialisation by the supply of material and technical know-
how. The benefit of India's own experience of industrialisation
was placed at the disposal of these nations for beneficial use
in their own planned development. Close contacts and economic
ties were also developed with Iran and States of the Gulf region.
The holding of a Conference of Indian Envoys in West Asia
and North Africa in New Delhi, in January 1977, reflected the
importance India attached to the area and its efforts to explore
ways and means to strengthen ties with the countries of this
region.
In Africa, wide-ranging technical and economic cooperation
was fostered with Tanzania and Zambia. Under the umbrella
of inter-governmental cooperation, thousands of Indian experts
were chosen and deployed in diverse branches of the develop-
mental infrastructure of these two countries. India's coopera-
tion was particularly relevant not only in the field of small-scale
pg5
industries and industrial estates but also in technologically sophis-
ticated areas like sugar manufacture and exploration of oil. A
hopeful beginning was also made in the cooperation with these
countries in science and technology. Exchange of visits at a
high-level between India and a number of African countries
demonstrated their mutual desire to increase contacts and pro-
mote cooperation.
With the independence of the former Portuguese colonies
in Africa, the focus of international attention shifted to the
liberation struggle in Zimbabwe. India reiterated its commit-
ment to provide all possible assistance to the people of Zimbabwe
in their struggle to achieve effective majority rule. Equally, the
continued and illegal occupation of Nambibia by the South
African regime was condemned and India pledged its support
to the Nambibian people in their legitimate struggle for indepen-
dence, under the leadership of SWAPO. In an unusual gesture,
the Special Committee against apartheid in the United Nations
held a special meeting to acknowledge India's contribution to
the world struggle against apartheid in South Africa.
The holding in New Delhi of a Conference of Indian Heads
of Missions in countries South of the Sahara reflected India's
keenness to promote bilateral cooperation with the African count-
ries in various fields.
A significant feature of India's external relations was the
continuing friendship and cooperation with the Socialist countries,
particularly the Soviet Union. These relations found sustenance
from a similarty of views on most international problems as well
as a tradition of mutually by beneficial bilateral cooperation in
various fields over a considerable period. The visit of former
Prime Minister, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, to the Soviet Union and
the visits of senior leaders of Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and
Romania to India reflected the strong ties of friendship between
India and these countries. The visit of the Soviet Foreign Minister,
Mr. Gromyko, in April 1977, soon after the formation of the
pg6
new Government, was of particular significance. The agree-
ments signed during the visit and the Joint Communique issued
reflected the desire of the two countries to further develop their
friendship and economic cooperation.
The existing commercial, technological and economic ties
between India and the European Economic Community and the
other countries of Western Europe were still further developed
during the period under review. In the political field, friendly
relations were maintained through exchange of visits at a high
level. The visit of the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic
of Germany in April 1977 held out prospects of greater under-
standing and cooperation with that country.
India's relations with the United States were marked by a
dialogue at various levels to explore ways and means to develop
cooperation. The United States showed great understanding and
appreciation of the peaceful change of government through demo-
cratic methods as a result of a free and fair elections. It was
India's hope that relations with the United States would develop
on the basis of equality, understanding and mutual benefit.
The association with India of several countries of South and
Central America as members of the non-aligned group provided
greater scope for cooperation. India signed a number of bilateral
agreements and furthered its contacts, through exchange of visits,
to increase cooperation with the countries of the region.
The economic challenges faced by the world community
because of the disparity between the rich and the poor countries
continued to engage India's attention. Self-reliance and coopera-
tion among the developing countries in various fields is necessary
to withstand outside pressures and means an effort to bring about
some redistribution in the decision-making processes in the world
economic system. The series of UNCTAD Conference over
the last 13 years had achieved some results : there was, how-
ever, much more to be done and, in the meantime, the gap
between the rich and the poor countries had been widening.
pg7
Both, in these Conferences and in the Paris Conference on Inter-
national Economic Cooperation, India tried to project a cons-
tructive point of view, trying to reconcile differences between
the developed and the developing countries and also, in some
cases, between the developing countries themselves.
India took a leading role in the Ministerial Conference of
non-aligned countries on the Press Agencies Pool, held in New
Delhi in July 1976, which recommended the constitution of a
non-aligned press agencies pool. At the Colombo Summit, India
stressed the relevance of non-alignment and the importance of
solidarity and cooperation among the non-aligned countries. India
hosted the Conference of Foreign Ministers of the Bureau of
Non-Aligned countries that met in New Delhi in April 1977.
Addressing the twenty-five member Bureau the Prime Minister
said that non-alignment had become the mainstream of interna-
tional life. For India it represented a national consensus and
India would remain non-aligned in the real sense of the term.
The Minister of External Affairs called for the implementation
of the decisions of the Colombo Summit in a concrete and co-
ordinated manner. He said that the challenge before the non-
aligned countries was to show their willingness, to adjust, share
and, if necessary, sacrifice in order to realise by collective efforts
and self-reliance their collective aspirations. India believes
that the developing countries should safeguard their interests
through mutual cooperation and self-reliance but it is necessary
that equitable interdependence based on mutual benefit should
be evolved leading to a new international economic order that
will lay the foundation of economic and political stability based
on overall peace and prosperity.
pg8
Jan 01, 1976 |
Top |
| India's, Neighbours |
CHAPTER I
INDIA'S, NEIGHBOURS
Afghanistan
The traditionally friendly relations between India and Afgha-
nistan were further strengthened by the visit of the Prime Minister
to Afghanistan from 4 to 7 July. It provided an opportunity
for exchange of views with the Head of State and Prime Minister
of Afghanistan on matters of bilateral, regional and international
interest. Both countries reaffirmed their faith in the non-aligned
movement and its role in strengthening world peace and security
and in promoting international cooperation. The visit also helped
to underline the results achieved by Indo-Afghan Joint Commis-
sion for Economic and Technical Cooperation. India undertook
to further expand the area of bilateral cooperation between the
two countries for the forthcoming seven-year development plan
of Afghanistan. The significant event in the cultural field was
the completion of the restoration work by the Archaeological
Survey of India on the Khawaja Parsa mosque at Balkh in
Afghanistan.
Bangladesh
The visit to New Delhi of a high-level delegation from
Bangladesh, headed by Mr. Justice A. Sattar, in December,
1975, initiated a dialogue on normalisation of relations between
the two countries. Unfortunately, however, relations between
the two countries remained strained because of various misunder-
standings. The visit of a goodwill delegation from India under
the leadership of Chairman, Policy Planning Committee, Shri
G. Parthasarathi, to Dacca in June 1976 failed to reverse this
trend. The Non-aligned Summit Conference in Colombo pro-
vided an opportunity for discussions between the delegations of
pg9
the two countries on bilateral issues also. Unfortunately, these
turned out to be nonproductive.
Most of the difficulties between the two countries stemmed
from the Farakka problem; there was also the allegation that
India was providing sanctuaries to miscreants and encouraging
them to indulge in subversive activities along the Indo-Bangla-
desh border. The Government of India refuted these charges and
repeatedly assured Bangladesh that it was vitally interested in
the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of
Bangladesh and had no interest in promoting instability or dis-
Order in that country because that was bound spill over into
India.
On the Farakka issue India continued to express its readiness
to work for an equitable solution through bilateral negotiations.
Before the commencement of the 1976 lean season India invited
Bangladesh for talks with a view to reach an equitable solution.
The talks at the level of experts were held in April and May and
the goodwill delegation which visited Dacca from 18 to 23 June
devoted most of its time to the discussion of this issue. In Sep-
tember 1976 India renewed its invitation to Bangladesh for
further talks and these were held in New Delhi from 7 to Sep 10, 1976.
During these negotiations, India made far-
reaching proposals to reduce its withdrawals at Farakka during
the lean season to accommodate Bangladesh. Further, it offered
to undertake joint investigation and study of all possibilities for a
long-term solution for augmenting the flow of the Ganga in the
lean period; The Bangladesh Government were not satisfied
with these compromise solutions and decided to take their com-
plaint to the United Nations. In the United Nations, a con-
sensus statement recommended by the Special Political Committee
led Bangladesh to withdraw a draft resolution submitted by it
on the subject. The consensus statement declared that India and
Bangladesh had decided to meet in Dacca at the Ministerial level
with a view to arrive at a fair and expeditious settlement.
An Indian delegation led by Shri Jagjivan Ram, Minister for
Agriculture and Irrigation, visited Bangladesh for bilateral talks
pg10
on the Farakka issue from 6 to 8 December 1976. Progress
was made in the talks towards understanding each other's position
and it was decided to resume the talks shortly. In January 1977
talks were held at Dacca and again at New Delhi but unfortunately
these did not lead to a settlement of the problem.
Direct negotiations on the Ganga waters were resumed im-
mediately after the formation of the new Government. An Indian
delegation led by Shri Jagjivan Ram, Minister for Defence in
the new Government, had extended discussions in Dacca in
April 1977. These resulted in the arrival of a common under-
standing in principle on the allocation of waters during the
lean season. This was followed by discussions at the official
level from 7 to 11 May between the Bangladesh delegation led by
Mr. Abbas and the Indian delegation led by the Foreign. Secre-
tary, Shri Jagat Mehta. Considerable progress was made in
working out the details of a possible solution. It is hoped that
this and further rounds of talks at the official level will lead to
a permanent solution of the problem of allocation of the Ganga
waters both during the lean season and throughout the year.
The Trade Agreement between India and Bangladesh and the
Indo-Bangladesh Cultural Cooperation Programme which were to
expire at the end of September 1976, were extended through
exchange of letters. Annual trade talks between the two coun-
tries took place in the second week of February 1977.
India agreed to import newsprint, molasses, nephtha and fur-
nace oil worth about 25 crore Taka from Bangladesh. It is hoped
that this will contribute to lessening the trade gap between the
two countries.
Since the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent
country India has provided or committed assistance totalling
Rs. 316.02 crores to Bangladesh by way of official grants and
credits as well as commercial credits. During the year under
report, a sum of Rs. 4.77 crores was utilised (up to the end
of November 1976), covering supplies of commodities and
equipment under official credits and grants. Under its Technical
pg11
Assistance Programme India provided 100 scholarships to Bang-
ladesh nationals in various disciplines. Supplies of capital
equipment to Bangladesh under commercial credits extended by
India also continued during the year.
An agreement was reached among India, Bangladesh and
Nepal to set up a Jute International designed mainly to carry
out research and development work relating to raw jute and
jute manufactures and to coordinate the policies of the three gov-
ernments with a view to improving the market prospects and
export earnings from jute.
Bhutan
India's relations with Bhutan continued to be characterised
by close friendship and understanding.
On his way to attend the Fifth Non-aligned Summit in
Colombo, H.M. the King of Bhutan spent two days in Delhi
in 13 and 14 August 1976. During his stay, he held meetings/
discussions with Indian leaders. At the summit in Colombo die.
King praised India's good neighbourly policy and characterised
India's efforts to normalise relations with Pakistan & China as
contributory to peace and stability in Asia. The King also paid
a handsome tribute to the generous financial and technical co-
operation extended "by our good friend and neighbour India"
to his country.
At the invitation of the Government of India, the Royal
Grandmothers of the King, Ashi Phuntsog Chhoden and Ashi
Pema Dechhen visited India in January 1976.
On official invitation, HRH Ashi Dechhen, sister of the king
of Bhutan and his representative in the Ministry of Development,
visited New Delhi from 2 to 7 January 1976. Apart from visit-
ing the Bhakra and Beas Projects, the Princess had discussions
with the Minister of External Affairs on Bhutan's Fourth Five
Year Plan (1976-81).
pg12
The Foreign Secretary paid a visit to Bhutan from 24 to 26
July 1976, and held useful discussions with the King, the Foreign
Minister and other prominent personalities.
The Government of India continued to bear special respon-
sibility for providing assistance for Bhutan's socioeconomic deve-
lopment. For the Fourth Five Year Plan (1976-81), it was
decided that the Government of India would contribute as grant
a sum of Rs. 70.29 crores. Certain Projects like Area Develop-
ment, Poultry, Fishery, Animal Feed Plant, Fruit Canning, etc.,
have also been identified and would be executed by the Gov-
ernment of India, on behalf of the Government of Bhutan. For
the annual plan (1976-77) the Government of India agreed to
provide Rs. 12.00 crores to the Government of Bhutan. This
excluded India's assistance to Bhutan in financing the Chukha
Hydel Project and Penden Cement Plant, on which Agreements
had already been signed. The Chukha Project Authority came
into being on 27 September 1975, when its first meeting was
held in Thimpu. The second and third meetings of the Autho-
rity took place on 26 March and 15 October 1976 respectively.
The work of the Project has now gone into full swing.
As in the past, cooperation between the two countries in
various development fields continued to be implemented
through visits and surveys by Indian teams of experts and specia-
lists to Bhutan, in the field of Forestry, Minerals, Telecommuni-
cation, Hydel Survey, etc. Students and trainees from Bhutan
continued to receive educational and training facilities in India
in various fields including science, technology, medicine, public
administration, forestry, telecommunications, etc.
The King of Bhutan visited India in April 1977 and had
talks with the leaders of the new government. The visit gave
an opportunity to both sides to reaffirm their unique links of
friendship and brotherhood.
pg13
Burma
Relations with Burma continued to be cordial throughout
the year. The India-Burma Boundary Commission held a
meeting in New Delhi in March, 1976, at which maps relating
to the sectors already demarcated were initialled by both sides.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 1976,
India agreed to supply 15 pilot plants to Burma under the
ITEC Programme, The Burmese Minister of Culture, U Aye
Maung, paid a brief visit to India in June 1976.
The Foreign Secretary, Shri J. S. Mehta, led a delegation to
Rangoon in March 1977. He held discussions with the Burmese
Ministry of Foreign Affairs on matters of bilateral importance
with special emphasis on economic cooperation.
The Maldives
Friendly relations between India and the Republic of the
Maldives were further strengthened during the year. India wel-
comed the admission of the Maldives to the non-aligned Group.
In September 1976, a resident Indian Embassy was estab-
lished in Male.
H. E. Amir Ahmed Hilmy Fashana Kilegefaanu, Vice-Presi-
dent of the Republic of the Maldives, paid a visit to India from
24 December 1976 to 2 January 1977 on the invitation of the
Government of India. During the course of the visit, an agree-
ment was signed by H. E. the Vice-President and India's Minis-
ter of External Affairs at New Delhi on 28 December 1976 deli-
miting the maritime boundary between India and the Maldives.
India has proposed economic and technical cooperation with
the Maldives in a number of fields including tourism.
pg14
Nepal
There was a great deal of positive movement in the relations
between the two countries. There were several visits at the
political and official levels which provided an opportunity for a
continuing dialogue between the two Governments. From the
Nepalese side, visitors included the Prime Minister, Foreign Minis-
ter, Minister of Commerce & Industry (in April) and Their Royal
Highnesses, Prince Gyanendra and Prince Dhirendra, the younger
brothers of His Majesty the King of Nepal (in November). At
the official level, the Nepalese Foreign Secretary visited India
in March and India's Foreign Secretary returned the visit in
October.
In March Shri Y. T. Shah, Secretary, Ministry of Energy,
led an Indian delegation to Nepal and exchanged views with the
Nepalese officials on matters relating to the utilisation of the
water of the rivers common to both the countries. Shri S. S.
Sidhu, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs,
led another Indian delegation to Nepal during November-Decem-
ber to discuss ways and means for facilitating the visit of Nepa-
lese nationals to various protected and restricted areas of India.
Questions relating to the joint harnessing of the vast potential
of river waters for the benefit of both the countries were sorted
out. Understanding was reached between the two countries to
hold joint investigations for the Pancheswar Dam Project on the
River Mahakali and also for the Flood control scheme on the
River Rapti. The Nepal Eastern Gandak Canal was completed
and handed over to the Nepalese Government. An agreement
was reached about the cost estimates of Chandra and Pump
Canals which would be constructed by the Nepalese Govern-
ment and financed by the Government of India. The estimated
cost would be Rs. 11.90 crores.
The Government of India decided that the Nepalese nationals
wanting to visit protected/restricted areas of India shall be treat-
ed on par with other foreign nationals and as such would be re-
quired to obtain permits for this purpose. In order to ensure
pg15
that bona fide Nepalese travellers to these areas were not incon-
venienced, simple and convenient procedures were laid down for
the issue of such permits.
The Indo-Nepal Treaty on Trade and Transit, 1971 came
up for renewal during the year. Two rounds of discussions
have already been held and it was hoped that the text of the new
Treaty would be finalised at the next meeting. Pending the
finalisation of the new document, the 1971 Treaty was extended
by mutual agreement till such time as the new one was signed
and came into force. This was done to ensure that there was
no hindrance in the flow of essential commodities to Nepal and
the Nepalese transit trade with third countries did not suffer.
There appeared greater awareness on the part of the two coun-
tries to stop smuggling and deflection which, in the past tended
to affect Indo-Nepal trade relations.
The 25th anniversary of the Colombo Plan, under which
India has been extending capital and technical cooperation to
Nepal on a bilateral basis, was celebrated during the year.
Budget provision made for grants-in-aid for development schemes,
in Nepal in 1976-77 amounted to about Rs. 10 crores.
Important projects in Nepal, completed during 1976, were
the Industrial Estates at Nepalganj and Dharan, a drinking water
treatment plant at Rajbiraj and black-topping of the 49-km long
Rani Pauwa-Trisuli Road. The major schemes under imple-
mentation were the 250-km long East-West Highway, a 1300-
line cross bar telephone exchange at Biratnagar and the Kamla
River Bridge on the East-West Highway. During the year, the
Government of India provided funds for the construction of cer-
tain infra-structural works at the site of the 14-MW Hydro-elec-
tric project at Devighat. Assistance for this will be provided
under the Indian Economic Cooperation Programme.
The King of Nepal, who was on a private visit to India, visited
Delhi in April 1977 and had detailed exchange of views with the
Prime Minister and his colleagues in the new government.
pg16
Pakistan
Since the signing of the Simla Agreement in July 1972,
India took various initiatives to normalise relations between the
two countries with a view to establishing a durable peace in
the sub-continent. As a result of this, many outstanding prob-
lems were resolved.
On 27 March 1976, the Prime Minister of Pakistan wrote to
the Prime Minister of India that Pakistan was prepared to with-
draw its case from the International Civil Aviation Organisation
with a view "to impart to the normalisation process the impetus
that it needs". India had already urged such a course of action
in order that the normalisation process could continue. Con-
sistent with India's firm belief that the Simla Agreement provi-
ded a sound framework for the establishment of durable peace
and harmonious bilateral relations, the Prime Minister, replying
on 11 April 1976 suggested that the Foreign Secretaries of the
two countries should meet and discuss not only civil aviation
matters but also resumption of rail and road communications as
well as restoration of diplomatic relations between the two coun-
tries. The Prime Minister of Pakistan accepted these sugges-
tions. As a result, the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakis-
tan met at Islamabad from 12 to 14 May 1976 and issued a
Joint Statement which embodied an agreement between the two
sides to restore all the severed links between the two countries.
The two sides also agreed to open their bilateral trade to the
private sector.
The entire package embodied in the Joint Statement was
put into effect between 17 and 24 July 1976. The air links
between the two countries were restored on 21 July, the first
train left Amritsar for Lahore on 22 July, and the Ambassadors
of the two countries presented their credentials on 24 July.
During the latter half of the year, the delegations of India
and Pakistan met in New Delhi & Islamabad to consider Pakis-
tan's objections to the design of the Salal Hydro-electric project
pg17
on the river Chenab in the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The
project is being set up in accordance with the Indus Waters
Treaty of 1960 under which India is allowed the use of the
waters of the three western rivers, namely, Chenab, Jhelum and
Indus, for the generation of hydro-electric power provided that
the design, construction and operation of these plants conform
to the criteria laid down in the Treaty. The matter had been
kinder discussion in the Permanent Indus Commission comprising
the representatives of India and Pakistan for the last six years.
As the Commission could not reach an agreement, Pakistan
proposed in July 1976 that the question should be referred to
Neutral Expert in terms of the Treaty. India, however, sugges-
ted that before such a reference was made, the issue should be
discussed bilaterally. Pakistan accepted this suggestion. Two
rounds of discussions took place in New Delhi and Islamabad
in October 1976. These were held in a cordial atmosphere and
were constructive and useful. The Joint Statement issued at
the end of the talks held in Islamabad expressed the hope that
in the third round of talks to be held in New Delhi a final agree-
ment would be reached.
The process of normalisation by and large went smoothly
and resulted in the restoration of many links which had remain-
ed severed for a number of years. These developments were
widely appreciated internationally.
After the formation of the new Government, friendly
messages were exchanged. Mr. Bhutto sent a special emissary
to New Delhi in April 1977 with a personal message for the
Prime Minister. The new government hope to maintain and
promote friendly relations with Pakistan. In the same month,
following the visit of a Pakistani delegation, the two countries
decided to set up a Joint Commission to review and further pro-
mote trade between them.
Sri Lanka
A historic landmark in the friendly cooperation between India
and Sri Lanka was the signing of two Agreements, extending
pg18
the maritime boundary in the Palk Bay, delimited in July 1974,
in the Gulf of Manaar and the Arabian Sea, upto the Trijunction
with the Maldives on one hand and in the Bay of Bengal, upto
a distance of 200 miles, on the other. Thus the entire maritime
boundary between India and Sri Lanka now stands delimited.
The friendly relations between the two countries were fur-
ther strengthened in 1976 by expanding collaboration in the
economic, cultural and technical fields and by exchange of high-
level visits.
Mrs. S. Bandaranaike, Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, paid
an official visit to India, from 13 to 15 April 1976 and held
friendly talks with the Prime Minister of India on matters of
international and bilateral interest.
The Prime Minister and the Minister of External Affairs
visited Colombo in August 1976 in connection with the Non-
aligned Summit and were accorded a warm and friendly wel-
come by the Government and the people of Sri Lanka. Close
and continuous cooperation between the two sides on the eve
of and during the Summit further strengthened the cordial rela-
tions between the two countries.
Under the 1964 Agreement on Persons of Indian, origin
2,37,390 persons were repatriated to India and 1,35,680 persons
were registered as Sri Lanka citizens till 31 December 1976.
pg19
Sep 10, 1976 |
Top |
| South-East, Asia |
CHAPTER II
SOUTH-EAST, ASIA
Australia
Despite differences of approach on the establishment of a
Zone of Peace in the Indian Ocean, India and Australia conti-
nued to work for closer cooperation at the bilateral level. The
8th round of Indo-Australian bilateral talks was held in Canberra.
In August, the Minister of Commerce, visited Australia and
signed the Indo-Australian Trade Agreement. The Agreement
formalised bilateral trade relations between India and Australia
and provided that the two countries should take all measures to
facilitate, strengthen and diversify bilateral trade which will be
conducted in accordance with the General Agreement on Tariff
and Trade (GATT) to which both countries are parties. The
Trade Agreement provided for an increased level of contacts
between Indian and Australian enterprises through the develop-
ment of Industrial cooperation, including joint ventures, between
the two countries. On 16 September, an Australian parliamen-
tary delegation arrived for a 6-day visit to India. The delegation
showed keen interest in understanding the progress recorded by
the Indian economy during the last one-and-a-half years. On the
occasion of the inauguration of Air India's 747 service between
Bombay and Sydney, the Minister of State in the Ministry of
Home Affairs, and the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs led a
Parliamentary delegation.
There was also an exchange of visits by the Secretaries of the
Department of Science & Technology to identify the areas of
cooperation and to assist on-going projects. I.N.S. BETWA paid
a goodwill visit to Port Darwin and Port Brisbane in May and
June respectively.
pg20
Indonesia
On the question of East Timor, India extended its full
support to Indonesia. This was appreciated by the Govern-
ment and people of Indonesia. During the year, negotiations
were completed on the extension of maritime boundary bet-
ween India and Indonesia in the Indian Ocean and the Andaman
Sea. This had been partly delimited in 1974.
At the 7th round of annual bilateral talks held in Djakarta
in July 1976, the Foreign Ministers of India and Indonesia re-
viewed bilateral relations and also exchanged views on the inter-
national situation.
Two prominent Indian visitors to Indonesia were the Speaker
of Lok Sabha, B. R. Bhagat, and Shri Pranab Mukherjee,
Minister of Revenue & Banking. Shri Bhagat led an Indian
Parliamentary delegation to Indonesia. From the Indonesian side,
the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Saleh Basarah and the
Chief of Inteligence. Yoga Sugama, paid an official visit to India.
In order to identify capital goods for import from India, an
official industrial delegation from Indonesia visited India.
Malaysia
The year saw further intensification of the tempo of economic
cooperation between India and Malaysia. In order to promote
industrial collaboration an Agreement on the Avoidance of
Double Taxation was signed. Four more industrial joint ven-
tures came on stream during the year. Educational institutions
in India continued to play host to a large number of Malaysian
students. In March, bilateral talks at the official level were
held in New Delhi.
Among important Malaysian visitors to India were the
Malaysian Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Tan Sri General
Ibrahim bin Ismail and the Solicitor-General, Tan Sri Haji
Mohammad Sallahin Abbas. From the Indian side, Shri Pranab
Mukherjee, Minister of Fevenue & Banking, and Shri Bipinpal
pg21
Das, Deputy Minister of External Affairs and General T. N.
Raina, Chief of the Army Staff, paid official visits to Malaysia.
The Philippines
President and Mrs. Marcos touched New Delhi in May on
their way back from the UNCTAD-IV meeting. The Prime
Minister and the Minister of External Affairs were among those
who received them at the airport. President Marcos called on
President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed at the Rashtrapati Bhavan
India took note of Philippines' desire to come closer to the non-
aligned group and welcomed its admission to the non-aligned
Summit at Colombo as guest.
Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Minister of Revenue & Banking and
Shri Bipinpal Das, Deputy Minister of External Affairs, visited
Manila.
A highlight of technical cooperation between India and the
Philippines was the agreement signed by the ICAR with its
counterpart in the Philippines for collaboration in agricultural
research.
Singapore
Friendly relations between India and Singapore were pro-
moted with the official visits of Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Minister
of Revenue & Banking, and Shri Bipinpal Das, Deputy Minister
of External Affairs to Singapore.
Thailand
Despite political changes in Thailand, steady progress was
maintained in the development of bilateral relations. This was
evident from the visits of Shri Jagjivan Ram, Minister for Agri-
culture and Irrigation, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Minister of
Revenue & Banking and Shri Bipinpal Das, Deputy Minister of
External Affairs.
Places of Buddhist pilgrimage in India continued to attract
a large number of Thai pilgrims, the most notable of whom during
the year was Prof. Sanya Dharmasakti, President of the Privy
pg22
Council of Thailand and former Prime Minister. An appreciable
number of Thai students continued to receive University educa-
tion in India.
Fiji
Mr. Jone B. Naisara, Minister for Information of Fiji, visited
India in September 1976 as a guest of the Government of India.
Shri Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Deputy Minister of Commerce,
inaugurated an Indian trade exhibition in Suva in November. In
June, I.N.S. BETWA paid a goodwill visit to Suva.
Nauru
Relations between India and the Republic of Nauru were
further strengthened during the year when the President of that
country, Mr. Hammer D. Roburt, in his capacity as Minister for
Industries and Minerals, visited India. He came to finalise an
agreement on the establishment of a joint venture in India for
the manufacture of phosphoric acid based on Nauru phosphate.
New Zealand
India's relations with New Zealand continued to be friendly
and cordial and progress was maintained in cooperation in var-
ious fields.
Papua New Guinea
In May, India and Papua New Guinea decided to establish
diplomatic relations. Subsequently, India's first High Commis-
sioner presented his Letters. of Credence to the Governor-General
on Aug 26, 1976.
Tonga
In April 1976 the Crown Prince of Tonga visited India.
pg23
Aug 26, 1976 | Top | | East Asia |
CHAPTER III
EAST ASIA
India took the initiative to normalise relations with China
and, through bilateral exchanges and friendly contacts, worked
for understanding and cooperation with other countries of East
Asia.
China
Informal exchanges between the two countries at official
level on restoration of diplomatic representation to the Ambass-
adorial level took place in early 1976. These talks proved fruit-
ful and were followed by the announcement in April 1976 of
the nomination of Shri K. R. Narayanan as India's Ambassador
to the People's Republic of China. China, making a positive
response to India's initiative, announced, in July 1976, the
appointment of Mr. Chen Chan-yuan as its Ambassador to India.
The Indian Ambassador presented his credentials in July 1976.
The Chinese Ambassador, while presenting his credentials in
September stated that the normalisation of relations through joint
efforts was in full accord with the interests of the people of the
two countries. India considered the restoration of channels of
communication at the Ambassadorial level, after a lapse of 15
years, as a first step towards the normalisation of relations and
for developing constructive and meaningful bilateral relations
with China.
The Prime Minister and the Minister of External Affairs sent
messages of sympathy to the Chinese leaders following the earth-
quake in North Eastern China in August 1976. The offer to
assist in the relief of earthquake victims was greatly appreciated
by the Chinese Government. The Prime Minister also sent
felicitations to Chairman Hua Kuo-feng on his appointment to
pg24
the office of Chairman of the Communist Party and expressed the
hope that relations between India and China would develop fur-
ther in the years to come.
The visit of the Chinese badminton team to India in Octo-
ber/November and the visit of an un-official Indian delegation
to China in December 1976, on the inauguration of the
Dr. Kotnis Memorial Hall, reflected hopeful trends towards in-
creasing between the two countries.
A non-official Trade Delegation from India, including re-
presentatives of State Trade organisations, visited the Canton
Spring Fair in April 1977. Preliminary agreements have been
signed and it is hoped that these will lead to some substantial
progress in renewing the commercial relations between the two
countries.
Japan
Relations between India and Japan were marked by contin-
ued contacts and exchanges at various levels. The inauguration
of Japan-India Parliamentarians Friendship Association in March
1976, which was joined by 84 Diet members of the ruling Liberal
Democratic Party, was an important step towards promoting
friendly relations.
The Governments of the two countries exchanged notes, in
March 1976, pertaining to Commodity Loan of Yen 7 billion
(Rs. 21 crores). By another exchange of notes in November
1976 Japan agreed to grant debt relief loan to India of Yen 12.2
billion (Rs. 40 crores) for 1976-77.
The Ninth Joint Meeting of the India-Japan Business Co-
operation Committee was held in Madras on 16-Nov 17, 1976.
The Japanese delegation was led by Dr. Shigeo Nagano,
Director and Honorary Chairman, Nippon Steel Corporation.
More than 100 delegates from both sides participated in the deli-
berations of this Committee.
pg25
The Eleventh Consultative Meeting of the. officials of the
Ministry of External Affairs of India and the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Japan met in India on 6-7 December 1976. The
Indian side was led by Shri M. A. Vellodi, Secretary (East) and
the Japanese delegation by Mr. Keisuke Arita, Deputy Minister
for Foreign Affairs. The two sides affirmed their intention to
maintain close contacts on all matters of mutual interest through
diplomatic channels and promote greater interaction at all levels
between the two countries.
Shri G. S. Marak, Minister in-charge of sericulture and weav-
ing of. Meghalaya visited Japan in July 1976 for study of the
latest technological, scientific and organisational developments
in the Japanese sericulture industry.
Republic of Korea
An economic study mission of the Government of the Re-
public of Korea led by Mr. Seung Jae Koh, Executive Member,
President's Council of Economic and Scientific Advisers, visited
India from 2 to 6 October 1976. During the visit, he held dis-
cussions with the Minister of Commerce, Minister of Industry
and Civil Aviation, the Vice-Chairman of Planning Commission
and the Deputy Minister of Commerce. An Indian trade dele-
gation from the Ministry of Commerce visited the Republic in
December for trade review talks.
The Deputy Minister of External Affairs, Shri Bipinpal Das,
paid a goodwill visit to the Republic from 19 to 23 December
1976, at the invitation of its Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs.
He called on the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister and
some other leaders and had wide ranging discussions on bilateral
and other matters of mutual interest.
In the cultural field, India took part in the 22nd Asian Film
Festival held in Pusan, from 15 to 17 July 1976, and two entries
from India won prizes.
pg26
Democratic People's Republic of Korea
A trade mission from the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea, led by Mr. Li tae Baek, Vice-Minister of foreign trade
visited New Delhi in March 1976 and signed a Trade Protocol
for 1976.
A 3-member delegation of the Foreign Ministry of the Demo-
cratic People's Republic visited India from 2 to 6 July 1976.
During the course of the visit, the delegation called on the Mini-
ster of External Affairs.
An agreement on cultural cooperation between India and the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea was signed on 2 July
1976.
The Vice-President of India sent a message of condolence
on the occasion of untimely death of Mr. Chow Yong Kun,
Vice-Premier of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Mongolia
The Minister of External Affairs paid an official and friendly
visit to Mongolia from 4 to 8 September 1976. The two coun-
tries had exchanged several high-level visits since the establish-
merit of diplomatic relations in 1956, but this was the first visit
by an Indian Minister of External Affairs to Mongolia. During
the visit, both sides expressed satisfaction at the continuing de-
velopment of relations between the two countries and reaffirmed
their determination to further strengthen and expand political,
trade, cultural and other ties.
India agreed to give a more positive content to its trade re-
lations with Mongolia. Both sides agreed to make efforts to
identify areas in which the existing relations between the two
countries could be expanded to mutual benefit.
Vietnam
India's relations with Vietnam were marked by efforts to
promote friendship and cooperation. Before the two Vietnams
pg27
were united, the Foreign Minister of the Provisional Revolutionary
Government of South Vietnam, Madame Nguyen Thi Binh, paid
a friendly visit to India in May 1976. Discussions between her
and the Minister of External Affairs showed unanimity of views
on various issues. India welcomed the reunification of Vietnam
in June 1976, to form the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, as it
marked the fulfilment of the cherished aspirations of the Viet-
namese people. India viewed with special interest and sympathy
the efforts of the Vietnamese Government towards reconstruction
of the economy. The Indian Red Cross made a gift of 101
buffaloes and an Indian agricultural delegation visited Vietnam
in October 1976. In its discussions with the Vietnamese agri-
cultural delegation the two sides identified a number of fields for
cooperation between the two countries.
A postal agreement, signed with Vietnam in November 1976,
was aimed at establishing postal and telecommunication relations
with a view to developing communications between the peoples
of the two countries.
A Cultural Agreement signed with Vietnam, in December
1976, sought to promote and develop relations and-understanding
between the two countries in the realm of art, culture, education,
including academic exchanges in the fields of science and tech-
nology, sports, public health and public media.
The Government of Vietnam granted permission to Air India.
for overflying its territorial space.
Mr. Phen Hien, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister of
Vietnam, during his visit to India in February 1976, held dis-
cussions to further consolidate relations and promote cooperation
between India and Vietnam in various fields.
The Foreign Minister of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Duy Trinh,
visited India during April 1977 and had talks with the leaders
of the new Government. The Minister of External Affairs offered
India's help to share India's experience and trained personnel
in the task of reconstruction of Vietnam. The two Ministers
pg28
further discussed how to strengthen relations between their two
countries in the political, economic, technical and cultural fields.
Kampuchea
Cambodia was renamed "Democratic Kampuchea" under the
new constitution that country adopted on 5 January 1976. The
President, Prime Minister and the Minister of External Affairs
sent warm messages of felicitations to their Kampuchean counter-
parts, who were elected to these high offices under the new con-
stitution. They expressed the hope that friendly relations bet-
ween the two countries would be further strengthened. Views
were exchanged between the leaders of the two countries when
the Minister of External Affairs met Mr. Ieng Sary, Vice-Premier
incharge of Foreign Affairs of Kampuchea, at New York in
October 1976.
Laos
A major event in the steadily improving relationship between
the two countries was the visit of President Souphanouvong to
India which concluded on 19 January 1977. A joint communi-
que was issued after the visit. Responding to the wishes of
Loas, India agreed to share its technological experiences and
reaffirmed its willingness to cooperate in the task of post-war
reconstruction in Laos.
The Indian Red Cross Society sent textiles worth Rs. 2 lakhs
and medicines costing about Rs. 50,000 to Laos as emergency
aid.
India is operating an on-going Technical Assistance Pro-
gramme for the benefit of Laos. The Programme is estimated
to cost Rs. 20 lakhs and involves, among other items, Indian
assistance in conducting techno-economic surveys, training of Lao
technicians and deputation of Indian experts to that country.
pg29
TOP
CHINA
INDIA MALI USA JAPAN UNITED KINGDOM KOREA MONGOLIA VIETNAM CAMBODIA LAOS
West Asia And North Africa
CHAPTER IV
WEST ASIA AND NORTH AFRICA
GENERAL
India continued to attach great importance to the further
strengthening of bilateral relations and cooperation with countries
of West Asia and North Africa. Significant expansion took
place in India's commercial, economic and technical coopera-
tion with these countries built on the complementarities of
their economies and needs of development. Frequent exchanges
of high level visits, as well as discussions at other levels, re-
affirmed the traditional ties and the close similarity of views on
important international and regional issues between India and the
countries of West Asia and North Africa.
The Government of India continued its firm support for the
Arab States in their efforts to obtain a just solution of the Arab-
Israeli problem, based on Israeli withdrawal from all Arab terri-
tories occupied in 1967 and the realisation of the legitimate
rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people. India was
greatly relieved at the prospects of complete cessation of the
tragic fratricidal fighting in Lebanon, which cast its shadow
over the region for the greater part of the year.
The understanding shown by some of the oil exporting coun-
tries of the problems facing a friendly country like India, due to
the sharp rise in prices of crude oil and fertilisers, helped, to
some extent, in mitigating the effects of these price increases on
the Indian economy. India hoped that this understanding would
continue.
A conference of 21 Heads of Indian Missions in West Asia
and North Africa was held in New Delhi in January 1977.
The importance of this region to India was highlighted at the
pg30
Conference. It was further stressed that sustained efforts should
continue to further improve the already existing cordial relations
between India and these countries.
West Asia
The violence and bloodshed in Lebanon, and the repeated
failure of attempts to put an end to the fighting, was a matter
of great concern to the Government of India. The personnel
of the Indian Mission in Beirut were reluctantly withdrawn.
when it became difficult to assure their safety. The majority of
other Indians living in Beirut also left. The Government of
India was gratified when the collective wisdom of Arab
statesmen at the Riyadh and Cairo summits was able to bring
about a settlement resulting in the subsiding of the fighting and
bloodshed. It was the hope of the Government of India that
normal political and economic life in Lebanon would be speedily
restored and that its sovereignty, integrity and non-aligned
character would be preserved. The Government of India ex-
pressed its readiness to offer all possible cooperation and
assistance towards economic reconstruction and in the restora-
tion of public services and utilities.
The Government of India welcomed the reconciliation between
Syria and Egypt which it considered vital for a united effort by
the Arab States to realise their objectives. Statements made re-
garding the reconvening of the Geneva Conference on the Middle
East provided a cause for cautious optimism. The Govern-
ment was of the view that the Conference, to be meaningful,
would require the effective participation of all concerned parties,
including the Palestine Liberation Organisation.
The treatment by Israel of the Arab population in its occupied
territories was a matter of concern. India was convinced that
the restoration to the Palestinians of their legitimate national
rights was crucial for an Arab-Israeli settlement. Israel's in-
cursions and occupation of territories in Southern Lebanon,
however, reduced the credibility of statements by Israeli leaders
expressing their desire for a peaceful settlement.
pg31
India's bilateral relations with countries in the region were
strengthened through exchange of visits, discussions and con-
clusion of bilateral agreements.
Iran
The visit of Prime Minister Hoveyda and the Iranian Com-
merce Minister, Dr. Manuchehr Taslimi, from 10 to May 14, 1976,
opened new vistas for Indo-Iranian cooperation. The
President and Begum Abida Ahmed visited Iran, from 26 to
30 June 1976, and held wide ranging discussions with the
Shahanshah of Iran on matters of mutual interest including bila-
teral cooperation. Their Imperial Majesties accepted the in-
vitation of the President and Begum Abida Ahmed to visit
India.
Shri K. V. Raghunatha Reddy, Labour Minister, visited
Iran, from 20 to 24 September 1976, to attend the Asian
Labour Ministers Conference. Shri K. D. Malaviya, Minister
of Petroleum, visited Iran, in October 1976, and had discus-
sions with the Shahanshah and others. The Chief of the Army
Staff, General T. N. Raina, visited Iran from 10 to 18 November
1976. He called on the Shahanshah and the Iranian Prime
Minister and visited Iranian defence establishments.
Among other Iranian dignitaries who visited India during the
year were H. E. Mr. Ali Daftrian, Governor-General of Ostan
(25 April to 7 May 1976), General Azhari, Chief of the Sup-
reme Commanders' Staff of the Imperial Iranian Armed Forces
(2 to 9 March 1976), Mr. Manuchehr Eghbal, President of
the Iranian Oil Company (August 1976) and Mr. Pakdaman,
Chairman of the Iranian State Railways (October 1976).
A party of instructors and students of the Imperial Iranian
National Defence University visited India in June 1976 while
a party of the staff and students of the National Defence College
visited Iran in August 1976.
The multi-faceted economic relationship between India and
Iran continued to register notable progress throughout the year
pg32
under review. Almost all the projects in which the two countries
are engaged are not only quantitatively impressive by themselves
but have a special significance in the developing economies of
either country. To single out any one of them would be invidious
but the Kudremukh Project which has already made an excellent
beginning deserves special mention.
Iraq
Dr. Saadoun Hammadi, Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs,
visited India, from 25 to 26 February 1976, as the personal
Envoy of the President of Iraq. He held discussions with the
Indian Minister of External Affairs on matters relating to the
Non-aligned Summit at Colombo.
Mr. Mir Hikmat Al-azzawi, Iraqi Minister of Foreign
Trade, paid a one-week visit to India in February 1976. Com-
mercial and economic matters were discussed in depth during his
visit.
Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma, Minister of Communications,
visited Baghdad (4 to 8 May 1976) and discussed matters re-
lating to cooperation in the field of telecommunications. Pro-
fessor S. Nurul Hasan, Minister of Education & Social Wel-
fare, during his visit (7 to 9 July 1976), held discussions re-
lating to cooperation in the field of education, science and tech-
nology. Shri T. A. Pai, Minister of Industry, who visited
Baghdad in October 1976, reached a broad understanding on
exchange of know-how, equipment and construction of projects.
A number of other official visits were also exchanged with a
view to further expanding the existing economic relations bet-
ween the two countries.
United Arab Emirates
The President of India, accompanied by Begum Abida
Ahmed, paid a State visit to the United Arab Emirates from 4 to
7 October 1976. The President held discussions with the UAE
pg33
President Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan and Vice Presi-
dent Sheikh Rashid on issues of international importance and
on bilateral cooperation. These revealed a close similarity of
views between the two countries. The visit reaffirmed and streng-
thened the close friendship and cooperation between India and the
UAE.
Jordan
A Cultural Agreement between India and Jordan was signed
on 15 February 1976 and a Trade and Economic Agreement on
25 February 1976.
His Royal Highness Prince Hassan Bin Talal, accompanied
by his wife Princess Sarvath and by Princess Alia, visited India,
from 24 November to 1 December 1976, at the invitation of the
Vice-President of India. The Crown Prince and members of
the delegation held discussions with the Indian leaders on
topics of mutual interest mainly pertaining to economic coopera-
tion between India and Jordan. Agreements on Economic and
Technical Cooperation and on cooperation in the fields of Science
and Technology were also initialled during the visit.
Syria
A two member Syrian delegation attended the Seminar on
Non-alignment held in New Delhi (24 to 26 April 1976). The
Syrian Information Minister led a delegation to the Non-aligned
News Agencies Conference held in New Delhi in July 1976.
Somalia
A direct shipping service was established between India and
Somalia during the year.
Egypt
Shri S. D. Sharma, Minister of Communications, led an
Indian delegation to the Tripartite Meeting between Egypt, India
and Yugoslavia in Cairo (20 April to 3 May 1976). The meeting
pg34
dealt with commercial and Industrial cooperation among the
three participating countries.
A two member delegation from Egypt. participated in the
Seminar on Non-alignment, organised by the India International
Centre in New Delhi in April 1976.
North Africa
The continuing dispute regarding the Western Sahara and
the differences between Libya on the one hand and Egypt and
Sudan on the other distressed the Government of India. Special
Envoys from the Presidents of Morocco and Mauritania visited
India to explain their position on the Western Sahara question.
It was India's hope that a satisfactory solution of their dis-
putes and differences could be brought about through bilateral
discussions between the countries concerned, in a spirit of good-
will and cooperation.
Libya
Indo-Libyan economic cooperation developed rapidly during
the year. Indian firms and organisations were awarded contracts
for airport construction, power generation and transmission,
etc. The Industries & Civil Supplies Minister, Shri T. A. Pai,
paid a two-day visit to Libya in April 1976, and signed a pro-
tocol with his counterpart on industrial and technical coopera-
tion.
The Deputy Minister of External Affairs, Shri Bipinpal Das,
visited Libya from 15 to 18 March 1976 and had discussions with
the Libyan Prime Minister and others on strengthening bilateral
relations and on important international issues.
Tunisia
A special delegation headed by Deputy Minister of External
Affairs, Shri Bipinpal Das, participated in the 20th Anniver-
sary celebrations of Tunisia's Independence, from 9 to 12 March
1976.
pg35
Algeria
The Minister of External Affairs visited Algiers in May-June
1976 for the Non-aligned Bureau meeting and called on Presi-
dent Boumedienne. He signed a cultural agreement with the
Foreign Minister of Algeria. The agreement provided for edu-
cational and training facilities in India, for exchanges in the
fields of radio and television, exchange of cultural troupes and
cooperation in the field of journalism.
H.E. Mr. I. Yaker, Algerian Minister of Foreign Trade,
visited India in January-February 1976 and called on the Prime
Minister and the Minister of External Affairs. Dr. Ahmed
Taleb Ibrahim, Algerian Minister of Information and Culture,
visited India from 7 to 14 July 1976, to participate in the
Ministerial Conference of the Non-aligned News Agencies Pool.
Mauritania
H.E. Mr. Mohamed Sidi Ali and H.E. Mr. Ahmedou Ould
Tolba, Special Envoys of the President of Mauritania, visited
India in April and July 1976 respectively to explain Mauritania's
position on the Western Sahara issue.
His Excellency Mr. Moktar Ould Dadah, President of
Mauritania, visited India in August 1976 and had wide ranging
talks with Indian leaders on strengthening bilateral cooperation
and on international issues. The discussions revealed a close
similarity of views between the leaders of the two countries.
pg36
May 14, 1976 | Top |
| Africa |
CHAPTER V
AFRICA
(South of the Sahara)
India's relations with the countries of Africa, South of the
Sahara, were marked by greater contacts in order to promote
understanding and increase cooperation with them. These con-
tacts were developed through the exchange of visits by important
leaders and signing of bilateral agreements in various fields.
They highlighted the keen interest of India in the developments
in Southern Africa and its opposition to colonialism, recialism
and apartheid and its material and moral support for the African
liberation movements in their struggle to end white domination.
India's friendly relations with the countries of East Africa
were reflected through the exchange of visits at different levels.
The Foreign Minister of Kenya, Mr. F. M. Waiyaki, visited India
in August 1976 and exchanged views with the Minister of Exter-
nal Affairs on international affairs and the further strengthening
of relations between India and Kenya. Two Indian naval ships
paid a friendly visit to Kenya. The payment by the Govern-
ment of Uganda of a sum of Rs. 1,44,88,792.60 marked the
successful resolution of the problem of compensating Indian
nationals who had been expelled from Uganda in 1972. A large
amount of the sum received was disbursed to the claimants con-
cerned, after due scrutiny, by the Uganda compensation settle-
ment office set up in Bombay for that purpose. The visit of
the Ministers of Industry and Power and of Transport and Com-
munications of Uganda to India helped to promote commercial
and economic cooperation between India and Uganda.
The most important development in India's relations with
African countries was the visit of the Prime Minister of India
pg37
to Mauritius (8-11 October), Tanzania (11-14 October),
Zambia (15--17 October) and Seychelles (17 October). India's
close cultural ties with Mauritius had already been demonstrated
earlier when India sent a 30-man official delegation, headed
by the Minister of Health and Family Planning, Dr. Karan Singh,
to the Second World Hindi Sammelan held in Mauritius. These
were further highlighted when the Prime Minister, during her
visit, inaugurated the Gandhi Institute. Earlier, the visit of
the Minister of Information and Broadcasting at the time of
independence day celebrations of Mauritius and the visit. of the
Minister of Steel and Mines reflected friendly ties between India
and Mauritius.
There were many exchanges of visits between senior officials
of India and Tanzania before the Prime Minister visited that
country in October. In April 1976, India and Tanzania signed
an agreement for cooperation in the establishment of a number
of small scale industries projects in Tanzania. The visit of the
Prime Minister to Zambia constituted another stage in a conti-
nuing dialogue with a friendly country with which India had
developed the tradition of constructive cooperation. During the
visit, both sides expressed satisfaction at the progress made in
strengthening bilateral cooperation in the economic and technical
fields and agreed to explore further areas to expand their
relations.
The distinguishing feature of the visit of the Prime Minister
was the common interest shown by her and the leaders of
Mauritius, Tanzania and Zambia in the developments taking
place in Southern Africa. The visit underlined India's solidarity
with these countries in their total support for the oppressed
people of Southern Africa in their just struggle. The Prime
Minister, during the visit, met the leaders of the African Libera-
tion Movements and assured them of India's full support in
their struggle. India and these countries also reaffirmed the in-
alienable rights of the people of Namibia to freedom and inde-
pendence and pledged their moral and material support for them
in their heroic struggle under the leadership of the SWAPO. As
pg38
regards Zimbabwe, India and these countries noted the favour-
able developments, reflected in the declaration made by the racist
regime of Rhodesia, in September 1976, to allow majority rule
in the country within a period of two years. India welcomed
the holding of the Constitutional Conference at Geneva and
expressed the hope that this would lead to immediate majority
rule in Zimbabwe. The Prime Minister further made it clear
that if the Constitutional Conference failed, the Government of
India would fully support the intensified struggle for the inde-
pendence of Zimbabwe.
The Prime Minister's brief visit to Seychelles demonstrated
India's desire to strengthen friendship with that country. India
had already established friendly contacts with Seychelles when
the Minister of State for Tourism and Civil Aviation, Shri
Surendra Pal Singh, led the Indian delegation to the island on
the occasion of its independence on 29 June. A 10-member
cultural troupe and a flotilla of 3 Indian ships also took part in
the celebrations to mark the occasion. The Prime Minister of
Seychelles, Mr. F. A. Rene, visited India in September and ex-
changed views for further strengthening relations between India
and Seychelles.
The Government of India maintained its boycott of the racist
regime of South Africa and denounced its pernicious policy of
racial discrimination. It condemned the brutal action taken by
the South African Government against school children of the
African township of Soweto who had protested against the im-
position of Afrikaans in schools.
India's interest in Southern Africa was further demonstrated
by development Of friendly ties with Mozambique and closer con-
tacts with Lesotho and Botswana. Shri Bipinpal Das, Deputy
Minister of External Affairs during his visit to Mozambique in
October, expressed the continued desire of the Government of
India to help Mozambique to strengthen its newly won indepen-
dence. An agreement on technical, economic and scientific co-
operation was signed during his visit. India also pledged a grant
of Rs. 900,000 as part of the collective contribution by the Com-
monwealth for the purchase of some of its necessary requirement's
pg39
from India. This would help Mozambique to meet the loss it
would be incurring because of closing the border with Rhodesia
in response to the UN resolution. The Foreign Minister of
Lesotho, Mr. C. D. Molapo, visited India in August and an
agreement on technical and economic cooperation was signed
between India and Lesotho during the visit. A cultural agree-
ment was signed with Lesotho during the visit of India's Deputy
Minister of External Affairs to that country on the occasion of
the celebrations of its 10th anniversary of independence. The
visit of the President and the Foreign Minister of Botswana in
April 1976 marked India's developing contacts with Botswana.
India and Botswana agreed to expand their relations in the
economic, commercial, scientific and technical fields. Relations
were further strengthened when India's Deputy Minister of
External Affairs attended the 10th anniversary celebrations of
independence of Botswana on Nov 30, 1976.
As regards West Africa, India strengthened its relations with
Angola and increased contacts with Ghana and Nigeria. The
Special Envoy of the Prime Minister, during his visit to Angola,
in April 1976, carried a message from the Prime Minister to
President Agostinho Neto as well as a consignment of medicines.
This gesture was appreciated by the President of Angola. India
expressed its support for the people of Angola in their struggle
to defend and strengthen their newly won freedom.
A significant development in regard to relations with Ghana
and Nigeria was the signing of air services agreements with these
countries. In terms of these agreements, Air India would be
able to operate two services a week to Lagos and Accra and
this would help to promote greater contacts between India and
these countries. Relations with Ghana were further promoted
by the visit of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Shri A. N.
Ray, to Ghana to attend the centenary celebrations of the Sup-
reme Court of Ghana and the visit of Mr. Joe Appiah, the
Roving Ambassador of Ghana, to India on the invitation
of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
pg40
Ghana's Minister for Works and Housing, Col. K. A. Jackson,
during his visit to India, was impressed by the design and tech-
niques used to provide houses for low and middle income group.
India offered to assist Ghana in the construction field.
As regards other countries of West Africa, the visit of the
Minister of Commerce and Industrial Development of Upper
Volta to India in March 1976 resulted in the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding on economic, technical and cul-
tural cooperation between India and Upper Volta. India, as
a friendly gesture, in response to an appeal from the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, sent medicines worth
Rs. 30,000 to Guinea (Bissau) as its contribution towards drou-
ght relief. A contribution towards drought relief was also sent to
Cape Verde Island.
The visit of the Foreign Minister of Mali, Col. Charles
Cissoko, Samba, to India marked the beginning of establishing
friendly contacts with Mali.
The holding of a Conference of Heads of Indian Missions
in African countries South of the Sahara in New Delhi, in
December 1976, highlighted the significance which India atta-
ched to Africa and its detsire to obtain first-band information
on developments in various countries in order to explore ways
and means of strengthening relations with them through mutual
cooperation. The Conference was attended by Indian envoys
to Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya (designate), Madagascar (desig-
nate), Mozambique, Zaire, Senegal, Ghana, Mauritius, Tanzania,
Malawi, Uganda, Zambia and the Acting High Commissioner in
Nigeria. It discussed in depth India's policy and diplomatic ob-
jectives and problems and perspectives relating to economic and
technical cooperation. It was felt that India had a vast reservoir
of experience in the field of development and this could be shar-
ed with African countries. India had made great progress in
industry, science, technology and agriculture and its methods and
pg41
innovations were more suited to African needs and circumstances
than those of the richer countries. This basic complementarity
between India and African countries could be translated into
reality through greater technical cooperation. The Conference
decided to strengthen India's presence in Africa and stressed the
need for encouraging visits from the present and potential lea-
ders of African countries in political, economic and technological
fields.
pg42
Nov 30, 1976 | Top |
| Europe |
CHAPTER VI
EUROPE
Western Europe
India's relations with the countries of Western Europe, by
and large, progressed satisfactorily. The mutuality of interests
and benefits was reflected in the growth of relations in economic
and commercial fields. The countries of Western Europe
accounted for almost a quarter of India's total foreign trade and
a predominant contribution of the development assistance-finan-
cial and technological-received by India from the outside world.
Relations were marked by increase in exchanges in the fields of
education and culture, science and technology.
India continued its efforts to promote relations with the
European Economic Community through greater and more
diversified trade, increased foreign investment in approved areas,
particularly in entirely export-oriented sectors, transfer of tech-
nology and joint cooperation projects in third countries. Efforts
were also made to strengthen bilateral relations through
exchange of high-level visits and discussions to promote coopera-
tion in various fields.
United Kingdom
Indo-British relations remained friendly and cordial. Among
significant visits made by important British leaders and persona-
lities to India were those of Mr. Michael Foot, Lord President
of the Council, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, Leader of the Conser-
vative Party, Mr. Jeremy Thorpe, former leader of the Liberal
Party and the Archbishop of Canterbury. From the Indian
side, the Minister of External Affairs, Shri Y. B. Chavan and a
few other Ministers of the Indian Government as well as some
other Indian leaders visited Britian. The External Affairs
pg43
Minister during his visit, conferred with Mr. James Callaghan,
Prime Minister of Britain, and had wide ranging talks with Mr.
Anthony Crosland, the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and
with Mr. Michael Foot.
A high-powered British industrial delegation led by Sir Ralph
Bateman, Vice-President of the Federation of British Indust-
ries, came to India in October 1976 to explore possibilities of
greater Indo-British trade and economic cooperation as well
as collaboration in third countries. A ministerial-level meeting
of Indo-British Joint Committee on Trade and Economic
Cooperation was held in London.
British development assistance to India in the year 1976-77
amounted to Pounds 112 million (about Rs. 170 crores), the
largest amount received from any country. This assistance was
given entirely in the form of grants.
France
An Indo-French Committee on Technical and Economic
Cooperation was set up at Ministerial level during the visit of
French Prime Minister to India in January 1976. Prof. Chatto-
padhyaya, Minister of Commerce, visited Paris in July 1976
for preliminary discussions on issues relating to cooperation
between the two countries. The visit of Shri T. A. Pai, Mini-
ster of Industry, and Shri K. D. Malaviya, Minister of Petro-
leum, to France indicated Indias efforts to explore possibilities
of further economic cooperation with France.
France was the first member of the Aid India Consortium to
conclude a Development Assistance Agreement with India for
the year 1976-77. Financial credits of Francs 340 million
(about Rs. 60 crores) for the purchase of French goods and
services was extended during the year.
Among the many delegations exchanged between the two
countries was an Indian Parliamentary delegation led by the
Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, which went to France
in October 1976.
pg44
Federal Republic of Germany
India's relations with the Federal Republic of Germany con-
tinued to be marked by cordiality and mutual desire for better
understanding and cooperation. In June 1976, an agreement was
signed whereby the Federal Republic would provide DM 362
million (Rs 124 crores) as development assistance to India for
the year 1976-77. As in the previous years, this assistance was
completely untied and was given on very favourable terms, same
as those of IDA, the soft loan affiliate of the World Bank.
Friendly relations were also marked by exchange of high-
level visits between the two countries.
Prof. Nurul Hassan, Minister of Education, visited the Fede-
ral Republic, of Germany in, June 1976 and the Deputy Minister
of Finance, Shrimati Rohatgi, in November 1976. From the
German side a delegation of 15 prominent industrialists, led by
the President of the Association of German Chambers of Industry
and Commerce, visited India from 10 to Mar 13, 1976 to attend
the 20th anniversary celebration of the Indo-German Chambers
of Commerce. An Indo-FRG seminar, held in New Delhi in
November 1976, provided an opportunity for Indian and West
German educationists and scholars to discuss common problems
and challenges of education and economic development.
An important event in the relations with West Germany was
the visit of the Foreign Minister of that country, Mr. Genscher,
to India in April, 1977. The visit provided an opportunity
to reinforce mutual understanding and explore prospects of pro-
moting further cooperation. The two sides agreed to set up an
Ad hoc Joint Commission to explore further improvement in
economic and technical cooperation.
Italy
New ground in bilateral relations was broken with the sign-
ing, in November 1976, of the first Cultural Agreement between
pg45
India and Italy. The first meeting of the Indo-Italian Joint Com-
mittee on, Trade and Economic Cooperation was held in Rome in
December 1976. Prof. Chattopadhaya, Minister of Commerce,
attended its concluding session.
Netherlands
Netherlands maintained its liberal and helpful development
cooperation policy-towards India. It increased development assis-
tance to India from Guilders 150 million in 1975-76 to Guilders
170 million (Rs. 38 crores) for 1976-77.
Denmark
The visit of the Danish Minister for Foreign Economic
Affairs, Mr. Ivar Norgaard, to India in October 1976 paved the
way for strengthening economic cooperation between India and
Denmark. In December, Mr. Orla Moller, Danish Minister for
Justice and Defence, visited India and exchanged views on
matters of mutual interest with India's Minister of Defence and
Minister of Law.
Cyprus
There was no significant change in the situation, in Cyprus.
Bi-communal talks between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots
seemed to have come to a standstill. India consistently favoured
continued negotiations between, the two communities to arrive at
a just and equitable solution. India continued its support for the
sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence and non-aligned
character of the Republic of Cyprus and early implementation
of the relevant United Nations resolution.
Turkey
The Minister of External Affairs visited Turkey from 31
March to 4 April 1976. He had talks with the Turkish Presi-
dent, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and leader of the oppo-
sition. The visit strengthened the friendly ties between India and
pg46
Turkey and brought about better understanding of each country's
position on various issues of bilateral and multilateral interest.
An Indo-Turkish agreement- on cooperation in the fields of science
and technology was signed during the visit and the cultural
exchange programme was reactivated. It was also deci-
ded to encourage the exchange of delegations between the two
countries to boost Indo-Turkish economic cooperation and to
hold the first meeting of the Joint Committee, established under
the Indo-Turkish Trade Agreement of 1973, at an early date.
Norway
Shri Jagjivan Ram, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation,
visited Norway and held discussions with the Norwegian Gov-
ernment on further cooperation between India and Norway in
agriculture, fisheries and other fields. A delegation from Nor-
way, including Government and private representatives dealing
with the oil industry and allied fields, visited India in November
1976. Indo-Norwegian cooperation in these fields was discussed
and various possibilities of Norwegian technical assistance to
India including supply of equipment for off-shore prospecting
for oil and oil production were identified. Norway agreed to
build 6 to 8 fishing vessels as an extension of the Norwegian
assistance programme for fisheries development in India.
Sweden
The Swedish Foreign, Minister, Mr. Sven Andersson, visited
India from 1 to 6 March 1976, Official talks held during the visit
covered wide range of bilateral and international issues. His
visit reflected the friendly relations existing between India and
Sweden.
The Second meeting of Indo-Swedish Joint Commission took
place in Stockholm in October 1976. It examined further possi-
bilities of increasing bilateral trade, industrial collaboration and
transfer of technology.
pg47
Swedish assistance to India amounted to Swedish Kr. 230
million (about Rs. 47 crores) for 1976-77. It was given entirely
in the form of grants.
The Soviet Union and Eastern Europe
The Soviet Union
The relations of friendship and mutual beneficial coopera-
tion with the Soviet Union were promoted through the signing of
a number of important agreements. These included agreements on
trade, merchant shipping and cultural exchange programme.
Close contacts were also maintained through exchange of visits
at a high level. The visits included that of India's Prime Minister
to the Soviet Union in June 1976 and of the Minister of External
Affairs in August 1976 while on his way to the Mongolian
People's Republic. From the Soviet, side, the Deputy Minister
Mr. Firyubin visited Delhi in March 1976 to hold periodical dis-
cussions between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Indian and
the Soviet Union. The next round of such consultations took place
in Moscow in February 1977. The Indian delegation was led by
Shri Jagat Mehta, Foreign Secretary.
The Soviet Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Arkhipov, visited
India in April-May 1976 to attend the inauguration of the Hot
Strip Mill at Bokaro Steel Plant and again in November to
inaugurate the first Soviet National Exhibition. Dr. G. S. Dhillon,
Minister of Shipping and Transpor visited the USSR in June
1976 to attend the celebrations in Odessa on the occasion of the
20th anniversary of the opening of the Shipping service between
India and the USSR. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri B. R.
Bhagat, led a Parliamentary delegation to the USSR, during his
visit from 25 July to 4 August. Messages were exchanged
between the leaders of the two countries on the occasion of the
5th anniversary of the signing of the Indo-Soviet Treaty.
The Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr. Gromyko visited India in
April 1977 to exchange views with the new leaders of the gov-
ernment. The visit provided an opportunity for exchange of views
pg48
on many international problems and matters of mutual interest.
Three agreements were signed during the visit relating to econo-
mic and technical cooperation, trade and establishment of tele-
communication links. These were expected to further promote
cooperation between, the two countries. During the visit, leaders
of both sides expressed their desire to further strengthen and
develop their ties in the fields of culture, art, literature, education,
sports, and tourism. The discussions held indicated a broad simi-
larity of views between the two countries on most international
problems.
Bulgaria
The highlight of Indo-Bulgarian, relations was the visit to
India in November 1976 by H.E. Mr. Todor Zhivkov. President
of the State Council of the People's Republic of Bulgaria. Talks
during his visit confirmed the close identity or broad similarity
of views of the two countries on current international issues of
mutual concern. Satisfaction, was expressed at the pace of imple-
mentation of the mutually agreed collaboration programme. An
agreement on Merchant Shipping, Protocol of the third session
of the Indo-Bulgarian Joint Commission for Economic, Scienti-
fic and Technical Cooperation, a Cultural Exchange Programme
for 1977 and 1978, and Trade Protocol for 1977 were also sign-
ed during the visit.
German Democratic Republic
The visit of Prime Minister of India to the GDR, at the in-
vitation of Mr. Erich Honecker, General Secretary of the Central
Committee of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany, was a land-
mark in relations between the two countries. The two sides ex-
pressed their determination to further intensify and expand mu-
tual cooperation in the political, economic, scientific, technologi-
cal, cultural and other fields. Earlier, the Chief Justice of India,
Shri A. N. Ray, and the Minister of Information and Broadcast-
ing, visited the GDR.
pg49
The Indo-GDR Trade Protocol for the. year 1976 envisaged
a trade turnover of over Rs. 110 crores. It provides for increas-
ed exports of non-traditional items from India to the GDR,
particularly the engineering goods and polyster-based X-ray
films.
Hungary
The visit of Mr. Pal Losonczi, President of the Presidential
Council of the Hugarian People's Republic in, December 1976
reflected close understanding and cooperation between India and
Hungary. In the talks held during the visit, there was broad
identity and close similarity of views on various issues. Satisfac-
tion, was also expressed regarding cooperation in the political,
economic, scientific, technological and cultural fields. It was also
felt that there was good possibility of further developing the eco-
nomic and trade relations between the two countries. An
agreement in the field of trade and another agreement on, coope-
ration in the field of public health was signed during the visit.
Poland
Cooperation between India and Poland, especially in the field
of trade and economic relations, steadily grew. Among the socia-
list countries of Eastern Europe, Poland is the second biggest
trade partner of India. During the visit of the Polish Minister
of Foreign Trade and, Shipping to India from 19 to 22 October
1976, a 4-year Trade Protocol, covering the period 1977-80,
was signed. The Trade Plan for 1977 envisaged a trade turn-
over of Rs. 230 crores next year as against Rs. 190 crores in
1975, rising to Rs. 260 crores by 1980. The new Protocol envis-
aged increased exports of non-traditional items by India and
import of textiles, machinery, ships and fishing trawlers from
Poland. The two countries also agreed to explore avenues of pro-
duction, cooperation as well as joint ventures in third countries.
A number of agreements for industrial cooperation were conclud-
ed during the year between the respective organisations of the
two countries.
pg50
Mr. Edward Gierek, First Secretary of the Central Committee
of the Polish United Workers' Party, visited India in January
1977. Earlier, the notable visits from India were those of the
Minister of Education, Social Welfare and Culture, Prof. Nurul
Hasan, and the Minister for Civil Supplies and Cooperation,
Shri A. C. George.
Romania
An important event in relations between India and Romania
was the visit to India of the Romanian, Prime Minister, Mr.
Manea Manescu in May 1976. During his visit, a Protocol on
Economic, Commercial, Scientific and Technological Cooperation
and the Indo-Romanian Cultural Exchange Programme for
1976-78 were concluded. The Minister of External Affairs, Shri
Y. B. Chawan, visited Romania in January 1977. He held wide
ranging and fruitful talks with the Romanian leaders and his
visit served to underline the importance both countries attach
to continued understanding and cooperation between, them. The
Indo-Romanian Trade Protocol for 1977, concluded in November
1976 in Bucharest, provided for exchange of commodities of the
total value of Rs. 133 crores as against Rs. 124.7 crores in 1975.
The Education Minister, Prof. Nurul Hasan, paid a visit to
Romania in October 1976 and a Parliamentary delegation led
by the Speaker, Shri B. R. Bhagat, was in Bucharest in Novem-
ber at the invitation of the Romanian Grand National
Assembly.
Yugoslavia
During the year, a number of important visits were exchang-
ed between India and Yugoslavia. The Yugoslav Foreign Minis-
ter, Mr. Milos Minic, and Information Minister, Mr. Mohd.
Berberovic, visited India in April and March 1976 respectively.
From the Indian side, the Commerce Minister Prof. D. P. Chat-
topadhyaya, Co-Chairman of the Joint Indo-Yugoslav Economic
Committee, headed India's delegation to the 10th session of the
pg51
Committee held in Belgrade in March 1976. Prof. Chattopadhyaya
had a, detailed review of bilateral trade and economic relations
as well as industrial cooperation in third countries and various
other matters including the strengthening of the tripartite econo-
mic cooperation between Yugoslavia, Egypt and India. In Sep-
tember, the Minister of Industry, Shri T. A. Pai, visited Belgrade
where he had talks for the further expansion of trade and ex-
change of commodities. A Protocol on the equivalence of degrees
and diplomas accorded by the two countries was signed in New
Delhi in November 1976.
India and Yugoslavia cooperated very well at both the July
1976 New Delhi conference of non-aligned countries on the
Press Agencies Pool and the Colombo Summit in August 1976.
pg52
Mar 13, 1976 | Top |
| The Americas |
CHAPTER VII
THE AMERICAS
United States of America
India continued its efforts towards promoting understanding
and cooperation with the United States. It was felt that there was
much that the two countries could do to strengthen peace and in-
ternational cooperation. Indo-US relations were marked by a
common desire for strengthening bilateral relations, improvement
in trade and economic spheres, and exchange of views on inter-
national economic problems. It was hoped that in view of the
trend towards global detente Indo-American relations would also
move towards a phase of friendly and cooperative relations based
on equality and mutual understanding.
The year saw exchange of visits by Ministers and officials
from both sides. The Minister of External Affairs paid a visit to
the United States and met the US Secretary of State. Other Pro-
minent Indians to visit were Shri Om Mehta Minister of State
for Home Affairs, Shri Godey Murahari, Deputy Chairman of the
Rajya Sabha, and Shri Dharam Bir Sinha, Deputy Minister for
Information and Broadcasting. These visits contributed to a bet-
ter understanding and awareness of India's view point in the
United States.
The Indo-US Joint Business Council, that met in Washington
in February 1977, pointed out that commercial ties between
India and the United States could be strengthened through in-
crease in trade, joint ventures and industrial cooperation in third
countries. The Council decided to take steps to increase aware-
ness in the United States about trade prospects with India.
To mark the Bi-Centennial Anniversary of the United States
independence, India took a number of steps, such as release of
pg53
a special postage stamp on that date, publication of an illustrated
book on Indo-American contacts in the past 200 years as well
as the deputation of a cultural troupe to convey the friendly
feelings of the people of India towards the people of the United
States. President Carter showed his goodwill towards India by
sending a special delegation led by his mother Miss Lillian Carter
to the funeral of late President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. There
was great appreciation in the United States of the change of
government in, India by peaceful and democratic methods through
fair and free elections. Cordial messages were exchanged between
the President and the new Prime Minister. It was expected that
there would be greater sympathy and understanding between the
two countries to enable them to re-establish their bilateral rela-
tions on a firmer foundation.
Canada
Indo-Canadian differences on nuclear cooperation had been
the subject of detailed discussions at various levels in earlier
years. In March 1976, the officials of the two countries reached
an understanding on all outstanding issues. However, on May 18, 1976,
Canada unilaterally decided to terminate nuclear coopera-
tion. Shortly afterwards, the Minister of External Affairs made
a detailed statement in the Parliament on the subject expressing
India's regret.
South and Central America
A conscious effort was made by India and Latin American
and Caribbean countries to promote their relations and interests
as developing countries. This trend was underlined by nascent
awareness in Latin America that its destiny lies in closer politi-
cal and economic cooperation with the rest of the developing
world. In spite of the constraints imposed by local and regional
compulsions, the urge for greater independence in foreign affairs
continued to be widespread. Many countries of this region ac-
cepted India's view of non-alignment that this movement was a
symbol of true courage against military alliances and ideological
pg54
conformity. Seven of these countries are, full members of the
non-aligned movement and four were elected at Colombo to the
Coordination Bureau. Several others have closely followed the
meetings of the group and developments within the non-aligned
movement.
At the bilateral level, India's interest in Latin America and
the Caribbean region increased further. It was decided to open
one more Resident Mission shortly and two Honorary Consulates-
General. India now has diplomatic relations with 23 countries
and Resident Missions in 12 Capitals of the region. For the first
time, India and Cuba would cooperate in cultural matters and
in special fields of science and technology. Three agreements
were ratified-one with Argentina in the cultural field and two
with Colombia in the fields of culture and trade. Detailed pro-
grammes for cooperation under the cultural and science and
technology agreements, signed with Mexico, in 1975, were also
drawn up. A Venezuelan team of officials visited New Delhi to
discuss a cultural agreement.
Among important Indian leaders and delegations to visit
Latin America and the Caribbean were the Minister of Shipping
and Transport, the Minister of State for Home Affairs, who at-
tended the Inter-Parliamentary Union, in Mexico City, the Spe-
cial Envoy of the Prime Minister, who attended the inauguration
of the Third World Centre in Mexico City, the Minister of In-
formation and Broadcasting and the representatives of the Gem
and Jewellery Export Promotion Council, the SAIL, India Invest-
ment Centre, the Indian Aluminium Cables Ltd., Bharat Alumi-
nium and MECON. Important visitors from the region, to India
were Dr. Manuel Peraz Guerrero, Venezuelan Minister for Inter-
national Economic Affairs; Dr. Zoilo Morinello, President of the
Cuban Academy of Science and First Vice-President of the State
Committee for Science and Technology ; the Hon'ble Arthur
D'Hanna, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance,
Bahamas ; a trade delegation from Brazil as well as Brazilian
Members of Parliament and representatives of the Jamaican In-
dustrial Investment Corporation.
pg55
The overall volume of India's trade and economic coopera-
tion with countries in this region is still modest. However, there
is sufficient potential as is shown by the joint cooperation pro-
gramme in, Guyana. Various steps were taken to promote trade,
including organising an industrial exhibition in Brazil. Discussions
were held between the Indian and Brazilian trade officials. Ac-
cording to the agreement reached during these talks, Brazil ex-
pressed willingness to buy from India a wide range of steel items
and engineering goods. The Indian side indicated interest in buy-
ing ships, fishing trawlers and certain chemical items from Brazil.
Both sides also agreed that STC, which is the canalising agency
for castor oil, and the corresponding Brazilian organisation will
come to an understanding regarding the export prices of this
commodity. The possibilities of starting a two-way service bet-
ween Argentina and India were discussed with an Argentine ship-
ping line which showed interest in extending its service to Bom-
bay,. The Shipping Corporation of India has a bimonthly service
to the Caribbeans and one of Scindia's ships calls periodically at
Colon (Panama).
pg56
May 18, 1976 | Top |
| United nations And International |
CHAPTER VIII
UNITED NATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCES
Important international conferences were held during the year
1976 dealing with major political, economic and other contem-
porary issues. The Fifth Conference of Heads of State/Govern-
ment of non-aligned countries held in Colombo in August 1976
was of exceptional importance. It reinforced the role of non-align-
ment as the bulwark of an ever widening area of peace, a shield
against external pressures and a catalyst of a new international
economic order based on equality and justice. The Nineteenth
Session of the UNESCO General Conference held in Nairobi in
October-November 1976 was noteworthy for the increasing em-
phasis on orienting its programmes to meet the needs of develop-
ing countries in the education, cultural, information and mass
media fields. The Conference of International Economic Co-
operation (CIEC) opened in Paris amidst much hope and expec-
tation of a dialogue among developed and developing countries in
a spirit of cooperation in order to move towards the solution of
pressing international economic issues. The Fourth Session of
UNCTAD was held in May 1976. The International Fund for
Agricultural Development (IFAD) became operative before the
end of the year. The 31st regular session of the U.N. General
Assembly was held in New York during September-December
1976. India actively participated in all these and other interna-
tional conferences.
Two important meetings of non-aligned countries were held
during the year preparatory to the Summit Conference at
Colombo--a Conference of Foreign Ministers of 17-nation Coordi-
nating Bureau of non-aligned countries at Algiers from 30 May to
Jun 02, 1976 and a Conference of the Ministers of Information
pg57
of the non-aligned countries held in New Delhi from 8 to 13
July 1976.
The Algiers Bureau Meeting reaffirmed the importance of
maintaining the positive thrust of non-alignment and preserving
unity and cohesion among non-aligned countries so that they could
play an increasingly effective role in world affairs. It was felt that
important international political and economic issues and organi-
sational questions such as the, question of admission of new
members, observers and guests and the mandate and composition
of the Coordinating, Bureau that may come up at the Summit Con-
ference should be resolved on the basis of consensus keeping in
view at the same time the need not to deflect from the fundamental
principles of non-alignment.
The Conference of the Information Ministers of non-aligned
countries held in New Delhi in July 1976 highlighted the fact
that the emancipation and development of national information
media was an integral part of the overall struggle for political,
economic and social independence for a large majority of the
people of the world who should not be denied the right to inform
and be informed objectively and correctly. The Conference
approved the constitution and establishment of a Press Agencies
Pool of non-aligned countries and the composition of its Coordi-
nation Committee. The setting up of an Inter-Governmental
Coordination Council was recommended in order to effectively
promote cooperation between non-aligned countries in different
fields of information and mass media. The Conference also re-
commended draft paragraphs for inclusion in the Political Dec-
laration of the Colombo Summit stressing that a new international
order in the field of information and mass-communication was
as vital as a new international economic order.
The Fifth Summit Conference of non-aligned countries held
in Colombo from 16-19 August 1976, the first to be held in
Asia, was the largest ever of its kind. It was attended by 86
member countries, 10 Observer States, 12 Observer Organisa-
tions and 7 Guests. The Conference adopted (1) a Political
pg58
declaration, (2) an Economic Declaration and (3) An Action
Programme for Economic Cooperation. In addition, 16 Resolu-
tions were approved on political subjects and 12 on economic
subjects. The Summit was preceded by a meeting of the Bureau
at officials! level from 9-11 August and by a Conference of
Foreign Ministers of all non-aligned countries from 11-14 August.
The Political Declaration emphasized the need to preserve
the integrity, unity and cohesion of the movement and to adhere
to its fundamental principles. The section on "Asia and non-
alignment" which traced the evolution of non-alignment in Asia
beginning with the Asian Relations Conference held in New Delhi
in 1947 and expressed the determination of the non-aligned
counties in Asia to defend and preserve their freedom by
eschewing involvement in military blocs and alliances. The sec-
tion on Southern Africa in the Political Declaration reflected
the growing feeling that eventually resort to armed struggle may
be necessary to secure the liberation from the remaining vestiges
of colonialism, racism and apartheid. On disarmament, the Poli-
tical Declaration called for the convening of a Special Session of
the General Assembly exclusively devoted to disarmament
matters which has since been accepted at the 3lst Session of the
U.N. General Assembly. This would not be substitute for the
World Disarmament Conference, but would consider, inter alia,
the question of convening such a World Conference. The Political
Declaration also reflected the consensus views, of all
non-aligned countries on the need to be vigilant against the poli-
tics of pressure and domination by outside powers in the internal
affairs of non-aligned countries. Other issues covered were the
situation in the Middle East and the question of Palestine, the
role of the United Nations of the Historic victories of the countries
of Indo-China, the question of Cyprus, the Indian Ocean as a
Zone of peace, the admission of Angola and Vietnam to the
U.N., the question of Korea, etc.
The Colombo Summit unanimously approved all the re-
commendations of the New Delhi Conference of Information
pg59
Ministers of non-aligned countries. The Political Declaration in-
corporated paragraphs recommended by the New Delhi Confe-
rence on cooperation in the field of information and mass media.
The Economic Declaration adopted at the Colombo Summit
analysed the current international economic situation and the
prospects for developing countries. Disappointment was ex-
pressed at the lack of progress made so far at the Paris Con-
ference (CIEC) and at the lack of substantive programmes and
results achieved at UNCTAD-IV. At the same time, the accent
was on improving the collective bargaining position of non-
aligned and developing countries by promoting mutual help and
cooperation. There was also growing realisation of the need to
concentrate on the implementation of the decision taken at pre-
vious Conferences.
The emphasis in the Action Programme for Economic Co-
operation was on increasing the extent and diversity of coopera-
tion among non-aligned and developing countries. This prog-
ramme, while covering old and familiar fields of cooperation,
namely trade, industrialisation, science and technology, monetary
and financial cooperation, raw materials etc. contained new addi-
tional sections on food and agriculture, fisheries, transport, tele-
communications, insurance, public enterprises, health, technical
cooperation and consultancy services, employment and human
resources development, role of women in development, research
and information system and tourism.
India continued to be one of the Coordinators in the field of
financial and monetary cooperation among non-aligned countries.
It had also been appointed one of the Coordinators in the field
Of scientific and technological development and technical coope-
ration and consultancy services.
India played an active role both in the deliberations as well
as in the decisions finally adopted at the Conference.
The Coordinating Bureau of the non-aligned countries was
expanded from 17 to 25 to include 12 from Africa, 8 from
Asia. 4 from Latin America and 1 from Europe. The mandate
pg60
given to the expanded Coordinating Bureau reflected the need
for continuous coordination of activities at a political level to
enable the non-aligned countries to play an effective role at the
U.N. and other international forums.
The Conference of Foreign Ministers of the Coordinating
Bureau of Non-Aligned countries was held as scheduled from
6-11 April in New Delhi. Apart from 25 members of the Bureau.
the meeting was attended by observers from several other coun-
tries. The meeting marked the first occasion for a stock-taking
regarding political and economic programmes adopted at the
Colombo Summit. Inaugurating the Conference, the Prime Mi-
nister said that for India non-alignment represented a national
consensus and India would remain non-aligned in the real sense
of the term. The struggle for freedom from want and freedom
from fear should inspire attitudes in international affairs. He
called upon non-aligned countries to forge meaningful bonds of
cooperation and collaboration among themselves. The Minister
of External Affairs, addressing the plenary session, reiterated
India's firm commitment to the policy of non-alignment. He laid
special emphasis on the removal of the last vestiges of colonialism
and racialism from Africa. He called for unity and collaboration
among non-aligned countries to realise their collective aspirations
through self-reliance. He placed particular emphasis on the in-
creasing relevance of the Non-Aligned Movement in the global
effort to achieve a new economic order which would ensure equi-
table principle of decision-making as well as a just distribution of
resources and assets in the world economic system.
The 31st Regular Session of the UN General Assembly was
held in New York from 21 September to 21 December 1976.
Major international political, economic, social. humanitarian,
legal and other issues figured in its debates and resolutions.
India played an active role in its deliberations.
The membership of the World Body which stood at 144
prior to the commencement of the Session increased to 147 with
the admission of three new Members Seychelles, Angola and
pg61
Western Samoa. The admission of the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam was, however, once again vetoed in the Security Coun-
cil. On the initiative of non-aligned countries, the General Assemb-
ly subsequently adopted a Resolution, with an overwhelming
majority, calling for the admission of Socialist Republic of
Vietnam to the U.N. and recommending that the Security Council
consider the matter favourably in strict conformity with Article
4 of the Charter of die U.N. more India co-sponsored this Resolu-
tion. The Commonwealth Secretariat was also granted Observer
status during this Session.
The General Assembly re-elected Dr. Kurt Waldheim for a
second five-year term on the unanimous recommendation of the
Security Council.
There were 124 items on the Agenda of the 31st Session. The
General Assembly adopted in all 208 Resolutions. An interesting
development which was widely welcomed was the withdrawal by
the sponsors of the two conflicting draft resolutions on the
Korean Question before the formal adoption of the Agenda. It
will be recalled that at the previous sessions both such resolu-
tions were adopted.
At the request of Bangladesh a new item entitled situation
arising out of a unilateral withdrawal of waters at Farakka was
included in the Agenda. India opposed the inscription of the item
on the agenda on the ground that it was a bilateral matter which
needed to be settled by direct negotiations and any attempt to
internationalise a bilateral legal-cum-technical issue may only
prove counter-productive. The item was allocated to the Special
Political Committee. Three meetings were devoted to the subject
in the Committee-the first one (November 15) in which Bangla-
desh made a statement, the second one (November 16) in which
India made a statement, and the third one (November 24)
at which the Committee adopted a consensus statement
calling upon both parties to resume bilateral negotia-
tions with a view to arriving at a settlement. Bangladesh withdrew
pg62
the draft resolution earlier tabled by it on the subject. With the
adoption of the consensus statement the discussion on the item
was concluded.
India participated actively in the deliberations of the General
Assembly on items pertaining to Colonialism and apartheid
in accordance with its well-known stand in such matters. India
continued to be a member of the UN Special Committee on de-
colonisation (The Committee of 24), the Special Committee on
Apartheid and the Council for Namibia.
The policies of apartheid of the Government of South Africa
and the illegal regime in Zimbabwe came under severe attack
at the 31st Session. To highlight its importance apartheid was
discussed in the Plenary, instead of in the Special Political Com-
mittee as in earlier years. More than 100 delegations participated
in the debate and as many as 11 resolutions were adopted on
apartheid alone-8 of them co-sponsored by India. For the first
time, the General Assembly endorsed armed struggle as a legi-
timate weapon in the hands of the oppressed people of Southern
Africa. It proclaimed that the Pretoria regime was illegal and
reaffirmed the right of the people of South Africa to struggle by
all means for their liberation. Further, the General Assembly
demanded the immediate release of all persons imprisoned for
their involvement in the struggle for liberation in South Africa
and gave renewed call to the Security Council to impose a
mandatory arms embargo against the Pretoria regime. Another
Resolution condemned any collaboration with the Pretoria re-
gime as being "a hostile act against the oppressed people of
South Africa" and condemned actions of all States and foreign
economic interests continuing to collaborate with the regime. A
resolution condemning Israel for "continuing and increasing
collaboration with the South African racist regime" was also
approved. The Assembly authorised the Special Committee against
Apartheid to organise a World Conference in Africa (Ghana)
in 1977 to set forth a programme listing measures which could be
taken by Governments, Specialised Agencies and other Organi-
sations. Also approved without opposition was the decision to
pg63
set up a Drafting Committee to prepare an International Conven-
tion against apartheid in Sports and an appeal for generous con-
tributions to the United Nations Trust Fund for South Africa
which provides humanitarian assistance to victims of discrimina-
tory legislation. The Assembly further rejected the proclamation
of independence of Transkei--one of the Bantustans or "home-
lands" of South Africa-and declared it to be invalid. The estab-
lishment of Bantustans was condemned as designed to consoli-
date apartheid, to perpetuate white minority domination and to
dispossess the South African people of their inalienable rights,
and Governments were called on to deny any form of recogni-
tion to "the so called independent Transkei" and to refrain from
having any dealings with it or with other Bantustans.
In pursuance of decisions taken at Colombo, a Pledging Con-
ference on the Non-aligned Support and Solidarity Fund for the
Liberation of Southern Africa was also convened. The Govern-
ment of India decided to contribute US $30,000 to this Fund.
A note-worthy event was that the Special Committee against
Apartheid held a Special Meeting to pay warm and eloquent
tributes to India for its contribution to the world struggle against
apartheid in Southern Africa.
On Namibia, 8 resolutions were adopted, all co-sponsored
by India. South Africa's continuing refusal to comply with the
resolutions and decisions of the UN, its continued illegal occu-
pation of Namibia, its brutal repression of the Nambian people,
its persistent violation of their human rights and its efforts to
destroy the national unity and territorial integrity of Namibia
were strongly deplored and condemned. Further, the General
Assembly re-affirmed the inalienable rights of the people of
Namibia to self-determination, freedom and national indepen-
dence in accordance with the relevant UN Resolutions. The armed
struggle of the Namibian people led by SWAPO to achieve free-
dom and national independence was also endorsed. The General
Assembly called for free elections in Namibia under the supervi-
sion and control of the U.N. It was also decided to observe the
week beginning with 27 October as a week of solidarity with the
pg64
people of Namibia and its liberation movements. An important
development was the invitation to SWAPO to participate in the
Sessions and work of the General Assembly and in the work
of all international conferences, convened under the auspices of
the Assembly and other Organs of the UN, in the capacity of
Observer.
Two resolutions, both co-sponsored by India, were adopted
on the situation in the Middle East. The resolutions condemned
Israel for its continued illegal occupation of Arab territories
since 1967 and called for its withdrawal as well as attainment
by the Palestinian people of their inalienable rights as a prere-
quisite to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. The reso-
lutions also called for the early resumption of the Geneva Peace
Conference with the participation of all the parties concerned,
including the PLO.
On Palestine, a series of resolutions were adopted by the
General Assembly. An important development was the endorse-
ment by the Assembly of the recommendations of the "Com-
mittee on Palestinian Rights" as a basis for resolving the Pales-
tinian question.
Resolutions on the problem of Palestine refugees called upon
Governments to make generous contributions to UNRWA, and
for continued assistance to persons displaced as a result of 1967
hostilities, etc. The mandate of the UNEF was extended by one
year and that of UNDOF by six months.
In regard to the proposal that the Indian Ocean be declared
a Zone of Peace, the General Assembly adopted a procedural
resolution which requested the littoral and hinterland States to
continue their consultations with a view to formulation a
Programme of Action leading to the convening of a Conference
on the Indian Ocean. It also renewed the invitation to all States,
in particulars, the Great Powers, and the major maritime users
of the Indian Ocean, to cooperate In a practical manner in the
pg65
implementation of the UN resolutions on the subject. The Resolu-
tion was adopted by 106 votes in favour, none against and 23
abstentions.
The question of Cyprus was also on the agenda of the 31st
General Assembly and a resolution tabled by the Contact Group
of Five Non-aligned Countries (Algeria, Guyana, India, Mali
and Yugoslavia) was approved with 94 votes in favour, 1 against
and 27 abstentions. The Resolution reaffirmed the sovereignty,
independence, territorial integrity and non-alignment of the
Republic of Cyprus and called for the cessation of all foreign
interference. Further, it requested the Secretary General for the
continuation of his good offices for negotiations between the re-
presentatives of the two communities.
The mandate of the UN Force in Cyprus was extended by a
further period of six months. It may be mentioned that the
Commander of the UNFICYP, Lt. Gen. Prem Chand of India,
resigned from his post after serving with distinction for a period
of 7 years.
India supported a proposal made by the Soviet Union for
concluding a World Treaty for the Renunciation of Force in
international relations and co-sponsored a resolution calling upon
the Secretary General to ascertain the views and suggestions of
member-States on the draft Soviet Treaty for further examina-
ion at the next Session. India also supported the initiative taken
by the Federal Republic of Germany on the setting up of a
Committee to prepare an International Convention against the
taking of hostages. The resolution, amended after consultation
among different groups, was adopted by consensus. A 35 member
Ad-hoc Committee has been set up to draft the Convention
which would come up for examination at the next Session of the
General Assembly.
On Western Sahara, the General Assembly postponed con-
sideration of the item to the 32nd Session next year and requested
the Secretary General of the OAU to inform the U.N. Secretary
pg66
General of the progress achieved in the implementation of the
decisions of the OAU concerning the holding of an Extraordinary
Summit on the questions of Western Sahara, On Timor, the
General Assembly rejected the integration of East Timor with
Indonesia and called upon Indonesia to withdraw all its forces
from that territory. India voted against this Resolution. The
Resolution on the Comorian Island of Mayotte called upon
France to withdraw from Mayotte which was an integral part of
Comoros.
In the field of disarmament, the Conference of the Committee
on Disarmament (CCD) of which India is a member since the
establishment of the Committee in 1962 was in session from 17
February to 22 April and again from 22 June to 3 September
1976. The Committee appointed a Working Group for negotia-
ting the text of a draft convention on the prohibition of military
or any other hostile use of environmental modification techniques
(ENMOD Convention) and an Ad-hoc Group of scientific ex-
perts to consider international cooperative measures to detect
and identify seismic events.
The Working Group succeeded in evolving an agreed draft
ENMOD Convention which was remitted to the 31st Session of
the UN General Assembly. India co-sponsored a resolution at the
31st UN General Assembly Session referring this Convention to all
States for their consideration, signature and ratification and re-
questing the UN Secretary General in his designated capacity as its
depository to open it for signature by all States at an early date.
At the 31st Session of the UN General Assembly, there were
as many as twenty items regarding disarmament, outer space
and atomic energy on the agenda, on which a total of 23 reso-
lutions were adopted. Of these, India co-sponsored 6 resolutions,
all of which were adopted, four of them without a vote. India
voted for 9 other resolutions, abstained on 4, and voted against
1 (that sponsored by Pakistan on the question of establishment
of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia). Three other
resolutions were adopted without a vote.
pg67
The decision to convene a special session of the UN General
Assembly to consider disarmament was by far the most im-
portant development in the field of disarmament during the
31st session. In pursuance of the recommendation of the
Colombo Summit, several non-aligned countries including India
co-sponsored a resolution, which was adopted and under which
it was decided to hold a special session of the U.N. General
Assembly devoted to disarmament in May-June 1978.
Pakistan again tabled a resolution on the question of the
establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia.
India did not table any draft resolution during this session, as
its position had been already made clear in the various state-
ments made on this subject as also in the negative votes either
cast or indicated on the Pakistani resolutions at the 29th and
30th Sessions, at which it had tabled alternative resolutions
which had been duly adopted by the UN General Assembly. In
fact, the only time when both the Indian and Pakistani resolutions
were voted upon-at the 29th Session-the Indian resolution had
received a larger number of affirmative votes than the Pakistani
resolution. In order, however, to reiterate the unacceptability of
the Pakistani proposal, India voted against the Pakistani reso-
lution. In essence, India's position on the Pakistani proposal is
that it is not feasible to think of establishing a nuclear-weapon-
free zone in South Asia, so long as nuclear weapons exist in
the region of Asia and the Pacific of which South Asia is an
integral part.
In the field of conventional disarmament, India reiterated its
consistent view that any controls on conventional weapons should
be comprehensive and should properly be considered in the con-
text of general and complete disarmament, the highest priority
being accorded to the question of the elimination of nuclear wea-
pons and all other weapons of mass destruction. Consistent with
this position, India succeeded in bringing about the deferment of
consideration of a resolution which had been proposed on the
pg68
subject of merely controlling international transfers of conven-
tional weapons without any curbs on their production, sophisti-
cation and stockpiling and also without any commitment to the
highest priority objective of nuclear disarmament and elimina-
tion of all weapons of mass destruction.
The 31st Session of the UN General Assembly did not regis-
ter any substantive progress on the various other aspects of the
question of disarmament and remitted to the CCD for further
consideration and negotiation a number of issues, particularly the
conclusion of a comprehensive nuclear weapon test ban and the
prohibition of chemical weapons on a priority basis. These issues
were again taken up by the CCD during its 1977 spring session
which commenced on 15th February, 1977.
The Ministry continued to coordinate with and assist the
Department of Atomic Energy as well as the Department of
Space in respect of the international aspects of their activities.
India continued to be a member of the Board of Governors of
the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for being
amongst the nine globally most advanced members of the IAEA
in the field of the utilization of nuclear energy for peaceful
purposes.
The Conference on International Economic Cooperation, which
had met in Paris in December 1975, had set up four Commissions
to deal with problems of energy, raw materials, development and
financial affairs. India was a member of the Commission on Energy
Development and Financial Affairs and was an Observer on the
Commission on Raw Materials. These Commissions met at
periodical intervals in Paris during 1976. A mutually acceptable
work programme was finalised in September and in October the
four Commissions outlined the positions of the developing and
developed countries on the items in the work programme. There
were wide differences between the positions of the two groups on
almost all the major subjects under discussion. Attempts to re-
concile these differences did not succeed. The Indian delegation
throughout played a moderate and constructive role. There were
pg69
considerable disappointment among the developing countries at
the meagre results achieved so far.
The Conference on Economic Cooperation among developing
countries was held in Mexico in September 1976. The third
ministerial meeting of the group of 77 which had met in January-
February 1976 had decided that such a Conference at inter-gov-
ernmental level should be held in Mexico. The Indian delegation
to the Conference stressed that the stage had come when develop-
ing countries should move from declaration to action and from
programmes to their implementation. It worked for adoption of
complete action-oriented measures and operational mechanism in
this regard. The Conference identified several areas which had
the potential for expanding mutual cooperation and commissioned
detailed studies regarding them.
On the economic side, the 31st Session of the U.N. General
Assembly expressed its deep concern and disappointment at the
failure of the Paris Conference on International Economic Coope-
ration to achieve any concrete results. At the initiative of the
Group of 77 it decided to hold, if necessary, a resumed session
in the first half of 1977 to discuss question of International Eco-
nomic Cooperation in the light of the outcome of the Paris dialogue.
The 31st Session also called upon the Secretary-General to collect
data for the formulation of a new International Development
Strategy for the Third Development Decade. Further, it was
decided to convene a U.N. Conference on technical cooperation
among developing countries in March/April 1978 in Argentina,
a Conference of Plenipotentiaries during the second half of 1977
to consider the constitution of UNIDO as a Specialised Agency
and a U.N. Conference on Science and Technology for Develop-
ment in 1978.
The United Nations Water Conference held at Mar del Plata
in Argentina in March 1977 decided to designate the period
1978-1988 as a decade for international action to provide all
peoples of the world with adequate drinking water and sanitation
facilities.
pg70
The World Food Conference of 1974 had recommended the
creation of an International Fund for Agricultural Development
(IFAD) to provide increased concessional financing for food
production in the developing countries. This Fund, which will
now become operative since the US $ 1,000 million target of
initial contributions has been reached, is considered to be an
important achievement of the United Nations.
The 31st Session of the General Assembly, adopted a number
of resolutions on social and humanitarian questions including
racial discrimination world social situation, etc. India played an
active role in projecting the view point of developing countries
and specially in tabling resolutions on the Role of Youth, on
National Experience for Social Progress, on Role of Cooperatives
and in co-sponsoring many other resolutions, all of which were
adopted with overwhelming majority.
The Commission on the Status of Women, at its meeting in
September 1976, adopted a programme for the U.N. Decade
for Women (1976-85) as a follow up of the World Conference
of the International Women's Year. The General Assembly also
adopted a number of resolutions aimed at improving the status of
women in the field of education, employment opportunities and
emancipation. At the national level, a 31-Member National
Committee on Women has been set up to guide and advise the
Central and State Governments on formulating programmes for
women and ensuring their implementation. India sponsored a reso-
lution in the Fifth Committee which, inter alia called for greater
representation of women at all levels and particularly at the senior
levels in the U.N. and its Specialised Agencies.
Both during the general debate and in the Third Committee
during the 31st Session of the U.N. General Assembly, India
exercised its right of reply to reiterate its consistent and well-
known position regarding Jammu and Kashmir being an integral
part of India in response to misleading contentions made by
Pakistan.
pg71
India's contribution to the U.N. budget has been reduced
for the coming year from 1.2 per cent to 0.7 per cent in accor-
dance with a new scale of assessments recommended by the Com-
mittee on Contributions. India played an active role in facilitating
the adoption of a compromise resolution on the question concern-
ing the scale of assessments. The new scale of assessments would
be valid only for one year. In the meantime, the Committee on
Contributions will re-examine the question taking into account
new guidelines provided in the discussions at the 31st Session of
the U.N.
The Nineteenth Session of the General Conference of UNESCO
was the first to be held in Africa and was only the second General
Conference in UNESCO's thirty years of existence to be
convened outside UNESCO's Headquarters in Paris (the
only other Session held outside Paris was in Delhi in
1965). The UNESCO General Conference decided to
consider at its Twentieth Session, two years from now,
a draft Declaration on the Fundamental Principles
governing the use of the mass media in strengthening peace and
international understanding and in combating war propaganda,
racism and apartheid. This should be the first time that an inter-
national body would be considering such a Declaration on the
guidelines for activity in the field of mass media. Other significant
resolutions adopted at the General Conference which would add
new dimensions to UNESCO's activities over the coming biennial
related to the role of UNESCO in developing a climate of public
opinion conducive to halting the arms race and the transition to
disarmament; and to UNESCO's contribution in the establishment
of a New International Economic Order.
India was elected a member of the Security Council for the
term 1977-78 replacing Japan whose two-year term expired at
the end of 1976. India was re-elected to the Executive Board
of UNESCO on which it has served since its inception with Dr.
S. Gopal replacing Shri G. Parthasarathi. India was re-elected
to the Human Rights Commission, the Commission on the Status
of Women, the Committee on Natural Resources, ICAO Council
pg72
and Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation
(IMCO). Mr. Venkataraman was re-elected as member of the
U.N. Administrative Tribunal and became its Chairman. Dr.
Jagota, Legal Adviser in the Ministry of External Affairs, was
elected as a member of the International Law Commission. Dr.
Nagendra Singh, Judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
was elected as Vice-President of the Court. The 31st Session of
the U.N. General Assembly also approved the re-nomination by
the U.N. Secretary-General of Shri P. N. Haksar as a member
of the International Civil Service Commission and of Shri B. K.
Nehru as a member of the U.N. Investment Committee.
During 1976, the fourth (15 March to 7 May) and fifth (2
August to 17 September) sessions of the Third United Nations
Conference on the Law of the Sea were held in New York. At
the fourth session, discussions were held on the basis of the Single
Negotiating Texts prepared by the Chairman of the three main
Committees with respect to their respective subject-matter, namely,
International Seabed Area and its Resources (Committee I), Law
of the Sea (Committee II), and Scientific Research and Marine
Pollution (Committee III). In addition to this, Ambassador H. S.
Amerasinghe, President of the Conference, also submitted the
Fourth Informal Single Negotiating Text on settlement of dis-
putes. As a result of these discussions, these SNTs were revised.
The fifth session considered further the Revised Single Nego-
tiating Texts. Considerable progress was made during these
sessions and a consensus was reached on a 12-mile territorial sea,
a 200-mile economic zone, and the continental shell extending
to the outer edge of the margin with the understanding that the
outer limits will be precisely defined. Some questions remained
to be further discussed, namely, provisions concerning navigation
through international straits, the question whether the economic
zone is part of the high seas or whether the high seas start beyond
the economic zone, the question of coastal State jurisdiction con-
cerning the conduct of scientific research and the control of marine
pollution within the economic zone and the question of settlement
of disputes. As regards the resources of the international seabed
pg73
area, the technologically developed states and the Group of 77
of the developing countries continued to differ on the system of
their exploitation, the financial arrangements to be entered into
between the Authority and the operators in the area and the role
and relationship of the principal organs of the proposed Inter-
national Seabed Authority.
The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law
(UNCITRAL) met thrice in Geneva and New York, alternatively,
during 1976. It completed the final reading of the Draft Conven-
tion on the Carriage of Goods by Sea and the Draft Convention
on the International Sale of Goods. It also completed the second
reading of the Draft Uniform Law on International Promissory
Notes. It adopted the Draft Set of Arbitration Rules for optional
use in ad hoc arbitration relating to international trade.
The fifteenth session of the Legal Sub-Committee of the
United Nations Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, was
held at Geneva in May 1976. It considered questions relating to
(a) draft treaty on the moon, (b) artificial earth satellites for
direct television broadcasting and (c) legal implications of remote
sensing of the earth from space.
On the subject of a draft treaty relating to the moon, the
Legal Sub-Committee was not able to reach compromise on the
controversial principles that the moon and its resources are the
common heritage of mankind and the exploitation of the resources
of the moon should be undertaken only in accordance with the
international regime to be established.
On the item of elaboration of principles governing the use by
States of artificial earth satellites for direct television broadcasting,
the Sub-Committee was successful in formulating nine principles.
These principles took care of India's own position as a country
which in the not too distant future would possess advanced
knowledge and be in a position to use DBS technology of its
own. On the item relating to remote sensing of earth from space
not much progress was made by the Sub-Committee.
pg74
The voluminous report of the International Law Commission
for 1976, was considered by the Sixth Committee of the General
Assembly. It dealt with the questions of most favoured nation
clause, state responsibility, law relating to international water-
courses, and succession of states in matters other than treaties.
On the question of most favoured nation treatment, it was urged
that the article concerning the most favoured nation clause in
relation to treatment under a generalized system of preferences
should be strengthened by including a reference to "a
differential and more favourable treatment in favour
of developing countries." Regarding the application of the clause
to rights and facilities extending to landlocked states, it was stated
that it should be restricted to the neighbouring landlocked States
and should not automatically apply to distant landlocked States.
On the question of non-navigational uses of international water-
courses, India extended its support to the concept of international
drainage basin on the ground that it would provide a broader
framework for the equitable sharing of waters and for their opti-
mum utilization by all concerned. India further emphasised that
the utilization by a riparian state of its reasonable and equitable
share of a river or a basin within its own territory could not be
subject to veto by another riparian or co-basin state.
An Indian team participated in the deliberations of the Second
International Conference on Water Law and Administration
(AID-II) held in Caracas from 8 to 14 February, 1976. The
Indian team emphasised that states should themselves evolve a
legal framework for the optimum utilisation of the water resources
without any external interference.
India was represented at the second meeting of UNEP Inter-
Governmental Working Group of Experts on Natural Resources
Shared by Two or More States held in Geneva in September
1976. The Group discussed principles concerning the establish-
ment of a system whereby States register information on activities
within their jurisdiction which may have significant environmental
impact beyond their jurisdiction or control; suitable procedure
pg75
for mutual warning and cooperation in case of emergencies, such
as natural disasters ; settlement of disputes ; use of good Offices
of UNEP ; and responsibility of States and liability for environ-
mental damage concerning a shared natural resource.
India also participated in the third session of the Conference
on the Reaffirmation and Development of International Humani-
tarian Law Applicable in Armed Conflicts held in Geneva from
21 April to I 1 June, 1976. The Conference was concerned with
the revision of the Geneva Conventions of 1949.
During 1976, India concluded 74 agreements, a list of which
is given in Appendix V.
pg76
Jun 02, 1976 | Top |
| Technical And Economic Cooperation |
CHAPTER IX
TECHNICAL AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION
Indian emerged as a larger reservoir of trained
man-power and the demand for the services of Indian doctors,
engineers, technicians and other categories of trained personnel
grew rapidly. It offered to share its own experience of develop-
ment with fellow developing countries. ln this context, the Eco-
nomic Division of the Ministry assisted in coping with the task
in cooperation with the Department of Personnel and the Ministry
of Labour. With a view to ensure that recruitment of Indian ex-
perts for service in foreign countries is consistent with India's
national interests, it was decided that organised recruitment of
Indian experts by foreign governments and/or foreign agencies
should be channelised through the Government of India. The
Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms was designa-
ted as the agency for this parpose. Skilled, semi-skilled and
unskilled labour from India will in future be recruited
through licensed recruiting agencies. These recruiting
agencies will be licensed and registered by the Directorate General
of Employment and Training, Ministry of Labour. It was expected
that these new procedures would serve to regulate the outflow of
Indian manpower consistent with India's national interests and
also ensure fair treatment for Indian personnel abroad.
The fact that the economic content of contemporary diplomacy
had grown vastly was particularly felt in India's relations with
the West Asian and North African countries. To meet the situation,
an Economic Wing of the WANA Division was created in
September 1976.
Joint Conmmissions
Meetings, of several Joint Commissions with the countries
in Asia, Africa, Europe and the USA were held during the year
and these meetings identified new areas of potential cooperation.
pg77
Asia
In terms of the Joint Economic Commission with Afghanistan,
India undertook to further expand the area of bilateral coopera-
tion for the forthcoming 7-year Development Plan of that country.
At the fourth meeting of the Joint Commission, it was agreed
that India would supply equipment worth Rs. 4 lakhs to the
ENT Institute and depute 4 experts to assist in its establishment.
The third meeting of the Indo-Sri Lanka Joint Commission.
was held in New Delhi in February 1976. It took some important
decisions to further accelerate bilateral cooperation in the areas,
of trade, agriculture and animal husbandry, and fisheries. It was
agreed that the Government of India would supply machinery
and equipment for the establishment of some Rural Technical
Centres and Gobar Gas units.
The second meeting of the Indo-Iraqi Joint Commission was.
held in New Delhi from 29. March to Apr 03, 1976. Important
issues discussed or decided during this meeting included bilateral
trade plan for 1976, provision of training facilities in India for
Iraqi nominees, deputation of experts from India and an agree-
ment on the further development of air services between India.
and Iraq.
A meeting of the Indo-UAE Joint Commission was held on
22 and 23 April 1976 in New Delhi when it was decided to,
examine prospects of collaboration in the field of fertilisers and
the setting up of a steel mill.
Eastern Europe
The third meeting of the Indo-Soviet Joint Commission on
Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation was held in
Moscow during March-April 1976. The Protocol concluded after
the meeting envisaged wider economic ties in many fields and made
special mention of new forms of cooperation in production on
compensation basis. New fields identified for cooperation included
agriculture-based products, textiles, electronics and an alumina
pg78
plant based on bauxite deposits. A broad programme was also
drawn up to intensify cooperation in the field of ferrous metal-
lurgy, machine-building and power, coal and mining industry,
oil and gas prospecting, production and refining of petroleum,
and science and technology. Both sides agreed to cooperate in
third countries. Tripartite cooperation was also discussed in rela-
tion to projects constructed by Soviet organisations in third
countries on turn-key basis.
The second meeting of the Indo-Hungarian Joint Commission
for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation was held in
Budapest in April 1976. In the protocol concluded after the
meeting, both sides agreed to take steps to strengthen coopera-
tion in the fields of telecommunications and electronics, drugs
and pharmaceuticals, trade exchanges, industrial cooperation,
science and technology, agriculture and food processing industry,
water resources development and allied subjects.
The second and third meetings of the Indo-Romanian Joint
Commission for Economic, Technical and Scientific Cooperation
were held in New Delhi (April 1976) and Bucharest (November-
December 1976) respectively; During these meetings, both sides
agreed on strengthening cooperation in the fields of petroleum
and chemicals, trade, industrial cooperation, machine building,
mining and metallurgy, shipping and science and technology.
During the second meeting, a 3-year Executive Programme
(1976-78) for cooperation in the fields of science and technology
was signed.
The third and fourth meetings of the Indo-Polish Joint Com-
mission for Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technical Coopera-
tion were held in Warsaw and New Delhi in June and December
1976 respectively. While in the Protocol signed after the second
meeting the two sides agreed to expand cooperation for the
development and modernisation of coal mines in India, in the
Protocol following the third meeting, it was agreed to strengthen
cooperation in the fields of trade exchanges, industrial coopera-
tion, agriculture, fisheries and science and technology. In both
pg79
the meetings, the need for developing cooperation in third coun-
tries was emphasised and specific fields were identified.
The third meeting of the Indo-Bulgarian Joint Commission
for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation was held in
New Delhi in October 1976. A Protocol was initialled at the,
end of the meeting and it was later signed on 18 November during
the visit of the Bulgarian President to India. In the Protocol,
both sides agreed to strengthen existing economic cooperation in
the fields of agriculture and food processing, machine building
and heavy industry, electronics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals,
science and technology, and trade. Of particular interest, was the
desire expressed by both sides to expand cooperation in the setting
up of rural agro-industrial complexes in India with Bulgarian
assistance.
The 7th meeting of the Indo-Czechoslovak Joint Committee for
Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technical Cooperation was held
in December 1976. In the subsequent Protocol, it was agreed to
increase and diversify economic cooperation in the fields of trade
exchanges, industrial cooperation, electronics and science and
technology. Czechoslovakia expressed its desire for importing from
India a number of heavy engineering goods. With Czechoslovak
collaboration, the HMT will manufacture Z-5711 tractors in India.
A team of Indian experts would visit Czechoslovakia to study
possibilities of industrial cooperation and imports by India in
certain identified areas such as textile industry, metallurgy, power-
generation, ship-building, cement plant, etc. The two countries
would also cooperate in joint ventures in third countries.
Western Europe
The second meeting of the Indo-Swedish Joint Commission
was held in Stockholm in October 1976. Three Working Groups
were set up on trade and tourism, industrial cooperation, and
science and technology. Detailed discussions were held in the res-
pective fields and efforts were made to identity areas wherein Indian
exports to Sweden could be stepped up. The Working Group on
pg80
Industrial Cooperation identified new product lines of coopera-
tion, special emphasis being placed on agro-processing industries.
As a new dimension to Indo-Swedish industrial cooperation, the
possibility of Indian sub-contracting in Joint ventures in theird
countries was considered good. In the field of science and techno-
logy, progress on the three on-going projects on oil seed
protein concentrates, enzyme engineering and detonics research
were reviewed and 12 additional areas of cooperation were identi-
fied.
The United States
The scheduled meeting of the Indo-US Joint Commission, to
be held in October in Washington, was postponed because of the
US Presidential elections. However, the Sub-Commissions met as
scheduled during the year. The Economic and Commercial
Sub-Commission met in March 1976. It was preceded by the first
meeting of the Indo-US Business Council which was held in Feb-
ruary. Discussions centered round bilateral trade and coopera-
tion as well as the general climate for multilateral economic
cooperation. The sub-Commission on Education and Culture met
in New York in May 1976. The meeting discussed the Indo-
American Fellowship and Visitorship Programme in the context
of the principles and levels of exchange, and certain guidelines were
laid down Two seminars were organised by the Joint Museum
Committee. An Indo-US Workshop on Solar and Wind Energy
was held in New Delhi in August 1976.
Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme
The ITEC Programme expanded considerably and the ex-
penditure incurred during the year was estimated at Rs. 508
lakhs, as against Rs. 400 lakhs spent in the previous year. A
country-wise break-up of Indian experts on deputation and
foreign trainees undergoing training in India is given at Appen-
dix VI. The Programme developed substantially and there was
increasing demand in foreign countries for training facilities in
pg81
India, including on self-financing basis. In some cases foreign
trainees received funds from third countries. The number of
Indian experts going abroad under direct contract showed a
phenomenal increase in recent year. The Government of India
evolved a uniform and regulated procedure for their recruitment
which will safeguard both the interests of the experts and those
of the receiving countries.
Economic and Technical Cooperation
The volume of economic and technical cooperation between
India and the developing as well as the developed countries
appeared significant.
Asia
(i) India's neighbours
At the recent fourth meeting of the Indo-Afghan Joint
Commission, satisfaction was expressed over the working of the
Indian technical and economic assistance programme under which
cooperation is being extended in various fields. During the Indo-
Afghan Trade Review talks held in September 1976 it was
agreed that there should be a growth of 18 per cent in trade dur-
ing 1976-77, over the exchanges during 1974-75.
A sum of Rs. 4.20 crores was assigned for the supply of
commodities and equipment to Bangladesh under the existing
government-to-government assistance programme. The Industrial
Development Bank of India continued to extend some commer-
cial credit for the supply of capital goods to Bangladesh. A sum
of Rs. 20 lakhs was committed under the Indo-Bangladesh Cultu-
ral Cooperation Agreement. The Indo-Bangladesh Trade Agree-
ment of 1973 which expired on 27 September, 1976 was renewed
for a further period of three years.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the
Governments of India and the Socialist Republic of the Union of
Burma for the establishment of 16 Pilot Plants for the manu-
facture of machine tools, chemicals, straw and hard board, food
pg82
processing, etc. Linked training programmes were also organis-
ed for the Burmese nominees.
The Government of India assisted the Maldives in setting up
a fish canning plant. Three Indian teachers and one Indian
medical officer were deputed to work in the Maldives.
Training was imparted to Sri Lanka nominees in the field of
small scale industries. Arrangements are also underway to provide
training facilities in hydropower generation, laboratory glassware
industry and mica mining. Indian experts in sugar technology,
mica mining and animal husbandry were deputed to Sri Lanka.
(ii) East and South East Asia
Bilateral technical cooperation between India and Indonesia
received added stimulus with the visit of a high-level official Indo-
nesian delegation to India. Useful discussions were held during
the visit.
India responded to the wishes of Loas to share its technolo-
gical experiences and affirmed its willingness to cooperate in that
country's post-war reconstruction. Medicines and irrigation
pumps were supplied to Loas under an emergency aid programme.
Training facilities were extended in bicycle assembly and arti-
ficial limbs' manufacture.
The Director-General of the Indian Council for Agricultural
Research led a delegation to Hanoi in September-October 1976
to discuss matters relating to technical cooperation in the field
of agriculture.
A trade agreement was signed with Australia in August 1976,
While formalising bilateral trade, it provided for a continuing
forum for-identifying opportunities of increased economic and
industrial cooperation between the two countries. Proposals for
setting up joint ventures, including in third countries were consi-
dered.
pg83
(iii) West Asia and North Africa
In Iran the Indian commercial and parastatal organisations
did well in the commercial field. Iran continued to recruit
medical and paramedical personnel from India and 223 such
experts were sent during the year.
The Engineering Projects India Limited won contract for
the setting up of a water filtration plant at Umm Qasr (Iraq) worth
Rs. 12 crores, and a mechanical training workship, worth appro-
ximately Rs. 10 crores. The Oil and Natural Gas Commission
continued its exploratory work in surveying and drilling for petro-
leum in Iraq. Rail India Technical and Economic Services
(RITES) negotiated with the Iraqi Government for the construc-
tion of a part of the Baghdad-Husaibah rail link. Various private
Indian organisations also won contracts for civil construction and
supply of industrial equipment to Iraq.
During the visit of the Crown Prince of Jordan to India in
November 1976, agreements on economic technical cooperation
as well as science and technology were initialled between India
and Jordan. These agreements covered exchanges of experts,
training facilities, collaboration in the fields of industrial organi-
sation and patents, development of tourism and the exchange of
information on science and technology. Three economic dele-
gations from Jordan visited India during the year.
The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development gave a
loan of KD 15 million to assist in financing Kalinadi Hydro
Electric Project (Stage 1) in Karnataka. The Engineering Projects
India Limited secured a contract worth Rs. 230 crores, for the
construction of 5,000 houses, together with ancillary structures,
at Haldan, Kuwait. Two Indian firms obtained sub-contracts for
thermal insulation and mechanical erection works connected with
the expansion of Doha power plant.
The Projects and Equipment Corporation won a turn-key pro-
ject, worth Rs. 8 crores, for the installation of transmission towers
and lines in the UAE. The Engineering Construction Corporation
pg84
was awarded a sub-contract, worth Rs. 28 crores, for the civil
works involved in the construction of the new Abu Dhabi Inter-
nation airport. Gammons India Private Limited won a Rs. 32
crores sub-contract for the civil work involved in the construc-
tion of the Sharjah lnternation airport. Private Indian entrepre-
nuers also succeeded in a number of joint ventures in different
parts of the UAE.
The Indian Telephone Industries were awarded a Rs. 2 crore
contract by Oman Telephones Company for the installation of
a 3000 line telephone exchange.
An economic delegation from the PDRY visited India and it
signed the first ever Indo-PDRY Cultural Exchange Programme.
valid for a period of 2 years. This provided for various
educational and training facilities in India for the PDRY nomi-
nees, for exchange in the field or radio and television, and
cultural troupes, and also for cooperation in the field of archaeo-
logy. 30 University teachers from India were selected on direct
contract basis by the PDRY Government for services ion the
University of Aden.
During the year, Somalia recruited 15 teachers and professors
for Mogadishu University on a direct contract basis.
The International Airport Authority of India won a contract
for the construction of an airport at Ghat (Libya) for a value of
about Rs. 38 crores. The Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited were
awarded a contract of the value of Rs. 102 crores for the extension
of Tripoli West power generating station. The National Building
Construction Corporation and the Libyan National Housing Cor-
poration formed a joint company to execute projects, parti-
cularly in the construction of 1300 housing units in Ben Walid
and Ghat, a hospital in Ghat and also to provide experts and
training facilities in India. Kamani Engineering Corporation
won a contract of a total value of approximately Rs. 28 crores
for the construction of 220 KV transmission lines.
pg85
An economic delegation from Morocco visited India to dis-
cuss the furthering of economic relations between the two count-
ries. During the visit, it was agreed to examine the possibility of
concluding, agreements on science and technology, and economic
and technical cooperation.
Africa (South of the Sahara)
India and Kenya collaborated in various fields including deve-
lopment of small scale and agro-based industries.
During the visit of Uganda's Minister of Industry and Man-
power in June 1976, a Memorandum of Understanding on Econo-
mic, Technical and Scientific Cooperation was signed. It covered
cooperation in setting up small and medium scale industries and
rehabilitation of sugar and textile industries, power generation,
minerals and other joint ventures. In September, a NIDC team
visited Uganda for related surveys.
In April 1976, the Minister of State for Industry visited Tan-
zania and signed a Memorandum of Understanding for providing
consultancy services in setting up 52 small scale industrial units
in Tanzania. India gifted machinery and equipment for 4 of these
units under the ITEC Programme. In July 1976, the Special Assis-
tant for Economic Affairs to the President of Tanzania visited
India and signed a Memorandum of Understanding for coopera-
tion in the fields of shipping and oil. About 250 Tanzanian
nationals were under training at various institutes in India during
the year. Indian experts were deputed to Tanzania to help in some
development projects. India gifted machinery and equipment
worth Rs. 10 crores for the Zanzibar Industrial Estate.
Academic and medical personnel were deputed to the Ethio-
pian institutes, and Ethiopian nominees were provided training in
handloom technology and mass-communication media in India.
A symbolic contribution of Rs. 50,000 was made towards
the building of a University campus in Botswana. A team from
Botswana visited India in October 1976 to recruit engineers,
teachers, telecommunication experts, accountants, etc.
pg86
During the visit of the Foreign Minister of Lesotho to India
in August 1976, an agreement on economic, technical and scien-
tific cooperation was signed. Lesotho's Minister of Commerce
and Industry visited India in October and held discussions with
the Ministers of Industry, Tourism and Civil Aviation, as well as
with NIDC, RITES and the Development Commissioner for Small
Scale Industries. Scholarships were given to Lesotho nominees
for various courses in India.
The Secretary-General of the Zambian National Council for
Scientific Research visited India in September-October 1976.
He visited the national laboratories, and industrial concerns in
Bombay, Bangalore, Madras and Delhi and also interviewed scien-
tists for recruitment. The Special Assistant to the President of
Zambia came to India in November 1976 to study the working of
small, medium and agro-based village industries. Several teams
from Zambia visited India to recruit engineers, doctors and ac-
countants for Zambian parastatal organizations.
During the visit of the Deputy Minister of External Affairs
to Mozambique, an agreement on scientific, technical and eco-
nomic cooperation was signed. As a follow up, a delegation
from Mozambique arrived in India in November 1976 to recruit
doctors, teachers, accountants, civil engineers and experts in rail-
ways, civil aviation and tele-communication.
49 Indian experts are on deputation to Mauritius under the
ITEC Programme and requests for 13 more are under considera-
tion. The Mahatma Gandhi Institute was formally inaugurated
during the Prime Minister's visit to Mauritius in October 1976.
A Rail India Technical and Economic Services team visited
Ghana in May 1976 at the invitation of the Government of Ghana
to propose improvements in the railway system. An agreement
to provide technical expertise was concluded and implemented.
A three-member delegation from Cameroon visited India in
September 1976 to study the progress made by India in different
aspects of its economic development particularly in the field
of small scale industries.
pg87
India provided services of two experts from MECON to assess
proposals received by Nigeria for setting up two 10-million ton
direct reduction steel plants. In recognition of the excellent ser-
vices rendered by MECON, the Nigerian Ministry of Industry
appointed this organisation as their official consultants.
Latin America
Economic and technical relations between India and the
Latin American countries are of more recent origin. India signed
four trade agreements, two agreements on science and techno-
logy and one on cooperation in the peaceful uses of atomic
energy with the Latin American countries. Efforts were made
to establish joint ventures and particular success
was achieved in Guyana. Delegations sponsored by the STC,
FICCI, PEC, EEPC and the All India Manufacturers Organisa-
tion had visited Latin American countries earlier and had identi-
fied projects for which there were export potentials, such as
railway equipment, bulk handling and mining equipment, cotton
textile and sugar mill machinery, power distribution equipment,
etc. An Indian Industrial Exhibition was organised in Brazil.
SCI recently introduced services to Panama, Guyana, Trinidad,
Jamaica, Barbados and Surinam. Talks have been held with
the Argentine national shipping line ELMA on extending its
service to Bombay.
Western Europe
During the first half of 1976, in spite of world-wide reces-
sion, India was able to increase exports to the EEC. However,
the Indo-EEC exchanges in trade and industrial collaboration
do not adequately reflect the economic potential. A Sugar
Agreement was concluded for the supply of 25,000 tons per
annum to the Community by India with price guarantees and
supply conditions on par with the Sugar Protocol of the Lome
Convention. Negotiations were concluded with the EEC for an
agreement on trade in textile products. The decisions taken at
pg88
the third session of the Indo-EEC Joint Commission were ins-
trumental in establishing and strengthening business level con-
tacts on a sectoral basis. There was now greater awareness
in the Community about the potential of developing industrial
cooperation with India and earlier reservations gave way to an
agreement to take concrete action within the framework of the
Indo-EEC Joint Commission.
During the visit of the British Secretary of State for Trade
to India in January 1976, an agreement was signed to set up
an Indo-British Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation and
Trade in order to discuss issues of bilateral economic relations
as well as industrial cooperation, technological collaboration and
investment. The Committee met in London in June 1976 and
reviewed a variety of industries which provided the possibility
of further collaboration and long-term supply arrangements.
During the first half of 1976, Indian exports to the FRG
amounted to Rs. 139 crores, representing an increase of 63 per
cent over the figures for the corresponding period in 1975. How-
ever, in dealing with India's adverse balance of trade it is neces-
sary to further improve our exports. There were encouraging
prospects of further development in Indo-FRG cooperation.
The agreement covering West German financial assistance for
1976-77 provides for an amount of DM 362 million on favour-
able terms. The FRG Minister for Economic Cooperation and
a business delegation made useful visits to India.
During the visit of the French Prime Minister to India in
January 1976, the following three agreements were signed : an
agreement on collaboration in the field of power generation and
distribution; exchange of letters to raise the level of the Indo--
French Joint Committee on Economic and Technical Coopera-
tion to Ministerial level; and an agreement on collaboration in
the field of tele-communication.
In order to explore the possibilities of trade between India
and Portugal, an Indian trade delegation visited that country
pg89
in February 1976. In December, a Portuguese delegation, led
by the Secretary of State for Foreign Trade and including rep-
resentatives of the Ministries of Industry and Technology and
Shipping, visited India. At the conclusion of the talks, a Trade,
Economic, Industrial and Technological Agreement was ini-
tialled.
The first Indo-Spanish Joint Committee meeting was held
in Madrid from 1 to 5 July 1976. Wide ranging discussions
with the Spanish authorities and private importers and exporters
were held and ways and means of improving and diversifying
trade exchanges between the two countries were studied. Agree-
ment was also reached on industrial co-operation in ship-building
and auxiliary industries, mining equipment, chemicals and phar-
maceuticals, electrical components, railway equipments and auto-
mobile ancillaries. Possibilities of joint ventures were also
considered.
During the visit of the Minister of External Affairs to Turkey
(March-April 1976), an agreement on cooperation in the field
of science and technology was signed. A Joint Committee has
already been established under the Indo-Turkish Trade Agree-
ment of September 1973.
The United States
There was growing realisation in the USA that Indian public
and private sector engineering firms can offer effective assistance
to US contracting firms either as partners in joint ventures or
as sub-contractors by providing design-engineering and skilled
and semi-skilled manpower in addition to quality construction
materials, fabricated items and equipment at very attractive
rates. Several items of interest to India did not find a place
in the GSP. Exports of cotton textile were hampered because
of quotas, and tariff and non-tariff barriers. The first meeting
of the Indo-US Joint Business Council in February 1976 in
New Delhi resulted in useful dialogue. Both sides felt that more
frequent direct contacts between the business communities of
the two countries were called for.
pg90
Apr 03, 1976 | Top |
| External Publicity |
CHAPTER X
EXTERNAL PUBLICITY
The External Publicity Division continued to work for pro-
moting a correct understanding and appreciation of develop-
ments within the country and of India's foreign policy. This
called for close contacts with Indian and foreign press and with
various Ministries and Departments of the Government. It also
involved production and supply of books, films, photographs,
articles, pamphlets and exhibition material to Indian Missions
for utilization in connection with their publicity efforts.
The international media showed keen interest in India's
domestic and foreign policies, particularly in the several positive
developments in the country's external relations with the imme-
diately neighbouring countries. Advantage was taken of this in-
terest to project to the media publicity material in the form of
telegraphic despatches, radio transmissions, pamphlets and other
publications produced in India. Continuous efforts were made
both at headquarters and though Indian Missions to project the
policies and activities of the Government of India. In addition,
the Joint Secretary for External Publicity, in his capacity as the
official spokesman, held regular briefings for Press correspondents
in Delhi. Meetings were also arranged between foreign corres-
pondents and Ministers/Secretaries of some other Ministries to
enable the correspondents to get an authoritative and correct
view of the activities of those Ministries. There was, however, a
divergence in assessment of developments in the country between
several of these foreign correspondents and the Government and
external censorship was imposed for some months. This was, how-
ever, lifted some time in the middle of 1976.
The Indian Missions made efforts to project a correct image
of India and its policies through TV/Radio interviews, speaking
engagements and suitable contacts with representatives of the
pg91
press, intellectuals, political leaders and others. The External
Publicity Division rendered assistance to the Missions through
supply of appropriate publicity literature in Indian and other
languages.
The Ministry's regular publicity work continued under the
following heads.
Press Relations
The Press Relations section catered to the need's of 73 visiting
journalists and 48 television teams. It also provided assistance to
18 Indian journalists going overseas on professional visits,
some on Cultural Exchange Programmes. Fifteen forign journalists
visited India as guests of the Government of India.
In addition to the Press releases put out in cooperation with
the Press Information Bureau, the Division also issued 230 press
releases on various subjects, material for which was generally
supplied by Indian Missions and the Territorial Divisions of the
Ministry. Representatives of mass media, both Indian and foreign,
made use of these releases, as well as of the transmission unit of
the Division and All India Radio.
The Transmission Unit regularly sent out two newscasts per
day to Indian Missions. These conveyed information on all deve-
lopments taking place in India, with particular stress on those
which were engaging the attention of the world press. Items in-
cluded not only matter requiring immediate publicity, but also
background information on various issues.
Audio Visual Publicity
India participated in 28 film festivals/film weeks with some
selected feature and documentary films. These took place in
Ankara, Port Louis, Tehran, Ottawa, Karlovy Vary, Accra,
Buenos Aires, Cannes, Tashkent, Tunis, Cairo, Santiago, Brasilia,
Kinshasa, Pusan, Bangkok, Shiraz, Manila, Panama, Sofia, Chi-
cago, Ulan Bator, Belgrade, Moscow, Berlin and Melbourne. In
pg92
most cases films were obtained in cooperation with the Ministry
of Information and Broadcasting.
Special compilation films were produced on the President of
Tanzania's visit to India and the Prime Minister's visit to the
Soviet Union. Six prints in Swahili and English on the former
visit were presented to the Tanzanian Government. Seven prints
of documentary films, on small-scale industries were also presented
to the Tanzanian Government.
The following audio-visual equipment was sanctioned
(i) 16 mm film projectors for Missions at Bonn, Cairo,
Lisbon, Laos, Lima, Dar-es-Salaam, Tananarive,
Peking and Pyongyang. A 16 mm India-made projec-
tor for presentation to the Rabindarnath Tagore
School in Mexico through the Mission there.
(ii) Cinema van for the Mission in Bangkok.
(iii) Radio Receiving set for the Mission in Dar-es-Salaam.
(iv) Tape-recorder for Indian Missions at Addis Ababa
and Warsaw.
(v) One stereo-electrophone for the Mission at Dacca.
Over 100 gramophone records of Indian classical, vocal,
instrumental and popular film music were supplied to different
Missions.
Over 40,000 photographs including about 3,000 in big size
on various subjects-developmental activities, tourism, visits of
VIPs, etc.-and 317 colour slides depicting Indian progress in
heavy industry were sent to Indian Missions.
Exhibition and Cultural Work
For putting up exhibitions in Ottawa, Damascus, Rangoon,
Suva, Kinshasa, Copenhagen, The Hague, Paris, Vientiane, Lima
and Kathmandu, Indian Missions/Posts in these places were sup-
plied with photographs, album pages and postal stamps, books,
pg93
ourist folders, black and white positives, artistic repro-
ductions, and other relevant publicity material. Many Missions
were also assisted in organising Children's Day Painting Compe-
tition on 14 November.
Print Publicity
The production of attractive publicity material was stepped
up at Headquarters and in the Missions for appropriate distribu-
tion. A illustrated book "India : Portrait of People" received
wide acclaim for its artistic excellence and effectiveness in pro-
jecting a correct and balanced image of India. Another effective
publication "India--Questions and Answers" intially brought out
in English was subsequently produced in French, Spanish,
German and Arabic. A book entitled "United States and India",
to mark the bicentennial of the United States, made a favour-
able publicity impact in that country. Special publicity literature
in English on "Islamic Treasures in India" and "Industrial Prog-
ress in India" and in French on "India and the African Libera-
tion Struggle" was produced for wide distribution. Besides these,
a number of other pamphlets were brought out by the Division
and material provided for the production of pamphlets through
the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. Notable among
these were pamphlets produced on the occasion of the
visit of the Prime Minister to the Soviet Union and on
the visit of President Kaunda of Zambia to India. A Pamphlet
"India-An Introduction" was produced in French and another
"Bharat" in Bengali. Two pamphlets explaining, in a compre-
hensive manner, the correct position on the "Farakka Question"
were published in different languages for wide distribution.
The production of regular publicity material at Headquarters
included "Foreign Affairs Record" (Monthly), "Indian and
Foreign Review" (Fortnightly) and "Courrier de L'Inde" (Fort-
nightly in French). Steps were initiated to further improve the
format and contents of "Courrier de L'Inde" to bring it on par
with its English counterpart "Indian and Foreign Review" which
received a National Award for excellence in publication. Besides
pg94
these, attractive publications in Russian, Arabic, Spanish, Swahili
and Bengali were produced by some of the Indian Missions con-
cerned. Pamphlets in Thai, on different aspects of India, were
produced by the Missions concerned for distribution in the appro-
priate area.
The Division also distributed through Indian Missions over
1 00,000 phamplets on the various facets of the country's national
life. These were procured from DAVP, Publications Division,
ITDC and the Ministry of Health and Family Planning.
About 200 articles on socioeconomic progress in India were
supplied to the Missions for use in their weekly/fortnightly/
monthly bulletins/press releases etc.
About 4,000 books on Indian history, philosophy, religion,
art, culture and recent developments were supplied to Indian
Missions for their libraries and for presentation to local nationals.
Indian Missions were also supplied more than 100 newspapers/
periodicals for their reading rooms and for distribution. About
150 books were sent to the Mission in Bucharest for presentation
to the President. In addition, maps of India, Tourist pamphlets,
special issues of leading Indian journals were also supplied.
A large number of enquiries by foreign scholars and general
public on various aspects of the Indian history, economy
and other aspects were attended to and material collected from
various sources to help them.
pg95
Jan 01, 1976 | Top |
| Cultural Relations |
CHAPTER XI
CULTURAL RELATIONS
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations remained engaged
in the twin task of promoting and interpreting abroad Indian
Culture in its widest sense as well as in establishing, reviving
and strengthening cultural ties between India and other countries.
This was done through a variety of activities such as sponsoring
the exchange of scholars, writers, artists and youth delegations,
organizing lectures, film festivals and exhibitions, and carrying on
the publication and book-presentation programmes.
During the period under review, the Council looked after 70
distinguished visitors from abroad. Similarly, the Council sent
out 35 Indian scholars, writers, artistes, etc. to foreign countries
on goodwill-cum-lecture tours.
As an annual feature, cultural troupes were sent for Indepen-
dence Day celebrations to Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Iran,
Mauritius and Seychelles. Besides, the Council also sent :
(i) a delegation of scholars and performing artists to
U.K. to participate in the Tagore Symposium and Festival at
Dartington Hall, (ii) Kathak dancer Sitara Devi and her troupe
and the Bharat Natyam Dancers Dhananjyans to U.S.A., (iii) the
Darpana Puppet troupe to the Milan Fair and (iv) folk dancers
and singers to U.S.A. in connection with the bi-centennial cele-
brations.
The Council organized some fine exhibitions within India in
collaboration with some of the local Embassies and institutions
which were as follows : (i) Photographic exhibition of Miche-
langelo's works; (ii) Modern Porcelain and Glass Works from
G.D.R.; (iii) Modem Slovak Graphic Art from Czechoslovakia;
pg96
(iv) Tapestry from U.S.S.R.; (v) African arts and crafts; (vi)
Engraving from maps and scene of Rome called 'Romeographica';
(vii) Toys comprising dolls, plush animals, electric train, dolls'
houses and children books from G.D.R. The Council sent
28 paintings of 8 young Indian artists to Menton Biennale
and also participated in the Biennale at Cagnes-Sur-Ner (France).
Other significant participations of this period were sending an
exhibition of Urdu and English language books to the Pakistani
book fair, sending of 50 reproductions of Indian painting from
Ajanta to Modern Times to Zaire and 30 paintings by children
between 7 and 16 years of age to Hungary to participate in the
International Children's Competition.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understand-
ing for the year 1974 was presented to Dr. Raul Prebisch at a
formal ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan on Apr 26, 1976.
The Jury of the Award also announced the names of the reci-
pients of the Award for 1975 and 1976. They are Dr. Jonas
Salk, an eminent scientist of U.S.A. and Dr. Guiseppe Tucci
an eminent Indologist of Italy, respectively. The Award was
presented to Dr. Jonas Salk on 10 January 1977.
Council organised a festival of French film., in Delhi,
Madras and Pondicherry during the period under review.
A number of music and dance performances were organised
by the Council at Azad Bhavan in collaboration with other cul-
tural organisations. Mention may be made of performances of
Kuchipudi dance by Swapan Sundari, concerts by the Brown
University, Helsinki University chorus, concerts by George
Neerwein and the Bombay Chamber Orchestra, Piano recital by
Edith Peinemann and Helmut Berth, Barmberg Woodwind
Quintet, Swiss Chamber ballet etc. The Council also organised
a fortnight long Indo-German festival in Calcutta, during March
1976. The programmes included dance, recital, film-shows,
dramas, exhibition of sculpture and drawings etc.
pg97
Ambassador Joe Appiah of Ghana delivered the Azad Memo-
rial Lecture on "The Role of Democracy and Law in Develop-
ing Societies" on 20 February 1976. An Indo-German Seminar
on education systems in the two countries and questions relating
to foreign students and Indo-FRG cooperation in the fields of
higher education, scientific research and technology was orga-
nised by the Council in November 1976.
The Council is actively involved in the welfare of foreign
students studying in India. Because of growing demand, this
year, the Council organised six summer camps in Kashmir,
Darjeeling and South India and a number of study tours to
various parts of the country.
Similarly, the Council arranged orientation programmes for
foreign students, school teachers and professors who come to
India. The Council also organized the "Experience India 1976"
project.
Another important activity of the Council was to look after
delegations of foreign youth from abroad under the exchange
of youth delegations programme. During October-November, two
such delegations, a delegation of 5 Mexican youths and another
50-member youth delegation from over 30 countries, visited
India under the auspices of the Council.
The Indian Centre of Africa of the Council continued to
function for the benefit of students and scholars interested in
African affairs. The Centre organised in collaboration with
various African associations a number of functions to celebrate
the national days of African countries.
The documents relating to the standing instructions were signed
by the Foreign Secretary and the Director General of the British
Council regarding the management of the British Council's
establishments outside Consular towns within India by the ICCR
for the next five years.
pg98
Similarly, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the
Soviet Embassy and the Council for the running of the House
of Soviet Culture at Trivandrum by the ICCR.
The other general activities of the Council during the period
under review were as follows :
(i) Maintenance of Chairs of Indian Studies in Poland,
Afghanistan, G.D.R., Yugoslavia, Romania, Guyana
Senegal, Bulgaria, Mexico, Indonesia, and Trinidad.
(ii) Under the presentation programme, books and ob-
jects of art were sent to universities and institutions
in the following countries : Afghanistan, Austria,
Bulgaria, Fiji, U.S.A., Switzerland, Hungary, Mauri-
tius Philippines, Guyana, Indonesia, Mexico,
Malaysia, Japan, Algeria, Oman, Belgium.
(iii) Maintenance of Indian Cultural Centres in Fiji,
Guyana, San Francisco, and teachers of Indian music
and dance in Afghanistan, Mauritius and Trinidad.
(iv) Organising essay competitions in foreign countries.
(v) Participation in the international Koran reading com-
petition held annually in Kaula Lumpur.
The scheme of nominating self-financing foreign students from
developing countries of Asia and Africa in medical and engineer-
ing seats was continued during this year. The selection from among
the applicants is done, primarily on the basis of merit, by a Selec-
tion Committee.
During 1976, admissions of 303 foreign students (excluding
students from Nepal & Bhutan) to Engineering and Medical
courses were arranged as against 250 (excluding students from
Nepal & Bhutan) during 1975. Out of these, 229 were for engi-
neering and 74 for medical courses. Countrywise breakup is given
at Appendix VII.
pg99
Apr 26, 1976 | Top |
| Protocol Matters |
CHAPTER XII
PROTOCOL MATTERS
One of the noteworthy developments which which took place
during 1976-77 in the context of India's relations with its neigh-
bours was the resumption of diplomatic relations between India
and Pakistan. H. E. Mr. S. Fida Hassan, Ambassador of the
Islamic Republic of Pakistan, presented his credentials to the
President on Jul 24, 1976.
Diplomatic relations between China and India were restored
at the ambassadorial level during this period. H. E. Mr. Chan
Chao-Yuan became Ambassador of the People's Republic of
Chinna with effect from 20 September 1976.
Three countries nominated their first Ambassadors to India
in this period. His Excellency Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim Egal,
Ambassador of the Somali Democratic Republic, assumed charge
on 23 July 1976, while His Excellency Mr. Ahmed Rageb Fitur
and His Excellency Mr. Petur Thorsteinsson, Ambassadors of the
Libyan Arab Republic and Iceland, took up their posts on 15 and
20 November 1976, respectively. The envoy of Iceland will be
resident at Reykjavik (Iceland).
As a result of the decision to re-establish diplomatic relations
between Portugal and India at Ambassadorial level, His Excel-
lency Dr. Luis Gaspar da Silva, who was appointed Ambassador
of Portugal, presented his credentials on 19 July 1976.
Following the reunification of North and South Vietnams their
Embassies in India merged to become the Embassy of the Social-
ist Republic of Vietnam. His Excellency Mr. Nguyen Van Sinh,
the former Ambassador of the Republic of South Vietnam, took
over as, the first Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
pg100
Jul 24, 1976 | Top |
| Passport, Visa And Consular Services |
CHAPTER XIII
PASSPORT, VISA AND CONSULAR SERVICES
The year 1976 witnessed a 50 per cent increase, over the
previous year, in the number of passport applications received
by the Regional Passport Offices in India. |
Year Passport applications received.
1974 3,47,449
1975 4,72,324
1976 7,02,840 | | The increase is mainly attributable to the increasing employ-
ment opportunities in the Gulf region.
During the year, the Regional Passport Office, Madras, was
bifurcated and a separate Regional Passport Office was opened
by Shri Bipinpal Das, Deputy Minister, in Hyderabad on
Sep 15, 1976.
The total sanctioned strength of the Central Passport and
Emigration Organisation at the end of 1976 was as follows: |
Regional Passport Officers -- 9
Assistant Passport Officers -- 10
Public Relation Officers -- 11
Superintendents/Protectors of
Emigrants -- 24
Non-gazetted clerical staff -- 422
Class III (Non-clerical Jeep
Drivers -- 2
Class IV Staff-Record sorters,
Daftry, Gestetner Operators,
Watchmen, Sweepers, Peons,
Messengers and Farash. -- 125
TOTAL 603 |
pg101
One of the highlights of the year was the Conference of
the Regional Passport Officers in New Delhi between 21 and
24 September 1976. Alongwith the officials of the Ministry of
External Affairs and the Regional Passport Officers, the Confer-
ence was also attended by officials of the various Ministries and
Departments of the Government of India dealing with passport
and emigration matters. The Conference provided an opportunity
to the Passport Officers to discuss, in view of the increase in
workload, the problems of simplifying procedures, staffing and
organisation so that the public is provided with an efficient,
prompt and courteous service. Following the Conference, the
Ministry of External Affairs are examining measures to improve
systems in order to assist the Rigional Passport Offices in renter-
ing better service to the public. The Ministry has also taken up
the question of amending the Passports Act, 1967, in the light
of recommendations made a the Conference.
During the year, Indian firms participated in increasing
numbers in development projects in the Gulf region and Africa.
With this increasing participation which has involved the tem-
porary emigration, in large numbers, of Indian workers abroad,
it became necessary to ensure their protection as also to hasten
up the process of granting passports to them. Suitable steps were
taken to liberalise the procedures involved in the issue of passports
to Indian workers going abroad, as also to simplify existing
emigration formalities. The Ministry of Labour wag made the
focal point for the recruitment and despatch of skilled, unskilled
and semi-skilled workers abroad and for the licensing of Indian
recruiting agents. As a consequential step, the Emigration Act,
1922, is shortly to be amended suitably.
As more and more Indian firms participate in projects abroad,
it has become necessary for Indian Missions to know more about
their activities so that they can protect adequately the interests
of Indian workers abroad and monitor the progress of the various
projects. With this end in view, the Indian Missions have been
requested to collect, on a continuing basis, facts relating to
Indian participation in projects abroad.
pg102
The number of ordinary, diplomatic and official passports
issued or serviced, and other miscellaneous services rendered
during the year 1976, is given below (1975 figures in brackets) |
Ordinary passports: 5,73,527 (4,52,437)
Diplomatic passports: 941 (800)
Official passports: 4,469 (3,031)
Miscellaneous services
rendered on passports: 92,577 (1,04,212)
Diplomatic and Official
passports services: 2,615 (2,264)
The number of visas
issued to foreigners
(diplomats and other
staff of foreign
Missions in India): 3,473 (3,043) | The revenue earned by the Regional Passport Offices register-
ed a significant increase during the year. In 1975, it was Rs. 162
lakhs, while in 1976, it was Rs. 213 lakhs. The corresponding
figures for expenditure were Rs. 58 lakhs in 1975 and Rs. 61 lakhs
in 1976, yielding a surplus of Rs. 104 lakhs in 1975 and Rs. 152
lakhs in 1976.
Consular Section coordinates Consular functions of Indian
Missions abroad. Besides extending financial assistance to 34
stranded Indians abroad, 179 destitude Indians were repatriated
to India. 47 cases of arrests and deportation were dealt with.
233 requests for the registration of persons as Indian citizens
were processed in consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs.
55 cases of deaths of Indians abroad alongwith 48 cases of
estates of deceased Indians were looked into. Apart from looking
after the interests of Indians abroad, in general, foreign Missions
in India were also assisted in tracing the whereabout of missing
foreigners in India; in the disposal of dead bodies of foreigners
and their estates. 120 requests from foreign missions in India
for verifying various documents originating in India were enter-
tained. 36,356 judicial, commercial and educational documents
were authenticated to facilitate their production abroad.
pg103
Sep 15, 1976 | Top |
| Administration And Organisation |
CHAPTER XIV
ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANISATION
Shri Y. B. Chavan and Shri Bipinpal Das respectively the
Minister and Deputy Minister of External Affairs relinquished
charge on Mar 28, 1977 because of the change in government
following the results of the general elections. Shri Atal Bihari
Vajpayee assumed charge as Minister of External Affairs the
same day. Shri G. Parthasarathi continued as Chairman, Policy
Planning, with the status of Cabinet Minister up to 26 March
1977.
During the year, there were several changes at the level of
Additional Secretary and above. On the retirement of Shri Kewal
Singh, Shri J. S. Mehta, Secretary (East), assumed charge as
Foreign Secretary from 1 April 1976. From the same day,
Shri M. A. Vellodi, who was on deputation with the Department
of Space, took over as Secretary (East). On the retirement of
Shri B. K. Sanyal, Shri V. K. Ahuja assumed charge as Secretary
(Economic Relations) from 1 June 1976. Sarvashri K. L. Dalal,
J. C. Ajmani and Thomas Abraham assumed charge as Additional
Secretary from 1 April, 1 April and 1 June 1976 respectively.
Shri Ajmani relinquished charge on 8 February 1977 and Shri
Romesh Bbandari took over as Additional Secretary with effect
from the same date.
During the year under review, 20 officers were on deputation
to other Ministries/Departments and International Organisations.
The Foreign Service needs to reassess priorities continuously,
taking into account changes in the international scene and the
fresh requirements, in consequence, of diplomatic activity. Re-
cognising these considerations, and as part of the process requir-
ed by the, Cadre Rules, review of the IFS cadre was completed
pg104
during the year and the recommendations made by the Cadre Re-
view Committee were approved. A separate Interpreters' Cadre is
also being constituted in the functional interests of the Ministry.
The Headquarters, of the Ministry was organised in 19 Divi-
sions (of which five are specialist Divisions) with a total strength
of 521 officers and 1754 non-gazetted staff. There were 129 resi-
dent Missions/Posts abroad (including five Special Offices com-
prising the Representative in Bhutan, Permanent Representatives
to the U.N. in New York and Geneva, Ambassadorial Missions
to E.E.C. and European Coal & Steel Community, and P.M.I.
to International Organisation in Vienna) with a total strength of
619 Diplomatic Officers and 2470 non-diplomatic Staff, including
local employees. India has concurrent representation in 49 coun-
tries. Thus, with resident and concurrent accreditation as above,
India was represented in most of the countries in the world.
Embassies in Islamabad and Male (Maldives) under the
charge of a Resident Ambassador and C.D.A. respectively were
opened during the year. A Consulate General in Chicago (U.S.A.)
was established during the year. The Consulate General in Ho-
Chi-Minh City (formerly Saigon) closed down with effect from
31 July 1976.
The year witnessed two major reforms in the field of Finance
and Accounts. The Internal Finance and Associate Finance of the
Ministry were integrated with effect from I June 1976. The
scheme of departmentalisation of accounts was introduced in the
Ministry with effect from I October 1976, thereby relieving the
Comptroller and Auditor General of the responsibilities for com-
piling the accounts of the Ministry of External Affairs.
This is the second year of the working of the Supply Wings,
High Commission of India, London and Embassy of India, Wash-
ington, after the transfer of their administrative and budgetary con-
trol from the Department of Supply to the Ministry of External
Affairs. A number of steps with accent on functional efficiency
and economy were taken during the period to streamline their
functioning.
pg105
The expenditure of the Ministry during the financial year,
1976-77 is estimated to be of the order of Rs. 107,69.69 lakhs
(excluding loans to Bangladesh and Bhutan amounting to
Rs. 10,75.00 lakhs), details of which are given below:- |
Top |
R.E. 1976-77
Rs. in lakhs
Headquarters 512.81
Missions/Posts abroad 2232.95
Supply Wings 137.65
Other Items:
Contribution to the U.N., Commonwealth
Secretariat and other International Insti-
tutions 395.75
Central Passport and Emigration Organisa-
tion 87.62
Other Miscellaneous Items 3012.15
Subsidies and Aid:
Subsidy to Bhutan 2347.50
Aid to Nepal 1056.44
Aid to other developing countries in Asia
and Africa 650.00
Aid to Bangladesh 288.17
Social Security & Welfare 48.65
Total 10769.69 | Details of sub-head wise expenditure on Headquarters, Mis-
sions/Posts abroad and on External Publicity are given in Appen-
dix VIII.
pg106
Economy was the over-riding consideration of the Ministry's
organisation and administration, and the imperative need for the
optimum use of resources led to special efforts on the part of the
Ministry to contain expenditure and increase output. The Minis-
try's functioning both at home and abroad was, accordingly, close
ly reviewed. However, due to inflationary trends, an increase in
outlay was unavoidable in respect of foreign allowances, rents and
salaries of local employees. This increase was partly offset by
effecting economies in other spheres.
During the year, the Foreign Service Inspectors carried out
inspections of Indian Missions in Colombo, Thimpu and Male.
While constantly trying to meet the genuine demands of our per-
sonnel abroad, effective vigil is kept on a continuing basis to
maintain economy and austerity. Special measures continue to be
taken by the Ministry to streamline administration by rationalising
the work methods.
The Parliamentary Committee on the Welfare of Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes examined the subject of Reservations
for, and employment of, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
in the Ministry of External Affairs, its attached and subordinate
offices, including Indian Missions abroad. Oral evidence was
tendered before the Committee on 27 September 1976. Exhaustive
material and extensive data on the subject were provided to the
Committee to enable it to examine the implementation of reserva-
tion orders by the Ministry.
In the context of world-wide escalation of rents, the Ministry
decided to acquire buildings abroad for providing office accommo-
dation and residences for Heads of Mission and staff. During
the year, the Ministry spent nearly Rs.1 crore to acquire property
abroad, and bought office-cum-residence of Consulate General
in Medan (Indonesia), High Commissioner's residence in Kings-
ton (Jamaica), Chancery building in Mexico, High Commissio-
ner's residence and residences for two officers in Lusaka (Zambia).
Construction of the Chancery buildings in Bangkok and Lusaka
are expected to commence soon. The Ministry own Chancery
pg107
buildings in 14 countries, residences of Heads of Mission in 58
countries and residences for staff personnel in 11 countries and
Chanceries-cum-residences in 3 countries.
The Welfare Unit of the Ministry continued to look after the
general welfare of all the officials serving at Headquarters and
Missions abroad. Assistance was rendered to large number of
officials in arranging admissions of their children in educational
institutions.
Financial assistance out of the Staff Benefit Fund was provid-
ed to the bereaved families of officials, and to other officials in
cases of prolonged illness. Employment opportunities were also
provided to the direct dependants of the deceased officials.
The Departmental Canteen was inaugurated by the Deputy
Minister on 13 April 1976.
Hindi is being progressively used in the official work of the,
Ministry, the Regional Passport Offices and Indian Missions
abroad. Instructions of the Ministry of Home Affairs relating to
the use of Hindi for official purposes were implemented and re-
mained under periodical review by the Official Language Imple-
mentation Committee. Under the 'Scheme for the Propagation of
Hindi Abroad', Hindi books, charts, linguaphone records and other
teaching aids are supplied to Indian Missions abroad to enable
them to cater to the needs of the people of Indian origin, as also
foreigners, who wish to learn Hindi.
The Second World Hindi Convention was held in Mauritius
from 28 to 30 August 1976. Delegates from a large number of
countries attended the Convention. The Indian delegation com-
prising 25 non-officials and 6 official members was led by
Dr. Karan Singh, Minister for Health and Family Planning.
The Sub-Committee of Kendriya Hindi Samiti in the Ministry
of External Affairs has decided to honour foreign Hindi writers
and literatures as a means of rewarding and encouragement for
use of Hindi and an Award Committee has been constituted for
this purpose.
pg108
Mar 28, 1977 |
| Appendix I Major International
Conferences/Meetings/Seminars |
APPENDIX I
Major International Conferences/Meetings/Seminars etc. organised by Inter-
Governmental Organisations at which Government of India was represented
in 1976-77
|
S.No. Title of Conference etc.(with venue & dates) Foreign Exchange
component of
expenditure in Rs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asian African Legal Consultative Committee
1. 17th Session, Kuala Lumpur, 28 June-Jul 05, 1976 Rs. 8,448.95
2. 18 Session Baghdad, 19-26 February 1977
Asian Development Bank
1. 9th Annual Meeting, Jakarta, 16-28 April 1976 Rs. 7720.00
2. Meeting of the Consultative Committee for Agri-
cultural Survey, Manila, 26 September-2 October
1976 Nil
Association of Iron Ore Exporting Countries
Meeting of the General Body London, 20-23 April
1976, Meeting of Rs. 1,826.00
Association for Science Cooperation in Asia
5th Inter-Governmental Meeting, Bangkok, 14-21
April 1976
Colombo Plan
Seminar on Prevention of Narcotics Offences,
Tokyo, 16 September-23 October 1976 Nil
Commonwealth Secretariat
1. Meeting on South China Sea Cable and Indian
Ocean Telecommunications Project, Hongkong,
27 April-1 May 1976 Rs. 1,200.00
2. Meeting of the Commonwealth Senior Officials,
Canberra, 26-28 May 1976 Rs. 7,549.00
3. Meeting of Standing Committee of Telecommunica-
tions Council, Sydney, 1-4 June 1976
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPENDIX I-contd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Meeting of Finance Ministers, Hongkong, 28
September-1 October 1976 Rs. 15,000
5. 3rd Conference of Commonwealth Postal Adminis-
trations, Colombo, 4-13 October 1976 Rs. 7245.00
6. 7th Education Conference, Accra, 9-18 March
1977 Not available;
Conference on International Economic Cooperation
Meeting in Paris, 20-26 October 1976 Rs. 2000. 000
Customs Cooperation Council
1. 47/48th Sessions, Brussels, 14-18 June 1976 Rs. 30,453.00
2. 9th Session of the Harmonised System Committee,
Brussels, 28 June-9 July 1976 Rs. 20,701.000
3. 10th Session of the Harmonised System Committee
Brussels, 20 September-1 October 1976 Rs. 6,263.00
Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
1. 2nd Session of the Committee on Industry, Housing
and Technology, Bangkok, 31 August-6 Septem-
ber 1976 Rs. 3430
2. 2nd Session on Foreign Investment and Tax Admini-
stration held under the aegis of ESCAP, Tokyo,
27 September-9 October, 1976 Nil
3. 3rd Session of the Committee on Natural Resources,
Bangkok, September 1976 Rs. 600
4. 2nd Round Table Conference of ESCAP, Bangkok,
7-11 December 1976 Expenditure borne
by UN
Food & Agriculture Organisation
1st Meeting of the Member Countries of the FAO
on World Food Security, Rome, 5-9 April 1976 Rs. 9353.90
2. 1st Session of World Food Programme Committee
on Food Aid Policies, Rome, 26 April-7 May 1976 Rs. 20,553.00
3. Preparatory Meeting for the 2nd Session of World
Food Council, Rome, 10-19 May 1976 Rs. 12,262.00
4. 2nd Session of World Food Council, Rome,
14-16 June 1976 Rs. 59,824.0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
APPENDIX I-contd.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Technical Conference on Acquaculture, Kyoto,
Japan, 26 May-2 June 1976 Nil
6. Planipotentiary Conference for the Establishment
of IFAD, Rome, 6-13 June 1976 Rs. 58,642.00
7. 1st Session of the Preparatory Committee of the
IFAD, Rome, 26 September-1 October, 1976 Rs. 4,812.00
8. 2nd Session of the Preparatory Committee of the
IFAD, Rome, 11-18 December 1976 Rs. 3000.00
9. 1st Session of Regional Commission on Animal
Production & Health, Bangkok, 7-11 June 1975 Rs. 1871.00
10. 3rd Session of Commission on Fertilizer, Rome,
8-11, June 1976 Rs. 6868.70
11. Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Group on
Hard Fibres, Rome, 17-19 June 1976 Rs. 315.00
12. Preparatory Meeting for the Inter-Governmental
Group on Hard Fibres, Geneva, 6-10 December,
1976
13. Inter-governmental group on Hard Fibres, New
Delhi, 14-19 March 1977
14. 69th Session of the FAO Council, Rome, 12-16
July 1976 Rs. 16076.00
15. 70th Session of the FAO Council, Rome, 29
November-10 December 1976 Rs. 23,605.25
16. 13th Session of Regional Conference of the FAO
for Asia & Far East, Manila, 5-13 August, 1976 Rs. 38,517.00
17. Round Table Discussion on Regional Approaches
to Fisheries Development, Norway, 30 August-4
September 1976 All expenditure met
by FAO
18. Meeting of Inter-governmental group on Jute
Kenafe and Allied Fibres, Rome, 18-20
October, 1976. Rs. 2825.00
19. 20th Session of Desert Locust Control Committee,
Rome, 25-29 October, 1976 Rs. 1966
20. 4th Session of Committee on Forest Development
& 3rd Session of Committee on Forestry, Rome,
15-27 November 1976 Rs. 5664.00
21. 6th Session of Marine Environment Protection
Committee, London, 29 November-3 December
1976 Rs. 2027.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
pg111
APPENDIX I-contd.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
22. Meeting of the FAO on Restructuring, Rome,15-26
November 1976 Rs. 13605.00
International Council on Archives
8th Congress, Washington , 27 September-
1 October, 1976 Rs. 4,160.00
International Civil Aviation Organisation
1. 4th Meeting of the Middle East/South East Asia
Communications/Meteorological Regional Plann-
ing Group, Bangkok, 18-26 May 1976 Rs. 2419.70
2. 22nd Session of Legal Committee, Montreal, 19 (esti-
October-12 November 1976 Rs. 13850.00 mated)
International Commission on Irrigation & Drainage
1st Regional Conference for Asia and Africa,
Tashkent, USSR, 7-15 September 1976 Rs. 4728.80
International Federation for Information Processing
South East Asia Regional Computer Conference
(SEARCC), Singapore, 6-9 September Not available
International Labour Organisation
1. 200th Session of the Governing Body of ILO,
Geneva, May-June 1976
2. 201st Session of the Governing Body of ILO,
Geneva, 16-19 November 1976
3. 202nd Session of Governing Body of ILO,
Geneva, 1-4 March 1977
4. 61st Conference of ILO, Geneva, 2-23June 1976
5. Tripartite World Conference on Employment,
Income Distribution, Social Progress and the
International Division of Labour, Geneva, 4-17
June 1976
6. 8th Regional Conference of ILO, Colombo, 30
September-9 October 1976
7. 62nd Session of International Labour (Maritime)
Conference, Geneva, 13-29 October 1976
8. 7th Session of the Committee on Work on Planta-
tion, Geneva, 8-16 December 1976
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
pg112
APPENDIX I-contd.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
International Lead & Zinc Study Groud
20th Session of the International Lead & Zinc Study
Group and the meetings of the Committees of the
Group, Geneva, 4-13 November 1976 Rs. 12,000 (approx.)
Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisations
1. 34th Session of Maritime Safety Committee, Lon-
don, 3-7 May 1976 Nil
2. 35th Session of Maritime Safety Committee, Lon-
don, 4--8 October 1976 Nil
3. 5th Session of Maritime Environment Protection
Committee, London, 24--28 May 1976 Rs. 2386.00
4. 6th Session of Maritime Environment Protection
Committee, London, 29 November-3 Dec-
ember 1976 Rs. 2027
5. 36th Session of Council, London, 7-11 June 1976 Rs. 6328.00
6. 37th Session of Council, London, 5-9October 1976
7. 8th Session of Subcommittee on Standards of
training and watch-keeping, London, 14-18 June
1976 Rs. 4772.00
8. 9th Session of Subcommittee on Standards of
Training and watch-keeping, London, 13--17 Dec-
ember 1976 Rs. 3600.00
9. 29th Session of Legal Committee, London, 28 June
--2 July 1976 Nil
10. 30th Session of Legal Committee, London, 6-10
September 1976 Nil
11. 31st Session of Legal Committee, London, 13-17
September 1976 Nil
12. 16th Session of Sub-committee on Radio Commu-
nication, London, 19-23 July 1976 Rs. 4772.00
13. 1st Consultative meeting of Contracting Parties to
the London Dumping Convention London, 20--24
September 1976 Nil
14. 13th Session of Committee on Technical Cooperation
London, 4-5 October 1976 Rs. 7338.00
15. International Conference on Limitation of the
Liability for Maritime Claims, London, 1-19
November 1976 Rs. 5962.00
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
pg113
APPENDIX I-contd.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
16. 19th Session of Sub-Committee on Fire Protection,
London, 23-27 November 1976 Nil
International Monetary Fund/international Bank
for Reconstruction and Development
1. Meeting of Aid India Consortium, Paris, 27-28May
1976 Rs. 19,393.00
2. Annual Meeting of IMF/IBRD, Manila, 2-8 Octo-
ber 1976
International Telecommunication Satellite System
Meeting of INTELSAT Operation Representative
for Indian Ocean Area and the Seminar on Earth
Station Technology, Munich, W. Germany, 8-18
June 1976 Rs. 7,452.00
International Telecommunication Union
1. International Radio Consultative Committee
Geneva, 3 May-6 June 1976 Rs. 12,172.42
2. Seminar on Satellite Broadcasting in the 1 GHz
band, Kyoto, Japan, 10-18 September 1976
International Wheat Council
Meeting of International Wheat Council, London,
29 November-2 December 1976 Rs. 3,480
Non-Aligned Group
1. Meeting of the Coordination Bureau, Algiers, 30
May-2 June 1976 Rs. 22,530.00
*2. Conference of Non-Aligned Countries on News
Agencies Pool, New Delhi 8-13 July 1976 Rs. 4,93,269
3. Conference of the Heads of States/Governments of
Non-Aligned Countries, Colombo, 16-19 August
1976 Rs. 4,73,696.00
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
1. 4th UNCTAD, Nairobi, 3-28 May 1976 .
2. 2nd Preparatory Meeting and Conference on Eco-
nomic Cooperation among Developing Countries,
Mexico,9-11 September 1976 and 13-21 Sept-
ember 1976 respectively
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
pg114
APPENDIX I--contd.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Nations Development Programme
22nd Session of the Governing Council, Geneva,
14 June-4 July 1976 Rs. 8,245.00
United Nations Economic and Social Council
1. 12th Meeting of Regional Group of the United
Nations Advisory Committee on the Application
of Science & Technology to Development for Asia
and the Pacific, Bangkok, 13--22 April 1976 Not available
2. 25th Session of the Commission on the Status of
Women, Geneva, 13 September-1 October 1976 Rs. 23,395.00
(Approx.)
*3. 19th Session of the UN Statistical Commission,
New Delhi, 8-19 November 1976 . . . Nil
*4. UN project on International Comparison of
National Accounts Aggregates-Regional meeting
of Asian Participating Countries, New Delhi, 6-11
December 1976 Rs. 5,000.00
5. Meeting of the Operational Heads of the Narcotics
Law Enforcement Agencies for East Region,
Manila, 15-19 November 1976 Nil
6. 1st Session of the Inter-Governmental Working
Group of UN Commission on Transnational Cor-
porations, New York, 10-14 January 1977 Not available
7. Meeting of the Bureau of the Commission of
Human Rights, Geneva, 30 January-5 February
1977 Rs. 24,055.00
(Approx.)
8. 33rd Session of the UN Commission on Human
Rights, Geneva, 7 February-11 March 1977 Rs. 56,641.00
(Approx.)
9. UN Regional Seminar on Participation of Women
in Political. Economic and Social Development
with special emphasis on Machinery to Accelerate
the Integration of Women in Development, Kath-
mandu, 15-22 February 1977
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization
*1. International Conference on Education and Train-
ing of Engineers and Technicians, New Delhi, 20-
26 April 1976 Nil
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
pg115
APPENDIX I--contd.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
*2. International Seminar on Himalayan Geology,
New Delhi, September 1976 Nil
3. 19th General Conference, Nairobi, 26 October-30
November 1976 Rs. 3,00,000
(Estimated)
*4. Meeting of Experts on Urban Problems, and Edu-
cation on Town Planning, Chandigarh, 6-11
December 1976 Nil
5. Meeting of the Experts on Regional Cooperation
in Cultural Activities in Asia, Tokyo, 7-11 De-
cember 1976 Nil
6. 2nd Meeting of Government Experts on Double
Taxation of Copyright Royalties Remitted from
One Country to Another, convened jointly by
UNESCO/WIPO (World Intellectual Property
Organization), Paris, 8--17 December 1976 Rs. 3,015.00
United Nations Environmental Programme
2nd Session of the Inter-governmental Working
Group of Experts on Natural Resources shared by
Two or More States, Geneva, 22--30 September
1976 Rs. 463.82
United Nations General Assembly
1. Law of the Sea Conference, New York, 5 April-5
May 1976 Rs. 17,884.60
2. 5th Session of the UN Conference on the Law of
the Sea, New York, 2 August - 17 September 1976 Rs. 17,800.00
3. 9th Session of the United Nations Commission
on the International Trade Law (UNCITRAL),
New York, 12 April-7 May 1976 . Rs. 38,623.70
4. 8th Session of Working Group of UNICTRAL on
the International Sale of Goods 4-14 January 1977
5. Diplomatic Conference on the Re-affirmation and
Development of International Humanitarian Law
Applicable in Armed Conflicts, Geneva 21 April-
11 June 1976
6. Meeting of the Legal Sub-Committee of the Com-
mittee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, Geneva,
3-28 May 1976 Rs. 9,126.21
7. Meeting of the Committee on Peaceful Uses of
Outer Space, New York, 23-25 June 1976
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
pg116
APPENDIX I-contd.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Regional Preparatory Meeting for the UN Water
Conference, Bangkok, 26 July-2 August 1976 Not available
9. 31st Session of the UNGA, New York, 21 Septem-
ber-22 December 1976 Rs. 873,151.58
10. Conference of Plenipotentaries on Territorial Asy-
lum, Geneva, 10 January-4 February 1977
United Nations Children's Fund
Meeting of Executive Board, New York, 17-28
May 1976 Rs. 21,985.O2
United Nations Industrial Development Organiza-
tion
1. Round Table Meeting on Industrialisation of Agri-
culture, Sofia, 20-24 May 1976 Rs. 12,299 (Estimate
d)
2. Meeting of the Inter-governmental Committee on
the Whole to draft Constitution for UNIDO as a
Specialised Agency, Vienna, 28 June-9 July 1976 Rs. 25,597.50
Universal Postal Union
1. Meeting of the Executive Committee, Pattaya, Thai- Rs. 2,391.82 Cost of
land, 1-4 November 1976 one return air-fare
amounting to Rs.
3,430 will be reim-
bursed by the AOPU
2. Meeting of the Consultative Council of UPU,
Berne, 8-20 November 1976 Rs. 12,392.50
World Health Organisation
1. 29th World Health Assembly, Geneva, 3-17 May
1976
*2. 29th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for
South East Asia, Srinagar, 14-20 September 1976
World Intellectual Property Organisation
7th Session of the Administrative Bodies, Geneva,
27 September-5 October, 1976 Rs. 17,500,(Approx.)
World Meteorological Organisation
1. 9th Air Navigation Conference and 6th Session
of Commission for Aeronautical Meteorology,
Montreal, 1 April-14 May 1976 Rs. 4,472.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
pg117
APPENDIX I-contd.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. Planning Meeting for Monsoon-77, Colombo,
17-21 May 1976 Rs. 6,819.75
3. 5th Session of Commission for Hydrology, Ottawa,
5-17 July 1976 Rs. 5,152.00
4. 2nd Scientific Conference on Weather Modifica-
tion at Boulder, Colorado, USA, 2-6 August 1976 Rs. 1,335.00
5. 7th Session of WMO Commission for Basic Sys-
tems Working Group on Global Telecommunica-
tion, Geneva, 6-17 September 1976 Rs. 3,953.00
6. Extra-ordinary Session of Commission for Basic
Systems, Geneva, 1-12 November 1976 Not available
7. 7th Session of Commission for Marine Meteoro-
logy, Geneva, 29 November-10 December 1976 Not available
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
*IN India
pg118
Jul 05, 1976 | | Appendix II Major International Conference/Meetings/Seminars |
APPENDIX II
Major International Conference/Meetings/Seminars organised by non-
Governmental Organisations, at which India was represented with Govern-
ment assistance in 1976-77 |
S. No. Title of Conference etc. (with venue & Foreign Exchange
dates) component of ex-
penditure in Rs.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. 16th World Congress of International Union of
Forestry Research Organisation, Oslo, 20 June-
Jul 02, 1976
2. 18th International Conference on Social Welfare,
San Juan, Puerto Rico, 18-24 July 1976
3. 33rd World Conference of the International Fede-
ration for Housing Planning, Helsinki, 9-13 August
1976 Rs. 2409
4. 26th Pugwash Conference, Muhlhausan, GDR,
26-31 August 1976 Not available
5. Conference of International Broadcasting Insti-
tutes, Kyoto, Japan, 28 August-7 September 1976 IBI paid the ex-
penses
6. Symposium of Asian Productivity Organisation
on Farms Water Management, Tokyo, 7-13 Sep-
tember 1976 All expenses met
by FAO
7. 18th Session of the Governing Body of Asian Pro-
ductivity Organisation, Tokyo Manila, 17-20 May,
1976 Not available
8. Meeting of Committee of the International Co-
operative Alliance on Agricultural & Fisheries etc.,
20-27 September 1976 Not available
9. 26th Congress of the International Cooperative
Alliance, Paris 28 September-1 October 1976 Nil
10. 18th Meeting of the International Cooperative
Alliance Council for South-East Asia, Tehran, 5-11
November 1976 Nil
11. 60th Annual Session of the International Dairy
Federation, Quebec (Canada), 29 September-
8 October 1976 Rs. 31,889.23
12. General Assembly of the International Organisa-
tion for Standardization, Geneva, 20-24 September
1976 Nil
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
pg119
Jul 02, 1976 | | Appendix III Miscellaneous International Conference |
APPENDIX III
Miscellaneous International Conference etc. in 1976-77 at which Government
of India was represented or at which India was represented with Government
of India's assistance |
Sl. Title of Conference etc. (with venue & dates) Foreign Exchange
No. component of ex-
penditure in Rs.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. JOC Study Conference on the Development of
Numerical Models for the Tropics, Exeter, UK,
4-Apr 10, 1976 Rs. 1741
2. 1st Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials
responsible for Physical Education and Sports,
Paris, 5-10 April 1976 Rs. 32818.82
3. Conference on Evaluation and Research in Educa-
tional Television & Radio, Milton Keyness, UK,
9-13 April 1976
4. International Law Conference, Rome, 9-14 May
1976 Rs. 2,744.77
5. Hyog and International Conference, Kobe, Japan,
18-22 May 1976 Rs. 13368
6. Meeting on the establishment of International
Maritime Satellite System, 25 May-30 July 1976 Rs. 1848.00
7. Conference on Inter-Ocean 76, Dusseldorf (FRG),
June 1976 Rs. 11623 (Approx).
8. Session of the International Geological Congress
and meeting of the Commission for Geological
Map, Sydney, 15--28 August 1976 Rs. 2,30,640.00
9. International Maritime Satellite System Confer-
ence 3rd Session for discussion with British Post
Office, London on telecommunications matters 29
August-18 September 1976 Rs. 4,740. 00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
pg120
APPENDIX III-concld.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 2 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. 8th General Assembly of Eastern Regional Orga-
nisation for Public Administration (EROPA) and
the regionwise conference on Asian Development
strategies and the role of public enterprises, Tehran,
Iran 16-23 October 1976 Foreign Exchange
of 9347 Ris
11. World Wildlife Fund : 4th International Congress,
San Francisco, 28 November-1 December 1976 --
12. Working meeting of the participating countries in
the International Development Research Centre,
Chiangmai, Thailand, 11-20 January 1977 Nil
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
pg121
Apr 10, 1976 | | Appendix IV International Organisations |
Jan 01, 1976
APPENDIX IV
International Organisations of which INDIA became a Member or ceased to
be a Member during the year 1976-77
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Sl. Name of International Organisation Name of International Organisa-
No. of which India became a Member tion of which India ceased to
during the year 1976-77 be a Member during the year
1976-77
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
1. Jute International 1(A) International Association
of Survey of Statisticians,
The
Hague.
2. International Agricultural Aviation
Centre, Cornfield Institute of Tech-
nology, England.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
pg122
Jan 01, 1976 | | Appendix V Treaties/Conventions/Agreements concluded of renewed by India |
APPENDIX V
Treaties/Conventions/Agreements concluded of renewed by India with other
countries in 1976*
(*This list is not exhaustive)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
Sl. Title of Convention/Treaty/ Date of Date of Date on Re
-
No. Agreement signature ratifica- which ma
rks
tion entered
into force
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
1 2 3 4 5
6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
Multilateral
International Coffee Agreement 1976
1. International Coffee Agree- Provision-
ment 1976 : ally in
India deposited the Instru- force
ment of Ratification on 1-10-76.
Sep 20, 1976.
European Economic Community
2. Exchange of Letters between 7-4-76
the Government of India
and the European Economic
Community regarding EEC
Food Aid-163,000 Metric
tons of Common Wheat-
1975 Programme.
3. Exchange of Letters between 28-9-76
the Government of India
and the European Economic
Community regarding EEC
Food Aid-1976-5,000 Me-
tric tons of skimmed milk
powder.
4. Exchange of Letters between 28-9-76
the Government of India and
the European Economic
Community regarding EEC
Food Aid-1976-Cereals
programme-175.000 Metric
tons of Common Wheat.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
pg123
14 M of EA/76-9
APPENDIX V-contd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
1 2 3 4 5
6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
International Development Association
5. Credit No. 616 in Develop- 26-2-76
ment Credit Agreement
(Eleventh Industrial Im-
ports Program Credit) bet-
ween India and International
Development Association.
United Nations Convention on
Psychotropic Substances 1971 :
6. United Nations Convention 23-4-75 16-8-76
on Psychotropic Substances
1971.
Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora
7. Convention on International 9-7-74 18-10-76
Trade in Endangered Species
of Wild Fauna and Flora-
1973.
India-Sri Lanka-The Maldives
Agreement
7A. Agreement between India, Sri Lanka 31-7-76
Sri Lanka and the Maldives 23-7-76
concerning the determi- India
nation of the tri-junction 24-7-76
point between the three Maldives
countries in the Gulf of 31-7-76
Mannar.
Bilateral
Austria
8. Agreement on Capital Re- 8-4-76 8-4-76
payment between the Gov-
ernment of India and the
Austrian Federal Govern-
ment for a credit of 52.43
Austrian Shillings.
Bangladesh
9. Agreement relating to the 23-7-76 1-8-76
Exchange of Postal Par-
cels between the Government
of India and the Govern-
ment of People's Republic of
Bangladesh.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
pg124
APPENDIX V-contd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
1 2 3 4 5
6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Canada
10. Exchange of Letters between 1-2-76
the Government of India
and Canada for amending
the Canadian Development
Loan Agreement dt. 27th
October, 1967 for C $1 1.00
million for import of Equip-
ment, Services, etc. for Idukki
Hydro Electric Project in
Kerala.
11. Exchange of Letters between 25-2-76
the Governments of India
and Canada for amending
the Canadian Development
Loan Agreement dt. 9th
August, 1973 for C $1.2 mil-
lion for import of Equipment
for KUNDAH Hydel Pro-
ject (Stage IV) in Tamil
Nadu.
12. Exchange of Letters between 16-6-76 16-6-76
the Governments of India
and Canada for the import
of wheat from Canada worth
approximately Forty Million
Canadian Dollars (C $40.00
million) n the form of a
Grant.
13. Exchange of Letters between 16-6-76 16-6-76
the Government of India
and the Government of Ca-
nada regarding the Canadian
Assistance or rapeseed oil
worth six million Canadian
dollars (C $6.0 million) in
the form of a Grant.
14. Exchange of Letters between 29-6-76
the Governments of India
and Canada for amending
the terminal date of Loan
Agreement dt. 12th August,
1971 relating to the purchase
in Canada of bulk fertilizer
equipment for the ports of
Kandla and Haldia.
15. Exchange of Letters between 1-9-76
the Government of India
and the Government of
Canada regarding amend-
ment to Section 4.03 of the
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
pg125
APPENDIX V-contd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
1 2 3 4 5
6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Canadian Development Loan
Agreement dt. 16th March,
1973.
16. Exchange of Letters between 15-9-76
the Governments of India
and Canada for amending
the agreement between India
and Canada dt. 23rd August,
1968 for development of a
sub-loan relating to the pur-
chase in Canada of diesel
locomotive components and
spare parts for the Railway
Board.
17. Exchange of Letters between 15-9-76
the Governments of India
and Canada for amending
the agreement dt. 30th July,
1969 between India and
Canada for a development
of a sub-loan relating to the
purchase in Canada of a
747 flight simulator for Air
India.
18. Exchange of Letters between 1-10-76
the Governments of India
and Canada for amending
the agreement concluded
between India and Canada on
27th May, 1968 for develop-
ment of a sub-loan relating
to the purchase in Canada of
Equipment, Materials and
services for a ground station
for a communication satellite
system.
19. Exchange of Letters between 15-10-76
the Governments of India
and Canada for amending
the terminal date of develop-
ment loan agreement dt. 27th
October 1967 relating to the
purchase of equipment and
services for the Idukki
Hydro-Electric Power Project.
20. Development Loan Agree- 27-10-76
ment between the Govern-
ments of India and Canada
for C $10.0 million for im-
port of Potash fertilizer from
Canada.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
pg126
APPENDIX V-contd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
1 2 3 4 5 6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
21. Exchange of Letters between 27-10-76
the Governments of India
and Canada for amending
the Letters exchanged bet-
ween the Governments of
India and Canada on 16th
June, 1976 relating to the
purchase in Canada of rape-
seed oil under the Canadian
grant 1976-77.
22. Exchange of Letters between 1-12-76
the Governments of India
and Canada for amending
the amounts specified in the
Memorandum of Under-
standing dt. 30-12-1972 to
cover the additional cost of
providing field installation
assistance in setting up of
the Satellite Earth Station
near Dehra Dun.
Cuba
23. Memorandum of Under- 22-7-76
standing between the Go-
vernment of the Republic of
India and the Government
of the Republic of Cuba.
Federal Republic of Germany
24. Exchange of Letters between 22-1-76 22-1-76
the Government of India
and the Government of the
Federal Republic of Ger-
many regarding the supply
of fertilizer for the Almora
Project in pursuance of the
Agreement of 31st December,
1971.
25. Exchange of Letters between 20-2-76 20-2-76
the Government of India and
the Government of the Fed-
eral Republic of Germany
regarding extension of the
assignment of the Specialist
in Fruit Processing at the
Indo-German Agricultural
Development Project Mandi
(H.P.).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pg127
14 M of EA/76-10
APPENDIX V-contd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
1 2 3 4 5
6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
26. Agreement between the Go- 24-6-76 24-6-76
vernment of India and the
Government of the Federal
Republic of Germany con-
cerning Financial Assistance
in 1976 DM 362,000,000
(three hundred and sixty two
million Deutsche Mark.)
27. Supplementary Agreement 25-6-76
between the Government of
India and KREDITANS-
TALT FUR WIEDERAUF-
BAU for DM 140 million
for Debt Relief 1976-77.
28. Arbitration Agreement bet- 25-6-76
ween the Government of
India and KREDITANS-
TALT FUR WIEDERAUF-
BAU with reference to Article
VIII. Paragraph (5), of the
Supplementary Agreement dt.
25th June, 1976.
29. Loan Agreement between 25-6-76
the Industrial Credit & In-
vestment Corporation of
India Ltd. and KREDITAN-
STALT FUR WIEDERAU-
FBAU for DM 10,000,000.
30. Arbitration Agreement bet- 25-6-76
ween the Industrial Credit &
Investment Corporation of
India Ltd. and KREDITAN-
STALT FUR WIEDERAU-
FBAU with reference to
Article X, paragraph (6), of
the Loan Agreement dt.
25th June, 1976.
31. Guarantee Agreement bet- 25-6-76
ween the Industrial Credit and
Investment Corporation of
India Ltd. and KREDIAN-
STALT FUR WIEDERAU-
FBAU with reference to Loan
Agreement dt. 25th June,
1976.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
pg128
APPENDIX V-contd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
1 2 3 4 5
6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
32. Arbitration Agreement with 25-6-76
reference to Article IV, para-
graph (7), of the Guarantee
Agreement dt. 25th June
1976 between the Industrial
Credit and Investment Cor-
poration of India Ltd. and
KREDITANSTALT FUR
WIEDERAUFBAU.
33. Loan Agreement between 25-6-76
the Industrial Finance Cor-
poration of India and
KREDITANS LT FUR
WIEDERAUF for DM
15,000,000.
34. Arbitration Agreem bet- 25-6-76
ween the Industrial Finance
Corporation of India and
KREDITANSTALT FUR
WIEDERAUFBAU with
reference to Article X, para-
graph (6), of the Loan Agree-
ment dt. 25th June, 1976.
35. Guarantee Agreement bet- 25-6-76
ween the Industrial Finance
Corporation of India and
KREDITANSTALT FUR
WIEDERAUFBAU with
reference to Laon Agree-
ment dt. 25th June, 1976.
36. Arbitration Agreement with 25-6-76
reference to Article IV, para-
graph (7), of the Guarantee
Agreement dt. 25th June,
1976 between the Industrial
Finance Corporation of India
and KREDITANSTALT
FUR WIEDERAUFBAU.
37. Exchange of Letters between 15-9-76 15-9-76
the Government of India
and the Government of the
Federal Republic of Germany
regarding supply of 3,400
tonnes of fertilizer to the
Indo-German Agricultural
Development Project, Mandi
(H.P.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
pg129
APPENDIX V-contd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
1 2 3 4 5 6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
38. Exchange of Letters between 16-11-76 16-11-76
the Government of India
and the Government of the
Federal Republic of Germany
regarding extension of the
Agreement for the Indo-Ger-
man Agricultural Develop-
ment Project, Nilgiris, Tamil
Nadu.
39. Exchange of Letters between 28-12-76 28-12-76
the Government of India and
the Government of the Fed-
eral Republic of Germany
regarding extension of the
Agreement for the Indo-
German Agricultural De-
velopment Project, Almora
(U.P.)
France
40. Protocol between the Go- 15-1-76 15-1-76
vernment of the Republic of
India and the Government of
the Republic of France re-
garding the Debt Relief.
41. Financial Protocol between 19-2-76 19-2-76
the Government of India and
the Government of France
for General Credit-1976-77.
42. Financial Protocol between 19-2-76 19-2-76
the Government of India and
the Government of France
for Special Credit-1976-77.
43. Protocol Agreement between 9-3-76 9-3-76
the Government of India
and the Government of
France for Food Aid Grant
of 30,000 tons of wheat.
44. Exchange of Letters between 9-3-76
the Government of India and
the Government of France
regarding financing of Indian
Economic Development Pro-
jects.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
pg130
APPENDIX V-contd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
1 2 3 4 5
6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Iraq
45. Loan Agreement between 6-5-76 6-5-76
the Government of India and
the Government of Iraq
amounting upto $33,300,000
(Thirty three million & three
hundred thousand US Dol-
lars) to cover partial value of
Iraqi crude oil supplies du-
ring the period from 1st May,
1976 until end of December,
1976.
Italy
46. Exchange of Letters between 6-4-76 6-4-76
the Governments of India
and Italy for the Grant of
Debt Relief Assistance for the
year 1974-15 to a maximum
of 5.250 (5 billion and 250
million) Italian Lira.
Japan
47. Agreement between the
Government of India and 31-3-76
the Japan Leprosy Mission
for Asia (JAIMA) for taking
over a Leprosy Treatment,
Rehabilitation, Training and
Research Centre established
at Agra by Japan Leprosy
Mission for Asia on 30th
May, 1963.
48. Loan Agreement No. ID-CI 31-3-76
Loan Agreement concerning
Commodity Loan to the
Government of India bet-
ween the Overseas Economic
Co-operation Fund, Japan
and the President of India.
49. Agreement on scientific Ex- 28-6-76 28-6-76
changes between the Indian
National Science Academy
and the Japan Society for
the Promotion of Science.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
pg131
APPENDIX V-contd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
1 2 3 4 5
6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
Jordan
50. Trade and Economic Agree- 24-2-76 24-2-76
ment between the Govern-
ment of the Republic of
India and the Government
of the Hashemite Kingdom
of Jordan.
Korea
51. Agreement between the 5-3-76 30-8-76
Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of the Republic of Korea on
Cooperation in the fields of
Science and Technology.
Nepal
52. Exchange of Utters between 24-12-76
the Government of India and
the Government of Nepal
regarding the renovation and
extension of Chandra Canal,
Pumped Canal and Western
Kosi Canal distribution sys-
tem in Nepal.
Netherlands
53. Exchange of letters between 14-6-76
the Government of India and
the Government of Nether-
lands for 5,000 tons of wheat
within the framework of the
Food Aid Convention com-
mitments for the year 1975-
76.
Norway
54. Exchange of Letters between 26-10-76 26-10-76
the Government of India and
the Government of Norway
for a financial grant not
exceeding Norwegian Kronor
1.2 million for financing of
fees for services to be
rendered by M/s. Shipping
Research Services, Oslo, for
preparation of a Detailed
Project Report on a Central
Marine Design and Research
Organization in India.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
pg132
APPENDIX V-contd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
1 2 3 4 5 6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
55. Memorandum of Agreement 5-11-76 5-11-76
between the Government of
India and M/s. Shipping Re-
search services, Oslo, for
preparation of a Detailed
Project Report on a Central
Marine Design and Research
Organization to be set up
in India.
Pakistan
56. Agreement between the 16-7-76 20-7-76
Government of India and the
Government of the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan relating
to Air Services.
Sri-Lanka
56A. Agreement between India 23-3-76 6-4-76 10-5-76
and Sri Lanka on the 4-5-76
Maritime Boundary bet-
ween the two countries
in the Gulf of Manaar
and the Bay of Bengal
and related matters.
Sweden
57. Agreement between the 20-5-76 20-5-76
Government of India and
the Government of Sweden,
for furthering economic and
social development in India.
Turkey
58. Agreement between the 2-4-76 16-9-76
Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of the Republic of Turkey on
Cooperation in the fields of
Science and Technology.
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
59. Consular Convention bet- 29-11-73 19-1-76 4-7-76 In
stru-
ween the Government of the me
nt
Republic of India and the of
Government of the Union of Ra
tifi-
Soviet Socialist Republics. ca
tion
Ex
ch-
an
ged
on
4th
Ju
ne,
19
76.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------
pg133
APPENDIX V-contd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
1 2 3 4 5 6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
United Kingdom
60. Exchange of Letters between 6-1-76 6-1-76
the Government of India and
the- Government of the
United Kingdom for estab-
lishing an Indo-British Eco-
nomic Committee.
61. Exchange of Letters between 11-2-76
the Government of India and
the Government of the
United Kingdom regarding
amendment to the United
Kingdom/India Mixed Pro-
ject Grant 1975.
62. Exchange of Notes between 19-2-76
the Government of India and
the Government of the
United Kingdom regarding
food grant of 50,400 metric
Tons of wheat.
63. Memorandum of Under- 12-7-76
standing between the
Government of India and
the Government of the
United Kingdom concerning
the provision of British
Technical Assistance for the
Indo-British Ground Water
Exploration Project in the
Upper Catchment of the
Betwa River Basin in parts
of Madhya Pradesh and
Uttar Pradesh.
64. Exchange of Letters between 2-8-76
the Government of India and
the Government of the
United Kingdom concerning
arrangements for the United
Kingdom/India Capital
Investment Loans and
Grants.
65. Exchange of Letters between 1-9-76
the Governments of India
and the United Kingdom
regarding amendment to
the "United Kingdom/India
Durgapur Loan 1970".
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
APPENDIX V-contd.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
1 2 3 4 5
6
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
66. Exchange of Letters between 1-9-76
the Governments of India
and the United Kingdom
regarding amendment to the
"United Kingdom/India
Capital Investment Loan
1974".
67. Exchange of Letters between 1-9-76
the Governments of India
and the United Kingdom
regarding amendment to "the
relevant Exchange of Notes"
concerning Investment Loans
and Grants.
United States of America
68. Agreement between the
Government of India and the
Government of the United
States of America for sales of
Agricultural Commodities.
and 3-5-76 3-5-76
Agreed Minutes between the
two Governments regarding
the Public Law 480 Title 1,
Agreement for Fiscal Year-
1976 dt. 3rd May, 1976.
Vietnam
(The Socialist Republic of)
69. Agreement between the 10-11-76 10-11-76
Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam on the Exchange
of Letter Post Items and
Parcels and Tele-Communi-
cation Services.
Joint Communiques
Pakistan
70. Joint Statement issued in Islamabad on 14th May, 1976 with the objective
of resuming normalization of relations between the two countries as
envisaged in the Simla Agreement, 1972.
71. Joint Communique issued in New Delhi on 7th October, 1976 on the
conclusion of talks concerning the Salal Hydro Electric Project.
72. Joint Communique issued in Islamabad on 21st October, 1976 on the
conclusion of talks concerning the Salal Hydro Electric Project.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
APPENDIX V-concld.
Statement showing the number of Indian experts deputed to various countries
under ITEC Programme (1976)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sl. Name of country Experts in
No. position
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Afghanistan 124
2. Ethiopia. 2
3. Fiji 5
4. Ghana 3
5. Guyana 10
6. Indonesia 5
7. Maldives 4
8. Mauritius 49
9. PDRY (Aden) 12
10. Senegal 1
11. Somalia 1
12. Sri Lanka 5
13. Tonga 2
14. Cyprus 1
15. Malta 3
16. Zambia 1
17. Barbados 1
18. Laos 1
---------
TOTAL 230
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
pg136
Sep 20, 1976 | | Appendix VI Trainees from developing countries |
| Jan 01, 1976
APPENDIX VI-contd.
Trainees from developing countries receiving training in India (1976-77) under
ITEC Programme |
Sl. Name of country Number
No.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Afghanistan 5
2. Cyprus 1
3. Ethiopia 2
4. Ghana 1
5. PDRY 2
6. Maldives 12
7. Sri Lanka 14
8. Sudan 8
9. Tanzania 232*
10. Zambia 4
11. Burma 6
12. D.R.V.N. 16
13. Laos 1
14. Trinibab and Tobago 6
15. Thailand 1
16. Egypt 2
17. Nigeria 4
18. Iraq 5
19. Zimbabwe 2
20. Guyana . 2
21. Algeria 1
22. Brazil 1
23. Ecuador 1
24. Mauritius 1
25. Mexico 1
26. Libya 1
27. Zaire 1
28. Argentina 1
-------
TOTAL 340
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*167 of these trainees are under a grant received by Tanzania from Sweden;-
all the arrangements for training are, however, made by India.
pg137
Jan 01, 1976 | | Appendix VII > Distribution of Reserved Medical/Engineering |
Jan 01, 1976
APPENDIX VII
Distribution of Reserved Medical/Engineering seats during 1976-77
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sl. Name of the country Engineering Medical
No. seats seats
allotted allotted
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Rhodesia 3 -
2. Kenya 15 3
3. Malawi Nil 1
4. South Africa 2 3
5. Tanzania 15 3
6. Uganda 5 1
7. Zambia 2 1
8. Lesotho Nil 1
9. Sudan 2 -
10. Nigeria 1 1
11. Mauritius 21 18
12. Afghanistan 6 1
13. PDRY 1 1
14. Iran 40 5
15. Iraq 7 Nil
16. Jordan 26 1
17. Kuwait 3 Nil
18. U.A.E. 1 1
19. Lebanon 2 -
20. Syria 1 Nil
21. Bahrain . 1 -
22. Fiji 4 2
23. Malaysia 38 15
24. Singapore 1 -
25. Thailand 5 3
26. Sri Lanka 21 7
27. Guyana 2 3
28. West Indies - 2
29. Hungary 1 -
30. Bangladesh 3 Nil
31. Maldives Nil 1
------- -----
TOTAL 229 74
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
pg138
Jan 01, 1976 | | Appendix VIII Expenditure on Headquarters and Missions/Posts abroad |
| Jan 01, 1976
APPENDIX VIII
Expenditure on Headquarters and Missions/Posts abroad during 1976-77
The expenditure during 1976-77 on Headquarters Ministry is.
of the order of Rs. 5,12,81 lakhs; a sum of Rs. 181.11 is establish-
ment charges, a sum of Rs. 50.41 lakhs for Dearness Allowance a sum of
Rs. 205.77 lakhs for publicity, cables, diplomatic bags service etc., a sum
of Rs. 74.35 lakhs for travelling expenses and a sum of Rs. 1. 17 lakhs for
Departmental Canteen.
The expenditure on Missions/Posts abroad including special Mission
in Thimpu is Rs. 2232.95 lakhs out of which a sum of Rs. 1021.64 lakhs is
spent on Establishment Charges including Foreign and other compensatory
allowances, a sum of Rs. 201.59 lakhs on passages for transfers and local
tours, Rs. 52.61 lakhs for Publicity Contingencies and Rs. 957. 11 lakhs for
official and residential accommodation, P&T charges and other office contin-
gencies. The average annual expenditure per Mission comes to Rs. 18.3
lakhs.
The expenditure mentioned above (viz. Rs. 2745.76 lakhs=Rs. 512.81
lakhs + 2232.95 lakhs) as per details below on Headquarters and Missions/
Posts abroad includes expenditure on External Publicity programme acti-
vities. The break-up of this expenditure is as under:-
|
(a) Headquarters (Rs. in lakhs)
(i) Salaries(officers 28, staff 53) 10.00
(ii) Travelling Expenses 4.25
(iii) Publicity Contingencies Charges 93.56
----------
107.81
(b) Missions/Posts abroad
(i) Salaries (officers 51, staff 258) 43.77
(ii) Foreign Allowance, Compensatory Allowance 28.31
(iii) Passages and Travelling Expenses 6.01
(iv) Publicity Contingencies 52.61
(v) Other Charges including renting of residential
accommodation and other Office Contingencies 16.90
---------
147.60
---------
TOTAL EXTERNAL PUBLICITY 255.41
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The expenditure on External Publicity as detailed Above comes to 9.3%
of the expenditure on Headquarters and Missions/Posts abroad.
pg139
APPENDIX VIII-concld.
(In lakhs of
Rupees)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Establish- Travell- Office Total
ment ing Ex- Expenses
Charges penses
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Secretariat
Headquarters 221.52 70.10 113.38 405.00
External Publicity Division 10.00 4.25 93.56 107.81
------ ----- ----- -------
TOTAL 231.52 74.35 206.94 512.81
------ ----- ------ -------
Overseas Establishment
(a) Missions/Posts abroad
(excluding Publicity
Wings) 949.56 195.58 940.21 2085.35
(b) Publicity Wings 72.08 6.01 69.51 147.60
------- ------ ------- --------
TOTAL 1021.64 201.59 1009.72 2232.95
------- ------ ------- --------
GRAND TOTAL 1253.16 275.94 1216.66 2745.76
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
pg140
Jan 01, 1976 | | Appendix IX List of India Missions/Posts |
Jan 01, 1976
APPENDIX IX
List of India Missions/Posts opened in the Year 1976-77
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Country Location Remarks
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pakistan Islamabad Embassy
Maldives Male Embassy
U.S.A. Chicago Consulate
General
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
pg141
|
|
