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Annual Reports Prior to 1999

Annual Report 1985-86

CONTENTS / Introduction
S.No. CHAPTERS Page No.(iii-xii)
I. India's Neighbours 1-10
II. South-East Asia 11-15
III. East Asia 16-19
IV. West Asia and North Africa 20-23
V. Africa (South of the Sahara) 24-26
VI. Europe 27-31
VII. The Americas 32-36
VIII. United Nations and International Conferences 37-56
IX. Foreign Economic Relations 57-63
X. Policy Planning and Research 64-65
XI. External Publicity 66-68
XII. Cultural Relations 69-71
XIII. Indians Overseas 72
XIV. Protocol 73
XV. Passport, Emigration and Consular Services 74-76
XVI. Administration and Organisation 77-78
XVII. Use of Hindi in Official Work 79-80
APPENDICES81-109
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INTRODUCTION

India's traditional foreign policy of Non-alignment, peace and friendship with all countries, particularly its neighbours, was pursued with renewed vigour during the year despite pre- occupation with such important internal developments as the Punjab and Assam accords. We have welcomed and encouraged every sign of improvement in the international political climate, both globally and regionally. On the crucial global issue of disarmament, the resumption of a dialogue at the Summit level between the USA and USSR, provided it is followed by meaningful measures, could lead to a halt and reversal of the disturbing trend of the last few years towards a new Cold War. In South Asia, the adoption by the Dhaka Summit of a Declaration and a Charter launching the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation has provided an institutional framework for regional cooperation among the countries of the sub-continent.

The recognition at the Geneva Summit between US President Reagan and Soviet Party Leader Gorbachev that "a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought", is an acknowledgement of the strong desire of world public opinion of the need to curb the arms race and acknowledgement of the primary responsibility of the nuclear powers to take meaningful steps towards disarmament. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in his address to the 40th Anniversary Commemorative Session of the United Nations in New York had stressed "the need to cure the world of the insanity of the nuclear militarism and let man's creative genius be enlisted on behalf of enrichment and not destruction." He reiterated the objectives of the Delhi Declaration issued by the Six Nation Summit in January 1985 and joined the leaders of Argentina, Greece, Mexico, Sweden and Tanzania in urging, a twelve-month suspension of all nuclear weapon tests, offering facilities for the process of verification. His meetings with the US and Soviet leaders provided an occasion to re-emphasise the importance India attaches to disarmament, both as a long-standing objective of our foreign policy and as one of the main aims of the Non-aligned Movement. It is, therefore, a source of some satisfaction that the Soviet Union has extended by three months its offer of a moratorium on tests and also put forward proposals, to which the US side has responded, for the limitation, reduction and ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons under a time bound programme.

The Prime Minister took particularly active steps to establish greater understanding with the leaders of other South Asian countries. He availed of every opportunity to meet with his South Asian counterparts and this has set the stage for improving the climate of bilateral relations with each country.
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Four meetings with President Zia-ul-Haq of Pakistan, led to his visit to New Delhi on December 17, in which both sides announced that they would not attack each other's nuclear facilities. They decided on an immediate programme of bilateral meetings for removing obstacles to the growth of effective cooperation. During his meetings with President Zia, the Prime Minister reiterated India's continuing concern regarding Pakistan's nuclear programme and the assistance that continued to be provided to Sikh extremists from across the border, despite high level assurances to the contrary. In pursuance of decisions taken by President Zia and our Prime Minister at their meeting on 17th December, our Finance Minister visited Pakistan in January and held talks for expanding economic and commerical cooperation. The Defence Secretaries of both sides met to discuss the situation in the Siachen Glacier area. The Foreign Secretaries also held discussions on a comprehensive draft of a treaty of agreement for building lasting peace, friendship and cooperation. However, differences on some important aspects persist.

The Prime Minister held discussions with President Ershad of Bangladesh at the time of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Nassau, the Bahamas. It was decided that the Irrigation Ministers of the two countries should meet to discuss an approach to the solution of the long-standing problem of shortages in the Ganga. The visit of the Bangladesh Irrigation Minister to New Delhi in November resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding being signed with our Minister for Water Resources, Shri B. Shankaranand to initiate a joint study of the available water resources common to both countries to enable them to find a solution to the problem of augmenting the waters of the Ganga at Farakka. The Memorandum provided, during the three years period of its validity, for a sharing arrangement of the Ganga waters at Farakka on the same terms as the previous Memorandum of Understanding signed in 1982. The Prime Minister met President Ershad again in December at the time of the SAARC Summit. He had earlier met with him in June when he flew to Dhaka, accompanied by President Jayewardene of Sri Lanka, to express sympathy following the cyclone that ravaged the coast of Bangladesh in May 1985. On both these occasions India's desire to improve the quality of the bilateral relationship was conveyed. Our concern over the problem of continued illegal immigration from Bangladesh into India has also been conveyed to the Bangladesh authorities at appropriate levels.

The unresolved ethnic problem of Sri Lanka and mounting reports of killings of Tamils there, continue to be a source of deep concern. Contacts have been maintained at the highest level to assist in finding an amicable solution. The Sri Lankan Government have been left in no doubt, that, in our view, attempts to force a military solution of this issue cannot succeed. These attempts have resulted in the influx of refugees from Sri Lanka increasing to the figure of 124,000. A political solution that will enable the refugees to return to their homes
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with dignity and in safety can alone hold out any prospect of resolving the internal crisis in Sri Lanka.

India's cooperation with Nepal and Bhutan have continued to grow steadily. H.M. the King of Nepal held wide-ranging discussions during his visit to Delhi in September. India's assistance for developmental projects in Nepal has been appreciated. The Treaty of Transit between the two countries, which provides for Nepal's access to the sea through India, was extended till March 1989. H.M. the King of Bhutan visited Delhi in February 1985, and our Prime Minister paid a return visit to Thimpu in September. India continued to extend substantial assistance to Bhutan for its all-round development.

Relations with Maldives and with Burma were also strengthened during the year, as marked by the visit of the Maldivian President, Mr. Gayoom in February 1985, and the recent visit of our Prime Minister to Male and the visit of the then Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Khursheed Alam Khan, to Rangoon.

India has played an active role in the promotion of South Asian Regional Cooperation from its inception. The first South Asian Summit was held in Dhaka in December, which launched the fullfeldged South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). The Charter of SAARC provides for an annual meeting of the Heads of State and Government and a six-monthly meeting of a Council of Ministers, the Organisation's highest policy making body. It has also been decided to set up a permanent Secretariat and the Foreign Ministers are to go into the details regarding its location, structure, financing and functions. Ministerial meetings are to be convened in 1986 to discuss respectively women's participation in SAARC activities and to coordinate the stands of SAARC members in the ongoing discussions on the New International Economic Order. The Second Summit meeting is scheduled to be held in Delhi in November 1986.

India's bilateral relations with Afghanistan continued to improve during the year and the Seventh Session of the Indo- Afghan Joint Committee on Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation was held in Delhi at Ministerial level in August. India supports a political settlement in Afghanistan based on non-interfernce and non-intervention in Afghan affairs and one that would take into account the legitimate interests of all the countries concerned.

India viewed with disquiet the continuing augmentation of the military presence of the great powers in the Indian Ocean and continued to work bilaterally and with the other Non-aligned states to counter this trend. India hopes that the littoral states would not align themselves with the great powers or offer facilities which would invite countervailing reaction. We are deeply concerned that, despite the 1971 UN Declaration which seeks to transform the Indian Ocean into a Zone of Peace, great power rivalry in this region has been intensified by attempts to involve littoral and hinterland states in strategic configurations involving outside powers and by the
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development of new command structures which tengender a further arms build-up and provide an interventionist capability of external forces.

With the countries of South East Asia, India's relations have been strengthened. There are increasing signs of awareness among the ASEAN countries that the differing perceptions in regard to Kampuchea should not come in the way of improving the bilateral relationship with each of them. This followed the visit of an ASEAN delegation, comprising representatives of Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, and was confirmed during the stop-over of President Socharto in New Delhi and the visits of the Foreign Ministers of Thailand and Malaysia to our country. These visits provided opportunities for strengthening bilateral cooperation and promoting understanding on regional and international issues.

With the countries of Indo-China, relations have grown steadily as was marked by the Prime Minister's visit to Hanoi and the visit of the Secretary-General of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Le Duan to New Delhi. The posthumous Award of the Gold Star Order-the highest Vietnamese decoration--to Smt. Indira Gandhi was not only a personal tribute to an outstanding fighter for peace and freedom, but also indicated Vietnamese regard for our country. Exchanges in the economic field are on the increase with both Vietnam and Laos and medical supplies from India have been appreciated in Kampuchea.

India continues to make efforts to improve relations with the People's Republic of China, reiterating that genuine normalisation could be achieved only through a just and satisfactory solution to the question of the boundary. The meeting between the Prime Minister and the Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang in New York provided an occasion to stress the importance of a settlement of this issue and set the stage for the sixth round of official level talks, during which each side put forward its respective position. Both delegations also exchanged views on the international situation. A trade protocol was signed in November envisaging an increased trade turnover between the two countries in 1986.

The Prime Minister's visit to Tokyo marked a further step in the friendly relations with Japan. An Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Science and Technology, which provides for the setting up of a Joint Committee, was concluded. To bring the peoples of Japan and India closer to each other, proposed Festival of India in Japan in 1987-88 and the Japan Week in India would provide the necessary impetus. The exchanges between the various circles of the industry and trade of the two countries, both private and public, would help the already growing cooperation between the two countries in the field of India's industrialisation and technology transfer.

The relations between India and the two Koreas and Mongoli have continued to be marked by friendly exchange of visits at Various levels.
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The relations with Australia and New Zealand have been further strengthened. The Australian Foreign Minister came to New Delhi and the official level talks held in Australia enabled the two countries to exchange their views on international issues. New Zealand has re-established its Mission in New Delhi. Prime Minister David Lange visited India in April 1985 and held talks with our Prime Minister. Secretary (East)'s visits to a number of countries in the region promoted exchange of views at the official level.

Consistent with out traditional and age-old ties with the Arab world, the year under review saw a continuous exchange of visits between Indian and Arab leaders. The Prime Minister visited Egypt and Algeria in June 1985 and it is hoped that there would be a significant increase in the cooperation between India and Algeria in all fields, especially commercial and industrial. The Prime Minister paid his first official visit to Oman on 17-18 November 1985, on the occasion of the 15th Anniversary of Accession to the Throne by Sultan Qaboos. The visit to the United Arab Emirates by the former Minister of External Affairs, Shri Khursheed Alam Khan, and the visit by the External Affairs Minister, Shri Bali Ram Bhagat, to Iran, Kuwait and Bahrain helped to boost greater economic and trade exchanges between India and these countries besides enhancing appreciation of each other's points of view.

Meetings of the various Joint Commissions set up by India with countries of West Asia and the Gulf provided an opportunity for discussion of bilateral trade and economic relations which held out promise of greater cooperation in the coming years. Every effort was made by India to expand the scope of commercial, economic and industrial cooperation with the Gulf countries. A Labour Agreement was signed between India and Qatar in April 1985 and it is hoped that this agreement could become a model for similar agreements to regularise the conditions of employment of Indian workers in the Gulf.

India's support to the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people remained steadfast. We helped in convening the meeting of the Non-aligned Committee on Palestine which recommended that an International Peace Conference under the aegis of the United Nations offered the best path to the attainment and exercise of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and to a comprehensive and just peace in West Asia. We expressed our distress at the Israeli bombing of the PLO headquarters in Tunis.

India hopes that peace and stability will be restored in Lebanon. India stands for a strong, united and Non-aligned Lebanon. India was disappointed at the Moroccan Government's decision to break off diplomatic relations with India following our recognition of the Saharwi Arab Democratic Republic. India, on its part, made every effort to explain its position to Morocco before announcing the recognition, which was a principled one.
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The tragic conflict between Iran and Iraq entered its sixth year, despite all efforts, including our own, to bring it to an end.

India continued its policy of strengthening its relations with the African countries, South of Sahara in all fields-political, economic, cultural and technical. During April 1985, an Extra- ordinary Ministerial meeting of the NAM Coordinating Bureau was held on Namibia and during this meeting India announced its decision to accord full diplomatic status to the SWAPO representative in India. In accordance with India's long held policy of total opposition to apartheid, India took every opportunity to condemn the recialist policies of South Africa and called for implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution No. 435 calling for independence of Namibia. During the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting held in Nassau in October 1985, India played a leading role in achieving the consensus among the commonwealth members for devising a time- bound programme of action against South Africa.

India did its best to help the drought-affected countries of Africa and 100,000 tonnes of wheat was donated to Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania. In addition, India announced a contribution of Rs. 12 crores to the OAU's Special Emergency Fund for Drought and Famine in Africa.

The passing away of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Governor- General of Mauritius, in December was deeply mourned in India. The Vice-President, Shri Venkataraman, accompanied by Shri A.P. Sharma and Shri G.S. Dhillon attended the funeral. The traditional close relations with Mauritius were strengthened through the visits of Prime Minister Jugnauth and the Lok Sabha Speaker, Dr. Balram Jakhar.

India's relations with the Soviet Union and the other East European countries continued to grow. The prime Minister's visits to the Soviet Union provided an opportunity to review Indo-Soviet relations at the highest level. This led to the signing of important Agreements on Economic, Technical and Scientific Cooperation and on Soviet participation in India's industrial projects. Trade between the two countries is expected to almost double over the next five years as against the preceding five years. The Festival of India and the Festival of Soviet Culture proposed for 1987 will provide grater understanding of the two countries' cultural traditions among the peoples of the two countries. There was a similar development of relations between India and other East European countries. The Vice-President, Shri Venkataraman paid an official visit to Bulgaria, the German Democratic Republic and Yugoslavia in November 1985. The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of Poland, General jaruzelski paid an official visit to new Delhi during the year. During the visit of the Hungarian Deputy Premier Faluvegi to India in October, a Protocol was signed for cooperation in Science and Technology with Hungary. Joint Commission meetings were held during the year with East Germany, Poland and Romania to increase the level of cooperation in the fields of science and technology as well as in the fields of economy and trade.
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The West European countries have evinced increasing interest in trade and economic relations with India as a result of our liberalised import policies and our quest for uptodate technology to modernise the economy. A spate of visits by a number of delegations at the highest level from West European countries is a testimony to the new trend. The pacifist movement which is developing in West European countries has also attracted them to India which has given the lead in the call for peace and disarmament. The Prime Minister's visit to some of the West European countries, namely, Britain, France and Holland and the visits to India by the British Prime Minister, the Prime Ministers of Sweden and Greece, and H.M. the Queen of the Netherlands, is indicative of this trend of closer relations between India and West Europe. India is also happy to have received His Holiness The Pope. The Festival of India, held in Paris, has given a new awareness to the people of France of India's rich cultural heritage and the potential of its economy.

The Prime Minister's meetings with the U.S. President first in June 1985 in Washington and then in October in New York, helped in obtaining greater appreciation by the USA of India's policies and perspectives. The Prime Minister was accorded the privilege of addressing the U.S. Congress. During his stay in Washington he also formally inaugurated the massive Festival of India in the USA, which will continue till the end of 1986. Following the visit, finalisation of procedures for implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on the transfer of high technology is expected to open new avenues for Indo-US cooperation. India has, however, brought home to the USA its concern over the supply of sophisticated weapons to Pakistan as well as over the efforts being made by that country to acquire a nuclear capability.

The Cmmonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Nassau gave an opportunity to the Prime Minister to discuss matters of mutual interest with the Prime Minister of Canada. Further discussions took place when the Canadian Foreign Minister visited New Delhi in November 1985.

Relations with some of the countries of Western Europe and North America were complicated by the indulgent attitude adopted by some governments towards anti-Indian disruptive elements living there. This matter has been taken up persistently with the governments concerned and we believe that there is now a better appreciation of the dangers of terroristic activity against India in these countries. The vast majority of the Indian communities in these countries reacted very favourably to the Punjab and Assam accords.

A number of important visits between India and Latin American and Caribbean countries helped to enhance the relationship between India and these countries. Note-worthy in these exchanges were the visits of the Presidents of Argentina and Mexico and the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago to India and the visit of our Prime Minister to Cuba. Agreements on economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation were signed between India and these countries. The Cuban award of their highest decoration to the late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi, posthumously, was indicative of the high
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regard which Cuba has for India and the contribution of Smt. Indira Gandhi towards world peace. Another important development between India and Cuba was the signing of an agreement for cooperation on the utilisation of atomic energy for peaceful purposes. India was greatly distressed at the loss of life and property in Mexico and Colombia on account of natural disasters.

India expressed deep concern at the continued violence in Central America, particularly Nicaragua. We expressed our continued support for the efforts of the Contadora Group to work out an Act for Peace in the region which would defuse tensions. We also welcomed the formation of the "Support Group" comprising Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Uruguay.

The world economy regrettably continues to be in a state of crisis. While both developed and developing countries have faced considerable hardships, the real burden has been borne by the latter. The developing countries have been badly hit by the decreasing global liquidity, hardening conditionality of the international financial institutions coupled with depressed prices of their commodities for export. Increased protectionism by the developed countries has compounded the problem. India, with other Non-aligned countries, sought in a number of ways to reverse this trend and to strengthen international economic cooperation with, however, little success. The proposed International Conference on Money and Finance for Development with universal participation is nowhere near realization. The Bonn Conference of developed countries, while paying lip-service to North-South interdependence, took no concrete steps which could be of any help to the developing countries. IDA VII found no mention. In view of the inadequate response of the developed countries, it was only right that increasing attention was paid to greater cooperation among the developing countries themselves, both among the Group of 77 and the Non-aligned Movement. India's keenness to promote cooperation with the countries of Asia and Africa has found expression in the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC) which covers 60 countries and has an enhanced outlay of Rs. 9 crores in 1985-86 as against Rs. 4.46 lakhs previously.

The virtual standstill in international economic negotiations in UN fora continued in 1985. The Western industrialised countries, particularly the United States, remained unwilling to enter into serious negotiations in the UN and the North-South dialogue is being increasingly confined to the specialised economic fora like GATT, IMF and the World Bank. They tended to use the United Nations only as a forum for general discussion and debate but not for serious negotiations or decision. Increasingly evident also is the desire of major industrialised countries to reach agreements on far-reaching issues only among themselves without invoking the multilateral system. Because of their serious economic problems, many developing countries have come under pressure from developed countries.

Partly in order to revitalize the dialogue on important international economic issues in the United Nations, India along with some other developing countries called for
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a discussion on the inter-related issues of money, finance, debt, trade, resource flows and development, to examine international cooperation in these vital areas in a coherent and integrated manner. This became the theme for special focus during the meetings of the Economic and Social Council. The discussion on this broad range of areas was continued during the exercise on the review and appraisal of the International Development Strategy for the Third United Nations Development Decade. India worked closely with the Chairman of the Group of 77 and the Chairman of the Committee to reach an agreed consensus conclusion of this important exercise. Such a positive outcome had seemed doubtful during the two years of protracted negotiations on this issue and India was encouraged at this development. Intensive efforts also got underway within the Group of 77 to implement the Caracas Programme of Action. One of the few important initiatives in which progress has been made, is the establishment of a global system of trade preferences for which negotiations have begun.

Both independently and as Chairman of the Non-aligned Movement, India repeatedly drew attention to the persistence of economic distress among large sections of mankind, the widening gap between the developed and developing countries and the close link between disarmament and development. In pursuance of decisions taken at the 7th Non-aligned Summit the Movement focused its efforts towards promotion of Nuclear Disarmament and International Economic Cooperation. The Prime Minister, as Chairman of the Movement, addressed a Special Plenary Meeting of Non-aligned countries at the UN Headquarters on 22nd October. The Movement remained actively seized of developments in various parts of the world, particularly Southern Africa, the Middle East, Central America and Cyprus and the Non-aligned caucus in the Security Council consisting of Non-aligned members of the Council in 1985 including India, played an important role in the deliberations of the Council on these and other issued. It also took a number of follow-up measures in implementation of the Action Programme for Economic Cooperation adopted by the 7th Summit. Following a Regional Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau held in March 1985 to consider the situation in South Africa, an Extra-ordinary Ministerial Meeting of the Bureau was held in New Delhi on the question of Namibia from 19 to 21 April. Besides, adopting an important Declaration and Programme of Action on Namibia, the meeting also adopted the plan of action of the Movement to improve the critical economic situation in Africa.

A large number of people of Indian origin have settled in many countries all over the world where they have made significant and wide-ranging contributions to the development of the countries of their adoption. It is the policy of the Government of India that persons of Indian origin who have taken the nationality of the countries of their domicile should identify themselves with the countries of their adoption. It is being increasingly appreciated that Indians overseas can provide a bridge of understanding in the efforts to strengthen friendly relations between India and the countries of their residence. They have demonstrated their potential as a reservoir of skill, expertise, technology and
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investment for the benefit both of the countries of their adoption and the land of their origin. Steps have been taken to provide them with more efficient consular and information services.

While a vibrant and resurgent India is taking shape, it is important to convey a proper appreciation of these developments to the world at large. The External Publicity Division of the Ministry has sought to achieve this through increasing use of more modern methods in both audio-visual and print media. The advent of the new Government through the ballot box and the defusing of crisis by the Prime Minister through accordsin Punjab and Assam and by successfully holding free and democratic elections in these two States, were widely covered by the media abroad. The fact that a very large foreign press corps is present in India, uninterruptedly reporting events, itself speaks for the strength of our democratic system and is appreciated all over the world.

India's tenure as Chairman of the Non-aligned Movement is drawing to a close. During this period of three years, it is a matter of satisfaction that the Movement has gathered strength and has been able to secure better and wider attention from the public and the governments of countries outside it. There is now also greater appreciation of the principled positions taken by India on the major issues facing mankind. Neighbouring countries, in particular, have been assured that they can look to India as a dependable partner in their development and progress and for promoting stability and cooperation in South Asia.
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INDIA'S NEIGHBOURS

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The tone of Indian policy towards neighbours was set by the Prime Minister in his very first broadcast to the nation on 5 January 1985 after assuming office on New Year's Day. To give practical shape to the Prime Minister's desire for friendlier relations with the neighbouring countries the Foreign Secretary visited various capitals of the neighbouring countries. His visit to Dhaka in April 1985 was a precursor to higher level contacts between India and Bangladesh.

When a cyclone ravaged the coast of Bangladesh in May 1985 the Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi accompanied by President Jayewardene of Sri Lanka who was then visiting New Delhi flew to Dhaka on 2 June 1985 to convey distress at the calamity that befell Bangladesh. Moved by the plight of the people of Bangladesh he promised India's help in rehabilitation of the people of Bangladesh. In accordance with this assurance the Government of India undertook the design and construction of about a hundred cyclone-proof shelters at Urir Char at a cost of Rs. 1.5 crores.

In October 1985, the Prime Minister met President Ershad in Nassau, the Bahamas during the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting. On this occasion an agreement was reached at the highest level that the Irrigation Ministers of the two countries should meet so that an approach to the solution of the long-standing problem of shortages in the Ganga could be discussed. In pursuance of this understanding, the Minister for Water Resources, Shri B. Shankaranand met the Bangladesh Irrigation Minister in New Delhi in November 1985. At the end of their discussions, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding valid for three years, effective from January 1985, under which they undertook to initiate a joint study of the available river water resources common to both countries to enable them to find a solution to the problem of augmenting the waters of the Ganga at Farakka. Under the same Memorandum, a sharing arrangement of the Ganga waters at Farakka for a period of three years was also agreed upon on the same terms as the previous Memorandum of Understanding signed in 1982. This was a major breakthrough of an impasse which had persisted since the last Memorandum of Understanding expired in May 1984.

The Prime Minister met President Ershad again in December 1985 when he visited Dhaka for two days to attend the SAARC summit. On this occasion too, India's desire to improve the quality of bilateral relations between the two countries was conveyed to Bangladesh. The Government of India have been keen to expedite the implementation of our agreement with Bangladesh to lease the Tin Bigha corridor.
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Legal difficulties have, however, prevented this. Again, as a token of good faith, pending a permanent settlement, the Government of India have offered greater access to Bangladesh to its Dahagram and Angorpota enclaves.

Some problems, however, persist. Among them is the continuing flow of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh into India. This has been discussed between the two governments on a number of occasions, including at a meeting between the Directors General of the Border Security Force and the Bangladesh Rifles. We have conveyed to Bangladesh our intention to stem this flow by whatever means possible.

About 70 students from Bangladesh avail of scholarships for studies in India in arts/sciences as well as medicine and engineering. Training facilities have been extended to Bangladesh Railway personnel under ITEC. Bangladesh defence personnel are also undergoing courses at various military training establishments in India.

Trade with Bangladesh is governed by the 1973 Indo-Bangladesh Trade Agreement and attempts were made to increase the volume of bilateral exchanges. A 7-member delegation from Bangladesh participated in the Sixth India Engineering Trade Fair in February 1985. A delegation from the Engineering Export Promotion Council of Bangladesh also visited India and the Association of Indian Engineering Industries sponsored a visit of Indian industries to Bangladesh.

An Indian Book Fair was held at Dhaka and at Rajshahi and a Bangladesh Book Fair was organised at New Delhi and Calcutta.

The unresolved ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka continues to be a source of great concern to the Government of India. The escalation of violence and large scale killings of Tamil civilians caused great concern throughout India. The deteriorating situation in the Northern and Eastern provinces in Sri Lanka had direct repercussions on India, most notably through the massive influx of refugees to our shores. The total number of refugees from Sri Lanka in India now stands at over 124,000. Their presence poses socio-economic burdens and has added to the strength of Indian sentiments in regard to the situation in Sri Lanka. Aggressive action by Sri Lanka Naval Forces in the Palk Straits. including attacks on our fishing vessels resulting in the death of some fishermen, led to increased tension in our bilateral relations. Strong protests had to be lodged with the Sri Lanka Government in regard to these actions. A Sri Lanka naval vessel was apprehended on 11 January 1985 when it was found well within Indian waters, after it had attacked our fishermen. The vessel, along with its crew, was later handed over to the Sri Lanka authorities. Some Indian fishermen who had been under detention since October 1984, were released by Sri Lanka.

India, however intensified its role of providing good offices to the two sides to arrive at a political solution. Negotiations between the Sri Lanka Government and
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the Sri Lanka Tamil groups were arranged with India's assistance, and while these have not yet brought about a solution, efforts at bringing the two sides closer through a process of direct and indirect negotiations are continuing.

Contacts have been maintained with the Sri Lanka Government at the highest level as part of the ongoing search for a political solution to the ethnic crisis. The Sri Lanka Minister for National Security paid a short visit to India in February 1985 and held talks with the Prime Minister and other leaders. The Foreign Secretary visited Sri Lanka in March 1985 in pursuance of the Prime Minister's initiative to improve relations with neighbouring countries. During his meeting with President Jayewardene and other leaders, the basis for a renewed dialogue for resolving the Tamil problem was discussed further. The Foreign Secretary visited Sri Lanka again in the last week of May to prepare the ground for a two-day visit to India by President Jayewardene. President Jayewardene had detailed discussions with the Prime Minister during his stay in New Delhi from 1--3 June 1985.

The meetings between the Prime Minister and the Sri Lanka President led to a fresh initiative to find a solution to the crisis. It was agreed that immediate steps should be taken to defuse the situation and create a proper climate for a political settlement. The Government of Sri Lanka announced cessation of hostilities for three months from 18 June 1985. The climate was thus created for talks which were held in Thimpu, with the assistance of the Royal Government of Bhutan, in July and August 1985. The Thimpu talks broke down in mid-August because of renewed violence, and the continuing gap between what the Sri Lanka Government was prepared to offer by way of a political solution, and the minimum demand of the Tamils. However, negotiations were continued indirectly through Indian efforts. It will be necessary for a climate to be created conducive to the success of these efforts.

Dr. H. W. Jayewardene, who led the Sri Lankan delegation to the Thimpu talks, was invited to stop over in Delhi, along with other Sri Lanka officials, at the end of August 1985. Following discussions with the Foreign Secretary, the Sri Lanka side prepared a fresh sct of proposals in a Working Paper, which, it was agreed, could serve as a basis for further negotiations. Representatives of the Tamil militant groups and the Tamil United Liberation Front later met in Delhi to discuss the Working Paper and matters relating to The maintenance of the ceasefire, beyond the 3-month period. The ceasefire was further extended, and a Monitoring Committee was set up by the Sri Lanka Government to monitor the working of the ceasefire. The proposals put forward by the Government of Sri Lanka were not, however, found acceptable to the Tamil groups. In response to the Prime Minister's suggestion, the TULF later put forward a set of proposals in December 1985. These proposals were conveyed to the Government of Sri Lanka. The Prime Minister met President Jayewardene at the CHOGM at Nassau in October 1985 and at the SAARC Summit in Dhaka in December 1985. At these meetings, the Prime Minister conveyed India's concern over the situation in Sri Lanka while reiterating India's continued willingness to assist in the quest for a peaceful solution to the crisis.
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The Government of India have also expressed concern over reports that suggest that Sri Lanka is attempting a military solution to the crisis. The rapid increase in the Sri Lanka defence spending and reports of an escalation in the violence towards the end of the year have been viewed with disquiet. The Government of India are seriously concerned at the activities of foreign security and intelligence organisations in Sri Lanka. There are reports of Israeli intelligence organizations and British security experts being involved with the Sri Lanka security forces. The growing military nexus between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, following President Jayewardene's visit to Pakistan in April 1985 and the visit of the President of Pakistan to Sri Lanka in December 1985 is being viewed with some concern.

While the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka remained unresolved, an important positive development in the bilateral relationship between the two countries was the agreement in January 1986 to end once and for all the long-standing problem or statelessness of persons of Indian origin in Sri Lanka. The Government of India agrecd to grant citizenship and accept the repatriation of the balance of 94,000 remaining applicants for Indian citizenship together with their natural increase. The Sri Lanka Government for its part undertook to accord citizenship to the remaining stateless persons whose applications were pending together with their natural increase. It is hoped that this process will be completed expeditiously.

India's close association and cooperation-with Maldives is a continuing one. The Maldivian President, Mr. Gayoom, paid a short visit to New Delhi in February 1985. During his visit, he met the President and the Prime Minister. President Gayoom was assured of our full cooperation in the areas in which Maldives may need Indian assistance. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi paid a return visit to Male in February 1986 and assured Maldives of India's full cooperation in her development.

A regular twice-monthly shipping service from Tuticorin to Male was started in August 1985 and this service is expected to boost bilateral trade and supply of essential commodities like salt, vegetables etc. to Maldives.

India continued to offer training facilities to Maldivian. officials in different fields such as civil aviation, customs, hotel management, man-power survey, parliamentary procedures, etc. tinder the Indian Technical and Econornic Cooperation Programme.

Maldives has taken art active role in the SAARC. The South Asian Foreign Secretaries' meeting was held in Male in February 1985. Under the aegis of SAARC, India has also provided the services of sports coaches for training Maldivian sportsmen.
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India has traditionally close and friendly relations with Burma. To strengthen these relations the former Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Khursheed Alam Khan paid an official visit to Burma in June 1985 on the invitation of the Burmese Foreign Minister. Various aspects of bilateral relations were discussed during the visit. Steps have been taken to increase India's trade with Burma. A cultural troupe and a team of defence officials also visited Burma during the year. A special photo exhibition Priyadarshini on the late Prim Minister was hold at the Indian Embassy in Rangoon in November 1985. Forty-six Burmese officials were offered training facilities in India during the year.

The traditional closeness of Indo-Bhutan relations was highlighted during the year by two bilateral visits of His Majesty the King of Bhutan to India in February 1985 and Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi to Bhutan in September 1985. Both meetings were marked by a close identity of views and understanding on matters of mutual interest, reflecting the relationship of trust and consultations that prevails between our two countries. The first Summit Conference of South Asian countries at Dhaka in December 1985 offorod further opportunity for the two leaders to carry forward the discussions held during the Prime Minister's visit.

In economic fields cooperation flourished. The largest Indo- Bhutan Project, the Rs. 240 crores 336 mw Chukha Hydel Project moved closer towards completion and made satisfactory progress. The first two turbines are expected to be rotated in the first half of 1986 when Bhutan will benefit from the power generated and surplus power will begin to flow into India. India will purchase all power surplus to Bhutan's requirements. The infrastructure to permit absorption of this power in India is nearly ready.



Now projects were initiated this year, and announced by the Prime Minister during his visit to Bhutan. They include the improvement of the electricity distribution systems of Thimpu and Paro, the River Training Works in Southern Bhutan, the 50 kw Broadcasting Station in Thimpu and the Mini Hydel Projects in Eastern Bhutan. Discussions are in progress on the inclusion of the Nanglam Cement Plant, for which a loan by India to Bhutan is envisaged.

Indian agencies were involved in several fields in Bhutan in various projects of differing sizes and locations-in telecommunications, where a Master Telecommunications Plan is being prepared for Bhutan, in road building, in geological exploration, archaeological restoration, irrigation works etc. These activities form important components in the development of Bhutanese infrastructure. A grant of Rs. 2 crores to Bhutan has enabled it to undertake Urban Development Works.

In education, India continued to ofler opportunities for secondary as well as higher education and for specialised training in various fields such as defence, police,
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customs, medicine etc. India offered scholarships of upto Rs. 14 lakhs as well as 20 Colombo Plan TCS slots for this purpose. Forty high-bred heifers have been presented to Bhutan for development of their animal husbandry programmes. India continued to supply at Bhutan's request certain essential commodities such as wheat, rice, sugar, coal, explosives, steel and edible oils at controlled prices. Indian Experts visited Bhutan to help it set up a super-market type structure to provide outlets for basic consumer goods at fair prices, and in the development of sericulture.

Bhutan's present Development Plan (Fifth) ends in 1987. India has off,-red finance of Rs. 134 crores (about 50 % of the Plan outlay) as aid. The process of drawing up Bhutan's next plan (1987-1992) has been initiated by Bhutan and a team from the Planning Commission and the Ministry of External Affairs held talks with their Bhutanese counterparts in August 1985 on the conceptual basis of the Sixth Plan. The Prime Minister affirmed during his visit to Bhutan that India will continue to offer assistance to Bhutan during the forthcoming plan. The quantum and nature of this assistance will be decided mutually during 1986.

The state of friendship between India and Bhutan drew appreciation from His Majesty the King of Bhutan in a speech during the Prime Minister's visit when he stressed the existing harmony, trust and cooperation between Bhutan and India.

India and Nepal have continued to nurture their traditional and friendly relations. His Majesty the King of Nepal visited India in September 1985 and had wide-ranging discussions with the Prime Minister. The King voiced the feelings of both countries in saying on his return to Nepal that "We are happy to note that the growing understanding between Nepal and India which has found a further fillip...has given us cause for satisfaction." The Prime Minister met the King again in Dhaka in December 1985 during the , SAARC Summit, giving both the leaders an opportunity to rtview the development of relations since the King's visit to India. These free, frank and cordial exchanges of views between the two leaders paved the way for further expanding the interaction, goodwill and consultations on various bilateral matters.

Earlier, in April 1985, pursuant on the Prime Minister's initiative to improve overall relations with our neighbours, the Foreign Secretary visited Nepal. A widerange of bilateral matters were reviewed including the Joint Commission, the avoidance of double taxation and joint utilisation of water resources. Shri Shiv Shankar, MP also visited Nepal in July 1985 as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy, to discuss bilateral relations and cooperation in projects.

A time-bound programme of four years was agreed in September 1985 by the two Governments to conclude the work of reconstruction of missing and damaged boundary pillars on the demarcated Indo-Nepal border.
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India's role as a leading partner in the socio-economic development of Nepal manifested itself in a number of aid programmes. Two agreements-one for construction of a Museum Library-cum-Documentation Centre at the Institute of Forestry in Hetauda and the other for a Rural Electrincation Project to electrify 76 villages were signed with Nepal in August 1985. India's offer of Rs. 50 crores for the construction or 204- kilometre of the Western Sector of the East-West Highway was accepted by Nepal and an Agreement was signed in September 1985 to this effect.

Progress was achieved on the proposed Karnali Hydro-electric Project in Nepal. India and Nepal's joint sponsorship of an international consultane for preparation of the feasibility report was accepted by the World Bank. The project has a power potential of 3600 mw. Further discussions are continuing in the Committee of Secretaries on Water Resources on other mutually beneficial projects like the Pancheswar multipurpose project.

The Out-patient Department of Bir Hospital, constructed with Indian aid was inaugurated by H. M. the King of Nepal in November 1985. The Indian Minister of Health and Family Welfare was present on the occasion. With modern and sophisticated equipment provided in the Hospital, it has become a premier institution in the field of health-care in Nepal and is another testimony to the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The 8th Inter-Governmental Committee meeting was held in Delhi in August 1985 to review the working of Treaties of Trade and of Transit and the Agreement for Cooperation to control unauthorised trade. While there was agreement that the Treaties between the two countries were functioning well it was felt that the terms of access to each other's markets should be constantly improved. Both Governments committed themselves to a positive approach in the promotion of Indo-Nepal joint ventures, which would add a new dimension to Indo-Nepal economic and commercial relations. The number of Nepalese products exempted from pro forma procedures was increased from 14 to 18 and the insurance charges for transit cargo reduced to 0.25%. The Transit Treaty was extended till March 1989. A feasibility study for the extension of the railway terminal from Raxaul to Birganj was prepared and handed over to Nepal.

The Government of India persevered in its efforts to normalise relations with Pakistan in keeping with our commitment to the letter and spirit of the Simla Agreement. A number of bilateral meetings at various levels were held. Of particular significance were, the inectings between our Prime Minister and Pakistan's President Zia-ul-Haq
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in New York (October 23), Muscat (November 19), Dhaka (December 7) and New Delhi (December 17). In these meetings, the Prime Minister reiterated our concern about Pakistan's assistance to extremists and its nuclear weapons proaramm. India remains to be convinced on both these maticrs despite Pakistani claims to the contrary. Our concern regarding the acquisition of sophisticated weaponry by Pakistan was conveyed on different occasions. This in turn adds to the burden of our own defence expenditure and results in the diversion of resources needed for development.

At his meeting with the President of Pakistan in New Delhi on 17 December 1985, the Prime Minister suggested a programme for improving relations which was concretised after discussions into a number of decisions. In view of Pakistani statements that India was planning to attack their nuclear facility at Kahuta, the Prim Minister suggested that India and Pakistan should not attack each other's nuclear facilities. This proposal was accepted and a formal agreement on it is being worked out. In pursuance of the decisions taken at the meeting, discussions were held in Islamabad from 8--10 January 1986 between the Finance Ministers of the two countries on ways for improving trade and economic relations, from 10--12 January 1986 between the Defence Secretaries of the two countries on the Siachen Glacier and from 16--21 January 1986 between the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan on a comprehensive treaty and other confidence building measures. However, the meeting of the Indo-Pakistan Joint Commission scheduled for March 1986 has not yet been held because Pakistan did not agree to the dates proposed by us for the meetings of Sub-Commissions I & II which were to precede it. Since President Zia's visit, there have been unfoitunate statements and resolutions relating to Kashmir and minorities in India by responsible Ministers and other Pakistani leaders. The assurances given by Pakistan in respcct of its assistance to Sikh extremists have also not been fulfilled.

An earlier meeting of the Indo-Pakistan Joint Commission held oil 2--4 July 1985 lel to the signing of an Agreement for Cooperation in Agricultural Research. Other decisions emanating from the Joint Commission meeting have resulted in the commencement of through railway booking facilities between the designated staticlis of the two countries from October 1985 and exchange of journalists.

The year 1985 was an eventful one for South Asian Regional Cooperation since the first South Asian Summit was held in Dhaka on 7-9 December 1985 preceded by preparatory meetings of Foreign Ministers on 5 December 1985 and Standing Committee of Foreign Secretaries on 4 December 1985. The tasks before the Summit were to launch a fullfledged organisation called the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and to adopt a Charter for the Association and Declaration. Earlier in
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May 1985 the third meeting of the Foreign Ministers was held in Thimpu which drew up the draft Charter. The Standing Committee meeting was also held in Male in February 1985. The third round of the Technical Committee meeting which was held prior to the Summit devoted itself to the drawing up of more regional projects in their respective fields.

India has played an active role in the promotion of South Asian Regional Cooperation at all levels. Regional Cooperation was made the theme of the India international Trade Fair held in New Delhi from 14--27 November 1985. Tbe Trade Fair Authority of India organised the participation of SARC membercountries in the Fair and their national pavilions, as well as a successful SARC cultural festival organised to coincide with the Fair, drew large crowds.

During the Summit the Heads of State or Government of South Asian countries adopted a Charter and a Declaration. The Charter provides for an annual meeting of Heads of State and Government. The Council of Ministers is the highest policy making body of the Organisation which will meet twice annually. it has been decided to set up a permanent Secretariat for the Organisation. The Foreign Ministers will go into the details of its location, structure, financing and functions. The other decisions include tho convening of a Ministerial meeting to discuss women's participation in SAARC activities in India in 1986, another Ministerial meeting in Pakistan to coordinate the decisions of the South Asian countries on the ongoing discussions on New International Economic Order, the second Summit to be held in India in November 1986, etc.

The Summit has been hailed as an historic event. The fact that the Summit took place and that the Heads of State or Government have decided to meet annually is itself very significant. A mechanism is now available for regular consultations among the Heads of State or Government of the South Asian countries. Moreover, with the creation of the Association, the adoption of its Charter and the categorical decision to establish the Secretariat of SAARC, regional cooperation in South Asia has been put on a firmer institutional footing. Cooperation that has taken place so far has contributed significantly to the creation of the infrastructure and engendering of habits for future cooperation.

India's bilateral relations with Afghanistan progressed satisfactorily during the year. The Seventh Session of the Indo- Afghan Joint Commission on economic, trade and technical cooperation was held in New Delhi at the Ministerial level in August 1985. India would continue to provide assistance to Afghanistan in several areas including public health, industrial development and education.
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India exchanged views on Afghanistan with different countries. India centinues to be opposed to both intervention and interference in Afghanistan and is of the firm View that there can be no military solution of the Afghan problem. India stands for a political settlement inAfghanistan that takes into account the legitimate interests of countries concerned. ln this context, India supports the initiative of the UN Secretary General. Unfortunately, the progress has not been according to expectations. India hopes that speedier progress will be made in the forthcoming rounds of Proximity Talks.

The increasing Great Power military presence in the Indian Ocean and the consequent heightened tension in the area has been a matter of great concern to India. This militarisation has been the result of a number of factors stemming basically from the quest of the Great Powers to enlarge their spheres of influence. The presence, however, of extraneous powers adversely affects the security of the region by introducing extra-regional tensions as well as intensifying those that already exist.

As earlier, India has remained committed to the complete removal of foreign military presence from the Indian Ocean and this view has been expressed in our bilateral consultations with foreign countries, as also through the forum of the Nonaligned Movement and international organisations. There have been disturbing reports that the Anglo-American base at Diego Garcia is to be upgraded and its facilities diversified. India hopes that littoral and hinterland countries would not align themselves with the Great Powers or offer them facilities of a military nature.
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SOUTH-EAST ASIA

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Exchange of high level visits contributed towards strengthening the friendly relations with countries of South-East Asia and the Pacific region. Apart from bilateral and international matters, regional issues were discussed during these visits, including the Kampuchean issue which entered its eighth year. Although no solution has been found, there have been some positive developments. Both the ASEAN nations and the Indo- China countries have put forward proposals for the holding of talks. While there are differences on the modalities for conducting these talks, there now is the underlying common desire to reach a settlement. Vietnamese leaders assured our Prime Minister, during his visit to Hanoi on 27 November 1985, that the Indo-China countries were prepared to open talks with ASEAN nations to promote a political solution. They re-affirmed the commitment to withdraw Vietnamese troops from Kampuchea by 1990 or even earlier, in the event of an acceptable solution being found.

During the year, India had the opportunity to exchange views with several ASEAN leaders and delegations. We have continued to emphasise the need for a comprehensive political settlement, which would lead to a durable peace in the region. We are maintaining contacts with the concerned parties and continuing to make such contribution as we can for arriving at a peaceful solution.

On the bilateral front, we have continued to promote our relations with the three Indo-China states. We are happy that our technical assistance and training programmes have been found useful by them for the development of their human and material resources. We also helped them at their times of need by rushing relief supplies of medicines when they were afflicted by natural calamities.

The visit of the Prime Minister to Hanoi on 27 November 1985, following as it did, the visit to India of the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Mr. Le Duan, in September 1984, contributed significantly to the further consolidation and diversification of relations. The Prime Minister accepted the Gold StarOrder--the highest Vietnamese decoration, conferred posthumously on Shrimati
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Indira Gandhi in recognition of her contribution as an "indefatigable fighter for the cause of National Independence, Peace, Solidarity and Cooperation amongst Nations, as well as the growth of the Non-aligned Movement". The India-Vietnam Joint Commission, which met in Hanoi just prior to the Prime Minister's visit took some important decisions, which included an agreement, in principle, for extending a new line of government to government credit to Vietnam of Rs.15 crores and a Commodity loan of one lakh tonnes of wheat.

Relations with Loas were further promoted when the Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, Shri K. R. Narayanan, visited Vientiane to participate in the 10th anniversary celebrations (2 December 1985) of the founding of the Lao People's Democratic Republic. India was the only country outside the socialist bloc to be invited to the ceremony. In his keynote address, Mr. Kaysone Phomvihane, General Secretary of the Lao Revolutionary Party, and Chairman of the Council of Ministers, expressed appreciation of India's all-round cooperation with Laos and for her active Chairmanship of the Non-aligned Movement.

India's relations with countries of ASEAN and Pacific region continued to be warm and friendly. There were exchanges of high level visits which enabled India and the countries of this region to have a better understanding of each other's perceptions contributing to further consolidation of bilateral relations.

Relations between India and the countries of ASEAN have been historically close but underwent some strain after the recognition by India of the People's Republic of Kampuchea. There were hardly any high level contacts between India and ASEAN over the previous five years but, of late, a definite trend has emerged which indicates that the ASEAN nations are interested in bringing bilateral relations back to the old level with the re- establishment of political dialogue.

There has been an increasing awareness among the ASEAN countries that Kampuchea should not come in the way of improvement of bilateral relations. The various visits between India and the countries of ASEAN region was used as an opportunity to try to better understand each other's views on the Kampuchean issue. It was in this context that an ASEAN delegation consisting of three members from Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei,led by Ambassador Talala of Malaysia, visited India in August 1985, to explain ASEAN views on the Kampuchean issue. This was the first visit to India of a delegation representing ASEAN as a group, and represented understanding by them of India's principled position on this question.
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President Soeharto of Indonesia made a stopover in India on 16 November 1985. This gave an opportunity for talks to be held between the visiting President and Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi. Bilateral relations, international issues of importance and regional matters were discussed during the visit. The discussions were held in a warm and cordial atmosphere. As a result, the existing traditional ties between India and Indonesia would be further strengthened. The Indonesian Foreign Minister Prof. Mochtar Kusumaatmadja came to India in April 1985 to attend the Non-aligned Coordinating Bureau Meeting. Earlier in January 1985, Prof. Kusumaatmadja was in New Delhi for discussions on the Bandung Conference and delivered a message from President Soeharto to the Prime Minister.



India participated in the 30th Anniversary celebrations of the Afro-Asian Conference held in Bandung in April 1985. The then Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Khursheed Alam Khan represented India at the celebrations. A message from the Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi was read during the celebrations which was warmly received.

The Foreign Minister of Thailand, Air Chief Marshal Siddhi Savetsilla visited India in March 1985. Exchange of views on various bilateral, regional and international issues took place between the two sides in an informal and friendly atmosphere. A convention on Avoidance of Double Taxation was signed by our Finance Minister and the visiting dignitary. The visit was significant as this visit to India by a Thai Foreign Minister was after several years. The Thai Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Bhitchai Rattakul visited New Delhi in January 1985. He was received by the Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi.

In October/November 1985, the Foreign Minister of Malaysia, Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen paid a visit to India. Talks were held between the Malaysian Foreign Minister and the External Affairs Minister over a wide-range of issues covering the bilateral aspects of relations and international and regional issues.The discussions were held in a warm and cordial atmosphere, full of mutual understanding and of respect for each other's views.

Shri A. P. Venkateshwaran, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs visited Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore in August 1985, as a Special Envoy of the Prime Minister to discuss issues pertaining to the venue of the next Non-aligned Summit with the leaders of these countries. Secretary (East) was received by President
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Soeharto in Indonesia and by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohammed in Malaysia. In Singapore, he was received by the Senior Minister (Prime Minister's office) Mr. S. Rajaratnam. The Foreign Ministers of the three countries also received him. During discussions with Foreign Ministry officials, bilateral and regional topics were extensively covered allowing for a greater appreciation of each other's point of view and leading to an understanding that Kampuchea should not come in the way of improvement of bilateral relations. Secretary (East) had earlier paid an official visit to Malaysia and the Philippines in April 1985 after attending the Bandung 30th Anniversary celeberations. While Secretary (East) was in Manila, bilateral consultation were held between the Foreign Office officials of the two countries.

Following the recent general elections in the Philippines, the assumption of the office of the President by Mrs. Corazon Aquino confirmed the triumph of democracy, non-violence and the supermacy of the popular will in that country. The President and the Prime Minister sent their greetings to the new President.

After assumption of power by the Labour Government of Prime Minister David Lange in 1984, there has been a perceptible change in New Zealand's relations with India. Prime Minister David Lange,visited India in April 1985 and held talks with the Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi. Official level bilateral talks were also resumed after a gap of eleven years. Shri A. P. Venkateswaran led a two member delegation to New Zealand to hold discussions with his counterpart in the New Zealand Foreign office. Negotiations for an Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation were held with New Zealand in March 1985. The secnd round of negotiations was held in February 1986.

The President of Nauru, Mr. Hammer De Roburt visited India twice in January and November 1985. At the talks held during the latter visit, understanding was reached on the question of Nauru's investment in the Paradeep Phosphate Ltd.

Opportunity for exchange of views on Indo-Australia bilateral relations and on international and regional matters came up auring the visit to India in May 1985 of the Australian Foreign Minister Mr. Bill Hayden. The talks were resumed once again when Secretary (East) visited Australia in December 1985.
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Secretary (East) visited Fiji in December 1985 and held talks with the Fijian Government officials. He was received by the Governor General, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Fiji. In another significant development, Fiji announced the accreditation of a Non-Resident High Commissioner to India. The Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Fiji will be the first NonResident High Commissioner. Negotiations for an Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation were conducted with Fiji in December. Emergency aid of Rs. 5 lakhs towards cyclone relief was provided to them.

During the year, diplomatic relations were also established with Kiribati and the Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Kiribati will be its first Non-Resident High Commissioner to India. The High Commissioner of India in Suva is concurrently accredited to Kiribati.

Trade has come to be an important and significant element in the promotion of closer relationship with the countries of ASEAN and the Pacific. It is in this context that the then Minister of State for Commerce Shri P. A. Sangma visited Malaysia and Singapore in September 1985. The Thai Commerce Minister visited India in February 1985. During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding creating a Joint Trade Committee was signed. The Minister of Trade and Industry of Malaysia came to India in November 1985 and the Minister of Trade from Australia visited India in October 1985. Ways and means to promote bilateral trade on a more balanced basis with these countries were discussed during these visits. For the first time, an officially sponsored Trade Development Board delegation from Singapore visited India in April 1985. This visit from Singapore has led to further trade visits from that country. The Minister of Overseas Trade of New Zealand is also scheduled to visit India in March 1986.
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EAST ASIA

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Efforts to normalise and improve relations with the People's Republic of China were continued during 1985. It is our policy that genuine normalisation of our relations with China can be achieved only when there is a just and satisfactory settlement of the boundary question.

Substantive discussions on the India-China boundary question were initiated during the 6th round of Official-level Talks held between India and China in New Delhi from 4-11 November 1985. Adopting a sector by sector approach, both sides explained their respective positions on the Eastern Sector of the India-China boundary. It was agreed that further discussions on the boundary question will take place in Beijing in 1986 at a time mutually convenient. A programme of exchanges in the fields of culture and science and technology was finalised during the 6th round of Talks. Both delegations also exchanged views on the international situation. A settlement of the long outstanding question of Indian Embassy property in Beijing was reached.

The 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and China was observed by both countries on 1 April 1985. The Prime Minister of India had a cordial meeting with the Chinese Premier, Mr. Zhao Ziyang, when the latter called on the Prime Minister in New York during the 40th Anniversary celebrations of the United Nations in October 1985.

A Trade Protocol for the year 1986 was signed between India and China in New Delhi on 23 November 1985. The Protocol envisages a total trade turnover of 10 to 16 crores U.S. dollars between the two countries during 1986, in commodities such as iron-ore, manganese, chrome and shellac, power equipment and machinery, petroleum products and non-ferrous metals.

The Chinese Communist Party sent a high-powered delegation headed by Mr. Qian Liren, Head of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China to participate in the Centenary Celebrations of the Congress in Bombay in December 1985. This is regarded as an important step in establishing contacts between the ruling parties in both the countries.
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Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi paid an official visit to Japan from 28 November to 1 December 1985. The visit, following as it did, Prime Minister Nakasone's visit to India in May 1984, marked a new stage in the consolidation of our friendly and cordial relations with Japan and an important phase in regard to further development of bilateral relations. The conclusion of an Agreement between India and Japan on cooperation in the field of Science and Technology was one of the important high-lights of the visit. The Agreement provides for the setting up of a Joint Committee on Science and Technology to draw up an agreed programme of action. New opportunities have thus been opened for India and Japan to work together as partners for progress, not only for their mutual benefit, but also for peace and prosperity in Asia and in the world.

In his address to the Japanese Diet, the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi emphasised the need to enhance cooperation between India and Japan in the economic, commercial, scientific and technological fields, as well as in increasing exchanges in the cultural and educational areas to promote better understanding between the peoples of the two countries. In this regard, it was agreed to organise a Festival of India in Japan in 1987-88 and a Japan Week in India. An Indo- Japan seminar was held in New Delhi in March 1986 to promote interaction in the field of ideas and to strengthen understanding.

As a special gesture, Japan announced an additional soft loan facility of Yen 30 billion (about Rs. 160 crores) for a gas-based power generation project in Assam. This will be in addition to the Yen 39.23 billion (Rs. 195 crores) annual pledge made by Japan in June 1985. Japan also agreed to assist India in setting up the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Lucknow. The Japanese Government further expressed its willingness, in principle, to assist India in the modernisation of vital sectors such as steel, textiles and railways.

Other high-level visits were exchanged between the two countries at various levels. A high-powered Indian Economic Mission led by Shri L. K. Jha, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Administrative Reforms visited Japan from 11-18 September 1985. This was a follow-up to the visit earlier made by a Japanese Economic Mission led by Mr. Goro Koyama in Nov./Dec. 1984. Other important visits were those of the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Shri Shivraj Patil (June 1985), Dr. Najma Heptullah, former Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha and Shri V. C. Shukla, IOC President. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Shri T. N. Chaturvedi, participated in an International Conference at Tokyo. Official level talks between the two Foreign offices were also held in Tokyo in July 1985.

A number of Indian delegations, official and non-official, in the economic, commercial and other fields from the Chambers of Commerce, Export Promotion Councils, public sector undertakings etc. also visited Japan to study, discuss and explore possibilities for further expansion of economic and commercial cooperation. Minerals and
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Metals Trading Corporation and Japan Steel Mills signed an Agreement in February 1985 for increasing Indian iron-ore exports from 80 lakh tons to 100 lakh tons a year. India participated in the World Import Fair in Nagoya and the annual Restaurant and Food Exhibition in Tokyo.



In the cultural field, a 14-member Kathakali dance troup, a 20-member Mamta Shankar Ballet troupe and a 15-member youth delegation visited Japan. Exhibitions of Nand Lal Bose's paintings and Mithila arts and folk crafts were also held.

In the sports field, a 28-member team of roller skaters, an Indian contingent of wrestlers, a University team for Kobe Universiade were some of the groups that visited Japan.

From Japan too, a number of delegations consisting of parliamentarians, officials and businessmen visited India to discuss bilateral cooperation and collaboration. The City of Yokohama marked the 20th anniversary of its sister-city relationship with Bombay by observing a Bombay Week from 29 April to 6 May 1985.

Bilateral relations between India and the Republic of Korea were marked by increasing exchanges in economic and commercial fields. The former Chief Justice of India, Shri Y. V. Chandrachud visited the Republic of Korea from 12-17 May 1985, at the invitation of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of ROK. Shri T. N. Chaturvedi, Comptroller and Auditor General visited Seoul. Shri A. P. Venkateswaran, Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs led a delegation to Seoul for bilateral consultations in June 1985. Shri R. P. Khosla, Secretary, Steel, led a delegation to visit steel plants in South Korea in August 1985. A 14-member Indian official delegation headed by Shri V. P. Singh, Finance Minister participated in the annual IBRD/IMF meeting at Seoul. A delegation from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, All India Radio, and Doordarshan visited ROK from 19-31 October, to attend the 22nd General Assembly and Associated meetings of the Asia Pacific Broadcasting Union.

During the visit in July 1985 of the ROK Foreign Minister Mr. Won Kyung Lee, India-ROK relations were discussed as also views exchanged on the major international issues and the situation in the Korean Peninsula.

A 14-member Korean trade mission sponsored by the Korean Trade Promotion Corporation explored the possibilities of promoting Korean exports to India and to establish joint ventures with India.

The 5th round of India-ROK trade talks were held at Seoul in November 1985. The ROK agreed to the removal of certain tariff and non-tariff restrictions on the
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import of some items from India and also to send a buying mission to India to increase the import of Indian goods. During the talks, joint ventures including those in third countries were discussed. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the State Trading Corporation of India and Daewoo Corporation to develop trade volume on a planned basis. These exchanges culminated in the visit of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea to India in March 1986.

In April 1985, the Vice-Premier of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), Kim Yong Nam led a delegation on an official visit to India. He paid a courtesy call on the President and the Prime Minister and held bilateral talks with the Minister of State for External Affairs. A delegation led by the DPRK Minister for Foreign Trade participated in the International Conference on the Global System of Trade Preferences held in July 1985 in New Delhi. A Workers' Party of Korea delegation, led by Mr. Kim Bongju, also visited India in August 1985.

The DPRK-India trade talks were held in December 1985 to explore the possibility of diversifying and extending the two-way trade, considering the recent decline in trade exchanges between the two countries.

The Cultural Exchange Programme for 1985-86 was finalised during the visit of an Indian delegation to the DPRK.

On 24 December 1985, the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Mongolia was celebrated. Both India and Mongolia have consistently maintained warm and friendly ties. Messages emphasising these ties were exchanged on the occasion between the two Heads of Government and the Minister of External Affairs of India and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia.

A Parliamentary delegation led by Dr. Balram Jakhar, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, visited Mongolia in October 1985. A cultural troupe also visited Mongolia in September 1985.

Mr. D. Yondon, first Deputy Foreign Minister of Mongolia paid an official visit to India in March 1985. He called on the Prime Minister. The Deputy Foreign Minister of Mongolia and Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs exchanged views on international situation and on bilateral relations.
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WEST ASIA AND NORTH AFRICA

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India's traditional and deep rooted ties with the Arab States of West Asia and North Africa and with Iran were further intensified and strengthened during 1985. In this period, several high level exchanges took place, the most notable, of course, being the visits of the Prime Minister to Egypt and Algeria in June 1985 during which he had wide-ranging discussions with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and President Chadli Bendjedid of Algeria on matters of bilateral and international importance.

During 1985, as in the past, India was active in its support of the Palestinian people. It was instrumental in the convening of a meeting of the Non-aligned Committee on Palestine in New Delhi in April 1985. The Committee recommended that the convening of an international peace conference under the aegis of the United Nations offered the best, if not the only path, to the attainment and exercise of the inahenable rights of the Palestinian people and to a comprehensive, just and durable peace in West Asia. India strongly condemned the Israeli bombing of the PLO Headquarters in Tunis in October 1985 and the Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi sent messages of solidarity and support to both the PLO Chairman and the Tunisian Prime Minister. India also supported resolutions condemning this attack in the UN Security Council and in the International Civil Aviation Organisation. Chairman Yasser Arafat visited India twice during the year-first in April 1985 to attend the Non-aligned Coordinating Bureau meeting and again in November 1985 to attend the Non-aligned Youth Conference.

The situation in Lebanon continued to be a matter of concern to India. India stands for the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Lebanon, beginning with those of Israel and, in this context, it reiterated its support for the UN Security Council resolutions 508 & 509. India hopes that the Lebanonese people will, in a spirit of national reconciliation, be able to bring about peace and security in Lebanon. India has always stood for a strong, united and non-aligned Lebanon.

Indo-Algerian ties are poised to become a model of South-South cooperation. During 1985, there was a considerable increase in commercial exchanges between
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the two countries and many possibilities for mutual cooperation were identified which would enable India to secure several project contracts in Algeria in the near future. With a view to enhancing the range and scope of industrial, technical and commercial cooperation between the two countries, the Algerian Vice-Minister of Chemical and Petro-Chemical Industries, Mr. Hadj Haoussine, led a high powered delegation to India in April 1985.

As in 1984, India continued its efforts to improve relations with Morocco. An Indian delegation led by the then Minister of State for Commerce, Shri P.A. Sangma, visited Rabat in May 1985 for the Indo-Moroccan Joint Committee meeting which had been set up under the Indo-Moroccan Trade Agreement of 1981. Subsequently, during 1985 an Indo-Moroccan Cultural Agreement was signed. In March 1985 India received the Moroccan Speaker, Mr. Ahmed Osman and thereafter the Moroccan Minister for Culture, Mr. Mohammed Benaissa, as Special Envoys of the King. The Prime Minister also sent a Special Envoy to Morocco in September 1985 with a message for the King of Morocco in these circumstances, it was unfortunate that Morocco chose to break off diplomatic relations with India on 1 October 1985 following India's recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). It may be mentioned that India's decision to recognise the SADR was taken only after extensive consultations with all parties concerned including Morocco. Moreover, this decision was in tune with India's policy of supporting freedom struggles and genuine liberation movements the world over, as also with its policy of being guided by the decisions taken by the competent regional organisation in this case the OAU-which admitted the SADR as an active member and of which the SADR was elected a Vice-President.

Shri Khursheed Alam Khan, former Minister of State for External Affairs, visited Libya in August 1985 for pre-Luanda consultations. During the visit there was also a mutually beneficial exchange of views on a wide-range of bilateral and international issues. In addition, a Cultural Agreement was also signed.

The Tunisian Minister for Planning, Mr. Ismail Khelil visited India in March 1985 in order to identify new areas of economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries. This visit has successfully paved the ground for the next meeting of the Indo-Tunisian Joint Commission.

The first meeting of the Indo-Egyptian Joint Commission was held in New Delhi in November 1985. The Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Planning
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and International Cooperation, Dr. Kamal EI Ganzouri, led his country's delegation to this meeting. The Joint Commission identified several measures during the meeting for increasing industrial, commercial, economic and technical cooperation between the two countries.

India also maintained close contacts with the countries in the Gulf region. The Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, made an official visit to Oman on 17 & 18 November 1985 on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the accession to the throne by Sultan Qaboos bin Said. The visit, soon after the sixth Summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Muscat (Oman), lent further strength to India's close relations with the Gulf countries.

The former Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Khursheed Alam Khan, paid an official visit in May 1985 to the United Arab Emirates leading the Indian delegation to the Indo- UAE Joint Commission meeting. The visit further strengthened the growing bilateial relations between the two countries.

The continuing Iran-Iraq war, which started in September 1980, was a constant subject of India's attention. Efforts were made both as a friendly country and as Chairman of NAM to find ways and means to bring about a peaceful end to the war through negotiations. When the conflict escalated with the resumption of attacks on civilian targets by both the countries, our Prime Minister sent urgent messages to the Presidents of Iran and Iraq on 13 March 1985 urging an end to the attacks on civilian population as a first step to be followed by other measures of de-escalation leading ultimately to cessation of hostilities. He followed this up with a public appeal on 15 March 1985 andt hereafter sent the Minister of State for External Affairs as his Special Emissary to the concerned capitals to achieve the objective of peace in the region. Unfortunately, the differences in the respective positions of Iran and Iraq remained too wide for any effort to succeed. However, India continued to maintain good and friendly relations with each side and bilateral cooperation progressed smoothly with both Iran and Iraq.

Heavy fighting erupted in the Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen on 13 January 1986 following internal rivalries. President, Ali Nasser Mohammed was deposed and replaced by Dr. Abu Baker Al- Attas. There were some 3000 Indian nationals in PDRY. Some 425 of them were able to reach Djibouti during the fighting and were evacuated from there to India. Eleven Indian nationals were killed accidentally during the fighting. The
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Indian Embassy personnel remained at their posts throughout. The Government of India sought and received assurances from the PDRY Government regarding safety and security of all Indian nationals who wished to continue to work there.

India's relations with Saudi Arabia remained on a firm footing and cooperation in different spheres showed steady progress.

There are an estimated 9.6 lakhs Indian migrant workers in the Gulf region. A significant step was achieved when the Labour Minister of Qatar visited India in April 1985 and signed a Labour Agreement with India. This agreement is the first one signed with any country in the Gulf and provides for safeguarding the interests of Indian nationals within the parameters of Indian and local labour laws. This agreement could provide the basis for similar agreements with other countries.

The economic recession in the Gulf countries due to the decline in the price of crude oil has resulted in a sharp reduction in new job opportunities in the Gulf. While there has been substantial increase in the number of Indian nationals in Oman and the Yemen Arab Republic, there has been decrease in Saudi Arabia, Iran and Iraq. The Indian emigrants in the Gulf are by and large prosperous and happy. However, considering their large numbers, problems do arise from time to time. The Indian Missions continue to provide necessary consular help to them.
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AFRICA (SOUTH OF THE SAHARA)

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AFRICA (SOUTH OF THE SAHARA) India's relations with African countries South of the Sahara continued to develop satisfactorily during the year. Both as Chairman of NAM and bilaterally, India played its role during 1985, in assisting the many countries of Africa suffering from drought and famine, and in focusing attention on South Africa's continued illegal occupation of Namibia, as well as the deteriorating situation within that country. The Pretoria regime's repression of the majority black population of South Africa, and the people's resistance to apartheid and struggle for equal rights, dominated the deliberations of NAM, the UN, and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at Nassau. In all these meetings, India championed the cause of the oppressed people of South Africa.

The gift of 100,000 tonnes of wheat to famine-affected African countries announced in 1984 was shipped in 1985; the recipients were Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania. In addition, India announced a contribution of Rs. 12 crores to the OAU's Special Emergency Assistance Fund for Drought and Famine in Africa, for the purchase of cereals from India. The outgoing Acting Secretary-General of the OAU, in his report to the meeting of the Council of Ministers preceding the 21st OAU Summit in July 1985, expressed happiness at the Government of India leading the way in regard to the contributions for this Emergency Fund. At the Extra-ordinary Ministerial meeting of the Non-aligned Coordinating Bureau in New Delhi in April 1985, which gave its primary attention to Namibia's freedom struggle, the critical economic situation in Africa was also considered, and a Plan of Action was adopted to meet immediate requirements, as well as to evolve a medium and long-term strategy. India was chosen as the focal point to monitor this Plan, and to coordinate offers of assistance. Under this Plan, India will provide technical expertise for agricultural projects in seven sub-Saharan countries. Bilaterally, India continued to give material assistance to the liberation movements in southern Africa, contributed relief supplies, mostly in the form of medicines, to countries afflicted by natural calamities, besides providing scholarships and traineeships to nationals of a number of African countries. Experts in various fields, particularly in water management and education, were also deputed to African countries, as in the past.
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Notable under the head of bilateral assistance during 1985 is the new government credit of Rs. 5 crores and the EXIM Bank credit of another Rs. 5 crores committed to Mauritius. An additional grant of Rs. 50 lakhs to the Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital project, the gifting of 10,000 tonnes of wheat flour and 500 tonnes of pulses, and the annual increase in the number of scholarships to 100, have also been made available to Mauritius. These were agreed upon during the visit of the Mauritian Prime Minister, Mr. Anerood Jugnauth, to New Delhi in April 1985. During the Third Session of the Indo-Mauritian Joint Commission in New Delhi in August 1985. India agreed to provide additional assistance of the approximate value of Rs. 3.2 crores for 23 different projects.

During the NAM Ministerial Coordinating Bureau Meeting in New Delhi in April 1985, the Prime Minister announced India's decision to accord full diplomatic status to the SWAPO Representative in India. During that meeting as well as at the NAM Ministerial meeting at Luanda and at the UN, India forcefully reiterated its stand that the "Interim Administration" set up by the Pretoria regime in Namibia, with the connivance of the discredited and unrepresentative Multi-Party Conference was illegal, that the UN Security Council Resolution 435 was the only basis for a settlement of the issue, that SWAPO was the only legitimate representative of the Namibian people, and that extraneous issues, like the withdrawal of Cuban troops from Angola, should not be linked to the question of the independence of Namibia. Elimination of apartheid and the establishment of a non-racial representative government in South Africa, was a subject which dominated the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at Nassau in October 1985. India was able to assist in achieving a consensus among the Commonwealth members for a Programme of Common Action against Pretoria. India has nominated Shri Swaran Singh as its representative on the seven-member Group of Eminent Persons set up during the Meeting, to promote political dialogue and to monitor the progress of the South African regime's responses.


The situation in South Africa and the regime's attempts to sow dissension among its opponents were discussed in the Indian Parliament. Both Houses condemned the violence against the people of Indian origin near Durban and the destruction of institutions associated with Mahatma Gandhi's stay in South Africa, which had been instigated by the regime.

In the process of fostering goodwill and cooperation between India and African countries, India played host to more than a dozen important visitors and their delegations during the year, including President Nyerere of Tanzania, Chairman Mengistu
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Haile Mariam of Ethiopia, Prime Minister Anerood Jugnauth of Mauritius, President Sam Nujoma of SWAPO, Foreign Minister Witness M. Mangwende of Zimbabwe, Defence Minister Ogilvy Berlouis of Seychelles, Foreign Trade Minister Wollie Chekol and Industry Minister Hailu Yimenu of Ethiopia, and several Ministers and senior officials from Mauritius and other countries. Chairman Mengistu Haile Mariam was accompanied by members of the Politbureau of the ruling Workers Party as well as by the Ministers of Industry, Transport and Communications, and Foreign Affairs. A Memorandum of Understanding for Economic Cooperation was signed between India and Ethiopia during the visit.

India's Vice-President, accompanied by S/Shri A.P. Sharma and G.S. Dhillon, MP attended the funeral of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, Governor General of Mauritius, who passed away in December 1985. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Dr. Balram Jakhar visited Mauritius in May 1985 to attend the 16th African Regional Conference of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. The Speaker also visited Lome (Togo) in March 1985 to attend the 73rd Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference. Shri P.A. Sangma, former Minister of State for Commerce, represented India at the 25th Independence Anniversary of Madagascar in June 1985. S/Shri P.N. Sukul and Aziz Quereshi, MPs attended Mozambique's 10th Independence Anniversary in June 1985. Shri Eduardo Faleiro, MP, paid a goodwill visit to Cape Verde, Senegal and Ivory Coast in October 1985. General A.S. Vaidya, the then Chief of the Army Staff paid a brief visit to Nigeria in July 1985, at the invitation of his counterpart Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, who later became President, after the change of government in August 1985. He also visited Botswana at the invitation of the Commander of Botswana Defence Forces. As a gesture of goodwill, the Indian Naval Ships "Rajput" and "Shakti" visited Seychelles on its National Day in June 1985. INS "Shakti", "Godavari", "Taragari" and "Trishul" also made goodwill visits to Seychelles, Kenya and Tanzania in November 1985.

The rioting and disorders that followed the coup d'etat in Uganda in July 1985, that overthrew President Milton Obote, caused some panic among the Indian community in that country. Arrangements were made for the temporary evacuation of about 300 Indian nationals to neighbouring Kenya, and those who wished to come to India were also helped to do so.

Through the efforts of our Mission in Nigeria all the persons who had been detained in Nigeria after the change of government at the end of 1983, were released by the new military Government which came to power in August 1985.
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EUROPE

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Although pre-occupied with immediate concerns, most of the countries of Western Europe, now restored and prosperous after World War II, are increasingly seeking once again an active role, albeit buttressed by the NATO umbrella. With economies that are highly export dependent, they continue to seek wider world openings for their trade.

India with its growing economy, an avowed intention to adapt advanced technologies in several spheres, and a liberalised import policy has therefore been one of the target countries for West Europe on commercial interest during the year. The stability and direction provided by the new Indian leadership, particularly after the events of 1984, re-affirmed the confidence of these nations in India as a reliable partner in economic and industrial exchanges. This has led to several of these advanced countries coming forward to tap the Indian market with offers of capital goods, know-how and investment. While the growth of Indian exports to these countries has recorded some increase our balance of trade with them continues to be negative, and therefore, of concern to us. Visiting ministers from West Europe have almost invariably brought with them large delegations of industrialists and businessmen interested in joint collaborations with and investments in India. These contacts, as well as the strengthening of inter-governmental structures for commercial and economic cooperation by means of regular official meetings, should help improve,both the level and content of India's interaction with Western Europe.

Perhaps more than in any one year in the past decade, this year has witnessed the largest exchange of visits between India and Western Europe. Besides the visits of the Prime Ministers of Greece and Sweden in January 1985 for participation in the Six- Nation Summit on Nuclear Disarmament, a stop-over visit in April 1985 by the British Prime Minister and a state visit by the Queen of Netherlands. India was happy to welcome the Pope,the Crown Prince of Norway, and once again the Prime Ministers of Sweden and Greece in the first two months of 1986. The Government of India received with shock the news of the tragic assassination of Mr. Olaf Palme, the Prime Minister of Sweden in Stockholm on 28 February, 1986. The Government of India observed a day's State mourning in honour of the departed Swedish Leader. Rich tributes were paid to Mr. Palme, in both Houses of Parliament, which adjourned after observing a two-minute silence.

The Prime Minister made an official visit to France in June 1985 during which, apart from the inauguration of the Festival of India in Paris, bilateral and international
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issues were discussed in depth. During the discussions with the British leaders in October 1985 when the Prime Minister visited London, we conveyed our serious concern to the UK about the continuing anti-Indian activities of Sikh extremists from their soil. The Prime Minister's visit in the same month to the Netherlands, although brief was significant in that it reaffirmed to both our countries the importance we attach to ongoing and closer Indo-Dutch cooperation in several fields.

Other Ministerial visits in the ecnonomic, industrial, cultural and educational fields between India and Western Europe during this period have been many, quite apart from those of parliamentary delegations, industrial and business groups, academicians, journalists etc. With Western Europe now playing a key role in world economy, and being a viable source of high technology inputs for India, closer contacts with West Europe cannot but be to our advantage.

Anti-Indian extremist activity in Western Europe has been continuously monitored by us and we have been in close contact with the Governments of the countries concerned in order to control extremist elements there, and most governments, have been responsive to our concern in this matter. In,March 1985 the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany gave us their assurance that they would firmly control activitics directed against the unity and integrity of India, and that illegal activities of Sikh extremists would not be tolerated. While the UK Government has also taken some steps against anti-Indian extremists, pro-Khalistani Sikhs and JKLF supporters continue to be active there. We are pursuing our demarches with the UK Government in order to see that concrete steps are taken to put an end to such activities.

India continued to maintain friendly and cordial relations with the Soviet Union and other socialist countries of Eastern Europe. There was a fruitful growth in our economic and cultural exchanges with these countries.

The Vice-President, Shri R.Venkataraman visited Bulgaria, the German Democratic Republic and Yogoslavia, in November 1985. The Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi visited the Soviet Union. There was a visit to Poland by a parliamentary delegation led by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Shri H.K.L. Bhagat. There were other visits at the level of Union Ministers.
Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi visited the Soviet Union in March 1985 to pay respects to the memory of President Cherneko. During the visit he had talks with the newly elected General Secretary of the CPSU Central Committee, Mr. M.S.Gorbachev. The Prime Minister's visit in May 1985 was a leading event in Indo- Soviet relations. His meetings with General Secretary Mr. Gorbachev provided the occasion for an extensive review of bilateral relations and major international issues. The dialogue was continued during the Prime Minister's brief stop over in Moscow in October 1985.
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Two important agreements were signed during the May 1985 visit i.e.an Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation providing for Soviet participation in industrial projects in leading sectors, being taken up in India, and an Agreement on the Main Directions on Economic, Trade and Scientific and Technical Cooperation upto the year 2000.

The ninth meeting of the Indo-Soviet Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation was held in Moscow in April 1985. The Indian side was led by the Minister of Home Affairs Shri S.B. Chavan and the Soviet side by, the Soviet First Deputy Prime Minister Mr. L.V.Arkhipov. The meeting reviewed and provided guidelines for the development of bilateral economic cooperation, and also prepared for the Prime Minister's visit. Indo-Soviet trade maintained a good tempo of growth. A notable event was the signing of the Long Term Trade and Payments Agreement for 1986-90 which envisages an increase in the turnover by one and half to two times over the, figure for the preceding five-year period. The agreement was signed in Moscow by the then Minister of Commerce, Shri Arjun Singh and the Soviet Minister of Foreign Trade, Mr. B. Aristov. A highlight of bilateral cooperation in science and technology was the exhibition of Indian Science and technology held in Moscow in September 1985 when the Minister of State for Science & Technology Shri Shivraj Patil visited the Soviet Union. There was fruitful inter-action in many other sectors of the economy.

Exchanges in culture, arts, education, sports and other fields also developed well. A leading event was the decision to hold a Festival of Indian culture in the USSR in mid-1987 to be followed by a Festival of Soviet culture in India in the winter of 1987. Other leading visitors from India to the Soviet Union during this period were the Defence Minister, the Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting Shri N.V. Gadgil and the Minister of State for Culture Smt. Sushila Rohatgi.

India hosted a delegation led by the Vice-President of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and the President of the Kirghiz SSR, Mr. T. H. Kashoev, on the occasion of Independence Day and the anniversary of the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation.

The Vice-President Shri R. Venkataraman paid an official visit to Bulgaria in November 1985 during which he had talks with President Zhivkov and First Vice-President Peter Tanchev. Bilateral relations and issues of world politics were discussed. There were active exchanges in trade and economic cooperation, culture and in other areas.
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Bilateral contacts with Czechoslovakia in political, economic and cultural fields grew satisfactorily during the period under review. The Minister of Foreign Trade, Mr. B. Urban visited India in mid-1985. The visit provided an occasion for a review of trade and bilateral economic relations. The Trade Plan for 1986 was also concluded during the year. The next meeting of the Indo- Czechoslovak Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation is due to take place shortly. Cooperation in culture and other fields also developed well during the year.

The Vice-President paid an official visit to the German Democratic Republic in November 1985 during which he had talks with Chairman Honecker and Vice Chairman Krenz. The visit provided an occasion for reviewing bilateral relations and leading political issues. The Indo-GDR Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation met in New Delhi in November 1985. The two sides were led respectively by the Minister of Industry, Shri N.D. Tiwari and the GDR Minister of Foreign Trade Mr. H.Solle. The Trade and Payments Agreement for 1986 was signed in New Delhi. The most notworthy event in cultural relations was the holding of "Days of Indian Culture in the GDR" in October 1985. The Minister of State for Culture Smt. S. Rohatgi visited the GDR on this occasion.

Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the National Planning Office of Hungary, Mr. Faluvegi visited India in October 1985. During the visit,there was an exchange of views on bilateral relations, particularly economic cooperation as well as on questions of world politics. A Protocol was signed on cooperation in science and technology. The visit was immediately preceded by a Hungarian week in India devoted to an exposition of the Hungarian economy. A delegation of the Hungarian Foreign Ministry led by Secretary of State Mr. Hom visited India for official level talks in January 1986.

The Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Polish People's Republic, Gen. W. Jaruzelski paid an official visit to India in February 1985. The talks he held with Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi covered bilateral relations as well as major questions of world politics. Members of the Polish delegation which included the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Deputy Prime Minister and Co-Chairman of the Indo-Polish Joint Commission Minister of Metallurgy and Heavy Industry, the Minister of Mines and Power, the Chairman of the State Committee for Radio and Television, held discussions with their counterparts During the visit, an agreement was signed on cooperation in the field of Radio and Television as well. Programmes of cooperation in the peaceful uses-of Atomic Energy and Cooperation in Science and Technology were signed during 1985. The 9th session of the
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Indo-Polish Joint Commission was hold in Warsaw in January- February 1985. The two sides were led by Minister of Steel, Coal and Mines, Shri V. Sathe and by Mr. Obodowski, Deputy Prime Minister. The Trade Plan for 1.986 was also signed at the end of 1985.

The Indo-Romnanian Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation held its meeting in New Delhi in November 1985. The Indian side was led by the then Minister of Commerce Shri Arjun Singh and the Romanian side by the Minister of Metallurgy, Mr. Nicolai Agaci. The Trade and Payments Agreement for 1986-90 was signed in December 1985, in Bucharest. These meetings provided an opportunity for an in-depth review of economic cooperation in diverse fields and for examining means of increasing cooperation as well as an occasion for an exchange of views on bilateral. relations.

The Vice-President, Shri R. Venkataraman paid an official visit to Yugoslavia in November 1985. The talk he held with President Vlahovic and Vice-President Mr. Sukrija related to bilatral relations as well as leading issues of world politics, and the activity of India and Yugoslavia in the Non-aliqued Movement. The meeting of the Joint Committec for Economic, Scientific and Telhnical Cooperation held in August 1985 in New Delhi was an occasion for a comprehensive review of Indo-Yugoslav economic cooperation and trade.

During the year, high level visits were supplemented by contacts at other political as well as at official levels.
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THE AMERICAS NORTH AMERICA

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Indo-US relations have been marked by greater understanding and cooperation during 1985-86. A major development in bilateral relations was the visit of the Prime Minister to USA from 11-15 June 1985. The Prime Minister had wide-ranging discussions with President Reagan and his cabinet colleagues. He addressed aJoint Session on the Congress, met prominent scientists, representatives of the media and industry, as-also the Indian Community. In Washington the Prime Minister also inaugurated the Festival of India which was dedicated to the memory of Shrimati Indira Gandhi. The festival would continue till the end of 1986 with a wide-range of cultural and intellectual eventsall over the USA. It has already enhanced awareness of India in the American public.

During his visit to New York in October 1985. for the 40th Anniversary Celebrations of the United Nations, the Prime Minister had another opportunity to meet President Reagan. There has also been increased exchange of visitors between India and the USA, including members of the two countries' legislatures, government officials, academics and businessmen,

USA is India's largest trading partner. Indian exports to USA in 1984 amounted to Rs. 3061 crores (2551.4 million) while imports from USA were of the value of Rs. 1857 crores (1548.1 million). A Memorandum of Lhiderstanding (MOU) on techno logy transfer signed in November 1984 and finallseed by nud-1 985 opened now avenues for Indo-US cooperation.

Developments in India continued to receive media attention. The Punjab accord and the holding of the elections in that State, the settlement in Assam followed by elections, and the new econoinic policy received favourable comment. The detection of conspiracies against the person of the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of Haryana, activities of extremist groups like the World Sikh Organisation and the training of extremists in a mercenary training school in USA were the cause of deep concern in India. India has welcomed the desire of the United States Government to cooperate with us in curbing the international dimensions of terrorist violence against India, and noted sonic positive steps taken in this regard.
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India and the USA have some differences in their perception and approach to some international issucs. There are also some differences over regional issues. However, both sides have kept in touchion a variety of issues in order to narrow the differences and enhance mutual undcrstandine. At the saime time, both sides have been making Lin Vffort to build on the many common areas of interest to mutual benefit.

In the second half of 1985, high level bilateral contacts between Indian and Canada set the tone for a relationship of greater mutual understanding. The Prime Minister met the Canadian Prime Minister Mr. Brian Mulroney in October 1985 during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Nassau, the Bahamas. The two leaders worked closely together on the question of South Africa. The Canadian Secretary of State for External Affairs, Mr. Joseph Clark paid an official visit to India from 14-19 November 1985. The talks between the two Ministers for External Affairs covered bilateral" regional and international issues. It was agreed to hold annual consultations at the Foreign Minister levzl. The Speaker of the Lek Sabha, Dr. Balram Jakhar led a delegation of Indian Parliamentarians to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference at Saskatchewan from 2-12 October 1985.

India has been deeply concerned about the activities of extremists in Canada, wbich included violence against Indian diplomats, a bate campaign against Indian lead ers, misrepresentation of developments in India through the community media, etc. The tragic dimension of the problem was highlighted when Air India Flight 182 crashed off the coast of Ireland in June 1985 apparently due to sabotage.

The Canadian Government took some steps to counter extremist activities against India by Canada-based elements. These included the piovision of greater security to our diplomatic staff, the extension of Part-II of the Canadian Extradition Act to India effective from 31 October 1985 and the lifting of the 17-month moratorium on the deportation of Sikhs found to be in Canada in contravention of the Immigration Act. Both sides have also agreed to conclude an Extradition Treaty.

Two way Indo-Canadian trade in 1984 amounted to approximately Rs. 553 crores (615 million) with the balance in favour of Canada. In December 1985 economic consultations were hold in New Delhi. Canada has expressed interest in strengthening economic relations and offcred to support various development projects.

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
During the period under review Indi's relations with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean continued to develop satisfactorily. Exchanges of high level visits and
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the signing of bilatrical agreements contributed to the strongthening of relations and the increase the. cooperation between India and the countries of the region. Particularly significant were the visits of the Presidents of Argentina and Mexico and the Prinle Minister of Trinidad & Tobago to India and the visit of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to Cuba. The Presidents of Argentina and Mexico particularly in the Six-Nation DisarLanient Summit in New Delhi January 1985.

President Raul Alfonsin of Argentina paid a State visit to India from 23-29 January 1985. During this visit three bilateral agreements were signed Agreement on Economic Cooperation; Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation; and Cultural Exchange Programme for 1985-87.

India sponsored, along with Algeria, Brazil" Ghana, Mexico, Uruguay and Yugoslavia a resolution in the UN General Assembly (adopted on 27 November 1985) calling upon Argentina and the U.K. to initiate negotiations with a view to resolving peace.fully'and definitely the pending problems between both countries including all aspects of the future of the Falkland s (Malvinas). The resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority with 107 in favour, 4 against and 41 abstentions.



During the visit of President Miguel De La Madrid of Mexico from 27-31 January 1985 to India, three agreements were signed: Memorandum of Understanding on Industrial Cooperation; Protocol on Cooperation in Bio-technology; and a Cultural Exchange Programme for 1985-87. An industrial delegation from Mexico visited India in March 1985. Dr. Octavio Paz, a poet of international stature and a former Ambassador of Mexico to India, visited India in November 1985 to deliver the Nehru Memorial Lecture.

Two major earthquakes hit Mexico City in September 1985 resulting in over 5000 deaths and extensive damage to property. Messages of sympathy were sent by the President and the Prime Minister to the President of Mexico. India also donated emergency medical relief supplies to the value of Rs. 10 lakhs for the earthquake victims, for which the Government of Mexico expressed its appreciation.

During the visit of Mr George Michael Chambers, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, to India from 29 July to 1 August 1985 an Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the two countries was signed. Two Judges of the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago visited India in September 1985 under the Commonwealth Judicial Exchange Programme.
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The Foreign Minister of Brazil Dr. Olavo Egydio Setubal, who led the Brazilian delegation to the New Delhi Global System of Trade Preferences Conference in July 1985, stayed on for bilateral talks from 22-24 July 1985. An Agreement on Cooperation in Science & Technology between India and Brazil was signed during the visit.

Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi received a very warm welcome during his two-day official visit to Cuba on 21-22 October 1985, the first by an Indian Prime Minister. The Prime Minister received Cuba's highest national award named in honour of Jose Martin on benalf of the late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi to whom it was posthumously awarded.

Dr. Raja Ramanna, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission visited Cuba in May 1985 and a bilateral Agreement on Cooperation regarding the utilization of Atomic Energy for peaceful purposes was concluded during the visit. Cuba's Foreign Trade Minister, Mr. Ricardo Cabrisas, paid an official visit to India in September 1985.

Following Nicaragua's elections in November 1984, President Daniel Ortega Saavedra, was inaugurated on 10 January 1985. India was represonted at the ceremony by Shri Eduardo Faleiro, M.P. In response to a request from the Government of Nicaragua India gifted medicines worth Rs. 1 lakh to Nicaragua. A special Envoy of the President of Nicaragua, Pedro Antonio Blandon, Vice- Minister of International Cooperation visited India in March 1985. Nicaragua's Foreign Minister, Mr. Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann paid an official visit to India from 19-23 November 1985. Nicaragua opened an Embassy in New Delhi in November 1985.

A climate of tension and violence continued in Central America, particularly Nicaragua, giving rise to concern at the possibility of enlarged armed conflict. India, on various occasions, expressed continued support for the efforts of the Contadora Group to work out an Act for Peace in the region which would defuse and end tensions, and welcomed the formation, in August, of a 'Support Group' of four democracies of Latin America i.e. Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Uruguay.

Elections for the Presidency and Parliament were held in Peru in April 1985, Mr. Alan Garcia Perez, assumed charge as President on 28 July 1985. India was represented at the inaugural ceremony by Smt. Mohsina Kidwai, Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Shri Arun Singh, the then Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister. Peru's Minister for Industry and Commerce, Mr. Cesar Atala, paid an official visit to India in October 1985.
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In February 1985, Shri P.K. Thungon, M.P. visited Suriname as official representative for the Fifth Anniversary of the February Revolution of Suriname. The Government of Suriname named an important road after the late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi.

Refuting various news reports about the recognition of the self-styled "Republic of Khalistan," inspired by separatist elements, the Government of Ecuador issued a categoricatatement declaring that it does not recognise, or have official contacts with, any separatist group which calls itself "Republic of Khalistan" or by whatever name, nor will it allow anti-Indian activities from its territory.

Ecuador closed its resident Embassy in New Delhi which had been opened the previous year. The Government of Ecuador conveyed that their decision was purely for economic reasons and in no way affected Ecuador's desire to continue and strengthen cordial relations with India. The Ambassador of Ecuador in Cairo has been concurrently accredited as Ambassador to India.

Shri P.K. Thungon, M.P. also represented India at the inauguration of President Julio Sanguinetti of Uruguay which took place in March 1985, marking Uruguay's return to democratic government after 11 years of military rule.

Shri Ashok Sen, Minister for Law and Justice represented India at the funeral of the late President Burnham of Guyana, in August 1985. The Foreign Minister of the Bahamas, Clement T. Maynard, visited India in July 1985. India donated sports goods worth Rs. 1 lakh to Jamaica. A Parliamentary Delegation led by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Dr. Balram Jakhar, visited Colombia in February/March 1985.

A devastating volcanic eruption in Colombia in November 1985 destroyed Armero town and left a toll of over 25,000 dead and thousands injured. The President and the Prime Minister sent messages of sympathy to the President of Colombia.

During the period under review a cultural troupe visited some countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region. Ms. Kiran Segal led a nine-member dance troupe to Venezuela, Cuba, Costa Rica, Colombia, Jamaica, Panama and Suriname in October/November 1985.
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During the visit of President Miguel De La Madrid of Mexico from 27-31 January 1985 to India, three agreements were signed: Memorandum of Understanding on Industrial Cooperation; Protocol on Cooperation in Bio-technology; and a Cultural Exchange Programme for 1985-87. An industrial delegation from Mexico visited India in March 1985. Dr. Octavio Paz, a poet of international stature and a former Ambassador of Mexico to India, visited India in November 1985 to deliver the Nehru Memorial Lecture.

Two major earthquakes hit Mexico City in September 1985 resulting in over 5000 deaths and extensive damage to property. Messages of sympathy were sent by the President and the Prime Minister to the President of Mexico. India also donated emergency medical relief supplies to the value of Rs. 10 lakhs for the earthquake victims, for which the Government of Mexico expressed its appreciation.

During the visit of Mr George Michael Chambers, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, to India from 29 July to 1 August 1985 an Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the two countries was signed. Two Judges of the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago visited India in September 1985 under the Commonwealth Judicial Exchange Programme.
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The Foreign Minister of Brazil Dr. Olavo Egydio Setubal, who led the Brazilian delegation to the New Delhi Global System of Trade Preferences Conference in July 1985, stayed on for bilateral talks from 22-24 July 1985. An Agreement on Cooperation in Science & Technology between India and Brazil was signed during the visit.

Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi received a very warm welcome during his two-day official visit to Cuba on 21-22 October 1985, the first by an Indian Prime Minister. The Prime Minister received Cuba's highest national award named in honour of Jose Martin on benalf of the late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi to whom it was posthumously awarded.

Dr. Raja Ramanna, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission visited Cuba in May 1985 and a bilateral Agreement on Cooperation regarding the utilization of Atomic Energy for peaceful purposes was concluded during the visit. Cuba's Foreign Trade Minister, Mr. Ricardo Cabrisas, paid an official visit to India in September 1985.

Following Nicaragua's elections in November 1984, President Daniel Ortega Saavedra, was inaugurated on 10 January 1985. India was represonted at the ceremony by Shri Eduardo Faleiro, M.P. In response to a request from the Government of Nicaragua India gifted medicines worth Rs. 1 lakh to Nicaragua. A special Envoy of the President of Nicaragua, Pedro Antonio Blandon, Vice- Minister of International Cooperation visited India in March 1985. Nicaragua's Foreign Minister, Mr. Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann paid an official visit to India from 19-23 November 1985. Nicaragua opened an Embassy in New Delhi in November 1985.

A climate of tension and violence continued in Central America, particularly Nicaragua, giving rise to concern at the possibility of enlarged armed conflict. India, on various occasions, expressed continued support for the efforts of the Contadora Group to work out an Act for Peace in the region which would defuse and end tensions, and welcomed the formation, in August, of a 'Support Group' of four democracies of Latin America i.e. Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Uruguay.

Elections for the Presidency and Parliament were held in Peru in April 1985, Mr. Alan Garcia Perez, assumed charge as President on 28 July 1985. India was represented at the inaugural ceremony by Smt. Mohsina Kidwai, Minister for Health & Family Welfare and Shri Arun Singh, the then Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister. Peru's Minister for Industry and Commerce, Mr. Cesar Atala, paid an official visit to India in October 1985.
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In February 1985, Shri P.K. Thungon, M.P. visited Suriname as official representative for the Fifth Anniversary of the February Revolution of Suriname. The Government of Suriname named an important road after the late Prime Minister, Smt. Indira Gandhi.

Refuting various news reports about the recognition of the self-styled "Republic of Khalistan," inspired by separatist elements, the Government of Ecuador issued a categoricatatement declaring that it does not recognise, or have official contacts with, any separatist group which calls itself "Republic of Khalistan" or by whatever name, nor will it allow anti-Indian activities from its territory.

Ecuador closed its resident Embassy in New Delhi which had been opened the previous year. The Government of Ecuador conveyed that their decision was purely for economic reasons and in no way affected Ecuador's desire to continue and strengthen cordial relations with India. The Ambassador of Ecuador in Cairo has been concurrently accredited as Ambassador to India.

Shri P.K. Thungon, M.P. also represented India at the inauguration of President Julio Sanguinetti of Uruguay which took place in March 1985, marking Uruguay's return to democratic government after 11 years of military rule.

Shri Ashok Sen, Minister for Law and Justice represented India at the funeral of the late President Burnham of Guyana, in August 1985. The Foreign Minister of the Bahamas, Clement T. Maynard, visited India in July 1985. India donated sports goods worth Rs. 1 lakh to Jamaica. A Parliamentary Delegation led by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Dr. Balram Jakhar, visited Colombia in February/March 1985.

A devastating volcanic eruption in Colombia in November 1985 destroyed Armero town and left a toll of over 25,000 dead and thousands injured. The President and the Prime Minister sent messages of sympathy to the President of Colombia.

During the period under review a cultural troupe visited some countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region. Ms. Kiran Segal led a nine-member dance troupe to Venezuela, Cuba, Costa Rica, Colombia, Jamaica, Panama and Suriname in October/November 1985.
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UNITED NATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

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The year 1985 marked the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations, an event which was enthusiastically commemorated at the United Nations and around the world including India. The special commemorative session of the UN General Assembly in observance of the 40th anniversary was held from 14 to 24 October 1985. During the 40th General Assembly session, a total of 35 Heads of State, 33 Heads of Government and 43 Special Envoys addressed the Assembly, the vast majority of them during the special commemorative period. Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi visited New York in this connection from 22-24 October 1985. Among other Heads of State or Government present were the Presidents of USA, Yugoslavia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Prime Ministers of U.K., China, Canada, Sweden, Japan and Sri Lanka, Chancellors of FRG and Austria and Special Envoys from USSR and France.

The presence of an unprecedently large number of leadersat the UN for the 40th anniversary observance was itself a testimony to the faith and confidence reposed in the UN by the international community. The statements by various leaders contained a clear and unanimous reaffirmation of the continuing importance and relevance of the UN as a unique forum for finding solutions to pressing international problems in varied fields. A majority of statements at the commemorative session focused on pressing global and regional problems like disarmament, apartheid, Namibia, Middle East, Palestine, Central America, the debt issue etc.

The special commemorative session, however, failed to adopt a Declaration originally envisaged for the occasion. In spite of its best efforts, the Indian delegation, which chaired the informal drafting group to elaborate such a text, did not succeed in evolving a consensus. The commemorative session did however adopt a resolution by consensus, which declared 1986 as the International Year of Peace.

Security Council
India completed its 2-year term of the Security Council as a non-permanent member on 31 December 1985. The importance of India's membership of the Council for its fifth term during 1984- 85 was enhanced by its concurrent Chairmanship of the Movement of Non-aligned countries. India served as the President of the Council during
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February 1985. As many as 73 meetings were convened during 1985 and 21 resolutions adopted. India participated constructively in the deliberations of the Security Council on the various issues of which the Council was seized.

A Special Commemorative Meeting of the Security Council held on 26 September 1985 unanimously adopted a Declaration in which an urgent need to enhance the effectiveness of the Security Council in discharging its principal role of maintaining international peace and security was emphasised. The Indian statement at this meeting reiterated the undiminished faith of the Government and people of India in the UN and continued commitment to the purposes and principles enshrined in the Charter.

A significant development was the strong condemnation by the Security Council of all acts of hostage taking and abduction, and a call for the immediate safe release of all hostages and abducted persons wherever and by whomsoever they were being held. The Security Council took this action by unanimously adopting Resolution 579 on 18 December 1985 which was sponsored by Australia, Denmark, Egypt, France, Peru, Trinidad and Tobago, UK and the USA. India voted in favour of the Resolution. In the wake of the Achille Lauro incident, the Council also adopted a Presidential Declaration condemning "terrorism" wherever and by whomsoever committed. In another Declaration, the Council, condemning the terrorist attacks at the Rome and Vienna airports, called upon all concerned to exercise restraint and to refrain from taking any action inconsistent with their obligations under the UN Charter and international law.

Political Issues
India was active 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 firmly believes that in this nuclear age, disarmament is indispensable not only for world peace but for the very survival of mankind.

As a follow-up of the Joint Appeal of 22 May 1984, India took the initiative to call for an urgent dialogue between the Nuclear Weapon States. The Heads of State/ Government of Argentina, Greece, Mexico, India, Sweden and Tanzania met in New Delhi on 28 January 1985 and adopted the Delhi Declaration which, inter alia, reaffirmed the appeal of 1984 urging the Nuclear Weapon States to halt testing, production and deployment of nuclear weapons to be followed by programme of arms reduction, leading to general and complete disarmament. The Delhi Declaration further called for urgent steps to prevent the arms race in Outer Space and for concluding a comprehensive treaty prohibiting the testing of nuclear weapons. On 24 October, the six leaders addressed a joint message to President Reagan of U.S. and General Secretary Gorbachev of USSR, putting forward some ideas for consideration at the Geneva Summit in November 1985. They proposed the suspension of all nuclear tests for a period of 12
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months, such a suspension to be extended or made permanent, and offering their good offices to facilitate the establishment of effective verification arrangements.

As in previous years, India took several initiatives in the First Committee to promote nuclear disarmament. A record number of resolutions were adopted this year in the UN First Committee, focusing on urgently desired action for prevention of nuclear war and to bring about nuclear disarmament. Sixty seven resolutions were adopted on disarmament items of which India co-sponsored 12 and voted in favour of 51. India's own traditional proposals on a freeze on nuclear weapons and on a Convention on the prohibition of use of nuclear weapons retained their relevance and were adopted with the support of an overwhelming majority. Along with a large number of Non-aligned as well as Western and Socialist States, India co-sponsored a resolution in which the General Assembly decided to convene an International Conference on Disarmament and Development in Paris in July 1986. The unanimous adoption of this Resolution symbolised a modest achievement for the international community. India was elected as Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the International Conference on Disarmament and Development.

There was a remarkable upsurge in the worldwide concern on the subject of prevention of an arms race in outer space. As in the preceding years, the UN General Assembly again adopted a single resolution on this subject with the support of all delegations except one.

As regards those proposals which raised peripheral concerns and sought to divert attention from the highest priority issues of nuclear disarmament and prevention of nuclear war, India took a forthright stand and, in a number of cases, abstained from voting in favour of some resolutions. India, as in the past, voted against the Pakistani resolution on a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in South Asia, categorically rejecting the proposal as unrealistic and unnecessary annual ritual, which was not related to the primary task of confidence building among the nations of South Asia.

Apart from disarmament items, other political issues of continuing concern were South Africa, Namibia, Palestine, Central America, Cyprus and issues relating to Decolonisation. Of the new items on the agenda, the important ones related to international cooperation in the peaceful exploitation of outer space under conditions of its non-militarization. A notable achievement of the 40th General Assembly was the adoption without vote of a resolution on 'Measures to Prevent International Terrorism'. The General Assembly also decided to set up a group of high-level experts to study ways to improve the functioning of the United Nations.

West Asia
The situation in West Asia engaged the constant attention of the UN General Assembly and the Security Council during 1985. In pursuance of General Assembly
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Resolution 39/49D, on the question of organisation and convening of the international peace conference on the Middle East, the Secretary General addressed a communication to the President of the Security Council seeking the views of the Council on action to be taken for the implementation of this Resolution. In his response to the Secretary General, the Permanent Representative of India, in its capacity as Council President for February 1985, after due consultations, indicated that almost all members were in favour, in principle, of holding such a conference. While many of these members felt that it should be convened as early as possible, others considered that the conditions that would make it possible to convene such a conference had not yet been met. The Secretary General was invited to continue his consultations on the subject in any manner he deemed appropriate.

Formal meetings of the Security Council were held to consider the situation in the Middle East, the developments in Lebanon and in occupied Palestinian and Arab territories. The Council approved the extension of the mandates of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and United Nations Disengagement Observers Force.

The Council held several other meetings to consider the West Asian situation including the Israeli bombing of the Palestinian camps in Tunisia and the "Achille Lauro" incident. Meetings of the Security Council were also held in pursuance of the decision taken at the NAM Ministerial Conference at Luanda to consider the situation in West Asia.

The General Assembly adopted seven resolutions on the two items-"The question of Palestine" and the "Situation in the Middle East" co-sponsored by India and several other Non-aligned countries. 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 consistent support for the people of Palestine and the Arab cause.

Namibia and the situation in South Africa remained an active subject for discussion both at the United Nations and in the Non- aligned Movement. They also dominated the proceedings at Nassau, CHOGM. The Extra-ordinary Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Coordinating Bureau held in New Delhi on the question of Namibia from 19 to 21 April 1985 adopted an important Declaration and a Programme of Action on Namibia besides adopting a statement condemning South Africa's decision to establish an "Interim Government" in Namibia. In pursuance to this Conference, the Security Council held an urgent meeting from 10 to 19 June 1985 to consider the Namibian question. In response to the decision of the New Delhi meeting that the Security Council's discussions be represented at high level, 18 Ministers of the Non-aligned countries addressed the Council. The Security Council once again discussed this item as the follow-up of the decisions taken at the NAM Ministerial Conference at Luanda in September 1985. While the first meeting of the Security Council adopted a resolution
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warning South Africa that the failure to implement UN resolutions could compel the Security Council to consider adoption of appropriate measures under the Charter, the second meeting of the Council, failed to adopt the Non-aligned resolution in view of the veto by U.K. and U.S.A. who had earlier abstained on the first resolution. The General Assembly was equally concerned with the subject and adopted six resolutions on the subject including a resolution calling for a special session of the General Assemly in 1986 to consider Namibian independence. The South African Government's imposition of the State of Emergency in 36 districts of the country led to another meeting of the Security Council in July 1985 which urged the members to adopt measures against South Africa including suspension of all new investments, restriction in the field of sports and cultural relations, suspension of guaranteed export loan and prohibition of new contracts in the nuclear field and all sales of computer equipments that might be used by the South African army and police. This imposition of emergency was also considered by NAM Coordinating Bureau at its urgent meeting on 27 July 1985. NAM Coordinating Bureau held several meetings on this occasion to consider Namibian issue and the South Africa's repressive measures against black majority in South Africa. India's concern for the people of South Africa was underlined by the Prime Minister himself when he addressed the specially convened meeting of the Committee on Apartheid at the UN. At Nassau, the Prime Minister gave a call for adoption of comprehensive mandatory sanctions against the Apartheid regime and helped to negotiate the Commonwealth Accord on South Africa. It was because of the India's forceful stand on this crucial issue that the Conference could not sidetrack the South African issue and it dominated even the week-end Retreat discussions.

During the year under review, the representative of India continued as a member of the Task Force on Political Prisoners, Task Force on Women and Children and also as member of the Advisory Committee of the United Nations Educational and Training Programme for Southern Africa.

The debate on the question of apartheid in the 40th session of the General Assembly was based mainly on the report of the Special Committee against Apartheid. Seven draft resolutions were drafted by the Special Committee and two others by Finland and Sweden. One resolution was adopted without a vote (UN Trust Fund for South Africa). The other eight resolutions were adopted by large majorities.

South Africa's aggression against Angola during the year resulted in the adoption of as many as 4 separate Security Council resolutions. Resolution 567 (1985) unanimously adopted on 20 June 1985 condemned South Africa for its act of aggression committed in May 1985 against Angola and for the use of the international territory of Namibia as a springboard for perpetrating such attacks. Resolution 571 (1985) unanimously adopted on 20 September 1985 condemned South Africa for its "persistent, premeditated and sustained armed invasion" of Angola and its flagrant violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of that country. Resolution 574 (1985) also adopted unanimously on 7 October 1985 strongly condemned South Africa for perpetrating
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acts of aggression against Angola, called upon all States to implement fully arms embargo imposed against South Africa as called for in Security Council Resolution 418 (1977) and requested the Commission of Investigation established in pursuance of Resolution 571 consisting of Australia, Egypt and Peru to report urgently on its evaluation of the damage resulting from South Africa's aggression. In the fourth unanimous resolution on the subject, Resolution 577 (1985) the Security Council endorsed the report of its Commission of Investigation and demanded that South Africa pay full and adequate compensation to Angola for the damage to life and property resulting from its acts of aggression.

On a request from Botswana, the Security Council held an urgent meeting on 21 June 1985 to consider South Africa's aggression against Botswana. The Council unanimously adopted Resolution 568 (1985) which strongly condemned South Africa for its unprovoked and unwarranted military attack on Botswana's capital on 14th June 1985.

The overall situation in the Central American region remained equally critical and volatile during the period under review. The Security Council considered the extremely serious situation" in the Central American region from 8 to 10 May 1985 at the request of Nicaragua. The representative of India on 9 May 1985 emphasised that peace in Central America could not rest on the foundation of policies of intervention, interference and intimidation or that of threat of use of force, nor of coercive measures of any kind whatsoever. India supported the efforts of the Contadora Group for obtaining lasting peace in the region.

The Council met again on 10 December 1985 at the request of Nicaragua which complained of "the extremely serious situation created by the escalation of acts of aggression" against Nicaragua by the United States. India participated in the debate alongwith other Non-aligned countries in a show of solidarity with Nicaragua. In the absence of any agreement among the countries of the Contadora, no draft resolution could be submitted to the Council for its consideration and debate ended without any decision. Similarly, during the consideration of the question by the General Assembly no consensus could be reached on a possible draft resolution and as such the Assembly could not take any action on the item.



The United Nations once again considered the question of Afghanistan and adopted a Resolution by 122 votes in favour, 19 against and 12 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 no formal move in the General
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Assembly to challenge its credentials. The substantive resolution on Kampuchea wa s adopted by 114 votes in favour, 21 against and 16 abstentions. India abstained on the ground that the adoption of a resolution that satisfied only one side, would obstruct rather than encourage constructive contacts. India advocated a comprehensive political solution, based on the principles and framework accepted at the Seventh Nonaligned Summit in Delhi.

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 during 1986 in order to enable the opening of the Conference at Colombo at an early date soon thereafter, but not later than 1988, to be decided by the Committee in consultation with the host country". The Resolution further emphasised that the Conference and the establishment and maintenance of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace required the full and active participation and cooperation of all the permanent members of the Security Council, the major maritime users and the littoral and hinterland states.

The Debate on the Antarctica 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. The Antarctic Consultative Parties highlighted the positive role of the Treaty and stressed that the Antarctic Treaty regime has preserved international peace and security, promoted peaceful cooperation and scientific research in the area, reconciled conflicting territorial claims and maintained the area as a nuclear free zone. Three resolutions tabled by the Non-aligned, developing countries, were adopted under this item. These resolutions, inter alia, request the Secretary General to up-date and expand the study on the question of Antarctica, affirm that any exploitation of the resources of Antarctica should ensure, inter alia, the equitable sharing of the benefits of such exploitation and call for the exclusion of South Africa from the meetings of the consultative parties. India voted in favour of the third resolution.

The thirteenth meeting of the Antarctic Consultative Parties held in Brussels from 7 to 18 October 1985 considered a number of matters concerning the impact of man's activities in the Antarctic environment and matters relating to the operation of the Antarctic Treaty. Questions relating to the establishment of a permanent infrastructure and sharing of costs of such an infrastructure and the conference activities were also considered on a preliminary basis.

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 ongoing hostilities between Iran and Iraq however, engaged the attention of the Security Council during 1985. In January 1985, the reports of the missions investigating the conditions of POWs in Iran and Iraq and of the inspection of attacks on civilian areas were brought to the notice of the Security Council. In March 1985, the Council
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President issued a statement appealing to both Iran and Iraq to exercise restraint and to continue to honour their undertakings to the Security Council not to attack civilian areas. During the same month, the Secretary General put forward his 8-point proposal to both the parties for finding a comprehensive settlement of the war. In April 1985 the Council President issued a statement condemning renewed use of chemical weapons in the conflict.

The year 1985 was celebrated as the 25th anniversary of the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. To mark the occasion, the Special Committee on Decolonisation conducted two regional seminars at Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) and at Havana (Cuba) to focus mainly on the implementation of the Declaration with respect to the remaining territories in these regions. Similarly, the Special Committee held an extra-ordinary plenary session at Tunis from 13 to 17 May 1985.

During the 40th session of the General Assembly, in a series of decisions on decolonisation issues, the Assembly called for renewed efforts to complete the implementation of its 1960 Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples; strongly condemned South Africa's continued illegal occupation of Namibia and called for an end to collaboration with South Africa and reiterated its call for the cessation of foreign economic and military activities that hinder the decolonisation process. In addition to the two main resolutions under this agenda item, one relating to the implementation of the Declaration and the other on Dissemination of Information on Decolonisation, both of which were co-sponsored by India, the Assembly also adopted this year a third resolution on the 25th anniversary of the Declaration.

The Assembly on 27 November, also adopted a resolution on Malvinas by a vote of 107 in favour, 4 against and 41 abstentions. The Resolution was co-sponsored by India and several other Non-aligned countries.

India, as one of the 10 globally most advanced countries, was a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors. The Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. Ramanna in his speech at the General Conference highlighted the need for nuclear power and emphasised that Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) for countries in Asia and the Pacific should devote more attention to the development of nuclear power in these countries. He rejected the socalled non-proliferation measures of the NPT, which actually legitimise the possession of nuclear weapons by some states. He underlined that if the NPT was to be effective it must apply equally to all countries. India was concerned about recent developments of continuing extension of supplier restraints and conditions on transfers of nuclear materials, equipment and technology, which could only negatively affect the fundamental promotional aspect of the IAEA. The report of the International Atomic Energy
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Agency for 1984 was presented by its Director General Dr. Hans Blix at the 40th session of the United Nations General Assembly on 31 October 1985.

Economic Issues
The overall climate before the start of the 40th General Assembly session was somewhat better than at the same time in 1984. There had been some improvement in the world economic situation, particularly in the industrialized countries. However, it was also clear that the piecemeal measures taken towards the debt problem were inadequate and that developing countries particularly in sub-Saharan Africa continued to face major problems. Monetary and exchange instability and increasing protectionism were creating difficulties for the industrialized countries themselves. There was general agreement that sustained economic growth was required to overcome the world's economic problems. Beyond this common understanding, however, there was little progress in concrete areas.

The virtual standstill in international economic negotiations in UN fora continued in 1985. The Western industrialised countries particularly the United States remain unwilling to enter into serious negotiations in the UN and the North-South dialogue is increasingly confined to the specialized economic fora like GATT, IMF and the World Bank. Their inclination is to use the United Nations only as a foium for general discussion and debate but not for serious negotiations or decisions. Increasingly evident also is the desire of major industrialised countries to reach agreements on far-reaching issues only among themselves without fully involving the multilateral system. Because of their serious economic problems, many developing countries have come under pressure from developed countries.

As Chairman of the Non-aligned Movement, India actively supported efforts towards adoption of the Declaration at the Ministerial Meeting of the Non-aligned Countries in Angola and the positions taken by Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 which was held immediately prior to the General Assembly session in New York. Strenuous efforts were made to pursue the decisions of the Seventh Nonaligned Summit held in New Delhi particularly in the areas of money, finance and trade and towards the convening of the International Conference on Money and Finance for Development.

Partly in order to revitalise the dialogue on important international economic issues in the United Nations, India along with some other developing countries called for a discussion on the inter-related issues of money finance, debt, trade, resource flows and development to examine international cooperation in these vital areas in a coherent and integrated manner. This became the theme for special focus during the meetings
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of the Economic and Social Council. The discussion on these broad range of areas was continued during the exercise on the review and appraisal of the International Development Strategy for the Third United Nations Development Decade. India worked closely with the Chairman of the Group of 77 and the Chairman of the Committee to reach an agreed consensus conclusion of this important exercise. Such a positive outcome had seemed doubtful during the two years of protracted negotiations on this issue and India was encouraged at this development.

At the 40th session of the General Assembly, the resolutions in the areas of Money and Finance, the Debt Problem and International Trade in Commodities could not be fully negotiated and have been deferred to a resumed session of the Second Committee of the General Assembly to take place sometime in May 1986. Consensus was, however, possible in some important areas but mainly because the action sought was of limited or procedural nature such as food and agriculture, substantial and new plan of action for the least developed countries, development of energy resources and science and technology.

This year's General Assembly also adopted by consensus a resolution on the Critical Economic Situation in Africa. The General Assembly decided to hold a special session at the ministerial level on this subject in May 1986. The Non-aligned Movement had strongly supported the call for such a special session made by the OAU Summit Conference of the African leaders.

The Pledging Conference for the Operational Activities for Development this year showed an increase in nominal term in the pledges for the major funds and programmes of the United Nations. Partly this was attributable to exchange rate variations. The financial situation of many of these important programmes has, however, stabilised. The United Nations Fund for Population Activities continues to face a difficult situation because of the withholding of a significant portion of its contribution by the United States, and considerable uncertainty about its future pledge to this fund.

India continued to stress the importance of increased South- South cooperation among the developing countries. India was involved at the Inter-governmental Follow-up and Coordination Committee meeting in Jakarta which laid down improved procedures for the promotion of Economic Cooperation among Developing Countries (ECDC). A major development in this area was the holding of a Ministerial Conference on Global System of Trade Preferences (GSTP) which was hosted by India in July 1985. The meeting provided an important impetus to the ongoing work on GSTP and in promoting trade among developing countries. A meeting of participating institutions in the Research Information System of NAM (RIS) was also held in Delhi in November 1985.
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Social and Humanitarian Issues In conformity with the principles enshrined in our Constitution, India continued to take an active interest in social issues, both in the United Nations General Assembly and other UN fora. As Chairman of the NAM India helped in co- ordinating the Non-aligned positions, particularly on issues relating to South Africa, the Middle East and the Right to Development as a human right.

India was also involved in the adoption of a Draft Declaration on the Human Rights of Individuals who are not Nationals of the Country in which they live and also contributed to the ongoing negotiations on the Right to Development defending the principles of socio-economic justice and national sovereignty over natural resources for all countries as also in urging the world community to accede to the International Covenant on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Suppression and Punishment of the Crime of Apartheid and the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination as well as contributing to the drafting of a Convention on the Rights of the Child and those of Migrant Workers.

In the Third Committee where seventy resolutions were adopted, India co-sponsored several resolutions relating to racism, apartheid, plight of refugees, the fund for development of women, control of drug trafficking and on the use of scientific and technological developments. India helped ensure the adoption of several other important resolutions, both on socio-economic issues as well as those on the right to selfdetermination, youth, torture, ieligious intolerance and human rights. A resolution on National Institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights initiated by India was adopted without a vote in the General Assembly.

The Indian delegation continued to voice its concern at the deteriorating situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the world. In the General Assembly, India came forward strongly in defending the rights of the people of South Africa and expressed our abhorrence of the system of apartheid. On the problem of Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka, India called for a viable political solution and avoidance of violence. We supported the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and hoped that the spirit of democracy would continue to prevail in the ongoing talks between the Sri Lanka authorities and the Tamil leaders of Sri Lanka. For the first time, the situation of human rights in Afghanistan and Iran came up for discussion at the General Assembly. India emphasized the need for a political solution to the problem and the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of States.

India highlighted the continued colonisation of Namibia and the sufferings of the Palestinians in the territories occupied by Israel. India joined the developing countries in calling for the adoption of the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women and participated actively in the work relating to the Second Decade
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to combat racism, the role of youth, the world social situation and policies and programmes relating to crime prevention, disabled persons, refugees, the campaign against drugs and the international Covenant on Human Rights and the establishment of a New International Economic Order.

India's concerns were reiterated at the 41st session of the Commission on Human Rights held in February-March 1985 in Geneva. Human Rights violations in Southern Africa, Namibia and Palestine were once again highlighted.

A number of new initiatives in the human rights field were taken during the 38th session of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities held in Geneva in August 1985. Another resolution in the context of the Bhopal tragedy under the item Human Rights and Technological Developments, adopted by consensus, underscored the objective of having uniformity of standards in the application of technological processes in all parts of the world so that there was no discrepancy between the standards adopted in developed and developing countries. The Resolution requires the Secretary General to place before the Sub-Commission next year information on the existing practices followed by transnational corporations and enterprises regarding disclosure by them of all the information at their disposal on the actual and potential hazards of their promsses, products and technologies to governments, employees, consumers and the general public.

Administrative Matters
The Indian delegation to the Fifth Committee played a constructive role in keeping with the realities confronting the United Nations on budgetary and administrative issues as well as in helping the developing countries to evolve positions which would be more balanced.

India was one of the countries involved in assisting in the rediafting of the socalled "Japanese proposal" to "review the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the UN" as well as in obtaining a consensus for the resolution as it was finally adopted. This resolution now sets up a Group of Inter-Govemmental Experts who in the next 8 months would look into matters which would assist in further improving the efficiency of the administrative and financial functioning of the United Nations. The developing countries would have to look seriously at methodologies which could be proposed to the, Groutp to assist in achieving a greater degree of political balance while preserving thd basic principles of the UN Charter.

In the area of personnel questions, India's efforts were directed towards adoption of a resolution which, inter alia, requested the Secretary General to submit to the General Assembly at its 41st session proposals for reviewing the system of desirable ranges for the geographical distribution of staff with a view to achieving a balanced application of all factors relevant to the calculation of the desirable ranges.
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An item that evoked a keen debate in the Sixth Committee was the report of the Secretary General on 'Measures to Prevent International Terrorism'. The delegates of the Sixth Committee voiced concern at the increasing incidence of acts of international terrorism and were unanimous in condemnation thereof. A draft resolution was adopted by the Sixth Committee by a vote of 118 to 1, with 2 abstentions. Unlike in the past, this year there was a remarkable change in the attitude-of member states in dealing with this menance, for all acts, methods and practices of terrorism, wherever and by whomsoever committed, were unequivocally condemned as criminal. India played a vital role in moulding a compromise between Cuba and Colombia on the one side and the West on the other side.

The Sixth Committee also held a lengthy debate on the draft Code of Offences against the peace and security of Mankind. Although it was inscribed as a separate item, it was discussed together with another item entitled "Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its thirty-seventh session" because the International Law Commission itself had prepared the Draft Code of Offences against the Peace and Security of Mankind. In the course of the debate, India condemned terrorism in all forms wherever and by whomsoever committed and also made a reference to mercenary schools where terrorists were trained. The statement by India was well received.

Specialised Agencies
India was elected to the Commission on Human Rights during the first regular session of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) held in May 1985 in New York.

At the invitation of the ILO, the Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, addressed the 71st International Labour Conference in Geneva on 17 June 1985. Stressing the importance of the ILO's contribution in advancing the cause of social justice, the Prime Minister expressed the hope that the work which ILO had initiated for the weak, the unemployed and the unorganised would be further enlarged.

During the year India continued to participate activcly in ILO activities. A tripartite delegation from India led by Shri T. Anjaiah, former Minister of Labour, attended the 71 st session of the International Labour Confernee held in Geneva in June 1985. A representative of the Government of India chaired the ILO Governing Body till the expiry of his term in June 1985.

India contributed in particular to the working of WHO programme on Human Reproduction, Tropical Diseases Research, and Diarrhoeal Diseases. A delegation led by Shrimati Mohsina Kidwai, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, participated in the deliberations of the 38th World Health Assembly held in Geneva in May 1985.
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Nassau-1985
The Commonwealth Heads of Government met at Nassau (the Bahamas) from 16-22 November 1985. There was an impressive gathering of leaders from Commonwealth countries specially Africa, the Caribbean and South Asia. Among the important leaders who attended were the Prime Ministers of Australia, Canada, Malaysia, Mauritius, New Zealand, United Kingdom and Zimbabwe while Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Zambia were iepresented by their Presidents. India was represented by Prime Shri Rajiv Gandhi.

Consideration of possible Commonwealth action against South Africa in order to pressurise the racist South African regime to dismantle apartheid and vacate its illegal occupation of Namibia dominated the Nassau CHOGM.

The Prime Minister's key note address was the point of departure for the suggestion made at CHOGM that leaders adopt a separate declaration on a world order. A working group at Foreign Ministers' level, chaired by India's Foreign Minister and consisting of UK, Malaysia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Guyana, Canada and New Zealand prepared the draft which led to the adoption of the Nassau Declaration of World Order.

Activities of the Non-aligned Movement
During the period under review, the Movement of Non-aligned Countries remained actively seized of developments in various parts of the world, particularly in Southern Africa, the Middle East, Central America and Cyprus. In conformity with and in pursuance of the decisions taken by it at the Seventh Summit, the Movement focused efforts towards promotion of nuclear disarmament, and international economic cooperation for development.

Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi, as the Chairman of the Movement, addressed a special Plenary Meeting of Non-aligned Countries at the United Nations Headquarters on 22 October 1985 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the United Nations. The Non-aligned caucus in the Security Council, consisting of Non-aligned members of the Council in 1985 including India, played an important and dynamic role in the, deliberations of the Council on several issues. it also took a number of follow-up measures in the implementation of the Action Programme for Economic Cooperation adopted by Seventh Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non-aligned Countries held at New Delhi in March 1983.



Within the Security Council the Non-aligned countries actively participated in the consideration of the situation in the Middle East, developments in Lebanon and in the occupied Palestinian and Arab territories and expressed grave concern over the
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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 as well as established norms of international law. They called for a just and comprehensive solution of the Middle East problem on the basis of the inalienable right to self-determination of the Palestinian people and their right to a home-land.

The Coordinating Bureau held an urgent session in New York on 6 March 1985 to consider the situation in the areas occupied by Israel in Southern Lebanon, the Western Bekaa and the Rashaya district. In the communique adopted on the occasion the Bureau expressed its grave concern at the deteriorating situation which threatened peace and security in these areas.

The Non-aligned Committee of Eight on Palestine met in New Delhi on 20 April 1985 at Ministerial level. The Ministers were given a comprehensive briefing by Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization on the current situation.
A special plenary meeting of the Movement was held in New York on 17 May 1985 in which the Foreign Minister of Argentina made a statement on the Question of the Malvinas Islands.

The Seventh Conference of Heads of State or Government of Non- aligned Countries held at New Delhi had mandated the Coordinating Bureau of the Movement to closely monitor events in the Central American subregion. A group of 'Friends of the Chairman,' comprising 13 countries, with a purely advisory role and subordinated to the Bureau itself, was constituted by the Bureau in 1984 to assist the Chairman in following the evolving situation in Central America. In response to an invitation from the Foreign Minister of Nicaragua, sevral members of the group visited Nicaragua from 29 March to 1 April 1985. The Chairman of the Coordinating Bureau submitted a report to the Bureau on the visit.

An urgent meeting of the Coordinating Bureau was held on 26 July 1985 to consider the latest developments relating to the situation in Central America, particularly in and around Nicaragua. The meeting adopted a communique on the occasion.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Nicaragua, Mr. Victor Hugo Tinoco. addressed a meeting of the Coordinating Bureau on 9 December 1985 and apprised members of the situation in and around Nicaragua.
On 18 June 1985, the official spokesman of the Government of India on behalf of the Chairman of the Movement, issued a statement expressing concern over new 5 EA/35-9
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developments in the part of the Republic of Cyprus under foreign occupation, in particular the holding of a "referendum" on 5 May 1985, the "Presidential elections" of 9 June 1985 and the proposed "Parliamentary elections".

The Conference of Foreign Ministers of Non-aligned Countries was held from 4 to 8 September 1985 at Luanda in Angola. The Conference made an analysis and assessment of the current international political and economic situation, and reviewed the implementation of the decisions of the Seventh Summit Conference of Heads of State or Government held in New Delhi and subsequent Ministerial and other meetings of the Non-aligned Countries. The Conference decided by consensus that the venue of the next summit would be Harare.

A Commemorative meeting was held in New York on 13 September, 1985 to observe the Day of Non-alignment. The meeting was addressed inter by the President of the General Assembly and the Secretary General of the United Nations.

The Meeting of Ministers and Heads of Delegation of the Non- aligned Countries to the Fortieth Session of the United Nations General Assembly was held at New York on 1 October 1985.

The Movement's efforts to promote contacts amongst leaders for addressing issues of concern to the international community led to a proposal to urge summit-level participation on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations. This way in keeping with the importance that the Non-aligned countries have consistently accorded to the role of the United Nations. It was also a natural follow-up measure to the New Delhi Declaration which had called on the international community to observe 1985 as the Year of the United Nations. The unique gathering of a significant number of world leaders at New York in October 1985 on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary of the United Nations provided a valuable opportunity for interaction between Heads of State or Government. Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi, who attended the commemoration, besides meeting a large number of leaders, addressed the United Nations General Assembly and a special plenary meeting of Non-aligned countries.

A number of meetings of the Non-aligned were held in the implementation of the Action Programme on Economic Cooperation that was adopted at the New Delhi Summit.

The group of meetings of the Non-aligned countries in the sphere of Standardisation Measurement and Quality Control was held in New Delhi from 23 to 31 January 1985, The meetings included (a) Second Meeting of Experts, (b) Fifth Meeting of the Coordinating Countries, (c) Workshop on Standardisation and Quality Assurance, and (d) Meetings of the Functional Groups. The Meeting of the Coordinating Countries reviewed the composition of the Functional Groups and sought to coordinate positions relating to international organisations.
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An important development during the year was the finalisation of the Statute of the Non-aligned Centre for Science and Technology of the Non-aligned and other Developing Countries. Several plenary meetings of the Movement were held at New York to give the Statute its final shape. A Plenipotentiary Conference was held in New York on 4 February 1985 to adopt the Final Act. So far 25 countries have signed the Statute.
The ninth meeting of Coordinators of Non-aligned Countries in the field of Health was held at Havana from 23 to 28 March 1985.

The ninth meeting of Health Ministers of Non-aligned Countries was held in Geneva on 8 May 1985 during the 38th session of the World Health Assembly. The meeting reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the Strategies of Health for All by the year 2000 and the items of the agenda of the 38th World Health Assembly.

As recommended by the New Delhi Summit, the International Centre for Public Enterprises (ICPE), Ljubljana, prepared a study on the Role of Women in Development. This was to serve as a reference in the preparations for the World Conference on Women held in Nairobi. An open ended Ministerial-level meeting of the Non-aligned and other Developing Countries was held in New Delhi from 8 to 11 April 1985, prior to the World Conference on Women, with a view to coordinating aspects of common interest.
A Ministerial Meeting of the Non-aligned Coordinators in the field of Labour was held in Geneva, in June 1985, during the Session of International Labour Organisation.

The second meeting of the Research and Information System of Non-aligned Countries was held in New Delhi from 20 to 22 November 1985.

The Coordinating Bureau on 9 January 1985, established an Action Committee to formulate a Plan of Action for a concrete initiative by Non-aligned Countries for cooperation to meet thecritical economic situation in Africa. The Action Committee met on 21 February, 27 February and 6 March 1985. The Extra- ordinary Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau on the Question of Namibia, heldin New Delhi from 19 to 21 April 1985, adopted the reports of the Action Committee and the Plan of Action of the Movement of Non-aligned Countries to meet the Critical Economic Situation in Africa.
Offers!.of assistance have been received from Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Libya, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru and Yugoslavia. The coordination of these offers is being carried out by India in its capacity as the Focal Point for the Plan of Action, The Focal Point is presently coordinating the execution of 9 projects in 7 African countries identified from the FAO compilation on the Rehabilitation of Agriculture in Africa.
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The Conference of Foreign Ministers of Non-aligned Countries held at Luand a, Angola, in September 1985, inter alia, discussed the international economic situation. It also reviewed the state of implementation of the Action Programme for Economic Cooperation of the Non-aligned Countries and noted with satisfaction the progress made towards its implementation since the seventh Non-aligned Summit.

The Luanda Ministerial Meeting had taken clear decisions on pursuing the implementation of the 7th Summit initiative for the convening of an International Conference on Money and Finance for Development and on measures to be pursued for resolving the critical conditions arising out of the indebtedness of developing countries. The objective was that at the 40th UN General Assembly, the Group of 77 should try and achieve clear mandates in both these areas. India was able to ensure that the directions that had emerged out of the Luanda Ministerial meeting were clearly and positively reflected in the programme of work of the Group of 77, as incorporated in the Ministerial communique of the Group of 77 adopted in relation to the 40th UN General Assembly.



International Law : Developments and Activities During 1985 the Preparatory Commission for the International Sea-bed Authority and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (PREPCOM) continued its work. It held its third session in two parts, viz., from 11 March to 4 April 1985 at Kingston, Jamaica and from 12 August to 4 September 1985 in Geneva. India was represented at both these sessions.

During both these sessions Chairman Warioba held extensive informal consultations with concerned delegations including India with a view to finding a solution to the problem of overlapping of application area of the USSR with that of Japan and the USSR with that of France, and for finding a viable mine site for activities by the International Sea-bed Authority. While these consultations were inconclusive it was agreed that the four pioneer investors namely, India, France, Japan and the USSR will meet in Geneva in December 1985 to further explore the possibility of finding a solution to this problem. The four pioneer investors met in Geneva from 2-6 December 1985 and have made some progress, towards finding a solution to this vexed problem.

The Informal Plenary of the PREPCOM completed the second reading of the draft rules of procedure of the Assembly of the International Sea-bed Authority and commenced consideration of the draft rules of procedure of the Council of the Authority.The four Special Commissions of the PREPCOM continued discussions of the subjects allocated to them. By a letter dated 10 june 1985 addressed to the Chairman of the Preparatory Commission, the USSR had informed that the United States had issued a licence to the
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Consortium Ocean Mining Associates, for exploration in the part of the International Sea-bed area in the Pacific Ocean. In this context the Preparatory Commission on 30 August 1985 adopted a Declaration which was co-sponsored by the Group of 77. This Declaration, inter alia, declared that any claim, agreement or action regarding the International Sea-bed area and its resources undertaken outside the Preparatory,Commission which is incompatible with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and its related resolutions shall not be recognised.

At its 40th Session the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution on the Law of the Sea which inter alia took note of the Declaration of 30 August 1985 of the Preparatory Commission and called upon States to desist from taking actions which undermine the Convention or defeat its object and purpose and to observe the Provisions of the Convention when enacting their national legislation. This resolution was co-sponsored by 53 States including India.
The Legal Sub-Committee of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space held its 24th session in New York from 18 March to 4 April 1985 and considered legal questions concerning remote sensing, nuclear power sources, defining outer space, and use of geostationary orbit.

Regarding legal implications of remote sensing of earth from space, the Sub-Committee continued work on, this item using among other things, texts submitted by France, Brazil, Chile and Kenya. By the end of the deliberations of the working group, its chairman was able to present a working document containing a set of remote sensing principles which could provide a basis for an agreement by consensus in the near future.
On the nuclear power sources, the Working Group considered questions of assistance to States and notification prior to re- entry of a space object with a nuclear power source on board. Tentative agreement was reached on supplementing two items in the format for notification of the malfunctioning of a space object with a nuclear power source on board, a format endorsed by the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space in 1983.

Regarding the definition and delimitation of outer space some delegations considered that the definition of outer space was urgent in view of the fact that legal regimes applicable to air space and outer space were radically different in nature. In their view, the appropriate course was a multilateral agreement which would establish a specific altitude as the upper limit of airspace and the commencement of outer space. Other countries said that such a definition or delimitation was at present unnecessary, because the use for such a definition or delimitation was inconclusive and such a boundary would be arbitrary.

Regarding the question of geostationary orbit some delegations stated that a special legal regime should be established for the orbit . It was a limited natural established for the orbit . it was a limited natural resource, as recognized by UNISPACE'82 and Article 33 of the International Telecommunications
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Union (ITU) Convention, and ITU arrangements on the allocation of orbital positions and related frequencies on a "first come, first served" basis were unacceptable. They stated that the orbit was approaching saturation with positions and related frequencies occupied by only a few countries. Thus principles governing the equitable use of the orbit by all countries needed to be established by the UN in order that the ITU might make required technical allocations of orbital positions and frequencies. Equatorial countries said they had a special relation to the orbit, which lay on the equatorial plane and was a unique natural resource. While recognizing that all countries should have equal and equitable opportunities for access to the orbit, they stated that equatorial countries had special rights and responsibilities with respect to segments of the geostationary orbit suprajacent to their territories. There was no agreement on this item.

UNIDROIT (International Institute for Unification of Private Law) is an intergovernmental organization situated in Rome. India is a member of the Institute.

UNIDROIT convened the first session of its Committee of the governmental experts for the preparation of a Convention on International Financial Leasing from 15-19 April 1985, as also the first session of its other committees of government experts for the preparation of a Convention on Certain Aspects of International Factoring from 22 to 26 April 1985 which discussed the preliminary draft uniform rules on international financial leasing and the draft uniform rules on certain aspects of international factoring. India participated in both the meetings.

At the elections held during the fortieth session of the UN General Assembly in December 1985, India was elected to the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law. During that session Shri Samarendra Nath Sen of India was appointed to the United Nations Administrative Tribunal after his election by the Fifth Committee.

The Commission held its eighteenth session in Vienna from 3 to 21 June 1985. Thirty-three member States of the Commission, including India, participated in this session. Although several items were included in the agenda of the session, Most of the time and attention of the Commission was devoted to the finalisation of UNCITRAL model law on International Commercial Arbitration which was finalised. The Commission also adopted text of a model law on International Commercial Arbitration.

A list of treaties and international agreements signed by India during 1985 is at Appendix II.
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FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS

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The world economy continues to be in a critical stage. Both developing and developed countries have during the last few years faced considerable hardship. The developing countries, have, however, been the worst sufferers. Growth rates of most countries remain depressed; the debt burden of many developing countries continues to be at crushing levels; most developing countries are experiencing stagnant or declining growth rates, The external environment for them is both harsh and adverse. Concessional flows for development have declined. Global liquidity has decreased and there is a hardening in the conditionality of international financial institutions. Barriers against exports from developing countries have increased. Commodity prices in real terms are at low levels. As a result, the development process of most developing countries has been seriously affected. The economies of a few industrialised countries have recently shown signs of recovery but this has had little impact on the rest of the world. Moreover, in the U.S.A. there are already signs of an overall economic downturn in growth and production (in the first quarter of 1985). The durability of the recovery is, therefore, uncertain. A significant dimension in the current crisis is the serious erosion of the UN system and multilateral development and financial institutions, particularly IDA. The dialogue between developed and developing countries, despite the best efforts of the latter, has made little or no headway.

The response of the international community to this continuing crisis has proved inadequate. While the concept of interdependence has been given recognitioneven at summits of industrialised countries --there has been little coherent or coordinated international action to provide 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 for major industrial countries to seek unilateral or bilateral solution for their immediate problems and a reduction of support for multilateral institutions in the fields of development, finance and trade.

Non-aligned and other developing countries have sought in a number of ways during the year under review to reverse this trend and to strengthen international economic cooperation.

The Seventh Summit of the Movement of Non-aligned Countries held in New Delhi in 1983 had made a number of far-reaching proposals to deal with the crisis. The
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Economic Declaration of the Seventh Summit had suggested a three pronged strategy for promoting international economic cooperation i.e launching of global negotiations;(ii) adoption of programme of immediate measures in the areas of money and finance, trade and raw materials, energy and food; and (iii) intensification of economic cooperation among developing countries.

The most far-reaching proposal was the call for the convening of International Conference on Money and Finance for Development with universal participation aimed at meeting effectively the development and other financial requirements of the international economy particularly those of the developing countries and the need for growth oriented structural adjustments. A high level group set up by the late Prime Minister in her capacity as Chairperson of the Movement of Non-aligned countries developed this proposal and examined the substantive and procedural issues in this regard.

During the year under review meetings of the Ministers of the Movement of Non-aligned countries and the Group of 77 emphasised the importance of convening the International Conference on Money and Finance for Development with universal participation and in this context expressed appreciation for the initiative taken by the Chairperson of the NAM in setting up the Expert Group. The Group of 77 Ministerial Meeting of October 1985 called for initiation during the 40th session of the General Assemmbly of the preparatory process for convening the International Conference, urging the utilisation of all relevant studies and proposals.

India, as Chairman of the Inter-Governmental Group of 24 (Finance Ministers of developing countries in the World Bank and IMF) during 1984-85, was able to generate support for the NAM proposal in the communique of the Group of 24 at its Ministerial meeting in April 1985.

The meetings of the Interim and Development Committees of the IMF and world Bank in April 1985 and October 1985, however, did not make much headway on the substantive issues of concern to developing countries. Some positive decisions were, however, taken on specific issues such as the decision to call for an expanded role for World Bank and a firm time-table for IDA VIII and to examine the reports of G-10 and G-24 on the International Monetary and Financial systems.

This was not surprising in view of the fact that the Annual Summit meeting of the 7 major industrialised nations in Bonn in May 1985 did not reflect any substantive progress on issues of concern to developing countries in the sphare of international economic relations. The Summit Declaration recognised the concept of inter dependance between North and South but paid service only to the need for maintaining and, if possible, increasing the flow of resources including financial development assistance to the third world countries. IDA VII found no mention at all. The focus of the Summit was on the proposal for a New Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations which
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was put forward by some major industrialised countries and on which there was a broad agreement among the Seven that these should start as soon as possible.

The U.S.A. supported by major industrialised countries has been making determined efforts to start a New Round of Trade Negotiations under the aegis of GATT which would also include new areas particularly trade in services. Developing countries were opposed to this proposal as they maintained that the unfinished work of the last round, presently taken up by GATT, be completed as also commitments on 'stand. still' and 'roll back' on protectionism fulfilled. Developing countries also had reservations on the inclusion of new areas particularly trade in services and others such as trad related aspects of investments.

At a special meeting of the GATT Contracting Parties in September 1985 and the annual session of GATT in November 1985, developing countries were pressured into accepting the setting up of a Preparatory Committee to consider the agenda, modalities and other issues relating to the Proposed Naw Round of Trade Negotiations in GATT.

To enable an in-depth examination of the issues in the Proposed New Round and with a view to a better coordination of positions of developing countries, the Ministry of External Affairs assisted the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in organising an international colloquium titled the "Proposed New Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations and Developing Countries"in December 1985. The colloquium provided a valuable forum for informal exchanges at the level of senior officials from important developing countries and concerned international organisations, as well as experts in their individual capacities, on the subject. The colloquium recommended that the trade issues be considered in the wider perspective of issues in the world economy as a whole that specific priorities be set by developing countries in the Proposed New Round and that services should not be included in the GATT. It emphasised the need for continuous inter-action among the developing countries on the subject.

The Commonwealth Summit of October 1985 reviewed developments in the world economy and specific issues in the North-South Dialogue. The Summit recognised the need for stimulating the North-South Dialogue. It considered it important "to develop an active dialogue on the functioning of international monetary and financial system" and noted that the Spring 1986 meeting of the Development and Interim committees would provide an opportunity for in-depth examination of the relevant issues, in the light of the Reports by the Group of 10 (Finance Ministers of developed countries) and the Group of 24 (Finance Ministers of developing countries). The Commonwealth Summit affirmed the importance of a New Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations in the GATT in helping to restore confidence in-the multilateral system and emphasised the importance of the interests of participants being taken into account and respect for the principles enshrined in the Tokyo Round.
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Increasing attention continues to be paid to greater cooperation among developing countries both in the Group of 77 and in the Non-aligned Movement. Intensive efforts are underway within the Group of 77 to implement the Caracas Programme of Action. One of the important initiatives taken under ECDC, in which considerable progress has been made, is the establishment of Global System of Trade Preferences (GSTP) for which negotiations have already begun. India hosted a Ministerial level meeting in New Delhi on 25-26 July 1985. At this Ministerial Meeting in which over 70 countries participated with 30 at the level of Ministers, significant political impetus was provided to the establishment of the GSTP through concrete progress on specific issues such as the establishment of a time- table for launching GSTP recommendation for an across the board tariff cut upto 10 % and the decision to further political level review meetings to maintain the momentum. The Ministerial meetirg also adopted a Declaration on the international trading environment as it affects trade of developing countries.

An important initiative in the area of ECDC is the proposal for the establishment of a Bank of Developing Countries. This proposal has, however, been stalled as some countries have taken the view that there is no need for the establishment of a new financing institution at this stage.

Another important initiative of the Group of 77 is the establishiment of a MultiSectoral Information Network (MSIN) of developing countries. The objective of the MSIN is to provide a network which would facilitate exchange of development oriented information among the developing countries in all major sectors of economic activity. Priority has been placed on the TCDC component in a proposed pilot project. The MSIN would also complement information systems in the UN such as INRES and TIPS. The MSIN project has been examined and developed through several meetings of experts as well as at inter-governmental level. We are also taking steps to ensure that there is the required inter- action between the MSIN and the Research and Information System (RIS) of the Governments of Non-aligned countries.

The Inter-governmental Follow-up and Coordination Committee held its 4th meeting at Jakarta from 19-23 August 1985. This meetiiig of senior officials reviewed progress in the implementation of the Caracas Programme of Action. Several important recommendations were made especially to provide impetus to the GSTP and the MSIN

The Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 in October l985 strongly reaffirmed the belief in collective self-reliance of Non-aligned and developing countries and called for specific steps on MSIN, GSTP and TCDC.

The Movement of Non-aligned countries in the context of its endeavours to promote collective self-reliance among Non-aligned and developing countries organised a series of meetings in diverse spheres of economic cooperation contained in its Action Programme for Economic Cooperation. India played a leading role in the
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furtherance of this objective especially in view of her current Chairmanship of NAM ECDC had been a major issue before the Seventh Non-aligned Summit. The Summit adopted the important Declaration on collective self-reliance and reviewed the implementation of the Non-aligned Programme of Action. The NAM Ministerial Conference at Luanda sought to further stimulate action on ECDC.

India hosted the Second Conference of the Research and Information System of Non-aligned and developing countries in November 1985. This Conference provided a valuable opportunity for an exchange of views on important issues in multilateral economic cooperation, cooperation among developing countries and the problems of the least developed and low income countries especially in Africa. The Conference made important recommendations on these issues keeping in view preparations forthe Eighth Non-aligned Summit. It also decided to constitute a Committee of Six designated institutions of the coordinating countries in this sphere. This represented an important step towards a net-work of the research and information institutes of Nonaligned and developing countries to bring about closer coordination of economic research and information in the South. In addition India hosted meetings in specific sectors of the Action Programme such as sports.

India's keenness to promote cooperation with countries in Asia and Africafound expression in bilateral schemes of assistance under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme operated by the Ministry of External Affairs. This programme supplements multilateral schemes such as the Colombo Plan and the Special Commonwealth African Assistance Plan. The ITEC Programme, which was launched in 1964 with an outlay of Rs. 4.46 lakhs, has steadily expanded. It now covers nearly 60 countries and has a budget allocation of Rs. 9.00 crores for 1985-86.

The main forms of technical cooperation under ITEC Programme are providing training in India, deploying Indian experts abroad, undertaking feasibility and technoeconomic studies, financing visits of economic delegations, organising workshops and supply of equipment. The area of cooperation covers such diverse fields as agriculture, natural resources, industry, education, foreign trade promotion, banking and insurance, in-service training courses etc.



During 1985-86, 700 slots were earmarked for nominees of developing countries for training in specialised Indian institutions, and nearly 150 Indian experts were in position in developing countries on short or long-term assignments. Some of the other ITEC activitieduring 1985-86 were: feasibility studies in Ethiopia in the fields of water resources, agriculture and livestock; visits of teams of experts to Ethiopia, the philippines and Vietnam in the fields of education, smallscale inoustries and personnel training respectively; and provision of consultancy services for building a conference complex in Seychelles.
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Among the goods supplied during 1985-86 or the supply of which was in the pipeline were a tractor with a complete Ploughing set to People's Democratic Republic of Yemen; spinning wheels to Sudan; equipment for an industrial project, diesel generating sets and musical instruments to Afghanistan; sport goods to Jamaica, Montessarrat and Fiji; bicycles to Vietnam; and medicines to Afghanistan, Nicaragua, Victnam and Loas. A proposal for supply of irrigation pumps to Laos is being processed. Delegations received during the year included one from Ethiopia in the fields of banking and mining and from Laos in the field of industrial development.

The objective of strengthening Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries is also pursued through the Ministry playing an active role in international organisations. During 1985-86 representatives of the Ministry made significant contribution to meetings on TCDC organised by UNDP in New York and by ESCAP in Bangkok where certain specific suggestions made by Indian delegations were well received. A representative of the Ministry also led an Indian delegation to meeting organised by UNIDO in Brundi for industrial development of that country where offers of industrial collaboration and technical support in identified sectors were made by India.

India's assistance to famine-affected African countries was stepped up. The supply of 100,000 tonnes of wheat announced last year was completed and action initiated for a further supply of foodgrains worth Rs. 12.5 lakhs.
An Indian delegation led by Secretary (ER) in the Ministry of External Affairs attended the annual Consultative Committee meeting of the Southern African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) in Harare in January 1986 and offered significant assistance over a five-year periodito the frontline states, primarily in the field of agriculture, industry, transport, energy and manpower training. These concrete offers of support were greatly appreciated. India is already involved in several projects in cooperation with ECA (Economic Commission for Africa), some of which have already been completed. At the ECA meeting in April 1985, India uncertook to implement a new project for development of small scale industries in certain African countries in the context of the Industrial Development Decade for Africa.

The Ministry played an active role in the deliberations of Economic Joint Commission with various countries including Mauritius, Ethiopia, Federal Republic of Germany, Afghanistan, Qatar and Iran. In the Joint Commission with Mauritius, further promotion of technical cooperation and supply of equipment in the fields of small scale industry, meteorology, education and health services were agreed upon. In the Joint Commission with Ethiopia the field of cooperation was also significantly stepped up.

The Ministry assisted foreign governments in recruiting Indian experts, on bilateral basis. It also made its contribution towards promotion of Indian economic
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interests through its representation in bodies such as EXIM Bank, Export Credit and Guarantee Corporation (ECGC), Federation of Indian Engineering Organisation (FIEO), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Project and Equipment Corporation (PEC), Overseas Construction Council of India (OCCI) etc. and was involved in various activities and policies relating to the country's foreign economic policy in diverse fields.
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POLICY PLANNING AND RESEARCH

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The Policy Planning Division of the Ministry continued to function under the overall guidance of Foreign Secretary and the supervision of an Additional Secretary. During the year under review, the Policy Planning Division interacted with other Divisions of the Ministry and its officials participated on a regular basis in various inter-Ministerial. meetings.

The Division continued to maintain contacts with the Area Study Centres of various Universities where scholars are involved in research and study of international affairs. A number of seminars and symposia were partly financed by the Policy Planning Division and among them particular mention may be made of the following :-
(i) "Causes of Tension and Conflict in the Region with main focus on Afghanistan, India and Pakistan," organised by the Indian Centre for Regional Affairs, New Delhi, held on 25 August 1985;
(ii) Seminar on UNESCO on the occasion of the visit of the Director General of UNESCO, organised by India International Centre, New Delhi, held in December 1985-January 1986;
(iii) Symposium of Young Workers on "Peace Disarmament, Development and International Security," organised by the United Schools Organisation of India, New Delhi, in December 1985;
(iv) "Political and Social Tensions in the Countries of South Asia" organised by the Indian Centre for Regional Affairs, New Delhi, held in December 1985; and
(v) "Indo-Bhutanese Relations" by the Institute of Asian Studies, Hyderabad.
The Division has also extended financial assistance towards defraying the cost of the preparations for the XI World Congress on Sociology, scheduled to be held in New Delhi, in August 1986.
The Division also commissioned a study on "Problems of Foreign Students in India," by the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. The study is expected
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to be completed this year. Two studies commissioned in 1982-83, one on "India's Foreign Policy : Issues and Problems during 1980's" entrusted to the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi and the other on "India's Principal Concerns in International Negotiating Issues in 1980's," undertaken by Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, New Delhi, have since been completed.

Historical Division provides research input into the working of the working of the Ministry. It prepares background papers on various current international developments and analyses these developments in the perspective of the present situation. It is also responsible for providing the historical and technical input in boundary questions. All the maps on India published abroad are monitored for their depiction of India's external boundary and wherever a case of wrong depiction comes to notice the matter is taken up suitably with the concerned organisations to ensure remedial action.

To support the research efforts a well stocked Library exists which has over one hundered thousand books and documents in its collection. During 1985 alone 1800 books, 400 maps, 600 pamphlets and 10 reels of microfilms were added. The Library subscribes to 558 periodicals (442 foreign and 116 Indian) besides 37 daily newspapers (25 foreign and 12 Indian). Back-files of Bangladesh Observer (Dhaka), Guardian (Rangoon), Sun (Colombo), Dawn (Karachi), Pakistan Times (Rawalpindi), China Daily (Beijing), Renmin Ribao (Beijing), Egyptian Gazetted (Cairo), Suna (Khartoum), Standard (Nairobi), The Times (London), The International Herald Tribune (Hong Kong), Izwestia (Moscow) are being maintained.

The Library regularly issues a monthly Chronicle of Events, Foreign Affairs Documentation Bulletin and annotated Monthly list of Books added to the Library.
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EXTERNAL PUBLICITY

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Coverage on India in foreign media seemed to be marked by a more positive tone and of a more understanding nature than during the previous years. The manner in which the nation has rallied following the tragedies of the previous year was widely noted. India's efforts to improve relations with neighbouring countries, her active role as the Chairman of NAM in promoting an end to colonialism in Namibia, disarmament and the New International Economic Order as also the attempts made to tackle contentious issues within the region by close and friendly contacts with neighbouring countries, and, internally, the Punjab and Assam accords contributed to this process. The External Publicity Division (XP Division) buttressed this positive projection in media abroad by supply of high quality print and audio visual publicity material. Facilities were also provided in India to foreign media personnel.

The accords reached on the Punjab and Assam and the elections there were widely publicised. All restrictions on visit to the Punjab by accredited foreign correspondents were lifted. Necessary facilities were also given to foreign correspondents to cover the elections in Assam.

135 media personnel from the participating countries of the Six-Nation Summit in New Delhi (Argentina 32, Greece 46, Mexico 48, Sweden 5 and Tanzania 2) joined the resident foreign and Indian press corps in New Delhi to cover the Summit on Nuclear Disarmament in January 1985 and were given full facilities. Consequently, there was sizeable publicity for the Summit in India and abroad, highlighted by a live telecast of the proceedings and the joint press conference, in various capitals. A comprehensive pamphlet on the Summit was prepared and widely distributed abroad through our Missions.

A large number of foreign and Indian media personnel who included 26 journalists/cameramen who had come from abroad (8 from Yugoslavia, 3 from Pakistan, 3 from Nigeria and the rest from Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Doha) covered the Extra-ordinary Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-aligned Countries on Namibia. For catering to their need of photo opportunities, supply of copies of transcript of speeches, fixing of interviews with dignitaries, etc. a media centre at Vigyan Bhavan appropriate for such a large conference was set up with the help of the Press Information Bureau. Apart from the daily briefings, special high level briefing was arranged on the eve of the meeting. A Pamphlet entitled "Non- aligned Movement
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during India's Chairmanship" and a press release entitled "Background on the Question of Namibia" were distributed by XP Division. Doordarshan was assisted by us in organising many special programmes relating to the NAM meeting and XP Division arranged for a daily round-up on Doordarshan. Doordarshan offered daily capsules over the satellite on the proceedings of the meeting which were picked up by a number of NAM countries.

The XP Division expanded its network of communications to keep our Missions informed on matters of contemporary interest in India, relations with other countries as well as on important political, economic, scientific, cultural and technological developments in India through twice daily transmissions. During the year, 15 more missions were added thus increasing the total number of missions/posts covered on a daily transmissions basis to 54. In addition, 34 missions are receiving bi-weekly press telexes, and 3 missions are covered by press cables.

The "Indian and Foreign Review," a fortnightly magazine, in colour, and its French counterpart, "Courrier de L'Inde," the monthly "Foreign Affairs Record" as well as the periodic compilations of the Prime Minister's speeches on foreign policy were separately brought out regularly. Pamphlets on Prime Minister's visits to USSR, USA, Egypt and Algeria were also brought out as were special publications on the Six-Nation Summit and 40th anniversary of the UN.

XP Division purchased "Hip Hip Hurray," "Sagar Sangam" and "Daigaya Mukalu" children's film-all feature films-and many documentary films which included "Everest 84," highlighting the achievements of Kumari Bacchendari Pal and the full set of the films produced by the Films Division on India's freedom struggle. Film Weeks were organised by our Missions in Tokyo, Seoul, Suva, Lisbon, the Hague, Antananarivo and Dhaka, with the help of XP Division.

XP Division organised the visit abroad of two professors from the Film and Television Institute, Pune, and also supplied required film material for an Indian Film Seminar organised by our Mission at Dhaka. Video and audio cassettes of the India magazine programme covering topical developments and suitable entertainment programmes were supplied weekly to 63 missions. Video Cassette Recorders and Colour TVs were sanctioned to the Information Wings of 30 missions for monitoring coverage on India. Video material on achievements of Indian women was supplied for screening during the International Women's Conference in Nairobi in July 1985. Indira Priyadarshini Photo Exhibition was sent to our missions in Algiers and Cairo on the occasion of the Prime Minister's visit to these countries apart from the regular supply of photographs and transparencies to our missions abroad. Photos for Exhibitions on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the UN and the SAARC Pavillion at the Indian International Trade Fair, 1985, at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi were also provided.
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The XP Division continued to provide facilities to media representatives from abroad for doing their work. During the nine-month period ending 31 December 1985, apart from catering to the resident foreign and Indian media representatives accredited to the Press Information Bureau, about 400 foreign media representatives who came on the occasion of important international conferences held in New Delhi or whenever theyaccompanied visiting Heads of State/Government were catered to. Similarly, complete logistic arrangements with the help of our missions abroad were made for the large media contingent which accompanied the Prime Minister on his visits to the Soviet Union, USA, UK, France, Oman, Vietnam, Japan, Bangladesh, New York and Nassau so that they could transmit their despatches/photographs and films speedily back to India for publication. Rules governing the entry of foreign television and film documentary teams have been considerably streamlined. Producers are no longer required to give an undertaking that their films will be released only after prior viewing by us, and the lead time for clearing applications has been reduced to three weeks from the previous 6-8 weeks. This liberalisation has had a beneficial effect in that it has removed some irritants. At the same time in administering these liberalised rules every care is being taken that there is no abuse of those rules.

The meeting of Sub-commission III on Information (including Social Sciences), Culture and Sports of the Indo-Pak Joint Commission was held in New Delhi during the period 2-4 July 1985. Consequent on the decisions taken, the "Times of India" correspondent has taken up his position in Pakistan and similarly a "Jung" correspondent from Pakistan has started functioning in India in addition to the PTI correspondent in Pakistan and the Associated Press of Pakistan's correspondent in India. All India Radio and Radio Pakistan are also exchanging correspondents.

A three-member Indian delegation attended the first coordinating committee meeting of the Non-aligned News Agencies Pool (NANAP) at Belgrade. XP Division assisted the organisers of the Sixth General Assembly of the Asian Pacific News Agency held in New Delhi during the period 27-30 March 1985.

The XP Division continued to subscribe to the feature news services of news agencies and commissioned special articles on the occasion of Republic and Independence Days for dissemination abroad. The publication of special supplements on India on National occasions were also facilitated.
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CULTURAL RELATIONS

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The Indian Council for Cultural Relations functions as the principal agency for promoting India's cultural relations with other nations.

As part of its exchange programme the Council received around 50 distinguished scholars, artists, writers and intellectuals from countries including Bangladesh, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, UK and USA.

Around 10 foreign performing troupes including the 26-member Paris Opera Ballet from France, the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet Company, the Chinese Acrobatic troupe, the 12-member Gypsy Group and the Shostakovich Quartet from the Soviet Union were sponsored to perform in major Indian cities by the Council.

More than 100 individual visitors and 80 performing troupes were sponsored by the Council to different parts of the world of which the most important was P.C. Sorcar (junior) magic troupe to USSR.

A VIP delegation headed by Shri Shiv Shankar, presently Minister of Commerce was sponsored to visit China.

The following important exhibitions were mounted or sponsored in part by the Council:-
Exhibition of Graphic Art
Exhibition of Contemporary Indian Paintings, Handicrafts and Ceramics
Exhibition of Contemporary Indian Art (Cholamandal), Madras
Exhibition of Indian Pottery
Exhibition of Handicrafts & Graphics
Exhibition of Water Colours and Pastels
Exhibition of Graphics (to coincide with the performance of Gulbenkien Orchestra).

The Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding for the years 1983 and 1984 were presented. The award for the year 1983 was formally conferred on
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Dr. Bruno Kriesky, former Federal Chancellor of Austria, and the 1984 award was formally conferred, posthumously, on the late Prime Minister of India, Smt. Indira Gandhi.

Under the auspices of the Council, the Valmiki World Poetry Festival was sponsored. The Council also collaborated with the Department of Modern European Languages, Delhi University, University Grants Commission, Indian Council for Historical Research, Indian Council for Social Sciences Research and Sahitya Akademi in organising an International Symposium on 'India and World Literature'.

The Council's publications during the year included Poetry Festival in India, Indian Poetry Today Vols. I & II, Fiji Mein Pravasi Bharatiya (Hindi), The Ramayana (Spanish and French) strip-serials, Jataka Tales (Monkey, Elephant and Deer stories). The quarterly journals of the Council--Indian Horizons, Africa Quarterly, Rencontre Avec L'nde (French), Papeles de la India (Spanish), Thaqafatul Hind (Arabic) and Gagnanchal (Hindi) are being regularly published.

The Council's activities as the Secretariat of the Indo-US Sub-commission on Education and Culture received greater impetus in view of the Festival of India in the USA in 1985. Pt. Ravi Shankar from India was sponsored to perform at the inaugural concert of the Festival. The Indo-US Sub-commission met in the United States in June 1985.
ICCR's select publications were entered for display at the following national and international book fairs and exhibitions :-

(1) Exhibition of Indian Books in      January 1985 
    Port of Spain 
(2) Book Exhibition in Medan           January  1985 
(3) Cairo International Book Fair      Jan-Feb. 1985 
(4) Exhibition of Indian Books in     Feb-March 1985
    Nairobi,
(5) Literasia 85,Hongkong              March    1985 
(6) International Culture and Tourism  March    1985 
     Fair at Ankara, 
(7) London Book Fair                   April    1985 
(8) International Book Fair, Warsaw      May    1985 
(9) International Book Fair, Manila      June   1985 
(10) Canada Book Fair                    June   1985 
(11) Malaysia Book Fair                  July   1985 
(12) Moscow International Book Fair      Sept.  1985 
(13) Singapore Festival              Aug-Sept.  1985 
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Under the ICCR presentation programme, books, art objects, musical instruments etc. were gifted to various countries.

Important days observed by the Council included OAU Day UN Day (40th Anniversary) and the Foreign Students Day. The UN Day was attended by the President and the Vice-President of India.

The Library and Reading Room attracted a great number of scholars and research students.

Orientation courses, study tours and social get-togethers were arranged by the Council for foreign students as in the past years. As part of the ICCR scheme of Chairs/Centres of Indian Studies abroad, the Council deputed Indian teachers to various institutions abroad. The ICCR Cultural Centres in Fiji, Guyana, Suriname and Bonn continued to promote Indian life and culture by organising music and dance concerts, seminars and dissemination of information in various ways.

The Council continued to oversee the activities of foreign cultural centres in India-the British Council Division and Libraries, the Max Mueller Bhavans, the Alliance Francise and House of Soviet Culture in Trivandrum.
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INDIANS OVERSEAS

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A large number of persons of Indian origin have settled in many countries all over the world and Indian nationals are also travelling and residing abroad on an increasing scale. Over the years people of Indian origin have made a significant and wide- ranging contribution to the development of the countries of their residence and played a useful role in their political, economic and industrial development. Many developing countries have acknowledged the "Indian factor" in their socio-economic progress. In several industrialised countries Indian expatriates have acquired a special visibility because of their professional and technological skills. It is the consistent policy of the Government of India that persons of Indian origin who have taken the nationality of the countries of their domicile should identify themselves with the country of their adoption. The Government of India, however, continues to respond to their need to maintain cultural contacts with India and remains alive to their interests and welfare. it is also the duty and responsibility of the Government of India to protect the rights and interests of Indian citizens living abroad and take appropriate action in this regard whenever called upon to do so.

Indian overseas, whether our nationals or not, expect a wide variety of services from the Government of India. Our Missions are frequently called upon to respond to queries or demands on a wide-range of subjects, The Special Coordination Division has been set up in the Ministry of External Affairs to handle the work relating to Indians Overseas, including Indian citizens. This Division is the nodal point to which references are made for coordinated action. The need for such a nodal point had also been increasingly felt by our Missions abroad and Indians overseas, specially when several economic and/or political questions are required to be tackled. Issus relating to Overseas Indians are being dealt with in a number of Ministries and agencies of Government of India. The Division keeps in close touch with these Ministries, agencies and is engaged in collecting information on issues pertaining to Indians Overseas so that a central pool of information is built up.

It is being increasingly appreciated that Indians Overseas can provide a bridge of understanding in the effort to strengthen friendly relations between India and the country of their domicile. They have demonstrated their potential as a reservoir of skill, expertise, technology and investment for the benefit both of the country of their adoption and the land of their origin. To this end, Indian Missions abroad have been encouraged to expand their cultural contacts with Overseas Indians generally with due regard to the needs of the host countries, in addition to the efforts that are being made by the Missions to render effective services to Indian nationals overseas.
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PROTOCOL

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During 1985, Heads of Missions of the following 20 countries left India on the completion of their assignment :-

Vietnam, Denmark, Zaire, Saudi Arabia, France, Poland, USA, Lebanon, Bulgaria, Iccland, Morocco, Ethiopia, Hungary, Indonesia, Malaysia, Italy, Chile, Mongolia, Bhutan and Yogoslavia.

During the same period, Heads of Missions of the following 23 countries presented their credentials to the President of India :-

Yemen Arab Republic, Belgium, Denmark, Venezuela, Vietnam, Somalia, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, France, Libya, Guinea, Chile, Ethiopia, Lebanon, Malaysia, USA, Poland, Italy, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Indonesia, Nicaragua, and Hungary.
The Ecuador and Morocco Governments closed their Missions in New Delhi during 1985.
Nicaragua opened its first resident Mission in New Delhi in November 1985. Mrs. Halima Lopez Sirker assumed charge as Ambassador of Nicaragua to India on 18 November 1985.
A list of Heads of State/Government who visited India during 1985 is at Appendix XVI.
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PASSPORT, EMIGRATION AND CONSULAR SERVICES

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As part of its continuing efforts to render better and faster service to the public, further streamlining of procedures, simplification of formalities and rationalisation of the organisational set-up has been undertaken.

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. During the calendar year 1985, these offices earned a revenue of Rs. 9.39 crores through passport fee and incurred an expenditure of Rs. 2.93 crores towards office establishment resulting in a net revenue of Rs. 6.45 crores, to the Government. A detailed statement of revenue and expenditure is given at Appendix VI. A Statement showing the number of passports issued and miscellaneous services rendered during 1985 is at Appendix VII.

Several administrative steps have been taken during the year to help the passport applicants through simplification of the application forms/procedures. The payment of the passport fee through postal order instead of money orders was introduced, as the postal orders are easily available in all denominations at all Post Offices in India and also because of its easy accounting procedure. To modernise the cash accounting in the Passport Offices, Electronic Cash Registers (ECR) are being introduced. Four ECRs have already been installed at the Passport Office, Delhi. By the end of March 1986, ECRs will be installed at Bareilly, Trichy and Calcutta. It is intended to instal ECRs in the rest of the Passport Offices during the financial year 1986- 87.

A few legal measures have also been taken during the year to rectify the inadequacies in the existing arrangements. A notification under the Passport Act, 1967, has been issued to exempt from Passport application, the Indian nationals who are to be deported by the foreign governments but who do not hold valid travel documents and refuse to apply to the concerned Indian Missions forgrant of Emergency Certificate for travel to India.

Further, the Passport Rules, 1980, have been liberalised by dispensing with the requirement of financial guarantee or in lieu there of the verification certificate. The passport application form has also been simplified and made computer compatible. With these twin measurs it has become easier for the general public to avail of the passport facility.
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With a view to closely monitor the implementation of policy aspects and also to have proper feed-back from the passport offices on the practical aspects of the implementation of procedures, the biennial Passport officers Conference was held inNew Delhi from 21-23 November 1985. The Conference was attended by Officers from the 21 Passport Offices, representatives from the Ministry of Law, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Labour, Deptt. of Electronics etc., and the Security Printing Press, Nashik. Apart from a review of the work being done in the Passport Offices, the meeting also considered the planned computerisation and introduction of Machine Readable Passports. The biennial Conference has since been made an annual feature.

In the financial year 1985-86 steps have been taken to instal computers at the four major Passport Offices, viz., Delhi, Bombay, Cochin and Madras. Of the remaining Passport Offices in the country, 12 offices shall be computerised during the financial year 1986-87. Computerisation of the Missions abroad shall also begin in 1986-87 to be largely completed by 1987-88. Computerisation of the Passport Offices and the Missions constitute the first step towards introduction of Machine Readable Passports. The Government has decided to introduce Machine Readable Passports by 1990-91 in phases. The Machine Readable Passports will enable the Government to ensure tamperproof security of the booklets, provide better quality booklets to the passport applicants and will enable quicker clearance at the international airports. The Machine Readable Passports will be of the specifications prescribed by the International Civil Aviation Organisation and International Standard Organisation.

An important step in handling complaints from the public was taken during the year by setting up of a Grievance Cell in all the Passport Offices. A comparatively senior officer in each Passport Office was designated to receive, enquire into and dispose of complaints from the public on delays in issuing passports. During the year 1985, approximately 1100 cases of complaints regarding delay in issue of fresh passports or renewal thereof were received in the Grievance Cell of the Ministry of External Affairs against the Passport Offices in India. All these complaints were referred to the concerned Passport Offices for immediate necessary action, and about 400 complaints were settled promptly by issuing passports and rendering the services desired by the applicants. Reports on the complaints received from the passport offices indicate that the reasons for delay were generally non-receipt or late receipts of verification reports and noncompliance of formalities by the applicants themselves. The applicants are generally kept informed of the reasons for delay. Renewal of passports or other miscellaneous services are generally being rendered in three working days.

Fifty nine cases of appeal against the orders of impounding or refusal of passport facilities to Indian nationals by the Passport Offices were received. In about 28 cases, the Chief Passport Officer himself heard the appeal and passed orders allowing or rejecting the appeals. Other cases of appeal are in the process of consideration.

Two hundred and twenty applications were received for issue of Certificate of Identity to stateless persons, most of them being Tibetan refugees. In most of the cases, 5 EA/85-12.
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Certificates of Identity have been issued to the applicants. About 130 requests were received from Indian passport holders for grant of endorsements for South Africa. Almost all the cases have been disposed of on merits.

During the year 1985, a total of 1487 cases of deportation of Indians came to the notice of the Ministry. Of this, as many as 1295 were deported from UAE. The Indian Missions and Posts abroad repatriated 269 persons who found themselves stranded in foreign countries, after extending financial assistance wherever necessary. Cases of 238 Indian nationals arrested in various countries were received. The Missions have rendered all possible consular assistance to the arrested persons. Steps were also taken to facilitate their release and return to the country. Eight hundred thirty five 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, if any, for the legal heirs of the deceased, through the respective Indian Missions. The Ministry also handled 174 cases of deaths of foreign nationals in India.

As part of the consular work, 1,32,981 documents submitted by the public for production to foreign authorities were attested during the year. The attestation service is being rendered free in India. Also, the attestation work is centralised and is done only in New Delhi (Attestation Cell, Patiala House). To decentralise the attestation facility, steps have been initiated to enact suitable legislation.

The fee structure for consular services rendered abroad by our Missions has been further simplified by introducing a uniform fee for all Missions through a suitable amendment for the Diplomatic & Consular Officer (Fees) Rules, 1949, and Foreign Marriage Rules, 1970. The two categories of rates applicable earlier have been merged into a single uniform schedule. Consular fee structure has been further simplified.

The need for streamlining the functioning of our consular sections abroad was emphasised at the highest level. The reports concerning the action taken received from our Missions were encouraging, though there is need to strengthen consular staff due to the requirements of providing visas to Commonwealth and other citizens.
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ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANISATION

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Shri Rajiv Gandhi, Prime Minister also held the charge of Minister for External Affairs upto 25 September 1985 and during this period Shri Khursheed Alam Khan remained Minister of State in this Ministry. Thereafter Shri B.R. Bhagat took over as Minister of External Affairs and Shri K.R. Narayanan became the Minister of State. Shri G. Parthasarthi continued to be Chairman of Policy Planning Committee with the rank of Cabinet Minister during the year.

Shri M.K. Rasgotra relinquished charge as Foreign Secretary on 31 January 1985 and Shri Romesh Bhandari took over as the new Foreign Secretary from that date. Shri A.P. Venkateswaran took over as Secretary (East) from 31 January 1985. Dr. J.S. Teja continued as Secretary (West) during the year. Shri J.C. Ajmani relinquished charge of the post of Secretary in the Ministry on posting abroad on 5 July 1985 and Shri N.P. Jain took over as Secretary (ER). Shri A. P. Venkateswaran will take over as Foreign Secretary when Shri Romesh Bhandari retires on 31 March 1986.

At Additional Secretary's level S/Shri S. K. Bhutani and I. S. Chaddha relinquished charge on transfer abroad on 10 September 1985 and 27 September 1985 respectively. Shri Prem Shunker continued as Additional Secretary (Pol). Shri A.K. Das assumed charge of Additional Secretary (Coord.) on 7 February 1985 and relinquished his charge on posting abroad on 8 November 1985. Shri M. Dubey took over as Additional Secretary (South Asia) with effect from 27 September 1985 and Shri P.L. Sinai took over as Additional Secretary in the Ministry on 9 December 1985.

The total sanctioned strength of IFS and IFS(B) both at Headquarters and in Indian Missions abroad is 3725. This included 44 officers of the Combined Research Cadre as also 30 officers of the Interpreters Cadre. The cadre-wise strength is given in Appendix VIII. In addition we have 1517 locally recruited staff in our Missions/Posts abroad.

To project India's image abroad and to safeguard the national interests we have 136 resident Missions/Posts abroad manned by officers and staff from India. We also have Honorary Consulate Generals/Consulates at 22 places. During the year we opened new offices at Khulna in Bangladesh and Milan in Italy.
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In order to effect improvements in the working of our Missions abroad, including review of foreign allowances, economy, staff positions etc., Foreign Service Inspectors inspected our Missions at Ankara, Bangkok, Buenos Aires, Brasilia, Dar-es-Salaam, Islamabad, Karachi, Kampala, Lisbon, Maputo, Nairobi, Paris, Paramaribo, Rangoon and Santiago during the year.

The Committee of Secretaries had recommended the reduction of staff in the Supply Wing of our High Commission in London from 85 to 24. Steps to implement this decision are being taken in consultation with the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Supply.

A list giving the number of officers of the Ministry of External Affairs who have qualified in various foreign languages is given at Appendix X.

The Welfare Unit of the Ministry continued to render assistance of varied nature to all in matters of admission of children of personnel of this Ministry to schools and colleges and helped those in need of medical assistance at airports when they return from abroad or locally when they need hospitalisation. In addition to usual seats reserved for children of our personnel in engineering and medical colleges, the Ministry has been able to secure 10 new reserved seats in polytechnics during the year. The unit also arranged grants-in- aid for recreational facilities in Missions abroad and Passport Offices in India. Ten officials of this Ministry died in harness at a comparatively younger age between 42 to 45 mostly due to heart failures. The unit rendered all possible help including financial assistance from Staff Benefit Fund.

The Ministry took care to implement the various Government directives on the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes employees of this Ministry. A special cell is functioning to look after the interests of employees belonging to these communities. A statement showing the total number of employees in this Ministry in various groups and the number of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes among them is attached as per Appendix XIII.

A new scheme of grant of free return passage to the serving local employees in our Missions/Posts who have rendered a minimum service of 25 years has been introduced during the year.
The Ministry continued to pursue its policy of acquiring and constructing properties abroad for the Indian Missions and personnel.

During the year under review properties were purchased at Harare, New York, Amman and Paris and construction of Chancery building and staff residences in Ankara and Embassy residence in Port of Spain and Chancery in Lusaka were completed. The construction of the Chancery buildings in Islamabad and Colombo are at the final stages of completion.
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USE OF HINDI IN OFFICIAL WORK

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During the year under review, the Ministry made constant efforts for the propagation of Hindi abroad and for the use of Hindi in official language policy of the Government of India and in pursuance of the Official Language Act and rules framed thereunder. At the Headquarters of the Ministry as well as in the Regional Passport Offices and in the Missions and Posts abroad, use of Hindi was further encouraged. In countries where there is a sizeable population of Indian origin, constant efforts were made for the propagation of Hindi.

With a view to monitoring the progress of Hindi in the Ministry, meetings of the Official Language Implementation Committee were held and various measures for the proper implementation of the Official Language Rules and Act in the Ministry were discussed. Official Language Implementation Committees have also been constituted or are being constituted in bigger 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 and also from the Indian Missions abroad.

During the year under review, one of the important decisions taken was to constitute the full fledged Hindi Advisory Committee in the Ministry under the Chairmanship of Foreign Minister in place of the sub-Committee of the Central Hindi Committee that has thus far been functioning in this Ministry. A resolution to this effect has been issued. The first meeting of the Committee is also being convened shortly.

Officials posted in Indian Missions abroad make use of Hindi messages from the President on the occasion of Republic Day and Independence Day.

The Ministry of External Affairs traditionally issued all the Letters of Appointment, Letters of Credence and Letters of Recall, etc., of Heads of Missions posted abroad originally in Hindi.

During the year under review, the Ministry prepared the Hindi texts of Protocol/ Agreements entered into with the Foreign Governments. In addition, the Hindi Section
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of the Ministry vetted the Hindi texts of the Protocols and Agreements prepared by other Ministries.

During the year, the Hindi Section has also taken in hand the translation of the literature of United Nations in pursuance of the decision taken earlier in the Meetings of the sub-Committee.
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APPENDIX I Meetings/Conferences held under the aegis of NAM

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Meetings/Conferences held under the aegis of the Non-aligned Movement during 1985

Sl.Name of Meeting/Conference Venue Date 
No. 
 
1)                   (2)          (3)    4) 
 
1.  Fifth Meeting of Coordinating Countries 
    in the field of Standardization on 
Metrology and Quality Control New Delhi 23-31 January 
 
2.  Plenipotentiary Conference of 
    Non-aligned countries to consider and 
    adopt Final Act and Statute of the 
    Non-aligned Centre for Science and 
    Technology of Non-aligned and other 
    Developing Countries   .   New York   4 February 
 
3.  Meeting of Non-aligned Coordinating 
    Bureau on the situation in South 
    Africa   .   .   .   .  New York         6 March 
 
4.  Ninth Meeting of Non-aligned 
    Coordinators in the field of Health at 
 the level of Senior Officials Havana    23-28 March 
 
5.  Visit by Non-aligned Group of "Friends 
of the Chairman" to Nicaragua Managua   29 March to 
                                         1 April 
6.  Ministerial Level Meeting of the 
    Non-aligned and other Developing 
    Countries on the Role of Women in 
    Development .   .   .New Delhi    8-11 April 
 
7.  Extra-ordinary Ministerial Meeting of 
    the Non-aligned Coordinating Bureau on 
    the question of Namibia New Delhi   19-21 April 
 
8.  Ministerial Level Meeting of 
    Non-aligned Committee of Eight on 
    Palestine .   .   New Delhi        20 April 
 
9.  Ninth Meeting of Health Ministers of 
    Non-aligned Countries during the Thirty 
    Eight Session of the World Health 
    Assembly .   .    Geneva           8 May 
 
10. Special Plenary Meeting of the 
    Non-aligned Countries addressed by the 
Foreign Minister of Argentina New York    17 May 
 
11. Meeting of Non-aligned Coordinating 
    Bureau to consider the situation in 
    Central America . New York       26 July 
 
12. Conference of Foreign Ministers of 
    Non-aligned Countries .  Luanda4-8 September 
 
13. Plenary Meeting of Non-aligned 
    Countries to observe the Day of 
    Non-aligned .   .New York    13 September 
-82> 
 
14. Meeting of Ministers and Heads of 
    Delegation of the Non-aligned Countries 
    to the Fortieth Session of the UN 
    General Assembly  New York       1 October 
 
15. Special Plenary Meeting of Non-aligned 
    Countries addressed by Shri Rajiv 
    Gandhi, Prime Minister of India and 
    Chairman of the Movement of Non-aligned 
    Countries . New York      22 October 
 
16. Second Meeting of the Research and 
    Information System of Non-aligned and 
Other Developing Countries New Delhi 20-22 November 
 
17. Meeting of Non-aligned Coordinating 
    Bureau to discuss the situation in and 
    around Nicaragua .  New York  9 December 
-83> 


APPENDIX II Treaties/Conventions/Agreements

 

Treaties/Conventions/Agreements concluded or renewed by India with other countries in 1985*

Sl. Title of Convention/Date of   Date of   Date on 
No. Treaty/Agreement signature Ratification,which entered 
                                  Accession or  into force 
                                  Acceptance 
------------------------------------------------ 
  (1)               (2)           (3)  (4)    (5) 
--------------------------------------------------
 
MULTILATERAL 
 
Antarctica 
 
1.  Convention on the 
    Conservation of Antarctic 
    Marine Living Resources 
    (Canberra, 20-5-1980) .   17-6-1985       17-7-1985 
 
Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation 
 
2.  Agreement Terminating the 
    Commonwealth Telecommunicat- 
    ions Organisation Financial 
    Agreement, 1973  .   .   .   26-3-1985    26-3-1985 
 
3.  Commonwealth Telecommunications 
    Organisation Financial 
    Agreement, 1983   .   .   .  26-3-1985  26-3-1985 
 
European Economic Community 
 
4.  Financing Agreement between 
    the Republic of India and 
    the European Economic 
    Community-(Agreement 
    NA/84/10) Supply of 
    Fertilisers 1984 and 
    Counterpart Funding of Rural 
    Development Projects.  .   .  8-3-1985  8-3-1985 
 
International Atomic Energy Agency 
 
5.  An aendment of Article VI of 
    the Statute of the Internat- 
    ional Atomic Energy Agency.   ..16-5-1985       .. 
 
International Sugar Agreement 
 
6.  International Sugar Agree- 
    ment, 1984 .31-12-1984    29-4-1985      29-4-1985 
 
South Asian Regional Cooperation-Standards of Train- 
ing for Seafarers 
 
7.  Charter of the South Asian 
    Association for Regional 
    Cooperation   .   .  8-12-1985  8-12-1985 
 
United Nations Development Programme 
 
8.  Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/84/020/A/01/37-Strengt- 
    hening CBI CAPABILITY IN 
    PRODUCTIVITY ENHANCEMENT OF 
    CEMENT INDUSTRIES (PEP)   .   4-1-1985  4-1-1985 
 
*This list is not exhaustive. 
-84> 
 
9.  Agreement between India and the 
    United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project No. 
    IND/85/006/A/01/37-Development 
    of Expertise in Fertiliser 
    Plant Operations   .   31-1-1985   31-1-1985 
 
10. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Develop- 
    ment Programme regarding 
    Project No. IND/85/026/A/01/37- 
    Establishment of Metal Handicr- 
    aft Centre at Moradabad  15-2-1985  15-3-1985 
 
11. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/84/025/A/01/01/Long 
    Range Electricity Generation 
    Planning-Transfer of Softw- 
    are Technology   .   29-3-1985  29-3-1985 
 
12. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/95/A/01/37-Demons- 
    tration and Training in 
    Productivity Maintenance 
    for Fertilizer Industry  . 23-4-19  23-4-1985 
 
13. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/85/047/A/01/13- 
    Curriculum Development for 
    Technician Education 
    (Phase-II)   .   .  9-5-1985 9-5-1985 
 
14. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/85/008/A/01/40- 
    Development of National 
    Institute of Port 
    Management  .   .28-5-1985    28-5-1985 
 
15. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/85/004/A/01/37- 
    Strenthening of Engineering 
    and Consultancy Services   5-6-1985   5-6-1985 
 
16. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/85/005/A/01/01-Studies 
    on Sedimentation of Reservoirs 
    in India .   .   .   .7-6-1985    7-6-1985 
 
17. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/85/059/A/01/12- 
    Development of Coastal 
    Aquaculture  .   .  27-6-198 27-6-1985 
 
18. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/85/058/81/16- 
    Improvement of River and Flood 
    Forecasting System in India 
    (Phase-II)  .   .  24-7-1985   24-7-1985 
 
19. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/85/065/A/12- 
    Establishment of High Security 
    Animal Disease Laboratory  . 26-7-1985  26-7-1985 
 
20. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
   Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/85/002/A/01/37- 
    Introduction of Computer 
    System in SAIL Plants .   24-7-1985  24-7-1985 
-85> 
 
21. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/85/A/01/11- 
    Modernisation of Hotel 
    Catering and Tourism 
    Occupations Training 
    Programme   .   .   .  16-8-1985  16-8-1985 
 
22. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/85/062/A/01/37-Establ- 
    ishment of an Electronic 
    Service and Training Centre, 
    Ramnagar, U.P.   .   .11-9-1985   11-9-1985 
 
23. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. DP/IND/85/064/A/01/37- 
    Measures for Energy Saving and 
    Conservation in SAIL's Steel 
    Plants  .   .   .  20-9-1985  20-9-1985 
 
24. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/85/015/A/01/12- 
    Training Centre for Mechanical 
Wood Industries, Bangalore .20-9-1985  20-9-1985 
 
25. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/85/069/C/01/01-Hydro- 
    mechanics Division 
    (Supplementary Assistance) 26-9-1985 26-9-1985 
 
26. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/85/061/B/01/01- 
    Development of the Indian 
    Railways Institute of Bridge 
    Technology, Pune  .   5-10-1985  5-10-1985 
 
27. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/85/027-Modern 
    Cartographic Centre, 
    Dehra Dun .   .  24-10-1985  24-10-1985 
 
28. Agreement between India and the 
    United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/85/083/A/01/14- 
    Strengthening of the National 
    Institute of Immunology-Deve- 
    lopment of Diagnostic Methods 
    using Modern Immunological 
    and Biological Approaches . 25-10-1985  25-10-1985 
 
29. Agreement between India and 
    the United Nations Development 
    Programme regarding Project 
    No. IND/85/032/A/01/20- 
    Upgrading of Telecommunication 
    Training Centres and Manpower 
    Development .   .   .   .   26-11-1985  26-11-1985 
 
United Nations Industrial Development Organisation 
 
30. Constitution of the United 
    Nations Industrial Development 
    Organisation (Vienna, 8 April 
    1979)  .16-11-1979   21-1-1980   21-6-1985 
-86> 
 
BILATERAL 
 
Afghanistan 
 
31. Agreed Minutes of Meetings 
    between the Trade Delegations 
    of India and Afghanistan 
    (New Delhi, 16-19 July 
    1985)  .   .   .   19-7-1985  19-7-1985 
 
32. Protocol of the Seventh 
    Meeting of the India- 
    Afghanistan Joint Commission 
    on Economic, Technical and 
    Trade Cooperation 
    (New Delhi, 6-8 August, 
    1985) .   .   8-8-1985      8-8-1985 
 
Algeria 
 
33. Exchange of Letters to amend 
    the Indo-Algerian Technical 
    and Scientific Cooperation 
    Convention of 1980 .  8-4-1985     8-4-1985 
 
34. Minutes of the Visit of the 
    Delegation of the Ministry 
    of Higher Education of the 
    Democratic and Popular 
    Republic of Algeria .  17-4-1985     17-4-1985 
 
Argentina 
 
35. Agreement between the 
    Government of the Republic 
    of India and the Government 
    of the Republic of Argentina 
    on Scientific and Technical 
    Cooperation  . 24-1-1985      24-1-1985 
                                  (Provisional) 
 
Australia 
 
36. Exchange of Notes between 
    India and Australia regarding 
    Reciprocal Exchange of 
    Citizenship information  13-2-1985  13-2-1985 
 
Bangladesh 
 

37. Indo-Bangladesh Memorandum of Understanding  
(WaterResources)  .  22-11-1985     22-11-1985 
 
38. Memorandum of Understanding 
    between the Government of the 
    Republic of India and the 
    Government of the People's 
    Republic of Bangladesh 
    (Cyclone relief) . 4-11-1985   4-11-1985 
 
Canada 
 
39. Agreement between India and 
    Canada amending the Loan 
    Agreement of 30-9-1969 (Tele- 
    communication Project) 3-7-1985      3-7-1985 
 
40. Agreement between India and 
    Canada amending the Loan 
    Agreement of 21-11-1981 
    (Power Sector Line of 
    Credit)  .   11-9-1985    11-9-1985 

-87> Czechoslovakia 41. Trade and Payments Agreement between India and the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic . . 28-9-1984 1-1-1985 (Provisional) 42. Long Term Trade Protocol between India and Czechoslovakia . 14-2-1985 14-2-1985 Egypt, Arab Republic of 43. Agreement for the Establi- shment of a Joint Commission between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt . 3-9-1983 25-1-1985 25-1-1985 44. Agreed Minutes of the First Session of the Indo-Egyptian Joint Commission (New Delhi, 18-21 November 1985) 21-11-1985 21-11-1985 Ethiopia 45. Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of India and Socialist Ethiopia on Mutual Cooperation in the Economic Field . 22-12-1985 22-12-1985 France 46. Minutes of the Fourth Meeting of the Indo-French Working Group on Coal held in New Delhi on 27-28 May 1985 . 28-5-1985 28-5-1985 47. Agreement between India and France for establishing an Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research . . . 8-6-1985 8-6-1985 48. Memorandum between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of France on Energy Recovery from Urban and Agricultural Wastes . 9-6-1985 9-6-1985 Germany, Democratic Republic of 49. Protocol of the Sixth Session of the Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the German Democratic Republic and the Republic of India 7-11-1985 7-11-1985 Germany, Federal Republic of 50. Agreed Minutes on Development Cooperation Negotiations (New Delhi, 10-12 April 1985) 12-4-1985 12-4-1985 51. Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany concerning Financial Cooperation . 28-5-1985 28-5-1985 52. Protocol Amending the Agree- ment between the Government of India and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for the Avoidance of Double Taxation of Income signed on 18-3-1959 28-6-1984 10-7-1985 10-8-1985 -88> Ghana 53. Cultural Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Ghana 12-10-1981 5-2-1985 5-2-1985 Japan 54. Exchange of Notes between India and Japan regarding Japanese Grant Aid to India of Yen 500,000,000 (Five hundred million) for purchase of Medical Equipment 22-2-1985 22-2-1985 55. Exchange of Notes between India and Japan regarding Japanese Grant Aid of Yen 1,773,860,000 (One billion, seven hundred seventy three million eight hundred and sixty thousand) to India for Debt Relief 22-2-1985 22-2-1985 56. Exchange of Notes between India and Japan regarding Japanese Project Aid for 1985-86 27-9-1985 27-9-1985 57. Exchange of Notes between India and Japan regarding Yen Credits for 1985-86 25-11-1985 25-11-1985 58. Agreement between India and Japan on Cooperation in Science and Technology 29-11-1985 29-11-1985 Jordan 59. Protocol for Scientific and Technical Cooperation between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, India and the Royal Scientific Society, Jordan 30-4-1985 30-4-1985 Mauritius 60. Agreed Minutes of the Third Session of the Indo-Mauritian Joint Commission on Economic, Technical and Cultural Cooperation (New Delhi, 29-31 August 1985) 31-8-1985 31-8-1985 Mexico 61. Protocol to the Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology between the Gove- rnment of India and the Government of Mexico in the field of Biotechnology 30-1-1985 30-1-1985 Nepal 62. Agreement between the Gove- rnment of the Republic of India and His Majesty's Govt. of Nepal regarding Rural Electrification in Nuwaket District 8-8-1985 8-8-1985 63. Agreement between the Gover- nment of the Republic of India and His Majesty's Govt. of Nepal for setting up a Museum and Library cum Documentation Complex at the Forestry Institute at Hatanda 8-8-1985 8-8-1985
-89> 64. Agreement between the Govt. of the Republic of India and His Majesty's Govt. of Nepal for the construction of Kolhapur-Mahakali Section of the Mahendra Raj Marg 28-9-1985 28-9-1985 65. Agreement between the Govt. of the Republic of India and His Majesty's Govt. of Nepal on Stand by Credit 14-10-1985 14-10-1985 The Netherlands 66. Cultural Agreement between the Republic of India and the Kingdom of the Nether- lands 24-5-1985 6-12-1985 1-2-1986 67. Loan Agreement between the Govt. of India and the Nederlands Investeringsbenk Voor Oniwikkelingslanden N.V. for Hfl. 12 million 14-5-1985 14-5-1985 68. Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Science and Technology of the Government of India and the Ministry of Education and Science of the Netherlands on Scientific Cooperation 3-7-1985 3-7-1985 Pakistan 69. Report of the Second Meeting of the India-Pakistan Joint Commission (New Delhi, 2-4 July 1985) 4-7-1985 4-7-1985 70. Agreement for Cooperation in Agriculture between the Gov- ernment of the Republic of India and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 4-7-1985 4-7-1985 Poland 71. Protocol of the Ninth Session of the Indo-Polish Joint Commission for Economic, Trade, Scientific and Technical Cooperation 1-2-1985 1-2-1985 Romania 72. Long term Trade and Payments Agreement 20-12-1985 1-1-1986 Switzerland 73. Agreement between the Gover- nment of the Republic of India and the Government of the Swiss Confederation concerning a project of Financial Cooperation in favour of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)11-1-1985 11-1-1985 (applied re- trospectively from 1-7-84) Thailand 74. Memorandum of Understanding on the Establishment of the Joint Trade Committee between the Republic of India and the Kingdom of Thailand 13-2-1985 13-2-1985
-90> Union of Soviet Socialist Republic 75. Programme on Cooperation and Exchange in the Field of Television and Radio Broad- casting between the Ministry of Information and Broadcas- ting, Government of India and the State Committee for Tele- vision and Radio Broadcasting of the USSR for the years 1985 and 1986 29-3-1985 29-3-1985 76. Protocol of the Seventh Session of the Inter-Govern- mental Joint Committee on Shipping (9-12 April 1985) 12-4-1985 12-4-1985 77. Protocol of the Second Meeting of the Indo-Soviet Working Group on Trade (New Delhi, 8-12 April 1985) 12-4-1985 12-4-1985 78. Protocol of the Ninth Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Indian-Soviet Commission in Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation 29-4-1985 29-4-1985 79. Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Republic of India and the Union of Soviet Socialist Re- public (1000 million Roubles Credit for Kahalgoan Power Project etc.) 22-5-1985 22-5-1985 80. Trade Agreement between the Republic of India and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 23-12-1985 1-1-1986 81. Protocol on Deliveries of Machinery and Equipment from USSR to India on Deferred Payment Terms 23-12-1985 1-1-1986 82. Agreement on Mutual Deliveries of Goods and Commodities in the period 1986-1990 between India and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 23-12-1985 1-1-1986 United Arab Emirates 83. Agreed Minutes of the Fourth Meeting of the Indo-UAE Joint Commission (Abu Dhabi, 4-5 May 1985) 5-5-1985 5-5-1985 United States of America 84. Fourth Amendatory Agreement to the Project Loan and Grant Agreement between the President of India and the United States of America for Integrated Child Development Services (A.I.D. Loan No. 386-T-233, A.I.D. Project No. 386-0476)16-5-1985 16-5-1985 85. Project Loan and Grant Agreement between the President of India and the United States of America for National Social Forestry (AID Loan No. 386-T-240, AID Project No. 386-0495) 26-6-1985 86. Limited Scope Grant Project Agreement between the President of India and the United States of America (AID Project No. 386-0500-Cont- raceptive Development: Reproductive Immunology) 26-6-1985 26-6-1985
-91> (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) 87. Project Loan and Grant Agreement between the President of India and the United States of America for Biomedical Research Support (AID Loan No. 386-U-241 & 241A-AID Project No. 386-0492). 30-7-1985 30-7-1985 88. Limited Scope Grant Project Agreement between the President of India and the United States of America (AID Project No.930-0100- Women in Development Studies) 30-8-1985 30-8-1985 89. Grant Agreement between the President of India and the United States of America for the Programme of Advancement of Commercial Technology (A.I.D. Project No. 386-0496) 30-8-1985 30-8-1985 Vietnam 90. Protocol of the India-Vietnam Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation (Hanoi, 23-26 November 1985) 26-11-1985 26-11-1985 Yugoslavia 91. Protocol of the discussions held during the 15th Session of the Indo-Yugoslav Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation (New Delhi, 25-29 July 1985) 29-7-1985 29-7-1985
-92>

APPENDIX III Major International Conference/Meetings/Seminars

 

Major International Conference/Meetings/Seminars etc. organised by Inter-Government Organisations at which Government of India was represented in 1985-86

Sl.       Title of Conference etc.      Venue        Date 
No. 
 
(1)                  (2)                 (3)        (4) 
 
1. First Session of ILO's Advisory 
   Committee on Technology .  .  .      Geneva       15-19 April 1985 
2. International Maritime Organisation 
   Radio Communications Sub-Committee- 
   29th Session         .       .       London       15-19 April 1985 
3. UNICEF Executive Board  . . . . .  New York       15-26 April 1985 
4. 9th Session of Advisory Committee 
   on Salaried Employees and 
   Professional Workers  .   .   .      Geneva       17-25 April 1985 
5. International Maritime Organisation 
   Marine Environment Protection 
   Committee-21st Session               London       22-26 April 1985 
6. 9th Session of UN Committee 
   on Natural Resources .  .  .  .  . New York      22 April to 3 May 
                                                                 1985 
7. Executive Council of Universal 
   Postal Union                          Berne      22 April to 3 May 
                                                                 1985 
8. 3rd Session of Interaction Council    Paris       25-27 April 1985 
9. 3rd Session of UN Commission on 
   Status of Women acting as 
   Preparatory Committee for World 
   Conference to review and appraise 
   the Achievements of UN Decade for 
   Women   .    .    .    .           New York     29 April to 6 May 
                                                                1985 
10. 25th Session of UN Committee on 
    Programme and Coordination .  .   New York    29 April to 31 May 
                                                                1985 
11. 14th Conference of the 
    International Ports and Harbours   Humburg         4-11 May 1985 
12. 38th World Health Assembly . . . .  Geneva         6-22 May 1985 
13. UN Disarmament Commission . . . . New York  6 May to 1 June 1985 
14. 9th Meeting of Health Ministers 
    of Non-aligned and other 
    developing countries  . . . .       Geneva            8 May 1985 
15. Meeting of Study Group of CCITT .   Geneva        13-14 May 1985 
16. UN Special Committee on 
    Decolonisation   .     .             Tunis        13-17 May 1985 
17. International Meeting of Chief 
    Explosives . . . . . . .            London        20-23 May 1985 

-93> 18. Extra-ordinary Plenary Meeting of the UN Council on Namibia . . Vienna 3-7 June 1985 19. 7th Interessional meeting of open ended working group to draft an International Convention on Protection of Rights of all Migrant Workers and their familiesNew York 3-14 June 1985 20. Commonwealth Labour Ministers Meeting . . Geneva 6-7 June 1985 21. 18th Session of UN Commission on International Trade Law . . . . . . Vienna 3-21 June 1985 22. 32nd Session of the Governing Council of UNDP . . . . . . . New York 3-27 June 1985 23. 71st Session of the International Labour Conference . . . . . . . Geneva 7-27 June 1985 24. 6th Meeting of CHOGRM Working group on Industry-Workshop on Leather Tanning and Leather Products . . . . . . Port Vila 15-19 June 1985 Vanautu 25. 40th Anniversary celebrations of UN Charter . . . . . . . . San Francisco 23-26 June 1985 26. 54th Session of International Maritime Organisation Council . London 24-28 June 1985 27. 2nd Regular Session of ECOSOC . Geneva 3-26 July 1985 28. World Conference to review and appraise the Achievements of UN Decade for Women . . Nairobi 15-26 July 1985 29. 3rd Course on Survey under the International Convention for the Prevention of pollution from ships (1973-1978) . . . . . . Malmo 22 July to 9 August 1985 30. UN Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities . . . Geneva 22 July to 30 August 1985 31. Preparatory Committee of International Conference on Disarmament and Development New York 29 July to 9 August 1985 32. South African Development Coordination Conference (SADCC) Industrial Rehabiliation Workshop . . . . . . . . Arusha 27-28 August (Tanzania) 1985 33. IMO/UNDP/USSR Seminar on Ports and related Maritime Safety and Pollution Prevention and Combat Aspects . . . . . . . Odessa 16-29 August 1985 34. Mitsui Bank International Seminar 1985 . . Japan 19-28 August 1985 35. NAM Ministerial Meeting . . . . . Luanda 2-7 September 1985 36. SARC Technical Committee Meeting New Delhi 16-18 September 1985
-94> 37. 40th Session of UN General Assembly New York 17 September to December 1985 38. 8th Intersessional Meeting of open enied Working Group to draft an International Convention on Protection of Rights of all migrant workers and their families . . . .New York 23 September to 4 October 1985 39. 1st Session of Forestry and Wood Industry Committee of ILO . . . . Geneva 8-16 September 1985 40. Bank Asia 1985 and the 4th Asian Congress on Electronics Banking Service "Financial Technology Applications-Asian Options up to A.D. 2000" . Hongkong 24-27 September 1985 41. Meeting of Governing bodies of WIPO and the Unions administered by WIPO Geneva 23 September to 1 October 1985 42. Annual Session of the CCPS . . . Berne 6-19 October 1985 43. Joint Meeting on Employment and Working Conditions in Health and Medical-Services of ILO . Geneva 8-15 October 1985 44. 3rd Asian and Pacific Ministerial Level Conference on Social Welfare and Social Development . . Bangkok 9-15 October 1985 45. CHOGM '85 Summit . . . . . Nassau 12-22 October (Bahamas) 1985 46. IMO Assembly 14th Session IMO Council Extraordinary Session IMO Council 55th Session . London 8-22 November 1985 47. International Astronomical Union Colloquim 91 on History of Oriental Astronomy . . . New Delhi 13-16 November 1985 48. Inter-regional Seminar on Industrial Strategy and the Patent System . . . . . Seoul 18-22 November 1985 49. Workshop on Food and the well- being of children in Developing World . . . . . New York 25-26 November 1985 50. 5th AAPU Congress . . . . . . Bangkok 24 November to 4 December 1985 51. SAARC Summit and Stamp Exhibition Dhaka 27 November to 9 December 1985 52. 3rd Session of Tripartite Technical Meeting on Leather and Footwear Industry . . . Geneva 4-12 December 1985 53. International Conference on Families in the face of Urbanisation . . . . . India 2-5 December 1985 54. The Urban Sector Conference . . Washington 2-6 December 1985 55. Workshop on Industrial Property Licensing and Technology Transfer Arrangements . . . Bombay 7-11 December 1985
-95>

APPENDIX IV Major International Conferences/Meetings/Seminars

 

Major International Conferences/Meetings/Seminars organised by Non- Governmental Organisations at which Indian experts participated in their personal capacity with Government assistance

Sl. No   Title of Conference etc.             Venue               Date 
 
(1)                   (2)                     (3)                  (4) 
 
1. Multi-Country Study Mission on Waste 
   Disposal, Control and Recycling . . .      Japan        15-20 April 
                                                                  1985 
2. Asian NGO symposium on Palestine . . .   Beijing        22-26 April 
                                                                  1985 
3. Survey meeting on Foreign Investment . Singapore       1-3 May 1985 
4. Symposium on Immediate Independence of 
   Namibia                                Singapore      6-10 May 1985 
5. 27th Session of Governing Body 
   Meeting of Asian Productivity 
   Organisation . . . . .                     Tokyo          13-16 May 
                                                                  1985 
6. Seminar on Production Planning Control     Japan       27 May to 14 
                                                             June 1985 
7. Seminar on Small Industries Development  Korea & 
                                              Japan       27 May to 14 
                                                             June 1985 
8. Seminar on "Education for Peace" . . .   Caracas      2-6 June 1985 
9. Symposium on Cereal Seed Industry . .    Jakarta         17-22 June 
                                                                  1985 
10. Seminar on Strategic Defence 
    Initiative and International Security Stockholm      4-7 July 1985 
11. Seminar on Training Techniques . . .      India     8-18 July 1985 
12. Symposium on Small Group Activities   Singapore     9-13 July 1985 
13. Symposium on the role of General 
    Trading Firms                    .     Thailand       19-23 August 
                                                                  1985 
14. International Seminar on racial 
    ideologies and organisations hindering 
    efforts for elimination of racial 
    discrimination . . . . . . . .         Budapest     9-11 September 
                                                                  1985 
15. 2nd UN International Non-Governmental 
    Organisations meeting on the question 
    of Palestinian Rights . . . . . . .      Geneva     9-12 September 
                                                                  1985 
16. Seminar on Energy Conservation . . . .    Japan     9-27 September 
                                                                  1985 
17. Seminar on Farm Credit . . .  . .         Japan    17-30 September 
                                                                  1985 
18. Symposium on Commercialization of 
    Indigenous Technology . . . . . .         India       7-11 October 
                                                                  1985 
19. Seminar on Mutual Aid Scheme in the 
    context of Group Insurance . .  . . .     Tokyo   14 to 26 October 
                                                                  1985 
20. Symposium on Fishing Industry . . . .     Tokyo     13-18 November 
                                                                  1985 

-96> 21. Seminar on Construction Management 13-22 November 1985 22. Seminar on Applications Specific Industries . . Japan 18 November to 16 December 1985 23. Multi-Country Study Mission on Furniture Industry Japan 23 November to 7 December 1985 24. Seminar on Personnel Management Practices . India 28 to 30November 1985 25. Seminar on Surface Technology applied to Dies & Moulds . . Hong Kong 2-6 December 1985 26. Seminar on Packing Design & Engineering . . . Japan 7-25 December1985 27. Symposium on Linkage between Large & Small Industries . . KualaLumpur 9-13 December 1985 28. Symposium on "Is Universality in Jeopardy" . Geneva16-17 December 1985 29. Symposium on Organizing for Higher Productivity Experience of the Republic of Korea . . Seoul 17-21 December 1985
-97>

APPENDIX V Miscellaneous Major International Conferences/Meetings/Seminars

 

Miscellaneous Major International Conferences/Meetings/Seminars at which Government of India was represented or in which Indian experts participated with Government of India's assistance in their personal capacity

Sl.   Title of Conference etc.              Venue            Date 
No. 
 
(1)                        (2)               (3)                (4) 
 
1. U.N. Group on Concepts of Security    New York     8-19 April 1985 
2. U.N. Advisory Board on Disarmament 
   Studies    .                          New York       6-11 May 1985 
3. Symposium on International High 
   Speed Mail Service . . . . . .        Riecione, 
                                            Italy         29 May to 2 
                                                            June 1985 
4. The 24th General Assembly Meeting of 
   ISBI                                    Geneva       6-7 June 1985 
5. Symposium on Rice Research-Accompli- 
   shments and Challenges . . . . .        Manila       6-8 June 1985 
6. U.N. Group on Concepts of Security    New York      8-19 July 1985 
7. 10th International Congress of 
   Heterocyclic Chemistry                  Canada       11-16 August, 
                                                                 1985 
8. Meeting of American Mathematical 
   Society and the Mathematical 
   Association of America  .   .           U.S.A.        12-15 August 
                                                                 1985 
9. Regional Workshop on Savings Banks 
   Service in Rural & Urban Areas . . . Indonesia        18-23 August 
                                                                 1985 
10.International Symposium on Antennas 
   and Propagatur in Japan .  .  .  .       Japan        20-22 August 
                                                                 1985 
11.World Conference on Cooperation 
   Education                     .    Scotland-UK       2-6 September 
                                                                 1985 
12.U.N. International Seminar on Comm- 
   unity Relations Commissions and their 
   Functions  .     .     .                Geneva     9-20 September, 
                                                                 1985 
13.Meeting of U.N. Advisory Board on 
   Disarmament Studies . . . . . . .       Geneva    23-27 September, 
                                                                 1985 
14.Multi-Disciplinary Workshop on "Women 
   and Violence" . . . . .                 London    23-29 September, 
                                                                 1985 
15.11th World Congress of Asthamology      Mexico      21-25 October, 
                                                                 1985 
16.Meeting of European LPG Association     Madrid     25 October,1985 
17.4th Session of U.N. Inter-Governmental 
   Group of Experts on Restrictive Business 
   Practices  .   .                        Geneva      4-15 November, 
                                                                 1985 
18.Training of Trainers Programme . . .     India     18-28 November, 
                                                                 1985 
19.Meeting of Committee of Experts on 
   Intellectual Property in respect of 
   Integrated Circuits  .            .     Geneva     26-29 November, 
                                                                 1985 
20.Advisory Seminar on "Women and 
   Children"                    .          Vienna      9-20 December, 
                                                                 1985 

-98>

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 1985

Sl. No.  Station          Revenue                    Expenditure 
                          Earned                     incurred) 
                          (in Rupees)                (in Rupees) 
 
(1)     (2)                 (3)                              (4) 
 
1.  Ahmedabad  . . . .    48,94,960.00               13,55,367.65 
2.  Bangalore  . . . .    50,58,600.00               13,89,000.00 
3.  Bareilly   . . . .    35,43,910.55               10,93,353.42 
4.  Bhopal     . . . .    10,60,705.75                5,32,185.40 
5.  Bhubaneswar  . . .     2,46,221.00                2,80,922.80 
6.  Bombay  .  . . . .  2,96,04,160.05               48,83,360.04 
7.  Calcutta   . . . .    26,22,315.80               10,61,036.43 
8.  Chandigarh . . . .    37,48,676.00               16,55,567.00 
9.  Cochin     . . . .    62,74,585.26               24,80,723.46 
10. Delhi      . . . .    76,94,508.00               30,11,315.28 
11. Guwahati   . . . .     2,47,073.50                2,07,416.65 
12. Hyderabad  . . . .    33,27,353.50               17,23,572.50 
13. Jaipur     . . . .    27,91,022.00               14,23,171.81 
14. Jalandhar  . . . .    42,11,137.10               14,96,400.00 
15. Kozhikode  . . . .    40,71,972.50               11,29,656.00 
16. Lucknow    . . . .    25,32,362.50               11,38,814.40 
17. Madras     . . . .    53,49,099.11               16,99,541.31 
18. Patna      . . . .     9,30,748.00                4,57,039.75 
19. Srinagar   . . . .     7,08,857.00                2,51,527.00 
20. Tiruchirapalli . .    42,00,011.15               15,98,132.05 
21. Vijayawada   . . .     8,21,329.00                4,78,087.20 
 
          GRAND TOTAL . 9,39,39,607.77             2,93,46,190.15 

-99>

APPENDIX VII Statement showing number of Passports/Miscellaneous service

 

Statement showing number of Passports/Miscellaneous service applications received and number of passportsissued/Miscallaneous services rendered during the period January to December 1985

Sl.   Station   Details of Passports   Details of Miscellane- 
No.                Issued              ous Services Rendered 
                                                   on Passport 
 
                No.of      No.of        No.of         No.of 
                Passport   Passports applications   services 
                applications granted   received     rendered 
                received 
 
(1)     (2)       (3)         (4)        (5)          (6) 
 
1.  Ahmedabad  . .  75,999      57,610      25,869     26,127 
2.  Bangalore  . .  81,963      76,280      17,285     15,389 
3.  Bareilly   . .  65,514      47,067      13,457     13,352 
4.  Bhopal     . .  16,566      14,697       9,882      9,264 
5.  Bhubaneswar  .   4,303       3,380         890        846 
6.  Bombay     .  2,48,126    2,58,126    1,94,716   1,91,545 
7.  Calcutta   . .  41,349     31,291       17,605     17,523 
8.  Chandigarh . .  61,596     48,459       24,589     25,372 
9.  Cochin     . .  92,316     82,433       54,553     54,000 
10. Delhi      .  1,06,341     96,622       69,975     72,651 
11. Guwahati   .     3,071      2,889          956        924 
12. Hyderabad  .    51,440     43,492       25,081     26,122 
13. Jaipur     .    45,177     39,814       11,503     11,410 
14. Jalandhar  .    56,986     39,072       32,046     31,551 
15. Kozhikode  .    60,059     52,713       29,558     28,071 
16. Lucknow    .    39,933     38,985       15,031     16,331 
17. Madras     .    72,072     70,059       32,289     30,308 
18. Patna      .    15,962     10,384        3,544      3,723 
19. Srinagar   .    10,278      6,891        2,638      2,658 
20. Tiruchirapalli  69,142     54,164       21,625     17,155 
21. Vijayawada .    14,249     10,495        3,707      2,629 
 
     GRAND TOTAL 12,32,447  10,84,923     6,06,799   5,96,951 

-100>

APPENDIX VIII Cadre Strength at Headquarters

 

Cadre Strength at Headquarters and 136 Missions & Posts abroad during 1985-86

Sl.  No.  Cadre/Post                      Posts at           Posts at 
                                           Head-             Missions 
                                          quarters           abroad 
 
(1)          (2)                           (3)                (4) 
 
IFS 
 
1.  Grade I      . . . . . . . .                 3              18 
2.  Grade II     . . . . . . . .                 3              25 
3.  Grade III    . . . . . . . .                18              79 
4.  Grade IV     . . . . . . . .                15              65 
5.  Sr. Scale    . . . . . . . .                56             200 
6.  Jr. Scale    . . . . . . . .                 5              28 
7.  Training Reserve (Jr. Scale) . . .          25               2 
8.  Training Reserve  . . . . . .               10              .. 
9.  Leave Reserve     . . . . . .               19              .. 
10. Deputation Reserve  . . . . .               20              .. 
 
IFS(B) 
 
1. Grade I         . . . . . . . .              61              59 
2. Grade II & III  . . . . . . . .             172             158 
3. Grade IV       . . . . . . . .              418             509 
4. Grade V & VI   . . . . . . . .              493             197 
5. Grade II of Cypher Sub-Cadre  . . .          81             118 
6. Selection Grade of Steno. Grade of IFS(B)    16              35 
7. Grade I of Steno's Cadre of IFS(B) . .       31             143 
8. Grade II of Steno's Cadre  . . .            202             246 
9. Grade III of Steno's Cadre . . .             42              79 
   Combined Research Cadre    . . .             38               6 
   Interpreters' Cadre        . . .       (Both at HQs & Missions) 
 
                           Total              1758            1967 

-101>

APPENDIX IX Cadre Strength of IFS

 
Cadre Strength of IFS during 1985-86 
 
1.  Grade I                        21 
2.  Grade II                       28 
3.  Grade III                      97 
4.  Grade IV                       80 
5.  Senior Scale of IFS            256 
6.  Junior Scale of IFS            33 
7.  Training Reserve (Jr. Scale)   27 
8.  Training Reserve               10 
9.  Leave Reserve  } in all grades 19 
10. Deputation Reserve             20 

-102>

APPENDIX X Foreign Language Chart

 
Foreign Language Chart 
 
Sl. No. Language               Total  
No. of 
                              Officers 
                              Passed/Know the 
                              Language 
 
1.  Arabic                       86 
2.  Burmese                       2 
3.  Chinese                      46 
4.  Czech                         1 
5.  Dutch                         2 
6.  French                      158 
7.  German                       80 
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                      79 
21. Serbo-Croatian                6 
22. Spanish                      73 
23. Swedish                       3 
24. Thai                          4 
25. Tibetan                       3 
26. Turkish                       3 
27. Vietnamese                    3 

-103>

APPENDIX XI Revenue Expenditure of the Ministry

 

Revenue Expenditure of the Ministry during the financial year 1985-86

                                     Revised Estimate 
                                     1985-86 
                                      (Rs. in Lakhs) 
 
Headquarters                           13,12.79 
Mission/Posts abroad                   58,50.54 
Supply Wings, London & Washington       1,59.75 
 
Other Items 
 
Contribution to UN, Commonwealth Secretariat 
and other international institutions    3,03.79 
Central Passport and Emigration Organisation  7,10.35 
Other Misc. Items                     54,99.05 
 
Aid 
 
Aid to Bangladesh                       3,48.00 
Aid to Bhutan                           45,36.27 
Aid to Nepal                             27,39.87 
Aid to other Developing Countries under ITEC 
Programme                                 6,50.00 
 
                      Total  2,21,10.41 

-104>



APPENDIX XII Expenditure on Indian Missions/Posts

 


Expenditure on Indian Missions/Posts abroad and Headquarters of Ministry of External Affairs in 1985-86

The estimated expenditure on Headquarters Organisation of the Ministry during the current year 1985-86 is expected to be Rs. 13,12.79 lakhs- out of which Rs. 2,42.99 lakhs will be on Publicity, Rs. 1,95.97 lakhs on Travel Expenses, Rs. 4,34.34 lakhs on Salaries and Wages of Establishment, Rs. 6.30 lakhs on Subsidy to Departmental Canteen and Rs. 4,33.09 lakhs on Other Items.

The total estimated expenditure on Indian Missions abroad including Supply Wings, Washington and London is expected to be Rs. 60,10.29 lakhs. This amount comprises Rs. 24,35.97 lakhs on Salaries, Wages and Allowances including Foreign Allowances- Rs. 8,11,70 lakhs on Transfer and Home Leave passages and on Local Tours Rs. 14,50.97 lakhs on Rents, Rates and Taxes as well as maintenance and repairs of accommodation rented abroad. Rs. 13,11.65 lakhs on other miscellaneous items of contingent expenditure. Average expenditure on Missions abroad is expected to be Rs. 44.45 lakhs.

The expenditure mentioned above on Headquarters and Missions/Posts abroad, including expenditure on Publicity, works out to approximately 33.12% of the total Revenue expenditure of this Ministry. The remaining 66.88% of the Revenue estimates of the Ministry are being spent on various aid programmes including those to neighbouring countries, contribution to UN and other international bodies, passport organisation and other items.
-105>



APPENDIX XIII Statement showing the total number of employees

 


Statement showing the total number of employees (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 31-12-1985)

Group       Total No.   Scheduled   % of Total   Scheduled  % of  
Total 
           of employees   Castes     employees   Tribes       
employees 
 
(1)           (2)         (3)          (4)       (5)               (6) 
 
Group `A'     766          84         10.98%      37             4.83% 
Group `B'    1522         130          8.60%      22             1.46% 
Group `C'    2189         287         13.11%      75             3.43% 
Group `D'(Ex-cluding 
sweepers)     615         175         28.45%      17             2.76% 
Group `D' 
(Sweepers)    101          98            97%       2                2% 
-106> 

APPENDIX XIV Statement showing the number of appointments

 

Statement showing the number of appointments (both by direct recruitment & promotion) made in various Groups in the Ministry of External Affairs and reserve vacancies filled by Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes during the year 1985

Group Total Number of Number of Number of vacancies number of vacancies reserved de-reserved due to vacancies reserved for candidates non-availability of filled appointed reserved 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 39 2 1 2 1 .. .. Group B 207 26 14 16 1 10 13 Group C 42 7 3 4 2 3 1 Group D (Ex-cluding Sweepers) 101 17 8 26 1 .. 7 -107>

APPENDIX XV International Conferences/Meetings hosted by the Min./Departments

 

International Conferences/Meetings hosted by the Ministries/Departments of the Government of India during 1985 for which logistical arrangements were made by the Conference Cell of the Ministry of External Affairs

Sl. No.  Title of Conference/Meeting                              Date 
 
(1)              (2)                                               (3) 
 
1.  International Film Festival, New Delhi        3 to 16 January 1985 
2.  SARC Technical Committee Meeting on Sports, 
    Arts & Culture                                 7 to 9 January 1985 
3.  International Training Seminar on Harmoniz- 
    ed Commodity Description and Coding System      24-31 January 1985 
4.  Non-aligned Movement Meeting in the Sphere 
    of Standardization, Measurement & Quality 
    control                                         23-31 January 1985 
5.  Six-Nation Summit on Nuclear Disarmament           28 January 1985 
6.  Conference on International wokrshop on 
    sharing expertise and Experience amongst 
    small industries/enterprises in developing 
    countries                                    6 to 11 February 1985 
7.  Preparatory Committee Meeting of SARC 
    Archaeological Congress                          4 to 5 March 1985 
8.  Seminar on Non-alignment and Nuclear 
    Disarmament                                          12 March 1985 
9.  Conference of Non-aligned and other 
    developing countries on the Role of Women 
    in Development                                  8 to 11 April 1985 
10. Ministerial Meeting of the NAM Coordinating 
    Bureau                                         18 to 21 April 1985 
11. Indo-Arab Seminar on Trade, Economic & 
    Technical Cooperation                              1 to 4 May 1985 
12. Asian Non-Governmental Organisations 
    Symposium on Palestine                             1 to 3 May 1985 
13. Seminar on Scrap Trade and Industry                4 to 5 May 1985 
14. Second National Conference of Parlia- 
    mentarians on Population and Development               13 May 1985 
15. Meeting of the Governing Council of the 
    Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting 
    Development                                     25 to 29 June 1985 
16. Second Meeting on the Indo-Pak Joint 
    Commission                                      27 to 29 June 1985 
17. Ministerial Meeting on the Global System 
    of Trade Preferences                            22 to 26 July 1985 
18. 78th General Meeting of the Federation 
    Aeronautique Internationale                 17 to 23 November 1985 
19. Meeting of Non-aligned Youth for the 
    Liberation of Mankind from Fear and 
    Bondage                                     19 to 21 November 1985 
20. Second Conference of Research and Inform- 
    ation System Sponsored by the Research and 
    Information System for the Non-aligned and 
    other Developing countries                  20 to 22 November 1985 
 
21. International Conference on Families in 
    the Face of Urbanisation                      2 to 5 December 1985 
22. Regional Meeting of the United Nations 
    Commission on the Human Settlement 
    (International Year of the Shelter for 
    the Homeless)                                9 to 14 December 1985 
23. International Colloquim on New Round of 
    Negotiations and Developing Countries       12 to 13 December 1985 
-108> 

 INDIA
 USA 

APPENDIX XVI VVIP visits to India

 

VVIP visits to India from January to December 1985

Sl.         Heads of State/Government     Date 
No. 
 
(1)                    (2)               (3) 
 
1.  H.E. Dr. Raul Alfonsin, President of 
    Argentina                                23 to 29 January 
2.  H.E. Mr. Miguel De La Madrid Hurtado, 
    President of Mexico                       27 to 31 January 
3.  H.M. Jigme Singye Wangchuk, King of Bhutan  1 to 4 February 
4.  H.E. Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President 
    of Maldives                              4 to 6 February 
5.  H.E. General Wojciech Jaruzelski, Chairman 
    of the Council of Ministers of Poland  11 to 15 February 
6.  H.E. Mrs. Milka Plannic, Prime Minister of 
    Yugoslavia                             18 to 19 March 
7.  Hon. Anerood Jugnauth, Prime Minister of 
     Mauritius                             2 to 4 April 
8.  Rt. Hon. Mrs. Margaret Thatcher, Prime 
    Minister of U.K.                       13 to 14 April 
9.  Rt. Hon. David Russel Lange, Prime Minister 
    of New Zealand                        15 April 
10. H.E. Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of P.L.O. 18 to 21 April 
11. H.E. Mr. J.R. Jayewardene, President of 
    Sri Lanka                             1 to 3 June 
12. Hon. Michael Chambers, Prime Minister of 
    Trinidad and Tobago             29 July to 1 August 
13. H.E. Mr. Julius K. Nyerere, President of 
    Tanzania                          24 to 28 August 
14. H.M. Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev, The 
    King of Nepal                        18 to 20 September 
15. H.E. Mr. Soeharto, President of Indonesia  16 November 
16. H.E. Mr. Yasser Arafat, Chairman of P.L.O. 18 to 19 November 
17. H.E. Gen. Zia-ul-Haq, President of Pakistan17 December 
18. H.E. Com. Mengistu Haile-Mariam, Chairman 
    of Provisional Military Administrative 
    Council of Ethiopia             20 to 26 December 
 
FOREIGN MINISTERS 
 
1.  H.E. ACM Siddhi Savetsila, Foreign 
    Minister of Thailand               21 to 24 March 
2.  H.E. Mr. Kim Yong Nam, Foreign Minister 
    of Democratic People's Republic of Korea  10 to 14 April 
3.  Hon. William George Hayden, Foreign 
    Minister of Australia                  7 to 20 May 
4.  H.E. Mr. Hans Dietrich Genscher, Foreign 
    Minister of Federal Republic of Germany  9 to 11 July 
5.  H.E. Mr. Clement T. Maynard, Foreign 
    Minister of Bahamas                     18 to 21 July 
6.  H.E. Mr. Won-Kyung Lee, Foreign Minister 
    of Republic of Korea           18 to 21 July 
-109> 
 
7.  H.E. Dr. Olavo Egydio Setubal, Foreign 
    Minister of Brazil                       22 to 25 July 
8.  H.E. Mr. Shah Mohammad Dost, Foreign 
    Minister of Afghanistan              5 to 9 August 
9.  H.E. Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen, Foreign 
    Minister of Malaysia             30 October to 3 
                                          November 
10. H.E. Mr. Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann, 
    Foreign Minister of Nicaragua   19 to 23 November 
 
OTHERS 
 
1.  H.E. Dr. Henry Kissinger, Former 
    Secretary of State of the United States 
    of America                             17 to 19 January 
2.  H.R.H. Princess Anne of the United Kingdom   19 to 28 February 
3.  H.E. Mr. Jacques Mitterrand, Special 
    Envoy to the President of France  22 to 23 February 
4.  H.E. Sheikh-ul-Islam, Dy. Foreign 
    Minister of Iran                  18 to 20 March 
5.  H.E. Mr. Ali Mohammad Bosharati, Alternate 
    Foreign Minister of Iran            21 to 25 June 
6.  H.E. Mr. Lhendup Dorji, Former Prime 
    Minister of Bhutan                        July 1985 
7.  Mr. Niaz Naik, Foreign Secretary of Pakistan 29 July to 1 August 
8.  H.E. Dr. S.S. Ramphal, Secretary General 
    of Commonwealth                19 to 27 August 
-110>
 
 
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