Annual Report 1979-80
CONTENTS |
CHAPTERS | Introduction | PAGES(i)
| I. | India's Neighbours | 1-8
| II. | South-East Asia | 9-14
| III. | East Asia | 15-17
| IV. | West Asia and North Africa | 18-22
| V. | Africa (South of the Sahara) | 23-26
| VI. | Europe | 27-34
| VII. | The Americas | 35-38
| VIII. | United Nations and International Conferences | 39-54
| IX. | Foreign Economic Relations | 55-57
| X. | External Publicity | 58-62
| XI. | Cultural Relations | 63-67
| XII. | Protocol | 68
| XIII. | Passport, Emigration and Consular Services | 69-72
| XIV. | Administration and Organisation | 73-75
| XV. | Use of Hindi in official Work | 76-78
| | Appendices | 79-108 |
NUMBER APPENDICES PAGES
I. Major International Conferences/Meetings
/Seminars etc. organised by Inter Governmental
Organisation at which Govt. of India was
represented in 1979-80 81-88c
II. Major international conferences/meetings
/seminars organised by Non-Governmental
Organisation (Such as Asian Productivity
Organisation,International Co-operation
Alliance, International Organisation for
standardisation etc.) in which Indian
experts participated in their personal
capacity with Govt. assistance in 1979-80
(April, 1979 to March, 88d-88h
III. Miscellaneous major international
Conferences etc. in 1979-80 (April 1979 to
March 1980) at which Govt. of India was
represented or in which Indian experts
participated with Govt. of India's
assistance in their personal capacity
88i-88k
IV. International Organisation of which India
became a member or ceased to be a member
during the Year 1979-80 (From April
1979 to March, 1980) 88l
V. Treaties/Conventions/Agreements concluded
or re-newed by India with other countries
in 1979 89-98
VI. Regional Passport Offices : Statement
show-ing number of Passport/miscellaneous
services appli-cations received and number
of passports issued/miscellaneous services
granted in the calendar year 99
VII. Statement showing the total number of
employees (Both permanent and temporary)
in the Ministry of External Affairs under
various groups and repre-sentaion of
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
therein (Position as on Dec 31, 1979)100
VIII. Statement showing the number of
appointments (Both by direct recruitment
and by promotion) made to various groups
of posts and reserved vacancies filled
by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
during the year 1979 101
IX. Revenue expenditure of the Ministry
during the Financial Year 1979-80 102
X. Expenditure on Headquarters and Missions/
posts abroad during 1979-80 103-104
XI. Strength of IFS & IFS (B) Cadres,
Combined Research Cadre and Interpreters
Cadre 105
XII. Foreign Language Chart 106
XIII. Joint declaration by the President of
the Republic of France and Prime
Minister of India 107-108
CORRIGENDUM
Page Paragraph Line
ii 1 10 Read "visit" for "vist".
vi 4 6 Read "self-reliance" for
"self-relance".
2 1 6 Read "and this" for
"and that this".
9 2 13 Read "Chomanan" for
"Chomann".
10 1 1 Read "Indian" for "India".
20 1 2 Read "Yemen Arab Republic"
for"Republic of Yemen".
24 - 3 Read "hearted" for "heated".
24 3 2 Read "from" for "for".
27 3 11 Read "Office" for "Officer".
27 3 11 Read "Mr. Timothy" for
"Mr. Tomothy".
39 2 12 Read "continue" for
"continuing".
41 2 5 Read "undivided" for
"undividing".
47 2 23 Read "Guinea" for
"Guniea".
50 1 8 Read "or" for "of".
52 1 6 Read "Philippines" for
"Phillippines".
53 3 2 Read in place of the
existing line "of the
Draft Convention
providing a Uniform
Law on Agency of".
54 - 8 Read "acts" for "facts".
61 1 5 Read "Laureate" for
"Laurete".
62 2 3 Read "One" for "On".
63 2 2-3 Read "countries in
South-East Asia" for
"Countries South-East
Asia".
71 3 3 Read "Cabinet" for
"caluent".
71 3 3 Read "Parliament" for
"Partiament".
77 5 3 Read "Affairs," for
"Affairs.".
77 5 3 Read "Hindi" for
"Hind".
81 - 2 Read "1979-80" for
"1978-79".
Dec 31, 1979 |
Introduction |
The year 1979-80 witnessed major developments within India,
in its neighbourhood and in the world at large
Internally, the Government elected in 1977 resigned in August
1979, and was followed by a coalition Government which held
office till the January 1980 mid-term elections. In these elections,
the people of India gave an overwhelming mandate to the present
Government, under the leadership of Shrimati Indira Gandhi,
which assumed office on Jan 14, 1980. On the same day,
Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao assumed charge as Minister of External
Affairs.
The transfer of authority was smooth and peaceful. All politi-
cal parties gracefully accepted the people's verdict and vindicated
the unique commitment of the Indian people to democratic values
and the system. With its large population, geographically strategic
situation and a stable political system, through which its people
freely determined their own destiny without outside interference
and its continuing commitment to the principles of non-align-
ment and peaceful co-existence, India has emerged capable of
contributing more meaningfully to regional and global peace.
The international situation today is characterised by a steady
growth of increased projection of the military strength of powerful
States, beyond their borders, in the pursuit of their interests, as
perceived by them. Through the year 1979-80, there were
attempts at acquisition of military/naval bases and facilities and a
strengthening of these where they were already in existence, crea-
tion of rapid-deployment-forces for use in explosive situations,
distant from those who raise them, and increased Great Power
naval presence (particularly of the US) in the Indian Ocean
area. In an atmosphere of threats of military intervention
or actual outside interference, further escalations and intensification
i
ii
of old and new rivalries have inevitably tended to create compli-
cations. Certain basic political realities, as also the interests of
those outside the sphere of the interaction of powerful States, were
ignored. The world must recognise the futility of a build-up of
arms, or induction of arms, into areas, regions and countries where
indigenous and dynamic, social, religious and economic forces
aspire for political change. Experience has shown that client
States cannot hide permanently behind the shield of armed secu-
rity provided by others. Ultimately reliance by nation-States on
external security umbrellas, has grave repercussion on inter-
nal political, social and economic stability, jeopardising, even
affecting, their very independence. In this process, entire
regions are brought into arenas or atmospheres of tension and
destabilisation, which is not in the interest of the peaceful develop-
ment of their peoples.
Increasingly, non-alignment has not only been vindicated
through experience, but even the staunchest of its former opponets
appear and profess to be convinced of the relevance and need of
non-alignment in the current dangerous contemporary international
situation. Reiteration of the principles that would serve the cause
of restoration of detente as well as strengthen the universally
acknowledged contribution of non-alignment, was contained in
the Joint Declaration signed by the President of the Republic
of France and the Prime Minister of India, on the occasion of
the vist of the French President, Mr. Valery Giscard d'Estaing,
to India in January 1980. The Declaration, inter alia, referred
to the inadmissibility of the use of force in international relations,
intervention or interference in internal affairs of sovereign States
and the need to prevent further escalations in areas of tensions
through States refraining from actions which could intensify
Great Power rivalries and revive the cold war through dangerous
arms-build-up which are liable to threaten peace and stability
in sensitive regions. It reiterated the need to restore conditions
in which independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of all
States could be preserved and the right of their peoples to freely
determine their own destiny without outside interference assured.
iii
Finally, it appealed to all States, particularly the most powerful
ones, to recognise the gravity of the danger and to exert efforts
to avert it.
Recent developments in Afghanistan, which came at the end
of 1979, should be seen in this larger background of deterioration
of the global and regional environments. These developments, in
turn, inevitably heightened global and regional tensions and they
are a matter of serious concern for the people of India--a concern
naturally shared by the Government.
Tensions and problems have existed between neighbours, and
even inside nations. However, dangerous dimensions could be
added when Great Powers try to utilise such situations in their
quest to gain advantage in their global strategy, or seek to secure
their interests through intervention and interference. India has
close and friendly relations with the Government and the people
of Afghanistan. India is deeply concerned and vitally interested
in the security, independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and
the traditional non-alignment of friendly Afghanistan. The Gov-
ernment of India have repeatedly expressed the hope that the
people of Afghanistan would be able to resolve their internal pro-
blems without any outside interference. India is against the
presence of foreign troops and bases in any country. In that
spirit, the Government of India, which is firmly wedded to this
principle, have expressed the hope that Soviet forces would with-
draw from Afghanistan.
Equally, in order to stop further escalation of the situation,
all States should refrain from actions which could intensify Great
Power rivalries in the South Asian region and bring back the cold
war, especially through dangerous arms build-up, liable to threaten
peace and stability in this sensitive region. In this context, regret-
tably, reactive moves have already been started by China, USA,
and others to assist Pakistan in the augmentation of its military
capability. These moves run the risk of converting the sub-conti-
nent into a theatre of Great Power confrontation and conflict as
well as threaten the security of India. Further, it is the firm view
of the Government of India, based on the unfortunate experiences
iv
of the past, that induction of arms into Pakistan has the potential
of decelerating the process of normalisation, which the Govern-
ments of India and Pakistan have fostered in the spirit of the Simla
Agreement.
These views of the Government of India were conveyed at
the highest levels to Mr. Clark Clifford, the Special Envoy of the
President of the USA, during the latter's visit to New Delhi in
January 1980. Discussions with various other Foreign Ministers
from West and East Europe, Asia and Africa, have indicated to
a measure of encouraging response to India's plea that the situa-
tion arising out of the events in Afghanistan should not be allowed
to escalate to the detriment of the prospects of peace and sta-
bility in the sub-continent.
In keeping with past practice, the Government of the USSR
welcomed the initiative of high-level consultations after the new
Government assumed office in India. When Mr. Gromyko,
Foreign Minister of the USSR, visited New Delhi in January
1980, India's concerns were conveyed and the discussions held
on that occasion helped to create a better understanding. The
visit provided an opportunity for reaffirming the stable and
mutually co-operative relationship obtaining between the two
countries in diverse fields. The visit showed that both sides
shared the conviction that development of Indo-Soviet relations
is in the longterm interests of peace and stability in the region.
Despite differences of perceptions on some issues, India conti-
nues to expand and diversify relations to mutual benefit in various
fields with the USA. Indeed, the links in a variety of fields bet-
ween the peoples of India and the United States, sharing in
common the commitment to the democratic system, form a good
basis for a cooperative pattern of relationship between the two
countries, capable of improving the quality of their relationship.
It is a matter of gratification that the initiative taken by the
Government of India to consult with India's neighbouring coun-
tries, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka
and others through the despatch of Special Envoys of the Prime
v
Minister or through high-level visits from these countries to Delhi
and through diplomatic contacts have resulted in a broad under-
standing of the dangerous potential inherent in the situation facing
the region, although perceptions on the measures to be taken
differ in emphasis. India's assurances that it fully respects Pakis-
tan's sovereignty, territorial integrity as well as the principles of
non-interference in Pakistan's internal affairs have been reiterated
by the Foreign Secretary on his visit to Pakistan in January 1980.
India is not insensitive to Pakistan's concern over the develop-
ments in the region. It would be India's endeavour to carry fur-
ther the dialogue, initiated in January 1980, for an all round
improvement of India-Pakistan relations, as provided for in the
Simla Agreement of 1972 to which both countries are committed.
The consultations carried out on the occasion of the visit to India
of His Excellency the President of Bangladesh in January 1980,
provided a basis for constructive action to further promote the
friendly relations between India and Bangladesh. In the tradi-
tional framework of the age-old close friendship between India
and Bhutan, the visit of His Majesty the King of Bhutan, from
22--25 February 1980, enhanced the prospects of cooperation
between the two countries, based on their inter-dependence and
shared interests. The visit of His Majesty the King of Nepal,
from 6--8 March 1980, served to reaffirm the historically close
relations between India and Nepal and underlined the need for
constructive bilateral cooperation to the mutual benefit of the
peoples of both countries. With all its neighbours, the Govern-
ment intends to follow a policy of friendship in the full realisa-
tion that the resources of the region are enormous and should be
utilised for the welfare of the vast populations, who should be
allowed to devote their energies to the promotion of regional
stability and cooperation between the countries of the region.
Both India and China have expressed desire to improve rela-
tions between the two countries on the basis of the Five Principles.
To a considerable extent the substantive tasks of translating
mutual desire into concrete realities for the metual benefit of both
countries still remain to be undertaken.
1--784EA/79
vi
India's traditional links, both political and economic, with
countries in Africa were further diversified and deepened. Con-
sistent with its total opposition to all forms of racist oppression,
India continued to render material and moral assistance to the
freedom struggles in Zimbabwe (Rhodesia), Namibia and South
Africa. India welcomed the holding of elections in Zimbabwe
and the formation of an elected government on the basis of the
will of the majority of its people. It offered the new government
full cooperation in the reconstruction of the country's economy.
India continued to develop closer ties with the countries of
West Asia on a bilateral basis, particularly by providing skilled
manpower and experts to assist them in the task of their develop-
ment. It noted with concern that the Camp David Agreements had
divided the Arab world and not led to the solution of the Pales-
tinian problem. It was of the firm belief that a lasting solution
to the Palestinian question could only be found through vacation
of Arab lands under the illegal occupation of Israel and meeting
the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people to have their
own State. The resurgence in Iran reflected the determination of
the people of that country to shape their own destiny, independent
of outside pressures and influences. India shares with Iran its
desire to develop cooperative relations on the basis of equality and
mutual benefit.
In South-East Asia, India strengthened its ties with Vietnam
and Laos through beneficial cooperation in various fields. It
worked towards improving its relations with the ASEAN and its
member countries to their mutual advantage. India favours
regional cooperation based on mutual confidence and understand-
ing among the States of the region as that would help to reduce
tension and restore stability in this part of the world.
In the economic field there was hardly any discernible progress
in North-South relations. The UNCTAD-V failed to agree on any
significant measures aimed at reconstruction of international eco-
nomic relations. South-South cooperation, however, received im-
petus following the adoption of the Arusha Programme of collec-
tive self-relance and the subsequent resolution at the Non-aligned
vii
Summit at Havana on policy guidelines for reinforcing self-reli-
ance among developing countries. The Non-aligned countries, as
usual, played a catalytic role in the field of international economic
cooperation by adopting a comprehensive action programme on
economic cooperation among developing countries in different
fields. They also adopted a resolution calling for global negotia-
tions on the subjects of raw materials and energy, trade and deve-
lopment money and finance. The call for global negotiation was,
later adopted, through a resolution, in the General Assembly.
Simultaneously, preparations for the formulation of the Inter-
national Development Strategy continued though with very little
positive results.
India has been playing a significant role in these developments
by virtue of its being the Chairman of the Group of 77 with effect
from 1 October and of its representative being elected as the
Chairman of the Preparatory Committee set up by the General
Assembly for the New International Development Strategy.
The new government is determined to lay stress on inter-
national economic cooperation particularly among developing
countries. This is evident from the manifesto of the ruling party
which inter alia called for agreements with other developing coun-
tries and among developing countries themselves for strengthening
their collective self-reliance vis-a-vis developed countries in regard
to problems of trade, transfer of technology, capital goods and
resources, etc.
A recent report presented to the Secretary-General of the
United Nations, compiled by a body of internationally acknow-
ledged eminent persons, has estimated that the world devotes
roughly US $ 450 billion for the arms race against a mere US
$ 20 billion for aid and investment to combat the age-old ills of
poverty, disease and hunger, which afflict the overwhelming
portion of humanity. This finding dramatically reflects the lop-
sidedness of priorities in today's troubled world. Increasing
sophistication of dangerous armaments enjoy greater priority
viii
than early realisation of complete, universal and effective disarma-
ment. The atmosphere of meaningful international cooperation
for economic and social development has given way to an era of
confrontation between the developed and the developing, in a
world of shrinking material resources. The approach of solution
to disputes, where they exist, through peaceful negotiations, has
been increasingly replaced by an alarming militarisation of thought
and discourse in the capitals of influential countries. The recru-
descence of deep military suspicions in an era of assured annihila-
tion, and a build-up of the old cold war atmosphere, characterise
the present phase of USA-USSR relations. The prime concern
of all countries should be to bring back the realisation of the im-
mutable logic of detente, which needs to be further universalised.
For this, a vital factor is the progress towards disarmament. India
has throughout stressed the importance of cessation of the produc-
tion and use of nuclear weapons and a ban on their testing by all
States. Pointing out the link between disarmament and develop-
ment, it has emphasised that resources spent on armaments could
be used for development purposes. Mankind is crying out for
peace, stability and development. Steady commitment to and
pursuit of these goals must be India's objective.
|
Top |
India's Neighbours
|
CHAPTER I
INDIA'S NEIGHBOURS
The traditionally friendly relations between India and
Afghanistan continued through 1979-80. India considers the
domestic political developments in Afghanistan during the year
as the internal affairs of Afghanistan. India earnestly desires
that the people of Afghanistan would be enabled to work out
their own future, in accordance with their genius and that
Afghanistan would continue to strongly maintain it's non-align-
ment and independence, free from outside interference.
A Cultural delegation visited Kabul on the occasion of the first
anniversary of the April Revolution and participated in the cele-
brations.
In May 1979 a UNIDO-sponsored solidarity meeting of the
Ministers of Industries of developing countries took place and
India sent a delegation led by the Minister of State for Industries.
As a result of the deliberations India undertook to prepare feasi-
bility studies for a number of priority projects identified by the
Afghan authorities as grant-in-aid. This bilateral co-operation
was within the context of India's commitment to concepts of
TCDC and ECDC. (Technical Cooperation among Developing
Countries and Economic Cooperation among Developing
Countries).
India's technical and economic co-operation in fields such as
medicine, small industries, mini-hydel projects etc. as also cultural
co-operation with Afghanistan under the Indian Technical and
Economic Co-operation Programme and the Cultural Exchanges
Programme respectively, continued with vigour as in the past.
Endeavours in the direction of taking India's relations with
Pakistan further on the road to normalisation continued unabated
and progress was achieved in some fields. Through high level
dialogue between leaders and officials of the two countries on a
number of bilateral political, commercial and other functional
day to day issues, through consultations and co-operation between
their delegates in international conferences and through greater
people to people exchanges, India tried to generate mutual under-
standing and goodwill.
2--784EA/79
pg1
pg2
India refrained from commenting on Pakistan's internal affairs
even though there was considerable pressure, both at home and
abroad, to express the Government's views on the developments
within Pakistan. India's principled stand of not passing any
judgement on its neighbours' internal affairs induced a sense of
maturity in its relations with Pakistan and that this stand was
appreciated by that country.
Bilateral discussions between the Prime Minister and External
Affairs Minister of India with the President and Foreign Affairs
Adviser of Pakistan were held during international conferences and
views on several bilateral and international issues were exchang-
ed. For the first time, the Foreign Secretaries of the two coun-
tries met in May 1979 without any specific agenda or problem
thus initiating the process of periodic consultations to review
Indo-Pak relations.
As a gesture of goodwill towards Pakistan, on its leaving the
CENTO, India supported its entry into the Non-Aligned Move-
ment, both at the Bureau meeting at Colombo and the Summit
meeting at Havana. On a number of knotty issues like the
nuclear question, there were exchange of letters between Prime
Minister Morarji Desai and President Zia-ul-Haq in February-
March and again, in August, between him and Prime Minister
Charan Singh. This matter was also discussed when the Minister
of External Affairs Shri S. N. Mishra met President Zia-ul-Haq
and Foreign Affairs Adviser of Pakistan Mr. Agha Shahi at
Havana and New York in September 1979.
On the occasion of the assumption of office by the new
Government in India, in January 1980, a warm and friendly
message of greetings was sent to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi
from President Zia-ul-Haq. The message recalled Pakistan's
commitment to the Simla Agreement and hoped for acceleration
of the process of normalisation of relations between India and
Pakistan. In her reply, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi express-
ed her happiness with the reiterated commitment to the Simla
Agreement, which she herself had concluded. Further, she
fully reciprocated the desire to strengthen Indo-Pakistan rela-
tions.
Shri R. D. Sathe, Foreign Secretary. paid a return visit to
Pakistan in February 1980 to discuss further improvements in
relations between India and Pakistan. He was received by
President Zia-ul-Haq to whom he delivered a letter from Prime
pg3
Minister Indira Gandhi. In the course of his talks with the
Foreign Secretary of Pakistan and other leaders, which included
a review of bilateral matters, the regional and international situa-
tion, the opportunity was taken to re-affirm India's commitment
to the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Pakistan and India's adherence to the principle of non-interfer-
ence in Pakistan's internal affairs, as provided for in the Simla
Agreement. The Pakistan side appreciated the opportunity
afforded by the Foreign Secretary's visit for a free and frank
exchange of views which were considered useful in promoting a
better understanding of each other's view points.
Attempts to draw up a new trade agreement were made and
an experts' delegation visited Islamabad on 15 September to
identify items for trade with Pakistan. Pending the finalisation
of a new trade agreement, Indo-Pak trade continued, though the
volume of trade declined in the absence of an agreement. India
has stated its desire for stepping up of economic relations to
mutual benefit with Pakistan.
In pursuance of the agreement to open consulates of the two
countries in Karachi and Bombay respectively, the office of the
Consulate General of India, Karachi, started functioning with
effect from February 1979. Up to the end of January 1980,
the Consulate had granted 1,61,289 visas to Pakistani nationals
for visits to various places in India and the total number of visas
granted by the Indian Embassy at Islamabad and Consulate at
Karachi, from January 1979 to January 1980, was 2,14,526.
Between the Embassy of India, Islamabad and the Consulate
General of India, Karachi 100,000 visas have been granted by
Jul 25, 1979 and a return I.A.C. ticket on the Delhi-Lahore
sector was awarded to the 100,000th visa holder in Pakistan.
A major step towards the settlement of payments problems bet-
ween the Governments of the two countries was taken when the
two Governments agreed to revive Indo-Pakistan Agreement of
July 1959 regarding payment of pensions to the retired employees
of the Governments of India and Pakistan who had migrated from
one country to the other during the period 1 July 1955 to 31
December 1960.
Four jathas, consisting of about 4,000 Sikh pilgrims, visited
Pakistan and pilgrim parties from Pakistan visited Muslim shrines
in India. For the first time, a Hindu pilgrim party, consisting
of about 90 members, was allowed by the Pakistan Government
to visit the Hindu shrine of Sant Shadaram at Hayat Pitafi.
pg4
Exchanges in the field of culture and sports continued. Some
well-known Pakistani poets participated in the Shankar-Shad
Indo-Pakistani Mushaira in March 1979 and some Pakistani
poets also took part in the Ghalib Centenary Celebrations, orga-
nised by Aiwaan-e-Ghalib in India. The visit of Pakistani
cricket team to India (November 1979 to January 1980), after
a gap of 18 years, generated tremendous enthusiasm and good-
will in India for Pakistan and provided opportunity for more
than 1500 people to come over from Pakistan to witness some
of the matches.
India continued its efforts to create a climate of confidence
and trust for conducting a mutually cooperative and meaningful
relationship with Nepal. During the period under review, both
India and Nepal were preoccupied with internal developments.
However, despite their problems, the fact that the King of Nepal
visited India in September 1979, showed the close friendship and
confidence between the two countries.
The visit of the King helped towards building a relationship
of confidence and trust. The enormous potential of rivers flow-
ing from Nepal to India, which could be harnessed for mutual
benefit, was discussed and it was agreed to expedite studies, etc.,
On some important multipurpose hydel projects like Karnali,
Pancheshwar and Rapti. Discussions were also held on various
topics of mutual interest. This reflected the trust, understand-
ing and mutual cooperation in Indo-Nepal relations.
In keeping with the tradition of frequent high level continuing
dialogue between Nepal and India, the Foreign Secretary visited
Nepal from 17 to 19 February 1980. His Majesty the King of
Nepal is expected to pay an official visit to India in March 1980.
India continued to extend financial and technical assistance
for development programmes in Nepal. An amount of Rs. 14.60
crores was earmarked for meeting expenditure on schemes
in hand during the current year. The major projects for which
assistance was extended are the Central Sector of the Mahendra
Rajmarg and the Devighat Hydro-electric Project, which is being
executed on a turnkey basis by India. It is also expected that
aerial survey of the Dulalghat-Dhankuta road will be completed
during the current financial year. An Agreement for the expan-
sion of the Paropkar Hospital in Nepal was signed under which
Rs. 17.65 lakhs was given to the authorities for carrying out
pg5
the work which is expected to be completed in 1981. Letters
concerning Indian assistance were also exchanged; extensions of
the Agreement relating to the supply of iodised salt to Nepal and
the improvement of the Industrial Estate in Patan Phase IV were
concluded. In addition, feasibility studies for a number of pro-
jects which the Government of India had agreed to set up in
Nepal were completed. Amongst these were the Joint sector
cement plant at Lakshmipur in Nepal and the three projects to
be set up by HMT (International), viz. Regional Training Insti-
tute at Nepalganj, the Production-oriented Polytechnic at
Hetauda and a Common Facility Centre at Butwal. The feasibi-
lity study of the paper and pulp factory to be set up in Nepal
is also expected to be finalised shortly.
Indo-Bhutanese relations based on trust, confidence and under-
standing continued to grow and develop to the mutual advant-
age of both countries. The Foreign Secretary Shri J. S. Mehta,
visited Calcutta in August 1979 to meet the King of Bhutan. At
the Non-aligned Summit at Havana, the Minister of External
Affairs Shri S. N. Mishra and the Foreign Secretary Shri J. S.
Mehta exchanged views on various matters with the King of
Bhutan. Senior officials from the Government of India visited
Bhutan to discuss progress of on-going projects and to identify
fields for enhanced cooperation in future developmental pro-
grammes. All these contacts have led to reaffirmation of the
unique links of friendship and inter-dependence and consolida-
tion of the relationship between the two countries. Cultural
exchanges between India and Bhutan were maintained. During
1979-80, five delegations are expected to visit India, important
of which being the 15-member National Assembly, Village
Headmen/Farmers and Agricultural Extension Workers and
Students/Teachers. His Majesty the King of Bhutan is expected
to pay an official visit to India in February 1980.
India has played a highly important and significant role in
Bhutan's developmental activities for the past two decades or
so. Three Five-Year Plans from 1961 onwards, involving an
outlay of Rs. 76.50 crores, have been successfully implemented
with Indian assistance. These development plans have transform-
ed the economy of Bhutan, apart from providing the base for
future programmes for her socio-economic progress. Bhutan's
Fourth Five-Year Plan, involving Government of India's assist-
ance worth Rs. 70.30 crores, is due to be completed in March
1981.
pg6
Apart from the Plan expenditure, India is constructing a
major Hydro-electric Project at Chukha, which on completion
in mid-1980's, would produce 336 MWs of power. The Chukha
Hydel Project is being financed by India on a grant-cum-loan
basis in the ratio of 60 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively.
The project has made steady progress. In addition, with India's
assistance, a Cement Project at Penden with an installed capa-
city of 300 tonnes per day has been completed at a cost of
Rs. 13.50 crores. The project is expected to go into produc-
tion soon.
India is also implementing a comprehensive Lift Irriga-
tion Scheme at Gaylegphug in Southern Bhutan at a cost of
Rs. 2.62 crores. It is a turnkey project and, on completion,
will provide irrigational facilities for agriculture and allied pur-
poses to the inhabitants of the area. Similarly, an Indo-Bhutan
Microwave Link is making steady progress.
Apart from providing financial assistance for Bhutan's Deve-
lopment plans, India continues to provide experts and specialists
in diverse fields, including industries, road construction, minerals,
geological explorations, telecommunications and forestry deve-
lopment, etc. Many Bhutanese students are receiving higher
education in India with our assistance and scholarships, etc.
Indo-Bangladesh relations during the year under review pre-
sented a mixed picture. The year began on a hopeful note with
the former Prime Minister's visit but ended somewhat uncer-
tainly when reports of firing on the Tripura border started com-
ing. The issue involved appeared trivial and could have been
easily resolved if the boundary constituted by a shifting river had
been demarcated in this sector. This incident brought home
the realisation on both sides that in order to have a tranquil
border. demarcation of disputed sectors should be expeditiously
completed. The firing in this sector, however, ended abruptly
on 8 January 1980.
President Ziaur Rahman was invited by the Executive Director
of UNIDO-III to address the Conference on 22 January
1980 as a special invitee. As the new government would have
assumed office after recent elections, it was felt that this visit
could give an opportunity to President Zia to meet Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi. A bilateral dimension was, therefore,
added to this visit and President Zia arrived at New Delhi a
pg7
day earlier and was accorded the usual honours as on a bilateral
official visit. The visit enabled the two leaders to have a gene-
ral exchange of views on all matters of mutual interest.
Little progress was recorded towards an agreed scheme for
augmentation of Ganga waters during the deliberations of the
Indo-Bangladesh Joint River Commission held during the course
of the year.
In bilateral economic relations, a positive trend was shown
by India's exports to Bangladesh. In May 1979, India agreed
to loan 200,000 tonnes of foodgrains to Bangladesh, to tide
her over the consequences of the severe drought that affected the
sub-continent.
Another hopeful sign was the ad-hoc cultural exchanges that
took place during the past year.
India and Burma exchanged a number of delegations to
explore avenues of closer cooperation. A two-member delega-
tion of Minerals and Metals Trading Corporation of India Limited
visited Rangoon in August and held discussions with Burma
Ports Corporation to explore possibilities of supply of coal to
that country. A five-member delegation of Basic Chemicals
Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics Exports Promotion Council
(CHEMEXCIL) visited Burma in November and held talks with
the officials of the Ministry of Trade, Myanma Export-Import
Corporation and those connected with Chemical Industry and
Pharmaceutical Corporations. From the Burmese side, a four-
member Trade Delegation of the Myanma Export-Import Corpo-
ration visited India in November to promote sales of Burmese
beans and pulses.
India offered technical training facilities to Burmese experts
in diverse fields, such as, banking and small-scale industry. Burma
made increasing use of such facilities by sending trainees to
India and inviting Indian experts to Burma.
In the cultural field, India presented a set of books to Burma
and an Indian Universities Football Team visited that country
in October-November to play friendly matches.
President Ne Win sent messages of sympathy to the President
of India for the victims of cyclones and floods in various parts
of the country.
pg8
India expressed concern at the withdrawal of Burma from
the Non-aligned Movement at the Summit Conference held at
Havana. It is hoped that Burma would rejoin the Movement
and make valuable contributions to it.
India's relations with Sri Lanka continued to remain warm
and cordial. In February 1979, Prime Minister Morarji Desai
was invited to be the chief guest at the Independence Day cele-
brations of Sri Lanka. He was shown great warmth and friend-
ship by the Sri Lankan people which symbolised their feelings to-
wards India.
Indo-Sri Lanka economic cooperation continued to grow at
a satisfactory pace. In addition to the two on-going major
projects, namely, the Micro-wave Link and the Animal Husbandry
Project, several other new projects, which were originally
agreed to at the last Joint Commission meeting held in June
1978 were finalised and implemented. It is heartening to note
that Sri Lanka has continued to display confidence in the
utility of economic cooperation with India.
In the cultural field also, there were a number of exchanges
covering sports, performing arts, music and dance.
Indo-Maldivian relations also remained friendly during the
year under review. Several requests for technical experts includ-
ing teachers, doctors, etc. were received and met during the past
year. A number of places in Indian educational institutions were
also made available to Maldivian students upon their Govern-
ment's request. A Maldivian pilot completed his commercial
pilot's course with the IA. The year ended on a hopeful note
with the signing of an Air Services Agreement at Male which
is expected to increase the existing substantial cooperation bet-
ween the IAC and Maldivian International Airways.
|
Top |
South-east Asia
|
CHAPTER II
SOUTH-EAST ASIA
India continued its efforts to develop closer understanding
and cooperation with the countries of South-East Asia. This was
done through exchange of visits at high levels and the signing
of a number of bilateral agreements in various fields.
Shri Dinesh Singh, Member of Parliament and former
Minister of External Affairs, visited Singapore, Malaysia,
Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos in May
1979 as Special Envoy of Prime Minister Morarji Desai. During
his visit he met, among others, Prime Minister Mr. Lee Kuan Yew
and Foreign Minister Mr. S. Rajaratnam of Singapore; Prime
Minister, Datuk Hussein Onn, Home Minister, Tun Sri Gazali
Shafie, and the Acting Foreign Minister, Dato Amar Haji Taib
Mahmud of Malaysia; Vice-President Dr. Adam Malik, Foreign
Minister, Prof. Mochter Kusumaatmadja and Information Minister,
Gen. Moertopo, of Indonesia; President Mr. Marcos and Foreign
Minister Gen. Carlos P. Romulo, of the Philippines; Prime
Minister, Gen. Kriangsak Chomann, and Foreign Minister, Dr.
Upadit Pachariyang-Kun, of Thailand; Prime Minister, Mr.
Pham Van Dong, and Foreign Minister, Mr. Nguyen Dui Trinh, of
Vietnam; and Prime Minister, Mr. Kaysone Phomvihane, and
the Acting Foreign Minister Mr. Khampay Boupha, of Laos.
Views were exchanged with these leaders on bilateral relations
as well as on the international situation, particularly develop-
ments in South-East Asia. Another important visit was by the
Minister of State for Commerce Shri K. K. Goel to Malaysia,
Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines in May 1979.
He discussed the strengthening of India's trade and economic
relations with these countries. While in the Philippines he also
attended the UNCTAD-V meeting along with the Minister of
Commerce, Shri M. Dharia.
Shri K. S. Hegde, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, visited Australia,
Malaysia and Singapore in May 1979. He also visited New
Zealand, in November-December 1979, to attend the Executive
meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association held
at Auckland.
pg9
pg10
The goodwill visits of India naval ships to Malaysia in
February-March 1979, to Thailand in October, and to Indonesia
in November, visits of Services hockey and football teams to
Malaysia in April-May and to Singapore in May; visits of Miss
Padma Subramanya and Prof. Mani Lal Nag to Australia and
Fiji to give performances there; and the performances given by
Shri Ram Bhartiya Kala Kendra troupe in November-December
in Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, demonstrated the
friendly contacts by India at different levels with these countries.
India maintained a dialogue with the ASEAN and submitted
a memorandum to the ASEAN Secretariat indicating possible
areas of cooperation with that Association. A study of the
memorandum in depth is being made by the Expert Committees
of the Association.
The Malayasian Minister of Information, Dato Mohd. Bin
Rahmat, visited India in May 1979 at the invitation of the
Minister of Information and Broadcasting extended to him during
his visit to Kuala Lumpur in February 1979. The Malaysian
Minister discussed ways and means of developing cooperation
between India and Malaysia in the field of Radio, TV and other
mass media.
Apart from over 5,000 Malaysian students studying in Indian
Universities and establishments for various courses, Malaysian
organisations evinced increasing interest in sponsoring their per-
sonnel for training in Indian scientific and technical establish-
ments. The Malaysian Petroleum Organisation, Petronas, deput-
ed its engineers for training with ONGC. Other organisations
nominated their candidates for training in such fields as soil-
testing/survey, fire safety, social security, pepper and onion
cultivation, meteorology, rural development and handicrafts, etc.
Delegations were also deputed by Malaysia to study Indian laws
relating to pension and salary structure as also to visit the Indian
coemetariums.
The President Shri N. Sanjiva Reddy and Prime Minister
Morarji Desai sent condolence messages on the passing away of
the Malaysian Head of State in March 1979. The President sent
a message of felicitations and good wishes to the New Yang di-
Pertuan Agong in April 1979.
India signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Indonesia
envisaging wide-ranging cooperation between the two coun-
tries in the field of ferrous and non-ferrous metals, exploration
pg11
of Indonesian mineral resources including gas reserves, expan-
sion of a cement plant and setting up of an Industrial Estate in
that country. A joint task force was set up in the terms of the
Memorandum to review progress in the implementation of various
schemes. The Indonesian Minister of Industry visited India
in September and discussed with the Minister of Steel and
Mines the progress made in the implementation of the Memoran-
dum and also cooperation achieved in other fields.
A team of National Defence College visited Indonesia in
September on a study tour.
India continued to have friendly relations with Singapore.
The Permanent Secretary in the Singapore Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Mr. Chia Cheong Fook, visited India in September. He
held discussions on matters of mutual interest and views were
exchanged on international problems. In the field of economic
and trade relations, India and Singapore finalised plans for sett-
ing up of two joint ventures for the manufacture of computers
and animal feed.
The Prime Minister of Thailand, Gen. Kriangsak Chomanan,
transited through Delhi on 21 and 28 March on his way to
and back from the U.S.S.R. On his way back he met Prime
Minister Morarji Desai and exchanged views on bilateral relations
as well as on the international situation, particularly the develop-
ments in Indo-China.
His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch of Thailand came to
India in March on pilgrimage of Buddhist holy places, at the invi-
tation of the Minister of External Affairs. He called on the
President Shri N. Sanjiva Reddy, Prime Minister Morarji Desai
and the Minister of External Affairs A. B. Vajpayee. An Hono-
rary Degree was conferred on him by the Banaras Hindu Uni-
versity.
The Prime Minister sent a message of good wishes and
felicitations to Gen. Kriangsak Chomanan on his reappointment
as Prime Minister.
The Minister of Commerce, Shri M. Dharia, signed a
trade agreement during his visit to Manila in connection with
UNCTAD-V. The agreement provided for the establishment
of a Joint Trade Committee to look into the possibilities of pro-
motion of trade and economic cooperation.
pg12
The Assistant Minister of Agriculture of the Philippines, Mr.
Jose Leviste, visited India, in February 1979, and held discus-
sions on matters concerning the World Food Council. The
Indian Minister of State for Industries, Shri Jagdambi Prasad
Yadav, visited the Philippines in June 1979.
India and Vietnam continued to have beneficial cooperation
in various fields in keeping with the existing warm and friendly
ties. India rendered assistance for implementation of various
projects in Vietnam and supplied materials, machinery and cere-
als bought against credits already extended to that country.
Satisfactory progress is being maintained towards the setting up
of a Rice Research Institute and Buffalo Breeding Centre.
A Protocol in the field of Science and Technology was signed
in July during the visit of Professor Le Khac, Vice-Chairman of
the State Commission for Science and Technology. A 4-member
Scientific delegation, led by the Vietnamese Minister of Higher
Education, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tu, visited some of the Atomic
Energy and other establishments in India, after attending the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Conference.
Madame Nguyen Thi Binh, Education Minister and Special
Envoy of the Prime Minister of Vietnam, visited India in May
1979. She met Prime Minister Morarji Desai and held detailed
discussions with the Minister of External Affairs A. B. Vajpayee
on South-East Asian situation. India stressed the need for efforts
to restore a climate of peace and harmony in South-East Asia and
strengthen the non-aligned movement.
Visits by journalists were also exchanged between the two
countries. A radio/TV team visited Vietnam in December to
finalise arrangements for cooperation.
The President and the Prime Minister of Laos transited
through India on two occasions during the year. This provided
an opportunity for exchange of views on various problems.
India agreed to give textiles worth Rs. 3 lakhs to Laos at the
request of that country. A request for setting up of a Buffalo
Breeding Centre in Laos is also being processed.
The momentum generated by the visit of the Australian
Prime Minister, Mr. Malcolm D. Fraser to India in January-
February 1979, continued to guide bilateral relations with that
pg13
country. The First Assistant Secretary in the Australian Depart-
ment of Science, Mr. J. P. Lonergan, visited India in March-
April and signed a programme of scientific cooperation in the
field of agriculture.
The eleventh round of Indo-Australian bilateral talks, at
official level, was held in New Delhi in August 1979. Views
were exchanged on regional and international issues of mutual
interest as well. as a review was made of the progress made in
bilateral relations in diverse fields. The fourth meeting of the
Indo-Australian Joint Trade Committee, which met in Novem-
ber, considered various proposals for strengthening of commer-
cial ties.
The chief of the Army Staff, Gen. 0. P. Malhotra, visited
Australia. He was the first Indian Chief of Staff to visit that
country. The Governor General, Sir Zelman Cowen, and Prime
Minister Fraser, received him.
Mr. Andrew Peacock, Australian Minister for Foreign
Affairs, visited India from Jan 27, 1980 to 29, 1980. He was on
a round of visits to the five ASEAN countries, India and
Pakistan.
During his stay here, Mr. Peacock called on Prime Minister
Indira Gandhi and had detailed discussions with the Minister of
External Affairs Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao concerning develop-
ments in Afghanistan and in the region. There was general agree-
ment that the Great Power interference was not in the interest of
the smaller countries.
Friendly relations with New Zealand were marked by exchange
of visits at different levels. Mr. J. R. Harrison, Speaker
of the House of Representatives and President of the Common-
wealth Parliamentary Association, came to India in April 1979;
Chairman of the Indian Coffee Board led an Indian Coffee dele-
gation to New Zealand. Others who visited New Zealand includ-
ed Mr. Justice P. N. Bhagwati and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
The Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr. R. D. Muldoon,
and the Speaker, Mr. J. R. Harrison, sent messages to the Prime
Minister of India and Speaker of the Lok Sabha respectively
expressing sympathies for the victims of Morvi floods.
India was the only country to send a delegation to take part
in the celebrations to mark the centenary year of the landing
of the first batch of Indian indentured labour in Fiji. Cultural
pg14
contacts between India and Fiji were reflected in the visit of
Smt. Kamala Devi Chattopadhyaya, Vice-President of the Indian
Council for Cultural Relations, to Fiji in November. She attend-
ed a crafts fair and presented Indian Folk artifacts for the newly
opened Indian sections of the National Museum of Fiji. Books
in Hindi, Sanskrit, and Arabic, including Ramayana, Gita and
Quran were sent for presentation to various institutions.
Fifty baby-weighing scales were presented to Fiji as part of
the programme of the International Year of the Child.
A broadcasting expert was sent on deputation to Fiji.
Prime Minister Morarji Desai sent a message of sympathy to
the Prime Minister of Fiji on the loss of life and property caused
by a cyclone in Fiji.
The President Shri N. Sanjiva Reddy felicitated the President
of Kiribati on that country gaining independence.
|
Top |
East Asia
|
Jan 01, 1979
CHAPTER III
EAST ASIA
The year was marked by functional exchanges between India
and China in a number of fields with a view to develop coopera-
tion on the basis of mutual benefit, reciprocity and equality.
China participated on a fairly big scale in the Indian Inter-
national Trade Fair held in New Delhi in November-December
1979. At the same time, a Chinese Trade delegation led by the
President of the Chinese Council for Promotion of International
Trade, visited India for two-weeks as guests of the Federation
of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The visit is
expected to give a further stimulus to trade between India and
China which continued to increase in volume. The main item
of India's export to China consisted of 30,000 bales of cotton
while India imported a sizeable quantity of antibiotics from
China.
A five-member Chinese Press delegation visited India in
October. This, as well as the Trade delegation, were in response
to an Indian invitation and were in reciprocation of the visits to
China in 1978 of their Indian counterparts. The Chinese delega-
tion particularly emphasised scope for cooperation in the fields
of family planning and agriculture between the two countries.
Later a Chinese Agriculture delegation, invited by International
Crop Research Institute for Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) toured
India as a guest of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
A number of leading Indian journalists visited China during
the year. They were told by the Chinese officials of China's
continued desire to develop friendly relations with India. Hope
was expressed that differences about certain recent developments
in the international scene would not affect the evolving India-China
relations.
Several Indian experts in various fields visited China during
the year under the auspices of concerned United Nations agencies.
Many Chinese delegations also came to attend international
conferences in India.
While India welcomed the progressive development of func-
tional exchanges, the Government of India, through diplomatic
pg15
pg16
channels, reiterated its view that the full normalisation of relations
required a satisfactory solution of the border problem. The
Chinese Government, on its part, stressed its desire to improve
relations with India on the basis of the Five Principles.
On the occasion of the constitution of the new Government,
Premier Hua Guofeng and Foreign Minister Huang Hua sent
congratulatory messages to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and
the Minister of External Affairs, Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao,
respectively. The message from the Chinese Premier expressed
happiness that relations between China and India had improved
and developed over the last few years and hoped that this trend
would continue to develop in the interest of peace and stability
in Asia. In reply, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi hoped for co-
operation between India and China on the basis of the Five
Principles.
Relations between India and Japan continued to be charac-
terised by their mutual desire to promote greater understanding.
Official consultations held during the visit of Mr. Takashmia,
Deputy Foreign Minister, to India in May 1979, confirmed the
common interest of both countries in maintaining peace and
stability in Asia. Bilateral trade talks were held when a Japanese
Trade delegation visited India in September.
The Japanese Government organised a symposium on India
and Japan, in coordination with the Indian Council of Social
Sciences Research, in New Delhi in November 1979. It was
the first time that a symposium of this kind was organised in the
country. It brought Indian and Japanese intellectuals together
to discuss the roles of the two countries in Asia. The discussion
ranged from Indo-Japanese cooperation in science and technology
and economics to sociology and politics.
In its meetings held at New Delhi, also in November 1979,
the Indo-Japan Committee for Economic Studies identified a
number of areas where India could learn from Japan's experience.
The Committee decided to carry out studies of long-term perspec-
tives regarding economic relations and inter-actions between
India and Japan.
India continued to express itself in favour of the re-unification
of the two Koreas through peaceful and bilateral means without
outside interference. Friendly relations were maintained with
both, the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic
pg17
of Korea. Shock and regret was expressed at the assassination
of President Park Chung Hee of the Republic of Korea.
India continued to have good relations with the People's
Republic of Mongolia. A high-level delegation from Mongolia
transited through India, on 30 November, on its way to Indo-
China. It was led by Mr. Jambyn Batmunkh, Chairman of the
Council of Ministers, and included Mr. Mangalyn Dugersuren,
the Foreign Minister, Mr. Sonomyn Luvsangombo, Deputy
Chairman of the Council of Ministers and Mr. Damdinguin
Gombojav, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Mongolian
People's Revolutionary Party, Mr. J. Batmunkh and Mr. Duger-
suren called on Vice-President H. Hidayatulla during the visit.
3--784EA/79
| Top |
West Asia And North Africa
|
CHAPTER IV
WEST ASIA AND NORTH AFRICA
There was strong criticism in the region of the Camp David
Agreements which led to even greater disunity in the Arab world.
While expressing concern about the sharp divisions and resulting
tensions, India, in its reaction to these developments, firmly stated
that the Palestinian question was central to the entire dispute and
unless that was resolved to the full satisfaction of the Palestinians
themselves, there could not be lasting peace in the region. Con-
sistent with its long standing position on the Arab-Israeli dispute,
India reaffirmed that a comprehensive settlement of the dispute
should ensure vacation of all occupied territories by Israel and
the restoration of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people,
including their right to return to their homeland where they can
set up a State of their own.
At the invitation of Minister of Works and Housing, the
Syrian Minister of Waqf visited India in January 1979. This
visit provided him an opportunity to appreciate the secular aspects
of the Indian policy wherein followers of all religions enjoyed
full freedom to pursue their faiths and beliefs. The Syrian
Minister of Tourism and Transport also visited India and held
extensive discussions with the Minister of Civil Aviation and the
Minister of Railways.
The Crown Prince of Jordan visited Delhi in March 1979 and
had a meeting with Prime Minister Morarji Desai. Various
aspects of Indo-Jordanian bilateral relations, including the grow-
ing climate of economic cooperation, were reviewed. The Crown
Prince appreciated India's policy on the West Asian dispute.
The Vice-President of Egypt, Mr. Hosny Mubarak visited
New Delhi in May, with a message from President Sadat for
Prime Minister Morarji Desai. This was followed by the visit
of Dr. Boutros Ghali, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, in
August 1979. Their visits provided India with an opportunity
to understand the Egyptian viewpoint on regional and interna-
tional issues.
The visit of Shri A. B. Vajpayee to Kuwait, UAE, Syria and
Iraq, during May 1979, was the first by an Indian Minister of
pg18
pg19
External Affairs to the Gulf since 1973 when Shri Swaran Singh
had visited the Gulf region. This confirmed the warmth, under-
standing and desire for friendship and cooperation between India
and these countries. Earlier in the same month, Shri S. Kundu,
Minister of State of External Affairs, had paid a successful visit
to Bahrain and Oman.
The Union Minister for Labour, Shri Fazlur Rahman, visited
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Oman, during October 1979,
to discuss the problems and prospects of Indian workers in these
countries.
The Minister for Petroleum, Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri
A. Bala Pajanoor, paid a two-day visit to Abu Dhabi to discuss
with the UAE authorities the question of oil supplies to India
during 1980. The quantum of oil supply to India during 1979
and 1980 was also discussed during the visit of Dr Otaiba, UAE
Petroleum Minister and Chairman of the OPEC, to India in April
1979.
The second meeting of the Indo-Arab Joint Council was held
in Abu Dhabi in early October 1979. A nine-member Indian
business delegation, led by Shri H. S. Singhania, President of
FICCI participated in this meeting. The Handloom and Handi-
crafts Export Promotion Council organised a Gold Jewellery
exhibition-cum-sale in Abu Dhabi in November 1979. Indian.
jewellery worth Rs 1.2 crores was sold during the course of the
exhibition. Air-India organised a fashion show on this occasion.
Steady progress was witnessed in the growth of Indo-Iraqi
economic relations which were marked by export of a range of
commodities and projects to Iraq on the one hand and readiness
of the Government of Iraq to meet India's oil requirements on
the other. Iraq agreed to the supply of 6 million tonnes of crude
to India which was 2.5 million tonnes in excess to their earlier
commitment. This made up, to some extent, the shortfall in
India's imports due to the developments in Iran.
The news of the unprecedented terrorist seizure of the Grand
Mosque in Mecca, on Nov 20, 1979, was received by India
with the utmost shock and indignation. India strongly condemned
the terrorist action and expressed sympathy and concern about
the safety of the devout pilgrims to the holy shrine in Mecca.
There were numerous protest marches and meetings organized
in various cities of India deploring the incident.
pg20
India continued to have cordial and friendly relations with
the Republic of Yemen and Peoples Democratic Republic of
Yemen. Indian technical experts including doctors continued to
assist the two countries in various fields. Many Indian firm
were engaged for a Number of projects including construction
work, hotel management and air-craft maintenance in the Yemen
Arab Republic. There were increasing commercial exchanges
with both the countries and India emerged as a major trading
partner of the Yemen Arab Republic.
The visit of the Somali Foreign Minister Dr. Abdo Rehman
Jama Barre to India from 31 March to 4 April promoted friendly
relations with that country. His visit provided opportunity for
exploring areas of further cooperation between India and Somalia.
A Cultural Agreement was signed during the visit.
There was a welcome spurt in high level contacts between
India and Algeria. Apart from a large number of technical and
high powered delegations, the visits from Algeria included one
by the Algerian Minister of Heavy Industry, Mr. Mohamed
Liassine and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Transport
of Algeria. The Vice-President, Shri M. Hidayatullah, represented
India at the 25th Anniversary celebrations of the Algerian Revolu-
tion in November 1979. Prior to this, in June 1979 the Minister
of External Affairs, Shri A. B. Vajpayee, had visited Algeria and
held discussions with his counterpart and the Algerian President
on matters of mutual interest. The subjects of intensive co-
operation between the two countries were identified in the fields
of railways, energy, higher education and scientific research as
well as industrial joint ventures. The question of supply of crude
oil from Algeria, on a long-term basis, was also discussed during
these high level visits. The level of India's exports to Algeria
increased from a negligible amount to approximately Rupees six
to eight crores and projects and consultancy contracts worth
Rupees 28 crores are being executed in Algeria by the Indian
companies.
The Minister of Petroleum, Chemicals and Fertilizers, Shri
H. N. Bahuguna, visited Libya from 8 to 10 April 1979 to explore
the possibility of Libya supplying oil to India. Libya agreed to
supply 2 million tonnes of oil in 1979 and 2.5 million tonnes
each in 1980 and 1981. The first shipment of Libyan oil for
India was shipped in the third week of April 1979.
Shri Sikandar Bakht, Minister for Works, Housing and Reha-
bilitation, visited Libya from 17 to 20 June 1979. During his
pg21
visit, he reviewed the progress of projects undertaken by the
Indian Companies in Libya.
Indian companies continued to receive patronage from the
Libyan authorities and important contracts and projects worth
nearly Rs. 1000 crores were awarded to Indian public and private
sector undertakings. It is estimated that nearly 15000 Indians
(labour and experts) are currently working in Libya.
The Hindustan Steel Works Construction Limited signed their
first construction contract in Libya in January 1979, for the con-
struction of 28 school buildings in Western Libya valued at US
$30 million. Another contract worth about US $60 million for a
housing programme was also signed.
The second session of the Indo-Libyan Joint Commission was
held at New Delhi, from 2 to 6 July 1979, to review the progress
and implementation of the Indo-Libyan protocol on economic,
commercial and other matters. A number of fresh projects in the
field of civil construction, industry, agriculture and trade were
identified. An agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation.
between India and Libya was initialled at the end of the session.
The Minister of State of External Affairs, Shri S. Kundu,
visited Tunisia in 1979. He met the Tunisian Prime Minister
Mr. Hedi Nouira and also the Secretary General and the Acting
Foreign Minister Mr. Taieb Sahbani. The discussions held
revealed mutual understanding and identity of views on various
international issues. The Tunisian Secretary General for Foreign
Affairs Mr. Taieb Sahbani visited India in June. He suggested
the need of frequent exchange of visits with a view to enlarge
trade and commercial links.
Morocco seemed to be keen on developing friendly relations
with India particularly after the unfortunate statement of the
former Moroccan Ambassador in India, Mr. Sadaani. The
Government of Morocco took note of the strong reaction of the
Government of India on this subject and recalled their Ambassador
from India. More recently, a Moroccan delegation headed by
the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr.
Abderrahmane Baddou, and consisting of the Directors of Cultural
and Economic Affairs in the Foreign Office, visited India, from 3
to 10 December 1979. It held negotiations to finalise an econo-
mic and scientific cooperation agreement and a cultural agreement
The text of the economic agreement was finalised at the official
pg22
level and the cultural agreement was initialled by the officials of
the two sides.
India viewed the revolution in Iran as a reflection of Iran's
quest for identity and national self-assertion and a desire to
charter an independent course without outside Big Power influence.
In this context, it is gratifying that Iran looks forward to improv-
ing relations in diverse fields with India, a desire which is fully
reciprocated.
An unofficial goodwill delegation, led by Shri Asoka Mehta,
visited Iran in March 1979 and established contacts with the new
Iranian leaders who appreciated the goodwill visit and reciprocated
the greetings and good wishes which the delegation brought from
the Government and the people of India.
India welcomed Iran's withdrawal from the CENTO and its
decision to join the Non-Aligned Movement.
Because of Iran's decision to contain the growing unemploy-
ment problem in Iran, it decided to dispense with the services of
foreign nationals. This led to the bulk of skilled, semi-skilled
and unskilled Indian workers, who were in Iran, to leave Iran.
However, in fields like medical services, etc., where skills are
lacking in Iran, or where internal resources are not sufficient to
meet the developmental requirements, Iran has turned towards
India to fill the gap. It is planned to recruit about 1,000 Indian
medical and paramedical personnel and an Iranian delegation
visited India in November 1979 to recruit the first batch of Indian
doctors and para-medical personnel to cater to Iran's immediate
requirements.
There has been a gradual pick-up in bilateral economic rela-
tions and, of late, there have been more trade enquiries in a
wide range of items. These are being explored. Iran continues
to be a reliable source of supply of oil to India.
During the year, there has been great pressure from Iranian
students to enrol in Indian universities.
| Top |
Africa (South Of The Sahara)
|
Jan 01, 1979
CHAPTER V
AFRICA (SOUTH OF THE SAHARA)
International attention was focussed on Southern Africa during
the year in view of the rapid political developments relating to
Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). India's policies towards the countries
of this region were firmly based on its traditional and total opposi-
tion to racist oppression. It strongly condemned the illegal and
fraudulent elections held in Rhodesia in April 1979 under the
terms of the so-called "internal settlement" and extended moral
support and material assistance to Zimbabwe liberation Move-
ment. At the same time it emphasised that Britain should assume
its constitutional responsibilities in Rhodesia and grant it indepen-
dence on the basis of majority rule. India supported British
proposals made at the Conference of the Commonwealth Heads
of Government held at Lusaka in August 1979 and emphasised
the need for their urgent implementation. The proposals envi-
saged the holding of a constitutional conference for Zimbabwe in
order to reach a lasting settlement involving all parties to the
conflict, the adoption of a democratic constitution that would
pave the way for the formation of a government chosen through
free and fair elections properly supervised under the authority of
the U.K. government and through Commonwealth Observers.
India welcomed the successful conclusion of the Conference subse-
quently held for this purpose at London as constituting the first
major achievement of the process initiated at the Lusaka meeting
towards the emergence of an independent democratic Zimbabwe.
Shri Rajeshwar Dayal, a former Indian diplomat accepted invita-
tion to act as Chairman of the Commonwealth Observers Group
set up by the Commonwealth Secretary-General for Election in
Rhodesia. Following the London Conference and the passage of
a Resolution by the United Nations Security Council recommend-
ing lifting of economic sanctions against Rhodesia, India decided
to lift the ban on its economic relations with that country and
to re-open the Indian Mission at Salisbury.
India expressed its deep concern over the move by South
Africa to install an "interim government" of the puppet Turnhalle
Alliance to thwart the establishment of an independent Namibia
based on a genuine majority rule. The Minister of External
Affairs, Shri A. B. Vajpayee, in a message in connection with
pg23
pg24
the observance of the International Year of Solidarity with the
people of Namibia in May 1979, re-affirmed India's whole-
heated support and commitment to the heroic struggle of the
Namibian people for the liberation of their country. He noted
that the United Nations had a direct responsibility for leading
Namibia to national independence on the basis of majority rules.
India continued to extend moral and material support to the South
West African People's Organisation (SW APO) fighting for the
independence of Namibia.
India continued to give moral support and material assistance
to the liberation movement in South Africa in its struggle against
the infamous policy of apartheid. The decision to confer the
Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding for
1979 on the renowned South African freedom fihter Nelson
Mandela, reflected the traditional deep commitment of the Indian
people to the cause of freedom, justice and equality in South
Africa.
There was further strengthening of relations through bilateral
cooperation with the countries of East Africa & the Indian Ocean.
The Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, Shri S.
Kundu, visited Uganda, Zambia, Malawi and Seychelles in May-
June 1979.
India offered a credit of Rs. 2.5 crores in addition to credit
for the Industrial Development Bank of India, of Rs. 5 crores to
the new government in Uganda as a measure of assistance towards
that country's economic reconstruction. A consignment of medi-
cines and rice was also gifted to meet Uganda's urgent require-
ments. A number of joint-ventures set up with Indian participa-
tion in Kenya progressed satisfactorily. The level of economic
and technical cooperation with Zambia and Tanzania was also
well maintained. Agreements for avoidance of double-taxation
were concluded with Tanzania and Zambia. Arrangements were
finalised for students from Tanzania to study in engineering institu-
tions in India under the World Bank aided scheme. The Com-
merce Secretary visited Addis Ababa in December and held
fruitful discussions with the Ethiopian government and identified
areas where bilateral cooperation could be extended to mutual
benefit. Emergency relief assistance in the form of medical sup-
plies was provided to the Front-Line States of Zambia and
Mozambique following attacks on their territory by the illegal
regime in Rhodesia. Specific programmes of technical coopera-
pg25
tion axe being worked out with Botswana, Malawi, Lesotho and
Mozambique.
The Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri S. Kundu,
participated in the Liberation Day Celebrations of Seychelles.
The INS Shakti paid a goodwill visit on this occasion. The
Seychelles Minister of Transport, Labour and Health and also
the Principal Finance Secretary, Principal Works Secretary and
Foreign Secretary visited India during the year.
There was further consolidation of relations with Mauritius
through exchange of visits at the ministerial level and by
exchanges in the cultural and educational fields. The Prime
Minister of Mauritius visited India twice during the year. The
first meeting of the Indo-Mauritius Joint Commission took place
at New Delhi in April. It reviewed technical and cultural co-
operation between the two countries and identified areas of
further cooperation. The deputation of experts under Indian
Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), grant of commer-
cial credits and assistance to Mauritius in procuring its require-
ments from India were inter-alia agreed upon during this meeting.
Indian continued to have close ties with Nigeria and Ghana.
The visit of the Nigerian Minister of Industry to India in
May-June 1979 helped to further consolidate wide-range econo-
mic cooperation with that country. An agreement was finalised
to establish a Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific and
Technical Cooperation with Nigeria.
As regards, relations with Liberia a notable innovation was
the rrangement for the training of 50 Liberian craftsmen under
trilateral programme between Indian, Eurpoean Economic Com-
munity and Liberia with EEC meeting the cost of international
travel and India meeting the training expenses.
The opening of a resident mission in Ivory Coast in October
1979 reflected India's desire to expand relations with Franco-
phone. A protocol on economic cooperation was signed with the
Senegal during the visit of its Minister of Industry to India in
April-May. It provided for cooperation in a number of fields
and helped to consolidate India's cordial relations with that
country.
pg26
India sent consignment of wheat, rice, medicines and baby-
food to Zaire as a measure of relief in connection with the famine
in that country.
India concluded a cooperation agreement with the Economic
Commission for Africa. It provided for a grant of Rs. 50 lakhs
to the United Nations Trust Fund for African Development. This
was the first such contribution to the Fund by a non-African deve-
loping country.
| Top |
Europe
|
CHAPTER VI
EUROPE
Western Europe
India continued to have cordial relations with the countries of
Western Europe and these were strengthened by exchanges in a
number of fields.
The European Economic Community continued to be India's
single largest trading partner. The seventh meeting of the Indo-
EEC Joint Commission at New Delhi, in November, resulted in
modest progress towards cooperation through the setting up of an
Indian Trade Centre in Brussels and some aid from the Com-
munity for trade promotion measures. Negotiations are under-
way for a new cooperation agreement between the European
Community and India to replace the Commercial Cooperation
Agreement signed in 1973. Modifications proposed in the new
agreement aim at giving it a wider coverage, including the field of
economic cooperation. More detailed and specific provisions,
including those relating to the role of the Joint Commission, are
expected to be incorporated in the new agreement. A new provi-
sion has been proposed for exchange of information and friendly
consultations for purposes of seeking mutually satisfactory solu-
tions to problems.
India's relations with the U.K. were marked by frequent ex-
change of views on bilateral and international matters. The
British Foreign Secretary, Lord Carrington, paid an official visit
to India in July. He called on Prime Minister Morarji Desai, the
Deputy Prime Ministers, Shri Charan Singh and Shri Jagjivan
Ram, and the Minister of External Affairs, Shri A. B. Vajpayee.
His discussions with the Minister of External Affairs covered
Rhodesia and the Disarmament problem. India's concern that the
people of Indian origin in U.K. should not face discrimination or
harassment was conveyed to him. The British Minister of State
at the Home Officer, Mr. Tomothy Raison, visited India in
October to familiarise himself with immigration procedures and
problems. He called on the Minister of State of External Affairs,
Shri B. Barua. During the talks, India urged that there should
be no discrimination against Asians or Indians in British legis-
lation on immigration.
pg27
pg28
India observed official mourning at the assassination of Lord
Mountbatten in September 1979. The U.K. Government and
people were touched by the reaction of sympathy and admiration
for him in India. Shri M. Hidayatullah, Vice-President of India,
led the Indian delegation to attend the funeral ceremony in
London.
Following elections in U.K. in May 1979, the new U.K.
government found it necessary to curtail government expenditure
including the overseas aid programme. Aid to be available to
India is now estimated to be pound 140.5 million.
Lord Carrington, the British Foreign Secretary, visited India
again from Jan 16, 1980 to 18 January 1980, very soon after the constitu-
tion of the new government after the Elections. He met Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi and the Minister of External Affairs,
Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao. There were wide-ranging discussions
on international and bilateral issues. Lord Carrington gave his
assessment of the reactions in the region to the events in Afghanis-
tan in December 1979. India's concern over the escalation of the
tension in the region was conveyed to him. The situation in
Rhodesia and problems concerning the Indian community in U.K.
were also discussed in a free and friendly atmosphere.
India's relations with the Federal Republic of Germany con-
tinued to be marked by a spirit of friendship and close cooperation.
Prime Minister Morarji Desai and the Minister of External Affairs,
Shri A. B. Vajpayee, made a transit visit to Frankfurt in June
1979 and held discussions with Chancellor Helmut Schmidt and
Foreign Minister Genscher. India continued to be the single
largest recipient of West German assistance. An Indo-FRG Aid
Agreement for the period 1979-80, for aid amounting to Rs. 165
crores, was signed at New Delhi in October 1979. Some of the
major projects covered under this are: the Thermal Power Plant
at Singrauli, Neyveli Lignite Corporation and the Agriculture and
Refinance Corporation. There was also steady growth in Indo-
FRG trade which crossed the figure of DM 2,000 million (about
Rs. 800 crores) during the year.
Dr. Bruno Kreisky, Chancellor of Austria, visited India at the
end of January 1980 to address the UNIDO Conference. His
talks with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi covered international
and bilateral relations. The visit was a significant contribution to
Indo-Austrian friendship.
pg29
Friendship and cooperation continued to mark relations bet-
ween India and France. The Minister of State of External
Affairs, Shri B. Barua, made a transit visit to Paris in October
1979 and met the French Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,
Mr. Olivier Stirn. A French delegation, led by the Director of
Department of External Economic Relations, Mr. Freyche, visited
India in December 1979 to identify possible areas of cooperation.
President Giscard d'Estaing of France paid a State visit to
India in January 1980 and was the Guest of Honour at the Re-
public Day festivities. This was the first visit by a French
President to India. He was accompanied by the French Foreign
Minister, Mr. J. Francois-Poncet and the French Minister of
Foreign Trade, Mr. J. F. Deniau. The President held talks with
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, while the two French Ministers
met their counter-parts, besides official talks between the delega-
tions. A notable outcome of the talks was the Joint Declaration
issued on 27 January 1980 by the French President and Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi. (Appendix XIII).
The visit was highly successful in furthering bilateral coopera-
tion. It resulted in the signing of seven protocols and memo-
randa of understanding : (1) Protocol on Indo-French Industrial
and commercial cooperation; (2) Memorandum of Understand-
ing on Coal Mining; (3) Memorandum of Understanding on the
Aluminium Complex in Orissa: (4) Indo-French Protocol for
cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Rural Development;
(5) Protocol in the field of Petrochemicals, Fertilizers, Drugs and
Chemicals; (6) Protocol in the field of renewable energies; and
(7) Protocol in the field of Ocean Science and Technology. In
addition, it was agreed that possibilities of cooperation should be
explored in the fields of steel industry, telecommunications and
audio-visual techniques.
In the Joint Communique issued on 28 January 1980, both
sides agreed to consider the setting up of an Indo-French Univer-
sity or an Institute of Higher Learning in India. The President
and Prime Minister Indira Gandhi agreed to hold periodic consul-
tations alternately in France and in India to suit mutual conveni-
ence.
The major allocation for 1979, from French assistance to India
of Rs. 68 crores (Francs 300 million) annually, was for the im-
port of drilling rig by the Oil and Natural Gas Commission.
pg30
A French delegation visited India in November and a pro-
gramme for 1980-82 was finalised under the Indo-French
Cultural Agreement. An Agreement for Cooperation in Science
and Technology was also ratified during the year.
A formal agreement for aid from the Netherlands was con-
cluded during the year. It provided for a grant of Dfl. 61 million
and a loan of Dfl. 164 million for a period of 30 years carrying
an interest of 2.5% per annum.
India continued to receive useful assistance from the countries
of the Nordic region. Sweden extended aid to the extent of S. Kr.
290 million entirely as a grant for 1979-80. Of this amount S. Kr.
165 million would be completely untied and to be used for financ-
ing; imports from any part of the world. Discussions held in
October with Norway indicated that during the next four year
(1980-83) technical assistance amounting to Kr. 106 million
per year would be extended to India.
The Indian Ambassador in Norway held reception in honour
of Mother Teresa when she went to Oslo to receive the Nobel
Peace Prize.
The grant from Denmark of D. Kr. 85 million in 1979 was
utilised for projects in agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries etc.
The services of the Danish Agency DANIDA were utilised in
several projects.
The Finnish Deputy Secretary-General, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Dr. Korhonen, held discussions with Indian officials, when
he visited India in November, in connection with the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Conference.
India welcomed the talks, in May 1979, between leaders of
Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities. India has con-
sistently reiterated that a solution to the Cyprus problem could
be arrived at through negotiations between the two affected parties
without outside interference. India has supported the U.N. Reso-
lutions on the subject calling for respect for the sovereignty, inde-
pendence, territorial integrity and non-alignment of the Republic
of Cyprus.
pg31
The USSR and Eastern Europe
India's relations with the USSR and other East European
countries were further strengthened and diversified by an ex-
change of visits at the highest level and through the working of
the Joint Commissions set up with those countries.
The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the U.S.S.R..
Mr. A. N. Kosygin, visited India from 9 to 18 March 1979. Dis-
cussions held during the visit showed that India and the U.S.S.R.
shared similar views on major international problems. The joint
communique issued at the end of this visit re-affirmed that the
strengthening of Indo-Soviet relations, on the principles of peace-
ful co-existence, was an immutable factor in the foreign policy of
both countries. The USSR expressed appreciation of Indian
initiatives to normalise relations with the countries of South Asia.
A number of agreements and protocols were signed during the
visit including an Agreement on cooperation in Medical Sciences
and Public Health, a protocol on the supply of agriculture
machines and motor vehicles as a gift from the USSR to the Surat-
garh State Farm, a Cultural Exchange Programme for 1979 and
1980 and an agreement on additional reciprocal deliveries of
some commodities in 1979.
The most significant document to emerge was a Long Term
Programme of Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technical Coope-
ration between the two countries for the next ten to fifteen years.
This Programme, the first of its kind entered into by India, will
provide a framework for future bilateral cooperation in a wide
range of activities. In the framework of this Programme teams of
experts from India in the fields of inland fisheries, pulp and paper
and the food industry visited the USSR and teams of experts from
the USSR in the fields of coal mining, machine building and
ferrous metallurgy visited India. Some other important projects,
in which the USSR has agreed to cooperate with India, are an
alumina plant on the east coast of India, the expansion and
organisation of some specified coal-fields, and cooperation in the
field of irrigation.
The Minister of Petroleum and Chemicals, Shri H. N.
Bahuguna, visited the USSR from 28 May to 2 June 1979. He
had detailed discussions on future cooperation in oil-exploration
and production. A protocol was signed on the extent and manner
pg32
of such cooperation, especially in the regions of West Bengal,
Tripura and Kaveri delta.
Prime Minister Morarji Desai, accompanied by Shri A. B.
Vajpayee, Minister of External Affairs, visited the USSR from 10
to 14 June. A joint statement, issued on the conclusion of the
visit reiterated the resolve of India and the USSR to further
strengthen their close cooperation which not only served the inte-
rests of their two countries but also the cause of world peace and
international cooperation.
An agreement for the setting up of a steel plant with Soviet
collaboration at Visakhapatnam was also signed during the session
of the Indo-Soviet Joint Commission held at Moscow in June.
The Commission also decided to set up a group which would
monitor the progress made in regard to the programme of coope-
ration, agreed to during the visit of Mr. A. N. Kosygin, and make
suggestions for facilitating its implementation.
In the same month the Speaker of the Lok Sabha Shri K. S.
Hegde led a Parliamentary delegation to the USSR.
Mr. P. Y. Strautmanis, Vice-Chairman of the Supreme Soviet
of the USSR, led a Friendship delegation of the Soviet-Indo-
Friendship Society to India in August. During his discussions he
was assured that India would continue to promote Indo-USSR
Friendship in the same spirit of trust and cooperation which
characterised the traditionally close and friendly relations between
the two countries.
Mr. A. N. Kosygin made a transit halt at Bombay in Septem-
ber. The Minister of External Affairs, Shri S. N. Mishra, received
the distinguished guest and had discussions with him on subjects
of mutual interest.
Prime Minister Morarji Desai visited Poland from 14 to 16
June. This visit helped to consolidate India's close relations with
Poland. There was a broad agreement of views on important
international issues during the discussions held with Polish leaders.
It was agreed that the existing economic and commercial coopera-
tion should be strengthened still further to reflect the strong
political ties between the two countries, by exploring new
avenues of cooperation for mutual benefit.
pg33
From 16 to 18 June, Prime Minister Morarji Desai visited
Czechoslovakia. India's friendly relations with Czechoslovakia
were strengthened by his visit. A common ground on various
international issues was revealed during the talks held between the
Prime Minister and Czechoslovakian leaders. To consolidate
existing economic and commercial ties, it was proposed that new
channels of cooperation should be taken up for mutual benefit, so
that the close political tics between India and Czechoslovakia
could be further augmented.
Shri K. S. Hegde, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, led a Parliamen-
tary delegation to Poland, Czechoslovakia and Romania in June.
During his visit a review was made of the existing cooperation
between the parliaments of these countries and the Indian Parlia-
ment.
The sixth session of the Indo-Polish Joint Commission for
Economic, Technical and Scientific cooperation, held at New
Delhi in March 1979, identified several important projects for
Indo-Polish cooperation. Those projects included cooperation in
the sinking of two shafts in the Jharia coal-fields, the modernisa-
tion of communication equipment in Indian coalfields and the
enrichment and smelting of poly-metallic ores.
During his private visit to India from 14 to 18 March, Mr.
Vasil Bilak, Member of the Politbureau and Secretary of the
Central Committee of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia,
called on the President, Shri N. Sanjiva Reddy, Prime Minister
Morarji Desai and the Minister of External Affairs. Shri A. B.
Vajpayee and conveyed the satisfaction of the Czech govern-
ment at the steady progress of India-Czech relations. He also
gave an assessment of the political situation in Central Europe.
The eighth session of the Indo-Czechoslovak Joint Commis-
sion for Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation was held at
Prague in June 1979. The protocol signed at the conclusion of
the session identified many projects for bilateral cooperation. A
new trade and payments agreements with Czechoslovakia for
1980-84 was signed at New Delhi, in December 1979.
The Federal Secretary of the Socialist Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia, Mr. J. Vrohovec, visited India from 5 to 7 May for
consultations prior to the meeting of the Coordination Bureau of
Non-aligned countries to be held at Colombo in June. During
4-784EA/79
pg34
his discussions, with the Minister of External Affairs, Shri A. B.
Vajpayee, it was agreed that all efforts should be made to preserve
and strengthen the unity of the Non-Aligned Movement, and
regional issues should not distract the Bureau meeting from
attending to current global problems.
Prime Minister Morarji Desai, accompanied by the Minister
of External Affairs, Shri A. B. Vajpayee, paid an official visit to
Yugoslavia from 18 to 21 June. He also held talks with Presi-
dent Tito and the President of the Federal Executive Council, Mr.
V. Djuranovic. These talks were held in a friendly atmosphere
in keeping with the traditionally cordial and close relations bet-
ween the two countries. The Indian Prime Minister and the
Yugoslav Prime Minister called on the members of the Non-
Aligned Movement to maintain the unity of the Movement by
resisting divisive pressures from within and without.
The twelfth session of the Indo-Yugoslav Joint Commission
for Economic Trade and Technical and Scientific Cooperation was
held at Belgrade in June. Its discussions covered bilateral rela-
tions concerning trade, industrial cooperation, banking, finance,
shipping, air-transport and tripartite agreements. It was agreed
that efforts should be made to develop trade turn-over between
Yugoslavia and India by 1983, compared to the level of 1977,
through long-term arrangements.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, Mr. T.
Popov, visited India in March. He had discussions with officials
of the Ministry of External Affairs, during which he conveyed the
satisfaction of the Bulgarian government at the progress of Indo-
Bulgarian relations in various fields.
Mr. D. Stanischev, Secretary of the Central Committee of the
Bulgarian Communist Party, paid a private visit to India in April.
He had the occasion to discuss bilateral relations with officials of
the Ministry of External Affairs.
Shri Jagjivan Ram, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of
Defence, visited Bulgaria and Romania in June 1979. Bilateral
defence cooperation arrangements with the two countries were
reviewed with satisfaction.
| Top |
The Americas
|
CHAPTER VII
THE AMERICAS
North America
India and the United States continued to maintain a dialogue
at various levels, through exchange of visits and correspondence,
each trying to make the other understand its point of view on
various international issues. Letters were exchanged between
President Carter and Prime Minister Morarji Desai and between
him and Prime Minister Charan Singh. A delegation from the
United States led by Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Warren
Christopher, held official-level talks with Indian officials from 28
February to Mar 01, 1979 at New Delhi. There was a useful
exchange of views not only on bilateral relations but also on
various international developments. Mr. Christopher met Prime
Minister Morarji Desai during his visit.
The Minister of External Affairs, Shri A. B. Vajpayee visited
the United States from 20 to 25 April 1979. He met President
Carter and had talks with various U.S. officials. The former
Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri K. S. Hegde, and various presid-
ing officers of State Assemblies, also visited the United States.
Other Indian visitors to that country included Shri B. P. Singh,
Minister for Rural Reconstruction. From the side of the United
States, apart from various officials, Senator Charles Percy came
to India in August and met Prime Minister Charan Singh during
his visit.
There were, however, differences between the two countries
on certain issues particularly with regard to the supply of nuclear
fuel for Tarapur Plant. Presently two applications for 19.8 tons
each are pending with the United States. India made it clear to
the United States on a number of occasions, that it should honour
its contractual obligations on this matter and the issue is being
considered at the highest level. The problem could affect bila-
teral relations.
The Minister of External Affairs, Shri A. B. Vajpayee led the
Indian delegation to the fourth session of the Indo-US Joint
Commission held in Washington in April. The Commission
pg35
pg36
gave high priority to collaborative efforts in the agricultural field
and decided to set up a Fourth Sub-Commission--the Agriculture
Sub-Commission--for this purpose. The Commission received
and approved the reports of the other three Sub-Commissions.
It accepted the plans of the Education and Cultural Sub-Commis-
sion to increase the number of fellowships and discussed the
future exchange programmes. It noted with satisfaction the new
areas of collaboration proposed by the Scientific and Technology
Sub-Commission, particularly in the field of solar energy. It
also reviewed the activities of the Indo-US Business Council and
endorsed the Council's project of Indo-US commercial coopera-
tion in third countries.
A factor that could adversely affect relations between India
and the United States was the decision by the United States to
supply arms to Pakistan, as a result of the events in Afghanistan,
The United States had earlier banned credit and grant sales of
arms to Pakistan as a result of U.S. legislation which debarred
arms supply to any country undertaking the building of nuclear
facilities. The United States would have to pass emergency
legislation to get over legal difficulties in order to renew supply
of arms to Pakistan. India expressed its deepest concern to the
United States on this decision as, in its view, this would need-
lessly complicate the situation and further aggravate tension in
the area.
India and Canada, after many years, resumed official talks
and a meeting was held on 19-20 March at New Delhi. The
meeting undertook a broad exchange of views on Indo-Canadian
relations and also reviewed the international situation. It was
agreed that such meetings should be held annually as this would
facilitate discussions in the political, economic and cultural fields.
An agreement was signed in August, providing for a Cana-
dian grant amounting to Canadian $ 20 million, to enable India
to import rapeseed oil. A FICCI delegation visited Canada in
June 1979.
South and Central America
India continued to maintain friendly relations with the coun-
tries of Central and South America. It welcomed the achieve-
ment of independence by the Caribbean islands of St. Lucia,
Saint Vincent and Grenadines and the admission of Bolivia,
pg37
Grenada, Suriname and Nicaragua, as full-fledged members, to
the Non-Aligned Movement at the Havana Summit Conference.
In Nicaragua a successful revolution by the people resulted
in the establishment of National Government of Reconstruction.
India conveyed its greetings to the government and extended
an offer of assistance in its programme of reconstruction.
India had consistently supported the people of Panama in
their aspirations regarding the Panama Canal. It welcomed the
handing-over, by the United States, of the control of the Canal
to Panama in October 1979.
India and Cuba had frequent consultations on various aspects
of the Non-Aligned Movement, particularly in connection with
the preparatory work for the Non-Aligned Summit Conference
at Havana. Dr. Zoilo Marinello Vidaurreta, Minister President
of the State Committee and Special envoy of President Castro,
visited India in April to hand-over the invitation to Prime Minis-
ter Morarji Desai for the Summit Conference to be held at
Havana. Dr. Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, Vice-President of the
Council of State of Cuba, visited India in July to discuss the
draft declaration of the Havana Summit. During his visit,
opportunity was taken to review relations between the two coun-
fries and to consider measures to further improve them.
The Minister of External Affairs, Shri S. N. Mishra, as a
token of sympathy towards the hurricane-affected people of the
Commonwealth of Dominica, announced a donation to be utilised
in sending relief supplies in the form of medicines and drugs.
Indian missions in the region made considerable efforts to-
wards improving bilateral, economic relations with the countries
there. This led to a growing awareness about India's industrial
Mid technological progress and capability and a number of
countries showed interest in having joint ventures in some
selected items.
Steps were taken to explore possibilities of developing coope-
ration with Latin American countries, particularly Venezuela.
Mexico and Cuba. With a view to exploring the potential for
greater economic and technical cooperation between India and
the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean, a meeting,
with cooperation and participation of the Economic Commission
pg38
for Latin America, was held in June at New Delhi. The repre-
sentatives of India and those of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colom-
bia, Cuba, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Trinidad
and Tobago, Suriname and Venezuela and the officials of Eco-
nomic Commission for Latin America participated in the meet-
ing. The meeting discussed trade promotion measures and ways
and means of covering the information gap, joint marketing of
commodities, shipping, possibilities of participation in industrial
and other developmental programmes and joint participation in
third countries, collaboration in consultancy, aspects of transfer
of technology, establishment of links amongst research and train-
ing institutions.
As a follow-up action the Association of Indian Engineering
Industries (AIEI) is sending a delegation to some Latin American
countries to identify possibilities of cooperation in the field of
joint ventures, consultancy services, cooperation in third coun-
tries etc.
| Top |
United Nations And International Conferences
|
CHAPTER VIII
UNITED NATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL
CONFERENCES
During the year India participated in a number of important
conferences. These included, a meeting of the Coordinating
Bureau of the Non-aligned countries at Colombo from 4 to 9
June, Sixth Conference of Heads of State/Government of Non-
aligned countries at Havana from 3 to 8 September and the
Second General Conference of the Non-aligned Press Agencies'
Pool at Belgrade in November 1979. It also took part in the
Conferences sponsored by the United Nations, namely, meetings
of Littoral and Hinterland countries of the Indian Ocean in July,
United Nations Conference on Science and Technology for Deve-
lopment at Vienna in August and General Conference of the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at New Delhi in
December 1979. Besides, it took part in the meeting of the
Heads of Government of the Commonwealth held at Lusaka in
August 1979.
The Minister of External Affairs, Shri S. N. Mishra, led the
Indian delegation to the meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of
Government, held at Lusaka in August 1979. The agenda for
the Conference included the world political scene, international
economic development and Commonwealth cooperation. Rho-
desia was the most important issue discussed at the Conference.
The participants through mutual discussions produced a frame-
work for the Rhodesian settlement based on genuine majority
rule. India, while welcoming the proposal for the settlement,
drew attention to the crucial importance of ensuring proper
conditions for the participation of the Patriotic Front and the
need to continuing sanctions against Rhodesia until the proposals
as a whole were implemented fully and speedily.
On the economic side, the Conference highlighted the urgent
need for a more rational and equitable economic order. It called
for the acceptance by all of a structural change and the adoption
of policies to improve prospects for global economic growth, res-
traint of inflation and a fuller employment of resources. Higher
rates of growth were accepted as being particularly urgent for
the developing countries. The Conference also discussed energy
pg39
pg40
problems and multilateral trade negotiations and in this connec-
tion a mention was made of the meeting of Commonwealth
Ministers of Industrial Cooperation held at Bangalore in March
1979. It was also decided that an Industrial Development Unit
should be established under the Commonwealth Secretariat with
a proposed additional financial resources of $ 5 million for a
three-year period. India took the lead in the preparatory work
for this programme.
The Minister of External Affairs, Shri A. B. Vajpayee, led
the Indian delegation to the meeting of the Non-aligned Coordi-
nating Bureau held at Colombo from Jun 04, 1979 to 9 June 1979. The
meeting took place at a time and in circumstances crucial to the
unity of the Non-aligned Movement. The representation of
Kampuchea and the issue of participation of Egypt were the
dominant political issues at the Conference. A third dimension
was added by the growing desire among non-members of the
Bureau for participation in the decision-making processes of
Bureau meetings. As a result, in addition to 23 Bureau mem-
bers present, the meeting was also attended by 52 members of
the Movement, 9 observers/guests and 12 international/regional
organisations.
India played a leading and constructive role at the Confer-
ence. The Indian delegation was guided by consideration of
preserving the unity and cohesion of the movement. On the
highly controversial questions of Kampuchea's representation and
Egypt's participation the Indian delegation worked for evolving
compromise solutions so that the movement was not distracted
from attending to other vital issues.
The Sixth Non-aligned Summit meeting was held at Havana
from 3 to 9 September 1979. It was the first time that such a
meeting was held in a Latin American country. The meeting
was attended by 54 Heads of State/Government including the
Heads of some National Liberation Movements. The member-
ship of the Movement had grown to 94, with 20 countries and
organisations as observers and 18 countries and organisations as
guests. This reflected a growing desire on the part of nations
to join the Non-aligned family.
The Indian delectation was led by the Minister of External
Affairs Shri S. N. Mishra. India was elected as one of the Vice-
Presidents of the Conference and re-elected to the expanded
Coordinating Bureau of 36 members. The choice of India, by
pg41
general consensus, was in recognition of the positive role India
had continued to play in the work of the Coordinating Bureau
of the Non-aligned Movement.
The Conference met in an atmosphere of underlying tension.
There were not only deeply divisive issues, like the question of
Kampuchea, the Egypt-Israeli Treaty and the question of Wes-
tern Sahara, but also the uncertainty, if not anxiety, about the
preservation of the fundamental objectives and goals of the Non-
aligned Movement and its future role and direction. The
debate on contentious issues was protracted and often acrimo-
nious. However, in the end it was possible to arrive at a con-
sensus regarding Kampuchea. The consensus adopted coin-
cided with India's position, namely, that the seat of Kampuchea
should be kept vacant since it was not possible for the Non-
aligned community, at the present stage, to take a decision in
favour of one or the other delegation. On the West Asian situa-
tion, the Summit was highly critical of the Egypt-Israeli treaties
and adopted a strong resolution expressing its disapproval and
condemnation of the treaties. As regards the demand to sus-
pend Egypt from the Movement, there was no consensus and a
compromise was reached to refer the question to the Coordinat-
ing Bureau for further examination and eventual reporting to the
Ministerial Conference in 1981. There was unanimity about
the continuing relevance of non-alignment as a positive, indepen-
dent and important factor in the world for peace and stability
and promotion of international cooperation and understanding.
India reiterated its conviction that Non-aligned Conferences
should avoid divisive issues and bilateral disputes and instead
concentrate on the broad objectives which brought the Non-
aligned countries together. They should concentrate and pay
undividing attention on working out a joint strategy for achiev-
ing these objectives. It was necessary for this to preserve and
strengthen the unity of the Movement and to further vitalise its
operational effectiveness.
The Final Declaration adopted by the meeting consisted of a
political as well as an economic section, and the Action Pro-
gramme. These, in their totality, constituted a significant policy
frame-work and provided useful guidelines for future action.
There was reiteration of the call for renewed and intensified
efforts to achieve the New International Economic Order. A
fresh round of global negotiations was proposed to find solutions
to the urgent economic problems of the developing Countries.
pg42
The Summit also underlined the importance of drawing up an
international development strategy for the Third United Nations
Development Decade (the eighties). On crucial questions of
raw-materials and energy, India was able, with the help and co-
operation of the OPEC countries, to evolve a resolution setting
out guidelines of cooperation among the Non-aligned countries
for strengthening their collective self-reliance.
An important decision taken by the Summit related to the
activities of the Non-aligned Press Agencies Pool and other
non-aligned activities in the field of information. The Summit
commended the Pool's performance and called upon members
to strengthen their participation in the Pool.
A meeting of the countries of the Indian Ocean region was
held at New York from 2 to 13 July, to review developments
since the 1971 Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a "Zone of
Peace" and pave the way for the convening of a conference on
implementation of the Declaration. Apart from 44 littoral and
hinterland states, four countries (China, Greece, Japan and
Panama), that were members or observers of the Ad hoc Com-
mittee, and 11 countries representing great powers and major
maritime users (Canada, France, FRG, Italy, Liberia, Nether-
lands, Norway, Sweden, USSR, U.K. and U.S.A.) were also
invited to attend the Conference. In addition, Yugoslavia, Viet-
nam and Finland were invited to participate as observers. The
meeting adopted a final document, by consensus, relating to the
future conference on the Indian Ocean as a "Zone of Peace"
denuclearisation of the Zone and the strengthening of internal
security through regional and other cooperation. Australia,
however, declared that it was withdrawing from the consensus
and Japan also expressed unhappiness about certain formula-
tions in the document.
The U.N. Conference on Trade and Development held its
fifth session at Manila from 7 May to 3 June. It was attended
by representatives of nearly 170 nations.
Shri M. Dharia, Minister of Commerce, led the Indian
delegation. Addressing the Conference he said that the growth
rate in world trade had decelerated, the terms of trade of develop-
ing countries had deteriorated and there was a simultaneous in-
tensification of protectionist measures affecting the export of
their manufactures. There was also a tremendous increase in
the debt burden of developing countries. These problems de-
manded a basic restructuring of the world economy. Referring
pg43
to the multilateral trade negotiations India expressed concern at
sonic of the obvious and glaring shortfalls particularly in the
field of safeguards, quantitative restrictions and the nature and
extent of tariff offers. Expressing serious concern at the pro-
tectionist measures adopted by the developed countries, India
wanted the Conference to establish a framework within UNCTAD
in which negotiations might be conducted on the policies that
needed to be adopted from time to time to facilitate adjustments
before the forces of protectionism gathered further momentum.
India made a contribution of $5 million (Rs. 4 crores) to
the Second Window of the Common Fund for commodity deve-
lopment purposes. The Second Window would finance measures
other than buffer stocking of commodities which would be taken
care of by the First Window. The target for the Second Window
was $350 million.
The Conference ended with un-reconciled North-South diffe-
rences on hard-core issues like global economic restructuring,
protectionism, trade, monetary reform and resource flows. It,
however, took a few steps forward. A programme of economic
cooperation among developing countries aimed at collective self-
reliance was adopted. Another resolution on an integrated pro-
gramme for commodities gave not only a thrust to completion of
Common Fund formalities and individual commodity negotiations,
but provided a framework of international cooperation in the
field of processing, marketing and distribution of commodities.
The Group of 77, with India as its Coordinator on trade issues,
expressed deep disappointment with the consensus formulation on
protectionism and over the failure to get an agreed resolution on
multilateral trade negotiations to remove deficiencies and make
them reflect the concerns of developing countries. On the
major question regarding structural changes in the world economy
through global consultations, lack of agreement led to the issue
being remitted to the permanent machinery of UNCTAD--the
Trade and Development Board.
The plenary session of the Conference adopted comprehensive
resolutions, all by consensus, on the programme of action for the
least developed countries, land-locked and island developing coun-
tries and on strengthning their technological capability and on
transfer of their real resources. Developed countries, especially the
United States, expressed reservations on most of the resolutions. On
the code of conduct for transfer of technology, the Conference
pg44
could not reach agreement on whether it should be legally binding
or be a voluntary code. On development aid generally, the
Conference urged substantial increases towards the United
Nations target of 0.7% of gross; national Income in official deve-
lopmental aid for the current decade.
The United Nations Conference on Science and Technology
for Development (UNCSTD) was held at Vienna from 20 to 31
August. It was attended by representatives of about 130 coun-
tries and opened by the U.N. Secretary-General. The leader
of the Indian delegation, Prof. D. T. Lakdawala, Vice-Chairman
of the Planning Commission, addressing the Conference called
for complete change in the whole spirit which presently pervaded
science and technology and its transmission. In regard to inter-
national cooperation he advocated for a sharp break from the
existing pattern of scientific and technological cooperation bet-
ween the developing and developed countries which tended to;
increase dependence of the developing world and accentuate dis-
parities in scientific and technological capabilities.
The Conference could not reach agreement on recommenda-
tions concerning the role of transnational corporations in science
and technology, supplementary financing and substantially in-
creased support to developing countries for the production and
marketing of capital goods. An agreement was, however, reach-
ed on institutional and funding arrangements on which the deve-
loping countries and others had earlier held divergent positions.
It asked the General Assembly to set up a high level non-govern-
mental committee on science and technology for development
which would be open to all the States. The Conference approved
of a programme of action making 65 recommendations directed
at three target areas. The first dealt with strengthening the
science and technology capacities of developing countries; the
second involved the restructuring of the existing pattern of inter-
national relations in the field of science and technology and the
third sought strengthening of the role of the United Nations in
science and technology and the provision for increased financial
resources.
The Preparatory Committee for the new International Develop-
ment Strategy, set up during the thirty-third session of the U.N.
General Assembly, had three substantive sessions from 2 to 13
April, 11 to 23 June and from 17 to 21 September. After
prolonged discussions, the Committee agreed on a draft preamble.
The next task facing the Committee would be to indentify the
pg45
goals and objectives of the strategy for the Third U.N. Develop-
ment Decade. The purpose of the strategy is to define targets,
both quantified and conceptual, of economic growth for the
eighties and then to outline a set of policy measures and princi-
ples that would guide and inspire international economic negotia-
tions in specified fields to attain these targets. India intends
to continue to play a leading role in the preparation for such an
international development strategy.
India was host to the third General Conference of the United
Nations Industrial Development Organisation held at New Delhi
from 21 January to 9 February 1980. The Minister of Exter-
nal Affairs, Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao, was unanimously elected
as the Chairman of the Conference. Despite his best efforts,
the Conference failed to reach a consensus on a document that
would be acceptable to all sides. The New Delhi Declaration
and Plan of Action, based mainly on the documents that had
been elaborated by the Group of 77 at their Ministerial meeting
at Havana in December 1979 and later on in the preparatory
stage of the Conference at New Delhi, was, therefore, adopted by
vote with developed countries voting against it. The socialist
countries of Eastern Europe, though voting in favour submitted
detailed explanations and reservations in writing which would
form part of the Report. The results of UNIDO-III thus cons-
titute yet another set-back in attempts to bring about significant
changes in the international economic relations such as would
constitute an advance in the establishment of the New Inter-
national Economic Order. These results do not augur well for
the development Decade of the eighties.
Lists of major international conferences/meetings/seminars
organised by government/non-government organisations in which
India participated and of which India became a member are at
Appendices I to IV.
The United Nations General Assembly held its thirty-fourth
regular session in New York from 18 September to 20 Decem-
ber 1979. Mr. Salim A. Salim of Tanzania was elected Presi-
dent of the General Assembly for this session. Later it resumed
its sitting to elect a member from the Latin American States (Mexi-
co was elected) to fill a non-permanent seat in the Security Coun-
cil.
The Indian delegation to the session was led by the Minister
of External Affairs, Shri S. N. Mishra. The Assembly had
pg46
before it an agenda of 125 items covering disarmament, political,
economic, social, human rights, legal and other related issues.
Later, four new items were included, one of which, the expan-
sion of the membership of the Security Council, being at the
initiative of India. The membership of the UN increased during
the session to 152 by the inclusion of St. Lucia as its new member.
India played an active and constructive role in the deliberations
of the General Assembly and its committees. The Assembly
adopted a large number of resolutions, most of which were passed
without vote or by consensus. India took major initiatives in
tabling or co-sponsoring a number of resolutions in various com-
mittees.
During the Session India was re-elected as member of the
U.N. Commission on International Trade Law for a further period
of six years, with effect from 1 January 1980. Shri S. Sen, an
Indian nominee, was also appointed to the UN Administrative
Tribunal. Earlier in the year, in elections held in ECOSOC,
India had been elected to the Statistical Commission, the Com-
mission on. Human Rights, the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, the
Committee on Crime Prevention and Control and the International
Narcotics Board. Early in January 1980, an Indian candidate
was also elected, securing the highest number of votes, to the
Committee for the Prevention of Racial Discrimination.
The Minister of External Affairs, Shri S. N. Mishra, speak-
ing in Hindi in the general debate on 3 October, said that the
United Nations symbolised unmistakably the best balance bet-
ween the right to independence and the compulsion to work to-
gether. Surveying the world situation, he added that, "the
most urgent task facing humanity today is to delegitimise nuclear
weapons, to dismantle the hierarchical international order that
supports the present military system and to replace it by an
alternative security system based on peaceful co-existence and ac-
ceptance in practice of equal sovereignty of all nations and of
the right of each nation to choose its national and international
policies."
In October 1979, the five Western countries, (U.K., U.S.A.,
France, FRG and Canada) which were negotiating a peaceful
settlement on Namibia, presented a redesigned plan for the peace-
keeping force and UN-supervised elections for the territory. The
plan proposed the establishment of a 50-kilometer wide demili-
tarised zone on either side of Namibia's northern borders along-
side Angola and Zambia. The Security Council met in Novem-
pg47
ber to discuss the issue of Namibia. After informal consultations,
its President issued a statement expressing support for the
efforts of the Secretary-General to implement Security Council
resolution 435 of 1978, on Namibia. While the Front-Line
States and SWAPO accepted the concept of the demilitarised
zone, South Africa only agreed to its conditional acceptance.
The General Assembly, after prolonged discussions of the
Namibian issue at its thirty-fourth session, adopted seven resolu-
tions, all of them being co-sponsored by India. One of the re-
solutions sought action by the Security Council to ensure imme-
diate compliance by South Africa with the UN resolutions on
Namibia. The Council was also asked to act against any "man-
oeuvres and fraudulent schemes" of the illegal occupation regime
aimed at frustrating the aspirations of the Namibian people to
realise genuine independence under the leadership of SWAPO.
The Assembly called for an immediate halt to the exploitation of
Namibian human and natural resources by foreign corporations
operating in the territory.
The U. K. Government informed the Security Council, on 12
December, that legality had returned to Southern Rhodesia with
the arrival of the British Governor in Salisbury and an agree-
ment had been reached at London, among the interested parties
on a cease-fire, a new Constitution and fresh and fair elections in
southern Rhodesia to elect a government for independent Zim-
babwe. The Security Council adopted a resolution on 21 Decem-
ber, terminating the mandatory sanctions imposed fourteen years
ago against Rhodesia. The resolution noted with satisfaction
the agreement reached and directed the United Kingdom, as the
main administering power, to ensure that no South African or
other external forces, regular or mercenary, remained in Rhodesia.
It urged assistance to the new State of Zimbabwe and the Front-
Line States which suffered extensive damage inflicted by the
armed forces of the minority regime in Salisbury. The question
of the Middle-East was taken up by the plenary session of the
General Assembly in view of the strong reservations expressed by
a large number of member States against the Camp David Agree-
ments and the Egypt-Israeli treaty. India, along with other
members of the Non-aligned Group, took a prominent part in
the debate. The Non-aligned draft resolution finally adopted
(102 votes in favour, 17 against and 20 abstentions) was co-
sponsored by India, Cuba, Sri Lanka, Guniea (Bissau), Sudan,
Vietnam and Yugoslavia. It called for the early convening of
pg48
the peace conference on the Middle-East under the co-chairmanship
of the USSR and one United States and with the participation of
PLO. It thereby, implicitly rejected the Camp David approach
to the solution of the problem. The Assembly also discussed the
controversial issue of Palestine. India played a prominent role
in giving final shape to, and co-sponsored, the four resolutions
adopted by the Assembly on this issue.
The plenary of the General Assembly adopted a series of re-
solutions on the question of Apartheid. Most of these were
co-sponsored by India. In these resolutions, the Assembly called
for the imposition of a broad range of sanctions against South
Africa, including oil emargo, and decided 10 organise an in-
ternational conference in 1980 on sanctions against that country.
The Assembly also sought to strengthen the existing arms embargo
and asked the Security Council to consider mandatory measures
"to prevent the racist regime of South Africa from detonating,
developing or acquiring nuclear weapons."
The Sixth Summit meeting of Non-aligned countries held at
Havana had welcomed the holding of the meeting of the littoral
and hinterland States as a significant step forward in the process of
implementing the Indian Ocean Peace Zone Declaration. Subse-
quently, the Ad hoe Committee on Indian Ocean met in October
and adopted the report containing the final document of the meet-
ing including its recommendations. The Committee decided to re-
commend that the General Assembly convene a conference at
Colombo during 1981 for the implementation of the Declaration
of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace. It also unanimously
recommended to the General Assembly the adoption of two draft
resolutions, one of which was on an Indian initiative, devoted
basically to the convening of a conference on the Indian Ocean
and the participation of great powers in the expanded Ad hoc
Committee. The Ad hoc Committee is to hold its first session
as the preparatory committee for the conference in late January
1980. It is expected that all permanent members of the Secu-
rity Council would accept the invitation to join the Committee
during this session.
The new agenda item on Kampuchea was inscribed at the
request of the ASEAN countries. There was a major debate and
considerable controversy on this question as the item had to be
considered along with the question of representation of Kampu-
chea. The Credentials Committee of the General Assembly un-
pg49
fortunately adopted the credentials of the delegation of Demo-
cratic Kampuchea (Pol Pot regime). India opposed the creden-
tials of this regime at the time of consideration of the Credentials
Committee report by the Assembly and moved an amendment to
the effect that this report may be kept in abeyance and the seat
of Kampuchea be kept vacant for the time being. The Indian
proposal was however defeated by 39 votes in favour 76 against
and 23 abstentions. The recommendations of the Credentials
Committee with regard to the seating of democratic Kampuchea
were accepted by the General Assembly.
The substantive aspect of this question was considered by the
General Assembly from 12 to 14 November. The ASEAN
countries, supported by the Western group, introduced a draft
resolution which was later amended considerably to incorporate
the view points of several Non-aligned countries. Vietnam
also tabled its own draft resolution. India did not support any
of these resolutions. It submitted its own draft resolution calling
for a conference between the ASEAN countries and the States
of Indo-China in order to alleviate tensions in the area and
to create an atmosphere conducive to peace, stability and coope-
ration. While Vietnam accepted India's initiative, the ASEAN
countries rejected both the Indian and Vietnamese resolutions.
India as such did not ask for a vote on its draft. The General
Assembly also decided, by a majority vote, not to consider the
Vietnamese resolution, but this was opposed by India. The
ASEAN draft resolution was adopted by the Assembly. India
abstained in the voting on this resolution.
In view of the increased membership of the United Nations,
with the admission to it of a large number of newly independent
States from Africa, Asia and Latin America, India on behalf of
Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Guyana, Maldives,
Nepal, Nigeria and Sri Lanka, formally requested for inscription
of a new item in the agenda pertaining to "the question of equit-
able representation on and increase in the membership of the
Security Council." The intention of the sponsors was that the
membership of the Security Council should be increased from
the present 15 to 19. The reactions from the permanent mem-
bers of the Security Council, with the exception of China, was
not favourable to this initiative. Japan was in favour. The
General Committee which considers allocating of business, ap-
proved the proposal for inscription of the item by 19 votes in
favour, 5 against (USA, UK, USSR France and Byelorussia)
and two abstensions. China voted in favour. While introducing
5--784EA/79
pg50
the proposal in the plenary, the Permanent Representative
of India made a forceful statement in favour of the proposal.
After a short debate, the sponsors of the proposal decided to
agree to a postponement of a decision on it, till the next session
of the General Assembly, to enable more consultations to be
held among the member states.
As in the past years, the General Assembly once again adopt-
ed a resolution on a nuclear-weapon-free zone in South Asia,
sponsored by Pakistan, by 96 votes in favour, 2 against (India
and Bhutan) and 40 abstentions. India opposed the resolution
because it was politically motivated and discriminated directly
against India. In India's view, the question of a nuclear-weapon-
free zone, in an artificially conceived segment of geography
was impractical unless a total withdrawal of dismantling of
nuclear-weapons took place in the whole area. South Asia
could not be singled out for the imposition of such a zone when
nuclear weapons were located in its immediate neighbourhood.
India was of the view that efforts to create such zones should
emanate from the countries constituting the zone and should be
voluntarily arrived at by them. Attempts to create by imposition
such zones could only divert attention from the fundamental goal
of a world totally free of nuclear weapons.
The United Nations Disarmament Commission (UNDC) and
the Committee on Disarmament (CD), established by the tenth
special session of the U.N. General Assembly in 1978, accom-
plished useful work. The United Nations Disarmament Commis-
sion (UNDC) reached agreement on the elements of a compre-
hensive programme of disarmament, the details of which are to
be negotiated by the Committee on Disarmament. The Commit-
tee on Disarmament reached agreement on rules of procedure,
agenda, and programme of work. China announced its inten-
tion to participate in its work from 1980 when the membership
of the negotiating body would rise to 40, its envisaged full
strength. Shri R. Jaipal of India was appointed Special Re-
presentative of the Secretary-General to the Committee on Dis-
armament and Shri M. A. Vellodi of India was re-elected Chair-
man of the U. N. Disarmament Commission for 1980. The
work of the UNDC and CD was reviewed by the U.N. General
Assembly and the follow-up action taken on the recommendations
and decisions adopted at the tenth special session of the Assembly.
India actively participated in the deliberations of these organisa-
tions, in the field of nuclear-disarmament. It stressed the impe-
pg51
rative need for complete cessation of the production of nuclear
weapons combined with a cut-off in the production of fissionable
materials for weapon purposes; a comprehensive ban on the
testing of nuclear weapons by all States in all environments and
a total prohibition on the use of nuclear weapons. India also
emphasised the need for maintaining essential links between dis-
armament and development so that a substantial portion of the
resources released by disarmament could be utilised for develop-
ment purposes particularly in the developing countries.
In the field of economic matters, the General Assembly adopt-
ed two resolutions on development and international cooperation.
It decided to launch at its special economic session in 1980,
a round of global, sustained and action-oriented negotiations. The
Assembly agreed that these negotiations could take place within
the United Nations with the participation of all states and within
a specified time frame. By the other resolution, it was decided
that the Committee of the Whole, acting as a preparatory com-
mittee, should include in its final report suggestions and recom-
mendations which might result from considerations of various
proposals made by Heads of State Government. A resolution
was also adopted concerning food, the environment, a new
development strategy for the 1980s and the needs of the least
developed countries. Another resolution sought urgentimple-
mentation of decisions adopted by the United Nations Conference
on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The Assembly also adopted a series of resolutions on social,
humanitarian and cultural issues. A resolution on the world
social situation expressed regret that most developed countries
had not achieved specific targets of the international development
strategy for the Social Development Decade and called on states
to set priorities in such fields as education, health and housing.
A draft code was approved for law enforcement officials which
would bar the use of torture. The resolution stated that every
law enforcement agency should be representative of and account-
able to the community as a whole. India, during January 1979,
deposited the unilateral declaration with the Secretary-General
stating its intention to abide by the declaration adopted by the
General Assembly in 1975 on the protection of all persons from
being subjected to torture and other cruel inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment. Another resolution sought the elabo-
ration of the convention on the protection of migrant workers
and called for the enlargement of the assistance programme for
South African student refugees.
pg52
In April 1979, India acceded to the two Covenants which
seek to give legal basis to the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, i.e., International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
(1966) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights (1966). These entered into force for
India on 10 July 1979. India after Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Phillip-
pines and Syria was the sixth Asian country to became a party
to these Covenants. In the last session of the Commission on
Human Rights, India took up the question of discriminatory
treatment accorded to Asian immigrants by U.K. The Commis-
sion adopted a resolution expressing its deep concern and took
note of the willingness of India and U.K. to have a forthright ex-
change of information and facts in order to clarify and resolve
the situation.
The United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea held
its eighth session at Geneva from 19 March to 21 April and again
in New York from 16 July to 24 August 1979. It discussed
some outstanding issues relating to the international seabed area,
i.e., the system of exploitation of its resources, financial arrange-
ments between the International Seabed Authority and the contrac-
tors, financial arrangements concerning the Enterprise, composition
of and voting in the Council, relationship between the Assembly
and the Council and settlement of disputes concerning the ex-
ploitation of resources of the international seabed area. It also
discussed the outer limits of continental shelf, questions relating
to maritime boundary and final clauses.
The reports of the various Chairmen could not be submitted
to the Conference sufficiently in time for their intensive considera-
tion and this would now be discussed at the beginning of ninth
session of the Conference in 1980.
India deposited its instrument of accession on 9 July 1979,
simultaneously with U.S.A., U.K., and the USSR, to the two
International Agreements relating to Outer Space. These were :
(a) Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astro-
nauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space, 1968
(Astronauts Assistance Agreement); and (b) Convention on
International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects.
1972 (Liability Convention).
The General Assembly adopted on 5 December 1979, the
Agreement governing the activities of states on the Moon and
other Celestial Bodies. The Agreement affirmed (although
pg53
qualified) that the Moon and its resources were the common
heritage of mankind and it provided for the establishment of an
international regime to govern the exploitation of the natural
resources of the Moon and other Celestial Bodies.
India participated in the fourth meeting of Governmental
Representatives to draft a Convention on the Physical Protection
of Nuclear Material held at Vienna from 17 to 26 October 1979.
The Convention, consisting of 23 Articles and two Annexes,
would be referred by delegations to their authorities for considera-
tion and would be open for signatures from 3 March 1980. India
expressed reservations regarding the scope of the Convention. It
stated that it should apply to all nuclear material, including
nuclear material for military purposes, but should not apply to
nuclear material used for peaceful purposes in domestic use sto-
rage or transport, as this would be within national jurisdiction.
It should, however, apply when the nuclear material was in the
course of international transport.
India, as member of the United Nations Commission on Inter-
national Trade Law (UNCITRAL), participated in its twelfth
meeting, held at Vienna in June 1979. It played a key role
in the constitution of the Working Group on New International
Economic Order and also participated in the working group on
International Negotiable Instruments and International Contract
Practices.
India took part in the Diplomatic Conference for the adoption
of Experts on Environmental Law met at Geneva in March and
an international Character on the Sale and Purchase of Goods,
held at Bucharest in May-June under the auspices of the Inter-
national Institute for the unification of Private Law.
The United Nations Environment Pollution Working Group
of Experts on Environment Law met at Geneva in March and
October 1979. The group succeeded in preparing 18 draft prin-
ciples covering environmental impact assessment, consideration of
environmental monitoring and transfrontier pollution from off-
shore mining and drilling within the limits of national jurisdiction
of a state.
The General Assembly adopted, by consensus in December,
the International Convention Against Taking of Hostages. The
Convention made it an offence to hold any person as hostage for
the purpose of securing fulfilment of something as a condition for
his release. The basic principle underlying the Convention was
pg54
that it provided for the obligation of contracting states to either
prosecute the offender or to extradite him to the state of his
nationality or to the state of the nationality of the hostage or
else to the state where the offence was committed. On the
recommendations of the Ad hoc Committee on International
Terrorism, composed of 35 members, including India, the Gene-
ral Assembly adopted a resolution on 17 December condemning
all facts of international terrorism which endangered or took
human lives or jeopardised fundamental freedoms.
The twentieth session of the Asian-African Legal Consul-
tative Committee was held at Seoul in February 1979. Among
other things it considered the subjects of the law of the sea, en-
vironmental law and international trade law. It also convened
intersessional Working Group meetings in December 1979 on
marine pollution and optimum utilisation of fishery resources in
the exclusive economic zone. The Committee is engaged in
preparing background studies regarding regional cooperation for
rapid industrialisation in the context of the New International
Economic Order.
During 1979, India concluded 66 agreements, 21 of which
were multilateral agreements. A list of these is given at Appendix
V.
| Top |
Foreign Economic Relations
|
Jan 01, 1979
CHAPTER IX
FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS
During the year the Ministry was actively associated in the
development of India's foreign economic relations.
Substantial progress was made in the field of technical
cooperation with developing countries. A large number of
important delegations from African and West Asian countries
visited India in connection with the selection of experts and
Other personnel in diversified fields. The requests from these
countries were met through the well-established practice of com-
municating panels compiled by Foreign Assignment Section in
the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms.
Technical agencies like Rail India Technical and Economic
Services Ltd. (RITES), Telecommunications Consultants India
Ltd. (TCIL), Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd. (BHEL) also entered
into specific agreements with recruiting organisations for this
purpose. In addition, more than 70 experts were deputed, under
the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) pro-
gramme to developing countries. Training facilities were provid-
ed for 78 trainees from such countries on the civilian side and
411 in Defence establishments.
Notable advance was also made in the field of economic co-
operation with developing countries. Government credits, amount-
ing to a total of Rs. 22.40 crores, were granted to such countries,
in addition to commodity loans of 50,000 tons of wheat and
150,000 tons of rice. A total number of 28 joint ventures, mainly
in developing countries, were approved and India also succeeded
in augmenting its project exports particularly in West-Asia and
North African regions. Efforts continued for entering into long-
term arrangements and agreements with developing countries
for meeting India's needs of essential commodities such as crude
oil, fertilisers, rock phosphates, phosphoric acid.
India also participated actively in elaborating, through
multilateral mechanisms, concepts and programmes of coopera-
tion. It played an important role in formulating the Arusha
Programme of Collective Self-Reliance and Action Programme
on Economic Cooperation among Non-aligned and other
Developing Countries which was adopted at the Non-aligned
pg55
pg56
Summit at Havana. A meeting of officials from developing
countries was organised for examining possibilities of cooperation
among State Trading Organisations. The National Industrial
Development Cooperation completed a study on the fullest
possible use of complimentarities among Non-aligned and other
developing countries in terms of resources, endowments and
Industrial Technological capabilities. The Non-aligned Summit
at Havana while noting with appreciation the preparation of this
study, entrusted an Expert Group with the task of analysing this
report and formulating concrete projects. These would be
presented to the Ministerial Conference of Non-aligned countries
that would be held in India in 1981. India was also host to the
meeting of the Expert Group from the consultancy organisations
from Non-aligned and other developing countries which agreed
on the establishment of the Project Development Facility,
Statutes for which would be elaborated and finalised in the near
future.
On-going cooperation with neighbouring countries in South
Asia progressed satisfactorily.
With countries of West Asia and North Africa, the main
stress was on supply of skilled and unskilled manpower and
deputation of experts. With non-oil exporting countries such as
people's Democratic Republic of Yemen and Syria, a beginning
was made to foster technical cooperation under the ITEC pro-
gramme.
India and the socialist countries of Eastern Europe continued
to examine particularly in the framework of the Joint Commis-
sions, measures for further strengthening and promoting economic
cooperation in the light of emerging needs and possibilities.
With developed countries, Indian efforts for persuading them
to take helpful decisions relating to official development assist-
ance, debt relief measures and elimination of trade barriers did
not meet with success.
In the field of multilateral economic relations, India devoted
considerable attention to the subject of energy. A study was made
of the implications of the rising cost of energy and different
ramifications of the problem. The subject was raised in successive
multilateral fora. The Non-aligned Summit at Havana adopted
an important Resolution on "Policy Guidelines for Reinforcing
Collective Self-Reliance among Developing Countries". The
Resolution inter-alia, referred to Non-aligned countries granting
pg57
one another priority of supply for their exportable primary
products and commodities for meeting their respective minimum
needs on a planned and assured basis. This decision was further
adopted at the level of the Group of 77 and also endorsed at the
December Meeting of OPEC. While favouring the proposal for
the launching of a Global Round of Negotiations for discussions
of matters relating to energy, raw-materials, trade, development,
money and finance, India together with like-minded countries,
continued to lay stress on economic cooperation among developing
countries and on the need for elaborating, by the Group of 77,
a strategy that would be conducive to increasing their bargaining
power vis-a-vis the developed world.
India participated actively in the preparations, at the regional
level, and at the level of the Group of 77 for UNCTAD-V,
UNCSTD, and UNIDO-III. Important contribution was made
for elaborating the ESCAP input for the formulation of the
International Development Strategy for the 1980s. India was
elected the Chairman of the Group of 77 for the period October
1979 to September 1980.
| Top |
External Publicity
|
CHAPTER X
EXTERNAL PUBLICITY
In the context of the growing inter-connection between
public opinion and the processes of formulation of foreign
policy and the significance of public relations in this regard,
the importance of extenral publicity work need hardly be em-
phasised. The External Publicity Division of the Ministry conti-
nued to be responsible for the overall task of publicity affecting
India's foreign relations. It also coordinated and supervised
the work of the information and cultural wings of Indian missions
abroad. They were briefed and assisted to interpret all aspects
of India's foreign policy to the public and the media in their
respective countries. They were also kept informed of the
political, economic, social and cultural developments in India in
a manner as to make foreign countries and people interested in
developing and expanding relations with India.
The Division performed these functions through briefing of
Indian as well as foreign press corps resident in India, publica-
tion of magazines, periodicals and pamphlets, special supple-
ments on India in foreign newspapers, organisation of visits by
foreign to India and Indian journalists abroad and
publicity through films, radio and other audio visual means.
The External Publicity Division had to deal with situations
in ferment both in terms of domestic developments in India
and India's external relations. Political uncertainties which
characterised Indian politics during the year put a special
responsibility on the Division to project Indian developments in
correct perspective abroad. The critical developments in Indo-
China, West-Asia, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan required
correct interpretation and projection of the evolving nuances of
India's foreign policy.
An additional factor which influenced the Division's work
was the criticism and evaluation of its role, made by the Parlia-
ment anti public over the previous two or three years. These
developments and tasks were met with purposiveness and flexi-
bility in spite of limitations in terms of resources and manpower
pg58
pg59
An initiative was taken to improve India's external publicity
operations in qualitative terms, by the appointment of a Com-
mittee, under the Chairmanship of Shri Chanchal Sarkar, en-
trusted with the task of making suggestions for improving India's
external publicity effort. On Mar 28, 1979, the Minister of
External Affairs, Shri A. B. Vajpayee, presented to Parliament
the report of this Committee. He highlighted its major re-
commendations, namely, the formulation of a precisely worked
out training programme, the setting up of production centres in
selected Indian missions abroad (with adequate personnel and
equipment) and the proposal to increase by 30% the publicity
budget of the Ministry. The recommendations of the Committee
have been accepted in principle by the Ministry and will be
implemented subject to availability of resources.
Special publicity efforts were made by the Division in pro-
jecting India's firm commitment to democracy and non-align-
ment, to the establishment of a new international economic
order, to moral and material support for majority rule in Namibia
and Zimbabwe and to the cause of the United Nations in up-
holding peace and security in this world.
The publicity and information activities of the Division were
carried out under the following major heads :
(i) Press Relations
During the year, 40 journalists visited India as Government
guests, for whom local hospitality, and in some cases inter-
national passage, was extended by the Ministry. The 250 foreign
journalists who visited India on. their own were also given all
possible help. Fifty TV and photographic teams visited India
for making documentary films on various subjects relating to
our country's culture, history and democratic institutions. One
hundred Indian journalists, who went abroad, were assisted by
the External Publicity Division.
(ii) Audio Visual Publicity
Publicity through documentary and feature films has always
been an effective medium. Eight hundred prints of 45 docu-
mentary films were supplied to 110 Indian missions abroad.
Four prints of a colour documentary "Where Centuries Co-
Exist" were ordered for non-commercial exhibition and for tele-
casting in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Two colour docu-
mentaries "India's Industrial Progress" and "Sharing of our
pg60
Technical Know-how and Experience with the Developing
Countries" are being produced in the Film Division for exhi-
bition abroad.
Five quality feature films : Manthan, Ankur, Nishant, Choti
Si Baat and Benam, were sub-titled in English, Spanish, French
and Arabic. External Publicity Division is processing the pur-
chase of eight prints each of 12 feature films and some children's
films.
With the films available in their stock and those specially
supplied from headquarters, several Indian missions abroad
were able to participate in local film festivals.
The 16 mm cine projectors and radio-cassette-tape recorders
were sanctioned for five Indian missions abroad. Fifty gramo-
phone records of Indian music and National Anthem were sup-
plied to 20 Indian missions abroad.
(ii) Transmissions
The twice-daily news transmissions broadcast to 45 Indian
missions abroad through the Overseas Communication Service
kept them adequately informed of the day-to-day developments
in the country. Each transmission, which was improved both
in lay-out and content, carried on the average 1050 words.
Twice-a-week press cables were sent to 27 Indian missions
abroad, not equipped to receive the daily transmissions.
In 1979, the Indian missions at New York, Washington,
San Francisco and Ottawa were linked through the newly intro-
duced press bulletin service via satellite. The question of link-
ing Indian missions abroad in other regions via satellite is being
actively considered.
(iv) Printed Publicity
The External Publicity Division supplied publicity material
produced by other ministries, as well as material (booklets,
pamphlets, etc.) brought out by the Division itself, to all the
Indian missions abroad. The Division's publication included
the Foreign Affairs Record (monthly), Courier de L'Inde (a
fortnightly in French) and the Indian and Foreign Review (a
fortnightly). The Indian & Foreign. Review was improved both
in content and in lay out and its circulation stepeed up from
pg61
13,500 in 1978-79 to 18,600 in 1979-80, in response to the
demands from the Missions. The feasibility of bringing out the
Review in other foreign languages is being examined.
Some of the special booklets issued by the External Publicity
Division include : (i) "News Agency Journalism Course for
Non-aligned", (ii) "SAVIRA-A Scheme for Adoption of
Villages by Indian Nationals Abroad", (iii) "Mother Teressa-
Nobel Peace Prize Laurete for 1979". These were in addition
to pamphlets brought out on state and official visits of the Presi-
dent and the Prime Minister.
The Division made special arrangements to keep the Indian
missions abroad informed of the general elections held in
January 1980. The following material was sent in advance to
all the Indian missions abroad :
(i) Booklet brought out by the External Publicity
Division--India Prepares for the Elections.
(ii) Copy of the Election Commission's letter giving de-
tails on voting rights of Indians living abroad.
(iii) Background note prepared on the elections to the Lok
Sabha based on material provided by the Election
Commission of India.
(iv) A circular letter dated 19 December 1979 enclosing
charts on nominations filed and withdrawn, partywise,
in each State of India.
(v) A circular letter dated 22 December 1979 enclosing
summaries of the election manifestoes of the principal
political parties.
Apart from this material, special transmission arrangements,
through satellite and wireless were made for conveying news
regarding election results to the Indian missions abroad. The
External Publicity Division also made logistical arrangements
for 110 journalists, including foreign radio/television teams, who
came specialty to cover Indian elections and attendant events.
Two hundred and fifty books on Indian history, philosophy,
religion, art, and culture, etc. were supplied to 68 Indian mis-
sions abroad for their libraries and for presentation to local
dignitaries and institutions. A large number of articles and
backgrounders were sent to the Indian missions abroad for use in
their own publications and for distribution to the local news
media.
pg62
Surveys and supplements on India which created greater
awareness of the country's economic and industrial develop-
ments and cultural heritage were brought out by foreign news-
papers and periodicals on major events like the Republic Day
and the Independence Day. The External Publicity Division
and the Indian missions abroad were actively associated in the
production of these supplements. The Trade Fair Authority of
India also helped us on this. Four special supplements were
issued during 1979-80.
The World Press Review containing comments on or of
interest to India in foreign newspapers and periodicals continued
to be brought out in cyclostyled form. On hundred ninety-
nine issues were released during the nine-month period April
to December 1979.
(v) Visual Material
Posters, books, paintings, pictures and photographs were
supplied to 14 missions for participation in local exhibitions.
Toys and musical instruments were sent to four Indian missions
abroad. These were sent to three missions with the help of the
Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
The renovation and redesigning of the Indian pavilion at the
Commenwealth Institute in London was completed by the
National Institute of Designs, Allahabad, at a cost of Rs. 22.5
lakhs. The exhibition was inaugurated by the Minister of Ex-
ternal Affairs, Shri S. N. Mishra, on 9th August 1979.
Ten thousand photographs (black and white) were sent to
the Indian missions abroad. The photographs covered develop-
ment activities, cultural and social efforts, and subjects of topical
interest.
One hundred sets of 62 slides each, an assorted collection of
transparencies depicting India's steel mills projects, temples,
places of historical and cultural interest etc. were supplied to the
Indian missions abroad.
(vi) Cultural Visits
The External Publicity Division liaised with the Department
Culture and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in orga-
nising trips abroad of Indian artistes and ensuring adequate
publicity to such visits.
| Top |
Cultural Relations
|
CHAPTER XI
CULTURAL RELATIONS
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations continued to work
as the main agency for promoting cultural relations between
India and other countries. The field of its activities expanded
as a result of the transfer to it of some of the cultural activities
carried out by the Ministry of Education and Culture. There
was a reorganisation and increase in the staff of the Council to
cope up with this additional work. The Council opened its fifth
Regional Office at Varanasi on Jun 01, 1979.
The Council, during the period April to December 1979,
sent 56 visitors and 22 delegations to a number of countries
South-East Asia, West Asia, U.S.A., Eastern and Western
Europe, Africa, Fiji, Australia as well as to neighbouring coun-
tries. Many well-known Indian artistes, including dancers and
musicians, gave performances at various cities/countries in-
cluding prestigious international festivals. Commendatory re-
ferences were received regarding these visits and the perfor-
mances given by the artistes.
Under the programme of inviting delegations from abroad,
the Council received 68 guests who had specialised in various
fields ranging from fine arts and literature to education,
science, medicine and technology. They came from Afghanistan,
Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia,
Egypt, England, Federal Republic of Germany, Fiji,
Ghana, Greece, German Democratic Republic, Hungary,
Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya,
Lebanon, Mauritius, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines,
Poland, Portugal, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Syria, Thailand,
the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. Each visitors programme
was carefully drawn up to give him a balanced idea of
India's rich heritage and to assist him in meeting the right persons
in the field of his interest. This programme had a favourable
impact as was evident from the requests being received for such
visits from Indian missions abroad.
Under the Cultural Exchange Programme, the Council re-
ceived sixteen performing delegations numbering 156 persons.
These included : a three-member Mime Artistes Troupe from
pg63
pg64
France; a twelve-member Childern's Cultural Troupe from
Bangladesh; a five-member Students Choir from F.R.G.; one
Dutch Violinist Christian Bor; a five-member Soviet Soloists; a
three-member Soviet Dramatologists; a twelve-member G.D.R.
Troupe; a forty-one-member Leningrad Choreographic Miniature
Troupe from U.S.S.R.; a four-member G.D.R. String Quartet;
a fourteen-member Zazreb Chamber Orchestra; a three member
Greek Shadow Theatre Troupe.
The Council organised a 'Symposium on Contemporary
Theatrical Scene in India and Soviet Union' in November 1979.
A workshop was held between Berlin Puppet Theatre Troupe
and Indian Puppetiers, and a symposium and lecture demonstra-
tion arranged between India and Greek Shadow Theatre Troupes
in December 1979.
The Council organised a week-long Festival, the first of its
kind, of South Asian Culture in December 1979. The Festival
was divided into three parts; Performing Arts; Visual Arts: and
Workshop oil Dances and Music. A ten-member Bangladesh
Troupe; an eleven-member Folk Dance Troupe from Bhutan; a
eight-member Folk Dance Troupe from Nepal; a six-member
Musical Sound Ensemble from Pakistan; and a twenty-one
member State Dance Ensemble from Sri Lanka participated in
the Festival.
A week-long Festival of International Children's films was
held in India to mark the year of the Child.
Under the Indo-U.S. Sub-Commission on Education and
Culture, India sent Shri S. Ramamorthy, Director, Andhra
Pradesh Science Centre and Dr. Mammen Koshy, Curator
(Zoology), National Museum of Natural History, New Delhi, to
U.S.A. for three months each, whereas U.S.A. sent Dr. Malcom
Arth, Chairman, Department of Education, Museum of National
History, New York to deliver lectures. A Joint Indo-U.S. Work-
shop on 'Organisational Strategy for the development of National
History Museums' was held in New Delhi from 8 to 25 October
1979. Six scripts of All India Radio plays were sent to U.S.A.,
and three American plays were found fit for broadcasting in
India. Under the Commission William Osterhans, President,
Varitel Communications, Bernice Coe (Coe Film Association),
George Moynihan, Vice-President (Programming) Westing
House Broadcasting Company, and Nelsa Gidney, Manager
Acquisitions, WNET (New York Education Television) visited
pg65
India in November-December 1979, for selection of Indian non-
feature films to be shown on U.S. television. Shri P. B.
Pendharkar, Producer; A. V. Ramannan, Chief Sound Engineer
and M.S.P. Haran, Editor, Films Division, visited U.S.A. for
study of appropriate technology. From April to December
1979, fourteen Indian fellows were sent to U.S.A. and eight
American fellows were invited to India.
The Council organised two exhibitions on Pottery and
Tapestry from Australia and an exhibition of Paintings from
Egypt and another exhibition of photographs from Italy. It also
held exhibitions of books, photographs, musical instruments and
toys in Malaysia, Hong Kong and Federal Republic of Germany.
The Council arranged Orientation Courses for Indian and
foreign scholars, American Fulbright grantees, I.F.S. proba-
tioners and I.C.C.R. staff. Under the Orientation Programme,
two visitor; were received from Bhutan and Ghana during the
year.
The Council brought out five publications. Four more are
expected to be brought out by the end of current financial year
and seven titles are in progress. Publications of the Council
were sent for display-cum-presentation at the International Book
Fair/Exhibitions at Moscow, Singapore, Frankfurt, Accra,
Colombo and Cairo. There were requests from Indian and
foreign publishers for reproduction of excerpts from books and
journals published by the Council. The Indian Centre for
Africa of the Council brought out three issues of 'Africa
Quarterly' and fourth is in the press.
Under the programme of presentation of books/musical
instruments and art objects, books were sent to the Indian mis-
sions in G.D.R., Trinidad, Peru, Kenya, Syria, Philippines,
Malaysia, Netherlands, Guyana, Fiji, Aden, Indo-
nesia, Bahrain, Chile, Sri Lanka, Yugoslavia, Nigeria, Burma,
Thailand, Poland, Romania, Finland, Portugal, Cuba, Mauritius,
Suriname, Algeria, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam,
Zambia and Turkey. Besides this, puppets, dolls, musical
instruments, handicrafts, paintings, costumes, masks and re-
cords were sent to the Indian missions in Algeria, Maldives,
Cuba, Japan, Pakistan, Fiji, Mexico, Columbia, Malaysia,
Belgium and New Zealand.
6--784EA/79
pg66
The Council continued its work relating to the commemo-
ration of the U.N. International Anti-Apartheid year till end of
March 1979. It also organised 'South Africa Day' on 26th June
1979; 'U.N. Day' on 24 October ; 'P.L.O. Day' on 29 November
and 'Human Rights Day' on 10 December 1979. The celebra-
tion of these 'Days' was suitably publicised.
The Indian Cultural Centres abroad arranged 300 film
shows and 60 performances on dance and music in Fiji and 40
performances of dance and music in Guyana. They also orga-
nised regular lecture-cum-demonstrations in Yoga and Hindi
classes including plays, exhibitions in Fiji, Guyana and Suriname.
There were eleven Indian professors teaching subjects like
indology, social sciences, economic, planning and development,
business management etc. in the Universities of Trinidad,
Mexico, Senegal, Guyana, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Romania,
Lebanon and G.D.R. Four Indian professors returned to India
after completing their term from Poland, Thailand and
Afghanistan
The Council continued to oversee the activities of the Foreign
Cultural Centres in India. The seven British Libraries at
Bangalore, Bhopal, Lucknow, Patna, Pune, Ranchi and Tri-
vandrum continued to be administered by the Council as before.
Two new British Libraries, one in Ahmedabad and the other in
Hyderabad, started functioning from March and August respec-
tively as part of the existing system. Funds were received regu-
larly from the British Council Division for the management of
these Libraries. A meeting of the Consultative Committee of
the British Libraries was held on 14 September 1979. The
House of Soviet Culture at Trivandrum organised a number of
film shows, Russian language classes, exhibitions, talks and
seminars aiming at projecting Soviet life and culture. The Coun-
cil maintained liaison with eight Max Mueller Bhavans in India,
which are at Bangalore, Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Hyderabad,
Madras, Pune and Rourkela. It also remained in touch with
the activities of the eight Alliances Francaises. located at Banga-
lore, Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Karikal, Madras, Pondicherry
and Pune. In addition to this, close liaison was maintained with
the Educational Resources Centre, New Delhi, which collects
material on India for teaching American school children.
A New Jury for the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for Inter-
national Understanding was constituted at the end of March
pg67
1979 for a period of three years. The Vice President of India,
at a Press Conference on 13 November, announced the con-
ferment of the Award for 1979 on Mr. Nelson R. Mandela, the
imprisoned leader of South Africa.
The Council received about 500 foreign students under various
scholarship schemes of the Government of India. Six Summer
Camps for 450 students were organised in the months of May
and June 1979 and twelve Study-tours were organised for about
600 students during the year.
A substantail number of new titles were added to the
Library of the Council which has nearly 50,000 books and also
houses the Library of the Indian Centre for Africa. The
Library has a good number of members and receives 300 to 350
research scholars per month.
The Scheme for providing educational facilities in medicine
and engineering to self-financing students from developing coun-
tries was continued during the year. Out of 1083 applications
for admission to the medical course received from nearly 35
countries, 71 students were selected and nominated to various
medical colleges in India. In addition, 3 out of 5 applicants
from Bhutan and 14 out of 210 applicants from Nepal were
nominated for M.B.B.S. Course. Similarly, 196 students from
out of 782 applicants were selected and nominated to various
engineering colleges including IITs. Three candidates out of
four applicants from Bhutan and 42 candidates out of
90 applicants from Nepal were nominated for engineering
courses.
Requests from foreign students also started coming, during
the year, for admission to different polytechnic institues in
India for Diploma courses and 35 foreign students were nomi-
nated to such courses.
| Top |
Protocol
|
CHAPTER XII
PROTOCOL
During 1979 the Heads of Mission of the following 17
countries left India on the completion of their assignments :--
Ambassadors of Chile, Niger (concurrently accredited)
Central African Empire, Mexico, Portugal, Morocco,
Finland, Greece, Algeria, Zaire, Federal Republic of
Germany, China and Turkey, and High Commissioners
of Kenya, Uganda, Canada and Trinidad & Tobago.
The new Heads of Mission of the following 20 countries
arrived in Delhi and presented their credentials during 1979 :--
Ambassadors of the Netherlands, Austria, Bulgaria,
France, Chile, Colombia, Mali (concurrently accredited--
stationed in Moscow), Greece, Finland, Algeria, Italy,
Portugal, Iran and Zaire, and High Commissioners of
Kenya, New Zealand, Canada, Cyprus, Uganda and
Trinidad & Tobago.
The Government of Cyprus sent their first resident High
Commissioner, His Excellency Mr. Andros A. Nicolaides, to
India, who presented his credentials on Nov 16, 1979.
pg68
| Top |
Passport, Emigration And Consular Services
|
CHAPTER XIII
PASSPORT, EMIGRATION AND CONSULAR SERVICES
There was further progress towards creating an administrative
machinery that would provide, in a simple and easy fashion, pass-
port and related facilities to Indian citizens wishing to travel
abroad. Five new Passport Offices were opened at Bhuba-
neshwar, Patna, Gauhati, Srinagar and Jullundur to serve the
needs of the people of those states which were earlier covered
by Passport Offices located in capitals of nearby states. This
raised the total number of Passport Offices from 13 in 1978 to
18 by the end of 1979. A proposal to open a Passport Office
in Simla is under consideration.
Substantive changes were made in the rules and regulations
appertaining both to the issue of passports and to the granting
of emigration clearances to Indian workers going abroad for
employment purposes. This was done with a view to making
the rendering of these services more trouble-free and expeditious
to members of the public.
The number of applications received and the number of
passports issued and miscellaneous services rendered by each of
the Passport Offices are given at appendix VI. The statement
also gives detail of diplomatic and official passports issued or
serviced by the Ministry during the year. During 1979,
8,51,288 passports were issued. The average time taken for
issuing ordinary passports, where the applications were com-
plete in all respects, was approximately three weeks. In urgent
cases, on humanitarian or other considerations, passports were
issued within twenty-four hours.
A revised version of the passport application form was intro-
duced on Jun 01, 1979. Now only one copy of the application
form is required to be filled as against two earlier. The new
application form was introduced in 11 regional languages, apart
from English and Hindi, in order to meet the needs of the com-
mon man who might prefer to fill his passport application form
in the language of his region. A comprehensive Note for
Guidance, now supplied free along with the passport application
pg69
pg70
proved useful to the members of the public in filling the applica-
tion form. A simpler special version of the passport application
form was introduced for Indians resident abroad.
The merit of procedural improvements such as the liberali-
sation of authorisation for signing Verification Certificates, the
waiving of the requirement of providing a Financial Guarantee
where the passport applications had been verified by the compe-
tent authority, the facility of being able to buy passport applica-
tion forms from post offices throughout India and the practice of
despatching passports through postal channels to the applicants
in order to save them the inconvenience of having to collect them
personally, were greatly appreciated by the members of the
public. The number of passport applications supported by
Verification Certificates rose to approximately 60 per cent in
1979 as compared to 52 per cent in 1978. The facility of the
sworn-affidavit system, under which passport applications accom-
panied by such an affidavit are exempted from prior police
verification, was increasingly used where the applicant found it
difficult to get a Verification Certificate.
A number of proposals were under active consideration to
further improve the quality of services rendered by the Central
Passport and Emigration Organisation. These included the
introduction of a new passport booklet, smaller in size with more
pages and with a flexible cover, the introduction of a Passport
Fee Postal Stamp which would simplify making payment and
accounting procedures and the gradual induction of computerised
methods in respect of storage/retrieval of factual information
relating to passports issued.
In 1979 the total revenue earned by Passport Offices was
Rs. 528.50 lakhs as compared to a revenue of Rs. 483.56 lakhs
in 1978. The expenditure in 1979 was Rs. 143.19 lakhs as
compared to Rs. 145.03 lakhs in 1978.
The exodus of Indian workers to the countries of West Asia
and North Africa for employment continued unabated during
the year. Various steps were taken to facilitate their smooth
emigration and protection from exploitation, both in India and
abroad, at the hands of unscrupulous agents and/or foreign
employers.
Following a Cabinet decision in 1976, the Minister of
Labour had been made the focal point to examine applications
pg71
for emigration. of Indian workers. In 1979, however, after
hearing a number of writ petitions, the Supreme Court of India
passed an order on 20 March laying down certain guidelines
within which the applications for emigration were to be pro-
cessed. These guidelines were to remain in operation till
31 July but in another order passed on 30 July and 21 August,
the Supreme Court extended this period to 31 January 1980. It
was also reiterated that during this period emigration clearances
were to be granted only in accordance with the guidelines laid
down by the earlier order and that no new conditions were to be
imposed. In accordance with these guidelines the work for
processing of applications for emigration shifted back to the
Protectors of Emigrants and the system of licensing of recruiting
agents and insistence on minimum terms and conditions of
employment were dispensed with.
The Ministry made efforts to render the process of emigra-
tion as simple as possible for the emigrant workers. In order
to avoid inconvenience, all the Passport Offices were authorised
to issue the No Objection Certificates which earlier could be
issued only from limited points where Protectors of Emigrants
were in position. Emphasis was laid on minimising the time
taken for the grant of emigration clearances. The system of
security deposits was streamlined to avoid exploitation of the
Indian workers at the hands of unscrupulous elements. Round-
the-clock emigration checks at all international embarkation
points were instituted so that emigrants could leave India only
after registering their employment with the concerned authorities.
With the liberalisation of emigration procedures and increas-
ing awareness of the benefits of registration of employment
agreements there was substantial increase in the number of
emigration applications. During 1979 the total registration of
employment agreements is likely to cross the 200,000 mark
whereas it was only 69,006 in 1978. However, reports of func-
tioning of unscrupulous agents continued to be received and the
Ministry alerted the concerned authorities and the State govern-
ments to be vigilant against these elements.
Meanwhile, the proposal to introduce new legislation on
emigration has reached an advanced stage. Approval of the
caluent was being sought to introduce bill in the Partiament
at the earliest. In the proposed new legislation there is provi-
sion of emigration of skilled and unskilled workers on equal
footing and for regulatory controls on the recruiting agents. It
pg72
has also been proposed to transfer the work relaing to emigra-
tion in the Allocation of Business rules from the Ministry of
External Affairs to the Ministry of Labour.
The Indian missions/posts abroad weer told to give high
priority to rendering efficient and courteous Consular services to
Indians residing abroad or travelling to foreign countries. They
were directed to request visitors, selected on a random basis, to
record their views about the quality of assist service and assis-
tance rendered to them. Twenty-five missions/posts abroad
sent their reports in a prescribed proforma. Ninety per cent of
the proforma received indicated that they were satisfied with the
courtesy and responsiveness shown to them by the members of
the Consular sections concerned.
Indian missions abroad extended financial assistance to 56
Indian nationals who got stranded abroad. The number of
destitute Indians repatriated from abroad was 444 which com-
pared favourably with the figure of 1378 during 1978. The
Government WA up with the relevant foreign authorities the
question of settlement of claims and/or compensation regarding
354 Indians who died abroad during the year.
A large number of judicial, commercial and educational
documents, 71001 in number, required for submission by private
parties or government undertakings to foreign governments/
embassies, were attested during 1979.
In view of the rising cost of maintaining Indian missions/
posts abroad, the rates of Consular Fees were revised upward
with effect from 2 April. Similarly, the visa fees charged from
foreign nationals, intending to visit India, was also revised
upward in consonance with the increase in the fees charged by
foreign countries from Indian nationals.
| Top |
Administration And Organisation
|
CHAPTER XIV
ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANISATION
Shri A. B. Vajpayee and Shri S. Kundu, Minister and Minis-
ter of State of External Affairs, relinquished charge consequent
on the resignation of the Cabinet of Prime Minister Morarji
Desai, on Jul 15, 1979. Shri S. N. Mishra took office as the
new Minister of External Affairs on 28 July 1979 and Shri B.
Barua as Minister of State of External Affairs on 13 August
1979. Following the results of the mid-term General Electtions,
S/Shri S. N. Mishra and B. Barua demitted their respective
offices and Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao assumed charge as Minis-
ter of External Affairs on 14 January 1980.
There were a number of changes at the level of Additional
Secretary and above. On 19 November 1979, Shri J. S. Mehta,
relinquished charge and Shri R. D. Sathe took over as the new
Foreign Secretary. S/Shri E. Gonsalves and R. Bhandari took
over as Secretaries on 1 June 1979 and 1 August 1979 respec-
tively, on the retirement of Shri U. S. Bajpai and M. A. Vellodi.
Shri S. K. Singh took over as Additional Secretary (Administra-
tion) on 6 June 1979, on the transfer to Kathmandu of Shri
N. P. Jain. During the year, 19 officers of Indian Foreign
Service, belonging to Grades I to IV retired from service, includ-
ing two on voluntary basis.
At the Headquarters, the Ministry of External Affairs com-
prised 21 divisions (of which 9 were specialised divisions) with
a total strength of 555 officers and 1890 non-gazetted members
of staff. Twenty-three officers were on deputation to the
Regional Passport Offices, other Ministries and Departments of
the Government of India and International Organisations.
Appendix XI reflects the staff strength of the cadres of the
IFS(A) and IFS(B). The Ministry continued to be seized of
the question of cadre review of IFS(B) to achieve rationalisation
of cadre structure.
Changing spectrum of the world scene and diplomatic acti-
vity called for the administrative structure of the Ministry to be
continuously strengthened and adjusted to the new priorities
Two new Indian missions were opened at Abidjan (Ivory Coast)
pg73
pg74
and Salisbury (Zimbabwe) and the number of resident Indian
missions/posts abroad during the year stood at 129. In addition,
India had concurrent accreditation in 46 countries. The staff
strength of the Indian missions/posts abroad was 698 diplomatic
officers and 2,816 non-diplomatic staff, including locally-
recruited employees. A number of steps were initiated to
streamline India's representation abroad so as to strike a right
balance between the country's international interests and objec-
tives and financial resources. A review of the staffing pattern in
Indian missions abroad was initiated in the interests of economy
and efficiency. India's consular and trade representation in the
Gulf region too was strengthened with a view to meeting increas-
ed obligations towards its resident Indian community and to
widen the areas of economic and commercial relations with this
region.
Recognising the imperative role of language expertise in the
functional effectiveness of the Ministry, emphasis continued to
be placed on the creation of a dependable cadre of language
scholars and interpreters. As many as 27 young Foreign Service
officers acquired proficiency in a number of foreign languages.
Now that the norms for the formation of an independent inter-
preters' Cadre within the service have been finalised, in consul
tation with the concerned Administrative bodies, the Ministry
hopes to be in a position, before long, to recruit qualified
linguists to the proposed Cadre. A comprehensive list of the
number of officers who have qualified in various languages is
given at Appendix XII.
The total expenditure of the Ministry during the financial
year 1979-80 is estimated to be of the order of Rs. 166.13
crores. The expanded commitment to Cooperation Projects and
Programmes in Nepal and Bhutan; enhanced commitment of
loans to Bangladesh; as also global trends of inflation tended to
increase requirements of resources. The expenditure on the
financing of the activities of Indian missions abroad increased
but marginally from Rs. 33.54 crores to Rs. 34.69 crores. The
Ministry rationalized its staffing pattern and exercised stringent
controls over the expenditure so as to entail little if any increase.
Break-up of the overall expenditure is given at Appendices IX
& X.
In the context of world-wide escalation of rentals over the
past few years, the Ministry intensified its efforts to acquire
immovable property abroad for office accommodation and resi-
pg75
dences for Heads of Mission and India-based personnel. During
the year, India acquired residences for Indian Ambassadors at
Manila (Philippines) and Santiago (Chile); two apartments at
Berne (Switzerland); eight semi-independent houses at London
(UK) and two flats at Santiago. A building was also purchased
to accommodate the Chancery at Dublin (Ireland). The policy
of undertaking construction of own offices and residential pre-
mises was vigorously pursued. The Chancery building at
Bangkok (Thailand) became ready for occupation. Likewise,
the Chancery building and apartments for all staff members at
Ottawa (Canada) are expected to be ready by the end of the
current financial year. Plans and estimates were approved for
construction of residential apartments at Lagos (Nigeria),
Jakarta (Indonesia) and Ankara (Turkey). Preparation of
preliminary plans and drawings etc. has been taken in hand in
regard to construction at Colombo (Sri Lanka), Islamabad-
(Pakistan), Lusaka (Zambia), Kathmandu (Nepal), Kabul
(Afghanistan), Brasilia (Brazil), Riyadh (Saudi Arabia),
Kuwait and Canberra (Australia). With the acquisition of
built-up property during the current financial year, India would
have owned office buildings in as many as 24 countries. Heads of
Mission residences in 54 countries, and office-cum-residences in
five countries.
The Welfare Unit of the Ministry continued to took after
the general welfare of all the officers serving at Headquarters
and Indian missions abroad, including the admission of their
children in educational institutions and in promotion of cultural
and social activities.
Financial assistance was provided to some officials during
their prolonged illness and to the bereaved families of the
deceased officials from the Staff Benefit Fund. Employment
opportunities were also provided to the direct deserving depen-
dents of the deceased officials. A proposal for group insurance
of all the Group 'D' employees of the Ministry out of the Staff
Benefit Fund is currently under consideration.
A special Cell continued to function to watch and monitor
the progress of implementation of the Reservation orders in res-
pect of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Details regard-
ing the number of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes in the
total strength of the Ministry, the vacancies reserved for them
and appointments made against these vacancies are given in
Appendices VII and VIII.
| Top |
Use Of Hindi In Official Work
|
Jan 01, 1979
CHAPTER XV
USE OF HINDI IN OFFICIAL WORK
In keeping with the policy of the Government, the Ministry
made every effort to encourage the use of Hindi in official work.
The Official Language implementation Committee, headed by
the Additional Secretary (Administration), met periodically to
keep a watch on the implementation of the instructions issued
by the Government on the subject. Additional Secretary
(Administration) also addressed a meeting of the Branch Officers
to emphasise. the need to implement the Official Language Rules
in right earnest. Official Language Implementation Committees
were set up during the year in a number of Indian missions
abroad. The Regional Passport Offices also constituted Official
Language Implementation Committees to encourage the use of
Hindi in their offices. In order to ensure greater use of Hindi in
the Ministry, all Heads of Division nominated an officer from
their respective Division to liaise with the Hindi Branch.
As during the previous year the Minister of External Affairs,
Shri S. N. Mishra, addressed the thirty-fourth session of the
United Nations General Assembly in Hindi. This is considered as
an appropriate step in the direction of giving Hindi its rightful
place in the comity of nations.
Apart from the above, Hindi continued to be used extensively
in protocol matters relating to international treaties and agree-
ments. Various documents like the Letters of Credence, Letters
of Recall, Commission of Appointment and other protocol
documents were prepared in Hindi and correspondence in Hindi
between different departments of the Ministries and with the
public was conducted increasingly in Hindi.
More Indian missions abroad were provided with Hindi type-
writers. In accordance with the decision already taken to supply
at least one Hindi typewriter to each Mission, efforts are being
made to achieve this target as soon as possible. It is the intention
of the Ministry to create more posts of Hindi Officers in Indian
missions abroad and to post Hindi knowing typists/stenographers
there. This is meant to maximise the use of Hindi by them in
their correspondence with the Ministry and, wherever possible,
with local bodies.
pg76
pg77
Under the Scheme of the Propagation of Hindi Abroad,
Hindi books and help literature continued to be sent to Indian
missions abroad and to voluntary organisations abroad to meet
the requirements of the people of Indian origin. Hindi books
and help literature worth about Rs. 312,000/- were sent to
various Indian missions abroad during the year. Special efforts
were made to print and supply Hindi text books for primary
schools in Fiji. The Ministry continued to supply Hindi news-
papers, wall newspapers, journals, etc., regularly for use in the
libraries of Indian missions abroad.
The Ministry continued to render necessary assistance to
foreign nationals and non-Hindi speaking employees to learn
Hindi through correspondence courses.
The Children's Hindi Classes, started in 1977 in the Indian
missions abroad, made steady progress. Children of the members
of staff in these Missions and the children of the employees of
the Public Sector Undertakings took full advantage of this
Opportunity. At the behest of this Ministry, some of the voluntary
Hindi organisations abroad also started Hindi classes for local
nationals.
At the request of the Ministry, many of the Indian Missions
abroad organised functions, with the assistance of the local
Hindi organisations, on the occasion of the 500th birth anniver-
sary of Mahakavi Surdas. The event was celebrated in Delhi and
other centres in India and eminent foreign Hindi scholars attended
the function. An International Hindi Conference was also held
in Suriname in January 1979, with the assistance of the Indian
Council for Cultural Relations, in which an eminent Hindi
scholar from India participated.
In accordance with the decision of the Award Committee,
constituted under the Chairmanship of the Minister of External
Affairs. "Vishwa Hind Puraskar", was given to five eminent
foreign Hindi scholars. It was acclaimed, by writers and journa-
lists, as a success and a positive step towards popularising Hindi
in foreign countries.
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations adopted a com-
prehensive programme of activities with the object of propagating
Hindi abroad. This was intended for strengthening cultural
relations with foreign countries specialty in those areas of Asia,
Africa and the Caribbean, where Hindi is widely understood by
large sections of the population. Two issues of the Hindi
pg78
Quarterly "Gagananchal" were published and distributed mainly
in the foreign countries. A special issue on Fiji is also being
brought out to mark the 100 years of Indian migrations to Fiji.
A book entitled "History of Indian Migrations to Fiji" has also
been commissioned and is in the process of being published.
Enlarged programmes were undertaken for exchange of Hindi
speaking artists, scholars, with the aim of strengthening cultural
relations with Hindi speaking people abroad. Hindi teaching
arrangements continued, at the Chairs of Indian Studies abroad,
to meet the needs of foreigners for learning the language. In
addition, in the Cultural Centres maintained by the Council in
foreign countries, arrangements continued for the teaching of
Hindi, besides instructions in Indian music, Classical dances etc.
As part of Book Presentation Programme sets of Hindi books
were presented to learned institutions and libraries abroad. A
Hindi typewriter and a set of Hindi texts, supplementary books
and journals were presented to the Kaliniya University of Sri
Lanka.
A special orientation course for foreign students studying
Hindi at the Central Hindi Institute was conducted in September
1979. Hindi clases were also regularly held for the officials of the
Council
|
Top |
Appendix I Major International Conferences/Meetings/Seminars
|
APPENDIX I
Major International Conferences/Meetings
/Seminars etc. organised by Inter
Governmental Organisation at which
Govt. of India was represented in 1978-79
------------------------------------------
Sr. Title of Conference etc. Foreign exchange
No. With Venue & date) component of exp.
in Rs.
---------------------------------------------
1 2 3
---------------------------------------------
UNITED NATIONS
1. 8th Session of UN Conference on Law of
the Sea held 24,007.85
in Geneva from Mar 19, 1979 to 27-4-79.
2. U.N. Expert group to study the relationship
bet- 12,470.00
ween disarmament and development, at Geneva,
1-5-79 to 7-5-79.
3. Asian Development Bank meeting, Manila from
7,410.00 1-5-79 to 8-5-79.
4. Aid-India Consortium meeting, Paris from
1-5-79 43,952.00 to 11-5-79.
5. U.N. Disarmament Commission, New York from
61,401.00 10-5-79 to 9-6-79.
6. U.N. Expert group to carry out a study of
Expenses met nuclear weapons,
New York 9-7-79 to 13-7-79. by UN
7. Annual Session of International Law
Commission, Geneva from 14-5-79 to 3-8-79.
Do.
8. 1979 Session of UN Children's Fund, Mexico
-- 16-5-79 to 1-6-79.
9. XIIth Session of United Nations Commission
37,883.00 of International Trade Law, Vienna
from 18-6-79 to 29-6-79.
10. Resumed 8th Session of the UN Conference on
-- Law of the Sea held in New York from
16-7-79 to 27-8-79.
11. 8th Session of the UN Conference on Law of
the 21,071.25 Sea held in Geneva from
18-3-79 to 23-8-79.
12. IInd Session of the Preparatory Committee of
12,963.00 the World Conference held in
New York from 27-8-79 to 7-9-79.
------------------------------------------------
7--784EA/79
-----------------------------------------------
------
1 2 3
-----------------------------------------------
------
13. 8th Session of the working group Of
international 9,784.00
Trade Law, Vienna from 18-6-79 to
29-6-79.
14. First Session of the Interim Committee
of the UN 7,572.00
negotiating Conference on common fund,
Geneva from 3-9-79 to 14-9-79.
15. UN Conference on question of prohibition/
restric- 1,089.71
tion of use of certain conventional
weapons, Geneva from 10-9-79 to 29-9-79.
16. Secood Session of the Interim Committee of
the 6,500.00
UN negotiating Conference on common fund,
Geneva from 3-9-79 to 14-9-79
17. Deputation of Secretary ensuing International
Law - Commission in Geneva from 4-4-79 to
4-11-79.
18. Seminar on North South relations organised
by 4,500.00
the centre for applied studies in International
organisation held at Geneva from 6-11-79 to
12-11-79.
19. Inter-Regional Seminar on Biogas programme
in China, Sichuyan, Shanghai and Peking in
China from 1-9-79 to 21-9-79.
20. UN Study on the question of a comprehensive
nu- Expenses were clear test ban held
in New York from 4-2-79 to 1-3-80. borne
by UN.
ESCAP
1. Regional Round-up meeting of ESCAP/RAO Inter-
country Project for the promotion and Training of
Rural Women in Income-raising Group Activities
organised by ESCAP at Bangkok, 9-12 April 1979.
2.Inaugural Session of Asia-Pacific Telecommunity,
5,669.1
1
Bangkok, 8-17 May 1979.
3.Seminar on statistical organisation organised by
--
ESCAP, Wellington from 24-4-79 to 30-4-79.
4. High level expert group meeting, Bangkok,
9-7-79 Expenses met to 11-7-79. by ESCAP
5. Seminar on an integrated approach to population,
Expenses met food and nutrition policies and
programme for by ESCAP
National Development, Bangkok, 24-7-79 to
31-7-79.
---------------------------------------------------
pg83
---------------------------------------------------
1 2 3
---------------------------------------------------
6. Regional Workshop on Income-generating skill for
--
women in Asia at Chingmai, Thailand from
27-8-79 to 3-9-79.
7.Expert Working Group Meeting on water use data in
--
Bangkok from 31-7-79 to 6-8-79.
8. Regional Seminar on Environmental Development
Expenses met organised by UNEP & ESCAP,
Bangkok, 14-8-79 by ESCAP to 18-8-79.
9. Study tour-cum-consultative meeting of
National Liaison --
Officers of Asia and Pacific Region of
India, New Delhi. 10-16 September 1979.
10. Biennial meeting of Association of Development
Re- --
search and Training Institute of Asia and
Pacific. 6-13 October, 1979.
11. Meeting of the study group on the coordination
Expenses met of Govt. Information Systems
organised by ESCAP, by ESCAP Bangkok from
15-10-79 to 19-10-79.
12. Consultative Committee Meeting convened by
ESCAP 3,942.00 for reviving Regional
Standardization Activities, Bang-
kok, 7-9 November 1979.
13. Working group of statistical experts of
ESCAP, Bang- Expenses met
kok during 29-10-79 to 1-11-79. by ESCAP
14. ESCAP Regional Preparpatory Conference on
Women 1,11,287.52
and Development, held in New Delhi from 5-9
November 1979.
15. Seminar and Management Committee of Asia
Pacific --
Telecommunity, Bangkok, 10 to 20 December,
1979.
16. Council of the RMRDC (ESCAP) during November
1,313.81 1979.
17. 6th Session of the Committee on Natural
Resources, 1,752.00
Bangkok, during October-November 1979.
18. Ad-hoc Inter-Governmental meeting on
Integrated Not known Rural Development,
Bangkok, 11-17 December 1979.
19. Expert group meeting regarding the
policy framework Expenses met
and work programme of the proposed Asian and
by ESCAP Pacific Development Centre
convened by ESCAP,
Bangkok, 20-21 December 1979.
-----------------------------------------------
pg84
------------------------------------------------
1 2 3
------------------------------------------------
20. High level expert group meeting on the role
of external Expenditure Financial
Reserves in the ESCAP region, Belgrade
met by from 20-12-79 to 22-12-79. ESCAP
21. Preparatory Expert Group Meeting of the
Second -- Asian Conference of
Ministers responsible for Social Development
1980, held in Bangkok, 13-15 June 1979.
22. Assignment from ESCAP as high level Expert
on Stan- -- dardisation, Bangkok
from 15th January 1980 for 4 years.
23. Membership of Association of Development
Research --
and Training Institute of Asia and the
Pacific, Bangkok, 1-4-79 to March 1980.
UNCITRAL
12th Session of UNCITRAL held in Vienna --
UNDP
1. Round table Meeting on Insurance education
in Asia, Expenses met Bangkok, 2-4-79 to
5-4-79. by UNDP
2. International Seminar on Information systems
in Do.Pubulic Administration and their role
in economic and social development, Paris
from 17-6-79 to 23-6-79.
3. Regional consultative Meeting on Technical
Coopera- Expenses met
tion among Developing Countries in labour and
by ILO related fields in the Asian and
Pacific Region, Bangkok, from 23-7-79 to
27-7-79.
4. Seminar on Agricultural Insurance held
at Colombo Expenses met
from 1-10-79 to 5-10-79. by UNDP
5. International Seminar on National
Development Do.
Nagoya (Japan) from 30-10-79 to 5-11-79.
FAO
1. 14th Session of the Inter-Governmental
Group on Hard 21,934.92
Fibres (FAO), Rome from 17-4-79 to 20-4-79.
2. 4th Session of FAO Committee on World
Food Security 4,690.12
held at Rome, 5-11 April 1979.
3. 6th Session of International Sugar
Council held at 4,411.00
London from 10-15 June 1979.
-----------------------------------------------
pg85
-----------------------------------------------
1 2 3
-----------------------------------------------
4. 11th Session of FAO/WHO Codex Committee
on Pesti- 8,402.75
cide Residues, The Hague, 11-18 June 1979.
5. The 87th and 88th Session of the
International Wheat 3,463.10
Council, London, 25-29 June 1979.
6. Workshop on Food and Nutrition, Planning,
Program- Expenditure
ming, Implementation and Evaluation, Colombo
met by July 1979.
FAO
7. FAO Technical Consultations in Phillipines,
4-10 -- September 1979.
8. FAO/UNDP Technical Consultation among
develop- 2,299.38
ing Countries of Asia and Pacific in
Manila from 4-10 September 79.
9. 76th Session of FAO Council from 6th to
8th Nov- --
ember followed by meeting of Commonwealth
Agricul-ture and Food Ministers on 9-11-79
at Rome.
10. 8th Session of International Sugar Council,
London, 13-20 November 1979.,822.00
11. 89th Session of the International Wheat
Council preced-ed by the meeting of the
Food Aid Committee, London, 26-29 November
1979. 13,782.42
12. Meeting on Coir, Rome from, 18-2-80 to
19-2-80 26,700.00
IFAD
1. 6th Session of the executive board of
the IFAD, Rome Expenditur
e
from 26-6-79 to 29-6-79. met by
IFAD.
2. 7th Session of the executive board of
the IFAD, Rome Do.
from 16-9-79 to 20-9-79.
3. 8th Session of the executive board of
the IFAD, Rome Do.
from 17-12-79 to 21-12-79.
4. Third Session of the governing council
of the IFAD. 4,000.00
WMO
1. 8th World Metereological Congress and
31st session 58,000.00
of WMO Executive Committee at Geneva from
30th (estimated)
April to 1st June 1979.
2. WMO Regional Seminar on Flood Forecasting
at Nan- --
king (China) from 8-16 November 1979.
-----------------------------------------------
pg86
-----------------------------------------------
1 2 3
-----------------------------------------------
3. 5th Session of WMO Inter-Governmental
Panel 6,500.00
on FGGE at Geneva from 12-16 November
1979. (estimated)
4. WMO Symposium/Planning Meeting on the
Agro- --
metereology of the Rice Crops in Los Baues,
Lagund (Phillipines), 3-7 December 1979.
5. WMO Coordination Meeting of Telecommunications
--
Experts of India, Egypt, USSR and WMO held
at New Delhi from 3 to 7 December 1979.
USAID
In-house conference on Energy Environment
on --
Forestry, Manila from 12-11 to 16-11-79.
UNESCO
1. UNESCO International Symposium on Earthquake
1776.00
Precipitation at Paris from 2-6 April, 1979.
2. Second meeting of UNESCO advisory group of
experts --
in Informatics at Paris from 17-9 to 19-9-79.
3. Regional meeting of computer centre directors
in --
South and Central Asia, Kathmandu from 29-10 to
1-11-79.
4.UNESCO sponsored International Field Conference
on --
Neogene/Quaternary Boundary in India held at Chan-
digarh, October-November 1979.
5. Meeting of the Ad-Hoc Monitoring Group organis-
--
ed by UNESCO at Kuala Lumpur from 22-10 to
25-10-79.
6. Processes sponsored by UNESCO held at Trivendrum
--
during December 1979.
7.International Symposium on Triassie Strategraphy
7,524.04
in Southern Alps and IGCP Projects. Nos. 4 and
106 (UNESCO) at Milan, Italy in June, 1979.
ILO
1. 210th Session of the Governing Body of ILO from
14,367.00 28-5-79 to 2-6-79.
2. Delegation to the 65th Annual Session of the
ILO of 5,758.73
the ILC in Geneva from 6-6-79 to 27-6-79.
---------------------------------------------------
pg87
---------------------------------------------------
1 2 3
---------------------------------------------------
3. UNDP/ILO Regional Consultation Meeting in TCDC
117.00
in Labour and related fields in Asia and Pacific
regions from 23-27 July 1979.
4. ILO/ARPLA sub-Regional Seminar on the Labour
re- 75.00
lations held in Colombo from 20-25 August 1979.
5. Deputation of Director to attend FES/ILO in
Bang- 1121.00
kok from 24-29 September 1979.
6. Meeting of Experts on Labour Relations and
Develop- 1219.00
ment in Asia, Singapore, 1-6 October 1979.
7. Follow-up Seminar under ILO/FRG at Bangkok
from --
1-20 October 1979.
8. ILO/UNEP Regional Pilot Workshop on working
con- --
ditions and environment for Labour Inspectors
in Asia and Pacific from 8-16 October 1979,
at Kuala Lumpur.
9. ILO/ARPLA Regional Meeting strengthening
the role --
of Labour Ministries in the development
of National Employment Policy at Bangkok,
15-20 October 1979.
10. ILO sponsored seminar on Promotion of
Industrial --
democracy in Asia at Bangkok, 24-29 October
1979.
11. ILO Workshop at Turin Centre-2-14 December
-- 1979.
12. ILO Meeting, Geneva 8-16 May 1979. --
13. 212th Session of the Governing Body from
20-2-80 29,470.00 to 1-3-80.
ICAO
1. Third meeting of Panel of Experts on
Regulations and 7,460.00
Air Transport Services, Montreal.
2. Second Air Transport Conference, Montreal
--
3. 9th Session of the FAL Division, Montreal
--
4. Communications Divisional Meeting, Montreal
, 16th May to 8 June 79.--
5. Third SEA/PAC Aviation Security Seminar,
Sydney, Not available
11-15 February 1980.
----------------------------------------------
pg88
----------------------------------------------
1 2 3
----------------------------------------------
ITU
1. Symposium on New Telecommunication Services
at 11,389.00
Geneva organised by ITU from 14-16 May 1979.
2. Pre-Rio Congress of Common wealth Postal
Adminis- 5,034.90
tration held at Bridge Town (Barbados).
Pre-Rio open meetings of AOPU at Rio-de Janerio
in Septem- ber 1979.
3.Telecom 79 and World Telecommunication Forum at
65,706.00 Geneva organised by ITU from 19th
September to 26th September 1979.
4. XVIIth Congress of the UPU held at Rio-de-
Janerio 1,42,302.24
(Brazil) from 12th September to 26th October
1979.
5. 9th International Teletraffic Congress held
at Malaga 15,281.00 (Torremolines, Spain)
from 16-10-79 to 31-10-79.
6. Meeting of the Executive Committee of the
AOPU 4,787.85
held at Melbourne from 6th to 12th
December 1979.
7. 34th Session of Adm. Council of ITU from
4-22 June -- 1979.
APRACA
In-house conference on Energy Environment
on --
Forestry, Manila from 12-11 to 16-11-79.
PIACT AND US AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
International Conference on the commercial
retail Expenditure
sales of contraceptives sponsored by PIACTA
US met by
Agency for International Development,
Manila from PIACT
5-11 to 7-11-79.
IMF/IBRD
Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting held
at Valletta and annual meetings of the
Boards of Gover-nors of IMF/IBRD at
Belgrade from 20-9-79 to 7-10-79.
Rs. 50,000.00
----------------------------------------------
pg88a
----------------------------------------------
1 2 3
-----------------------------------------------
UNSC
1. 8th Session of the Working Group on
International --
Statistical Programmes and Coordination of
the UN Statistical Commission held at
Geneva during 29-30/10-79.
2. 42nd session of the International
Statistical Institute --
held at Manila during 4/12 to 14-12-79.
UNFPA
SWDCAP/UNFPA Regional Training Seminar
in --
Social Welfare Aspects of Family Planning,
Manila, 15-30 October 1979.
UNITAR
Long-term and New Energy Resources,
Montreal --
(Canada), 26-11-79 to 10-12-79.
UNEP
1. Biogas Expert Meeting, Bangkok, 5-1-80
to 10-1-80 --
2. Agriculture in Tropical Climate, New
Delhi, 29-2-80 -- to 4-3-80.
WHO
1. WHO meeting on Delivery of Health Care
to pre- --
School Children held at Bangkok, 12-17
November 1979.
2. Symposium of Child Welfare in
Commemoration of --
the IYC at Nagoya, 20-22 November 1979.
UNICEF
Meeting of Infant and Young Child Feeding,
jointly --organised by WHO and UNICEF
at Geneva, 9-12 October 1979.
Miscellaneous :
1. Preparatory conference on the question
of Prohibition/ 9,271 .46
Restriction of use of certain
conventional weapons.
Geneva, 19 March to 12 April 1979.
--------------------------------------------
pg88b
--------------------------------------------
1 2 3
--------------------------------------------
2. Extraordinary meeting of Assembly of
Parties and 8th 12,864.00
Meeting of Signatories of INTELSAT from
2-7 April 1979.
3. General Assembly and Council Meeting of
the Inter- 13.810.00
national Centre for the study of
Preservation and Restoration of
Culture Property (ICCROM), Rome
17-25 April 1979.
4. Regional Seminar on Radio Communication
Prepara- 1,000.00
tory to WARC 1979, Sydney. 29-3-79
to 10-4-79.
5. Indian delegation to the Meeting of
IOCOM Princi- 4,593.00 ples at Penang
(Malaysia), April 9-13, 1979.
6. Conference of Non-aligned
Telecommunication Ad- 19,840.00
ministrators in preparation to WARC
1979, Yaounde (Camaroon), 7-10 May 1979.
7. 5th Session of INMARSAT Preparatory
Committee, 7,149.00
London from 13th May, 1979.
8. Conference on the Non-aligned and
Developing coun- 1,437.32
tries on the 'Role of Women in
Development' held in
Baghdad, 5-13 May 1979.
9. Legal Committee--24th Session,Montreal
from 7-23 -- May 1979.
10. COSPAR International meeting sponsored
by UN held --
at Bangalore during June 1979.
11. Meeting of the Programme Advisory
Committee at --
Turin, Italy from 22-25 May 1979.
12. Special Study Programme entitled Rural
Unions in Self- --
help programme in USA, 7th May to
2nd June. 1979.
13. International Seminar on Aging at
Kiev (USSR), 14-25 -- May 1979
14. Food Discussion under CSIR/KFA
Agreement in FRG, --
19-22 June 1979.
15. Discussions relating to WARC 1979
with USSR, 3,103.55
Moscow, 24-27 June 1979.
16. INTELSAT Global Traffic Meeting
at Washington, 5,476.00
26-6-79 to 2-7-79.
-----------------------------------------
pg88c
-----------------------------------------
1 2 3
--------------------------------------------
17. 38th Meeting of Board of Governors of
INTELSAT 5,940.00
at Hamburg from 4-13 June 1979.
18. 18th Meeting of Commonwealth
Telecommunications 6,252.00
Council, Montreal, 12-20 July 79.
19. 1st Meeting of the Council of INMARSAT
and Pre- 14,000.00
paratoty Committee meeting from 12-27
July 1979.
20. 2nd Meeting of the IOCOM Interim
Management --
Committee held at Bombay from 31 July
to 1st August 1979.
21. Seminar on Netwotk Planning, CTB, held
at Bombay -- from 14-18 August 79.
22. World Administrative Radio Conference,
1979,17-9-79 2,05,254.12
to 5-12-79.
23. Meeting of INMARSAT Advisory Committee,
Athens 3,500.00
9-16 October 1979.
24. 1st Session of Assembly and 2nd Session
of INMARSAT 25,300.00
held at London from 24th October to 6th
November 1979.
25. Asia/Pacific Rural Technology meeting,
Seychelles, --
26-11-79 to 30-11-79.
26. Meeting of the Commonwealth Ministers
for Agricul- 14,000.00
ture, Food and Rural Development, Rome,
8-11-79 to 11-11-79.
27. 4th Coordination Committee Meeting of
the Press -- Agencies Pool of Non-aligned
countries, Belgrade, 19-24 November 1979.
28. 1st meeting of Advisory Committee on
Financing and 6,662.00
Marketing and 2nd meeting of the Advisory
Committee on Technical and Operational
Matters. London, 9-24 January 1980.
29. IIIrd Session of Council of INMARSAT,
London, 6-13 15,443.00
February 1980.
30. Commonwealth Telecommunication Regional
Semi- --
nar, Singapore, 6-12 February 1980.
31. IIIrd Coordination Meeting with STC,
London, --
February 1980.
----------------------------------------------
|
Appendix II Major international conferences/meetings/seminars
|
APPENDIX II
Major international conferences/meetings/
seminars organised by Non-Governmental
Organisation (such as Asian Productivity
\Organisation, Inter- national
Co-operation Alliances, International
Organisation for Standardisa-tion etc.)
in which Indian experts participated
in their personal capacity with
Govt. assistance in 1979-80 (April,
1979 to March, 1980)
-----------------------------------------
Sr. Title of conferences etc. with
venue& date Foreign Ex-
No. change component
of exp. in Rs.
----------------------------------------
1 2 3
----------------------------------------
1. Meeting of ISO/TC 34 Agri. Food products
ISO/ --
TC34/SC4 Cereals and Pulses, ISO/TC34
/SC4/WG 2 Storage, ISO/TC34/SC4/WG2
Storage, ISO/TC34 SC/4/WG4/Terminology,
ISO/TC34/SC8 Tea to be held in New Delhi
from Mar 10, 1979-15 March 1979
2. Third Congress of the International Water
Resources 21,348.77
Association at Mexico City from 23-4-79
to 27-4-79
3. 11th Annual Off-shore Tech. Conference
at Huston 21,506.60
(USA) from 26th April-17th May, 1979.
4. 1st Session of the Chart Specifications
Committee of 3,590.00
the Int. Hydrographic Orgn. held at
Monte Carlo, 24-26 April, 1979.
5. Diplomatic conferences on Draft Convention
pro- 18,023.00
viding a uniformation of Agency of
International character held in Bucharest
from 28-5-79 to 13-6-79.
6. ISO/TC72 machinery and accessories and
its sub- 14,276.00
committees 1, 2, 3 and 4 Venice (Italy),
7-11 May, 1979
7. ISO/TC149 Cycles and its sub-committees
1 and 2 16,045.00
Brussels (Belgium), 8-11 May, 1979.
8. 44th IEC Annual General Meeting, Sydney,
21st May 24,390.00
to 2nd June, 1979
9. Symposium on "Sonar Signal Processing
and its 30,000.00
application at France during 28th May
to 2nd June,
1979 at France
-------------------------------------------
pg88d
pg88e
-------------------------------------------
1 2 3
-------------------------------------------
10. 1st Int. Hydrographic Tech. Conf. and
IInd Meet- 4,076.50
ing of the FIG/IHO Working Group on the
Int. Stan- dard of competence on
Hydraulic surveying held at
Ottawa from 12-19 May, 1979.
11. International Mineral Processing Congress
held in 5,028.88
Warsaw from 4-6-79 to 17-6-79.
12. ISO/TC113 Measurement of Liquid Flow in open
23,207.00 channels and its 7 sub-
committees, Ottawa, 28 May
to 8 June 1979.
13. Transmission of Hydrological Data held
in Sophia --
Antipolis (France) from 29-31 May, 1979.
14. Certification Management Com. of IEC
(IEC/CMC), --
Sydney, 4-7 June, 1979.
15. ISO/TC28/SC4/WG4 Non-Inflammable Lubricants
--
and Hydraulic Fluids and ISO/TC28/SC4
Petroleum Prods. and Lubricants, London,
4-8 June, 1979.
16. ISO/TC111 Steel Links Chains, chain wheels,
Lifting --
Hooks and Accessories, Bavaria, 11-16
June, 1979.
17. ISO/TC/147 Water Quality, London, 18-23
June, 16,758.00
1979.
18. Consultative Meeting on the National House
hold Nil
Survey Capability programme, New York
from 21-22 June 1979.
19. Seminars on training and research and the
International 29,932.68
Centre for dynamics of Development at
New York from 21-5-79 to 22-5-79.
20. ISO/TC29 Small Tools, Paris,19-21 June
1979. --
21. ISO/TC17 Steel, Bournemouth. 26-28 June,
1979. 14,949.00
22. Special Technical sessions of Int.
Commission on Irri- 5,000.00
gation and Drainage held at Rabat
from 21-5-79 to
30-5-79.
23. ISO/TC172 Optics and Optical Instruments,
Pforzheim, --
26-29 June 1979.
---------------------------------------------
pg88f
---------------------------------------------
1 2 3
---------------------------------------------
24. IEC/SC32B Low-Voltage Fuses, Baden-Baden,
2-4 July, 1979.
25. British Commonwealth Survey Officers Conf.
held 2,120.00 at Cambridge, UK, 23rd
July-4th August 1979.
26. Expert group meeting of the International
Cooperative Expenses
Alliance at London from 27-7-79 to
29-7-79. borne by
internationa
l Cooperative
Alliance.
27. Seminar on "The Air and outer space law"
on the in- 8,000.00
vitation of the institute of international
public law and international relation
held at Thessaloniki (Greece)
from 13-8-79 to 31-8-79.
28. ISO General Assembly
ISO Council
ISO PLACO
ISO Liasion Officers Meeting, Geneva,
10-26 32,125.50
September 1979.
29. Meeting of the consultative panel on
the survey of Nil
World Energy Resources at Dresden
(GDR.) from
22-9-79 to 27-9-79.
30. Symposium on practical Experience
with flow-induced --
vibrations held at Karlsruhe (GDR)
from 3-7 September 1979.
31. 18th Congress of the Int. Assocn. for
Hydraulic 4,500.00
Research held at Gagliari (Italy)
from 10-15 September 1979.
32. 4th Congress of the Int. Society
for Rock Mechanics 5000.00
held at Montreaux (Switzerland)
in September 1979.
33. 12th European Regional Conf. of
Int. Commission for 13,000.00
Irrigation and Drainage held at
Dubrenik (Yugoslavia)
in September 1979.
34. Int. Symp. on specific aspects of
hydrological com- 6,000.00
putation for water projects
held in Leningrad, USSR
from 3-7 September 1979.
----------------------------------------
pg88g
---------------------------------------
1 2 3
---------------------------------------
35. Seminar on Project Organisation,
Planning and Mana- All expenses
gement in Public Admn. organised by
German borne by Foundation for
international Development,
University German
of Phillipines at Manila from
24-9-79 to 14-10-79. Foundation.
36. 10th World Mining Congress held at
Istanbul (Turkey) -- from 8th
September to 1st October 1979.
37. Meeting of Indian and Soviet Experts
under Indo- 11,344.00
Soviet Cooperation in the field
of standardization
Metereology Moscow, 1-8
October 1979.
38. ISO/TC45 Rubber and Rubber Prods.
and its 13 Work- --
ing Group, Ottawa, 11-20
October 1979.
39. Int. Conf. on Computer Applications
in Civil Engg. Nil
held at Roorkee from 23-10-79 to
25-10-79.
40. Int. Plant Engg. Conf. held at
Hyderabad from 24-27 --
October 1979.
41. Golden Jubilee Congress at the Int.
Commission on 39,713.00
Large Dams ([COLD) held at New
Delhi from 29-10-79
to 2-11-79.
42. Int. Symposium on Hydrological
Aspects of Droughts --
convened by the Indian National
Committee for the
IHP at Delhi from 3-7 December 1979.
43. Int. Symposium on Institute Testing
of Soils and --
Rocks and performance of Structure
held at Roorkee
from 19-22 December 1979.
44.ISO/TC149 Cycles and its Sub-committees
1 and 2 --
Milan (Italy) 20-23 November 1979.
45. 2nd Meeting of the Working Group on
Building Ma- 11,348.00
terials under the Indo-Soviet Programme
in the field of Science and Tech.,]
Moscow, 12-21 November 1979.
46. XXI Meeting of the programme committee
of the Int. --
Council for Bldg hosted by NBO.
47. Training Seminar for Technical Secretaries
ISO/TC34 13,983.00
Agri. Food and Prods.
48. ISO/TC84 Syringes for Medical use
and Needles for --
Injection, London, 14-16 January 1980.
---------------------------------------------
pg88h
---------------------------------------------
1 2 3
---------------------------------------------
49. 7th Meeting of the Indo-Soviet Working
Group for 22,645.00
Scientific and Tech. Cooperation in
the field of Stan- dardization and
Metereology, Moscow, 7-16 January
1980.
50. Participation of Dr. S. K. Rau on
the Consultative --
Meeting of Experts on training for
regional development,
Nagaya, 28-1-80 to 4-2-80.
51. 10th Meeting of the Committee on
Geostationary 7,000.00
Metereological Satellite at Geneva
from 12-21 (estimated)
March, 1980.
52. IIIrd Int. Congress on Water Resources
held in 3,266.00
Mexico City from 23-27 April 1979.
53. 6th open conference on coop-management
at Kuala- All expenses
Lampur from 26-11-79 to 30-11-70
home by In- ternational Coop. Alli-ance.
-------------------------------------------
Mar 10, 1979 |
Appendix III Miscellaneous major international Conferences
|
APPENDIX III
Miscellaneous major international
Conferences etc. in 1979-80 (April
1979 to March 1980) at which Govt.
of India was represented or in
which Indian experts participated
with Govt. of India's assistance
in their personal capacity
--------------------------------------
Sl.Title of Conference etc.
(with venue & date)Foreign excha No.nge
component of exp. in Rs.
---------------------------------------
1 2 3
---------------------------------------
1.Legal Working Meeting of World Tourism
Organisa-
tion held at Spain in February-March
1979 4,937.00
2. 28th PATA Annual Conference held in
Seoul, Korea in April 1979 6,298.00
3. Int. Symposium on Scanning Electron
Microscopy, Washington during
April 1979 4,470.00
4. 2nd Int. Symposium on Fossil Algae,
Paris during April, 1979 10,107.00
5. Seminar on disarmament at Munich from
Apr 23, 1979 to 26-4-79 3,286.00
6. 12th Int. Remote Sensing Workshop,
U.S.A. during
April-May 1979 11,476.00
7. Meeting of the Int. Council on Archives
from 3 to
8 April 1979, London 2,522.85
B. 9th Int. Congress of Carboniferrous
Strategrapby,
U.S.A. during May 1979 25,829.00
9. Meeting of the Consultative Group on
Development of Records and Archives
Management Programme,
sponsored by UNESCO, Paris, 14-16
May 1979 Nil
10. International Switching Symposium
held at Paris
from 5-5-79 to 14-5-79 3,979.00
11. 44th IEC Annual meeting at Sydney
(Australia) from
21-5-79 to 1-6-79 3,316.20
12. Symposium on Early Precambrian
Volcanology and 32,049.00
Sedimentalogy at Canada during
June 1979
----------------------------------------
7A--784EA/79
pg88i
pg88j
----------------------------------------
1 2 3
----------------------------------------
13. 7th Meeting of the World Tourism
Organisation Com-mission of South
Asia at Kathmandu in June 1979
3,372.00
14. International Symposium on Triassic
Stratigraphy in Southern Alps and the
Working Group Meeting of IGCP
Projects Nos. 4 and 106 at Milan,
Italy during June 1979 7,524.00
15. Commonwealth Regional Programme on
Standardi- -- zation & Qty.
Control, Kenya, 7-12 June 1979
16. 18th Meeting of Int. Law Association
Committee
held at Rome (Italy) on 4-7 June 79
4,842.00
17. Int. Forum on the Rights of the
Child held at Buda-
pest during 2-7 June 1979 3,475.00
18. Seminar on Strategies for Archival Dev.
in the third
world, 11-16 June 1979, Berlin --
19. Meeting of the Committee for Guide to
sonrus on History of Nations sponsored
by UNESCO, at Kuala Lampur 26th
July 1979 --
20. PATA Mktg. Committee meeting held in
Malaysia in July 1979 3,056.00
21. Asian Children Friendship Mission
Programme held in Japan during
23 August-2 September 1979 --
22. PATA held in New Delhi in September
1979 Nil
23. Third General Assembly of World Tourism
Orgn. held in Torremolinos, Spain in
September 1979 6,303.00
24. Int. Symposium on Engg., Geological
problems in Hydrotechnical Construction,
Tbilisi (USSR) during September 1979 Nil
25. World Silk Congress of the Int. Silk
Assocn. at Lucerne in Switzerland from
24-28th September 1979 9,500.00
26. World Petroleum Congress in Bucharest
during September 1979 12,480.00
27. 10th Asian Electronics Conference and
6th General Assembly of the Asian
Electronics Union held at Seoul
(S. Korea) from 28-9-79 to
2-10-79 3,600.00
------------------------------------------
pg88k
------------------------------------------
1 2 3
------------------------------------------
28. Int. Symposium on Resources for 21st
Century, Vir- ginia, USA during
October 1979 9,320.00
29. 3rd Int. Conf. on Recognition of Natural
System for Accreditation of Testing
Labs., Sydney, 22-26
October 18,045.00
30. Meeting of Experts on Harmonisation
of Archival Training Techniques
sponsored by UNESCO, 26-30
November 1979, Paris --
31. Symposium on Child Welfare in the
IYC at Nagoya,
during 20-22 November 1979 --
32. Meeting of the expert group on
legal protection to the computers
held under the aegis of World
ntellectual property organisation
during 26-11-79 to 30-11-79 at
Geneva (Switzerland) 4,410.00
33. PATA (India) held a 3-day seminar
in New Delhi --
--------------------------------------
Apr 23, 1979 |
Appendix IV International Organisation
|
Jan 01, 1979
APPENDIX IV
International Organisation of which
India became a member or ceased to
be a member during the year 1979-80
(from April 1979 to March 1980)
----------------------------------------
Sl Name of International Organisation of
which Name of Internati
o-
No. India became a member during
the year nal Organisation
of 1979-80 which India ceased to be a
member during the year 1979-80
----------------------------------------
1 2 3
----------------------------------------
1. India was elected for six years as
member of --
U.N.C.I.T.R.A.L. in 1979.
2. The National Sample Survey Organisation
was enrolled as an institutional member
of the Inter- --
national Association of Survey
Statisticians which
is a section of the International
Statistical Institute.
3. The Indian Bureau of Mines was elected
for represent- --
ing India on the International
Scientific Committee for
mineral processing Congress.
4. International Silk Assocn. Lyon ( France)
Int. Sericul-tural Commis-
sion, Ales France)
5. India re-elected ISO Council Member
for the terms Afro-Asian
1980-82. Housing Or-
ganisation,
Cairo--(UAR)
6. India appointed Asian Member of
the Con- sultative Committee for the
Voluntary Fund for the
UN Decade for Women.
7. Optical Society of America (OSA),
Washington PIRA England
----------------------------------------
1979 |
Appendix V Treaties/Conventions/Agreements Concluded or Renewed by India
|
APPENDIX V
Treaties/Conventions/Agreements Concluded
or Renewed by India with other Countries in 1979*
(*This list is not exhaustive)
-----------------------------------------------
Sl. No. Title of Convention/Treaty/
Date of Date of Date on Re-Agreement
signature Ratifica- which marks
tion or entered
Accep- into
tance force
------------------------------------------------
1 2 3 4 5 6
------------------------------------------------
MULTILATERAL
International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights
1. International Covenant on Eco-
-- 10-4-79 10-7-79 --
nomic, Social and Cultural Rights
adopted by the General Assembly
of the United Nations in Resolution
2200(XXI) of Dec 16, 1966
(In force w.e.f. 3-1-1976).
International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights
2. International Covenant on Civil --
10-4-79 10-7-79 --
and Political Rights adopted by the
General Assembly of the United
Nations in Resolution 2200(XXI)
of 16 December 1966 (In force w.e.f.
23-3-76).
Protocol Amending the Single Convention
on Narcotic Drugs, 1961
3. Protocol Amending the Single Con-
-- 14-12-78 13-1-79 --
vention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961
done at Geneva on 25-3-72.
--------------------------------------------
pg89
pg90
-------------------------------------------
1 2 3 4 5 6
--------------------------------------------
Outer Space
4. Agreement on the Rescue of Astro-
-- 4-7-79 9-7-79 --
nauts the Return of Astronauts and
the Return of Objects Launched
into Outer Space adopted by the
General Assembly of the United
Nations in Resolution No.
2345(XXII) of 19 December, 1967
(In force w.e.f. 3-12-68)
5. Convention on International Liability
-- 4-7-79 9-7-79 --
for Damage Caused by Space Objects
adopted by the General Assembly of
the United Nations in Resolution
No. 2777(XXVI) of 29 November,
1971 (In force w.e.f. 1-9-72)
Convention for Safe Containers
6. International Convention for Safe
-- 27-1-78 27-1-79 --
Containers, 1972
World Administrative Radio Conference
7. Final Acts of the World Adminis-
5-3-78 -- 1-9-79 --
trative Radio Conference on the
Aeronautical Mobile (R) Service,
Geneva,1978
Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development
8. Loan Agreement between India and
4-7-78 16-12-78 4-4-79 --
Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic
Development regarding KOPILI
Hydro-Electric Project (Loan
Number 121) and Amendments
European Economic Community
9. Financing Agreement between the
11-4-79 -- 11-4-79 --
Republic of India and the European
Economic Community for the
Cyclone Protection Shelters in the
States of Tamil Nadu and Andhra
Pradesh
----------------------------------------------
pg91
---------------------------------------------
1 2 3 4 5 6
-------------------------------------------
10. Financing Agreement between the
Republic of India and the European
Economic community regarding
cooperative storage (NCDC)
project 11-4-79 -- 11-4-79 --
United Nations Industrial Development
Organization
11. Agreement between the Govern-
ment of India and the United Na-
tions regarding the arrangements for
the Third General Conference of the
United Nations Industrial Deve-
lopment organization .
12-11-79 -- 12-11-79 --
United Nations Development Programme
12. Agreement with UNDP for Im-
provement of Date Palm
7-6-78 -- 8-2-79 --
13. Agreement with UNDP for In-
tensification of Fresh Water Fish
Culture and Training .
14-2-79 -- 15-2-79 --
14. Agreement with UNDP for Com-
munication Centre for Agricultu-
ral and Rural Development .
7-6-79 -- 7-6-79 --
15. Agreement with UNDP for Tele-
communication Research Centre
for Development Of Dew Techniques
and Technologies
12-4-79 -- 16-7-79 --
16. Agreement with UNDP for Special
Assistance to selected University
Departments Phase II
10-7-79 -- 16-7-79 --
17. Agreement with UNDP regarding
the project IND/73/022-Central In-
stitute of Road Transport
29-8-79 -- 29-8-79 --
18. Agreement with UNDP for Im-
provement of River and Flood
Forecasting System in India .
20-8-79 -- 5-9-79 --
19. Agreement with UNDP for Geo-
physical Data Processing
14-9-79 -- 19-9-79 --
----------------------------------------------
pg92
-----------------------------------------------
1 2 3 4 5 6
-----------------------------------------------
20. Agreement between the Govern-
ment of India and the UNDP re-
garding Advisory Services for Mo-
dernisation of Land and Water Ma-
nagement
10-8-79 -- 15-10-79 --
21. Agreement between the Govern-
ment of India and the UNDP re-
garding stimulating milk market-
ing and Dairy Development
26-12-79 -- 27-12-79 --
BILATERAL
Australia
22. Memorandum of Understanding
between India and Australia con-
cerning the responsibilities and con-
tributions respectively of the two
Governments in regard to the uti-
lization of a Development Import
Grant
23-3-79 -- 23-3-79 --
23. Memorandum of Understanding
between the Government of India
and the Government of Australia
regarding Sheep Breeding project
which will be deemed to have
commenced from 28-5-1977
15-6-79 -- 15-6-79 --
24. Memorandum of Understanding
between the Government of India
and the Government of Australia
regarding Apple Grading Storage
Projects
7-7-79 -- 7-7-79 --
Belgium
25. Agreement between the Govern-
ment of the Republic of India and
the Government of the Kingdom of
Belgium relating to the granting of
Financial Assistance by the
Government of the Kingdom of
Belgium to the Government of the
Republic of India
20-9-79 -- 20-9-79 --
-------------------------------------------
pg93
-----------------------------------------
1 2 3 4 5 6
----------------------------------------
Canada
26. Loan Agreement between India and
Canada for C $ 15.00 million to
Agricultural Re-finance and Deve-
lopment Corporation (ARDC)
13-2-79 -- 13-2-79 --
27. Memorandum of Understanding
between the Government of India
and the Government of Canada
concerning the supply of Rapeseed
oil as Food Aid
10-8-79 -- 10-8-79 --
Czechoslovakia
28. Consular Convention between the
Republic of India and the Czechos-
lovak Socialist Republic
4-12-74 -- 18-6-79 --
Egypt
29. Trade Agreement between India
and Egypt
13-10-77 -- 5-8-79 --
Fiji
30. Extradition arrangement with Fiji
vide GSR 37(E) dated 22-1-79 and
GSR 38 (E)
-- -- 1-2-79 --
Federal Republic of Germany
31. Second Supplemental Loan Agree-
ment between the Government of
India and KREDITANSTALT
FUR WIEDERAUFBAU for DM
26,000,000 (Lignite Mines Expan-
sion Neyveli)
6-2-79 -- 6-2-79 --
32. Exchange of Letters between the
Government of India and the Fede-
ral Republic of Germany regarding
amendment of Agreement dated
13-4-78 concerning Commodity
Aid in 1978.
11-4-79 -- 14-5-79 --
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
1 2 3 4 5 6
------------------------------------------
33. Supplemental Financing Agree-
ment between India and KREDI-
TANSTALT FUR WIEDERAU-
FBAU for DM 6,000,000. (Tawa
Command Area Development Pro-
gramme Phase I)
7-6-79 -- 7-6-79 --
34. Loan Agreement between India
and KREDITANSTALT FUR
WIEDERAUFBAU for DM
85,000,000 (Power Plant Trombay)
29-6-79 -- 29-6-79 --
35. Loan Agreement between India
and KREDITANSTALT FUR
WIEDERAUFBAU for DM
70,000,000. (Commodities XXI)
13-7-79 -- 13-7-79 --
36. Amendment to the Loan Agreement
dated 29-6-79 between India and
KREDITANSTALT FUR
WIEDERAUFBAU for DM
85,000,000 (Power Plant Trombay).
18-7-79 -- 18-7-79 --
37. Supplemental Loan Agreement per-
taining to the Loan Agreement dated
December 27, 1977 between the
Government of India and KREDI-
TANSTALT FUR WIEDERAU-
FBAU for DM 75,000,000 (Gujarat
Fertilizer Plant)
5-10-79 -- 5-10-79 --
38. Agreement between the Govern-
ment of the Republic of India and
the Government of the Federal Re-
public of Germany concerning
Financial Assistance in 1979
12-10-79 -- 12-10-79 --
German Democratic Republic
39. Long term Agreement between
India and the German Democratic
Republic on Economic, Industrial,
Scientific and Technical Coope-
ration
9-1-79 -- 9-1-79 --
-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
1 2 3 4 5 6
----------------------------------------
Indonesia
40. Memorandum of Understanding
between the Government of India
and the Government of Indonesia
concerning Inter-System Coordi-
nation between INSAT and PALA-
PA Domestic Satellite Systems
18-1-79 -- 18-1-79 --
Japan
41. Exchange of Notes between the
Government of India and the
Government of Japan for six hundred
million Yen for purchase of survey
and training vessels for fisheries
development.
16-2-79 -- 16-2-79 --
42. Exchange of Notes between the
Government of India and the Govern-
ment of Japan for seven hundred
million Yen for the purchase of
agricultural equipment for the pur-
pose of contributing to the increase
of food production under the River
Valley Projects in the Gujarat State
16-2-79 -- 16-2-79 --
43. Exchange of Notes between the
Government of India and the
Government of Japan for the
purpchase of machinery, equipment
and spares for increasing food
production
5-11-79 -- 5-11-79 --
44. Exchange of Notes between the
Government of India and the Go-
vernment of Japan for the purchase
of small size steel items
5-11-79 -- 5-11-79 --
Malaysia
45. Exchange of Letters between Fo-
reign Ministers of India and Malay-
sia regarding the extradition of
Fugitive criminals
24-1-79 -- 24-1-79 --
------------------------------------
------------------------------------
1 2 3 4 5 6
-----------------------------------
Nepal
46. Exchange of letters between the
Government of India and the
Government of Nepal regarding
distribution of iodised salt in Nepal
19-4-79 -- 1-4-79 --
47. Exchange of letters between the
Government of India and the
Government of Nepal for a financial
assistance of Rs. 17.65 lakhs in
Indian currency for the development
of the Paropakar Shree Panch Indra
Rajya Laxmi Devi Maternity Home
and Child Welfare Centre in Kath-
mandu
12-8-79 -- 12-8-79 --
Netherlands
48. Agreement between the Director
General of Indian Posts and Tele-
graphs and Director General of the
Netherlands Postal and Telecom-
munications Services regarding the
introduction of the Money Order Ser-
vice
3-2-79-- 1-4-79 --
49. Agreement between the Government
of the Republic of India and the
Government of the Polish People's
Republic on Cooperation in the field
of health
16-6-79 -- 16-6-79 --
Sri Lanka
50. Exchange of Notes between India
and Sri Lanka regarding the
Amendment of Credit Agreement
dated 4-11-1975
15-1-79
22-6-79
24-7-79 -- 24-7-79 --
Sweden
51. Agreement between India and Swe-
den concerning Money Order Ser-
vice
-- -- 1-1-79 --
--------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
1 2 3 4 5 6
---------------------------------------
Signed by India on 30-8-78
Signed by Sweden on 20-9-78
52. Agreement between India and
Sweden regarding Development
Cooperation during the period
1-7-79 to 30-6-81
1-6-79 -- 1-6-79 --
Syrian Arab Republic
53. Protocol on cooperation in the
sphere of Radio Broadcasting and
Television between the Akashvani
and Doordarshan of the Republic
of India and the General Organi-
zation for Broadcasting and Tele-
vision of the Syrian Arab Republic.
4-8-79 -- 4-8-79 --
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
54. Agreement between the Government
of the Republic of India and the
Government of the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics on Mutual De-
liveries of certain goods in 1979
14-3-79 -- 14-3-79 --
55. Agreement between Indian Space
Research Organization Govern-
ment of India and Academy of
Sciences USSR about LAUNCH
of the Indian Space-craft "Satellite
for Earth Observations-II" (SEO-
II) with the help of Soviet Rocket
Carrier
11-6-79 -- 11-6-79 --
United Kingdom
56. Exchange of Notes between India
and the United Kingdom regarding
amendment of Mixed Project Grant
1978
25-1-79 -- 25-1-79--
57. Exchange of Notes between India
and United Kingdom regarding
amendment in the United Kingdom/
India Capital Investment Loan 1974
and the United Kingdom/India Capi-
tal Investment Grants 1975, 1977
and 1978 25-1-79 -- 25-1-79--
--------------------------------------
8--784EA/79
---------------------------------------
1 2 3 4 5 6
--------------------------------------
58. Exchange of Notes between India
and United Kingdom regarding
amendment of United Kingdom/
India Maintenance Grant 1978
25-1-79 -- 25-1-79 --
59. Exchange of Notes between India
and United Kingdom regarding
amendment of the United Kingdom/
India Sectoral Grants 1975, No. 2,
1977,1978
25-1-79 --25-1-79 --
60. Exchange of Notes between India
and United Kingdom regarding
amendment of United Kingdom/
India Sectoral Grant 1978
25-1-79 -25-1-79 --
61. Exchange of Notes between India
and United Kingdom regarding
United Kingdom/India Local
Costs Aid Arrangement 1979
25-1-79 --25-1-79 --
62. Exchange of Notes between India
and United Kingdom regarding
the grant for (pound) 20,088,976.23
21-3-79 -- 21-3-79 --
63. Exchange of Notes between India
and United Kingdom regarding the
grant for (pound) 31,101,386.28
23-8-79 --23-8-79 --
64. Exchange of Notes between India
and United Kingdom regarding
Second. Procedural Amendment
1979 6-10-79 --26-10-79--
65. Exchange of Notes between India
and United Kingdom regarding
Maintenance Grant 1979 for the
purchase of certain goods and ser-
vices in the United Kingdom
27-10-79--3-11-79--
Yemen
66. Trade Agreement between the
Government of the Republic of
India and the Government of the
People's Democratic Republic of Ye-
men
23-4-79 -- 23-4-79 --
------------------------------
Dec 16, 1966 |
Appendix VI Statement showing number of Passport/miscellaneous services applications
|
Jan 01, 1979
APPENDIX VI
REGIONAL PASSPORT OFFICES
I. Statement showing number of Passport
/miscellaneous services applications
received and number of passports
issued/miscellaneous services granted
in the calendar year 1979.
--------------------------------------
S.No. Station Number of Pass- Number
of Pass- Number of appli- Number of Misc.
port ports cations services
applica- issued in for misc. granted
tions 1979 services in 1979
received received
in 1979 in 1979
------------------------------------------
1 2 3 4 5 6
------------------------------------------
1.Ahmedabad 56839 56547 21983 21993
2.Bangalore 34482 34462 8646 8584
3.Bhopal 13145 12467 2341 2728
4.Bhubaneswar1740 1204 368 352
5.Bombay 178437 170280 133004 126102
6.Calcutta 23955 27123 15841 14875
7.Chandigarh73504 72657 16999 18850
8.Delhi 60095 68549 26285 25761
9.Ernakulam 83442 90615 95058 95036
10.Gauhati 1042 827 201 162
11.Hyderabad 49486 44116 16536 16835
12.Jaipur 40639 38122 5141 5093
13.Jullunder 8843 17182 5406 5022
14.Kozhikode 59836 64566 42620 41626
15.Lucknow 75806 55463 6691 7693
16.Madras 94831 91612 19715 19355
17.Patna 5623 3910 460 1369
18.Srinagar 2430 1586 447 444
-----------------------------------------
TOTAL:8,74,175 8,51,288 4,17,742 4,11,880
-----------------------------------------
II. Details of Official, Diplomatic
Passports issued/serviced by
Passport Visa
Division of Ministry during 1979.
(a) Number of Official Passports issued 8116
(b) Number of Official Passports serviced 2698
(c) Number of Diplomatic Passports issued 1000
(d)Number of Diplomatic Passports serviced 1179
1979 |
Appendix VII Statement showing the total number of employees
|
APPENDIX VII
STATEMENT 'A'
Statement showing the total number of employees
(both permanent and tem-porary) in the
Ministry of External Affairs under various
groups and repre-sentation of Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes therein
(position as on Dec 31, 1979).
-------------------------------------------
Class Total Schedul-Percen-Schedul-Percen-
Number ed Castes tage of ed Tribes tage of
of Total Total
Em- Em- Em-
ployees ployees ployees
--------------------------------------------
1.Class I 639 45 7% 26 4%
2.Class II 1604 97 6 % 10 .6%
3.Class III 883 81 9.2% 19 2.1%
4.Class IV 548 68 12.4% 1 .2%
(Excluding sweepers)
5.Class IV 42 41 97.6% -- --
(Sweepers)
---------------------------------------
Dec 31, 1979 |
Appendix-VIII Statement showing the number of appointments
|
Jan 01, 1979
APPENDIX-VIII
STATEMENT 'B'
Statement showing the
number of appointments
(both by direct recruitment
and by promotion)made
to various groups of posts
and reserved vacancies
filled by scheduled castes
and Scheduled Tribes
during the year 1979.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class Total number Number of
vacancies Number of reserved
Number of vacancies of
vacancies reserved candidates
appointed de-reserved due
to non- filled ------- availab
ility of reserved
candidates
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scheduled Scheduled Scheduled
Scheduled Scheduled Scheduled
Castes Tribes Castes Tribes
Castes Tribes
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group A 72 8 3 4 1 -
-
*Group B 102 17 6 12 - 5
6
**Group C 20+11+34=
4 - 2+3+5=10 1+1=2 -
-
65
Group D 70 27 - - - -
-
(excluding sweepers)
Group D - - - - - -
-
(Sweepers)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*31 UDCs (Group C) have been
promotedas Assistants
(Group B) on ad hoc basis.
Reservations orders do not
apply here but out of these
7 belong to Sch. Castes.
Figure under Group B do not
include this.
**A select list of 47 LDCs
(Group C) was approved for
promotion to UDCs (Group
C). Out of 47 only 11 have
so far been Promoted.
This included 3 SC
candidates. 7 vacancies
of Sch. Castes and 7 of
Sch. Tribes have been
De-reserved before issue
of panel of 47.
Against an indent of 100
LDCs (Group C),34 have
joined so far. Out of this
5 belong to Sch. Castes
and 1 to Sch. Tribes.
Note :The above figures are
exclusive of employees
working in the Central Pass
port and Emigration Organisation.
1979 |
Appendix-IX Revenue Expenditure of the Ministry
|
Jan 01, 1979
APPENDIX-IX
Revenue Expenditure of the Ministry during
the Financial year 1979-80
-------------------------------------------
Revised Estim-
ates 1979-80
---------------------
(Rupees in Lakhs)
----------------------------------------
Headquarters 5,80.54
Missions/Posts abroad 32,84.22
Supply Wings at London & Washington1,84.75
Other Items
Contribution to U.N., Commonwealth 3,24.85
Secretariat and other International
Institutions :
Central Passport and Emigration
Organization 2,36.76
Other Miscellaneous items 21,95.87
Subsidies and Aid
Subsidy to Bhutan 30,46.00
Aid to Nepal 14,60.34
Aid to other developing countries in
Asia and Africa
under ITEC programme 4,72.00
Aid to Bangladesh 5,30.00
Social Security and Welfare 33.96
---------------
123,50.00
-------------------------------------
1979 |
Appendix-X Expenditure on Headquarters and Missions/Posts abroad
|
Jan 01, 1979
APPENDIX-X
Expenditure on Headquarters and Missions/Posts
abroad during 1979-80
The expenditure during 1979-80 on Headquarters
of this Ministry is expected to be of the order
of Rs. 580.54 lakhs; asum of Rs. 162.41 lakhs
is towards establishment charges, a sum of
Rs. 96.56 lakhs for allowances, other than
T.A., a sum of Rs. 216.74 lakhs for publicity
, cables, diplomatic bags service etc., a sum
of Rs. 103.37 lakhs for travelling expenses and a
sum of Rs. 1.46 lakhs for Departmental Canteen.
The expenditure on Missions/Posts abroad
including the Supply Wings at London and
Washington is Rs. 3468.97 lakhs, out of
which a sum of Rs. 1482.72 lakhs is spent
on Establishment Charges including Foreign and
other compensatory allowances, a sum of
Rs. 326.23 lakhs on passages for transfers
and local tours, Rs. 190.60 lakhs for publicity
contingencies and Rs. 1469.42 lakhs for
official and residential accommodation,
P & T Charges and other Office Contingencies.
The average annual expenditure per Mis-
sion comes to Rs. 27.10 lakhs.
The expenditure mentioned above (viz.
Rs. 4049.51 lakhs = Rs. 580.54
lakhs+3468.97 lakhs) as per details
below on HQs and Missions/Posts
abroad included expenditure on External
Publicity Programme activities;The
break-up of this expenditure is as under:--
(Rs. in lakhs)
(a) Headquarters
(i) Salaries (Officers 21, staff 47) 8.80
(ii) Travelling expenses 3.70
(iii) Publicity Contingencies charges 73.80
----------
86.30
-----------
(b) Missions/Posts abroad
(i) Salaries (Officers 54, staff 341) 56.35
(ii) Foreign Allowance, Compensatory Allowance
34.02
(iii) Passages & Travelling Expenses 6.85
(iv) Publicity Contingencies 79.19
(v) Other Charges including renting of Residential
Accommodation & Other Office Contingencies
14.19
------------
TOTAL 190.60
------------
Total External Publicity 276.90
-----------
The expenditure on External Publicity as
detailed above comes to 6.8% of the
expenditure on Headquarters and
Missions/Posts abroad.
(In lakhs of Rupees)
----------------------------------------
Establish- Travelling Officer Total
ment Expenses Expenses
Charges
---------------------------------------
Secretariat
Headquarters 251.63 99.67 142.94 494.24
External Publicity Division
8.80 3.70 73.80 86.30
------------------------------------------
260.43 103.37 216.74 580.54
------------------------------------------
Overseas Establishment
(a) Missions/Posts abroad (ex-
cluding Publicity Wings)
1282.31 298.27 1513.04 3093.62
(b) Publicity Wings
90.37 6.85 93.38 190.60
----------------------------------------------
TOTAL 1372.68 305.12 1606.42 3284.22
----------------------------------------------
GRAND TOTAL 1633.11 408.49 1823.16 3864.76
1979 |
Appendix-XI Strength of IFS & IFS(B) CADRES, Combined Research Cadre and Inter-
|
Jan 01, 1979
APPENDIX-XI
Strength of IFS & IFS(B) CADRES, Combined
Research Cadre and Inter-preters Cadre.
(a) IFS Cadre Strength :
IFS Gr. I Posts. =18 (excluding 1 post
temporarily up-
graded from Gr.III of IFS)
IFS Gr. II Posts. = 21 (excluding 1
post temporarily up-
graded from Gr. III of IFS).
IFS Gr. III Posts = 78 (excluding 2
posts of Gr. IV tem
porarily upgraded,
1 post of FA
(EA) and 3 ex-cadre posts).
IFS Gr. IV Posts = 78 (excluding 1
post upgraded from
Senior Scale of IFS).
Sr. Scale Posts = 243
Jr. Scale Posts = 99
Training Reserve = 50
(Jr. Scale)
Leave Reserve = 19
Training Reserve = 19
Deputation Reserve = 20
(b) IFS (B) Cadre Strength :
Gr. I Posts = 118
Gr. II/III Posts = 324
Gr. IV = 919
Gr. V = 130
Gr. VI = 594
(c) Cipher Sub-Cadre Strength :
Grade II = 181
(d) Stenographer Sub-Cadre :
Sel. Grade = 49
Grade I = 75
Grade II = 533
Grade III = 116
(e) Combined Research Cadre = 44
(f) Interpreters Cadre = 30
1979 |
Appendix-XII Foreign Language Chart
|
Jan 01, 1979
APPENDIX-XII
Foreign Language Chart
(INDEX)
---------------------------------------
S.No. Language Total No. of Officers
passed/knows the language
---------------------------------------
1. Arabic 42
2. Burmese Nil
3. Chinese 27
4. Czech Nil
5. Dutch 1
6. French 67
7. German 28
8. Gorkhali 6
9. Hungarian 1
10. Bahasa-Indonesia 10
11. Italian 3
12. Japanese 13
13. Kiswahili 8
14. Malay-Bahasa 1
15. Persian 10
16. Polish 1
17. Portuguese 11
18. Pushtu Nil
19. Rumanian 1
20. Russian 40
21. Serbo-Croation 2
22. Spanish 40
23. Swedish 1
24. Thai 1
25. Tibetan 2
26. Turkish 1
27. Vietnamese 3
----------------------------------------
pg106
1979 |
Appendix-XIII Joint Declaration
|
APPENDIX-XIII
Joint Declaration by the President of the Republic of France and
the Prime Minister of India
The President of the Republic of France
Valery GISCARD d'ESTAING
and
The Prime Minister of India
Indira Gandhi
Gravely concerned at the deterioration of the international situation which
could endanger world peace.
Convinced of the necessity of basing international relations on respect for
the universally recognized principles of the Charter of the United Nations
Conscious of the special responsibilities which devolve, in the present critica
l
times, on France and India because of their respective policies of detente
and non-alignment.
1. Solemnly declare that
(i) Any situation arising out of the use of force in international relations
and intervention or interference in internal affairs of sovereign States
is inadmissible.
(ii) In order to stop further escalation, all States should refrain from
any action which could intensify great power rivalry and bring back
the cold war, especially through dangerous arms build-up liable to
threaten peace and stability in sensitive regions.
(iii) It is necessary to restore conditions in which the independence, sove-
reignty and territorial integrity of all States can be preserved and the
right of their peoples to freely determine their own destiny without
outside interference assured.
(iv) Respect for and implementation of those principles do not prejudice
any State's legitimate security interests and would, in fact, go a long
way towards safeguarding them.
2. Accordingly, the President and the Prime Minister have decided to take
all necessary initiatives to defuse present tensions and to help create a clima
te
pg107
pg108
of mutual trust and confidence. To this end, they will remain in close con-
sultation with each other.
3. The President and the Prime Minister appeal to all States, particularly
the most powerful ones, to recognise the gravity of the danger and to bend
all their efforts to avert it.
Valery Giscard d'Estaing Indira Gandhi
President of the Republic of France Prime Minister of India
New Delhi, Jan 27, 1980, (Magha 7, 1901)
MGIPF--784EA/79
Jan 27, 1980 |
Supplement To The Report Of The Ministry Of External Affairs 1979-80
|
SUPPLEMENT TO THE REPORT OF THE
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
1979-80
The three months since the Report of the Ministry
of External Affairs went to the press at the end of March,
1980, were a period of intense diplomatic activity in which
India played a patient and energetic role. The two momen-
tous events of these three months were the independence of
Zimbabwe (18th April) and the death of Marshal Tito of
Yugoslavia (4th May). The Prime Minister was present
at the ceremonies on both these occasions and had
talks with several world leaders. Amongst these were:
President Brezhnev of the USSR, President Kolisevski of
Yugoslavia, President Zia of Pakistan, President Kaunda
of Zambia, President Nyerere of Tanzania, President Gierek
of Poland, President Ceausescu of Romania, President
Saddam Hussain of Iraq, President Shehu Shagari of
Nigeria, President Sekou Toure of Guinea, the Vice-
President of Cuba, Chancellor Helmut Schmidt of the
FRG, Prime Minister Djuranovic of Yugoslavia, Prime
Minister Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Prime Minister
Burnham of Guyana, Prime Minister Mrs. Thatcher of
Britain, Premier Ohira of Japan, Premier Hua Guo Feng
of China, Secretary General Waldheim of U.N. and former
Chancellor Willy Brandt of FRG. These meetings emphasis-
ed that there is expectation of greater contribution by
India in healing the rifts between nations at a time of
heightened peril to mankind.
The underlying causes of tension in our region continued
to fester as evidenced by the situations in Afghanistan,
Iran and West Asia becoming interlocked. The period
also witnessed several important meetings of international
leaders to resolve the differences arising over Afghanistan.
These meetings vindicated the Indian position that there
is no alternative to a political settlement.
India's concern and involvement and our continuing
diplomatic activity have been reflected in visits abroad by
Indian leaders and by our receiving foreign dignitaries.
pg1
pg2
The Foreign Minister, Shri Narasimha Rao visited Paris
and Bonn in March; Sardar Swaran Singh visited Islamabad
in April; the Foreign Secretary, Shri R. D. Sathe visited
Kabul in May and the Foreign Minister visited Moscow
from 3rd to 7th June, in the course of which he met
President Brezhnev and other Soviet leaders. During the
visit, matters of mutual interest were discussed, leading
to a clear understanding of each other's points of view.
The visit served to underline the importance that we and
the Soviet Union attach to our mutual ties which are
growing in strength and dimension.
We also received the Foreign Ministers of Cuba,
Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania
during this period. Mr. Roy Jenkins, President of the
Commission of the EEC, Dr. Ramphal, the Secretary of
the Commonwealth Secretariat and Mr. Gisha Phillipov,
Member of the Politburo of Bulgaria also visited India.
The meeting of the Prime Minister with President
Zia-ul-Haq at Salisbury was a pointer to the prospects of
friendly cooperation and mutual understanding. However,
it was with regret and disappointment that India noted
President Zia's uncalled for reference to Kashmir at the
Islamic Foreign Ministers' Conferences in January and
May, which we consider to be inconsistent with the spirit of
the Simla Agreement.
Bangladesh has proposed a summit meeting of six
South Asian countries to promote regional cooperation.
India has welcomed this and emphasised the need for care-
ful preparatory work that must be done before a summit
meeting could prove fruitful.
The visit of Shri Eric Gonsalves, Secretary (East), to
Rangoon in the first week of May for discussions with the
Burmese Foreign Minister provided an opportunity to
review cooperation and contacts with this neighbour.
Secretary (ER), Shri Romesh Bhandari, visited Iran in
February and had discussions with President Bani Sadr
and other Iranian leaders. The visit to New Delhi of
Mr. Reza Sadr, Commerce Minister of the Islamic Republic
pg3
of Iran, in June 1980, who was accompanied by a number
of Deputy Ministers of different Ministries including the
Deputy Foreign Minister, was symbolic of the close relations
between India and Iran and the desire to establish a new
economic relationship between the two countries.
Full diplomatic status to the PLO Mission in New
Delhi was granted in March. Chairman Yasser Arafat
visited India at the invitation of the Prime Minister. These
two were significant developments in India's relations with
the Arab world.
A PLO delegation visited India in May for the first
meeting of the Joint Committee. The talks covered com-
prehensive cooperation between India and the PLO. Special
envoys from Oman, Iraq, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt visited
India during this period. Secretary (ER), Shri Romesh
Bhandari, visited Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait and Qatar.
The Iraqi Oil Minister Mr. Tayeh Abdul Karim led
Iraq's delegation to the sixth session of the Indo-Iraq
Joint Commission in April.
President Carter issued an executive order in June
authorising the supply of enriched uranium fuel for Tara-
pur. However, President Carter's executive order will lie
in the Congress for sixty continuous days and will become
effective unless overturned by both Houses of Congress.
The Prime Minister visited Salisbury for the Indepen-
dence celebrations of Zimbabwe at the invitation of Prime
Minister Robert Mugabe. The Indian delegation, which
included the Foreign Minister, was treated with great
friendship and warmth, being received and seen off by the
President, Prime Minister and others in the new Govern-
ment. During their talks, India's readiness to help the new
country in the task of rehabilitation was conveyed. India's
Liaison Mission in Salisbury was upgraded to a High
Commission on 18 April. Zimbabwe's membership of the
Commonwealth is also a welcome development. On their
way to Zimbabwe, the Prime Minister and the Foreign
Minister paid an official visit to Tanzania on 16-17 April.
With the emergence of free Zimbabwe the focus of
international attention in Africa must now shift to Namibia
pg4
and South Africa itself. The Prime Minister met the
SWAPO Leader, Mr. Sam Njoma, in Salisbury.
Three African Heads of State who visited Delhi during
this period were President Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire
(31 March-2 April), President Kaunda of Zambia and
President France Albert Rene of Seychelles. India is to
open a resident mission in Mahe (Seychelles) in the near
future.
The first Indo-ASEAN dialogue at the official level
was held in Kuala Lumpur on May 15, 1980-16, 1980. The
Indian delegation was led by Shri Eric Gonsalves, Secre-
tary (East). It was the first such dialogue between
ASEAN and a developing country. A broad joint pro-
gramme of action in the areas of trade, industrial and
scientific cooperation was agreed to. As a preparatory
step to the Indo-ASEAN dialogue, the Indian delegation
visited all the ASEAN capitals and had useful discussions.
India has tried to help relieve the food shortage in
Kampuchea by sending rice and rice seeds, apart from
medicines and baby food. The question of recognition of
the Heng Samrin regime is under the active consideration
of Government.
The Vietnamese Prime Minister, Mr. Pham Van Dong,
paid a State visit to India from April 7 to 12. India
agreed to extend a government to government credit of
Rs. 5 crores to Vietnam to buy rolling stock, and industrial
spare parts.
The Prime Minister met the Chinese Foreign Minister,
Mr. Huang Hua, in Salisbury and the Chinese Premier,
Mr. Hua Guo Feng in Belgrade. The Chinese Foreign
Minister is due to visit India later this year. Preliminary
discussions were held in mid-June when Shri Gonsalves,
Secretary (East), visited Beijing. India has made it clear
that the quest for normalised relations with China is not
at the cost of our friendship with any other country.
Contacts with other countries in East Asia were main-
tained. Mr. S. Sonoda, a special emissary of Japanese
Prime Minister visited India in March and Mr. Tong Jin
Park, then Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, at
pg5
the end of March. Shri Gonsalves visited Pyong Yang and
Tokyo in June.
In view of the recent deterioration in international
relations some non-aligned countries proposed an extra-
ordinary Ministerial meeting in July 1980. There was lack
of consensus with regard to the venue, agenda and timing
of the proposed conference. The group of non-aligned
countries meeting in New York on June 18, 1980, accepted
India's compromise proposal that the regular Ministerial
conference of non-aligned countries which was to be held
in New Delhi in 1981 be advanced to the early weeks of
1981 to review the international political and economic
situation.
India took an active part in ongoing negotiations for
the formulation of the International Development Strategy
for the Third Development Decade and in the preparation for
the Global Round of negotiations. Ministers of the Group
of 77 met in New York in March 1980 to finalise their
approach to the G77 proposals for the Agenda, time-frame
and procedures for the Global Round of negotiations.
Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao, Minister of External Affairs,
led the Indian delegation to this meeting.
India participated in the high level meeting on Technical
Cooperation among Developing Countries held under the
aegis of the UNDP from 26th May to 2nd June 1980.
Indian initiatives on the enlargement of the scope of TCDC
and of financial resources to strengthen TCDC activities
were accepted and found a place in the documents of
the meeting.
The Foreign Minister undertook a review of the External
Publicity Division in March, including the Chanchal Sarkar
Committee Report. The Ministry has come to the con-
clusion that not all the recommendations of the Chanchal
Sarkar Committee can be implemented. The Ministry plans
to increase the number of Information Sections in our
Missions abroad in the next three years. Twenty-five new
Information Sections are expected to be opened subject to
availability of resources. A proposal to organise an
editorial and re-write desk along with more printing
pg6
facilities at Headquarters is also being considered so as to
produce publicity material in English, French, Spanish and
German. Our Centres in Cairo and Moscow to produce
material in Arabic and Russian will also be strengthened.
Since March, 1980, a series of instructions have been
issued to all our missions abroad providing guidelines for
treatment of Indian visitors going abroad, and for inter-
preting Indian developments in correct perspective. Liaison
has also been established with the Ministry of Information
and Broadcasting, All India Radio, Department of Tourism
and academic and other institutions involving publicity
efforts within the institutional framework. Action has
also been initiated to improve the equipment and facilities
available in our Missions abroad for all libraries, reading
rooms and audio-visual publicity work. Special attention
is being directed to make our external publicity effort
effective, purposive and prompt, taking into account the
criticism and assessment of our external publicity work
over the last few years.
XP (Press)/7/80 |
|