Annual Report 1984-85
CONTENTS Introduction |
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INTRODUCTION
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The focus of Indian foreign policy during the year under
review is encapsulated in a speech of the late Prime Minister,
Shrimati Indira Gandhi, delivered just a few days before her
tragic assassination. She stated :
"We inhabit a fragmented world, caught in the clash of wills
and objectives. The utter mistrust between the militarily strong
has gone so deep that even the word `peace' is looked upon as a
dangerous trap. But human-kind can survive only if the big powers
learn to co-exist. We must help to create an atmosphere conducive
to discussions and the will to find solutions. The other divide
is between the developed and the developing. For the first time
in the human history, we have the technological means to end
hunger and want, yet the benefits of all this knowledge reach
only a few. Levels of living remain uneven. These are our most
urgent concerns. India has been working to bring closer together
what are called East and West, South and North."
India is deeply concerned over the escalating arms race, the
rise in international tensions and the absence of willingness for
constructive dialogue among the major nuclear weapon powers which
have increased the risks of the outbreak of a nuclear war. India
is of the view that a concerted world-wide effort must be made to
halt the arms race and its dangerous extension to outer space.
With this in view, the late Prime Minister, Shrimati Indira
Gandhi, together with the Heads of Government or State of
Argentina, Greece, Mexico, Sweden and Tanzania, launched on 22
May 1984 a major peace initiative. This five-Continent
initiative, inter-alia, stated :
"As leaders of nations, member-States of the United Nations,
we have a commitment to take constructive action towards halting
and reversing the nuclear arms race. The people we represent are
no less threatened by nuclear war than the citizens of the
nuclear weapon states. It is primarily the responsibility of the
nuclear weapon states to prevent a nuclear catastrophe but this
problem is too important to be left to these states alone."
The joint statement called on the nuclear weapon states to
halt the testing, production and deployment of nuclear weapons
and their delivery systems to be followed by a programme of arms
reduction, leading to general and complete disarmament. It also
urged measures to strengthen the United Nations system and to
ensure urgently needed transfer of substantial resources from the
arms race to social and economic development.
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This appeal, which represented a significant step in
mobilising world public opinion in favour of disarmament evoked
strong support in the international community at large. The
responses of the nuclear weapon states, however, have, with one
exception, been less than encouraging.
The leaders of these six countries decided to meet in New
Delhi in January, 1985 to consider ways to further their efforts.
The Delhi Declaration adopted on 28th January 1985, reaffirmed
the appeal of May 1984. It further called for urgent steps to
prevent an arms race in outer space and for a comprehensive
treaty prohibiting the testing of nuclear weapons. The six
leaders have also discussed various follow-up measures.
India is equally concerned about the persistence of economic
distress among large sections of mankind and the widening gap
between the developed and developing. Keeping this in view, India
drew attention in various international fora to the close link
between disarmament and development. It was pointed out that
significant reductions in the wasteful global military
expenditure, which is rapidly approaching the staggering figure
of US $ 1000 billion a year, by a handful of industrialised
countries alone, will not only help ease tensions the world over
but also contribute to recovery and growth in the world economy.
This could be used to augment the currently decreasing levels of
assistance to developing nations. India has repeatedly emphasised
at various international fora that the proposals for a Conference
on Disarmament and Development should be taken up seriously.
In her capacity as Chairperson of the NAM, the late Prime
Minister, Shrimati Indira Gandhi, addressed letters to all the
participants of the London Summit of industrialised countries and
sent her personal emissaries to the capitals of these countries
to impress upon them the significance and continuing validity of
the approach suggested by the New Delhi Summit on economic
issues. The industrialised countries were called upon to take a
more constructive attitude towards the problems of the developing
countries as well as the structural problems facing the world
economy. The late Prime Minister also set up a Group of Experts
consisting of leading economists from Algeria, India, Mexico,
Tanzania and Yugoslavia, to examine the functioning of the
existing international monetary and financial system and the
modalities of the proposal for an International Conference on
Money and Finance for Development. The report submitted by the
group makes a valuable contribution towards clarifying ideas and
making suggestions for resolving the present monetary and
financial problems facing the international economy.
Consistent with its position at the helm of the Non-Aligned
Movement, India has taken a number of initiatives and, along with
the members of the Co-ordinating Bureau, played an active and
significant role in important international fora, such as the UN
General Assembly and the Security Council. On issues such as
Disarmament, Apartheid, Namibia, Palestine, Cyprus and Central
America, the Movement has taken a number of measures as follow-up
action to the decisions taken at the Seventh Non-Aligned Summit
held in New Delhi in March 1983.
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The tragic assassination of Shrimati Indira Gandhi on 31st
October 1984 took from us one of the world's foremost champions
of peace, disarmament and development. She epitomised the
aspirations of the entire human race, She was dedicated to an
international order in which power would be tempered by
compassion, and knowledge and capability were at the service of
humanity. She was against all forms of exploitation and foremost
in advocating a lessening of economic disparity among nations. As
Chairperson of the Non-Aligned Movement, she gave the Movement
content, dynamism and cohesion. Her death was not only a great
loss to the Indian people but to all the peace-loving people of
the world. The great respect, affection and esteem with which she
was held was demonstrated by the visit of more than 35 Heads of
State/Government and more than 120 delegations from all over the
world to New Delhi to pay homage at her funeral.
The smooth and orderly manner in which Shri Rajiv Gandhi was
appointed Prime Minister and the free, fair and peaceful manner
in which the general elections were subsequently held and the new
Government headed by Shri Rajiv Gandhi installed in office
impressed the entire world as evidence of the maturity and
strength of the Indian democratic system.
Immediately on assuming office, the Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv
Gandhi, reiterated his commitment to the basic approach and
principles of foreign policy, bequeathed by Jawaharlal Nehru and
Indira Gandhi. He stated :
"We have always believed in working for peace. Our policy is
to be friends with all countries on the basis of reciprocity and
mutual benefit. Our commitment to non-alignment and new economic
order based on justice, equality and mutual co-operation is
unshakable. This means a total dedication to the twin causes of
peace and development. We also believe in safeguarding the
independence of states and upholding the principles of non-
interference and non-intervention."
In the immediate neighbourhood of South Asia, India's policy
is directed towards promoting mutual trust, understanding and co-
operation. India was determined to resolve problems with these
countries on the basis of mutual respect, sovereign equality and
friendship.
The continued violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka has caused
deep concern in India. The situation does not lend itself to a
military solution. The only approach is to seek a political
solution acceptable to all concerned. India, therefore, viewed
with dismay the lack of any progress in the All Party Conference,
and its termination in December 1984.
India was unhappy at the promulgation of a surveillance zone
by the Sri Lankan Government in the waters between Sri Lanka and
India and consequent harassment,
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killing and capture of innocent Indian fishermen. When their
naval craft intruded into our waters, our coastguard took
appropriate measures to deal with them. India viewed with concern
the induction of foreign security and intelligence organisations
into Sri Lanka as also the irresponsible accusations by Sri
Lankan leaders of Indian support for the so-called Tamil
militants. These are totally baseless accusations. We have
repeatedly stated that we were opposed to all forms of violence
and terrorism.
The Government of India hope that a political solution to the
problems of the Tamils will be found soon within the framework of
a united Sri Lanka so that the more than 40 thousand Sri Lankan
refugees now in India can return to their country in safety and
dignity.
The Government of India continued its efforts to develop
cordial and co-operative relations with Pakistan in keeping with
India's commitment to the letter and spirit of the Simla
Agreement. The discussions during the year on the two drafts of
the 'Friendship Treaty' proposed by India and the 'No-War Pact'
proposed by Pakistan resulted in convergence of views on certain
aspects though basic difference continued to remain. However,
Pakistan's deep involvement in Punjab developments and their help
and encouragement to terrorism and hijacking caused a set-back to
progress on bilateral relations. The Government of India was
constrained to call off the Foreign Secretary level talks
scheduled for July 1984 and the Joint Commission meeting
scheduled for August 1984 because Pakistan's objectives and
intentions remained unclear. It was felt that Pakistan could not
continue to act in hostility while professing friendship. While
the Government of India is committed to pursuing a relationship
of good neighbourliness, cordiality and co-operative bilateralism
with Pakistan, it is hoped that Pakistan would respond positively
in carrying forward the relations between the two countries for
the mutual benefit of the peoples of the two countries.
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While there has been a steady improvement in India's bilateral
relations with Bangladesh, particularly in the area of economic
co-operation, certain problems persist, involving issues such as
the augmentation of Ganga waters at Farakka, the large scale
infiltration of migrants from Bangladesh, the Bangladesh reaction
to our decision to construct a fence along India-Bangladesh
border to prevent further infiltration, the problem of settlement
of claims of Indian nationals in regard to vested properties and
the lease of the Tin Bigha Corridor to Bangladesh. While the
dialogue on the augmentation of Ganga waters is continuing, the
Government of India's decision to erect a barbed wire fence on
the border to stop further illegal immigration of Bangladesh
nationals into India led to unpleasant incidents earlier during
the year including unprovoked firing by Bangladesh security
forces on Indian personnel engaged in construction work within
Indian territory. India has conveyed to Bangladesh that the
barbed fence is not an issue between the two countries and is not
directed against Bangladesh. As regards the properties of Indian
nationals which were vested in the Government of Bangladesh
without any compensation, the Government of Bangladesh issued in
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August 1984 instructions stopping further vesting of such
properties or the transfer of properties already vested.
Regarding the Tin Bigha Corridor, the Government of India is
taking steps to facilitate the early implementation of the
agreement for lease in perpetuity of the Tin Bigha Corridor.
India continued to consolidate the close and cordial relations
existing with Bhutan and Nepal. India not only made major
contributions to Bhutan's Fifth Plan but has even initiated
discussions on her Sixth Plan beginning in 1987 which will
introduce a new phase in Bhutan's development. Indian agencies
have been executing major projects in the field of
telecommunications, hydrology, geology, roads and archaeology and
also several other projects on a smaller scale. India is closely
involved in the development of education and technical skills in
Bhutan. The inauguration of the Devi Ghat Hydro-electric Project
by His Majesty the King of Nepal during the year marked a
significant milestone in Indo-Nepal economic co-operation. There
were other numerous large and small projects under implementation
in the field of health care, drinking water supply, education,
construction of roads and a sports complex, underlining the
extent of this co-operation. The discussions between the two
countries on various projects in the field of water resources
have made significant progress. Indo-Nepal co-operation in trade
and industry, particularly increased Indian private sector
interest in Nepal, is gaining momentum.
India's cordial and friendly relations with Burma and Maldives
were further strengthened by the exchange of visits at different
levels and steps taken to enlarge trade and economic relations.
India continued to work bilaterally and with the other non-
aligned states for the removal of all foreign military presence
from the Indian Ocean. India viewed with disquiet the further
increase of the military presence of the Great Powers in the
Indian Ocean reflecting the heightened tension and uncertainty in
international relations. The Great Powers sought to improve the
military facilities available to them in the littoral states and
to seek fresh bases and facilities in the area. India hoped that
the littoral states would not align themselves with either of the
Great Powers or offer facilities which would invite
countervailing reaction. India continued to work for the
convening of the UN Conference on the Indian Ocean as a Zone of
Peace. It is a matter of regret for India that the Conference has
been postponed to the first half of 1986.
India has viewed with concern the tense situation in and
around the Indo-Chinese States. The outbreak of fighting in
Kampuchea, the continued tension along the Sino-Vietnamese
frontier and differences between Laos and Thailand regarding
sovereignty over three villages on their frontier have all
contributed to the building up of the tense situation in the
area. Even though different proposals were put forward by the
Indo-Chinese States on the one hand and the ASEAN countries on
the other for finding a political solution to the problems in the
region, there is as yet no agreement among all the concerned
parties for holding negotiations with a view to finding a
solution. India
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continues to believe that a political solution to the problems of
the region can be found and that the proposal made in the
Political Declaration of the Seventh Non-Aligned Summit
Conference provide a good basis for finding such a solution.
India has made concerted efforts to expand its relations with
the countries of East Asia. The Fifth Round of India-China
official level talks was held in Beijing from 17 to 22 September
1984. Apart from having an indepth exchange of views on the
boundary question, the occasion was also utilised for promoting
bilateral exchanges in the fields of culture, education, science
and technology. The India-China Trade Agreement incorporating the
most favoured nation clause was signed and this is expected to
create a good basis for further growth of trade relations between
the two countries.
The visit of the Japanese Prime Minister in May 1984 marked a
new phase in Indo-Japanese relations and signified the mutual
desire for further consolidation and expansion of the cordial
relations existing between the two countries. The visit of a
high-powered Japanese Government Economic Mission from 30
November to 7 December 1984 and the holding of the 17th Business
Co-operation Committee meeting during this visit enabled the two
sides to discuss the scope and problems of investment and
collaborations in India particularly in the field of automobiles
and electronics. Steps were also taken to strengthen the
economic, trade and cultural relations with the Republic of Korea
and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Mongolia.
India continued to extend material and moral support to the
people of Palestine. India viewed with concern the prevailing
tension in West Asia brought about, among other things, by the
continuing presence of Israeli troops in Lebanon. India urged the
withdrawal of all foreign forces, beginning with that of Israel,
from Lebanon and expressed the hope that the Lebanese people
would, in a spirit of national reconciliation, quickly bring
about peace and security in Lebanon. The visit of the late Prime
Minister, Shrimati Indira Gandhi, in April 1984 to Libya and
Tunisia contributed considerably to the strengthening of
relations with these countries.
The continuing Iran-Iraq war which entered its fifth year
received utmost attention from the Indian Government and the late
Prime Minister both in her capacity as Chairperson of the Non-
Aligned Movement and as the Prime Minister of India, tried to
find ways and means to bring about an immediate end to the war
and settlement of the dispute by negotiations. She sent special
emissaries to the concerned capitals and also undertook
consultations with other members of the Non-Aligned Movement and
friendly countries in order to achieve the objective of peace in
the region. Unfortunately the various proposals put forward could
not bring about an end to the unfortunate conflict.
India continued to improve her relations with countries in the
Gulf region in diverse fields. The visit of the President of
India, Giani Zail Singh, to the Yemen Arab Republic and Peoples'
Democratic Republic of Yemen in October 1984 contributed
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considerably to the strengthening of India's relations with these
countries. The unprecedented step taken by the Government of the
United Arab Emirates in returning the hijackers of an Indian
Airlines plane from Dubai in September 1984 highlighted the close
and friendly relations existing between India and the UAE.
India's economic and commercial relations with the Gulf countries
continued to show substantial progress and efforts have been made
from the Indian side towards greater export of manufactures,
equipment, machinery and complete projects.
India continued with its policy of strengthening the on-going
process of multifaceted co-operation with the countries of the
African region extending moral, material and diplomatic support
to the friendly states and liberation movements while continuing
with its policy of firm opposition to the system of apartheid and
racial discrimination in South Africa and a total boycott of the
racist regime practising it. India responded with understanding
to the fast evolving political situation in Southern Africa and
generally endorsed the position in this regard taken by the
Frontline States at their meeting in Arusha (Tanzania) in April
1984. The Arusha meeting, inter-alia, called upon South Africa to
dismantle the root cause of instability in the region, i.e.,
apartheid. India rejected outright the so-called constitutional
reforms within South Africa, introduced by the racist regime, and
urged the people of South Africa to oppose the elections (held
under the new Constitution), aimed at dividing and weakening the
struggle against apartheid.
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The great importance attached by India to relations with the
African countries was demonstrated in its decision to make a
donation of one lakh tonnes of wheat to the drought-affected
countries in Africa. The Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi,
pledged India's solidarity with the famine-affected African
countries and expressed India's readiness to share its experience
and resources in helping them to meet this challenge.
The President of India visited Mauritius to participate in the
150th anniversary of Indian emigration to Mauritius, in which a
number of cultural delegations from India also participated.
Counterpart celebrations of this event were also held in India.
India also took steps to strengthen its relations with Nigeria,
Ethiopia and Kenya.
India's economic and trade relations with the countries of
Western Europe continued to grow during the year. India received
from these countries considerable financial assistance. Some of
these countries, particularly the Federal Republic of Germany,
France and the UK continued to be important sources of technology
transfers into India. With the growth of economic relations with
the ten countries of the EEC, who are at present amongst India's
major trading partners, the need was felt for political
consultations with the EEC. Accordingly, India and the EEC
decided to institutionalise political co-operation and this was
inaugurated by the Foreign Minister, Shri Narasimha Rao, in April
1984 during his visit to France (which held the Presidency of the
EEC during January-June 1984).
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The extensive political and economic relations with the USSR
and the countries of East Europe were further consolidated during
the year. The visit of the late Prime Minister, Shrimati Indira
Gandhi, to the Soviet Union to pay respect to the memory of
President Andropov, was utilised to exchange views on bilateral
relations and important international issues with the newly
elected General Secretary of CPSU Central Committee, Mr. K. U.
Chernenko. An important event in bilateral economic relations was
the successful Indian National Exhibition in Moscow organised by
TFAI in August-September 1984. This Exhibition gave a
comprehensive view of the Indian industry and economy and also
led to mutually beneficial commercial transactions. Another
notable event in Indo-Soviet co-operation was the joint space
venture which took place in August 1984. The visit of the
President of the Presidium of Yugoslavia, Mr. Veselin Djuranovic,
along with a high-level delegation, to India in August 1984
provided an opportunity to hold extensive discussions on
bilateral issues, as well as on the activities of India and
Yugoslavia in the Non-Aligned Movement. The occasion was also
utilised for an indepth review of Indo-Yugoslav economic co-
operation and trade.
Despite the perception on various issues remaining different,
India made sincere efforts for better understanding with USA
during the year under review. The continued supply of
sophisticated arms by USA to Pakistan was the single most
important factor generating friction between the two countries.
India repeatedly impressed upon the US Government officials that
the supply of sophisticated arms to Pakistan adversely affected
Indo-US relations, encouraged an arms race on the Sub-Continent
and jeopardised the normalisation of relations between Pakistan
and India. Another issue which cast a shadow over Indo-US
relations was the activities of extremist leaders who were
operating from the US and supporting the so-called Khalistan
movement in India. The repeated Indian plea that such activities
were detrimental to Indo-US relations had little effect although
the proposed Congressional hearing on Punjab to be held by the
Sub-Committee for Asia and Pacific Affairs and the Human Rights
Committee of the US Congress was first postponed and later
cancelled. The US Government also played a commendable role in
the termination of the hijacking of an Indian Airlines Boeing
737. On the economic and commercial front the relations between
the two countries expanded significantly during the year. India
accepted the invitation of NASA to include an Indian scientist in
the US space shuttle mission. A Memorandum of Understanding on
the transfer of high technology between the two countries was
initialled during the year.
Indo-Canadian relations remained cordial and the economic and
commercial relations between the two countries were further
consolidated by the visit of a Canadian industrial delegation,
which participated in the Canada-India Joint Business Council
meeting held in May 1984, and the visit of an economic mission
from Canada's Manitoba province.
India's relations with countries of Central and South America
and the Caribbean were further strengthened during the year by
exchanges of visits at various
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levels. The State visit of the President of India to Mexico and
Argentina in April 1984 and his meeting with the President of
Peru during a brief halt in Lima and the visits of the Presidents
of Mexico and Argentina to India in January 1985 contributed
significantly to the strengthening of relations between India and
these Latin American countries. The first Indo-Mexican Joint
Commission meeting which was held in September 1984, discussed,
apart from recent developments and economic prospects in the
context of the present world situation, steps for increased
bilateral trade and closer co-operation in the areas of industry,
energy, finance, transport and tourism. An agreement of Economic
Co-operation between India and Argentina was signed during the
visit of the President of Argentina to India in January 1985.
India viewed with concern the continued tension and
uncertainty in the region of Central America. The Prime Minister
and Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement, Shri Rajiv Gandhi,
issued on 14 November 1984 a statement on the Central American
crisis, expressing concern over the escalating tensions and
threats of armed conflicts in the region, especially in and
around Nicaragua.
India is deeply concerned that the economic crisis continued
to dominate the economic prospects of both developed and
developing countries during the year under review. Though some
industrialised countries, particularly in North America,
experienced a degree of economic recovery, such recovery was
uneven and appeared to be transient. At any rate, it has had
little impact on developing countries. Developing countries in
general, and the low income countries in particular, continued to
suffer from rising protectionism in industrialised countries and
a sharp decline in the availability of concessional finance.
Further, there has been a growing tendency on the part of major
industrialised countries to seek unilateral or bilateral
solutions for their immediate problems and a systematic effort to
weaken the multilateral institutions in the fields of
development, finance and trade. Instead of intensifying
multilateral co-operation, there appears to be a move to retreat
from multilateralism. India, together with the Non-Aligned and
other developing countries, has sought to reverse this trend and
to strengthen international economic co-operation. Unfortunately,
the response from the major industrialised countries has been
quite disappointing. They have taken a somewhat complacent view
of the debt and development crisis and in effect have affirmed
the adequacy of the existing financial institutions to deal with
the situation.
An important element of the New International Economic Order
is greater co-operation among developing countries themselves.
Intensive work continued during the year under review to promote
such co-operation. A number of technical meetings were held under
the Caracas Programme of Action for Economic Co-operation among
Developing Countries (ECDC). Some of the initiatives taken under
the Caracas Programme are the establishment of a Global System of
Trade Preferences among developing countries, the proposal for
the establishment of a Bank of Developing Countries (South Bank),
the establishment of an Action
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Committee on Fossil Fuels and the setting up of a Multi-Sectoral
Information Network for technical co-operation among developing
countries.
One of the concrete manifestations of ECDC is the agreement
reached among the seven countries of South Asia to launch an
Integrated Programme of Action for South Asian Regional Co-
operation (SARC). After the adoption of the SARC Declaration at
the meeting of the Foreign Ministers held in New Delhi in August
1983, intensive work has begun for the implementation of the
agreed programmes of co-operation. The second meeting of Foreign
Ministers was held in Male on 10 and 11 July 1984. It was
stressed at this meeting that increasing emphasis should be
placed on operational activities and the formulation of specific
projects. To this end, the meeting accepted India's suggestion
that consideration should be given to the convening of meetings
at the level of Ministers in some vital areas. The meeting
decided to recommend the convening of the SAARC Summit in Dhaka
in the last quarter of 1985.
The implementation of the Indian Technical and Economic Co-
operation (ITEC) Programme continued to be one of the major
activities of the Ministry during the year. Compared with the
initial budgetary allocation of Rs. 0.44 million in 1964, when
the ITEC Programme was launched, the allocation of Rs. 65 million
during the year under review signifies a tremendous increase in
India's technical co-operation with developing countries of Asia,
Africa and Latin America over the years. This is aside from the
specific individual programmes of co-operation with neighbouring
countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan, and from
technical assistance to other developing countries rendered
through the Colombo Plan, SCAAP and through the provision for
technical co-operation out of the amount earmarked for India by
the UNDP.
As part of India's endeavour to strengthen south-south co-
operation, India further strengthened its relations with
multilateral regional groupings such as the Economic Commission
for Africa, African Development Bank, Economic Commission of West
African States and the Southern African Development Co-ordination
Conference.
India's external publicity effort had to face a particular
challenge due to developments in the Punjab. Since national and
international attention was focused on the Punjab situation, it
became necessary to disseminate correct information on a very
wide scale. Hostile propaganda and misreporting had to be
combated. To meet this challenge, India's information activity
was considerably enhanced and effective use was made of modern
facilities such as video and audio tapes and documentary films.
Efforts were also made to project India's firm commitment to
democracy, non-alignment and world peace, peaceful use of nuclear
energy and outer space, moral and material commitment against
apartheid and in support of majority rule in Namibia and support
in the Palestinian cause. In the context of India's
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chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, steps were taken to
publicise India's initiative within the framework of NAM.
In spite of the trials and tribulations the country has
undergone during the year, India remianed faithful to the basic
tenets of our foreign policy such as our firm commitment to the
policy of Non-Alignment and to promotion of international co-
operation and understanding. Our size, population, history and
geopolitical situation have placed special responsibilities on
us, and we have the added obligation of leading the Non-Aligned
Movement. We have discharged our responsibilities playing a
significant role in promoting peace, security, disarmament and
development in the world.
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INDIA'S NEIGHBOURS |
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It is a basic tenet of India's policy to foster relations of
mutual trust, understanding and co-operation with neighbouring
countries in south Asia. This stems from India's awareness that
her own security and welfare are inextricably linked with the
security and welfare of her neighbours.
The ethnic disturbances in Sri Lanka in July-August 1983 and
the continued violence against Tamils caused deep concern in
India. India continued to emphasise the urgent need of finding a
political solution which would restore ethnic harmony in Sri
Lanka and enable the communities there to live in amity and
peace.
In early January 1984, as part of India's good offices to Sri
Lanka for facilitating an early political settlement of the
ethnic problem, the Indian Prime Minister's Special Envoy, Shri
G. Parthasarathi, paid his third visit to Sri Lanka. The visit
paved the way for the Tamil United Liberation Front's
participation in the All Parties Conference proposed by President
Jayewardene. Despite several rounds of discussions, however, the
Conference failed to achieve substantial progress and was
terminated in December 21, 1984 without any settlement being
reached.
The Sri Lankan Government also enacted a series of extra-
ordinary measures such as the promulgation of a Surveillance Zone
in the waters between India and Sri Lanka, restricting the
movement of vessels. The Government of India informed the Sri
Lankan Government that such a zone was not compatible with the
provisions of the Indo-Sri Lanka Maritime Boundary Agreement and
could cause harassment to Indian fishermen who have been
traditionally plying in these waters. Later several incidents
occurred involving harassment, intimidation and attacks on Indian
fishermen by Sri Lankan naval craft. The Indian Government
protested to the Sri Lankan Government over these incidents.
The Sri Lankan Government announced the establishment of an
Israeli Interests Section in the U.S. Embassy in Colombo and
obtained the services of the Israeli intelligence organisation
and British security experts. The induction of foreign security
and intelligence organisations in Sri Lanka was viewed with
concern in India.
Unfortunate allegations were made in Sri Lanka questioning
India's policy and intentions. The Government of India repeatedly
stated that there was no truth, whatsoever, in such allegations.
India was only interested in an early resolution of the
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ethnic problem in Sri Lanka since it had direct repercussions for
her. Over 40,000 Sri Lankan Tamils had fled their homes in Sri
Lanka and sought refuge in India, India had provided them with
shelter on humanitarian grounds. The Indian Government hoped that
a situation would soon be created in Sri Lanka which would enable
these refugees to return to their own country.
India reiterated her opposition to all forms of violence.
India emphasised that the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka was
essentially a political one and should be resolved peacefully
through a negotiated political settlement within the framework of
Sri Lanka's unity and territorial integrity.
President Jayawardene paid an official visit to India on 30th
June, 1984. India's policy of non-interference in Sri Lanka's
internal affairs and her commitment to Sri Lanka's integrity was
clarified to him. The necessity and urgency of a political
solution acceptable to all concerned was also stressed during the
visit.
The Government of India continued its efforts to develop
cordial and co-operative relations with Pakistan in keeping with
India's commitment to the letter and spirit of the Simla
Agreement. The four Sub-Commissions of the India-Pakistan Joint
Commissions which met in January 1984, made some modest progress.
During Foreign Secretary's visit to Pakistan in May 1984, a
protocol on 'Group Tourism' was signed and travel restrictions
were somewhat eased by amending the Visa Agreement of 1974.
Detailed discussions on the two drafts of the 'Friendship Treaty'
proposed by India and the 'No-War Pact' proposed by Pakistan
resulted in a convergence of views on certain aspects, though
differences continued to remain on some of the basic concepts.
The Information Minister, Shri H. K. L. Bhagat, visited Pakistan
in July 1984 to reiterate our desire for good neighbourly
relations and to make an assessment of Pakistan's real motives
and intentions.
Pakistan's deep involvement in the Punjab developments, highly
provocative statements made by Pakistan leaders, distorted and
mischievous projection of Punjab developments by the Pakistan
official media including their television, had cast their shadow.
Pakistan's continued interference in our internal affairs even
after the visit of our Information Minister and their subsequent
help and encouragement to terrorism and hijacking caused a
further set-back to the development of bilateral relations. The
Government of India was constrained to call off the Foreign
Secretary-level talks scheduled for July 1984 and the Joint
Commission meeting scheduled for August 1984, because it was felt
that Pakistan should have some time to clearly formulate its
objectives and intentions before negotiations were resumed. It
was felt that Pakistan cannot continue to act in hostility while
professing friendship. The active assistance given to the
hijackers of the August 1984 hijacking incident, including the
handing over of a pistol at Lahore, continuing assistance to
extremist elements in Punjab, and facilities extended to Sikh
extremists from third countries to indulge in virulent anti-India
propaganda in November 1984 during Guru Nanak Dev's birth
anniversary continued to cause misgivings in the minds of our
people.
-3>
The Government of India remains committed to the search for a
relationship of good neighbourliness, cordiality and cooperative
coexistence with Pakistan. The Government of India's earnest hope
is that Pakistan will respond positively in carrying forward the
relations between the two countries for the mutual benefit of our
peoples.
India continued to be of the view that there can only be a
political settlement of the issues related to Afghanistan through
peaceful negotiations and supported the UN Secretary-General's
efforts towards that end. The Government's policy continued to
reflect India's abiding interest in the independence,
sovereignty, non-alignment, stability and security of Afghanistan
and our anxiety for the early return of normalcy in that country,
free from all kinds of interference and intervention.
|
In the bilateral field, Indo-Afghan relations developed
satisfactorily.
The Government of India continued to pursue its efforts to
strengthen the friendly relations that have existed between India
and Bangladesh.
There were a number of high level exchanges during the period
under review. The Standing Committee of the India-Bangladesh
Joint Economic Commission held its second meeting in New Delhi on
15-16 October, 1984, in an atmosphere of cordiality, goodwill and
understanding. The Committee reviewed the recent developments in
trade matters and agreed to make continued efforts to expand and
diversify bilateral trade. The Committee also reviewed the
progress of collaboration in the fields of industry, including
small and cottage industries, transport and communication,
science and technology. Several new projects on which Indian
assistance was sought, were identified.
An Indo-Bangladesh Protocol on Inland Water Transport and
Trade was signed in New Delhi on 17 September, 1984 at the
conclusion of Secretary-level talks. This protocol is valid for
two years unlike earlier protocols on Inland Water Transport
which were valid for one year only.
While there has been a steady improvement in our bilateral
relations with Bangladesh, particularly in the area of economic
cooperation, certain problems have persisted. These involve
issues such as : the augmentation of Ganga waters at Farakka; the
large scale infiltration of migrants from Bangladesh;
Bangladesh's reaction to our decision to prevent further
infiltration by constructing a fence along the Indo-Bangladesh
border; the problem of settlement of claims of Indian nationals
whose properties were taken over by the Government of erstwhile
East Pakistan, now
-4>
Bangladesh, as vested properties; and the lease of the Tin Bigha
Corridor to Bangladesh.
The Memorandum of Understanding of October, 1982 on
augmentation of the Ganga flows at Farakka and for sharing of
Ganga waters expired on 31 May 1984. The position of the
Government of India has all along been that a long-term sharing
agreement can be assured only by a suitable augmentation of the
Ganga waters. The need to augment the flows of the Ganga at
Farakka has been recognised by Bangladesh. However, Bangladesh
has not been willing to accept our proposal to augment the flows
of the Ganga from the Brahmaputra, through a link canal. The 26th
and 27th Meetings of the JRC were unable to make any progress on
this issue. Recognising the need for continuing the dialogue, the
two sides agreed to meet at an early date in Dhaka.
The Government of India's decision to erect a barbed wire
fence on the border to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into
India, which has created serious socio-economic and political
problems in our north-eastern states, led to unpleasant incidents
earlier during the year under review including unprovoked firing
by Bangladeshi security forces on Indian personnel engaged in
construction work within Indian territory. We have conveyed to
Bangladesh that the barbed wire fence is not an issue between the
two countries and is not directed against Bangladesh. The
Government of India have decided to resume construction of the
fence soon.
As regards properties of Indian nationals, which were vested
in the Government of Bangladesh without any compensation, the
Government of India has repeatedly taken up the matter with the
Government of Bangladesh. In August 1984 instructions were issued
by the Bangladesh Government stopping further vesting of such
properties and the transfer of properties already vested.
Further progress has been made in the demarcation of the Indo-
Bangladesh boundary. Till recently it was not possible to
implement the agreement on the Tin Bigha Corridor owing to legal
difficulties. The Government is now in the process of working out
such details as construction of the flyover, acquisition of land
for lease to Bangladesh etc., so that the Agreement with
Bangladesh on Tin Bigha can be implemented soon.
Around seventy Bangladeshi scholars have availed themselves of
scholarships offered by India during 1984-85, for pursuing
studies in Indian universities and technical institutes. Training
facilities have also been made available to Bangladeshi personnel
on Indian railways and in the NSI, Kanpur. Indian experts also
visited Bangladesh during the year under review to provide
consultancy services in the areas of sugar technology, cement and
small industries.
-5>
High level contacts, both formal and informal, reflected the
close and cordial ties that mark India's relations with Bhutan.
His Majesty the King of Bhutan was the Chief Guest at our
Republic Day 1984 celebrations. Opportunities offered by the
visit of Bhutanese dignitaries were utilised for consultation on
both international and bilateral matters and revealed a close
identity of perceptions. His Majesty was also present at the last
rites of the late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi. Bhutan
declared 21 days of mourning and 49 days of prayers and during
this period no celebrations were held even on the occasion of the
Bhutanese National Day which fell within that period.
The Indo-Bhutan Trade Agreement signed in December, 1983 came
fully into operation. Necessary steps were taken to facilitate
Bhutan's trade flow across our border and its trade with third
countries. A Telecommunications Agreement was signed during the
year under review, following which the Indo-Bhutan Microwave
Link, an important bilateral project, came into operation. The
Link permits communications by telephone between the Royal
Kingdom, India and third countries, and is a symbol of the joint
progress of the two countries.
Major Indo-Bhutanese projects are nearing completion. The Rs.
204 crores 336 MW Chukha Hydel Project is programmed to be
inaugurated in 1985. Work on a transmission line network to
distribute power from this project within Bhutan is being
implemented with Indian aid. Power surplus to Bhutan's needs will
be available for utilisation in India.
Inauguration of Chukha-I could clear the way for the Chukha-
II, capable of generating 1000 MW of power, on which bilateral
discussions have been initiated. The Royal Bhutanese Government
has approached India for financing the 1500 tonne a-day Nangalam
Cement Plant, for which the detailed feasibility studies,
conducted over the last two years, are nearly complete.
Discussions and studies also began for a broadcasting station at
Thimpu, to be set up under the Indian aid programme.
|
Bhutan is presently in its Fifth Development Plan (1981-87)
with an outlay of Rs. 433 crores, of which India would finance
Rs. 134 crores. During the year under review, a sum of Rs. 28.60
crores was granted to Bhutan as plan subsidy over and above
project aid. Further assistance upto Rs. 5 crores has been
granted by India for projects, such as the construction of a
Secretariat Complex and the renovation of Bhutan's famous
monasteries and administrative centres.
In the fields of telecommunications, hydrology, geology,
roads, archaeology, etc. Indian agencies made major contributions
in planning and research, and several projects on a smaller
scale, yet important for local development, are being envisaged
and executed by these agencies. Our close involvement with the
development of education and technical skills in Bhutan
continued, with India offering scholarships and subsidies up to
Rs. 10 lakhs during the year.
-6>
Bhutan is now approaching the start of its Sixth Plan, which
begins in 1987 and which will introduce a new phase in Bhutan's
development. India has initiated discussions on this aspect and
on the further evolution of bilateral links, all of which form
part of the continuous joint effort between India and Bhutan
towards consolidating and increasing bilateral ties and mutual
confidence.
Relations between India and Nepal continued to develop in a
cordial manner, building on the deep and enduring ties that exist
between the two countries in almost every field of socio-economic
development.
There were exchanges of high level visits during the year
under review, notably the visit of the Nepalese Foreign Minister
in July 1984, the visit of the Nepalese Prime Minister for our
late Prime Minister's cremation in November 1984, and the visit
of India's Minister of State for Energy to Nepal in March 1984.
These visits were utilised for extensive and useful exchanges on
various aspects of Indo-Nepal relations.
Economic co-operation was, as hitherto, an important area that
required and received a measure of attention. While progress in
setting up the Joint Commission was slow, several fresh
agreements were signed on new projects for execution in Nepal.
These included agreements on the expansion of Industrial Estates
and Hospitals, renovation and extension of Canal Systems and
technical assistance for implementing Entrepreneurial Development
Programmes. The 14.1 MW Devighat Hydro-electric Project,
constructed under Indian aid at a cost of about Rs. 49 crores,
was inaugurated by His Majesty the King of Nepal in March 1984.
This project, which was completed a year and half ahead of
schedule, marked a significant milestone in Indo-Nepalese
economic co-operation. The Birendra Police Hospital at Kathmandu,
which is equipped with Indian assistance, was also inaugurated.
Besides these, there are numerous other large and small projects
being undertaken in the fields of health care, drinking water
supply schemes, education, construction of roads and a sports
complex. All of them are under implementation, and the Nepal
Government has expressed its satisfaction at their progress.
Another aspect of Indo-Nepalese co-operation in the economic
field which has been gaining increasing momentum relates to the
interest of the Indian private sector in Nepal. Several Indian
commercial organisations and Chambers of Commerce have sent teams
to Nepal to discuss proposals for mutually beneficial co-
operation in trade and industry, and a government team is shortly
to visit Nepal with the purpose of reviewing the entire area of
such co-operation and specifying fields in which joint ventures
between the two countries can be usefully promoted.
The seventh inter-governmental committee meeting between India
and Nepal took place at Kathmandu in June 1984. There was general
agreement that both the
-7>
Treaties of Trade and Transit between the two countries were
functioning well, and that, except for some procedural details,
no substantive difficulties were encountered. On the trade side,
India has increased the number of Nepalese products eligible for
preferential entry into India. On the transit side, India will
consider a further streamlining of the relevant procedures.
There were intensive discussions between the two countries on
various projects in the field of water resources, notably the
Karnali, Pancheshwar and Rapti projects. Significant progress has
been achieved in respect of the Karnali project, and India is
hopeful that there will be increasing co-operation in the years
to come between India and Nepal in this extremely important area
of utilisation of river waters.
The two countries also interacted to mutual benefit within the
SARC framework. In the fields of telecommunications, a team of
telecommunication experts from India held discussions with
Nepalese officials in May 1984 on steps to improve
telecommunication services. In the field of sports also, India
cooperated extensively with Nepal and assisted in the holding of
the South Asian Federation Games at Kathmandu in September 1984.
The largest contingent participating in the games was from India.
Our traditionally friendly and cordial relations with Burma
were further strengthened. U Ne Win, Chairman of the ruling Burma
Socialist Programme Party, made a private visit to India in
November 1984 and met Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi. The
Burmese Foreign and Trade Ministers also paid official visits to
India, and a high level commerce and economic delegation from
India visited Burma to improve trade relations. An agreement was
reached with the Burmese Government towards delimitation of the
maritime boundary between the two countries in the Andaman Sea,
Coco Channel and the Bay of Bengal. This awaits ratification by
the two Governments.
India's close association and friendship with Maldives
continued to be built during the year under review. In connection
with South Asian Regional Co-operation (SARC) Foreign Ministers
Conference, Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary visited
Maldives in July 1984.
The Maldives Minister for Trade and Industry and Deputy
Minister for Defence and National Security, Mr. Illias Ibrahim,
paid an official visit to India in September 1984. He was
accompanied by the Maldivian Deputy Minister of Planning and the
Maldivian Foreign Secretary. During this visit, bilateral
discussions were held with a view to diversify and expand trade
between the two countries. It was decided that a direct shipping
service between India and Maldives would be started soon. The two
sides identified agriculture, agro-based industries and fishing,
coconut plantation and
-8>
coconut based industries as specific areas for co-operation. It
was agreed that the State Trading Corporation of India and the
State Trading Organisation of Maldives would hold further
discussions for ensuring a minimum bulk cargo to make the
proposed new shipping service between India and Maldives
economically viable. India also offered assistance to Maldives in
projects financed by international organisations in that country.
An Indian team visited Madives in December 1984 to study the
possibilities of trade and economic cooperation in the light of
the bilateral talks. India continued to offer training facilities
to Maldivian officials in different fields such as customs, civil
aviation, man-power survey and secretarial work under the Indian
Technical & Economic Co-operation Programme.
Heightened tension and uncertainty in international relations
were reflected in a further increase of the military presence of
the Great Powers in the Indian Ocean. The facilities at the
Anglo-American base of Diego Garcia continued to be expanded and
upgraded. Simultaneously, the Great Powers sought to improve
other military facilities available to them in the littoral
States, and to seek fresh bases and facilities in the area.
These developments are a source of concern to India. The
presence of extra-regional military forces has an adverse impact
on our security, introduces new tensions and conflicts,
exacerbates others, and thereby endangers peace and stability in
our neighbourhood.
During the year under review, bilaterally and with other Non-
Aligned States, India continued to work for the removal of all
foreign military presence from the Indian Ocean. Though the Great
Powers have not resumed discussions on reducing, and eventually
removing, their military presence from the Indian Ocean, India
hopes that littoral States will not align themselves with either
of the Great Powers, or offer facilities, which would invite
counter reactions.
India continues to work for the convening of the UN Conference
on the Indian Ocean as a zone of peace. It is a matter of regret
that the Conference has now been postponed to the first half of
1986.
India maintained its support for the claim of Mauritian
sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia,
and called for its early return to Mauritius.
-9>
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SOUTH-EAST ASIA |
Top |
During the period under review, India's relations with
countries of South-East Asia and the Pacific remained friendly.
Exchanges of high level visits contributed to the strengthening
of India's relations with many of the countries in this region.
The major problem in South-East Asia, i.e. the situation in
Kampuchea, could not be resolved during the period under review.
India continues to believe that a political solution to the
problems of the region can be found and that the proposals made
in the Political Declaration of the Seventh Conference of Heads
of State or Government of Non-Aligned countries provided a good
basis for finding such a solution. In particular, India believes
that all states in the region should enter into a dialogue which
would lead to the resolution of differences among themselves and
the establishment of durable peace and stability in the area, as
well as the elimination of the involvement and threats of
intervention by outside powers.
A significant development was the regaining of independence by
Brunei on 1 January 1984. Brunei became the sixth member of the
ASEAN and it obtained membership of the UN at the last General
Assembly session. India welcomed the independence of Brunei and
our President sent a congratulatory message to the Sultan of
Brunei on the occasion. Smt. Mohsina Kidwai, the then Minister of
State for Health and Family Welfare, led the Indian delegation to
the Independence Day celebrations of Brunei.
Soon after his election as Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr.
David Lange announced that he would re-open the New Zealand High
Commission in New Delhi which had been closed by his predecessor,
Mr. Robert Muldoon, in 1982. Mr. Lange paid two visits to India
during the period under review, first as leader of the Opposition
and, subsequently, in October 1984, as the Prime Minister of New
Zealand. He called on the President and the late Prime Minister,
Smt. Indira Gandhi. He announced the
-10>
appointment of Sir Edmund Hillary (the Everest hero) as New
Zealand's Resident High Commissioner in New Delhi.
Mr. Le Duan, the Secretary-General of the Central Committee of
the Communist Party of Vietnam, visited India during September
1984. He was accompanied by a high powered delegation which
included the Deputy Prime Minister, apart from some other
Ministers and high officials. He held discussions with the
President, the late Prime Minister and other Indian leaders on
bilateral, regional and international issues. It was decided that
economic co-operation between India and Vietnam would be
strengthened in the years to come.
|
Other important visits exchanged with Vietnam in 1984 included
a visit by the Commerce Minister of Vietnam to India during
November 1984; by Mr. Tran Vi, Chairman of the People's Committee
of Hanoi, in April-May 1984. The then Secretary (East) in the
Ministry of External Affairs, Shri Natwar Singh, visited Vietnam
in June-July 1984. He called on Mr. Pham Van Dong, the Prime
Minister of Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Co Thach, Vietnamese Foreign
Minister, and General Giap, apart from holding discussions on
bilateral and international issues with the Vice-Minister of
Foreign Affairs of Vietnam. During the course of this visit, an
agreement for the the grant of an Indian credit of Rs. 10 crores
to Vietnam was signed. Shri Natwar Singh formally handed over the
first three Indian diesel locomotives supplied under our credits
to Vietnam during the course of this visit.
The former Foreign Minister, Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao, paid an
official visit to Indonesia in June 1984. He called on President
Suharto and held extensive discussions with the Foreign Minister
of Indonesia, as well as with other Indonesian Ministers and
dignitaries. The discussions were held in warm and friendly
atmosphere. They revealed a broad agreement of views between
India and Indonesia on a number of major international issues.
There are no bilateral problems between the two countries and
relations continue to be friendly. During the course of Shri
Narsimha Rao's visit, a conference of Indian Heads of Missions
from ASEAN/Indo-China countries and Australia was held in
Jakarta.
The then Secretary (East), Shri Natwar Singh, paid a visit to
Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand in March 1984. He called on the
Malaysian Foreign Minister and other members of the Malaysian
Cabinet, in addition to holding discussions with the Secretary-
General of the Malaysian Foreign Office. The Malaysian side
agreed with our view that the differences that exist, between the
two countries on the issue of Kampuchea
-11>
should not, in any way, hamper the growth and development of
bilateral friendly relations between India and Malaysia.
Subsequently, in May 1984, the fourth Indo-Malaysian Joint
Committee meeting was held in Kuala Lumpur.
During his visit to Singapore, Shri Natwar Singh called on the
Deputy Prime Minister as well as on the Foreign Minister of
Singapore, and held discussions with the Permanent Secretary of
the Foreign Ministry of Singapore. The talks covered bilateral,
regional and international matters. It was agreed that the
differences in perception between India and Singapore on the
Kampuchean issue should not come in the way of the development
and strengthening of the friendly relations between the two
countries. The Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Ministry of
Singapore paid a return visit to India in August 1984, and the
discussions held, revealed that relations between the two
countries continued to be friendly and good.
Shri Natwar Singh, during his brief visit to Thailand
exchanged views with the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs
of Thailand. It was agreed that the differences between Thailand
and India relating to the situation in Kampuchea should not be
allowed to come in the way of the development and strengthening
of bilateral ties between the two countries. The Permanent
Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Thailand paid a return visit to
India in October 1984 and this visit was symbolic of the growing
friendship between the two countries. Significantly, this was the
first ever visit to India by a Thai Permanent Secretary for
Foreign Affairs.
Relations between India and the Philippines continued to be
friendly and cordial. The Philippines authorities readily
assisted India by deporting Shri Jasbir Singh (nephew of Jarnail
Singh Bhindranwale) to India.
The Australian Foreign Minister stated that Australia was keen
to improve and enhance ties with India. The 15th round of the
annual Indo-Australian bilateral talks was held in New Delhi in
October 1984. The two delegations were headed by the Foreign
Secretaries of the two countries. It was agreed that relations
between India and Australia would be strengthened and diversified
in different fields.
The Prime Minister of Vanuatu, Father Walter Lini, paid a
state visit to India in May 1984. He called on the President and
the late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi.
-12>
All the countries from South-East Asia and many countries from
the Pacific region sent special delegations to attend the funeral
of the late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi. The Heads of
State and Government from the following countries were present :
Vietnam, Laos, Kampuchea, Nauru, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and
Vanuatu. The Vice-President of Indonesia attended the funeral
while the Philippines delegation was headed by Mrs. Imelda
Marcos, the First Lady and the wife of President Marcos.
Countries which sent Ministers or other high dignitaries as heads
of their respective delegations were : Malaysia, Singapore,
Thailand, Papua New Guihea and Brunei.
-13>
|
EAST ASIA |
Top |
During the year under review, the dialogue with the Government
of the People's Republic of China towards a settlement of the
boundary question as well as for the promotion of bilateral
exchanges in the fields of culture, education, science and
technology, was continued. The fifth round of official level
talks between the two countries took place in Beijing from 17 to
22 September 1984. The general atmosphere of India China
relations remained cordial.
During the fifth round of official level talks, both sides had
an indepth exchange of views on the boundary question. Even
though complete agreement could not be reached, differences were
further narrowed. It was agreed that both sides would commence
substantive discussions on the boundary question from the next
round of talks. Cultural, scientific and technological exchanges
were also discussed during the fifth round of talks. It was
agreed to exchange cultural troupes, exhibitions, academicians
and scholars and a programme for scientific and technological
exchanges was also drawn up.
On 15 August 1984, an India-China Trade Agreement, which
incorporates the most favoured nation clause, was signed in
Beijing. This became the first Government to Government level
agreement to be signed between the two countries since the
exchange of Ambassadors in 1976. The agreement is expected to
create a good base the further growth of trade links between
India and China.
The Chinese Government expressed their deep shock and regret
on the tragic death of Smt. Indira Gandhi. The Chinese President
and Premier addressed a joint condolence message to the President
of India. The Chinese Premier also paid tributes in Beijing to
Smt. Gandhi's efforts to improve Sino-Indian relations and stated
that her death was a great loss to the Non-Aligned Movement and
the cause of world peace. He, along with several other Chinese
dignitaries, visited the Indian Embassy to sign the Condolence
Book. The Chinese Vice-Premier and Special Envoy, Mr. Yao Yilin,
attended the funeral of Smt. Gandhi. During his meeting with the
Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the Chinese Vice-Premier
expressed the desire to see Sino-Indian relations "restored to
what they were in the 1950s".
-14>
The Chinese Premier, Mr. Zhao Ziyang, in a message of
congratulations sent to Shri Rajiv Gandhi on his assumption of
office and the formation of the new Government, stated that "with
the joint efforts of the Chinese and Indian Governments, Sino
Indian relations have visibly improved and developed." The
Chinese Premier expressed the hope that the traditional
friendship existing between India and China would be further
strengthened and that "Sino-Indian friendly relations will
develop to a new high".
The state visit, from 3 to 6 May 1984 of the Japanese Prime
Minister, after a gap of 23 years, marked a new phase in India-
Japan relations against the background of increasing exchanges,
and signified the desire for further consolidation and expansion
of existing cordial relations between the two countries. The
visit afforded an opportunity to both sides to exchange views on
international and bilateral relations, and on the need for
imparting greater substance and momentum to India-Japan relations
in various fields.
The Japanese Prime Minister led a high powered delegation at
the time of the state funeral of the late Prime Minister, Smt.
Indira Gandhi. The Japanese Government and people reacted with
shock and sorrow to the tragic assassination of Smt. Gandhi,
recalling her eminent leadership and the interest the late Prime
Minister took in India-Japan relations. Condolence messages were
received from Emperor Hirohito, Prime Minister Mr. Yasuhiro
Nakasone, Foreign Minister Mr. Shintaro Abe and from other
dignitaries in Japan.
Visits were exchanged between the two countries at various
levels. A 52-member high powered Japanese Government Economic
Mission visited India from 30 November to 7 December 1984. The
17th Business Cooperation Committee Meeting was also held during
the Mission's visit-the 16th meeting having taken place in Tokyo
in July 1984. During the calls on the high Indian dignitaries by
the leader of the Mission, and at the official level, the
Japanese delegation discussed the scope and problems of
investment and collaborations in India, particularly in the field
of automobiles and electronics. Computer technology,
telecommunication, non-conventional sources of energy, mineral
development, agriculture, fisheries and above all diversified and
balanced trade were also covered in the discussions.
President Giani Zail Singh, during his transit through Tokyo
on 3 May 1984, met the representatives of the Indian community in
Japan. The Commerce Minister, Shri Vishwanath Pratap Singh, led
an Indian delegation to the Annual ESCAP Meeting in April 1984.
The Speakers of the Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh Assemblies
also visited Japan. The visits at the level of senior officials
were those of Finance Secretary Shri P. K. Kaul, former Secretary
(East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Shri K. Natwar Singh.
Secretary, Department of Ocean Development, Dr. S. Z. Qasmi,
-15>
|
and Agriculture Secretary Shri S. P. Mukerji. The Comptroller and
Auditor General of India, Shri T. N. Chaturvedi, participated in
an International Conference held in May 1984. India participated
in the Hoteres and Foodex-84 in Tokyo. The Trade Development
Authority of India organised a Home Furnishings and General
Merchandise Exhibition in Osaka in November 1984.
The 6th meeting of the Japan-India Mixed Commission, under the
Cultural Agreement of 1956, was held at Tokyo in March 1984 to
discuss cooperation in the scientific and technical fields, and
the exchange of scholars, academicians, youths, publications etc.
Exhibitions of ancient Indian sculpturess and modern Indian arts,
and a photo exhibition on the life of Mahatma Gandhi were
organised in Tokyo and other places in Japan. Performances by
Purulia Chhau dance troupe from Bihar, sponsored by the ICCR,
Bhopa and Rai dances representing the folk arts from Rajasthan
and Madhya Pradesh were organised, on invitation, in Japan as
also performances by individual artists. A Gagaku dance troupe
from Japan gave performances at the time of the International
Buddhist Conference held in New Delhi.
The late Indian Prime Minister's gift of two baby elephants,
airlifted from Bombay, was warmly received on 30 September 1984
at Tokyo Ueno Zoo in the presence of several high Japanese
dignitaries including the Prime Minister and his wife.
Japanese Prime Minister, Mr. Yasuhiro Nakasone, congratulated
Shri Rajiv Gandhi on the victory of the Congress(I) in the
General Elections and stated that this was "a manifestation of
the will of the people of India". The Japanese Prime Minister
expressed the hope that the close ties between Japan and India
would "develop more than ever in various fields" and also
expressed his confidence that Shri Rajiv Gandhi would "perform a
leading role for the increasing development of India and for the
peace and prosperity of the world".
The level and nature of exchanges between India and the
Republic of Korea (ROK) reflected the further growth of bilateral
relations between the two countries in the economic and
commercial fields. Visits from India included those of MMTC,
handloom and carpets, and sports goods delegations. The
exhibition of Indian silks, handlooms and carpets in June 1984,
was inaugurated by Shri P. A. Sangma, the Deputy Minister of
Commerce. India participated in the Seoul International Trade
Fair 1984, which was visited by the Chairman TFAI, Shri Mohammad
Yunus, as well as in the World Philatellic Exhibition in October
1984 in Seoul.
A 21-member Economic Mission from the ROK visited India in
October 1984 to discuss the expansion of economic cooperation,
joint ventures and bilateral trade. Earlier in July 1984 the 6th
meeting of India-ROK Joint Business Council was held in Seoul.
-16>
A 19-member team from the National Defence College paid a
visit to the ROK, for the first time, from 27 September to 2
October 1984. The Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 1984-
86 in the fields of education, art, culture, science, media,
sports etc., was concluded earlier for the year and exchanges,
under the programme, of sports teams and academicians etc., took
place. Purulia Chhau dance troupe of Bihar also visited the ROK
in September 1984 during the International Folklore Festival in
Seoul.
On the tragic assassination of Smt. Gandhi, the ROK President
sent a message of condolences. The ROK was represented by Speaker
of the National Assembly, Mr. Mun Shick Chae, at the state
funeral of the late Prime Minister.
With a view to maintaining contacts at various levels, a
number of visits were exchanged between India and the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). From the DPRK, the Minister of
Communications, Mr. Kim Yong Chai, in his capacity as a Member of
the Central Committee of the Worker's Party of Korea, the
Chairman of the Education Commission, Mr. Choi Tai Bok, and the
Minister of Foreign Trade, Mr. Choi Jong Gun, visited India
during the year under review. An Indian delegation led by the
Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Shri Anand
Sarup, visited Pyongyang in October 1984 to review bilateral
trade and to explore the possibility of increased exchanges in
trade and trade information. The need for increasing the economic
content in India-DPRK relations was recognised in these
discussions.
The then Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Shri
Kalp Nath Rai, led a Parliamentary delegation to the DPRK from 7
to 11 September 1984. Some Members of Parliament, academicians
and journalists were invited to the DPRK by various
organisations, mainly for study and exchange of views on the
"Juche" idea. For the state funeral of the late Shrimati Gandhi
the DPRK was represented by Vice President Mr. Pak Sung Chol.
President Kim II Sung sent a message of condolences.
Visits were also exchanged between India and the DPRK, under
the Cultural Exchange Programme, in the fields of art, culture,
education including adult education, films etc.
The visit to Mongolia in July 1984 by the then Minister of
State for External Affairs, Shri A. A. Rahim, on the occasion of
the Mongolian National Day celebrations, signified the cordial
relations between India and Mongolia. Shri Rahim was separately
received by the President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of
Mongolia besides other high dignitaries. The Cultural Exchange
Programme for the year 1984-86, under the cultural and scientific
co-operation agreement, was signed during the visit. In June
1984, a Special Envoy of the Mongolian President visited India
and met the late Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi.
-17>
On the tragic assassination of Smt. Gandhi, a joint message of
condolences was received from the Party General Secretary and the
Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Mr. J. Batmunkh, and the
Deputy Chairman of the Presidium, Mr. N. Jagvaral. At the state
funeral of the late Prime Minister, Mongolia was represented by
the First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Mr. T.
Ragohaa.
The Government of India welcomed the Hong Kong accord agreed
to between Great Britain and China on 26 September 1984,
especially as it resolved a difficult problem with the agreement
of the concerned parties. The Joint Declaration by the
Governments of the UK and China on Hong Kong was signed in
Beijing, on 19 December 1984, by the British Prime Minister, Mrs.
Margaret Thatcher, and the Chinese Premier, Mr. Zhao Ziyang.
-18>
|
WEST ASIA AND NORTH AFRICA |
Top |
While India's ties with the Arab nations of West Asia and
North Africa go back into antiquity it is only over the last few
years that they have acquired a deep and multifaceted character
encompassing not merely the political field but also extending to
the economic and cultural fields.
1984 saw a series of high level exchanges between India and
these nations underlining this close relationship. In this
context, particular mention may be made of the visit of the Prime
Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi in April 1984 to Libya and Tunisia.
India has been consistent in its support for the Palestinian
people since the early part of this century. This was once again
demonstrated in 1984, during which India continued to provide
material and moral assistance to the people of Palestine. To
underline this support, inspite of its pre-occupations with
preparations for the General Elections in December 1984, India
sent a delegation led by the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha
to attend the 17th Session of the Palestine National Council held
at Amman in November 1984.
In view of its continued concern at the prevailing tension in
West Asia brought about by, among other things, the continuing
presence of Israeli troops in Lebanon, India called for the
withdrawal of all foreign forces, beginning with those of Israel,
from Lebanon and reiterated its support, for UN Security Council
Resolutions 508 and 509. India also expressed the hope that the
Lebanese people would, in a spirit of national reconciliation,
quickly bring about peace and security in Lebanon. India has
consistently stood for a strong, united and non-aligned Lebanon.
India's relations with Algeria have traditionally been marked
with warmth and friendship. Throughout 1984 both countries, as
members of the Non-Aligned Movement, co-operated extensively both
on the international arena and on the bilateral plane.
-19>
Economic ties between the two countries, which are based within
the framework of strengthening South-South co-operation, were
discussed at the second session of the Indo-Algerian Joint
Commission meeting held in New Delhi from 27 February to 5 March
1984 and steps identified to foster greater co-operation.
Similarly, an IndoLibyan Joint Commission Meeting was held in
Tripoli from 22 to 28 May 1984 to further strengthen economic and
commercial ties between India and Libya.
A serious effort was made to explore ways and means for
strengthening economic and commercial relations between India and
the Kingdom of Morocco. In this context, Mr. Azeddine Guessous,
the Moroccan Minister of Trade, Industries and Tourism, visited
India in September 1984. Subsequently, two Indian delegations
visited Morocco in November 1984.
India has always sympathised with and supported the right of
self-determination for the people of Western Sahara. During the
year under review, party to party ties between the Polisario and
the Congress (I) Party were strengthened through the visits of
Polisario delegations to India.
On the sad occasion of the death of the Prime Minister, Smt.
Indira Gandhi, several dignitaries attended her funeral from West
Asia and North Africa region and in this context particular
mention may be made of the attendance of the Prime Minister of
Algeria, Vice-President and Foreign Minister of Syria, and Crown
Prince Hassan of Jordan.
During the year under review, India's relations with countries
in the Gulf region, namely Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait,
Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Oman, North Yemen and South Yemen continued
to improve in diverse fields. The continuing Iran-Iraq war which
has entered its fifth year received utmost attention from the
Indian government, and efforts were made in India's individual
capacity, as also in India's role as Chairman of the Non-Aligned
Movement, to find ways and means to bring about an immediate end
to the war through negotiation. The late Prime Minister took
personal interest in the matter and sent her special emissaries
to the concerned capitals and also held discussions with other
members of the Non-Aligned Movement and friendly countries in
order to achieve the objective of peace in the region.
Unfortunately, the receptivity of various proposals put forward
was not much, and the unfortunate conflict continued.
-20>
The President of India Giani Zail Singh paid state visits to
Yemen Arab Republic (YAR) and Peoples' Democratic Republic of
Yemen (PDRY) in 1984. The former Minister of State for External
Affairs, Shri A. A. Rahim, visited Qatar in August 1984. The Amir
of Qatar paid a state visit to India in February 1984. Other
important dignitaries from the region also visited India to hold
consultations on matters of mutual interest. Such visits included
the visits of the Foreign Minister of Oman and the Commerce
Minister of Iran. The Joint Commission meetings between India and
Iraq and India and Iran were held in May 1984 and November 1984
respectively.
The UAE authorities took the welcome and unprecedented step of
returning the hijackers of an Indian airliner from Dubai in 1984
to highlight the close and friendly relations between the two
countries.
India's economic and commercial relations with the Gulf
countries continued to show substantial progress. India's efforts
were directed towards greater export of manufactures, equipment,
machinery and complete projects etc. A number of Indian
construction firms have been undertaking jobs in the Gulf
countries, especially in Iraq.
A large number of Indian emigrants are working in the Gulf
countries and it is estimated that India has one million people
in these countries. There is general satisfaction at the
performance of the workers by the host Governments and
authorities and Indian nationals are by and large prosperous and
happy in their respective countries. However, normal consular
problems continue to engage our attention and our Missions abroad
are rendering full assistance to our nationals whenever required.
-21>
|
AFRICA (SOUTH OF THE SAHARA) |
Top |
India continued with its policy of strengthening the on-going
process of multifaceted co-operation with the countries of the
African region, extending moral, material and diplomatic support
to the Frontline States and Liberation Movements. It firmly
opposed the system of apartheid and racial discrimination in
South Africa and advocated a total boycott of the racist regime
practising it. In tune with this basic policy, India, in its
individual capacity, and also as Chairperson of Non-Aligned
Movement, responded to the fast evolving political situation in
Southern Africa and generally endorsed the position in this
regard taken by the Frontline States at their meeting in Arusha
(Tanzania) in April 1984. The Arusha meeting, inter-alia, called
upon South Africa to dismantle the root cause of the instability
in the region, i.e. apartheid, and to honour Security Council
Resolution 435 on Namibia. The so-called constitutional reforms
within South Africa, introduced by the racist regime, were
rejected outright by India. The Government of India, in an
official statement, termed these as fraudulent. The Prime
Minister, in a message to the Security Council, urged the people
of South Africa to oppose the elections (held under the new
Constitution), aimed at dividing and weakening the struggle
against apartheid.
As a token of India's unequivocal support to the people of
South Africa and Namibia, we received on official visits Mr. J.
N. Pokela, the Chairman of the Pall Arricanist Congress of South
Africa, a 5-member delegation of the Organisation of African
Unity (OAU) Liberation Committee headed by the Vice Foreign
Minister of Angola, and a senior-level delegation of the Council
for Namibia. During the period under review, additional material
assistance was given to the South West African People's
Organisation (SWAPO) of Namibia and the African National Congress
(ANC) and Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) of South Africa.
The great importance India attaches to relations with the
African countries was also reflected in its decision to donate I
lakh tonnes of wheat to the drought-affected countries in Africa.
The Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, in an official statement,
pledged our solidarity with the faminc-affected African countries
and expressed our
-22>
readiness to share our experience and resources in helping them
to meet this challenge. Even prior to this announcement, relief
supplies by way of medicines were either dispatched, or were in
the pipe-line, to several countries, including Ethiopia, Mali,
Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Ghana, Rwanda, Swaziland, Madagascar
and the People' Republic of Benin. Our Prime Minister's message
of felicitation to the 20th Summit of the OAU also symbolised the
great importance we attach to our relations with the African
countries. The high-level of political representation from Africa
at the funeral of the late Prime Minister, Shrimati Indira
Gandhi, also illustrated the measure of deep understanding
between India and Africa. The visitors included the Presidents
of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Mozambique; Vice-Presidents of
Kenya and Liberia; and Prime Ministers of Mauritius and Zimbabwe.
The visits of nearly three dozen delegations to and from
Africa further deepened the mutual co-operation in economic,
political, technical, cultural and other fields. The most
important ones included the Ministerial visits from Ethiopia,
Kenya, Mauritius and Mozambique. Our Lok Sabha Speaker visited
Zambia. The level of our assistance under ITEC and other schemes
to African countries was maintained and even augmented wherever
felt necessary.
Soon after the military coup in Nigeria, Major General
Mohammed Buhari sent a Special Envoy to India to brief the
Government about the political developments eventually leading to
the military takeover in that country. Our Prime Minister's
Special Envoy also visited Nigeria in May 1984, inter alia, to
assure the Nigerian leadership of India's continuing friendship
and co-operation with the new regime.
Relations with Ethiopia received a further boost with the
visits of the Ethiopian Permanent Secretary for Transport and
Communications and the Minister of Information and National
Guidance to lndia, during which discussions regarding co-
operation in the field of rail and road transport and information
and culture were held. A substantial number of other Ethiopian
delegations at the official and technical level also visited
India.
The visit of Indian Minister of Industry and Labour to Kenya
and the visit of the Kenyan Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs
to India further brightened the prospects of co-operation between
India and Kenya in the field of industrial development.
-23>
Indo-Mauritius relations reached a new peak during the period
under review. The second meeting of the Joint Commission took
place in Port Louis in February 1984. The Indian delegation was
headed by our Foreign Minister. India agreed to extend assistance
to Mauritius in 26 major projects, covering agriculture,
industry, communications and civil aviation. As a mark of our
keenness to share our technical expertise with the developing
countries, a Mauritian scientist was included in the second
Indian expedition to Antarctica. A Government to Government
credit of Rs. 50 million and an EXIM Bank Credit of the same
amount was extended. The President of India, Giani Zail Singh
visited Mauritius to participate in the 150th anniversary of
Indian immigration to Mauritius, in which a number of cultural
delegations from India also participated. Reciprocal celebrations
of this event were also held in India. Another hall-mark of
bilateral relations was the visit of Smt. Ramdulari Sinha, the
Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs, who headed a
delegation of nearly 150 prominent Indians, in October 1984.
-24>
|
EUROPE WESTERN EUROPE |
Top |
The countries of Western Europe have continued to play a
significant role in India's foreign affairs during the period
under review. The ten countries of the European Economic
Community are amongst India's major trading partners. Western
Europe, particularly the Federal Republic of Germany, France and
the UK, continue to be important sources of technology transfer
into India. Defence purchases from these countries are also not
unimportant, and considerable financial assistance is obtained
from them in terms of project loans.
In 1984, there have been no visits to the countries of Western
Europe by either our President or Prime Minister. However, the
Federal Chancellor Fred Sinowatz of Austria paid an official
visit to India in March 1984. There have also been several
Ministerial level visits between India and the countries of
Western Europe.
Events in Punjab, and especially the Army operation in
Amritsar in June 1984 and subsequent developments, evoked keen
interest in the West European media and amongst the ethnic Indian
Community in these countries. In this connection, one area of
concern to us has been the fact that Sikh extremists have found
refuge in some West European countries, notably the UK. India has
kept in constant touch with the concerned Governments, media and
the ethnic community in these countries, and particularly so in
Britain, with a view to ensure that appropriate action is taken
to counter the anti-Indian activities of the extremists.
The assassination of the late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira
Gandhi, was unanimously condemned in all West European countries
from where several Prime Ministers and other top level
dignitaries came to Delhi to attend the funeral.
The kidnapping and murder, in February 1984, of Shri R. H.
Mhatre, India's Assistant High Commissioner in Birmingham, was
highlighted in the countries of West Europe as yet another
instance of the danger of growing international terrorism.
The Indian general elections held in December 1984 were very
widely covered by the West European media and, in general, there
was unstinting appreciation of the
-25>
manner in which the elections were conducted, and of the strength
of democratic institutions in India. Messages have been sent by
several West European leaders to the new Prime Minister on his
resounding election victory.
The UK is an important trading partner of India, and is
significant as a source of foreign technology and investment in
India. While India's trade turnover with UK has increased over
the years, the trade balance remains adverse to India. Our
efforts to redress this balance by encouraging the UK to buy more
Indian goods are showing some results.
There was a feeling in the country that the British
authorities had not been vigorous enough in curbing the anti-
Indian activities of the extremist and militant sections of the
ethnic Indian community in the UK. This matter had been raised on
several occasions with the Government of the UK and it was hoped
that the UK would show a greater understanding of Indian
concerns.
The British Prime Minister, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, attended
the funeral of Smt. Indira Gandhi. The visit to India of Baroness
Young, the British Minister of State in the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office, in March 1984, as well as the talks of our
Minister of State for External Affairs and the Foreign Secretary
with the British Foreign Office, were occasions for frank and
meaningful discussions between the two sides.
Relations with the Government of France have continued to
develop. Progress was made for holding of the "Festival of
India'" in Paris in 1984-85. Indo-French bilateral talks were
held when the Foreign Minister visited Paris in April 1984. The
Minister of Commerce also visited Paris in June the same year in
order to review the overall economic relations between the two
countries. The two Governments also agreed to mutually beneficial
cooperation in agriculture and rural development. The New French
Prime Minister, Mr. Laurent Fabius came to India to attend the
late Prime Minister's funeral. Other important visits include
that of the Speaker of the French National Assembly to India in
February 1984, and the visit of our Vice-President to France in
July 1984.
During the period under review, there was a spate of visits
from the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) which is at present
our most important trading partner in West Europe. This economic
cooperation was highlighted when India presented its industrial
skills at the Hanover Trade Fair, this being perhaps the biggest
Indian participation in any foreign trade fair so far. India has
also been participating in 3 Ea/84-6
-26>
several other promotional specialised fairs in the FRG ever year.
So far 1341 out of a total of about 7500 foreign collaboration
projects approved by the Government of India have been with the
FRG, which is a very important source for technology transfer
into India. The annual financial assistance of the FRG to India
is approximately Rs. 144 crores.
In June 1984, the first Indo-German seminar was organised in
Bonn in which several high-ranking thinkers and policy makers on
both sides presented ideas on improving ties between the two
countries. While relations have been friendly between the two
countries, in the matter of Talwinder Singh, a criminal fugitive
released unilaterally by the FRG Government, there was some
degree of discord. Of late, however, the FRG has been more than
forthcoming on our concerns concerning extremist activity.
With the Benelux countries, Belgium, the Netherlands and
Luxembourg, relations are friendly and have continued to show a
steady growth. A Memorandum of Understanding in the field of
agriculture was signed with Netherlands in June 1984, and
bilateral economic relations were reviewed in a Joint Commission.
The Cultural Agreement with the Netherlands is in the penultimate
stage of finalisation.
The visit of the Austrian Chancellor was the only official
visit to India in 1984 from West Europe at the Head of Government
level. The previous Chancellor, Mr. Bruno Kreisky, was nominated
for the 1983 Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International
Understanding. The Vice-President of India visited Austria in
August 1984.
In terms of trade, the Austrian Scheme of Generalised
Preference has boosted India's trade with that country. Austrian
technological input in the engineering sector has been growing,
and there are as many as 60 Indo-Austrian collaborations in the
field. Austria also provides a limited financial credit of about
Rs. 6 crores on a two-yearly basis.
Indo-Italian co-operation, particularly in the economic and
technical fields, is still modest. Italy has agreed to assist
India in the field of agricultural development, a tuna fishing
project, non-conventional energy projects, rural electrification
and a design and training centre for leather. The Italians are
also participating in the Thal Fertilizers Project, the Farakka
Super Thermal Power Project and the Indo-Gulf Fertilizer Plant at
Jagdishpur. Italy agreed to provide an export credit of 400
million US dollars to be used both as buyers and suppliers credit
during the meeting.
-27>
Italy started offering large grants only recently as a
supplement to its commercial export of equipment and consultancy
services. These are mainly in the field of agriculture,
fisheries, petro-chemicals and power production. In August 1984,
agreements were signed for (i) integrated agricultural
development in Madhya Pradesh, Orissa Haryana, and (ii) Temperate
Climate Fruit Development in Jammu and Kashmir, UP and Himachal
Pradesh.
With the visit of the Italian Defence Minister to India in
September 1984, following upon the earlier visit of our Defence
Minister to Italy, the possibilities of some defence purchases
from Italy have also been examined.
The Scandinavian countries continued to extend economic aid to
India, especially for projects in the fields of social welfare,
health and rural development. There is considerable scope for
India to co-operate with these countries in high technology areas
as well.
The visit of our Minister of Energy to Sweden has seen a
significant step up of co-operation in power and alternate
sources of energy. A Working Group formed in early 1984 has
already met twice during the year under review to work on the
details. Sweden is collaborating in the Dhauliganga Project and
has also shown interest in power transmission machines and
drilling platforms. Negotiations are also under way for
collaboration in the setting up of mini hydel power stations. The
important visits from Sweden during 1984 have been that of their
Foreign Trade Minister heading the Swedish delegation to Indo-
Swedish Joint Commission, and that of the ten-member Swedish
Parliamentary delegation led by their Speaker in February.
According to a White Paper presented by the Norwegian
Government to its Parliament in 1984, India was named as one of
the nine countries that would be the main beneficiaries of
Norwegian bilateral assistance. According to an agreement signed
in New Delhi in November 1984, Norway would give annual financial
assistance of about Rs. 25 crores for four years from 1985. The
money is to be spent on agricultural and rural development
projects and for some commodity imports such as paper, fisheries
equipment, etc. When our Deputy Minister of Electronics visited
Norway, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed for co-operation
in the field of electronics.
Denmark has been active in its aid projects for rural
development and is now showing a greater interest in assisting
projects in areas such as energy from nonconventional sources.
-28>
The Spanish Secretary of State for Trade, accompanied by a big
delegation of businessmen, visited New Delhi in December 1984 to
have bilateral talks on economic matters. His visit coincided
with the inauguration of the Indo-Spanish Joint Business Council
which held its first meeting in New Delhi. The next meeting of
the official Indo-Spanish Joint Commission will meet in early
1985 in Madrid.
During the visit of the Finnish Foreign Minister in March
1984, apart from economic relations, cultural co-operation was
specially reviewed. In fact, the first protocol under the Indo-
Finnish Cultural Agreement was signed in February 1984. Once
again, the Finnish ship "Finnpolaris" was chartered by India for
our Antarctic Expedition in 1984.
|
The people in the countries of West Europe are becoming
increasingly interested in Indian culture, and this seems to have
been noticed by West European governments, and reflected in their
activities. The Portuguese Minister of Culture visited India in
October 1984. The President of the Swiss Council of Arts-Pro-
Helvetia, Professor Roland Ruffieux, led an important delegation
to India to promote cultural interaction between India and
Switzerland. The Scandinavian countries welcomed several Indian
artists during the period under review. A ten-day Indian film
festival was held in Stockholm. In Vienna our Embassy organised a
cultural week of India, which was well-received.
The European Economic Community is collectively one of
Indian's most important partners in trade. Our large adverse
trade balance has continued to be a matter of concern to us, and
at the third Indo-EEC Joint Commission held in May 1984, ways and
means to redress this imbalance were considered. We have
requested increased quotas for exports under the GSP in several
commodities and lower preferential tariffs for others. A
Conference on Investment and Technology Transfer was held in West
Berlin in November 1984 under the aegis of Indo-EEC industrial
co-operation in order to bring Indian and European entrepreneurs
together and to facilitate investment and technology flows.
With the growth of economic relations, the need for political
consultations with the EEC became evident. Accordingly, India and
the EEC decided to institutionalise political co-operation and
this was inaugurated by our then Foreign Minister, Shri Narasimha
Rao, in April 1984, during his visit to France (which held the
Presidency of the EEC during January-June 1984). This was
followed by a meeting in New York between our Minister of State
and the Irish Foreign Minister in Soptember 1984. It has now been
decided that this "political dialogue" will adopt the Troika
formula
-29>
under which three countries would represent the EEC, namely the
country currently holding the Community Presidency, and the
previous and next Presidency countries.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Regional Meeting of the
Asia-Pacific. countries was held in Port Moresby on 8 August
1984, The Indian delegation was led by Shri A. A. Rahim, the then
Minister of State for External Affairs. The Meeting discussed
political and economic issues of common concern to the Asia-
Pacific region. The Meeting stressed the importance of paying
particular attention to the needs and aspirations of small States
which are especially vulnerable to the vagaries of the current
international political, social and economic order. The
Commonwealth Senior Officials Meeting was held in Barbados on 12-
14 December 1984. The Indian delegation was led by the then
Secretary (ER) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Shri Romesh
Bhandari. The Meeting reviewed the piogress in the implementation
of decisions taken at the Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting held in New Delhi in November 1983, and discussed
arrangements for the forthcoming CHOGM scheduled to be held in
the Bahamas in October 1985.
THE USSR AND EASTERN EUROPE
India's friendly and cordial relations with the Soviet Union
and other socialist countries of Eastern Europe developed
satisfactorily during the year under review. The principal high
level visit from India was that of late Prime Minister, Shrimati
Indira Gandhi to the Soviet Union on the occasion of the funeral
of the late President Andropov in February 1984. The other major
visit to Eastern Europe was by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri
Balram Jakhar, who led a Parliamentary Delegation in June 1984 to
the USSR, Bulgaria and the GDR.
During her visit to the Soviet Union, Shrimati Indira Gandhi
paid her respect to the memory of President Andropov, and also
had discussions with the newly elected General Secretary of the
CPSU Central Committee, Mr. K. U. Chernenko. The exchange of
views on bilateral relations as well as important international
issues were continued at other levels during the period under
review.
Indo-Soviet trade and economic co-operation continued to grow
during the period under review. There was a high turnover. of
bilateral trade during 1984. The Trade Plan for 1985 provides for
a 20 per cont increase in turnover. An important event in
bilateral economic relations was the successful Indian National
Exhibition in Moscow
-30>
organised by TFAI in Moscow in August-September 1984. The former
Minister of Industry represented India at the exhibition, which
gave a comprehensive view of the Indian industry and economy and
also led to mutually beneficial commercial transactions. There
was fruitful interaction in several other sectors of the economy
in which India and the Soviet Union are co-operating. The
Minister of State for Steel & Mines visited Moscow in July 1984
and had discussions with his Soviet counterpart. Working groups
under the Joint Commission in the sectors of machine building,
coal, petroleum and commerce met as scheduled during the year
under review. Co-operation also extended to fields such as
environment. A bilateral Convention on the Protection of
Migratory Birds was signed in Moscow in October 1984. The 25th
anniversary of the commissioning of the Bhilai Steel Plant was
celebrated in February 1984. A high level delegation led by
Soviet Deputy Premier Mr. V. E. Dymshits and including Soviet
Minister of Construction of Heavy Industry Enterprises, Mr. N. V.
Goldin, and Chairman of the Soviet State Committee for Foreign
Economic Relations, Mr. Ryabov, visited India on the occasion.
Another notable event in Indo-Soviet co-operation was the
Joint space venture which took place in April 1984.
Other leading visitors from India to the Soviet Union during
the period under review were the Minister of Defence, the
Minister of State for External Affairs, the Minister of State for
Commerce and Deputy Minister for Information and Broadcasting.
The Soviet Defence Minister, Marshal Ustinov, visited India in
March 1984. His programme included talks with the Minister of
External Affairs.
India also hosted a delegation led by the Vice-President of
the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the President
of the Estonian SSR, Mr. Arnold F. Ruitel, who came to attend our
Independence Day Celebrations. This visit was in response to the
invitation by the Friends of the Soviet Union.
After the general elections and the formation of the new
Government in India, the Soviet leadership sent a message of
congratulations to the Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi. The
message reiterated the Soviet desire to further strengthen Indo-
Soviet friendship and co-operation.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Balram Jakhar, led an
Indian Parliamentary Delegation to Bulgaria in June 1984. The
40th Anniversary of the Bulgarian People's Republic was attended
by an official delegation from India led by the Minister of State
for Energy, Shri Arif Mohammed Khan, in September 1984. The
Seventh
-31>
Indo-Bulgarian Joint Commission met in New Delhi in October 1984.
The Bulgarian side was led by the Member of the Politbureau of
the Central Committee of the Bulgarian Communist Party and
Minister of Machine Building, Mr. O. Doinov. The leader of the
Indian side was the Minister for Agriculture, Shri Rao Birendra
Singh. The discussions during this meeting included a review of
trade and economic co-operation and measures for growth.
The Prime Minister of Czechoslovakia, Mr. L. S. Strougal, paid
an official visit to India in February 1984. He had talks with
the Prime Minister, Shrimati Indira Gandhi on bilateral relations
and the international situation. The visit also provided an
opportune occasion for a review of bilateral economic relations,
including measures to facilitate their expansion. The 11th
meeting of the Indo-Czechoslovak Joint Commission for Economic,
Scientific and Technical Co-operation was held in May 1984 in New
Delhi. The Czechoslovak side was led by their Minister of Foreign
Trade, Mr. Bohumil Urban. The Minister of Commerce, Shri V. P.
Singh, led the Indian side.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Balram Jakhar, led an
Indian Parliamentary Delegation to the GDR in June 1984. Regular
exchanges with the GDR in the economic field also continued to
take place during the year under review. The Trade Plan for 1985
was signed in Berlin in December 1984.
The Deputy Prime Minister of Hungary, Mr. Istvan Sarlos,
visited India in April 1984. His visit coincided with the
bicentenary celebrations of the Hungarian scholar, Alexander
Korosi Csoma. Mr. Sarlos called on the President and the Prime
Minister of India during his visit, and exchanged views on
bilateral relations and the international situation. Indo-
Hungarian trade and economic co-operation was also the subject of
discussions between experts and officials of the two countries.
A Polish Parliamentary Delegation, led by Marshal of the
Polish Sejm (Parliament), Mr. Stanislaw Gucwa, visited India in
March 1984. The visit coincided with the 30th Anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Poland.
Measures for identifying and expanding Indo-Polish trade and
economic co-operation were also discussed at different levels.
The meeting of the Indo-Polish Working Group on Coal held in
November 1984 contributed to this objective. The Indo-Polish
Trade Plan for 1985 was signed in Warsaw in November 1984. An
agreement for co-operation in Health was concluded.
-32>
An official Indian delegation led by the then Minister of
State in the Ministry of External Affairs, Shri A.A. Rahim,
visited Romania in August 1984 to participate in the 40th
Anniversary celebrations of the founding of the Romanian
Socialist Republic. During the visit, the delegation was received
by the Romanian President, Mr. Ceausescu. The Indo-Romanian Joint
Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Co-operation
held its 7th meeting in Bucharest in February 1984. The Indian
delegation was led by the Minister of Commerce, Shri V. P. Singh.
The Minister for Metallurgy, Mr. Nicolai Agachi led the Romanian
side. The session provided an opportunity for an indepth review
of economic co-operation in diverse fields and for examining
means of increasing co-operation.
The President of the Presidency of Yugoslavia, Mr. Veselin
Djuranovic, along with a high-level delegation, paid a State
visit to India in August 1984. In his meetings with President
Giani Zail Singh and the Prime Minister Shrimati Indira Gandhi,
the Yugoslav President had extensive discussions on bilateral
issues as well as on the activity of India and Yugoslavia in the
Non-Aligned Movement. The visit also provided a suitable occasion
for an indepth review of Indo-Yugoslav economic co-operation and
trade. Concrete measures to ensure growth in Indo-Yugoslav
economic relations were identified.
The Soviet Union and other socialist countries of Eastern
Europe expressed their grief and shock at the tragic
assassination of Shrimati Indira Gandhi. Messages of condolence
were received from the leaders of all these countries. Tributes
were paid to Shrimati Indira Gandhi's achievements as an
outstanding national leader and international figure, her role as
Chairperson of the Non-Aligned Movement, and her great
contributions to peace and international Co-operation. The Soviet
delegation was led by Prime Minister, N. Tikhonov who also called
on our President and the Prime Minister. The Presidents of
Bulgaria, Poland and Yugoslavia also visited India on this
occasion and had talks with our leaders. The GDR was represented
by President of the People's Chamber and Member of the Politburo,
Mr. Horst Sinderman, and Czechoslovakia by Prime Minister
Strougal. The Vice-Presidents of Hungary and Romania represented
their countries at the funeral ceremony. During the discussions
held between the visiting dignitaries and our leaders, there was
a reaffirmation of mutual commitment to friendship and co-
operation.
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|
THE AMERICAS NORTH AMERICA |
Top |
During the year under review, India made efforts for better
relations with the USA; high-level bilateral contacts were
maintained, although the perception of the two countries on
various issues remained different.
The single most important factor which generated friction
between the two countries was the continued supply of
sophisticated arms by the USA to Pakistan. India repeatedly
impressed upon the US Government officials that the supply of
sophisticated arms to Pakistan would have an adverse effect upon
Indo-US relations. The USA also tended to encourage an arms race
on the sub-continent which created tension and thereby
jeopardised the normalisation of relations between Pakistan and
India.
Many extremist leaders operating from the United States
supported the so-called "Khalistan Movement" in India. Such
extremist elements disturbed the Indian Independence Day
celebrations in the United States and also harassed and hurled
abuse on the Indian team during the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
India's repeated insistence that such activity was detrimental to
Indo-US relations had little effect, although it was noted that
the proposed Congressional hearings on Punjab to be held by the
Sub-Committee for Asia and Pacific Affairs and the Human Rights
Committee of the US Congress were first postponed and later
cancelled. The Government of India also deeply appreciated the
role of the US Government in the termination of the hijacking of
an Indian Airlines Boeing-737 at Dubai. The Prime Minister
conveyed our appreciation to President Reagan.
The Bhopal gas tragedy, involving an American multinational
firm Union Carbide, created controversy, and the legal and other
ramifications of the tragedy are presently under study.
Indo-US economic and commercial relations grew during 1984.
The third Indo-US Sub-Commission meeting on Agriculture was held
in January 1984 and the 9th meeting of Indo-US Business Council
took place in November 1984. India also accepted the invitation
of NASA to include an Indian scientist in the US space shuttle
mission.
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Negotiations for the conclusion of a Memorandum on the
transfer of high technology between the two countries were also
undertaken. A Memorandum of Understanding has been initialled and
is awaiting further processing by the two sides.
During the period under review, a number of visits took place
between the two countries. The Chairman of the Policy Planning
Committee, Shri G. Parthasarathi, the Foreign Secretary as well
as other officials of the Government of India visited the USA.
Among the visitors from the USA were Vice-President, George Bush,
a 5-member Congressional delegation, as also five Senators in
November 1984. The US Secretary of State, Mr. George Shultz, led
a high-powered delegation from the United States to attend the
funeral of Shrimati Gandhi. Towards the end of the year, the
Chairman of the Congressional Sub-Committee on Asia, Congressman
Stephen Solarz, visited India to see for himself the effects of
the Bhopal gas tragedy.
The President of the United States sent a warm message of
congratulations to the Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, on his
assuming the Prime Ministership and for the election victory. The
US President said that the recent free and vigorous elections in
India and the United States have re-affirmed the shared
commitment to democratic institutions and traditions between the
two countries.
Relations between India and Canada continued to be cordial.
However, in the wake of the army's entry into the Golden Temple,
"Khalistani" activities have been on the increase in Canada.
There have been numerous cases of demonstrations, forced entry of
the Missions' premises and cases of violence. These have taken
place mostly in Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver, where Indian
Missions are located. The activities of these "Khalistanis"
finally culminated in an attempt on our Acting High Commissioner
on 18 July 1984 at Winnipeg. The Canadian Government rather
belatedly issued a statement regretting attacks against Indian
property and diplomats.
The news of Smt. Indira Gandhi's death was received with
widespread grief in Canada. The Canadian delegation was led by
their Secretary of State for External Affairs and included the
Chief Justice of Canada and representatives from various
provinces, including some provincial Ministers. The Canadian
Prime Minister, Mr. Brian Mulroney, conveyed his deepest sympathy
to Shri Rajiv Gandhi and other family members and reaffirmed that
"Canada is determined to maintain close and cordial relations
with the world's most populous democracy."
Indo-Canadian Air Talks were held in New Delhi in May-June
1984. Discussions focused on the exchange of additional traffic
rights, capacity provision and related matters. The Indian side
expressed its interest in access to Toronto and intermediate and
beyond rights for its designated airline. At the Bilateral Air
Talks held in Ottawa on 15 October 1984, these rights were
conferred on Air India.
-35>
An index of the Canadian interest in India as a market has
been the growth in the exchange of visits both of an official and
of a commercial nature. In February 1984 the Minister of
International Trade of Canada, Mr. Gerald Reagan, paid a visit to
India to support the efforts of an increasing number of Canadian
industries seeking new opportunities for industrial co-operation
with India. An eleven member Canadian industrial delegation
arrived in New Delhi for the Canada-India Joint Business Council
meeting under the auspices of FICCI on 22 May 1984. Premier
Pawley of Canada's Manitoba province led an Economic Mission to
India from 24 to 28 October 1984. The delegation sought to
promote awareness of investment opportunities in Manitoba
focussing on the development of its energy and potash reserves
and the potential for various components of proposed aluminium
projects.
A Canadian Parliamentary delegation led by the Chairman of the
Canadian branch of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the
Hon'ble Minister Mr. Louis Desmaranis, MP, visited India in April
1984. The Commonwealth Finance Ministers met in Toronto from 18
to 20 September 1984 and the Indian delegation was led by the
Finance Minister. Major-General R. S. Sparrow visited Vancouver
on 9 October 1984 and briefed Canadian officials and MPs about
developments in Punjab.
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
India's relations with the countries of Central and South
America and the Caribbean were marked by greater interest to
increased co-operation. A number of visits took place and several
agreements were signed during the period under review.
The major event was the State visit of the Indian President to
Mexico and Argentina in April 1984, the first visit by an Indian
Head of State to Latin America. The President also met the
President of Peru during a re-fuelling halt in Lima.
It was agreed that the six-nation disarmament summit to be
held in January 1985 in New Delhi would be attended by the
Presidents of Argentina and Mexico, who would also be paying
State visits to India at the end of that month.
During the visit of the President of India to Mexico, letters
were exchanged for the renewal of the bilateral Agreement on Co-
operation in Science and Technology and to extend the current
Cultural Exchange Programme till the signing of the new programme
in 1985.
A six-member delegation led by the Health Minister, Shri B.
Shankaranand, attended the International Population Conference in
Mexico in August 1984.
-36>
In September 1984, a delegation led by the Secretary (East)
Shri K. Natwar Singh, visited Mexico for the first Indo-Mexican
Joint Commission meeting. The Joint Commission discussed recent
developments and economic prospects in the context of the present
world economic situation, steps for establishment of a new
international economic order and for increased bilateral trade
and closer co-operation in the areas of industry, energy,
finance, transport and tourism.
Dr. Octavio Paz, a poet of international stature and a former
Ambassador of Mexico to India, who was invited to deliver the
Nehru Memorial Lecture, visited India.
Argentina's Vice Foreign Minister, Mr. Oscar Yuinovsky,
visited India in March 1984 as a Special Envoy of the Argentine
President.
The Economic Adviser to the President of Argentina, Dr. Raul
Prebisch, visited India in September 1984 in connection with the
first meeting of the Indo-Argentine Joint Trade Committee. A wide
range of subjects including trade, commerce, shipping and co-
operation in various fields were reviewed.
An Agreement on Economic Co-operation between India and
Argentina was initialled by the Secretary (ER), Shri Romesh
Bhandari, and Dr. Raul Prebisch, and signed during President
Alfonsin's visit to India in January 1985. Earlier an Agreement
between the Shipping Corporation of India and the National
Shipping Lines (ELMA) of Argentina providing for shipping
services between the two countries was signed during our
President's visit to Argentina. This Agreement is likely to
overcome the major obstacle to trade between India and South
America.
The Deputy Minister of Education and Culture and Social
Welfare, Shri P. K. Thungon, visited Venezuela for the signing of
the first Cultural Agreement between the two countries.
The Foreign Minister of Brazil, Mr. Ramiro Saraiva Guerreiro,
paid an official visit to India in March 1984, the first high-
level bilateral visit by a Brazilian dignitary since India's
Independence.
Jamaica's Minister for Youth and Community Development, Mr.
Edmund Bartlett, visited India in February 1984 to attend the
International Exposition of Rural Development.
-37>
A 30-member Colombian Industrial Delegation visited India in
May 1984.
Justice (Mrs.) Jean Permanand of the Supreme Court of Trinidad
and Tobago visited India in September 1984.
The Deputy Foreign Minister of Cuba, Dr. Pelegrin Torras,
visited India in November 1984 for official discussions on
international and bilateral matters.
Representatives from Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize,
Cuba, Dominica, Guyana, Mexico, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago
visited India for the funeral of the late Prime Minister, Smt.
Indira Gandhi. Among the dignitaries were, de facto President of
Suriname, Mr. Ramdat Misier, the Vice-President of Argentina, Dr.
Victor Martinez, the Prime Minister and first Vice-President of
Guyana, Mr. H. D. Hoyte, the Foreign Minister of Barbados, Mr.
Louis Tull, Senator and former Deputy Prime Minister of Belize,
Mr. C. L. B. Rogers, Politburo Member of Cuba, Mr. Juan Almeide
Bosque, the Minister for Culture of Nicaragua, Mr. Ernestro
Cardenal, the Minister of Agriculture of Trinidad and Tobago, Mr.
Kamaluddin Mohammad and the Minister of State for International
Economic Relations of Venezula, Mr. Manuel Perez Guerrero.
Bahamas, Jamaica and Mexico were represented by their Ambassadors
to the United Nations, USA, and UN respectively. Brazil, Chile,
Colombia and Peru were represented by their Ambassadors in New
Delhi.
Uncertainty and tension continued to exist in the region of
Central America and the threat to peace in the area, particularly
in Nicaragua, was the subject of discussion in international
fora.
The Prime Minister and Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement,
Shri Rajiv Gandhi, issued on 14 November 1984, a statement on the
Central American crisis, viewing with great concern the
escalating tensions and threats of armed conflicts in the region,
especially in and around Nicaragua.
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|
UNITED NATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES |
Top |
During the period under review India continued to play its
traditionally active and important role in multilateral fora,
particularly at the United Nations. The significance of this role
was enhanced further by virtue of India's Chairmanship of the
Movement of Non-Aligned countries and its membership, since 1
January 1984, of the Security Council. Also during the period
under review, India was once again elected a member of the
Economic and Social Council. Thus, India was represented on each
of the important principal organs of the Organisation. In
addition, it remained a member of and participated actively in a
number of subsidiary bodies of the General Assembly and the
Economic and Social Council. A number of distinguished Indians
were elected or remained members, in their individual capacity,
of important UN bodies. Shri M. C. Bhandare, MP, was elected to
the Sub-Committee for a 3-year term by the Human Rights
Committee. Smt. Shanti Sadiq Ali was elected to the UN Committee
on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination for another
term of 4 years.
The year 1985 will mark the 40th anniversary of the
establishment of the United Nations, an event which will be
commemorated at the United Nations and around the world,
including India. Consistent with its own firm and abiding faith
in the United Nations, of which it is a founder member, as also
in its capacity as Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM),
the Government of India felt that it would be appropriate for the
Non-Aligned countries to take the lead in the preparations for
and the actual observance of the anniversary. It would be
recalled that, at their Seventh Summit held in New Delhi in March
1983, the late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi had also
reiterated that "firm faith in the United Nations is central to
the Non-Aligned." Following India's active efforts to mobilise
the NAM into playing a leading role with regard to the 40th
anniversary of the UN, the Non-Aligned countries presented a
draft resolution on the question in the Preparatory Committee
established by the General Assembly for the purpose. For several
weeks, the Indian delegation made intensive efforts to secure
global consensus on the text. However, owing to the negative
attitude adopted by certain countries outside the Movement, no
consensus could be reached on the Non-Aligned draft and the
Assembly could do no better than adopt a resolution of a
procedural nature. However, the constructive role of the Non-
Aligned countries, and of India as its Chairman in particular,
was widely acknowledged. India and other Non-Aligned countries
intend to take active part in the actual commemoration of the
anniversary in 1985.
-39>
On 1 January 1984, India became a member of the Security
Council, having been elected to a non-permanent seat in the body
at the 38th session of the General Assembly. India has been a
member of the Council in 1950-51, 1967-68, 1972-73, 1977-78 and
is now a member for the fifth time, for the 1984-85 term. The
importance of India's membership of the Council is enhanced by
its concurrent Chairmanship of the Movement of Non-Aligned
countries. During the period under review India participated
constructively in the deliberations of the Security Council on
the various issues of which the Council was seized. Apart from
making a number of formal statements, India has been active in
negotiating draft resolutions and in the continuous process of
informal consultations with other members of the Council as well
as the member States concerned with particular issues.
Political Issues
In all the three main fora dealing with disarmament issues,
namely, the Conference on Disarmament, the UN Disarmament
Commission, and the First Committee of the UN General Assembly,
India continued to play an important role during the year under
review. India firmly believes that in this nuclear age,
disarmament is indispensable not only for world peace but for the
very survival of mankind.
Unfortunately, 1984 was characterised by little or no progress
on disarmament issues and the prospects of a major break-through
appeared to be bleak with accentuated distrust and increasing
military competition particularly between the two major powers.
Talks between the USA and USSR for limiting or reducing their
nuclear arsenals, strategic as well as medium range, broke down
and there was a stalemate at the Vienna talks on force reductions
in Central Europe. At the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva,
the main multilateral negotiating forum on disarmament, there was
no forward movement on issues of nuclear disarmament.
Substantial re-armament programmes, particularly in the
nuclear weapon field, were initiated and the new threshold
technologies which are being developed, will increase the risk of
a nuclear catastrophe. At the same time there was growing public
awareness of the pressing need for nuclear disarmament. The
measure of concern felt by people throughout the world was
reflected in the growth of peace movements.
Towards the latter half of the year contacts between the USA
and USSR opened up the possibility of a resumption of arms
negotiations between the two major nuclear weapon powers. The
USSR Foreign Minister, Mr. Andrei Gromyko and the U.S. Secretary
of State, Mr. George Shultz met in Geneva on January 7 and 8,
1985. India welcomed their decision to commence negotiations on a
"complex of issues concerning space and nuclear arms, both
strategic and intermediate range, with all the questions
considered and resolved in their inter-relationship". India
specially welcomed
-40>
the affirmation by both the US and USSR that the objective of the
forthcoming negotiations will be to work out effective agreements
aimed at preventing an arms race in space and terminating it on
earth, ultimately leading to the complete elimination of nuclear
weapons.
India took the initiative in arousing the world conscience on
the urgent need for nuclear disarmament and a resumption of the
dialogue between the nuclear weapon states. The late Prime
Minister, Shrimati Indira Gandhi, along with five other Heads of
State issued a Joint Appeal to all nuclear weapon states. The
appeal issued on 22 May 1984, was signed, apart from Shrimati
Indira Gandhi, by Mr. Olaf Palme Prime Minister of Sweden, Mr.
Julius Nyerere, President of Tanzania, Mr. Miguel de la Madrid,
President of Mexico, and Dr. Raul Alfonsin, President of
Argentina. It stressed that though it was primarily the
responsibility of the nuclear weapon states to prevent nuclear
catastrophe, this issue was too important to be left to the
nuclear weapon powers alone. The appeal called on the nuclear
weapon states to halt the testing, production and deployment of
nuclear weapons and their delivery systems to be followed by a
programme of arms reduction, leading to General and Complete
Disarmament. It also urged measures to strengthen the United
Nations system and to ensure urgently needed transfer of
substantial resources from the arms race to social and economic
development.
The Appeal received extensive international support, and was
endorsed by several governments, though the governments of some
nuclear weapon powers expressed reservations on the measures
suggested by the six leaders. The leaders of these six countries
decided to meet in New Delhi in January, 1985 to consider ways to
further their efforts. The Delhi Declaration adopted on 28th
January, 1985, re-affirmed the appeal of May 1984. It, further,
called for urgent steps to prevent an arms race in outer space
and for concluding a comprehensive treaty prohibiting the testing
of nuclear weapons. The six leaders have also discussed various
follow-up measures.
In the Conference on Disarmament, India contributed to the on-
going negotiations on an International Convention prohibiting
chemical weapons and underlined the dangers posed by the
extension of the arms race into outer space. In the United
Nations Disarmament Commission, India played an important role in
forging a consensus on a proposal to hold an International
Conference to renew relationship between Disarmament and
Development in all its aspects.
As in previous years, India took important initiatives in the
First Committee of the 39th General Assembly to promote
disarmament. Draft resolutions were tabled on the Convention on
Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons and on a Freeze on
Nuclear Weapons. Both these resolutions were adopted by an
overwhelming majority of the UN General Assembly. Another
significant initiative taken by India was a proposal that a study
be undertaken by a Group of Governmental Experts on Nuclear
Deterrence, which in our view, has helped to fuel the nuclear
arms race and has provided a justification for attempts to
acquire military superiority.
-41>
In all, 64 resolutions dealing with various issues on
disarmament came up for vote, reflecting increasing public
concern in this important question before the First Committee.
India cosponsored 16 and voted in favour of 31. As for
resolutions pertaining to matters which, in the view of the
Indian delegation, were not of immediate priority or which served
to trivialise or defer the need to come to grips with the most
essential question of nuclear disarmament, India held serious
reservations. In explanation of its negative votes on two
resolutions and abstentions on 21 others, India put forth the
principled reasons behind its dissenting vote. In particular the
recurrent initiative by Pakistan for setting up a Nuclear Weapon
Free Zone in South Asia was opposed by India.
Through active consultations with members of the. Non-Aligned
group, it was possible to make a constructive contribution to the
work of the First Committee.
Apart from disarmament items, other political issues of
continuing concern were South Africa, Namibia, Palestine, Central
America, Cyprus and issues relating to Decolonisation. On the new
items on the agenda, the important ones related to use of Outer
Space exclusively for peaceful purposes for the benefit of
mankind, and the inadmissibility of the policy of State Terrorism
and any actions by States aimed at undermining the Socio-
political systems in other sovereign States. Both these items
were also inscribed at the request of the USSR.
The Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri R. N. Mirdha,
made a comprehensive statement on 27 September 1984, during the
general debate in the Plenary Session of the UN General Assembly,
where he re-affirmed the undiminished faith of the Government and
the people of India in the United Nations and its continued
commitment to the purposes and principles enshrined in the UN
Charter.
At the general debate which attracted 16 Heads of
State/Government, in addition to Foreign Ministers and others,
Disarmament and Development were recurring themes. The danger of
a retreat from multilateralism, seen in the current US attitude
towards international organisations, was strongly underlined by
the delegations, which stressed the need to oppose such a trend.
The situation in West Asia engaged the constant attention of
the UN General Assembly and the Security Council during 1984. In
pursuance of General Assembly resolution 38/58 C of the UN, the
Secretary-General addressed communications to member States
proposing a "Plan of Action", and ascertaining views on issues
relevant to the organisation and convening of the International
Peace Conference on the Middle East. While most States responded
positively to the Secretary-General's communications, the
response of the US and Israel was in the negative. Others like
UK, France and Netherlands indicated that the time was not ripe
for the convening of such a Conference. In its response to the
Secretary-General's communication, the Government of India
conveyed its broad agreement with the Plan of Action proposed by
the 3 EA/84-8
-42>
Secretary-General. It was stressed that the situation in West
Asia did not brook any delay and urgent preparatory measures
should be undertaken so that the Conference could be convened at
the earliest possible.
Formal meetings of the Security Council were held to consider
the situation in Lebanon and in the occupied Palestinian and Arab
territories. The Council approved the extension of the mandates
of UNIFIL and UNDOF. In the Council's informal consultations on
these varied issues, India played an active and important role to
work out consensus and compromise formulations. Statements
reflecting views of the Government of India, as well as the
position of the Movement of Non-Nigned countries, were made by
the Indian representative on several occasions.
The General Assembly adopted seven resolutions on the two
items : "the Question of Palestine," and the "Situation in the
Middle East," cosponsored by India and several other Non-Aligned
countries. The resolutions were along the lines of previous
resolutions on the subject adopted by the General Assembly.
As in the previous years, a number of Arab, and other Islamic
and Socialist countries, sent a joint communication recording
reservations on the credentials of the delegation of Israel and
voicing indignation over Israels' flagrant and persistent
violation of the principles of international law and the UN
Charter. However, an Iranian amendment to the Report of the
Credentials Committee seeking the rejection of the credentials of
Israel was not accepted by the General Assembly. The Indian
representative drew attention to the sense of indignation and
outrage of the overwhelming majority of the member States of the
UN and the international community in general, over the continued
and defiant refusal of Israel, in violation of its Charter
obligations, to comply with relevant UN resolutions. He placed on
record India's historic and consistent support for the people of
Palestine and the Arab cause.
The period under review saw no progress towards the attainment
of independence by Namibia, which remains the last colonial
territory on the African continent, occupied illegally by the
racist regime of South Africa. As Vice-President and founder
member of the United Nations Council for Namibia, the legal
administering authority of the territory until Independence,
India continued to participate actively in the work of the
Council. A high-level mission of the Council, led by its
President, visited New Delhi from 16 to 18 May 1984 for
consultations with the Chairperson of the NAM. The Indian
delegation also took an active part in drafting the resolutions
on Namibia, for submission to the General Assembly at its 39th
session.
During consideration of the question of Namibia in the General
Assembly, specifically, of three of the five draft resolutions
submitted by the Council for Namibia which made critical
references to the US, the USA submitted eleven amendments seeking
to delete such references. None of the US amendments secured the
requisite majority and the original resolutions were adopted by
large majorities.
-43>
The tumult within South Africa, stemming from attempts by the
racist regime to consolidate the system of apartheid, found
reflection at the United Nations throughout the year, both in the
Security Council and the General Assembly, as well as in the
Special Committee against Apartheid. The Indian delegation played
a leading role in the Security Council, which met twice in August
1984 in the context of the fraudulent elections carried out by
South Africa on the basis of so-called constitutional reforms. On
these occasions, the Council adopted resolutions 554 and 556
respectively each cosponsored by India and the seven other Non-
Aligned members of the Council. India similarly participated
actively in the deliberations of the Security Council Committee,
established under resolution 421 (1977) to monitor the arms
embargo against South Africa, which had met to consider a
Netherlands sponsored initiative to ban import of armaments from
South Africa; through its constructive participation in the
discussions on the item among the Non-Aligned caucus, the Indian
delegation helped to ensure that the resolution adopted by the
Security Council in December 1984 on the subject served to
reinforce, and not detract from, the original arms embargo
imposed against South Africa in 1977.
The Chairman of the Special Committee against Apartheid paid
an official visit to India from 27 to 30 August 1984 for
consultations with the Government of India and Chairperson of
NAM. A mission of Women leaders was also sent to India in
September 1984 by the Special Committee upon the recommendation
of the Task Force on Women and Children. During the year under
review, the representative of India on the Committee continued to
chair the Task Force on Political Prisoners. India is also a
member of the Advisory Committee of the UN Educational and
Training Programme for Southern Africa.
|
The debate on the question of Apartheid in the 39th Session of
the General Assembly was based mainly on the Report of the
Special Committee against Apartheid, in the preparation of which
India played an active role. Seven resolutions were drafted by
the Special Committee ; six of these were adopted by a large
majority vote, with a number of Western countries either voting
against or abstaining. India, which cosponsored most of the
resolutions, voted in favour of all of them.
The tense and volatile situation in Central America continued
to evoke serious concern world-wide during the period under
review. The Security Council was called into session on three
occasions in 1984 to take up a Nicaraguan complaint of
interference and intervention from outside quarters. The mining
of Nicaraguan ports and harbours was the subject of a provisional
order by the International Court of Justice in May 1984, a month
after the United States had vetoed a draft resolution in the
Security Council, which had sought to call for an immediate end
to such mining of ports and to affirm the right of free
navigation and commerce in international waters. In November
1984, there were renewed and repeated violations of Nicaraguan
airspace and territorial waters, leading to a dramatic escalation
in the level of tension, causing the Security Council to convene
once again. The efforts of the Contadora Group of
-44>
countries (Columbia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela) to find a
negotiated settlement to the problems of the region initially
made significant headway in the form of the revised Contadora Act
on Peace and Co-operation in Central America of 8 September 1984.
Nicaraguan agreed to accept the Act in its entirety, without
reservations. The evolution of the attitude of some of the States
of the region towards the Contadora Act and its subsequent
results have caused some anxiety. In its deliberations on the
question in October 1984, the General Assembly adopted by
consensus a resolution expressing support to Contadora.
Throughout the period under review, India kept abreast of the
situation and remained in close touch with the parties concerned,
particularly as Chairman of NAM. In the Security Council and the
General Assembly, the Indian delegation took an active interest
in the deliberations on the situation in Central America and
pressed for a political and negotiated solution, expressing full
support for the Contadora Group.
International attention continued to focus on the question of
Cyprus. The unilateral declaration of independence by the Turkish
Cypriot community on 15 November 1983 had seriously affected
prospects of a settlement of this issue. The exchange of
"Ambassadors" between Turkey and the so-called Turkish Republic
of Northern Cyprus and the announcement of elections to a Turkish
Cypriot "Assembly" only exacerbated tensions. At the United
Nations, the Security Council met from 3 to 11 May 1984 to take
stock of the situation created by the non-implementation of its
earlier resolution 541 (1983). India participated actively in
these deliberations, taking part in the debate on the question
and cosponsoring the draft resolution ultimately adopted as SCR-
550 (1984).
Also during the period under review, the Commonwealth Action
Group on Cyprus (consisting of Australia, Guyana, India, Nigeria
and Zambia) held five meetings and took stock of the evolving
situation.
The United Nations once again considered the question of
Afghanistan and adopted a resolution similar to the one adopted
in 1983, by 119 votes in favour, 20 against and 14 abstentions.
India, as in previous years, abstained. The Indian delegate once
again stressed the need to prevent escalation of tensions in the
region and to take effective action to defuse them. He urged all
concerned to work for the evolution of a political solution based
on a dialogue between the parties directly involved.
The situation in Kampuchea also received attention in the
General Assembly. While a number of delegations, including India,
expressed their reservations on the credentials of "Democratic
Kampuchea", there was a formal move in the General Assembly to
challenge its credentials. Vietnam and the socialist countries,
however, refrained from participating in a "unilateral" debate
which would hamper efforts to bring about national
reconciliation. The substantive resolution on Kampuchea was
adopted by 110 votes in favour, 22 against and 18 abstentions.
India abstained on the ground that the adoption of a resolution
that satisfied only one side, would obstruct
-45>
rather than encourage constructive contacts. India advocated a
comprehensive political solution, based on the principles and
framework accepted by the Seventh Non-Aligned Summit in Delhi.
The prospects for convening a Conference on the Indian Ocean
receded further when the UN General Assembly adopted by consensus
a resolution requesting the Ad hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean
"to complete preparatory work relating to the Conference on the
Indian Ocean in 1985, in order to enable the opening of the
Conference at Colombo thereafter at the earliest date in the
first half of 1986 to be decided by the Committee in consultation
with the host country". The Western powers maintained that there
was no possibility of convening a Conference, unless there was an
improvement in the political and security climate in the region.
In addition, they wanted the Adhoc Committee to harmonise views
with regard to the concept of the Zone of Peace, the objectives
of the Conference and the remaining issues. The resolution,
prepared after months of intensive negotiations, followed the
pattern of the resolution adopted in 1983 since the Western
Powers held on to their inflexible position. During the debate on
this item at the 39th UN General Assembly, the Indian
representative stated "India attaches great importance to the
early convening of the Conference on the Indian Ocean as a
necessary step for the implementation of the declaration adopted
in 1971...."
For the second year in succession the General Assembly
considered the question of Antarctica. The debate revealed
widespread concern among the developing countries on the
question. Some countries stressed that Antarctica was a common
heritage of mankind and required a new regime. On the other hand,
the Treaty powers highlighted the positive role of the Treaty and
stressed that the Antarctica Treaty regime has preserved
international peace and security, promoted peaceful co-operation
and scientific research in the area, reconciled conflicting
territorial claims and maintained the area as a nuclear free
zone. The General Assembly adopted a procedural resolution by
consensus which expressed appreciation to the Secretary-General
for the study on "The Question of Antarctica" and decided to
include in the provisional agenda of its 40th session an item on
Antarctica. The resolution was the result of intensive
negotiations between Malaysia and the Antarctica Treaty
Consultative Parties (ATCP). India, as Chairman of NAM and as an
ATCP, played a constructive role in the deliberations and
contributed significantly to the evolution of an acceptable
consensus.
The debate on the agenda item dealing with the Iran-Iraq
conflict was once again postponed to a resumed session, in
consultation with the parties concerned. The on-going hostilities
between Iran and Iraq, however, engaged the attention of the
Security Council during 1984.
Upon a complaint by the Gulf States, the Security Council met
to consider the situation arising from attacks on ships in the
Gulf and adopted resolution 522 (1984) which condemned the
attacks on commercial shipping en route to and from the ports
-46>
of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, called upon all States to respect the
right of free navigation. As a country with friendly relations
with both Iran and Iraq, India played a key role in the Council's
informal consultations in evolving balanced formulations.
India has traditionally attached great importance to
decolonisation, and has participated actively in the
deliberations and activities of the United Nations with regard to
decolonisation issues. Mention has already been made of India's
role in promoting the Namibian cause. During the period under
review, India took an active part in the deliberations of the
Special Committee on Decolonisation, of which it is a member
since the Committee's inception; the Committee has been entrusted
by the General Assembly with the task of keeping under constant
review thq situation in the non-self-governing-territories (the
number of which has now dwindled to about a dozen) and of guiding
the political and socio-economic evolution of their peoples
towards selfdetermination. At the 39th session of the UN General
Assembly, India cosponsored two resolutions on decolonisation.
It is pertinent to mention in this context that 1985 will also
mark the 25th anniversary of the adoption of resolution 1514
(XV), containing the Historic Declaration on Decolonisation.
India has participated actively in the process or planning for
the commemoration of this event. During the consideration of the
observance of the 40th anniversary of the UN in the General
Assembly, at its 39th session, India tabled a draft resolution,
on behalf of the NAM, which expressed the collective desire of
the Assembly that 2he activities in connection with the 40th
anniversary of the UN should also appropriately reflect the fact
that the 25th anniversary of resolution 1514 would also fall in
1985; the resolution was adopted by a large majority.
The meeting of the Board of Governors and the 28th Regular
Session of the General Conference of the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) were held in Vienna in June and September
1984 respectively. At this Session India was once again
designated as one of the nine globally most advanced countries in
nuclear technology for membership on IAEA's Board of Governors.
The General Conferenc. unanimously approved a resolution amending
Article VI.A. I of the Statute which enabled the provisional
entry of the People's Republic of China into the Board of
Governors as its tenth globally most advanced member, pending
ratification of amendment. India's status as one of the nine
globally most advanced countries remains unchanged. The General
Conference also adopted with large majorities, important
resolutions on South Africa's nuclear capabilities, the
consequences of the Israeli military attack on the Iraqi Nuclear
Research Reactor and the standing threat of a similar attack with
its implications for the development of nuclear energy for
peaceful purposes; the role and activities of the International
Atomic Energy Agency, financing of safeguards etc. The Chairman
of Department of Atomic Energy made a statement at the General
Confereace, wherein he advocated the return of the Agency to its
original purposes as envisaged in the Statute and highlighted the
urgent need for increasing the promotional aspects of the work
within the Agency and criticised the growing restrictions of
various kinds
-47>
which were being successively introduced on the peaceful
programmes for use of atomic energy by developing countries. His
statement received wide appreciation. India continued to maintain
its principled position on issues such as Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty and full scope safeguards.
India played a major role in ensuring the final resolution of
outstanding problems on the agenda for the UN Conference for the
Promotion of International Co-operation in the Peaceful Uses of
Nuclear Energy.
The work of the Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer Space
(COPUOS) had ended in a stalemate over the question of
militarisation of outer space. The US and the Western Group have
taken the position that COPUOS did not have the mandate to
discuss this question. The differences of opinion on this subject
prevented the Committee from arriving at a consensus. An
achievement of the 39th UN General Assembly Session lay in that
it was able to accept a resolution on this subject by consensus,
with all sides agreeing to implement the unanimous decisions of
UNISPACE 1982. However, the effective functioning of COPUOS in
the coming year remains a matter of concern to us.
Economic Issues
On economic and financial issues, developments in the UN
Forums, during the year under review, clearly reflected the
continuing lack of political will on the part of industrialised
countries to provide any concrete content to the North-South
dialogue. On all important issues of trade, money and finance
related to development, there was a demonstrable lack of will to
utilise the multilateral processes to achieve economic growth.
This was amply illustrated in the exercise on Review and
Appraisal of the IDS as well as at UNIDO-IV. The main thrust of
the effort on the part of some of these industrialised countries
had been to stress that there was no "global economic crisis,"
and that developing countries must adapt their economies towards
more marketoriented policies to take advantage of the recovery in
the economies of the United States and other industrialised
countries.
Notwithstanding the adverse conditions for negotiations, the
Indian delegation played a leading role during the 39th session
in preparing resolutions tabled on behalf of the Group of 77.
Particular efforts were made to see that they reflected the
concern and suggestions which had already been expressed in. the
Economic Declaration adopted by the New Delhi Non-Aligned Summit.
Several important resolutions, particularly on food and
agriculture, and trade and development" could be negotiated
successfully and were adopted by consensus. Some others, such as
on industrial development co-operation, could not be negotiated
and had to be voted mainly on account of the financial
implications which they contained. India was able to successfully
negotiate
-48>
a resolution on Development of Energy Resources of Developing
Countries, both with the OPEC members of the Group of 77 as well
as industrialised countries and the resolution was adopted by
consensus. This resolution would give further impetus to the UN
system's work in this area. India also played an important role
in the negotiation of the resolutions on economic co-operation
among Developing Countries and Operational Activities of the UN
system, both of which were adopted by consensus. Another
significant resolution that was adopted by consensus was the
resolution regarding conversion of UNIDO into a specialised
agency. This would set into motion the calendar which has been
drawn up for completion of the process of conversion.
Negotiations were most difficult in the area of money and
finance. The leading industrialised countries have increasingly
taken the position that these questions should be discussed only
in the IMF and the World Bank and that the normal approach for
negotiations should be to consider issues on a case by case
basis. After prolonged negotiations it was decided to defer a
decision on the International Conference on Money and Finance for
Development till the next session of the General"Assembly. The
objective is to continue efforts towards creating an environment
conducive to holding such a conference.
One of the most noteworthy features of the 39th General
Assembly was the emphasis on the Critical Economic Situation in
Africa. A Declaration on the subject was adopted by consensus.
Although the African countries were mainly responsible for the
negotiations of this Declaration, the Indian delegation was able
to offer constructive suggestions and advice during informal
consultations.
|
India also made several important statements on behalf of the
Non-Aligned Movement on issues such as (i) Commemoration of the
10th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Charter of Economic
Rights and Duties of States and (ii) World Food Day. The
statements made in the Committee on different agenda items by the
Indian Delegation were appreciated for their balance and content
The Fourth General Conference of the United Nations Industrial
Development Organisation (UNIDO-IV) was held in Vienna from 2 to
20 August 1984. As Chairman of the Group of 77 during the year in
Vienna and also as Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the
Plenary, India played a major part in the drafting of Chapeau and
in maintaining the unity of the Group of 77. The outcome of the
Conference, however, fell far short of the expectations of the
developing countries. No new activities were approved. Nor was
any expansion of existing activities allowed. This was largely
due to the unhelpful attitude on the part of the developed
countries towards committing themselves towards increased
international co-operation.
The International Population Conference was held in Mexico in
August 1984. This major conference adopted useful recommendations
for the implementation of the World Population Action and also
issued a declaration on population and development.
-49>
The Indian delegation, which was led by Shri B. Shankaranand, the
then Minister of Health, took a very active part in the
proceedings of the conference.
India also played a leading role in the extraordinary session
of the ICAO General Assembly held in Montreal from 24 April to 12
May 1984, which was convened to consider proposals for the
amendment of the Chicago Convention following the downing of the
Korean Air Lines passenger aircraft over Soviet airspace in
August 1983. Largely due to the efforts of our delegation, the
final amendments that were adopted by the Assembly made it
possible to preserve the essential balance in the Convention
between the two major constitutional principles of the
sovereignty of state and the security of civil aviation.
Through concerted efforts it was possible to ensure the
establishment of one of the component centres of the
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
(ICGEB) in New Delhi. India actively participated in the various
preparatory committee meetings and the plenipotentiary meeting of
ICGEB during the year.
The United States proceeded to withdraw from UNESCO, in
accordance with the notice it had given the previous year. The
United Kingdom also gave notice of its intention to withdraw from
UNESCO at the end of 1985 unless substantial reforms had been
achieved by them. The Non-Aligned group at the UNESCO
headquarters expressed regret at these decisions of the
governments of USA and UK. The group continued to reaffirm its
support to UNESCO and to its Director General in their efforts to
fulfill the purpose of the organisation. Meanwhile, a number of
reform proposals were decided upon in UNESCO and their
implementation were underway.
Administrative and Financial Issues
The 39th General Assembly marked the initial phase of a
concerted attempt by the major contributors, from both West and
East, to ensure further restrictions on the growth of the UN
budget and to modify the UN Common System. Attacks were also made
on the grounds that the UN was inefficient and ineffective in the
use of resources, both human and financial.
The nature in which programme budget implications of
activities requested in draft resolutions were to be presented by
the Secretariat in pursuance of General Assembly resolution
38/227 was the subject of lengthy discussions and negotiations.
With a view to ensuring a zero real growth in the budget, the
major donors insisted that all new activities be carried out from
resources released by the reduction of existing low priority
activities. Besides enforcing a freeze in level of expenditure,
the approach of the major donors would place the group of 77 in a
position where by difficult political decisions would have to be
taken on the selection of activities to be reduced. The Group 3
EA/84-9
-50>
of 77, spearheaded by India and other like-minded countries had
been in constant touch with the Secretariat during 1984 on this
matter to counteract the pressure from the major donors.
Consequently, at the 39th General Assembly, the Secretariat was
in a position to provide programme budget statements which were
non-controversial and with no proposals for reduction in the
current programme of the UN.
The major donors have, over the years, espoused the view that
the international Civil Service was inefficient, ineffective and
overpaid. Therefore, when the International Civil Service
Commission (ICSC) reported its decision to raise the post
adjustment, i.e. the cost of living allowance for New York, the
ICSC came under heavy criticism. However, India, the major Latin
American States and a few other developing countries, took the
position that the ICSC's decision was based solely on technical
considerations, that it had acted fully within its mandate and
that, therefore, its decision must be supported. One part of this
increase in post adjustment had been implemented on 1 August 1984
and the other was due to take effect on 1 December 1984. The
major donors supported the non-grant of the December instalment
of the increase. This position was accepted by the majority of
the Group of 77 under severe pressure from the major donors. Our
delegation, supported by the major Latin American States,
dissociated itself from this particular decision with an
explanation of our position, without disturbing the consensus
arrived at on the resolution as a whole.
Our delegation made some progress on the question of personnel
in the UN. We succeeded in including in the resolution on
personnel a request to the Secretary-General to study ways and
means of applying the population factor, and to report to the
General Assembly at its 40th session, taking into account the
views expressed by member States. We succeeded in this effort by
mustering support from a number of delegations that represented
countries with large populations.
Social and Humanitarian Issues
In conformity with the principles of justice, liberty and
equality enshrined in the Indian Constitution to assure the
dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the
nation, and in keeping with the country's democratic temper and
tradition and its faith in the Rule of Law, India continued its
positive contribution to the functioning of all of the important
Human Rights Bodies within the UN system.
During the 40th session of the Human Rights Commission held in
February-March 1984 in Geneva, India once again highlighted the
gravity of the Human Rights situation in Southern Africa, the
practice of the abhorrent system of apartheid in South Africa,
the continued colonisation of Namibia and the injuries and
suffering inflicted upon the Arabs, especially Palestinians, in
the territories occupied by Israel. The Indian representative
stressed that in their magnitude and the scale of suffering,
ththese
-51>
Human Rights issues were the most important of our times. In
respect of the situation in South Africa, India called for a
review of the so-called policy of "constructive engagement,"
particularly when the condition of the people of South Africa and
Namibia had progressively deteriorated during the past few years
this policy has been followed. India also pointed out the fallacy
of the view that racism and racial discrimination was a universal
phenomenon. India stressed that racism is not inherent in the
nature of man and that concerted and vigorous action should be
taken immediately against its most flagrant manifestations. Our
delegation pressed the view that on vital issues concerning human
rights and fundamental freedoms, considerations of justice,
equality, fraternity and the universal concern for preserving the
basic dignity of the human being should be of paramount
importance and not considerations of tactical political advantage
or of the preservation of strategic military interests.
India played a positive role in the evolution of standards
setting in securing human rights and fundamental freedoms
universally by actively contributing to the finalisation of a
Convention against Torture and to the on-going negotiations on
measures to implement fully the provisions of the International
Convention on the Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of
Apartheid, the drafting of the conventions on the Right to
Development, the Rights of the Child and the Promotion of the
Rights of Migrant Workers.
The situation of Tamils in Sri Lanka came up for discussion
during the 37th session of the Sub-Commission held in Geneva in
August-September 1984. The Human Rights Commission had already
appealed in March 1983 to the parties concerned to continue to
take necessary measures to strengthen and maintain peace and
restore harmony and had welcomed the measures for reconciliation,
including the All Parties Conference, and expressed the hope that
they would succeed in achieving a lasting solution to the
problem. Since the situation had further detriorated, the Indian
expert in the Sub-Commission, together with experts from other
countries sponsored a resolution on this issue. The resolution
expressed deep concern about the violence in Sri Lanka,
recognised the ultimate responsibility of the Sri Lankan
Government for the protection of all sections of the community,
and called upon Sri Lanka to submit information on the progress
made in the investigation of the violent incidents and the
efforts to promote communal harmony to the Human Rights
Commission at its 41st session scheduled to be held in February-
March 1985.
In discharging its obligations as a signatory to the
International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, India
submitted its first report which was considered in the 21st
session of the Human Rights Committee held in New York from 28 to
30 March 1984. The measures adopted by the Indian Government to
give effect to the various rights recognised in the Convention
were explained to the Committee by a delegation led by the
Attorney General of India. The presentation made by the Indian
delegation and the steps taken by the Indian Government to ensure
the enjoyment of civil and political rights by its citizens were
warmly appreciated by the Committee.
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In the UN General Assembly, India actively participated in the
work of the Third Committee wherein 57 resolutions were adopted.
India played a moderating role in the adoption of many of these
resolutions without a vote and cosponsored several important
resolutions such as on the Declaration on the Control of Drug
Trafficking and Drug Abuse, on the continuation of the Voluntary
Fund for Women beyond the Decade in autonomous association with
UNDP and on the International Youth Year. India initiated a
resolution on the establishment of National Institutions for the
Promotion and Protection of Human Rights which was adopted by
consensus. India also played a major role in the adoption by
consensus of the Convention against Torture and other Cruel,
Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and contributed
significantly to the work of the Working Group in completing the
first reading of the Preamble and the articles of a Draft
International Convention on the protection of the Rights of All
Migrant Workers and their families.
Activities of the Non-Aligned Movement
The year under review was marked by tragedy not merely for
India but also for the Movement of Non-Aligned countries. In the
untimely passing away of Smt. Indira Gandhi, India lost a beloved
leader and the Movement a Chairperson of great stature and
eminence, who won esteem the world over. The tragic loss of Smt.
Gandhi put the NAM to a severe test, from which it emerged
creditably with its unity and solidarity unscathed. The
assumption of the Chairmanship by the Prime Minister Shri Rajiv
Gandhi, was warmly welcomed by the Movement.
|
An Extra ordinary Plenary Meeting of the Non-Aligned countries
was held in New York on 5 November 1984, to mourn the sad demise
of Shrimati Indira Gandhi. At this meeting, warm and eloquent
tributes were paid by members to the departed leader. At a
subsequent meeting of the Coordinating Bureau on 19 November
1984, a message from the Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, was
read out in which, besides thanking members for the message of
sympathy and condolence sent by the Movement, he expressed, as
the new Chairperson, full faith in the unity of the Movement and
in its ability to function as a positive, dynamic and significant
force in international relations.
At the helm of the Movement, India continued to play an active
role during the year under review. The initiatives taken by India
and the activities undertaken by the Coordinating Bureau enabled
the Movement to closely follow international developments and to
make a dynamic and constructive impact on world affairs,
particularly at the United Nations.
A number of meetings of the Movement were held during the
year, at United Nations Headquarters and elsewhere. Shri G.
Parthasarathi, Chairman, Policy Planning, presided over the
Annual Meeting of the Non-Aligned Ministers and Heads
-53>
of Delegation held in New York from 1 to 5 October 1984.
Throughout the year, the Coordinating Bureau remained actively
seized of pressing issues of global concern, and of particular
concern to the NAM. The Non-Aligned caucus in the Security
Council (consisting of eight Non-Aligned Members of the Council
in 1984 including India) was also more active than in previous
years and played a significant role in the deliberations of the
Council on several issues. Through its activities in various
fields, the Movement sought to promote its principled positions
in important multilateral for a, such as the UN General Assembly
and the Security Council. As in the previous year, the Movement
took a number of measures as follow-up action to the decisions
taken at the Seventh Conference of Heads of State or Government
of Non-Aligned countries, held at New Delhi in March 1983, in
particular under the Action Plan for Economic Co-operation.
During the period under review, the Movement of Non-Aligned
countries remained actively seized of developments in various
parts of the world. The Movement also remained involved along
with the Group of 77, in activities relating to international
economic co-operation for development. Some details are given in
the following paragraphs.
The situation in and around Namibia, remained a matter of
primary concern to NAM. The Annual Ministerial Meeting in New
York once again considered the question and inter alia,
reiterated an earlier decision to convene an Extraordinary
Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau on Namibia not
later than April 1985.
A high level delegation of the UN Council for Namibia, led by
its President, visited New Delhi from 16 to 18 May 1984, in order
to acquaint the Chairperson of the Movement with the current
situation in, and relating to, Namibia, and to hold consultations
regarding the role that the Movement had played and could play in
promoting the Namibian cause.
In the wake of the official visits by Prime Minister Botha of
South Africa to several West European Countries, the Coordinating
Bureau of the Non-Aligned countries met on 6 June 1984, and
issued a communique which, inter alia, condemned these visits.
The Non-Aligned caucus in the Security Council was
instrumental in securing the adoption by the Security Council of
Council Resolutions SCR 554 (1984) and 556 (1984) of August 1984,
which rejected and declared as null and void the so-called
elections in South Africa on the basis of the fraudulant
"constitutional reforms" of the South African Government. Both
resolutions were cosponsored by all the eight Non-Aligned members
of the Council.
India as Chairman of NAM was represented at the extraordinary
plenary meetings of the UN Council for Namibia held at Bangkok
from 21 to 25 May 1984, and at the
-54>
solemn commemorative meetings organised at the United Nations on
the occasion of International Day of Solidarity with the Struggle
of People of South Africa (16 June 1984), International Day of
Solidarity with the struggle of Women in South Africa and Namibia
(9 August 1984), Namibia Day (27 August 1984) and the Symposium
on a Century of Heroic Struggle of the People of Namibia against
Colonial Occupation organised during the week of Solidarity with
the People of Namibia and their Liberation Movement, SWAPO (31
October to 2 November 1984). Messages were sent by or on behalf
of the Chairperson on all these occasions.
In response to the recommendations of the Non-Aligned
Committee of Eight on Palestine, the Non-Aligned countries
actively participated in the deliberations of the 39th UN General
Assembly and cosponsored various resolutions on the subject. The
Committee, at the level of Permanent Representatives in New York,
followed the developments in West Asia very closely and met
regularly to monitor the situation. The Committee also held
meetings with the Permanent Representatives of several
influential countries with a view to soliciting the co-operation
of these countries for the convening of the International Peace
Conference on West Asia. The Committee also actively supported
the Secretary-General in his efforts to find a comprehensive
peace in West Asia and urged him to expedite his consultations
regarding the International Peace Conference on West Asia.
A ministerial level meeting of the Non-Aligned Committee of
Eight on Palestine was held in New York on 3 October 1984. The
Ministers reviewed the situation particularly with regard to UN
General Assembly Resolution 38/58 calling for the convening of an
International Peace Conference on West Asia and decided to
continue actively their collective and individual efforts to
mobilise all means available to ensure the convening of such a
conference.
Within the Security Council, the Non-Aligned countries
actively participated in the consideration of the situation in
West Asia and expressed grave concern over the continuing Israeli
policy of establishing illegal settlements in the occupied
territories and the widespread and frequent violations by Israel
of the rights of the Palestinian people in contravention of the
relevant General Assembly and Security Council resolutions and
well established norms of international law. The Non-Aligned
countries also called for a just and comprehensive solution of
West Asian problem in accordance with the approved guidelines.
They further called for the withdrawal of Israel from Lebanon and
for the restoration of Lebanese sovereignty, territorial
integrity, independence and Non-Aligned status.
A message was sent by Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the
Chairperson of the Non-Aligned Movement, on the occasion of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People (29
November 1984).
The continuing war between Iran and Iraq engaged the attention
of the Chairperson of the Movement, who sent several messages to
the leaders of both countries
-55>
urging them to bring about an immediate end to the conflict.
Special emmissaries also visited both the countries. In the wake
of the escalation infighting early in 1984, the Chairperson had
made an appeal to the two countries to put an immediate end to
the fighting and had also suggested that they avoid hitting
civilian targets in the meanwhile. A statement was made on the
question of use of chemical weapons on 15 March 1984. The
Chairperson also remained in touch with leaders of several Non-
Aligned countries and sought their suggestions and good offices
in finding ways to end the four-year old war.
It will be recalled that the Seventh Summit had mandated the
Coordinating Bureau "to closely monitor the events in the sub-
region". In pursuance of that mandate, the Bureau met on several
occasions during the year, beginning from 15 March 1984 to take
stock of the latest situation in the area in the wake of reports
of mining of Nicaraguan harbours. On that occasion, the Bureau
heard statements by the representative of Nicaragua on the latest
developments. The Non-Aligned caucus in the Security Council was
also closely involved in the deliberations on the draft
resolution submitted by Nicaragua which called for immediate halt
to all hostile acts against Nicaragua. The resolution was vetoed
by the United States.
In addition to formal meetings of the Bureau, the Chairperson
kept in close touch with the countries concerned with a view to
keeping abreast of the situation. The Bureau constituted an
informal group of 'Friends of the Chair', comprising 13
countries, to assist the Chairman in following the evolving
situation in Central America.
At another meeting of the Bureau on the situation in Central
America,held on 19th November 1984, in the wake of renewed
transgressions of Nicaraguan airspace and territorial waters and
increase in tensions, the Bureau took note, with appreciation, of
a statement made on behalf of the Prime Minister and Chairman of
the Movement expressing concern over the deterioration in the
situation in Central America. The communique reiterated the
support of NAM for efforts of the Contadora Group.
The Third Conference of Labour Ministers of Non-Aligned and
Other Developing Countries, held in Managua, Nicaragua, from 10
to 12 May 1984, adopted, Inter alia, a resolution on Nicaragua.
The President of Cyprus, Mr. Spyros Kyprianou, met the members
of the Non-Aligned Contact Group on 11 January 1984, in New York,
and indicated that he had presented to the UN Secretary-General a
framework for a comprehensive and speedy solution to the Cyprus
problem.
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President Kyprianou addressed a special plenary meeting of the
Non-Aligned countries on 30 April 1984, in New York, on the eve
of the Security Council's consideration of the situation in
Cyprus.
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There were many other political issues on which the Non-
Aligned countries worked with great unity and solidarity. Notable
amongst these was their active role in the Ad Hoc Committee on
the Indian Ocean in which their joint efforts led them to submit
a draft framework of an agenda for the proposed Indian Ocean
Conference.
During May 1984, the then Prime Minister of India, the late
Shrimati Indira Gandhi, addressed personal letters and sent
emissaries to the leaders of the London Summit of industrialised
countries, reiterating the significance and continuing validity
of the approach suggested by the New Delhi Summit on economic
issues. The industrialised countries were called upon to take a
more constructive attitude towards the problems of the developing
countries as well as the structural problems facing the world
economy.
In her capacity as Chairperson of the NAM, the late Shrimati
Indira Gandhi set up a Group of Experts to examine the
functioning of the existing international monetary and financial
system and to study the substantive and procedural aspects of the
proposal, made by the Seventh Non-Aligned Summit, for an
International Conference on Money and Finance for Development
with Universal Participation. The panel consisted of leading
economists from Algeria, India, Mexico, Tanzania and Yugoslavia.
The group submitted a report analysing the present inadequacies
in the international monetary and financial system. This report
represented an important contribution towards clarifying ideas
and making suggestions for resolving the present monetary, and
financial problems facing the international economy, particularly
the developing countries, and would provide a valuable basis for
further discussions on the subject of the proposed conference.
Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi made a statement on the famine in
Africa, on 26 November 1984, in which he stated, inter alia, that
as Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement he was in touch with
other Non-Aligned countries on the question of short-and long-
term assistance which could be given to the African countries in
overcoming the present crisis caused by famine and drought. At
the end of the year, consultations with African and other States
were continuing with a view to ascertaining how best the Non-
Aligned countries could demonstrate solidarity with their African
brothers and formulate concrete plans of assistance to affected
countries in Africa.
A number of meetings of the Non-Aligned countries were held in
pursuance of the Action Programme on Economic Co-operation that
was adopted at the New Delhi Summit.
The Non-Aligned countries held several meetings in New York
with a view to finalising the Draft Statute of the Non-Aligned
Centre for Science and Technology. The text of the Statute was
finally agreed upon at the Non-Aligned Plenary Meeting held on 15
June 1984. A Conference of Plenipotentiaries will be held shortly
to have the Statute adopted and opened for signature.
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A meeting of Irrigation Experts of Coordinators of Non-Aligned
countries in the field of Food and Agriculture was held in
Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, from 16 to 22
June 1984. The meeting, which was attended by the 14 Coordinators
and 27 other Non-Aligned countries, discussed ways and means of
further promoting technical co-operation among the Non-Aligned
and other developing countries in the design, construction and
management of large, medium and small scale irrigation projects
as well as considering the possibilities of establishing joint
ventures for the production of a complete range of irrigation
equipment.
The Ministers of Health of Non-Aligned and other developing
countries met in Geneva on the eve of the 37th World Health
Assembly Session. In preparation for this Ministerial Meeting, a
Coordinating Group meeting was also held in Brioni, Yugoslavia
from 26 to 30 March 1984. The three major items, which received
attention at these meetings, related to a review of the progress
made in the implementation of the Strategy for Health for All by
the year 2000, review of the programme in TCDC and discussions on
the items on the agenda of the World Health Assembly.
The Third Conference of Ministers of Labour of Non-Aligned and
other Developing Countries was held in Managua, Nicaragua, from
10 to 12 May 1984. On substantive issues, the Conference adopted
a number of recommendations for action on co-operation in the two
areas of Vocational Training and Employment and Human Resources
development in the Rural and Informal Sectors. The two other
important and substantive resolutions that were adopted related
to the participation of the Non-Aligned countries and
coordination in ILO meetings, and follow-up action to the
decisions taken by the two earlier Ministerial Conferences.
In accordance with the New Delhi Summit Declaration, a general
conference of Ministers of Information of Non-Aligned Countries
(COMINAC) was held in Jakarta from 26 to 30 January 1984. Prior
to the Conference, a meeting of the Inter-Governmental Council
was also held on 23-24 January 1984. The Conference adopted a
Declaration which, inter-alia, contained an Action Programme on
Media Co-operation. The Conference also passed a resolution
expressing solidarity with UNESCO's Director-General and rejected
firmly threats and pressures directed against that organisation.
The Conference also issued an appeal to the mass media all over
the world to help in promoting the establishment of a New World
Information Order. The Conference adopted revised criteria for a
fresh constitution of the Inter-Governmental Council.
In accordance with the Jakarta Declaration, the Technical
Committee of the Non-Aligned News Agencies Pool (NANAP) met in
Cairo in March 1984. A joint meeting of the Ministers of
Information and Ministers of Telecommunications of the countries
hosting the redistribution centres of NANAP was also held in
Cairo from 9 to 10 May 1984. This meeting made substantial
progress towards agreement on reduction of telecommunication
tariffs by member States to achieve more efficient and shared
utilisation of telecommunictions facilities and network.
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An International Sports Seminar on Training of Sports Cadres
(NAMISS) was held at the Netaji Subhas National Institute of
Sports, Patiala, India, from 3 to 14 April 1984, which was
attended by 36 delegates drawn from 21 countries.
The National Institution in India concerned with Research and
Information Systems (RIS) of Non-Aligned and Other Developing
Countries, which was set up in New Delhi in December 1983, became
fully operational during the period under review. The activities
of the Institution were financed by a budgetary grant from the
Ministry of External Affairs of Rs. 5.2 lakhs for the year 1984-
85. Currently the RIS is undertaking preparations for the holding
of the Second Meeting of the Institutions participating in the
Research and Information Systems.
As recommended by the New Delhi Summit, the International
Centre for Public Enterprises (ICPE), Ljubljana, commenced
preparations for a study on the subject which could serve as a
reference in the preparations for the World Conference on Women
scheduled to be held in Nairobi in 1985. An outline of the
proposed study submitted by ICPE was endorsed by the Coordinators
in this field. Following this, consultants have been commissioned
to work on various chapters of the study which is expected to be
ready shortly.
Meanwhile, a Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Coordinating Group
and other Developing Countries on the Role of Women in
Development is proposed to be held in New Delhi in April 1985.
The Fourth Coordinating Group Meeting of the Non-Aligned
countries in the Sphere of Standardisation, Metrology and Quality
Control was held in Belgrade from 10 to 13 July 1984, at which
plans of action for each one of the four functional groups,
established by the earlier Coordinating Group meetings, as also
the time-frame for their execution, were approved. As usual, this
meeting also discussed the question of coordination of position
of Non-Aligned countries in the International Standards
Organisation (ISO) Council meetings.
The Fifth meeting of the Coordinating Countries and Second
Meeting of Experts and Four Functional Groups were scheduled to
be held in New Delhi from 23 to 31 January 1985.
India participated in the Meeting of Foreign Ministers of OIC
as 'Observer' in its capacity as Chairman of the Non-Aligned
Movement. The Indian delegation to the meeting, held in Sanaa,
Yemen Arab Republic, from 18 to 22 December 1984, was led by the
former Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs,
Shri A. A. Rahim. In a brief statement at the Inaugural Session,
the leader of the Indian delegation, inter-alia, outlined the
activities of the Non-Aligned Movement.
A list of the meetings held under the aegis of NAM, or where
India participated in its capacity as Chairman of NAM, during the
period under review, is given in Appendix I.
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|
International Law : Developments and Activities
During 1984, the Preparatory Commission (PREPCOM) for the
International Sea-bed Authority and the International Tribunal
for the Law of the Sea continued its work. It held its second
session in two parts viz., from 19 March to 13 April 1984 at
Kingston, Jamaica, and from 13 August to 5 September 1984 in
Geneva. India was represented at both these sessions.
In respect of the implementation of Resolution II of the Third
United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea governing
Preparatory Investment in Pioneer Activities relating to
Polymetallic Nodules, the PREPCOM considered draft Rules and
Regulations for Registration of Pioneer Investors and draft Rules
on Confidentiality prepared by the Secretariat. In general
discussion, it became clear that there were sharp differences on
rules relating to resolution of conflicts concerning overlapping
areas, nature, composition and functions of the technical group
and confidentiality of data and information. However, the Plenary
took up the first reading of the rules and was able to
provisionally adopt the rules which were non-controversial. On
the issue of conflict of overlapping claims, the Chairman held
extensive consultations with the concerned delegations. As a
result of these consultations an understanding on Resolution of
Conflicts among Applicants for Registration as Pioneer Investors
was reached at the resumed session held in August-September 1984
in Geneva. Thereupon the representatives of the four applicants
for registration as pioneer investors, namely, India, USSR, Japan
and France met in Geneva on 17 December 1984 and exchanged
coordinates of the areas in respect of which they had made the
applications. The coordinates of the application areas have been
kept secret. Happily it has now been found, upon exchange of
coordinates, that India's areas of application do not overlap
with other pioneer investors. As a consequence of this
development it is likely that the Rules for Registration of
Pioneer Investors will be adopted at the Third Session of the
PREPCOM scheduled to be held in Kingston in March-April 1985.
The Plenary also examined a working document prepared by the
Secretariat containing the draft rules of procedure for the
Assembly of the Sea-bed Authority. It completed discussion on a
majority of the 1 1 1 rules contained in the working document.
The four Special Commissions of the Preparatory Commission
considered the subjects allocated to them. The discussions in the
Special Commissions were based upon comprehensive studies
prepared by the Secretariat.
At its 39th Session. the United Nations General Assembly
adopted a resolution on the Law of the Sea which, inter-alia,
called upon all States to safeguard the unified character of the
UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 and to desist from
taking actions which undermine the Convention or defeat its
object and purpose. India cosponsored the resolution.
The Legal Sub-Committee of the UN Committee on the Peaceful
Uses of Outer Space held its 23rd session in Geneva from 19 March
to 6 April 1984 and considered,
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inter-alia, three major items of the agenda, namely, the legal
implications of remote sensing of the earth from space with the
aim of formulating draft principles, the possibility of
supplementing the norms of International Law relevant to the use
of nuclear power resources in outer space, and matters relating
to the definition and delimitation of outer space and to the
character and utilization of the geostationary orbit, including
elaboration of general principles to govern the rational and
equitable use of the geostationary orbit, a limited national
resource.
Regarding legal implications of remote sensing of earth from
space with the aim of formulating draft principles, the Sub-
Committee concentrated on three outstanding draft principles,
i.e. XI, XII, XV dealing with the international responsibility,
access to data and dissemination of data obtained from remote
sensing activities on the basis of its previous work at the 21st
and 22nd Sessions and the Working Papers submitted by member
States particularly, the Working Paper submitted by Brazil in
1982 as a possible basis of compromise. Although there was an
intensive discussion to bridge the differences of views, the Sub-
Committee did not solve the central questions involved and the
text of the draft principles remain unchanged.
In regard to the use of nuclear power sources in outer space,
the Sub-Committee discussed a wide range of topics relating to
(i) information concerning the use of nuclear power sources, (ii)
safety measures regarding radiological protection, (iii)
notification prior to re-entry, (iv) assistance to States, and
(v) State responsibility.
Regarding definition and delimitation of outer space and
utilization of geostationary orbit, the Sub-Committee considered
the subject on a priority basis through a Working Group
especially established for the first time in compliance with
General Assembly Resolution 38/80. The intensive discussion
conducted under two separate aspects of the item, i.e. the
question of the definition and delimitation of outer space and
the question of the geostationary orbit indicated that more time
is needed before differences could be resolved.
India has been a member of the United Nations Commission on
International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), which is concerned with the
development of international law, since its establishment in
1966. India is also a member of all its three Working Groups,
namely,
(a) Working Group on International Negotiable Instruments;
(b) Working Group on International Contract Practices; and
(c) Working Group on New International Economic Order.
The 17th Annual Session of UNCITRAL devoted most of its time
in discussing the Draft Convention on International Bills of
Exchange and International Promissory Notes which was prepared by
its Working Group on International Negotiable Instruments. The
Commission also discussed the subjects of (1) electronics of
funds transfer;
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(2) liability of operators of transport terminals; (3) revision
of the uniform customs and practices for documentary
credits; and (4) legal aspects of automatic data processing.
India attaches great importance to the work of UNCITRAL in
view of its national interest in the development of its share in
the world trade. India's contribution in the field of
international trade law has been recognized by all the members of
the Commission, particularly the developing countries.
Since India became a party to the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural
Rights of 1966, it is under an obligation to submit initial and
periodic reports to the UN bodies under these two Covenants.
During 1983-84 India fulfilled these reporting obligations by
submitting its initial report under Civil and Political Rights
Covenant and the second stage report under Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights Covenant. Both these reports were considered by
the respective UN bodies during the year under review.
India's initial report on observance of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights was discussed by the Human
Rights Committee at the UN Headquarters in New York between 29
March and 2 April 1984. The report highlights India's commitment
to self-determination as well as observance of civil and
political rights concerning rights to life and personal liberty,
right to privacy, freedom of thought, conscience and religion,
right to trade unions, right to participate in public affairs,
elections and public services as well as protection and
rehabilitation of destitute and unfortunate persons and prisoners
without any discrimination as to race, religion, sex, place of
birth, caste and equal protection of laws. The Attorney-General
of India presented the report before the Human Rights Committee
and also made available necessary clarifications as sought for by
the members of the Committee. The Human Rights Committee
unanimously commended India's efforts in preservation of
democracy and civil and political rights of the individuals with
particular reference to the social, economic and cultural setting
of India and its people.
|
India's report under the International Covenant on Economic,
Social and Cultural Rights regarding Articles 10 to 12 was
considered by the Sessional Working Group of Governmental Experts
of the United Nations Economic and Social Council on 18 and 20
April 1984. The report provides information concerning the
measures adopted by India for observance of the rights concerning
protection of the family, free consent for marriage, maternity
leave and social security benefits for mothers during leave,
protection of children and young persons. The Report also
highlighted the legislative and administrative measures adopted
and the facilities available in India regarding food, clothing,
housing within the framework of a developing economy and the
traditional social set up in India. India's continuous endeavour
to provide to everyone the right of physical and mental health
and the measures undertaken in this regard have been emphasised
in the report. While introducing the report it was pointed out
that a Welfare
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State is the pre-eminent goal of the Constitution of India which
provides inspiration to social welfare activities as an organized
part of national development with a view to ensuring social and
economic justice to the citizens. A programme of development
through the successive Five Year Plans has been launched to
translate this ideal into reality. The Indian delegation also
supplied additional information concerning the Scheduled Castes
and Scheduled Tribes, status of women etc. The report and the
replies were appreciated by the Group of Experts as a wealth of
information that is reflective of India's earnest determination
for the realization of economic and social justice to its
citizens.
At the 39th Session of the General Assembly, the Sixth
Committee considered the Report of the International Law
Commission on the work of its 36th session. The second report of
the Special Rapporteur, Jens Evensen (Norway), which contained a
revised tentative draft of a convention on the law of the non-
navigational uses of international watercourses, elicited
extensive comments by both the upper and lower riparian States.
However, there was no convergence of views on any point. In his
statement, the Indian representative emphasized the need to
conform to the drainage basin concept to protect the unity of the
river along with its tributaries and other systems including the
groundwater. He noted the steady erosion in the approach of the
International Law Commission and opposed introducing new elements
which were not already approved by international practice. He
also made it clear that every State is entitled to equitable and
reasonable use of waters in its own territory as a part of the
exercise of its sovereign rights without veto or interference on
such use or uses by other States, including the lower riparians.
The Indian representative, however, mentioned that the upper
riparian State should use its water in such a way that it does
not cause substantial and adverse harm to others. As for the
settlement of disputes in relation to the use of international
rivers, he also advocated the need to exercise restraint and to
resolve disputes through bilateral means freely and mutually
agreed upon by the parties.
At the 39th Session of the General Assembly, although no
progress was made on the question of Charter review, a working
paper submitted by Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany,
Italy, Japan, New Zealand and Spain on preventive diplomacy was
hailed as a useful contribution to the work of the Committee on
the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the
Role of the Organisation. The Indian representative welcomed this
proposal in his statement but indicated that the problem of
improving the effectiveness of the United Nations did not lie in
any procedural or structural framework of the Charter. All the
elements contained in the Working Paper were well known and
accepted within the scheme of the Charter and the practice of the
United Nations.
There was uneasiness in the Sixth Committee about the
implications of the working paper submitted earlier by Nigeria,
the Philippines and Romania entitled "Establishment of a
commission for good offices, mediation and conciliation". In his
statement,
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the Indian representative exposed a number of deficiencies both
conceptually and as a matter of policy with which the proposal
suffered. Several representatives, including the sponsors, were
impressed by the difficulties pointed out by India. The working
paper will continue to be examined by the Charter Review
Committee.
In the wake of the shooting down of the Korean Airlines Civil
aircraft KAL-007 over Soviet airspace on 31 August/1 September
1983, resulting in the death of 269 passengers and crew members,
the Council of ICAO decided at its 110th Session on 9 December
1983 to include in the Central Programme of the Legal Committee
with a high priority the item entitled "Preparation of a Draft
Instrument on the Interception of Civil Aircraft". At the same
time, the Council requested the Chairman of the Legal Committee
to establish a Special Sub-Committee for consideration of that
item, taking into account the results of the work of the Extra-
ordinary Session of the ICAO Assembly in April 1984 in relation
to the amendment of the Chicago Convention and to convene the
Sub-Committee at Montreal from 25 September to 5 October 1984. On
10 May 1984, the 25th Session (Extra-ordinary) of the ICAO
Assembly unanimously approved a proposed amendment to the
Convention on International Civil Aviation. The amendment was set
out in a new Article 3 bis in the form of a Protocol stipulating
that States should refrain from the use of weapons against civil
aircraft. This amendment had been sent to all contracting States
urging them to ratify it as soon as practicable. Views of States
were also solicited on the Draft Instrument on the Interception
of Civil Aircraft presented by Canada.
The Chairman of the Legal Committee appointed the legal
experts of 17 States,including India, to serve as members of the
Legal Sub-Committee. Besides representatives of 6 States were ex
officio members of the Sub-Committee. Observers from 3
contracting States, IATA and IFALPA also attended as observers.
The Sub-Committee met at Montreal from 25 September to 3
October 1984. After completion of the general discussion, the
Sub-Committee considered the draft Instruments on the
Interception of Civil Aircraft presented by Canada and Argentina.
During the discussion which followed, it was argued that judging
from the replies from States, it appears that the preparation of
a draft instrument on interception of civil aircraft was not
supported by States. Since December 1983 much work had been
accomplished with respect to interception of civil aircraft. A
well balanced amendment (Article 3 bis) had been adopted by the
25th Session (Extra-ordinary) of the Assembly, a manual
concerning interception of civil aircraft had been published and
positive work had been achieved by the Air Navigation Commission
in reviewing the Annexes to the Chicago Convention. The
Instruments presented by Canada and Argentina contained
provisions unrelated to Article 3 bis, such as State
responsibility and sanction, which had been rejected by the ICAO
Assembly in the absence of agreement. A study should be
undertaken in order to clarify the international elements
involved and question should be clearly identified before their
incorporation in an international convention. The Canadian and
Argentine drafts generate doubts about the possibility of
harmonization
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with the principles in Article 3 bis. The preparation at this
stage of an international instrument might harm, jeopardize or
delay the ratification of Article 3 bis and its entry into force.
There is no urgent need to elaborate an instrument on
interception of civil aircraft. In view of the foregoing, the
Legal Sub-Committee recommended that the ICAO Council should
consider (a) taking appropriate steps to encourage the
ratification of Article 3 bis by contracting States; and (b) the
study by appropriate bodies of ICAO of whether provisions should
be developed, either in the form of amendments to the Annexes to
the Chicago Convention or in some other form, concerning matters
with regard to the aftermath of the landing of an intercepted
civil aircraft. The representative of India stated that after
completion of the review of the existing procedures by ICAO's
competent organs and identification of inadequacies, a decision
could be taken on the question of framing new procedures and
incorporating them in a new Annex along with already existing
procedures. Well formulated procedures would go a long way in
preventing misuse of civil aviation. In this connection, the
Manual concerning Interception of Civil Aircraft, consolidating
current ICAO provision and Special Recommendations (April 1984
ed.) could provide useful guidance.
During 1984, India concluded 94 (ninety-four) treaties and
agreements of which a list is given at Appendix II.
Elections to UN bodies and other International Institutions
India was elected to several UN bodies and other international
organisations during the year under review. During the first
regular session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) held
in May 1984 in New York, India was elected to the six UN bodies,
namely, Statistical Commission; Commission on Human Settlements;
Commission on Trans-national Corporations; Committee on Natural
Resources; UNICEF Executive Board; and Commission on the Status
of Women. During the 39th session of UN General Assembly held in
September-December 1984, India was elected member of ECOSOC for a
period of 3 years beginning 1 January 1985. At the same session
India was re-elected member of the Governing Council of UNEP.
Shri M.A. Vellodi, formerly Secretary in the Ministry of External
Affairs, who had been a member of International Civil Service
Commission (ICSC) for the last 2 years, was re-elected to the
Commission for a 4-year term. Shri B.G. Deshmukh, Labour
Secretary, was unanimously elected as Chairman of the Governing
Body of the International Labour Organisation for the term 1984-
85 on 28 June 1984 in Geneva. Shri M.C. Bhandare, MP, was elected
as a member of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination
and Protection of Minorities, with an impressive majority, during
the last session of the Human Rights Commission in March 1984. In
January 1984 Smt. Shanti Sadiq Ali was elected to the UN
Committee on Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
(CERD) for another term of 4 years. The term of Shri C.P.
Srivastava, Secretary-General of the International Maritime
Organisation Council (IMOC) was extended for another
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period of 4 years from 1 January 1986 onwards. India was elected
to the Executive Council and the Consultative Council for Postal
Studies of the Universal Postal Union at the UPU Congress, in
June-July 1984.
A list of major international conferences/meetings/seminars
organised by Intergovernmental/non-governmental organisations, in
which India participated are at Appendices III, IV and V.
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FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS |
Top |
The economic crisis that has afflicted the world economy since
the beginning of the 1980s continued to dominate the economic
prospects of both developed and developing countries during the
year under review. Some industrialised countries particularly in
North America, experienced a degree of economic recovery; but the
recovery is uneven and there are doubts about its durability. In
any case, it has had little impact on developing countries.
Unemployment has continued to rise in many industrialised
countries in spite of the recovery and even in North America
there are some indications that the recovery is weakening. It has
led to only as small rise in the exports of most developing
countries and real commodity prices have continued to stagnate at
low levels while real interest rates have remained at
historically high levels. The debt and development problems
facing many developing countries have been left largely
unresolved in this process. While the immediate danger which the
debt crisis posed to the stability of the international banking
system has been contained by emergency actions, the underlying
causes remain unresolved and will continue to jeopardize growth
in the concerned countries unless remedial action is taken. The
world crisis has brought the process of development practically
to a halt in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The situation in
many of these countries is extremely critical. Developing
countries as a whole continue to suffer from the inequitable and
inefficient adjustment process aggravated by rising protectionism
in industrialised countries and a failure to ensure an adequate
transfer of resources for development. The impact has been
particularly severe on the low-income countries due to the sharp
decline in the availability of concessional finance.
The response of the international community to this continuing
crisis has proved to be grossly inadequate. While the concept of
interdependence has been recognisedeven at Summits of
industrialised countries-there has been little coherent or
coordinated international action to provide an impetus to the
process of development. Unfortunately, there has been a weakening
of the existing mechanisms of international cooperation for
development. This has manifested itself in a growing tendency on
the part of major industrialised countries to seek unilateral or
bilateral solutions for their immediate problems and a systematic
effort to weaken the multilateral institutions in the fields of
development, finance and trade. A major instance was the
disappointing experience with the Seventh IDA replenishment. The
level eventually agreed upon was 9 billion dollars, which was
well below the level of 16 billion originally thought necessary
and even below the level of 12 billion dollars for IDA VI. There
has been a suggestion to establish a
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$ 3 billion supplementary fund for IDA VII; but this suggestion
has so far not been accepted. Other multilateral financial
agencies such as IFAD have also encountered similar problems. The
experience of UNIDO IV which took place in August 1984 was
another example of the failure to grasp an important opportunity
to give a fresh impetus to international economic co-operation
and coming after the experience of UNCTAD VI in the previous
year, it led to considerable disappointment and frustration among
the developing countries. A number of agencies in the UN system
such as UNESCO, UNIDO, UNCTAD and FAO have been under attack by
developed countries and there are moves which could undermine the
multilateral trading regime under GATT. The Group of 77, in a
declaration made in June 1984 marking the 20th anniversary of the
Group's estabilshment, made a strong plea for intensifying
multilateral co-operation, but there has been little positive
response so far to this plea. The UN Secretary General as well as
others have voiced their concern over this retreat from
multilateralism.
Non-Aligned and other developing countries have sought to
reverse this trend and to strengthen international economic co-
operation. Sustained efforts were made at the UN General Assembly
to reach agreement on the launching of Global Negotiations on the
basis of the two-phase approach proposed by the 7th Non-Aligned
Summit. Unfortunately, these efforts did not lead to positive
results. India took a number of important initiatives in
pursuance of the NAM proposal for convening an International
Conference on Money and Finance for Development. A high-level
Group of Experts was established, comprising Algeria, India,
Mexico, Tanzania and Yugoslavia for a thorough examination of the
various aspects of the NAM proposal. The Group published its
report in September 1984 and copies of the report were sent to
the Heads of State or Government of developed as well as
developing countries. The Ministerial Meetings of NAM and Group
of 77 held in New York in September/October 1984 expressed their
appreciation for this important initiative.
It has been our endeavour to secure the initiation of a
dialogue between the North and the South on ways of improving the
international monetary and financial systems with a view to
preparing for the proposed International Conference on Money and
Finance for Development. The former Prime Minister had addressed
letters on this subject to all the participants in the London
Summit of major industrialised countries and had sent her
personal emissaries to the capitals of these countries to explain
our approach and to stress the urgency of initiating a dialogue.
The British Prime Minister, who chaired the Summit, subsequently
sent a Special Envoy to New Delhi for a briefing on the
deliberations at the Summit.
The response to the initiatives described above has been quite
disappointing. The London Summit did not build on the moves
towards an International Monetary Conference which had figured at
the preceding Summit at Williamsburg but took a somewhat
complacent view of the debt and development crisis and in effect
affirmed the adequacy of the existing financial institutions to
deal with the situation. This was due partly to the pre-
occupation of the major industrialised countries with their own
problems and partly
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due to a reluctance to envisage the type of structural changes
which are widely believed even by many experts from developed
countries-to be not only necessary but inevitable. While the
participants in the Summit indicated their willingness to enter
into a dialogue, they insisted that the dialogue could only be
held in the existing Bretton Woods institutions.
The Commonwealth Consultative Group established by the CHOGM
held in New Delhi in November 1983 submitted its report to the
Meeting of Commonwealth Finance Ministers in Toronto in September
1984. The Group was not able to reach consensus on the
substantive issues of monetary reform or the proposal for an
International Conference but made a recommendation for holding a
special meeting of the Development Committee to discuss the
relevant issues. This recommendation was subsequently accepted at
the annual meetings of the IMF/World Bank and special meetings of
both the Development and Interim Committees are to be held in the
spring of 1985.
The 39th Session of the UN General Assembly also failed to
achieve any substantial results in the area of international
economic co-operation. There was no consensus on the Mid-term
Review and Appraisal of the International Development Strategy.
Efforts to secure even a procedural resolution on the inter-
linkages among monetary, financial and trade issues did not
succeed and the resolution had to be voted upon, with the major
industrialised countries voting against it.
It is obvious that the current economic crisis will not
disappear by being ignored. Nor would the development of
developing countries come about as a "trickle-down" effect of the
recovery in developed countries. Conscious action is needed to
tackle the crisis and to bring about fundamental changes in
international economic relations. It is, therefore, essential
that developing countries for their part continue in a unified
manner to coordinate their policies and to formulate and press
realistic proposals to intensify international economic co-
operation. They are in turn entitled to expect a positive
response from developed countries in an effort to establish an
international economic system which supports and reinforces,
rather than obstructs, their own efforts to adjust and develop.
They are determined to continue to press on with their efforts to
strengthen the system of multilateral co-operation and to evolve
a more effective and equitable international economic order.
An important element of the New International Economic Order
is greater cooperation among developing countries themselves.
Intensive work continued during the year under review to promote
such co-operation. A number of technical meetings were help under
the Caracas Programme of Action for Economic Co-operation among
Developing Countries (ECDC). The sectors covered by these
meetings included trade in goods and services, financial co-
operation, energy, food and agriculture and technical
cooperation. The results of the meetings were reviewed by the
Inter-governmental Followup and Coordination Committee (IFCC) at
its meeting in Cartagena in September 1984.
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One of the initiatives taken under the Caracas Programme in
which the work at the technical level has reached a fairly
advanced stage is the establishment of a Global System of Trade
Preferences (GSTP) among developing countries. The negotiations
for GSTP have already been formally launched and about 40
developing countries have so far signified their willingness to
join the negotiations. In the initial stages, the progress was
somewhat slow. The negotiations are being held in UNCTAD, which
is a universal forum; and one of the inhibiting factors has been
the negative attitude of some developed countries. During the
period under review, progress was made at the techincal level on
issues relating to the ground rules for the negotiations. At the
IFCC meeting in Cartagena, there was recognition of the need for
rapid progress in the negotiations and for further political
impetus to this end.
Another important initiative in the area of ECDC is the
proposal for the establishment of a Bank of Developing Countries
(South Bank). A great deal of technical work has been done with
regard to this proposal. However, some difficulties have been
encountered at the political level largely due to the negative
attitude of some major OPEC countries which have taken the stand
that the functions of the proposed Bank can be more efficiently
performed by existing financial institutions. Efforts are still
continuing to reach a wider consensus and an "Initiative Group"
has been set up to undertake further work.
Among the other elements of the Caracas Programme on which
some progress has been made are the establishment of an Action
Committee on Fossil Fuels and the setting up of Multi-Sectoral
Information Network (MSIN) for technical co-operation among
developing countries.
One of the concrete manifestations of ECDC is the agreement
reached among the seven countries of South Asia to launch an
Integrated Programme of Action for South Asian Regional Co-
operation (SARC). After the adoption of the SARC Declaration at
the meeting of the Foreign Ministers held in New Delhi in August
1983, intensive work has begun for the implementation of the
agreed programmes of co-operation. The Standing Committee of
Foreign Secretaries met in New Delhi at the end of February 1984
to review the Reports of the Technical Committees, which had met
earlier. The Standing Committee also took a number of decisions
aimed at improving the functioning of the Technical Committee.
The Foreign Ministers of the seven countries held their second
meeting in Male on 10-11 July, 1984. This was preceded by the
meeting of the Standing Committee of Foreign Secretaries on 7-8
July, 1984. The main tasks before the Maldives meeting were a
review of progress in the implementation of the SAARC programmes
and the consideration of the date and venue of the SAARC Summit.
It was decided to recommend the convening of the SARC Summit in
Dhaka in the last quarter of 1985. It was also agreed that the
next meeting of Foreign Ministers to be held in Thimpu in May
1985 would serve as the preparatory meeting for the Summit. It
was felt that considerable progress
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had been achieved in implementing the SARC programmes in a
relatively short time. It was stressed that increasing emphasis
should be placed on operational activities and the formulation of
specific projects. To this end, the meeting accepted India's
suggestion that consideration should be given to the convening of
meetings at the level of Ministers in some vital areas. A number
of decisions were taken aimed at improving the monitoring and
coordination of SARC programmes. A specific item on the agenda
was the improvement of telecommunications and airlinks among the
countries of the region. The Technical Committees on
Telecommunications and Transport were asked to consider proposals
in this regard and submit recommendations to the Standing
Committee. The Foreign Ministers also had useful discussion on
the World Economic situation. The meeting expressed concern at
the deteriorating economic and social conditions in developing
countries and urged that the proposals put forward by the Seventh
Non-Aligned Summit and the Group of 77 be actively pursued.
Special mention was made of the need for increasing IDA resources
and the Chairman was requested to convey the concerns of the
South Asian countries to the leaders of the industrialised
countries.
After the Male meeting intensive work has started at the level
of the Technical Committees. Some of them have already met and
efforts have been made to formulate regional projects in some
sectors. A meeting of civil aviation officials and airline
experts was convened at Karachi to discuss the improvement of
airlinks among SARC countries. The reports of these meetings will
be reviewed by the Standing Committee of Foreign Secretaries
which will be held in Male in February 1985.
The implementation of the Indian Technical and Economic Co-
operation (ITEC) Programme continued to be one of the major
activities of the Ministry during the year under review. The
financial allocation for promoting technical co-operation with
other developing countries under this programme amounted to Rs.
65 million during the year. This is aside from specific
individual programmes of co-operation with neighbouring countries
such as Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan, and from technical
assistance to other developing countries rendered through the
Colombo Plan, SCAAP and through the provision for technical co-
operation out of the amount earmarked for India by the UNDP.
Compared with the initial budgetary allocation of Rs. 0.44
million in 1964 when the ITEC Programme was launched, the present
outlay signifies a tremendous increase in India's technical co-
operation with developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin
America over the years. It is also necessary to note that the
amount earmarked by India for technical co-operation with other
developing countries (TCDC) goes a much longer way than the
nominal monetary figure would suggest, as against comparable
allocations from developed countries for assistance to developing
countries.
The ITEC programme encompasses training facilities in India
for nationals of other developing countries, deputation of Indian
experts to those countries on short, medium and long-term
assignments, feasibility studies and techno-economic surveys,
consultancy services, execution of special projects and gifts of
equipment. The programme has
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also been used to assist visiting dignitaries and technical level
delegations from other developing countries to acquaint
themselves with Indian economic and technical institutions and to
give them an exposure to the strides that India has taken in
various fields over the years.
During 1984-85, 820 ITEC slots were earmarked for nominees
from developing countries for training courses in various
specialised Indian institutions. Over 80 Indian experts were
deputed to those countries during the year on assignments of
varying durations and disciplines. Among the major beneficiaries
were Mauritius, People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, Yemen Arab
Republic, Zimbabwe and Zambia. ITEC activities during the year
under review included feasibility studies for a water works
project and an agricultural project in Tanzania as well as for a
railway project in Cuba. A team of educational experts visited
Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia to assist in the academic fields in
those countries. ITEC assistance during the year under review
included gifting of electrical equipment to Fiji, artificial
limbs to Burma, sports goods to Jamaica and mulberry cuttings to
Colombia. Equipment was supplied to Kenya for the establishment
of vocational training centre and assistance was given to hold an
exposition of small scale industrial technologies in Nairobi.
Technical books were presented to Tanzania and law books to
Uganda and Gambia. Medicines were supplied to Ethiopia, Yemen
Arab Republic and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. A
substantial quantity of wheat was gifted to the Yemen Arab
Republic and the supply of hand weaving machines (Charkhas) and
fruit slicers to Sudan was processed.
India's relations with multilateral regional groupings such as
the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), African Development
Bank (Af. D.B.), Economic Commission of West African States
(ECOWAS), and the Southern African Development Coordination
Conference (SADCC) were further strengthened during the year
under review. Two Indian economists were deputed to the Af. D.B.
and substantial equipment was supplied to the ECA under the ITEC
programme. An agricultural implements unit was set up in Lesotho
which forms part of the overall SADCC planning for the region.
India participated prominently in the SADCC Annual Consultative
Meeting in Lusaka.
Indian technical assistance to Mauritius, which was finalised
during the second session of the India-Mauritius Joint Commission
held in 1984 envisages an estimated expenditure of Mauritian
rupees 40 million. Among other programmes for assistance were the
setting up of two hospitals in Mauritius, the treatment of 20
cardiac patients from Mauritius annually in India, supply of
equipment to Mauritius for an industrial estate and a basic
school etc. Several ITEC experts were sent to Mauritius during
the year under review. The number of ITEC experts currently in
Mauritius on various assignments is over 30. Co-operative
projects are also under implementation in Mauritius in spheres
such as sericulture, pisciculture, handicrafts and in meteorology
and health services.
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Several delegations from developing countries visiting India
were assisted during the year under review by the ITEC programme.
These included delegations from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mauritius,
Ethiopia and Angola.
Aside from activities under the ITEC programme, the Ministry
actively assisted foreign countries in the recruitment of experts
in various fields from India.
The Ministry continued to make a significant contribution to
India's financial system geared to exports as well as to
important bodies concerned with foreign trade. This was
facilitated by the Ministry's representation on the Boards of
such organisations as the EXIM Bank, ECGC, FIEO, TDA, IIFT etc.
as well as a number of important public sector organisations
which have dealings abroad.
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|
POLICY PLANNING |
Top |
The Policy Planning and Review Division of the Ministry was
expanded and strengthened. It consists of a corps of foreign
service and research cadre officers with supporting staff and
facilities including a modern library. The Division continued to
function under the overall guidance of the Foreign Secretary and
the supervision of an Additional Secretary.
During the year under review, the Policy Planning and Review
Division prepared a number of policy papers and background notes
on various topics relating to the external relations of India.
The Division interacted with other Divisions in the Ministry as
well as with other Ministries and Departments in order to impart
multiple perspectives to the studies. As in the past, several
such studies were circulated to Missions abroad and Territorial
Divisions of the Ministry as well as to other concerned
departments and agencies of the Government.
A Conference of South Asian Heads of Missions was held in New
Delhi from 2 to 5 April 1984. Heads of Missions from Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri
Lanka participated in the Conference. The Conference, which was
inaugurated by the then Minister of State, Shri A.A. Rahim, was
presided over by the Foreign Secretary. Senior officers of
Ministry of External Affairs and other Ministries participated in
the discussions. The Foreign Minister addressed the concluding
session of the Conference. This was the second Conference of
Heads of Missions from the South Asian region organised by the
Ministry of External Affairs, the first having taken place in
August 1983. Such periodic conferences are part of the continuing
process of in-depth internal discussions and assessment of the
evolving situation in our neighbourhood. Deliberations of such
conferences constitute a valuable input for policy formulation by
the Government.
The Division also continued to maintain contact with Area
Studies Centres of various universities where scholars are
involved in research and study of international affairs. The
officers of the Division took part in various seminars relating
to India's foreign policy as well as international affairs.
Particular mention may be made of the Seminar on Indo-Pak
relations organised by the Indian Centre for Regional Affairs,
New Delhi, in April 1984; a Seminar Meeting of the Task Force on
the Indian Ocean organised by the Institute for Defence Studies
and Analysis, New Delhi, in November 1984; the Seminar on
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"Democratic India and its Impact on Regional Stability" organised
by the Indian Centre for Regional Affairs in December 1984.
Scholars and other experts were invited to the Ministry for
discussions while visiting Indian Ambassadors were requested to
hold discussions with officers of the Division.
No studies were commissioned during 1984. The two earlier
studies commissioned during 1982-83 namely, one on "India's
Foreign Policy: Issues and Problems during 1980s" entrusted to
the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, and the other on
"India's Principal Concerns in International Negotiating Issues
in 1980s" undertaken by ICRIER, New Delhi, are expected to be
ready shortly.
In August 1984, the Policy Planning and Review Division was
reorganised and the Historical Division was revived.
As in earlier years, the Historical Division coordinated the
work relating to the Annual Report of the Ministry.
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|
EXTERNAL PUBLICITY |
Top |
During the period under review, events in Punjab posed a
particular challenge for our external publicity effort,
particularly in countries with large ethnic Indian populations
originating from that state . National and international
attention was focused on the Punjab situation and it became
necessary to desseminatet correct information on a very wide
scale. Hostile propaganda and misreporting had to be countered.
We greatly stepped up our information activity and used new and
more effective means such as video tapes. This activity is being
maintained and broadened in scope to cover other aspects of
national affairs. The External Publicity (XP) Division has been
collaborating closely with the Ministry of Information and
Broadcasting in producing suitable material.
The assassination of Prime Minister, Shrimati Indira Gandhi
was a tragedy of great magnitude. Over 600 foreign media
personnel flooded into Delhi to cover the tragic event and its
aftermath, including the swearing-in of the new Government. Many
stayed on for the General Elections, which also evoked world-wide
attention, as did the Bhopal disaster. The External Publicity
Division collaborated with the Press Information Bureau (PIB) in
giving logistical support to this large influx of journalists.
The regular activities of the External Publicity Division
included, in the context of India's Chairmanship of the Non-
Aligned Movement (NAM), publicity for Indian initiatives within
the framework of NAM. The External Publicity Division also
continued to be involved in international meetings and
conferences for the promotion of the New Information and
Communications Order. Similarly, its work regarding coordination
of activities relating to sports, arts and cultural exchanges
among South Asian Regional Co-operation (SARC) countries
continued.
Situation in the Punjab
In order to disseminate the correct facts to the media and the
Indian community abroad, the External Publicity Division's twice
daily transmissions to Missions abroad carried all significant
statements made by the President and the Prime Minister and
authoritative official pronouncements by the official spokesman.
The Missions were also supplied video and audio tapes covering
topical developments in Punjab which were made available to
Indian Associations, ethnic radio and TV stations and shown in
the Chancery/
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Embassy premises. Large quantities of printed material were
supplied, including the White Paper in English and Gurmukhi, and
specially designed pamphlets. Vigorous efforts were undertaken to
activate the ethnic media abroad, which serves the Indian
community, and to use it to put across correct information. In
this context, our envoys made several appearances on television
programmes and participated in group discussions. The Missions
were also vigilant in trying to counter hostile propaganda.
While consistent efforts were made to see that the correct
facts were projected in the media abroad by taking the measures
listed above, it was borne in mind that our publicity efforts
should cover all aspects of Indian life and culture.
Indian initiatives within the framework of NAM
In the context of India's Chairmanship of NAM, many
initiatives were taken by the late Prime Minister, Shrimati
Indira Gandhi, including summit level consultations at the UN,
attempts to further the cause of disarmament, and efforts to
resolve the situation in West Asia. A group of experts from Non-
Aligned countries met several times to prepare a report on the
NAM proposal for an international conference on money and finance
for development. This report was sent by the late Prime Minister
to Heads of State or Government of NAM and other developing
countries as well as to the leaders of the developed countries.
The External Publicity Division publicised these initiatives
suitably both in India and abroad.
India took part both in the Conference of the Ministers of
Information of NAM countries at Jakarta from 26 to 30 January
1984 and the NAM conference of Ministers of Information and
Telecommunications at Cairo. These meetings helped strengthen the
Non-Aligned News Agencies Pool (NANAP) and the Broadcasting
Organisation of the Non-Aligned Countries (BONAC) and led to the
reduction of tariffs for communications between NAM countries.
Some interesting meetings in the information field were held
in Delhi, with the participation of the External Publicity
Division. The Indian Institute of Mass Communications organised
the Asia Pacific Regional Seminar on the Utilisation of Satellite
Technology for Mass Communications from 10 to 12 April 1984.
Participants came from several neighibouring countries. From 25
to 27 April 1984, the Press Trust of India (PTI) in co-operation
with UNESCO and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication,
organised a seminar on "Improving News Pool Performance".
Delegates from abroad represented a number of news agencies from
developing countries.
SARC activity in Sports, Arts and Culture
Two meetings of the Technical Committee on Sports, Arts and
Culture were convened on 13-14 January 1984 and 7-9 January 1985
respectively. Implementation of a number
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of items in the comprehensive programme of action agreed upon at
the first meeting has started. Pursuant to the recommendations of
the Technical Committee, India sent a 95-member contingent to the
South Asian Federation Games at Kathmandu. A Preparatory
Committee meeting with SARC participation to work on the
scheduled SARC Archaeological Congress took place in November
1984. The Archaeological Survey of India plans to hold a workshop
on Arabic and Dravidian scripts with SARC participation in 1985.
A committee of experts was set up by the Centre for Cultural
Resources and Training, New Delhi, to finalise the details of
projects for study of the eco-zones consisting of humid tropics
of the western coast and the monsoon-fed North-Eastern Region of
india which in some measure share common ecology and environment
with other SARC countries. The research reports will be made
available to other member countries of the SARC to enable them to
have similar studies.
Publications
The following regular publications were brought out: Indian
and Foreign Review, a fortnightly colour magazine and its French
counterpart Courrier de I'Inde and the monthly Foreign Affairs
Record. The important occasional publications included speeches
by the late Prime Minister on "Islam's contribution to world
culture with special reference to India," her appeal, along with
five other world leaders, entitled "A common effort for peace,"
and her speeches during 1983 (in two parts); speeches by the
former Minister for External Affairs entitled "Disarmament in the
80s" and "Reply to the Discussions on Demand for Grants for the
Ministry of External Affairs," South-South Co-operation,"
and "Regional Studies"; the statement made by the Minister of
State in the Ministry of External Affairs, Shri Ram Niwas Mirdha,
at the 39th Session of the General Assembly; and the pamphlets
entitled "The Sikhs in their Homeland India," "India's support
for the Palestine's Struggle for a National Homeland" and "1984-
India Goes to the Polls".
Daily Bulletin to Missions
The External Publicity Division continued to keep our Missions
informed of matters of contemporary interest in India's relations
with other countries as well as on important political, economic
and scientific and technological developments in India through
twicedaily transmissions. 26 Missions received these
transmissions through the Overseas Communications Service (OCS);
eight Missions in North and South America received them through
satellite; 28 through PTI links with foreign news agencies; 45
Missions received bi-weekly telexes; six Missions were covered by
bi-weekly press cables; and 30 Missions received cyclostyled
copies of transmissions by diplomatic bag. The system is being
upgraded so as to supply all Missions with daily bulletin.
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Assistance to Foreign Media
The Division continued to provide facilities for media
representatives from abroad for doing their work. During the
nine-month period ending 31 December 1984 about 1000 members of
foreign media were catered to. The External Publicity Division
worked closely with the Press Information Bureau in handling the
large influx of foreign media personnel at the time of the
assassination of the late Prime Minister and later developments
towards the close of 1984, including the Bhopal disaster. It also
handled a large number of visiting journalists who accompanied
important visitors from abroad.
Audio-Visual Publicity
The Division purchased some feature and documentary films for
circulation to Missions abroad. Film Weeks were organised in
Mexico, Sweden and China as well as a Film Seminar in Bangladesh
and a Film Festival in Jakarta. Our Missions continued to be
supplied with photographs for publicity purposes. Exhibition size
photographs were also sent to several Missions for holding
photographic exhibitions.
Regular supply of video cassettes and audio cassettes covering
topical developments and containing suitable entertainment
programme on a frequency of twice to thrice per month to target
Missions catering to Indian ethnic populations were organised.
VCRs were also sanctioned to important Missions for appropriate
use both in monitoring local coverage on India as well as the
video cassettes from Delhi for placement locally abroad.
News Agencies and Feature Agencies
The Division continued to subscribe to the feature news
services of news agencies and to commission special feature
articles on the occasions of Republic and Independence Day for
dissemination abroad. The publication of special supplements on
India on national occasions were facilitated.
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|
CULTURAL RELATIONS |
Top |
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) which
functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of
External Affairs continued to play an important role as the
principal agency for promoting India's cultural relations with
other nations.
During the period under review, the Council received over 100
distinguished scholars, artists, writers and intellectuals from
various foreign countries which included Argentina, Bangladesh,
Cuba, China, Denmark, Kenya, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Malagassy,
Tanzania, Thailand, Mexico, Peru, Sweden, UK, USA, USSR and
Zimbabwe. Among them were Dr. Jonas Salk, the Nobel Laureate and
Philip Glass, the Composer from USA, Mr. Wu Xiaoda, Director of
the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Prof. Ren Jiyu of the
Institute of Research on World Religions of the Chinese Academy
of Social Sciences, H.E. Judge M. Bedjoui of the International
Court of Justice, Dr. Alfonso Garcia Robles, the Nobel Laureate
from Mexico, Dr. Leopold Senghor from Senegal, and Prof. Hajima
Nakamura, Prof. Emeritus of the University of Tokyo.
About 30 foreign performing troupes including the New York
Philharmonic Orchestra led by Zubin Mehta, the Paris Opera ballet
with Rudolf Nureyev, the Bolshoi Ballet, the Merce Cunningham
Dance Company, Stars of the Metropolitan and La Scala Operas, the
Watermill Theatre Company, the National Dance Company of
Zimbabwe, Buyo and Gagaku troupes from Japan, performed in New
Delhi and other major cities of India under ICCR sponsorship
making the year under review an unprecedented year as far as the
visits of important foreign cultural troupes are concerned.
Over 55 individual artists and scholars and forty performing
delegations were sent abroad, some of the latter going for the
first time to countries such as Niger, Upper Volta, Ivory Coast,
Liberia and Costa Rica. Outgoing individual artists and scholars
included Shri M.F. Hussain to China, Shri Satish Alekar,
Playwright, to the Nordic Theatre Festival at Oslo, Shri K.S.
Srinivasan, Music Critic, to Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Zimbabwe
and Qari Mohd. Ali Khan to Kuala Lumpur to participate in the
International Quran Reading. Among the performing arts troupes
sent out were 45 musicians and dancers for a Festival of
Himalayan Cultures which was presented in 22 cities of Europe in
April/May 1984, Ustad Imrat Khan and Yamini Krishnamurti who
performed in a number of places in, Greece, Padma Subramanyam who
performed in Madrid
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and Vienna, Malavika Sarukai to Moscow for performance at the
felicitation ceremony for the Indian Astronauts on their return
from space, an Odissi troupe to 8 West-African countries, A
Kuchipudi troupe to 8 East and South East Asian countries, and a
Kathakali troupe to Australia and New Zealand. The important
exhibitions presented or co-sponsored by the Council are : (1) In
India : British Figurative Art-"The Proper Study"; Contemporary
Turkish Art; Photo Korea; Budhist-Art Objects; American
Porcelain;Portuguese Trade Routes to the Indies; Retrospective of
Krishna Reddy's Works.(2) Abroad : Indian Arts & Crafts in
Beijing; Indian Contemporary Art, Traditional Textiles, Masks &
Musical Instruments at Delphi and Athens during the Indo-Greek
Symposium there; Works of India's leading Cartoonists in Vienna;
Madhubani Paintings in Mexico; and Indian Contemporary Art in
Moscow and Vienna
The Council organised an Indo-Greek Symposium in Greece in
collaboration with the European Cultural Centre there, and the
First International Conference on Buddhism & National Cultures in
collaboration with other National Councils. Over 350 scholars
from 40 different countries participated in this conference. The
Council collaborated with the Jawaharlal Nehru University in
organising an International Conference on Literature in
Translation.
The 1984 annual Azad Memorial Lecture was delivered by H.E.
Dr. Alfonso Garcia Robles, Nobel Peace Laureate, on "Nuclear
Disarmament : A Crucial Issue for the Survival of Mankind."
The Council's publications during the year included Gandhi-A
Life Revisited (in Arabic, Spanish and French); a Hindi
translation of Bolivar : A Continent & its Destiny by Jose Luis
Salcadeo Bastardo; India and Egypt : Modern Relations Between Two
Ancient Nations (Azad Memorial Lecture, 1983) by Mohammed Hassan
EI-Zayyat; and Nuclear Disarmament : A Crucial Issue for the
Survival of Mankind (Azad Memorial Lecture, 1984) by Alfonso
Garcia Robles. The quarterly journals of the Council, namely
Indian Horizons, Africa Quarterly, Rencontre Avec i'Inde
(French), Papeles de la India (Spanish), Thaqafatual Hind
(Arabic), and Gagananchal (Hindi) were regularly published.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding
(administered by the ICCR) for the year 1982 was presented to Dr.
Leopold Sedar Senghor, Eminent Poet and former President of
Senegal, by the President of India, Giani Zail Singh, at a formal
ceremony at Teen Murti House on 12 December 1984.
Under ICCR's Presentation Programme, books, art objects,
musical instruments, etc., were sent to Cultural & Educational
Institutions in various countries which included Denmark, Greece,
Korea, China, Cuba, Bangladesh, Finland, UK and USA.
Important days celebrated by the Council included South Africa
Freedom Day, UN Day, African Day, and Foreign Students Day.
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Orientation Courses, Summer Camps, Study Tours and Social Get-
togethers were arranged by the Council, as in past years, for
foreign students. A number of scholarships were awarded to
foreign students to study Indian Visual and Performing Arts.
Around 3000 travel concessions were issued, and information on
University admission, accommodation, travel, etc., made available
to many foreign students. A meeting of Foreign Students Advisers
in Northern India was chaired by Smt. Margaret Alva MP, Chairman,
ICCR's Foreign Students' Welfare Committee, in April 1984.
ICCR's weekly programmes of Indian music, dance, drama and
films in the Saturday Evening Recital series were regularly
presented in Delhi and Bangalore for the benefit of foreign
students.
As part of the ICCR programme of maintaining of Chairs/Centres
of Indian Studies abroad, the Council deputed Indian teachers to
a number of institutions abroad.
The ICCR's Cultural Centres in Fiji, Guyana and Suriname
continued to function well and expanded their activities. A
Cultural Window was opened in Bonn and will be presenting regular
exhibitions of Indian Fine Arts & Crafts there, as also
organising Workshops, Seminars, etc., on various aspects of
Indian culture.
The Council continued to oversee the activities of foreign
Cultural Centres in India and during the year under review new
regulations were introduced for better regulation and monitoring
of these activities.
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|
PROTOCOL |
Top |
During 1984, Heads of Missions of the following 22 countries
left India on the completion of their assignment: Japan,
Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Nigeria, Kenya, Algeria,
Portugal, Jordan, Trinidad and Tobago, Bhutan, Republic of Korea,
Venezuela, Pakistan, Australia, Greece, Switzerland, Finland,
China, Tanzania, German Democratic Republic (GDR), Federal
Republic of Germany (FRG), Somalia and Belgium.
In the same period, Heads of Missions of the following 31
countries presented their credentials to the President of India :
Turkey, Ghana, Arab Republic of Egypt, Japan, Iceland, Chile,
Kenya, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Bhutan, Seychelles
(Resident in Mahe), Trinidad and Tobago, Portugal, Zimbabwe,
Republic of Korea, Pakistan, Nigeria, Greece, Panama, Australia,
Peru, Algeria, Tanzania, GDR, Finland, Switzerland, Singapore,
Jordan, Iran, FRG, China and Uruguay (Resident in Tokyo).
The New Zealand Government closed its Mission in New Delhi in
early 1982. Later, they decided to have concurrent accreditation.
Their High Commissioner stationed at Wellington presented his
credentials on 19 April 1983 to the President of India. However,
the New Zealand Government have now proposed the appointment of
Sir Edmund Hillary as their new High Commissioner to India with
residence in India. Their Acting High Commissioner, Mr. D.F.L.
Markes, arrived in India on 25 October 1984.
Ecuador opened its Mission in New Delhi in April 1984 and Dr.
Adolfo Alvarez assumed charge as Charge d' Affaires, on 11 April
1984. The Government of India have accorded agreement to the
appointment of Mr. Lucindo Almaide Teran as Ambassador Extra-
ordinary & Plenipotentiary (designate) of the Republic of Ecuador
to India, with residence in Cairo.
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|
PASSPORT, EMIGRATION AND CONSULAR SERVICES |
Top |
There are 21 Passport Offices under the control of the
Ministry of External Affairs. These offices are spread all over
India covering almost all the States. A full-fledged Passport
Office at Vijayawada, an important town of Andhra Pradesh, and a
Liaison Office at Trivandrum, capital of Kerala, were opened
during the year under review. These offices earned a revenue of
Rs. 9.05 crores through passport fees during 1984 and incurred an
expenditure of Rs. 2.69 crores towards office establishment,
resulting in a saving of Rs. 6.36 crores. A statement showing
revenue and expenditure in respect of Passport Offices in India
during the period January to December 1984 is given at Appendix
VI.
Applications for fresh passports and other miscellaneous
services recorded a reduction of 2 lakhs as compared to 1983
mainly due to the recession in the employment market for our
workers in West Asian countries. However, there was an
appreciable increase in consular work performed by this Ministry
and the Missions abroad. All passport services were, generally,
rendered within a reasonable time-bound framework. The passport
procedures were streamlined with a view to rendering quick
services. Our Missions abroad also rendered reasonably prompt and
courteous consular services to Indian nationals abroad.
Over 14.41 lakh applications for issue of fresh passports were
received in Passport Offices in India during 1984. The Passport
Office in Bombay received the maximum number of applications
followed by Tiruchirapalli, Cochin and Delhi. A statement showing
the number of passport miscellaneous services applications
received and the number of passports issued/miscellaneous
services rendered by each Passport Office in India during the
period January to December 1984 is given at Appendix VII.
A number of steps were taken with a view to improving the
quality of passport services rendered. Certain essential data
required for issue of passports has been computerised and the
first phase of computerisation of passport activities has been
completed with installation of terminals at the Regional Passport
Office, Delhi, connected with the computer located at the
National Informatics Centre of the Electronics Commission, Pushpa
Bhawan, New Delhi. Another proposal to instal an inhouse mini
computer at each of our Passport Offices with a possible link to
five Regional
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Computer Centres is also presently being processed in
consultation with the National Informatics Centre. It has also
been decided, in principle, to introduce computerisation in our
Missions in the Gulf and North America, which will start with the
computerisation of their work relating to passports and consular
services. Our Missions in Washington and Kuwait would become the
nodal points and would be linked with other Missions in their
respective regions. Computerisation in other Missions handling a
large number of visa cases is also being proposed.
With a view to issuing passports in a time-bound framework and
to supplementing the resources of the State Governments, who
conduct security and identity verification in respect of passport
applicants, it was decided to make incentive payment to meet the
expenditure on deployment of additional staff by local police
authorities. It was, therefore, decided that reimbursement would
be made up to a maximum of Rs. 3/- per passport application
verified on a clear understanding that verification reports are
received within a specified time-bound framework.
Action has been initiated during the year under review to give
a neater appearance to the Passport Offices, and to provide more
facilities to the members of the public, who are required to wait
for passports. Action in this respect has already been completed
in the Regional Passport Office, Delhi, which has also resulted
in greater efficiency. Efforts to bring about improvement in
working conditions of other Passport Offices are being continued.
During the year under review, 715 cases of complaints
regarding delay in the issue/renewal of passports were received
against the Passport Offices in India. It was, however, found
that the reasons for delay were generally non-compliance of
formalities by the applicants or late receipt of police reports.
However, immediate necessary action was taken to get these
complaints investigated and passports issued to complainants, if
otherwise entitled under the Passports Act.
Though the work relating to emigration clearance to intending
emigrants has already been transferred to the Ministry of Labour,
under whose control the Protector of Emigrants at Delhi, Bombay,
Cochin, Trivandrum, Chandigarh, Calcutta were dealt with, the
Protector of Emigrants at Madras, however, continues to be an
official of the Regional Passport Office, Madras, who works under
the administrative control of the Ministry. For emigration
clearance work, he is guided by the instructions of the Ministry
of Labour. In addition, all our Passport Offices continue to
perform the function of determining the status of a passport
applicant from emigration angle by suitably affixing their
passports with stamps "Emigration check required" or "Emigration
clearance not required". In this connection, it is relevant to
mention that with a view to helping our intending emigrants,
necessary instructions have been issued to our Passport Officers
that applications for change of profession should be disposed of
by the next working day.
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In June 1984, a Visa system was introduced for all
Commonwealth countries. Visa Abolition Agreements with these
countries were suspended. A minimum visa fee of Rs. 50/- has been
fixed for Commonwealth nationals. On the basis of reciprocity,
the following countries have also introduced visas for Indian
nationals : (a) Yugoslavia; (b) Bulgaria; (c) Malaysia; (d)
Kenya; (e) Norway; (f) Sweden; (g) Denmark; and (h) Finland.
Additional staff was provided to the Missions concerned to cope
with the increase in work, so that visas could be issued
expeditiously.
During the period under review, 1269 cases of deportation of
Indian nationals came to the notice of the Ministry. Of these, as
many as 1053 were from UAE. Indian Missions/Posts abroad
repatriated 286 persons, who were in distress in foreign
countries, and also extended financial assistance, wherever
necessary. Cases of 206 Indian nationals arrested in various
countries were reported to the Government. All possible consular
assistance was given to them, and where possible, their release
and return to India was facilitated by the Missions concerned.
264 cases of death of foreign nationals in India were also
handled.
710 cases of death of Indian nationals abroad came to the
notice of the Ministry and action was initiated to claim wage
dues and death compensation for the heirs of of the deceased
through respective Indian Missions. The procedure of making
payments of compensation through various State Governments in
India, which was introduced in the previous years, is working
reasonably satisfactorily.
1,23,978 documents submitted by the public for production to
the foreign autboritics in connection with the employment abroad,
admission to educational institutio,-,s abroad etc., were
attested/authenticated by the Consular Section. The procedure
authentication of documents was streamlined, so as to enable the
persons concerned to get back all the documents the same day.
Efforts to further streamline the working of our Consular
Sections in Missions abroad are continuing.
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|
ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANISATION |
Top |
Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao relinquished charge as Minister for
External Affairs, on his becoming the Minister for Home Affairs
on 19 July 1984. From the same date, Shri S. B. Chavan took
charge as Minister without portfolio, to assist the late Prime
Minister who assumed charge as the Minister for External Affairs.
On 2 August 1984, on being appointed Minister for Defence, Shri
S. B. Chavan relinquished charge. Shri Ram Niwas Mirdha took over
as Minister of State from the same date. Shri G. Parthasarathi
was appointed Chairman of the Policy Planning Committee, with the
rank of Cabinet Minister, from 6 August 1984. After the General
Elections 1984, the Prime Minister has retained the portfolio of
External Affairs. Shri Khurshid Alam Khan took over as Minister
of State on 31 December 1984, and Shri R. N. Mirdha and Shri A.
A. Rahim relinquished charge as Ministers of State.
Consequent upon the voluntary retirement of Shri K. Natwar
Singh, Secretary, with effect from 9 November 1984, Dr. J. S.
Teja was appointed as Secretary. Shri M. Rasgotra retired on 31
January 1985, and Shri Romesh Bhandari, Secretary, took over as
Foreign Secretary from 1 February 1985. Shri A. P. Venkateswaraa
took over as Secretary in the Ministry from the same date. At the
level of Additional Secretaries, Shri S. K. Bhutani and Shri I.
S. Chadha continued as Additional Secretaries. Shri Prem Shunker
assumed charge as Additional Secretary, consequent to the
promotion of Dr. J. S. Teia on 16 November 1984.
To total strength of the IFS and IFS(B) Cadres both at
Headquarters and in Missions/Posts abroad was 3716. This included
34 officers of the Combined Research Cadre and 31 officers in the
Interpreters Cadre as also locally-recruitcd staff of 1517 in our
Missions/Posts abroad. The total staff strength is given in
Appendix VIII.
To project India's views abroad, safeguard its national
interests and implement national policies, there are 136 Missions
and Posts abroad manned by 794 diplomatic officers and 1209 non-
diplomatic India-based officials, apart from locally-recruited
staff.
Consequent upon the Cadre Review of the IFS, the total
strength of the Cadre would be raised from 568 to 589 for 1985 to
enable the IFS, which is incharge of all aspects of India's
representation abroad, to shoulder its growing responsibilities.
Details of the Cadre Review are given in Appendix IX.
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Missions and Posts in areas which assumed priority from the
viewpoint of our national interests and international obligations
were further strengthened. At the same time, action continued to
be taken to streamline the staffing pattern of several Missions
especially our Missions in Washington and London, by accelerating
the removal of transferable items of work relating to supply work
from these two Missions to offices in India.
A list detailing the number of officers who have qualified in
various foreign languages is given at Appendix X.
On the instructions of the late Prime Minister, an Indian
Missions Review Committee was appointed to examine the
functioning of Indian Missions abroad. The Committee consisted of
Shri Samar Sen as Chairman and S/Shri P.K. Kaul, Abid Hussain,
K.S. Bajpai as Members and Shri J.R. Hiremath, Additional
Secretary and Shri Lalit Mansingh, Joint Secretary, as Member
Secretaries. The Committee has submitted its report. The
recommendations of the Committee are being examined in the
Ministry for further implementation.
The Ministry continued the task of review and updating of
rules. Compilation of all External Affairs Instructions upto 1984
was initiated., Enhanced delegation of financial powers to
Missions to enable expeditious clearance of administrative and
establishment matters was undertaken.
The Foreign Service Inspectors inspected our Missions in
London, Belgrade, Madrid, Warsaw, Moscow, Colombo, Male and
Thimpu.
On the directive from the late Prime Minister, a Committee
headed by Foreign Secretary was set up for the purpose of
selecting and purchasing objects d'art and objects d'decor for
display at the Embassy Residences and Chanceries.
The Ministry continued to pursue its policy of acquiring and
constructing properties abroad to house Indian Missions abroad
and their personnel.
During the year under review, land was acquired in Abu Dhabi,
Dubai and Kuala Lumpur. The Architect Selection Committee under
the Chairmanship of the Foreign Secretary finalised the selection
of Indian architects for 11 new projects for construction of
Chanceries and/or residences in Abu Dhabi, Aden, Bangkok, Bonn,
Brasilia, Doha, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait, New York and Riyadh.
Project reports have already been prepared in the case of
construction projects at Kuwait, New York, and Riyadh and are
under consideration of the Ministry. Sanction has also been
accorded for the construction of a Chancery building at Port of
Spain where a local architect hag been appointed. The
construction projects at Islamabad, Lusaka and Ankara are making
steady progress. Construction of a Chancery and residential
complex was started in Colombo in early 1984.
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The projects of Chancery buildings at Cairo and Tunis were
finalised during the year. Residences were also purchased at
Canberra and Harare.
The Welfare Unit of the Ministry, as in previous years, looked
after the general welfare of the officials serving both at
Headquarters and in the Missions abroad. The Unit also provided
Grants-in-aid on an ad hoc basis for recreational facilities to
officers and staff at Headquarters and in the Missions abroad.
Financial help was also extended to bereaved families and other
deserving cases. For the unfortunate victims of civil
disturbances in October/November, 1984, a Special Committee was
set up and financial help was given to the affected officials of
the Ministry to the maximum extent possible. The Welfare Unit
also assisted the children of the officials of the Ministry in
getting seats in Central Schools, Engineering and Medical
Colleges. As usual, employment was provided to deserving
dependents of deceased officials.
India's contribution to international organisations was Rs.
2.93 crores. Its economic and technical assistance to Third World
countries amounted to Rs. 86.51 crores.
On account of inflationary tendencies, the expenditure at
Headquarters has risen to Rs. 11.22 crores while the total
expenditure on Missions was about Rs. 62.80 crores. Details are
given in Appendices XI and XII.
The Ministry took particular care to implement the Government
directive on the welfare of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe
employees. A special Cell to look after their welfare continued
to function smoothly. During 1984, of the 12 officers directly
recruited for the Indian Foreign Service, two belonged to the
Scheduled Castes and one to the Scheduled Tribe. Details are
given in Appendices XIII and XIV.
The Conference Cell of this Ministry set up in June 1982 made
logistical arrangements for various international
conferences/delegations during the year under review. A list of
such conferences is given at Appendix XV. The arrangements made
by this Cell included inter alia arrangements at the venue of the
meeting, covering interpretation, simultaneous translation,
document distribution and arrangements for reception/seeing off
of all the delegates.
The efforts made by the Conference Cell were also made
available to other Ministries and resulted in cutting down
expenses of those offices in the Organisation of such
conferences.
In coordination with the other concerned Governmental
agencies, the Ministry made arrangements, at the time of the
tragic and sudden demise of the late Prime Minister, Shrimati
Indira Gandhi, for the record number of delegations and foreign
dignitaries who visited India in the first week of November 1984.
The Ministry operated control rooms round-the-clock at various
points from 31 October till 5 November 1984
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for looking after the reception, accommodation, transportation,
communications, appointments, seeing off etc. of the various
dignitaries and delegations.
To enable the Ministry to discharge its increased
responsibilities consequent upon India's assuming the
Chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement, a new Division called
NAM Division was created in the Ministry. The Division has been
set up to maintain close liaison with the UN Division as well as
the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations, New York.
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|
USE OF HINDI IN OFFICIAL WORK |
Top |
During the year under review, the Ministry made further
advancement towards the use of Hindi in official work in
accordance with the Official Languves Policy of the Government of
India and in pursuance of the Official Language Act and Rules
made thereunder. In the Headquarters of the Ministry as well as
in the Regional Passport Offices and Missions and Posts abroad,
use of Hindi was further encouraged. Efforts were made for
propagation of Hindi abroad, particularly in countries which have
a significant number of people of Indian origin.
To ensure the progressive use of Hindi in the Ministry,
meetings of the Official Languages Implementation Committee were
held wherein modalities for progress of Hindi in the Ministry
were discussed. Official Languages Implementation Committees have
also been constituted or are being constituted in major Passport
Offices. Quarterly Progress Reports regarding progressive use of
Hindi were called for and reviewed regularly from the various
Sections of the Ministry and Passport Offices as also from the
Indian Missions abroad.
In the meeting of the Sub-Committee of Central Hindi Committee
in this Ministry held on 16 May 1984, under the Chairmanship of
the Foreign Minister, it was decided that the monthly publication
Foreign.Affairs Record should be published in Hindi also. The
establishment of a Hindi Unit at the Permanent Mission of India,
New York, was also considered. It was decided to send Hindi books
to the Indian Missions/Posts abroad for the libraries of the
Missions and for donating these to the Universities, Institutions
or the individuals teaching or learning Hindi.
In pursuance of the discussions in the Sub-committee meeting
regarding the establishment of a Hindi Unit in the Permanent
Mission of India to the United Nations, the OSD (Hindi) was sent
with the Indian delegation to the United Nations, New York, to
assist the members of delegation in case they needed assistance
in Hindi. While on his way back from New York, OSD (Hindi) also
inspected the working of Hindi in the High Commission of India,
London,
With the publication of the Foreign Affairs Record in Hindi
from August 1984, the activities of the Ministry of External
Affairs would receive attention regularly and the
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various Universities and other institutions and people
interested in foreign relations would get the material compiled
one place.
In pursuance of the decision taken in meetings of the Official
Languages Implementation Committee of this Minisstry, which are
presided over by the Additional Secretary (AD), OSD (Hindi)
visited the Passport Offices located at Jaipur and Lucknow to
monitor the progressive use of Hindi in those offices.
A scheme was formulated earlier to apoint Hindi Officers for
the propagation of Hindi Abroad, Particularly in those countries
where there is a sizeable number of people of Indian origin and
where Indian culture has taken root. Under this scheme, Hindi
Officers have been sent to Georgetown, London and Paramaribo
during the year under review. Senior Hindi Officers were earlier
sent to Indian Missions located at Port Louis, Port of Spain and
Suva. One Senior Hindi Translator is already working in Nepal.
Efforts are also being made to provide supporting staff to these
Hindi Officers to facilitate their work. An immediate outcome of
the postings of Hindi Officers is that our Missions in Georgetown
and Port of Spain have started bringing out Bharat Samachar. The
Bharat Samachar brought out from Nepal and Suriname also carries
material in Hindi.
Arrangements for teaching of Hindi exist in several countries
abroad. Under the Centre of Indian Studies, the Government have
appointed visiting Professors of Hindi in Havana University,
Cuba; Humboldt University, German Democratic Republic; Bucharest
University, Romania, and Sofia University, Bulgaria. Under the
aegis of the Indian Cultural Centre, Hindi is being taught in
Fiji, Guyana and Suriname. The Indian Council for Cultural
Relations have sent one Hindi teacher each to Port of Spain,
Georgetown and Suriname on behalf of the Ministry of Education
and Culture. A part-time Hindi teacher teaches Hindi in the High
Commission of India in Sri Lanka also. Hindi text-books,
children's books, dictionaries, linguaphone records, cassettes
etc. have been sent to Missions abroad for gifting to those who
are interested in learning Hind. The Ministry have been
considering requests on merit for Hindi typewriters, Hindi text-
books and other Hindi teaching aid material from several other
Missions. Under the Newspapers Exchange Programme, Hindi
newspapers were exchanged regularly. On the occasion of the
completion of the 150th year of the arrival of Indians in
Mauritius, which was celebrated extensively in Mauritius, about
200 Hindi-English, English-Hindi and Hidni-Hindi dictionaries
were donated to the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Mauritius through
our Mission in Port Louis.
The scheme of Hindi classes for children in Missions abroad
continues as before. A significant step in this direction was
made when at the request of the Mission the amount of honorarium
was raised from Rs. 250 to Rs. 400 P.M.
A large number of books have been sent to Colombo and Rangoon
for the students appearing in examinations conducted by the
Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha.
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Madras, and Rashtra Bhasha Prachar Samiti, Wardha, and Hindi
Sahitya Sammelan, Prayag. The scheme of equipping Indian Missions
abroad with at least one Hindi typewriter each has been
implemented.
Consequent upon the inspection of Missions abroad by the
committee of Parliament on Official Languages, the position of
Official Languages implementation has improved. As a result,
sign-boards, name-plates and rubber-stamps in all of our Missions
are now in bilingual form. Official Languages Implementation
Committees have also been constituted in some of the Missions
abroad to review the progress of Hindi in their work and to give
it necessary direction. Other Missions have also been asked to
constitute Official Languages Implementation Committees.
Instructions have been given to issue the documents mentioned in
Section 3(3) of the Official Languages Act, 1963, bilingually and
for establishing check-points to ensure its proper
implementation.
Officials posted in Indian Embassies/Missions abroad make use
of Hindi. Messages from the President and the Prime Minister at
the occasion of Repubic Day and Independence Day are sent in
Hindi to the Missions abroad.
The Ministry of External Affairs traditionally issues all the
Letters of Appointment, Letters of Credence and Letters of Recall
etc. to Heads of Missions posted abroad originally in Hindi.
During the year under review, the Ministry prepared the Hindi
texts of the Protocols'Agreements entered into with the Foreign
Governments. Apart from this, the Hindi Section of the Ministry
vetted the Hindi texts of the Protocols and Agreements prepared
by various other Ministers.
Two important manuals relating to the administration of the
Ministry of External affairs have been translated into Hindi and
these will be published in the near future.
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|
APPENDIX I Meetings/Conferences held under
the aegis of NAM |
Top |
Meetings/Conferences held under the aegis of Non-Aligned Movement
or where India participated in its capacity as Chairman of Non-
Aligned Movement
|
S.Name of Meeting/Conference Venue Date
No.
(1) (2) (3) (4)
1. Seminar of Non-Aligned Countries
on training of Sports Cadres Patiala 3 to 14 April 1984
2. Special Plenary Meeting of
Non-Aligned Movement on the
situation in Cyprus New York 30 April 1984
3. Meeting of Health Ministers of
Non-Aligned Countries Geneva 9 May 1984
4. Joint Meeting of Ministers of
Information and Telecommunications
of countries hosting redistribution
centres of NANAP (Non-Aligned News
Agencies Pool) Cairo 9 to 10 May 1984
5. Third Conference of Ministers of
Labour of Non-Aligned countries . Managua 10 to 12 May 1984
6. Meeting of Non-Aligned Coordinating
Bureau on South African Premier's
visit to some West European
countries . . . . . . . New York 6 June 1984
7. Plenary Meeting of Non-Aligned
Movement to adopt the Draft
Statute for the Centre for Science
& Technology . . . . . . . New York 15 June 1984
8. Meeting of Irrigation Experts from
Non-Aligned and Other Developing
Countries . . . . . Pyongyang 16 to 22 June 1984
9. Meeting of Non-Aligned Coordinating
Bureau on the Observance of the 40th
Anniversary of the United Nations . New York 3 July 1984
10. Meeting of Coordinating Group of
Non-Aligned Countries in the
sphere of Standardisation,
Metrology and Quality Control . Belgrade 10 to 13 July 1984
11. Ministerial level Meeting of
Non-Aligned Mediterranean
Members . . . . . . . Valletta 10 to 11 September
(Malta) 1984
12. Plenary Meeting of the Non-
Aligned Movement to Observe
the Day of Non-Alignment . . New York 13 September 1984
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13. Meeting of Non-Aligned
Coordinating Bureau on the
Observance of the 40th
Anniversary of the United Nations New York 19 September 1984
14. Meeting of Ministers and Heads
Of Delegation of the Non-Aligned
Countries to the 39th Session of
the General Assembly. . . . . New York 1 to 5 October 1984
15. Meeting of Non-Aligned Committee
of Eight on Palestine at
Ministerial level . . . . . . New York 3 October 1984
16. Plenary Condolence Meeting of the
Non-Aligned Countries to pay
tributes to Shrimati Indira Gandhi New York 5 November 1984
17. Meeting of Non-Aligned Coordinating
Bureau on the situation in Central
America . . . . . . New York 19 November 1984
18. Meeting of Non-Aligned Coordinating
Bureau on the Observance of the
40th Anniversary of the United
Nations . . . . . . . . New York 6 December 1984
19. Meeting of Foreign Ministers of
Organisation of Islamic Conference
(India participated as an Observer
in its capacity as Chairman of the
Non-Aligned Movement). . . . . Sanaa 18 to 22 December
1984
20. Meeting of the Coordinating
Countries in the field of
Standardization, Metrology and
Quality Control . New Delhi 23 to 31 January
1985
21. Six Nations Summit of India,
Argentina, Greece, Mexico, Sweden
and Tanzania on Nuclear
Disarmament . . . . . . . New Delhi 28 January 1985
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| APPENDIX II Treaties/Conventions/Agreements
|
Treaties/Conventions/Agreements concluded or renewed by India
with other Countries in 1984*
|
Sl. Title of Convention/ Date of Date of Date on
No. Treaty/Agreement Signature Ratification, which
Accession or entered
Acceptance into force
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
MULTILATERAL
Berne Convention, Paris Act
1. Berne Convention for the
Protection of Literary and
Artistic Works of 9-9-1866,
as revised at Paris on
24-7-1971 . . . .. 1-2-1984 6-5-1984
European Economic Community
2. Financing Agreement between
the Republic of India and the
European Economic Community-
Supply of Fertilizers (1983).
(Agreement No. NA/83-26). . 22-8-1984 .. 22-8-1984
International Bauxite Association
3. Agreement establishing the
International Bauxite
Association. Done at Conakry
on 8-3-1974. . . . . . .. 5-3-1984 5-3-1984
International Development
Association
4. (i) Development Credit
Agreement (NCDC III Project)
between India and the
International Development
Association. (Credit No.
1502 IN) . . 12-10-1984 .. 12-10-1984
(ii) Project Agreement (NCDC
III Project) between the
International Development
Association and the National
Co-operative Development
Corporation . . . 12-10-1984 .. 12-10-1984
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Pioneer Activities in the Sea-bed
5. Agreement on the Preservation
of the Confidentiality of Data
Concerning the Application
Areas of the Deep Sea-bed . . 17-12-1984 .. 17-12-1984
6. Memorandum on the Procedure
for the Exchange of Coordinates
of Application Areas between
the First Group of Applicants .17-12-1984 .. 17-12-1984
Restrictions on Excessively
Injurious Weapons
7. Convention on Prohibitions or
Restrictions on the Use of
Certain Conventional Weapons
which may be deemed to be
Excessively Injurious or to
have Indiscriminate Effects.
Done at Geneva on 10-10-1980 . 15-5-1981 1-3-1984 1-3-1984
United Nations Development
Programme
8. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) regarding
Project No. IND/8/015/A/01/37-
Demonstration Plant for
Production of Synthetic Fibres,
Sasmira, Bombay (Phase II) . 9-1-1984 .. 9-1-1984
9. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) regarding
Project No. IND/82/015/A/01/01-
Training Support to the
Geological Survey of India . . 12-1-1984 .. 12-1-1984
10. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Plogramme (UNDP) regarding
Project No.IND/80/325/A/01/99-
On-the-job training for English
speaking officials of State
Trading Organisation (STO's) of
Asian and African countries . . 19-1-1984 .. 19-1-1984
11. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) regarding
Project No.IND/83/017-Fatigue
Laboratory for Automotive
Industry, Pune . 30-1-1984 .. 30-1-1984
12. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme regarding Project
No. IND/83/016-Establishment
of a Central Institute of
Educational Technology
(INSAT for Technology) . 21-2-1984 .. 21-2-1984
13. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) regarding
Project No. IND/84/009-
Process-cum-Project
Development Centre for Sports
Goods Meerut (UP) . . 22-2-1984 .. 22-2-1984
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14. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) regarding
Project No. IND/83/007/A/01/01-
Training of Engineers in Recent
Advances in Power Development
(Phase-II) . . 23-2-1984 .. 23-2-1984
15. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) regarding
Project No. IND/84/006-
Development of Low Cost Canal
Lining and Compaction of
Embankments . . . . 14-3-1984 .. 14-3-1984
16. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) regarding
Project No. IND/84/015/A/01/37-
Semi-conductor Devices and
Electronic Sub-systems for
Transportation . . . 16-4-1984 .. 16-4-1984
17. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) regarding
Project No. IND/83/023/A/01/62-
Strengthening of the Trade and
Project Information System in
the Engineering Export
Promotion Council of India . 27-4-1984 .. 27-4-1984
18. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) regarding
Project No. IND/84/014/A/01/31-
Transfer of Know-How through
Expatriate Nationals (TOKTEN)
India, Phase-II . 21-5-1984 .. 21-5-1984
19. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) regarding
Project No. IND/84/016/A/01/42-
Feasibility Study based on
Demonstration Schemes for
Sanitary Latrines in Rural
India 22-5-1984 .. 22-5-1984
20. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) Project No.
IND/84/021/A/01/11-Strengthening
of Factory Inspection and
Advice Services . . . . . 18-7-1984 .. 18-7-1984
21. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) Project No.
IND/84/004/A/01/37-Techno-
Economic Study of Industrial
Utiliasation of Red Mud Waste
from Bauxite Processing in
Korba . . . . . . . 9-8-1984 .. 9-8-1984
22. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) regarding
Project No. IND/84/001/A/01/
37-Performance Optimisation
of Petrochemical Complex at
Indian Petrochemicals
Corporation Limited, Baroda . 27-8-1984 .. 27-8-1984
-100>
23. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) regarding
Project No. IND/84/013/A/01/
37-Development of Micro-
Precision Engineering
Technique, HMT Ltd. . . . . 29-8-1984 .. 29-8-1984
24. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) regarding
Project No. IND/84/011/A/01/
01-Groundwater Studies in
Kassai and Subarnarekha
River Basins . . . . . 7-9-1984 .. 7-9-1984
25. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) regarding
Project No. DP/IND/84/007/A/
01/37-Assistance for
Production of Super Purity
Aluminium . . . . . . 10-9-1984 .. 10-9-1984
26. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) regarding
Project No. IND/84/005/A/01/
37-Demonstration Unit of
Alumina Calciner for Energy
Conservation, Korba . . 10-9-1984 .. 10-9-1984
27. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) regarding
Project No. IND/83/008-
Pollution Control Research
Institute . . . . 13-11-1984 .. 13-11-1984
28. Agreement between India and
the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP) regarding
Project No. IND/84/030-
Microprocessor Application
Engineering Project . 20-11-1984 .. 20-11-1984
United Nations Industrial
Development Organization (UNIDO)
29. Agreement between the
Government of India and
the United Nations
Industrial Development
Organization regarding the
Arrangements for the United
Nations Industrial Development
Organization's Consultation on
Fertiliser Industry . . . 18-1-1984 .. 18-1-1984
Wetlands of International
Importance as Waterfowl Habitat
30. Protocol to Amend the
Convention on Wetlands of
International Importance,
Especially on Waterfowl Habitat.
Done at Paris on 3-12-1982 3-12-1982 8-3-1984 8-6-1984
-101>
BILATERAL
Algeria
31. Minutes of the meeting held
between the Union Ministry of
Irrigation, Republic of India
and the Algerian Delegation of
the Ministry of Hydraulics,
Environment and Forest of the
People's Democratic Republic
of Algeria . . . . . . 15-5-1984 .. 15-5-1984
Bangladesh
32. Exchange of Letters extending
the Trade Agreement between
the Government of India and
the Government of the People's
Republic of Bangladesh . . . 27-7-1984 .. 27-7-1984
33. Protocolon Inland Water
Transit and Trade. 17-9-1984 17-9-1984
Bhutan
34. Agreement between the
Government of India and the
Royal Government of Bhutan on
Telecommunication Services . 22-10-1984 .. 22-10-1984
Canada
35. Agreement between the
Government of India and
Government of Canada through
the Canadian International
Development Agency for a line
of Credit of Canadian Dollars
44 million for Andhra Pradesh
Social Forestry Project . . 23-3-1984 .. 23-3-1984
36. Loan Agreement between the
Government of India and the
Government of Canada regarding
Chamera Hydroelectric
Project . . . . 3-8-1984 .. 3-8-1984
China
37. Trade Agreement between the
Government of the Republic of
India and the Government of
the People's Republic of
China . . 15-8-1984 .. 15-8-1984
Czechoslovakia
38. Protocol of the Eleventh
Meeting of the Indo-
Czechoslovak Joint Committee
for Economic, Trade and
Technical Co-operation 24-5-1984 .. 24-5-1984
-102>
39. Exchange of Letters between
India and Czechoslovakia
extending the contracting date
of the Third Agreement on
Economic Collaboration, dated
5th December, 1973 . . 27-12-1984 .. 27-12-1984
Ethiopia
40. Cultural Agreement between
the Government of the
Republic of India and the
Provisional Military
Government of Socialist
Ethiopia . . . . . . 9-2-1983 6-2-1984 6-2-1984
Finland
41. Convention between the
Republic of India and the
Republic of Finland for the
Avoidance of Double Taxation
with respect to Taxes on
Income and Capital . . . 10-6-1983 .. 18-11-1984
France
42. Financial Protocol between
the Government of the
Republic of India and the
Government of the Republic
of France relating to French
Credits and Grant meantto
finance the Development Plan
of India . . . 24-2-1984 .. 24-2-1984
43. Indo-French Protocol for Co-
operation in the Field of
Agriculture and Rural
Development . . . . . . 25-6-1984 .. 25-6-1984
44. Financial Protocol between
the Government of the
Republic of India and the
Government of the Republic
of France relating to French
Credits meant to finance the
Orissa Aluminium Plant . . 11-9-1984 .. 11-9-1984
45. Credit Agreement between the
Republic of India and Banque
Nationale de Paris and other
Banks for French Francs 575
million. 10-10-1984 .. 10-10-1984
German Democratic Republic
46. Protocol of the First Session
of the Inter-governmental
Indo-GDR Joint Committee on
Shipping held in Berlin and
Rostock from 19-25 September,
1984 . . . . 25-9-1984 .. 25-9-1984
Iran
47. Agreed Minutes of the
Discussions between the
Delegations of the Republic
of India and the Islamic
Republic of Iran . . 3-5-1984 .. 3-5-1984
-103>
48. Exchange of Notes extending
the Collaboration Agreement
between India and Iran in
the Field of Nuclear Energy
for Peaceful Purposes of
25-2-1977 . . . . 9-11-1984 .. 9-11-1984
Italy
49. Agricultural Assistance
Agreement between India and
Italy-Agricultural Development
Project in the States of
Haryana, Orissa and Madhya
Pradesh . . . . 8-8-1984 .. 8-8-1984
50. Technical Assistance Agreement
between India and Italy-
Development of Temperate
Climate Fruit Crops in the
States of Jammu and Kashmir,
Uttar Pradesh and Himachal
Pradesh . . . . . . . 8-8-1984 .. 8-8-1984
Japan
51. Agreement between India and
Japan regarding Loan of Yen
34.73 billion (Thirty four
billion, Seven hundred and
thirty million). 11-5-1984 .. 11-5-1984
52. Agreement between India and
Japan regarding Grant Aid for
1983-84 and 1984-85 . 11-5-1984 .. 11-5-1984
53. Exchange of Notes between
India and Japan regarding
Japanes Project Aid for
1984-85, Yen 37.36 billion,
(Thirty-seven billion, three
hundred and sixty million) . 7-8-1984 .. 7-8-1984
54. Exchange of Notes between the
Government of India and the
Government of Japan regarding
a Japanese Grant Aid of Yen
1.948 billion (One billion,
nine hundred and fortyeight
million) Debt-Relief, during
1982-83 . . . . . . . 23-2-1984 .. 23-2-1984
55. Exchange of Notes between
the Government of India and
the Government of Japan
regarding a Japanese Grant
Aid of Yen 500 million (Five
hundred million) to the
University of Delhi for the
year 1984-85 . . 12-10-1984 .. 12-10-1984
56. Exchange of Notes between
the Government of India and
the Government of Japan
regarding a Japanese Grant
Aid of Yen 410 million (Four
hundred and ten million) for
development of small scale
fisheries-purchase of
equipment and machinery for
producing fishing nets . . 30-11-1984 .. 30-11-1984
-104>
LIBYA
57. Agreed Minutes of the Fifth
Session of the Indo-Libyan
Joint Commission . . . 28-5-1984 .. 28-5-1984
MEXICO
58. Exchange of Letters between
India and Mexico to extend
the Agreement on Cooperation
in the field of Science and
Technology signed on
23-7-1975 . . . 23-4-1984 .. 23-4-1984
59. Exchange of Letters between
India and Mexico for setting
up an Indo-Mexican Joint
Commission on Economic
Co-operation . 5-9-1984 .. 5-9-1984
NEPAL
60. Exchange of Letters between
India and Nepal regarding
upgrading of Chandra Canal . 29-10-1984 .. 29-10-1984
61. Exchange of Letters between
India and Nepal regarding
training in various
institutions and industrial
establishments in India for
28 entrepreneurs and officials
of the Department of Industry
of Nepal . . . . 29-10-1984 .. 29-10-1984
NORWAY
62. Agreed Minutes on Economic
Co-operation Consultations,
1985-88, between India and
Norway . . . . . . . 17-11-1984 .. 17-11-1984
PAKISTAN
63. Protocol on Group Tourism
between the Republic of India
and the Islamic Republic of
Pakistan . . . . . . 20-5-1984 .. 20-5-1984
QATAR
64. Agreement between the
Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of the State of Qatar on
Economic and Technical
Co-operation . . . . 19-4-1984 12-8-1984 12-8-1984
SPAIN
65. Indo-Spanish Joint Statement
on Tourism . 1-6-1984 .. 1-6-1984
-105>
UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS
66. Protocol of the First Meeting
of the Working Group on Oil
Industry under the Inter-
Governmental Indo-Soviet
Commission on Economic,
Scientific and Technical Co-
operations 9-2-1984 .. 9-2-1984
67. Exchange of Letters between
the Government of India and
the Government of the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics
amending the Indo-Soviet
Agreement on Economic and
Technical Co-operation of
10-12-1980 24-2-1984 .. 24-2-1984
68. Protocol of the Fifth Session
of the Indo-Soviet Working
Group on Machine Building 27-4-1984 .. 27-4-1984
69. Protocol of the Sixth Session
of the Inter-Governmental
Indo-Soviet Joint Committee
on Shipping 22-5-1984 .. 22-5-1984
70. Memorandum of Understanding
between the Representatives
of the Telecommunication
Administrations of India and
the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republic (Inter-system Co-
ordination of Geostationary
Satellite Networks) 25-5-1984 .. 25-5-1984
71. Agreement between the
Government of India and the
Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics-Modifying the
Agreement on Merchant
Shipping 12-4-1983 .. 31-5-1984
72. Protocol of the First Meeting
of the Working Group on Trade
within the framework of the
Inter-Governmental Indo-Soviet
Commission on Economic,
Scientific and Technical Co-
operation 10-7-1984 .. 10-7-1984
73. Protocol of the Second Meeting
of the Working Group on Oil
Industry under the Indo-Soviet
Inter-Governmental Commission
on Economic, Scientific and
Technical Co-operation 12-9-1984 .. 12-9-1984
74. Convention between the
Government of the Republic of
India and the Government of
the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics on Protection of
Migratory Birds 8-10-1984 .. 8-10-1984
UNITED KINGDOM
75. Exchange of Notes between
the Government of India and
the Government of the United
Kingdom regarding United
Kingdom India BALCO Power
Project, Aid Arrangement,
1984 20-9-1984 .. 20-9-1984
-106>
76. Exchange of Notes between
the Government of India and
the Government of the United
Kingdom regarding United
Kingdom-India Local Costs
Grant, 1984 23-7-1984 .. 23-7-1984
77. Exchange of Notes between the
Government of India and the
Government of the United
Kingdom regarding United
Kingdom-India Industrial
Credit and Investment
Corporation Grant, 1984 23-9-1984 .. 27-9-1984
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
78. First Amendatory Agreement
to the Project Loan and
Grant Agreement between India
and the United State of
America for Madhya Pradesh
Minor Irrigation. (AID
Loan No. 386-T-235) 9-3-1984 .. 9-3-1984
79. Third Amendatory Agreement
to the Project Grant
Agreement between India and
the United States of America
for Development and Management
Training. (AID Project No.
386-0487) 9-3-1984 .. 9-3-1984
80. First Amendatory Agreement to
the Project Grant Agreement
between India and the United
States of America for
Agricultural Research. (AID
Project No. 386-0470) 31-3-1984 .. 31-3-1984
81. Second Amendatory Agreement
to the Project Loan and Grant
Agreement between India and
the United States of America
for integrated Child
Development Services. (AID Loan
No. 386-T-233, AID Project No.
386-0476) 31-3-1984 .. 31-3-1984
82. First Amendatory Agreement to
the Project Loan and Grant
Agreement between India and
the United States of America
for Irrigation Management and
Training. (AID Loan No.
386-T-236) 31-3-1984 .. 31-3-1984
83. Amendment No. 1 to the 1978
Memorandum of Understanding
between Department of Space,
India and NASA, United States
of America 25-4-1984 .. 31-7-1984
84. First Amendatory Agreement to
the Project Grant Agreement
between India and the United
States of America for NCAER
Rural Household Survey. (AID
Project No. 386-0486) 19-5-1984 .. 19-5-1984
-107>
85. Third Amendatory Agreement to
the Project Loan and Grant
Agreement between India and
the United States of America
for Integrated Child Development
Services. (AID Loan No.
386-T-233) 19-5-1984 .. 19-5-1984
86. First Amendatory Agreement to
the Project Loan and Grant
Agreement between India and
the United States of America
for Family Planning,
Communications and Marketing
(AID Loan No. 386-Q-237-A,
AID Project No. 386-0485) 22-6-1984 .. 22-6-1984
87. Project Loan and Grant
Agreement between India and
the United States of America
for Hill Areas Land and
Water Development. (AID Loan
No.386-T-238, AID Project No.
386-0489) 31-7-1984 .. 31-7-1984
88. Project Loan and Grant
Agreement between India and
the United States of America
for Maharashtra Minor
Irrigation. (AID Loan No.
386-T-239, AID Project No.
386-0490) 31-7-1984 .. 31-7-1984
89. First Amendatory Agreement
to the Project Loan and Grant
Agreement between India and
the United States of America
for Hill Areas Land and Water
Development. (AID Loan No.
386-T-238, AID Project No.
386-0489) 29-9-1984 .. 29-9-1984
VENEZUELA
90. Cultural Agreement between
the Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of the Republic of Venezuela 13-9-1984 18-12-1984 18-12-1984
YEMEN ARAB REPUBLIC
91. Cultural Agreement between
the Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of the Yemen Arab Republic 15-12-1983 23-9-1984 23-9-1984
ZAIRE
92. Cultural Agreement between
the Government of the Republic
of India and the Republic of
Zaire 4-7-1978 6-2-1984 6-2-1984
ZAMBIA
93. Convention between the
Government of the Republic
of India and the Government of
the Republic of Zambia for
the Avoidance of Double
Taxation and the Prevention
of Fiscal Evasion with respect
to Taxes on Income 5-6-1981 .. 3-1-1984
-108>
ZIMBABWE
94. Agreement on Economic and
Technical Co-operation between
the Government of the Republic
of India and the Government of
the Republic of Zimbabwe 22-5-1981 3-2-1984 3-2-1984
-109> | APPENDIX III Major International
Conferences/Meetings/Seminars
|
Major International Conferences/Meetings/Seminars, etc. organised
by Inter-Governmental Organisations at which Government of India
was represented in 1984-85
|
S. No.Title of Conferences etc. Venue Date
(1) (2) (3) (4)
1. Meeting of the Inter
Parliamentary Union (IPU) Geneva 1 to 7 April 1984
2. Symposium on Remote Sensing China 4 to 11 April 1984
3. Meeting of the Indian Scien-
tists to discuss the possible
programme of Indo-US collaboration
on monsoon variability in relation
to Ocean-atmosphere coupling Bangalore 8 April 1984
4. Meeting of the CGMW (Commission
for Geological Map of the World)
Sub-Commission for South & East
Asia Kuala Lumpur 9 to 13 April 1984
5. Meeting of the Executive
Council of the Asian Pacific
Postal Union Manila 11 to 17 April 1984
6. 3rd Consultation on Leather
& Leather Products Industry Innsbruck 16 to 20 April 1984
(Austria)
7. Seminar on the Activities of
economic interest in the
exploration of Namibia's human
and natural resources Lubijana 16 to 20 April 1984
(Yugoslavia)
8. 10th Regular Session of the
UN Commission on TNC's New York 17 to 27 April 1984
9. International Conference on
Safety of Dams Coimbra 23 April to 2 May 1984
(Portugal)
10. Meeting convened to discuss
the Indo-US Collaborative
Programme on Monsoon Research New Delhi 24 April 1984
11. ILO/DANIDA Tripartite
Regional Seminar on upgrading
of Labour Market Reporting
Systems in Developing Countries
in Asia Bangkok 30 April to 4 May 1984
12. 18th Session of the Industrial
Development Board (IDB) of UNIDO Vienna 2 to 18 May 1984
13. 37th Session of World Health
Assembly Geneva 7 to 19 May 1984
14. 3rd Conference of Ministers
of Labour of Countries of
Non-Aligned Movement and other
developing countries Managua 10 to 12 May 1984
-110>
15. Joint ICAA/AOCI Asian &
Pacific Basin Regional Conference Seoul 12 to 19 May 1984
16. Meetings of the UN Disar-
mament Commission (UNDC) New York 13 May to 2 June 1984
17. 6th Joint Meeting for Support
to Special Public Works Programmes. Geneva 16 to 18 May 1984
18. ILO/ARPLA Inter-Country
Symposium on Overseas
Employment Administration Pattya 21 to 25 May 1984
(Thailand)
19. Extra-ordinary Plenary
meetings of the Council for
Namibia Bangkok 21 to 25 May 1984
20. 12th International Congress
of International Commission on
Irrigation and Drainage Collins, Colorado 21 May to 9
(USA) June 1984
21. Meeting of Advisory Committee
on Administrative and Budgetary
Questions Geneva, Addis 21 May to 29 June
Ababa, Bangkok 1984
22. 226th Session of the
Governing Body of ILO Geneva 28 May to 2 June 1984
23. 52nd Meeting of the
Executive Council of
International Commission on
Large Dams Tokyo 29 May to 1 June 1984
24. Meeting of the Indo-USSR
Programme of Co-operation on
Space Meteorology and Aeronomy
(Theme No. 2) New Delhi 30 May 1984
25. Asian Sub-Regional Workshop
on Statistical Development Manila 30 May to 2 June 1984
26. 36th Session of the WMO
Executive Council Geneva 6 to 23rd June 1984
27. 70th Session of International
Labour Conference and 227th
Session of the Governing Body
of ILO Geneva 6 to 29 June 1984
28. Conference of Commonwealth
Association of Town Planners St.
Johas New 10 to 17 June 1984
foundland
(Canada)
29. conference of Irrigation
Experts of Non-Aligned
Coordinating Group in the Field
of Food and Agriculture Pyongyang 16 to 22 June 1984
30. 19th UPU Congress Hamburg 18 June to 27 July 1984
31. Workshop on Water Resources
of Suvale Islands sponsored by
Commonwealth Geological Liaison
Office, London Fiji 28 June to 9 July 1984
32. Meetings of the Working
Group of Statistical Experts Bangkok 3 to 6 July 1984
33. 2nd International
Conference on Assistance to
Refugees in Africa (ICARA II) Geneva 9 to 11 July 1984
-111>
34. Regional Workshop on
Intergration of Women in
Industrial Planning and
Development Process for
Asian countries Bangkok 9 to 17 July 1984
35. 4th Meeting of Coordinating
Countries of the Non-Aligned
Movement in the Sphere of
Standardisation, Metrology
and Quality Control Belgrade 10 to 13 July 1984
36. Meeting of the Commonwealth
Consultative Group on the
Special Security Needs of Small
States London 18 to 20 July 1984
37. Meeting of the Organising
Committee of Indo-US Wokrship New Delhi 19 July 1984
38. 8th World Conference on
Earthquake Engineering San
Francisco 21 to 28 July 1984
39. Meeting of the Ad Hoc
Working Group of Experts on
Southern Africa of the
Commission on Human Rights London 2 to 8 August 1984
40. 4th General conference on
UNIDO Vienna 2 to 20 August 1984
41. International Geological
Congress & CGMW Plenary
Assembly Moscow 3 to 27 August 1984
42. Conference of Arab Solidarity
with Struggle for Liberation
in Southern Africa Tunis 7 to 9 August 1984
43. 2nd Meeting of the National
Review Committee to recommend
the project proposals under
Indo-US Collaborative
Programme on Monsoon Research New Delhi 11 August 1984
44. African and Asian Inter-
regional Workshop on Strategies
for Improving the Employment
conditions of rural Women Arusha
(Tanzania) 20 to 4 2 August 1984
45. 7th Session of WMO commi-
ssion for Hydrology Geneva 27 August to 7 September 1984
46. Meeting for Finalisation
of an Oceanographic Experi-
ment under task 2-4 of the Indo-
US Programme on Monsoon Meterology. Bangalore
3 to 4 September 1984
47. Meeting of ISO/TC-113
and its Sub-Committee Berne 3 to 14 September 1984
48. 5th Technical Meeting of
Commonwealth Association
of Tax Administrators Western 5 to 12 September
Samoa 1984
49. 4th Congress of Asian
and Pacific Regional Devision
of International Association
for Hydraulic Research Chiang Mai 10 to 14 Sepember
(Thailand) 1984
50. 7th Session of the
Governing Council of the
ESCAP Regional Mineral
Resources Development Centre New Delhi
12 to 17 September 1984
51. International Conference
on Interannual Variability
of the Tropical Ocean and Global
Atmosphere (TOGA) Paris 17 to 21 September 1984
52. 37th Session of WHO Regional
Committee for South-East Asia
Region New Delhi 18 to 24 September 1984
-112>
53. 39th Session of the UN
General Assembly New York 18 September to 19 December 1984
54. 24th Session of the Joint
Maritime Commission Geneva 19 to 29 September 1984
55. Global Preparatory Meeting
for 1st Consultation on
Building Materials Industry Vienna
24 to 28 September 1984
56. 4th Asian and Pacific
Regional Seminar on National
and International Labour
Standards Manila 24 September to 5 October 1984
57. WMO Technical Conference
on Instruments and Cost-effective
Meteorological Observatories
(TECEMO) Netherlands 27 to 28 September 1984
58. Seminar in Industrial Safety
and Health (under Colombo Plan)Japan
30 September to 12 November 1984
59. (i) 7th International
confernece of Legal Metrology
(ii) 20th Meeting of the
International Committee of
Legal Metrology Helsinki 1 to 5 October 1984
60. Meeting of Heads of
Technology Transfer Registries Beijing
8 to 12 October 1984
61. 11th Session of the Textile
committee of ILO Geneva 10 to 18 October 1984
62. Workshop on Commercialization
of Research Results Bangkok 15 to 19 October 1984
63. 29th Session of the
International Lead and Zinc
Study Group Geneva 11 to 19 October 1984
64. 11th Session Of ESCAP
Committee on Natural Resources Bangkok 16 to 22 October 1984
65. 2nd Meeting of Working
Group of Theme 2 of ISRO-
SCHCNE Collaborative Programme
on Aeronomy and Space
Meterology Bangalore 18 October 1984
66. ILO/ARPLA Seminar on
Training of Trainers in
Labour Administration Bangkok 22 October to 16
November 1984
67. Annual Meetings of the
Consultative Council for
Postal Studies of the UPU Berne 24 October to 2
November 1984
68. Internatioal Association
of Seismology and Physics of
the Earth's Interior (IASPEI)
Regional Assembly Hyderabad 31 October to 7
November 1984
69. 228th Session of the
Governing Body of ILO Geneva 1 to 16 November 1984
70. International Seminar
on Manpower Forecasting and
Planning Baku 2 to 11 November 1984
(USSR)
71. 8th Session of WMO
Regional Association-II (Asia)Geneva 5 to 16 November 1984
-113>
72. Technical Committee
Meetings on Postal Services Thimpu
10 to 22 November 1984
73. consultation Committee
Meeting for Energy Produc-
tion from Agro-Industries By-
products and Wastes Lille
(France) 12 to 16 November 1984
74. Regional Seminar on
Systems Analysis for Water
Resources Development Bangkok
12 to 28 November 1984
75. Workshop on Mineral
Policy for Small Scale
Mining New Delhi 15 to 17 November 1984
76. 5th Asian Conference
on Remote Sensing Kathmandu 15 to 18 November 1984
77. Regional Seminar on
Remote Sensing Applicatons
for Land Resources Management Kuala Lumpur
19 to 23 November 1984
78. 21st Session of Permanent
Committee of UNIDO Vienna 19 to 23 November 1984
79. International Conference
on the Employment of the
Mentally Handicapped Madrid 26 to 28 November 1984
80. Meeting of the Policy
and Coordination Advisory
committee of the WHO's
Special Programme of Research,
Development and Research
Training in Human Reproduction Geneva 6 to 28 November 1984
81. 14th Session of the
Codex Committee on Methods
of Analysis and Sampling Budapest 26 To 30 November 1984
82. ILO/AIOE Seminar on
Working Conditions in
Small Industries Bombay November 1984
83. UN Interntional
Seminar on the Encouragement
of Understanding Tolerance
and Respect in Matters relating
to Freedom of Religion or Belief Geneva
3 to 14 December 1984
84. 1st Session of the food
and Drink Industries Commi-
ttee of ILO Geneva 5 to 13 December 1984
-114>
| APPENDIX IV Major International Conferences
/Meetings/Seminars
|
Major International Conferences/Meetings/Seminars organised by
Non-Governmental Organizations in which Indian experts
participated in their personal capacity with Government
assistance in 1984-85
|
Sl. No. Title of Conferences etc. Venue Date
(1) (2) (3) (4)
1. Meeting of Regional Liaison
Officers (RLOs) (Abroad)Geneva 15 May 1984
2. ISO workshop on Information,
Publicity and Public Relations Geneva 16 May 1984
3. ISO Development Committee (DEVCO) Geneva 17 to
18 May 1984
4. ISO Committee on Certification
(CERTICO) Geneva 21 to 22 May 1984
5. Meeting of IEC Committee of
Action and IEC Council Geneva 3 to 6 July 1984
6. Meeting of the Parliamentarians
for World Order Athens 18 to 19 July 1984
7. International NGO Meeting on
the Question of Palestine Geneva 20 to
22 August 1984
8. Meeting of ISO Council Geneva 19 to 21
September 1984
-115>
| APPENDIX V Miscellaneous Major International
Conferences
|
Miscellaneous Major International Conferences etc. in 1984-85 at
which Government of India was represented or in which Indian
experts participated with Government of India's assistance in
their personal capacity
|
Sl.No. Title of Conferences etc. Venue Date
(1) (2) (3) (4)
1. International Conference on
Palaeonthropology. . . . . . . . New York 4 to 12 April 1984
2. IAU/Colloquium No. 79 "Very large
telescopes, their Instrumentation
and Programmes" . . . . . . . . . Munich 9 to 12 April 1984
3. Meeting of the Advisory Council of
the SIAP . . . . . . . . . . . . Tokyo 12 to 14 April 1984
4. Meeting of the UN Advisory Board
on Disarmament . . . . . . . . . New York 30 April to 4 May
1984
5. 4th European International Ultra-
violet Explorer Conference . . . . Rome 15 to 18 May 1984
6. Seminar on Social and Related
Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . Seoul 22 to 28 May 1984
7. International Seminar on
Himalayan Geology . . . . . . . . Chongdu
(China) 5 to 26 June 1984
8. 7th Session of UN Expert Group for
the preparation of a UN Study on
Conventional Disarmament . . . . . New York 11 to 22 June 1984
9. International Conference on Archi-
tectural and Town Building . . . . USSR 15 June to 14 July
1984
10. 4th Session of the UN Study Group
for the preparation of the Second
Study on the Question of Nuclear
Weapons Free Zones . . . . . . . . New York 25 to 29 June 1984
11. XXV COSPAR Meeting . . . . . . . . Graz
(Austria) 1 to 7 July 1984
12. COSPAR Symposium No. 9 . . . . . . Graz
(Austria) 2 to 6 July 1984
13. Meeting of the Group on "Concept
of Security" . . . . . . . . . . New York 23 to 27 July
1984
14. International Cloud Physics
Conference . . . . . . . . . . . Tallin
(USSR) 21 to 28 August
1984
15. 18th International Cosmic Ray
Conference . . . . . . . . . . . Bangalore 22 August to
3 September 1984
16. Meeting of the UN Advisory Board
on Disarmament . . . . . . . . . New York 10 to 14 Septe-
mber 1984
17. Inter-organization meeting on the
ICP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bellago
(Italy) 24 to 26 Septe-
mber 1984
-116>
18. Seminar on the Organization of
Statistical Work in a Changing
Environment . . . . . . . . . . Moscow 26 September to
5 October 1984
19. 3rd Asian Pacific Regional Meet
of the IAU . . . . . . . . . . . Kyoto
(Japan) 30 September to
6 October 1984
20. Asia-Pacific Seminar on the Inte-
rnatinal Comparison Project and
Price Statistics. . . . . . . . . Sapporo
(Japan) 16 to 22 Octo-
ber 1984
21. International Plant Engineering
Confeence . . . . . . . . . . . . Bombay 14 to 19 Nove-
mber 1984
22. 12th World Mining Congress . . . New Delhi 19 to 23 Nove-
mber 1984
23. International Symposium on
Theoretical Physics . . . . . . Bangalore 19 November to
1 December 1984
24. International Middle Atmosphere
Programme (MAP) Symposium . . . . Kyoto 26 to 30
November 1984
-117>
| APPENDIX VI Statement showing Revenue and
Expenditure in respect of Passport
|
Statement showing Revenue and Expenditure in respect of Passport
Offices in India during the period January to December 1984
|
Sl. Station Revenue Expenditure
No. Earned Incurred
(In rupees) (In rupees)
(1) (2) (3) (4)
1. Ahmedabad 54,64,021 15,18,674
2. Bangalore 49,25,076 9,92,071
3. Bareilly 41,21,487 10,97,177
4. Bhopal 10,47,300 4,46,543
5. Bhubneshwar 2,79,274 2,39,852
6. Bombay 1,82,62,807 45,09,923
7. Calcutta 27,36,992 9,72,991
8. Chandigarh 44,34,407 15,03,765
9. Cochin 79,84,155 23,71,879
10. Delhi 78,75,710 22,60,035
11. Gauhati 2,17,286 1,97,530
12. Hyderabad 44,34,608 19,96,597
13. Jaipur 34,27,517 11,75,364
14. Jallandhar 44,50,714 13,55,289
15. Kozhikode 48,45,398 14,50,848
16. Lucknow 25,91,434 10,91,558
17. Madras 56,22,969 16,02,853
18. Patna 11,16,976 4,25,589
19. Srinagar 6,21,022 2,40,901
20. Tiruchirapalli 59,53,691 14,14,581
21. Vijayawada 1,73,610 71,452
-------------------------------
TOTAL 9,05,86,454 2,69,25,472
-------------------------------
-118>
| APPENDIX VII Statement showing number of
Passport/Miscellaneous services
|
Statement showing number of Passport/Miscellaneous services
applications received and number of Passports
issued/Miscellaneous services rendered during the period January
to December 1984
|
Sl.Station No. of No. of No. of No. of
No. Passport Passports applications Misc.
applications issued for Misc. services
received services rendered
received
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
1. Ahmedabad 85,545 90,028 26,697 35,886
2. Bangalore 74,777 67,913 17,187 17,241
3. Bareilly 78,072 80,729 11,430 11,344
4. Bhopal 16,865 15,642 6,151 6,127
5. Bhubaneshwar 4,866 4,493 633 599
6. Bombay 2,62,120 2,64,711 2,58,626 2,51,731
7. Calcutta 42,255 40,746 19,045 19,380
8. Chandigarh 73,455 64,260 31,035 31,229
9. Cochin 1,19,523 1,20,668 96,347 83,504
10. Delhi 1,11,649 1,12,268 61,897 64,736
11. Gauhati 3,500 3,113 858 814
12. Hyderabad 85,951 82,654 21,617 21,134
13. Jaipur 59,250 56,939 11,880 10,413
14. Jallandhar 65,185 55,663 26,332 27,349
15. Kozhikode 63,731 65,340 31,632 31,503
16. Lucknow 46,279 44,934 10,635 10,723
17. Madras 87,951 86,288 37,328 31,636
18. Patna 19,952 19,592 3,315 3,347
19. Srinagar 9,779 10,009 1,833 1,846
20. Tiruchirapalli 1,27,721 1,22,184 17,011 17,476
21. Vijayawada 4,322 4,549 513 476
----------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 14,42,748 14,12,723 6,92,042 6,78,494
----------------------------------------------------
-119>
| APPENDIX VIII Cadre Strength at Headquarters
and 136 Missions and Posts Abroad
|
Cadre Strength at Headquarters and 136 Missions and Posts Abroad
during 1984-85
|
Sl. Cadre/Post Total number Posts at Posts at
No. of posts Headquarters Missions
abroad
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5)
IFS
1. Grade I 21 3 18
2. Grade II 28 3 25
3. Grade III 95 16 79
4. Grade IV 80 15 65
5. Sr. Scale 256 56 200
6. Jr. Scale 33 5 28
7. Training Reserve (Jr. Scale) 27 26 1
8. Training reserve 10 10 ..
9. Leave reserve 19 19 ..
10. Deputation reserve 20 20 ..
IFS (B)
1. Grade I 124 65 59
2. Grade II/III 325 172 153
3. Grade IV 928 416 512
4. Grade V/VI 688 492 196
5. Grade II of Cypher Sub Cadre 199 81 118
6. Selection Grade of Stenogra-
phers' Cadre 51 16 35
7. Grade I of SC 96 31 65
8. Grade II of SC 526 201 325
9. Grade III of SC 120 42 78
10. Combined Research Cadre
(including isolated Research
posts) 39 34 5
11. Interpreters' Cadre 31 23 8
------------------------------------------
TOTAL 3716 1746 1970
------------------------------------------
| APPENDIX IX Cadre Strength of IFS
|
Cadre Strength of IFS, 1983-1985
|
Grades Prior to Cadre Subsequent to Cadre Review
Review (1983)
1984 1985
(1) (2) (3) (4)
Grade I 20 20 21
Grade II 21 27 28
Grade III 81 97 95
Grade IV 68 72 80
Senior Scale 98 243 256
Junior Scale 70 33 33
Training Reserves 50 27 27
(Junior Scale)
Training/Deputation/Leave
Reserve in all Grades** 58 49 49
**Training Reserve for all grades 10
Leave Reserve 19
Deputation Reserve 20
-121>
| APPENDIX X Foreign Language Chart
|
Foreign Language Chart
|
Sl. Language Total Number
No. of Officers
Passed/
Knows the
Language
(1) (2) (3)
1. Arabic 83
2. Burmese 2
3. Chinese 44
4. Czech 1
5. Dutch 2
6. French 157
7. German 78
8. Gorkhali 10
9. Hungarian 1
10. Bhasa (Bahasa) Indonesia 14
11. Italian 8
12. Japanese 29
13. Kiswahili 14
14. Malay-Bahasa 3
15. Persian 31
16. Polish 3
17. Portuguese 17
18. Pushtu 1
19. Romanian 1
20. Russian 78
21. Serbe-Croatian 6
22. Spanish 71
23. Swedish 3
24. Thai 4
25. Tibetan 3
26. Turkish 3
27. Vietnamese 3
-122>
| APPENDIX XI Revenue Expenditure of the Ministry
|
Revenue Expenditure of the Ministry during the financial year
1984-85
|
Revised
Estimates
1984-85
(Rs. in lakhs)
Headquarters 11,22.33
Embassies/High Commissions and Missions
abroad 60,44.31
Supply Wings, London and Washington 2,36.15
Other Items
Contribution to UN, Commonwealth and other
International Institutions 2,83.75
Central Passport and Emigration
Organisation 7,17.43
Other Miscellaneous Items 42,09.37
Aid
Aid to Bangladesh 2,97.00
Aid to Bhutan 62,38.19
Aid to Nepal 13,41.50
Aid to Other Developing Countries under
ITEC Programme 6,50.00
Aid to Sri Lanka 1,25.00
TOTAL 2,12,65.03
-123>
| APPENDIX XII Expenditure on Headquarters and
Indian Missions/Posts abroad
|
Expenditure on Headquarters and Indian Missions/Posts abroad
during 1984-85
The estimated expenditure on the Headquarters of this Ministry is
expected to be Rs. 1122.33 lakhs out of which Rs. 220.35 lakhs
will be on publicity, Rs. 206.08 lakhs on travel expenses, Rs.
370.47 lakhs on salaries and wages of Establishmmet, Rs. 5.35
lakhs on account of subsidy to the Departmental Canteen, Rs.
15.30 lakhs on Foreign Service Training Institute, and Rs. 304.78
lakhs on other Mis-cellaneous items.
The total estimated expenditure on Indian Missions/Posts abroad
including Supply Wings, Washing-ton and London, is expected to be
Rs. 6280.46 lakhs. This amount comprises Rs. 2510.83 lakhs on
salaries, wages and allowances including foreign allowance, Rs.
786.82 lakhs on transfers/home leave passages and on local tours,
Rs. 1608.69 lakhs on rents, rates and taxes as well as on
maintenance and repairs of accommodation rented abroad, Rs.
1364.12 lakhs on other Miscellaneous items of contingent
expenditure. The annual average expenditure per Mission comes to
Rs. 46.86 lakhs.
The estimated expenditure on Headquarters and Missions/Posts
abroad, which includes the ex-penditure on publicity abroad,
works out to approximately 35.30 per cent of the total Revenue
expendi-ture of this Ministry. The remaining 64.70% of the
Revenue expenditure of this Ministry is being spent on various
aid programmes including those to the neighbouring countries,
contributions to UN and other international bodies, Passport
Offices etc.
-124>
|
APPENDIX XIII Statement showing the total
number of employes
|
Statement showing the total number of employes (both permanent
and temporary) in the Ministry of External Affairs under various
groups and representation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes therein (Position as on 31-12-84)
|
Group Total Scheduled Percentage Scheduled Percentage
Number of Castes of total Tribes of total
employees employees employees
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6)
Group 'A' 648 88 13.58% 34 5.24%
Group 'B' 1868 193 10.33% 28 1.49%
Group 'C' 1504 196 13.03% 60 3.98%
Group 'D'
(excluding
Sweepers) 461 77 16.70% 8 1.73%
Group 'D'
(Sweepers) 29 29 100% ..
-125> | APPENDIX XIV Statement showing the number
of appointments
|
Statement showing the number of appointments (both by direct
recruitment and by promotion) made in various groups of posts and
reserve vacancies filled by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
during the year 1984
|
Group Total Number of Number of Number of vacan-
Number of vacancies Candidates cies de-reserved
vacancies reserved appointed due to non-avai-
lability of res-
erved candidates
Sched- Sched- Sched- Sched- Sched- Sched-
uled uled uled uled uled uled
Castes Tribes Castes Tribes Castes Tribes
(1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
Group 'A' 133 5 3 14 2 .. ..
Group 'B' 244 49 34 26 4 25 30
Group 'C' 375 72 38 61 21 11 17
Group 'D' 44 2 3 .. .. 2 3
(excluding
Sweepers)
| NOTE:-5 Scheduled Caste and 3 Scheduled Tribe vacancies of Under
Secretaries Grade I of General Cadre of IFS(B) are to be filled
in through a Limited Departmental Examination which is held
specially for Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe officers. The said
examination is to be held some time in 1985 as intimated by the
Union Public Service Commission.
-126>
|
APPENDIX XV International Conferences/Meetings
|
International Conferences/Meetings hosted by the
Ministries/Departments of the Government of India during 1984 for
which logistical arrangements were made by the Conference Cell of
the Ministry of External Affairs
|
Sl. Title of Conference/Meeting Date
No.
(1) (2) (3)
1. Technical Committee Meeting on Sports,
Arts and Culture, hosted by Ministry of
External Affairs 13 to 14 January 1984
2. Indo-Pak Sub-Commission, hosted by
Ministry of External Affairs
18 to 21 January 1984
3. 4th Consultation Meeting of UNIDO, hosted
by Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers
23 to 27 January 1984
4. International Exposition of Rural Devel-
opment, hosted by Department of Rural
Development 5 to 15 February 1984
5. NAM Committee on Money and Finance hosted
by Ministry of External Affairs
12 to 18 February 1984
6. 12th International Leprosy Conference
hosted by Director General of Health
Services 20 to 25 February 1984
7. SARC Meeting of the Standing Committee of
the Foreign Secretaries, hosted by Ministry
of External Affairs 27 to 29 February 1984
8. 3rd Internal Conference of Appellate Judges
and Conference of Commonwealth Chief Justices,
hosted by Supreme Court of India 5 to 10 March 1984
9. First International Conference on "Literat-
ure and Translation", hosted by Jawaharlal
Nehru University 15 to 20 March 1984
10. Indo-Chinese Bhutanese Boundary Talks hosted
by Ministry of External Affairs 31st March 1984
11. Conference by the International Federation of
Agricultural Producers Organisation, hosted by
Ministry of Agriculture 2 to 12 May 1984
12. World Environment Conference, hosted by
Department of Environment 5 June 1984
13. Film Festival, 1984 hosted by Ministry of
Information and Broadcasting 7 June 1984
14. Indo-African Seminar of Trade, Economic and
Technical Cooperation (FIEO), hosted by Ministry
of External Affairs 4 to 9 September 1984
-127>
15. Electrical Industry Seminar on the Group of
77 countries, hosted by BHEL
10 to 14 September 1984
16. Regional Mineral Resources Development centre
Meeting, hosted by Department of Mines
12 to 17 September 1984
17. 5th Meeting of the CHOGM Working Group of
Industry, hosted by Ministry of Industry
24 to 28 September 1984
18. 4th Meeting of Health Ministers of WHO
(South East Asia), hosted by Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare
25 to 27 September 1984
19. International Conference on National Hazards
Mitigation Practices, hosted by Ministry of
Works and Housing
8 to 11 October 1984
20. International Conference on Buddhism and
National Cultures hosted by ICCR
10 to 15 October
21. ICRIER (Indian Council for Research on Intern-
ational Economic Relations-Indo-CCE round table
conference), hosted by Ministry of External
Affairs 25 to 26 October 1984
22. World Mining Conference, hosted by Department
of Mines 19 to 23 November 1984
23. Preparatory Meeting for SARC Archaeological
Congress, hosted by Ministry of External
Affairs 19 to 20 November 1984
24. Conference of International Monetary and
Financial System and Issues, hosted by Ministry
of External Affairs 17 to 19 December 1984
25. Seminar on 20th Anniversary of UNCTAD, hosted
by Research & Information System for the Non-
Aligned and other Developing Countries
28 December 1984
-127>
|
|