Annual Report 1988-89
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ANNUAL REPORT 1988-89 |
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Contents
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Introduction
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INTRODUCTION
THERE was a marked improvement in the international climate during
the year. Confrontation gave way to dialogue presaging a trend
towards a saner, safer world. Both globally and regionally, issues
that in previous years. contribute d to tension, seemed nearer
solution. The emergence of detente between, the, Soviet Union and
the United States which had resulted in the INF Agreement raised the
expectation of further important steps towards nuclear disarmament. This
emerging detente also set in motion the process of conflict
resolution in diffe rent parts of the world. The joint statement
signed in Moscow by President Gorbachev and President Reagan in June
1988, expressly affirmed their "intentio n to continue US-Soviet
discussion at all levels aimed at helping, parties to reg ional
conflicts find peaceful solutions which advance their independence,
freedom and security". Among the more important regional
developments were the Geneva Accord's on Afghanistan, the Agreements
on Angola and Namibia and the prospect of a solution to the Kampuchean
issue. The ceasefire in the war betwe en Iraq and Iran held out
the hope for a lasting peace between them. The bold initiative of the
PLO brought nearer the prospect of a just international solut ion
to the Palestinian issue. Hopes were also raised for the restoration
of peace in Central America. India welcomed these positive trends
in world affairs with particular gratification as, it had,
unilaterally and, through the fora of the Non- Aligned Movement
and, the United Nations pressed for nuclear disarmament and also
sought a peaceful settlement of these regional issues. The growing
recognition of the interdependence of the modern world and the dawning
realisation that the peace, freedom and prosperity of all nations i s
interlinked provided the objective basis for this positive trend. But
the rapi dity with which the international scene was transformed
was also due to the bold initiatives of Soviet President Gorbachev;
the "new thinking" in Soviet foreign policy acknowledges that it
relies for its philosophical underpinning on the November 1986
Delhi Declaration and the ideals of Non-alignment.
(iii) It
may be recalled that the "Delhi Declaration of Principles for a
Nuclear Weapon-Free and Non-Violent World" had expounded core
principles that should govern international relations, including
peaceful co-existence, the supremacy of human life, non-violence,
understanding and trust, the right of every State to political and
economic independence and a nuclear weapon-free and non-violent world.
The Non-Aligned Movement had long been urging a return to detente. The
"Delhi Six" had also suggested pract ical steps to promote the
process of disarmament. At the Third Special Session on
Disarmament at the UN General Assembly in June 1988, the Prime
Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, presented on behalf of India an Action
Plan calling for a binding commitment by all nations to eliminate
nuclear weapons by the year 2010 .
The Action Plan urged all
States to participate in the process of nuclear dis- armament to
demonstrate good faith and build the required confidence and to bring
about changes in doctrines, policies, and institutions to sustain a worl
d free of nuclear weapons. Soviet initiatives for reduction of
conventional forces on the principle of defence sufficiency have
further improved the prospects for turning swords into ploughshares as
advocated by the Conference on Disarmament and Development held
under the UN aegis in June 1988. The Conference in Paris on Chemical
weapons brought forth a rare degree of unanimity on steps to
proscribe these weapons of mass destruction also.
In
India's neighbourhood, the development of cooperation among Member
States of the SAARC and the successful conclusion of the Fourth Summit
in Islamabad underlined the growing awareness of the countries of
South Asia, of the similarity of most of the problems faced by
them and the need to solve them collectively. A highlight of the
Summit was the decision to prepare a regional perspective plan
entitled "SAARC 2000: A Basic Needs Perspective" which is to be an
aggregation of development targets set by individual Member States for
the turn of the century in core areas such as food, clothing, shelter,
educatio n, population planning and environmental protection.
Another noteworthy feature in the development of cooperation in
the SAARC during the year was the coming into effect of the
Agreement establishing the SAARC Food Security Reserve and the
SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism.
The
emergence of democracy in Pakistan helped that country's leadership to
start looking at Indo-Pakistan relations from a more positive angle.
During his visit to Islamabad for the Fourth SAARC Summit, the
Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, had intensive discussions with his
counterpart Ms Benazir
(iv) Bhutto. Though Indo-Pakistani
problems which have existed for long, may not lend themselves to
instant solution, the affirmation by the Pakistani Prime Minister
to resolve all bilateral problems within the framework of the Simla
Agreement has come as a welcome prelude to the normalisation of
relations. The talks also culminated in the signing of three important
agreements namely: Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear
Installations and Facilities, Cultural Cooperation and Avoidance of
Double Taxation on income derived from International Air Transport.
Besides the visit of the President, Shri Venkataraman, to Pakistan
to attend the funeral of General Zia-ul-Haq, there were a number of
important Indo-Pakistan meetings at the level of senior officials.
In Sri Lanka there was significant progress towards the
implementation of the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement. The overwhelming
turn-out of the voters in the elections to the North-Eastern
Provincial Council in November 1988, under- lined the yearning of
the Tamils of Sri Lanka for a return to peace and normalcy.
With
the setting up of the Provincial Council Government, the institutional
framework for greater autonomy for the Tamils of Sri Lanka was in
place. In the southern part of Sri Lanka also the people displayed
their courage and commitment to democracy by defying terrorist
threats, to vote in the Presidenti al elections in December 1988.
Frequent exchange of visits between India and Sri Lanka underlined the
growing cordiality of relations between the two countries.
In
keeping with its good-neighbourly policy, India responded to appeals by
Bangladesh for international assistance to cope with the
devastating floods tha t inundated its territory in September
1988. The floods also underlined the continuing relevance of India's
long standing proposal for harnessing the Brahmaputra. This proposal
offers major flood protection and irrigation benefits. India
reiterated to Bangladesh its willingness to cooperate bilatera lly
in the field of flood control and optimum utilisation of river waters.
During the year under review, as in the previous years, there was
no let-u p in the pace or degree of Indo-Nepal economic
cooperation. India continued to implement a number of economic
development projects in Nepal under its Aid Nepal Programme. The text
of the Indo-Nepal Treaty of Trade was initialled.
(v) The
Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, had wide-ranging discussions with
the King of Nepal, when His Majesty visited india in his capacity
as the then Chairman of SAARC. The important visitors form India
to Nepal were the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the minister for
External Affairs. The latter's visit was in connection with the
first meeting to the indo-Nepal Joint Commissi on. The
Commission's work is expected to result in identifying new areas of
cooperation.
Friendship and cooperation which traditionally
have been the hallmarks of Indo-Bhutanese relations continued to
be firm. The Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, visited Bhutan in
September. Fruitful discussions on subjects of mutual interest
were held. The President, Shri R. Venkataraman, paid a State visit in
October, During this visit, the President and the King of Bhutan
jointly inaugurated the Chukha Hydel Project, the largest and most
prestigious Indian aided project in Bhutan.
The, Foreign
Secretary, Shri K.P.S. Menon, had also visited Bhutan, earlier in
1988. From Bhutan, the Deputy Minister of Planning had visited
India twice in 1988 and the Bhutanese Foreign Minister in August.
Apart from other Indian aided hydroelectric projects, cooperation
also extends to the completion of a cement project in Eastern Bhutan
which is estimated to cost over Rs. 140 crores.
India
continued to assist Bhutan in fields such as education, civil aviatio
n, defence, customs, medicine and engineering. To strengthen
bilateral cultural relations, the two. Governments have agreed to hold
a Bhutan week in New Delhi , in March. India's commitment
to peace and stability in the region was reiterated whe n the
Government of, India. responded, to an appeal from, the democratically
elec ted Government of Maldives for military assistance to crush
an invasion by foreign mercenaries on Nov 03, 1988.
(vi)
The Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi's visit to, China in December
1988, was a major event that provided a new vitality and impetus
to the development of India-China, relations. It was recognised
that the improvement of relations between the two countries would
not only be in the fundamental interest of the two peoples but be
a significant contributory factor to peace in Asia and the world
as a whole. The importance of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existen
ce, jointly initiated by India and China, in the establishment of
a new internation al political order and the new international
economic order was emphasised. Determination was expressed by both
sides to settle the boundary question through peaceful and friendly
consultations and also to develop relations activ ely in other
fields. In a world where confrontation is giving way to dialogue and
tension to relaxation, friendly and durable cooperation between
India and China as two large countries of Asia, strengthens the
foundtions of peaceful co-exist ence and common progress and has
major implications for global peace and detente.
Afghanistan being
an area of great importance, India continued to take an active
interest in the developments in that country. The Geneva Accords on
Afghanistan signed in April 1988 was the first important step towards
a peacefu l political settlement of the Afghan problem. This also
led to the phased with- drawal of Soviet troops from Afghanistan.
India welcomed these Accords. It took a consistent stand that
Afghanistan should be sovereign, independent and non-aligned and
that the Afghans should be allowed to decide their future without
outside interference. President Najibullah's official visit to India
in May was significant in the context of I ndia's dialogue on the
Afghan problem with different shades of opinion.
India, maintained
good bilateral relations with Afghanistan. It pledged assistance
worth Rs. 10 crores for the relief and rehabilitation of the Afghan
refugees. Amid-term review meeting of the Indo-Afghan Joint
Commission on Economic, Technical, Trade and, Cultural Cooperation was
hold in Kabul in June.
Developments in Burma were a cause for
concern. It is hoped that the situation will be resolved soon in
accordance with the Wishes of the people of Burma.
(vii)
The ceasefire in the war between Iraq and Iran was warmly welcomed by
India. Fifteen Indian military officers have been deputed to serve
with the Un ited Nations Iran and Iraq Military Observer Group
established to monitor the cease- fire. Special envoys from Iraq
and Iran had visited India during the period under review to apprise.
the Indian leadership on developments concerning post- war
negotiation. An event of great significance in West Asia, was the
historic proclamation of an independent Palestine State on 15
November 1988 at the extraordinary Palestinian National Council
Session in Algiers. India was among the first countries to recognise
the State. This was in a sense, the culmination of the suffering
to which the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip had bee
n subjected to, by the Israeli occupation authorities. The PLO
leader Yasser Arafat had visited India in October and he had been
assured of India's full support.
India is also gratified at
the start of direct US-PLO dialogue. It is hoped that the positive
trends in the region will lead to an early convening of an
International Peace Conference under UN auspices with the
participation of all the parties to the Arab-Israeli dispute
including the PLO as the sole legitimat e representative of the
Palestinian people.
The traditionally strong political and
economic relations between India and the Arab States were given a
fillip by the visit of the Prime Minister, Shri Ra jiv Gandhi, to
Syria and Jordan. Wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional
and international issues of common interest were held with the
leadership of these countries. The important visits from India to that
region were those of the Minister of State for External Affairs,
Shri K.K. Tewary, and of the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Balram
Jakhar, to Egypt. The Minister for Commerce, Shri Dinesh Singh,
visited Cairo for the Indo-Egyptian Joint Commission meeting.
From the Arab countries, the Crown Prince of Jordan had come to
India in April 1988 as also the Egyptian Minister of State for
Scientific Research. Yet another visitor from Egypt was the
Minister of Education.
(viii) India maintained close
consultations and cooperation with Algeria. The Minister of State for
External Affairs, Shri K.K. Tewary, visited Tunisia in October.
Diplomatic relations were restored between India and Morocco.
The visit of the Minister of State in the Ministry of External
Affairs, Shri K. Natwar Singh, to Oman in April 1988, and that of
the Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri K.K. Tewary,
to Iraq to participate in the second I nter- national Babylon
Festival in Iraq, offered fora for meaningful discussions on
bilateral, regional and international issues.
There were
Ministerial level visits from Saudi Arabia and the People's Democratic
Republic of Yemen (PDRY). Shri Janak Raj Gupta, Member of Parliament
represented India at the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Yemeni
Revolution Day on 14 October.
Cordiality and a spirit of
cooperation continued to inform India's relatio ns with the
countries of South-East Asia, There were many exchanges of visits
leading to increased interaction in economic, commercial and other
fields. Amo ng the important visitors from that area were the
Foreign Minister of Indonesia, t he Prime Minister of Singapore
and the Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the |
Government of the
Philippines. From India, besides the visit of the Minister for
Textiles, Shri Ram Niwas Mirdha to Singapore, a delegation from the
Confederation of Engineering Industries had also visited Singapore.
India maintained very cordial relations with the three Indo-China
States.
With Vietnam, the tradition of mutual visits at high
levels was kept up. The Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, paid a
one-day official visit to Vietnam in April 1988. At the invitation
of the Prime Minister, Mr Nguyen Van Linh, the General Secretary
of the Vietnamese Communist Party came to India as the Chief Guest at
the Republic Day celebrations.
(ix) The third
Indo-Vietnamese Joint Commission Meeting was held in New Delhi in
January. There was a thorough review of many cooperation projects and
of credits and grant assistance. Increasing flexibility and an
easing of tension in South-East Asia are contributing to the process
of negotiating a political solution to the Kampuche an problem.
India has been in close contact with the various parties to the confl
ict and has been seeking a political solution which ensures the
sovereignty, territ orial integrity and non-alignment of
Kampuchea. In this context, the visit of the Kampuchean Prime
Minister, Mr Hun Sen to India in November, and the visits of the
Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri K. Natwar Singh to Vietnam,
Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, especially his
meetings with Prince Sihanouk as the Prime Minister's Special
Envoy on Kampuchea, were very significant.
India also
worked through the forum of Senior Officials' Meetings of the
Non-aligned countries held in July and August to advance a peaceful
solution. The NAM has welcomed the Jakarta Meetings under
Indonesia's leadership. India's initiatives have been supportive of
the regional initiative. There was a marked increase in exchanges
with Australia in the fields of trade, science and technology,
mining, coal, agriculture, energy and railways.
India's
participation in the bicentennial celebrations of Australia, the signi
ng of a new Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 1989 to
1991, the eleventh meeting of the India-Australia Joint Trade
Committee in Canberra in May and the discussions held during the visit
of Mr John Kerin, the Australian Ministe r for Primary Industries
and Energy with his counterparts in India culminated in the visit
of the Australian Prime Minister Mr R.J.L. Hawke in February 1989.
The Third meeting of the Joint Business Council took place during
that visit.
The visit of Mr Hawke and his talks with Prime
Minister Rajiv Gandhi has given a new impetus to the relationship
in accordance with the desire expressed by b oth leaders during
Shri Rajiv Gandhi's visit to Australia in October 1986. Memo-
randa of Understanding in the fields of Railways,
Telecommunications and Meteorology were signed as well as one on
Concessional Financing of Develop- ment Projects.
(x)
India and New Zealand continued to maintain friendly relations.
The effects of the two military coups that had taken place in Fiji
in 1987 , continued to plague that country's political and social
life. The Interim Government in Fiji, approved the draft of the new
Constitution which denied equitable representation to the different
communities and which contained certa in provisions which were
undemocratic and discriminatory.
The Government of India besides
issuing a statement regretting the undemo- cratic and unbalanced
nature of the new Constitution, continued its trade ban w ith
Fiji.
India's relations with Japan in the economic,
commercial, cultural and scientific fields registered further
progress. During the year, Japan's Offici al Development
Assistance (ODA) to India was to the tune of Yen 87.9 billion which
made her the largest bilateral donor to India in gross terms.
President and Smt. Venkataraman, accompanied by the Minister for
External Affairs represented India at the funeral of the late
Emperor Hiro Hito of Japan on 24 February 1989. During his talks
with the Japanese and other leaders, the President noted the
widespread desire to foster the current improvement in the climate
of international relations.
The Festival of India was held in more
than 30 cities in Japan. This was inaugurated in Tokyo by the
Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi along with the Japanese Prime
Minister, in April 1988. The two Prime Ministers discussed bilateral
and international issues. Greater economic interaction between
India and the Republic of Korea (ROK) characterised their relations.
The Minister of Trade of ROK visited India and a meeting of the
India-ROK Joint Economic Council and a meeting of the Joint Business
Cooperation Committee were held in Seoul and in India respectively.
India's relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(DPRK) were characterised by exchange of Ministerial visits. Premier
Li Gun Mo of the DPRK leading a delegation which included the
Minister of Foreign Trade visited India. An MOU was signed to
enhance bilateral trade.
(xi) The Speaker of the Lok Sabha,
Shri Balram Jakhar and the Minister for Urban Development, Smt.
Mohsina Kidwai, were the important visitors to DPRK. The
President, Shri R. Venkataraman, visited the Mongolian People's
Republic in July; the first ever Presidential visit from India. An
Agreement o n cooperation in Science and Technology and a Protocol
on Agricultural Research and Education were signed during the
visit.
As in the past, India continued to play a leading role at
the United Natio ns and other international for a in supporting
the struggle of the people of South Africa and the Frontline
States against apartheid and the violence unleashed by the racist
South African regime.
India which has been an ardent supporter of
Namibian independence, warmly welcomed the conclusion of the
Brazzaville Protocol which established a definite time frame for
Namibian independence. In this context, it is relevant to recall
the visit of the President of SWAPO to India in October, at the invitati
on of the Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, to discuss various
issues relating to Namibia's transition to independence. India is
contributing personnel to the civilian component of the UN Transition
Assistance Group.
If the number of high-level visits is any
indicator, India's relations wit h the countries of Africa, South
of the Sahara marked a significant advance. Amo ng the
distinguished visitors were Mr Jose Eduardo dos Santos, the President of
Angola, Mr Wole Soyinka, the Nobel Laureate of Nigeria, as keynote
speaker at the Non-Governmental organization Conference "Towards a
Nuclear Weapon Free and Non-Violent World"; Mr Marcelino dos Santos,
the Chairman of the National Assembly of Mozambique; Mr Salim Ahmed
Salim, the Deputy Prime Minister of Tanzania; Mr Joaquim Alberto
Chissano, the President of Mozam- bique; Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo, the
Governor General of Mauritius; Dr Kiseka, the Prime Minister of Uganda
and Mr Peter Mmusi, the Vice-President and Minister of Finance and
Development Planning of Botswana.
(xii) Shri K.R. Narayanan,
Minister of State for Science and Technology, participated in the OAU
silver jubilee celebrations in Addis Ababa. The Vice-President of
India, Dr S.D. Sharma, visited Mauritius to parti- cipate in the
20th Anniversary celebration of the independence of Mauritius. As
Chairman of the AFRICA Fund, India played a key role in mobilising
public opinion and raising funds in UK, the continent and Japan.
Opportunities afforded in various international fora were utilised
to disseminate information on the objectives of and the progress
on the activities of the Fund. The Fourth meeting of the Senior
Officers of the Fund Committee was held in New Delhi from 14 to 17
February 1989.
There was considerable and wide-ranging interaction
between India and the West European countries covering political,
economic, commercial, scientific, technological and cultural
fields. The European Community continued to be India's biggest trading
partner. Greater meaning and content were imparted to those
interactions as a result of several high-level visits from India to and f
rom West European countries. It is expected that with the coming
into being of the Single Market in Europe in 1992, India's share
in the imports of the Community would increase.
The Prime
Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi's visit to the Federal Republic of
Germany in June, was the culmination of an on-going dialogue
between the two countries. Apart from holding talks with the top
leadership of the Federal Republic, the Prime Minister met with the
leaders of Germany's industrial and business circles.
The
other noteworthy visits of the Prime Minister were that to Spain and
Turkey, particularly to the former, on account of Spain's
membership of the European Community and the economic progress
achieved by it. The visit to Turkey was also significant in that,
apart from paying a return visit to that p aid
(xiii) by
the Turkish Prime Minister to India in 1986, it helped increase
Indo-Turkish interaction in the shipping, consular and economic
fields. The visit of Presid ent Evren of Turkey to India in
February 1989 helped give a political depth to the expanding
Indo-Turkish relations.
The State visits paid by the President,
Shri Venkataraman to the Netherlan ds, Finland and Cyprus, not
only helped consolidate political relations but also ga ve a
greater content to the economic relations between India and these
countries. The visit to Cyprus was also by way of affirmation of
India's interest in the preservation of the unity, integrity and
sovereignty of Cyprus. The visit of the Prime Minister of Malta to
India in January 1989 gave a fillip to the on-going process of
dialogue and cooperation between Malta and India through the fora of
the Non-Aligned Movement, the Commonwealth and the United Nations.
The visit of President Mitterrand of France and his presence at
the inauguration of the Festival of France in India on 3 February,
further consolid ated the foundations of Indo-French relations in
the political, economic and scienti fic- technical fields. It is
recalled, that both India and France have more or loss identical
views on important issues like the North-South dialogue and
disarmament.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha led Parliamentary
delegations to the European Parliament and to Turkey, while
Parliamentary delegations from the European Parliament, Cyprus,
Ireland, Austria and Spain visited India. Indo-Soviet and
Indo-East European relations not only remained stable, but also
generated considerable warmth primarily as a result of exchange of vis
its at the highest and other levels.
The President, Shri
R. Venkataraman, paid a State visit to the USSR in July. Besides
useful discussions with the Soviet leaders, he participated in th e
closing ceremony of the Festival of India in the USSR.
(xiv)
President Gorbachev during his visit to India in November participated
in the closing ceremony of the Festival (if the USSR in India. He
received the In dira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and
Development. Five agreements were signed.
The Minister of
State for External Affairs, Shri K. Natwar Singh also visited and had
useful discussions with the Soviet leaders. Following the
earthquake that devastated the Republic of Armenia in the Soviet
Union, a special fund, the "Prime Minister's Armenia Earthquake Relief
Fund" was opened. Considerable quantities of relief supplies were
airlifted to Armenia.
The notable visits to East Europe
were the visit of the President to Czechoslovakia in September and
that of the Prime Minister to Hungary and Yugoslavia in June and July
respectively. These occasions were utilised by the Indian leaders
to hold fruitful discussions with their counterparts.
Important
discussions and review of economic, trade, scientific and techn ical
cooperation took place during the meetings of the Indo-Romanian Joint
Commis- sion in Bucharest, and the Indo-Polish, the
Indo-Hungarian, and the Indo- Bulgarian Joint Commissions in New
Delhi.
A new dimension was added to cultural cooperation between
India and Bulgaria with the holding of the "Days of Indian Culture in
Bulgaria" in June, and the "Days of Bulgarian Culture in India" in
January 1989. Both the festiva ls evoked widespread enthusiasm in
the respective countries.
With the GDR, India signed the Cultural
Exchange Programme for the years 1988-89. A similar exchange programme
in the field of scientific and technical cooperation was also signed.
(xv) Friendship and cooperation between India and Yugoslavia,
two of the important Non-aligned countries received a further fillip
with the visit of the Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, to
Yugoslavia in July. Several agreements especially in the fields of
information, science and technology and sports were signed.
The 17th Session of the Indo-Yugoslav Joint Committee for
Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation which was held in June,
not only sought to maintain the tempo of growing cooperation but
also to identify new areas of cooperation.
Another important
development during the year was the revival of India's diplomatic
relations with Albania which had been under suspension earlier.
The year under review saw a further consolidation in Indo-US
relations. The initiatives taken during the Prime Minister's visit to
Washington in Octobe r 1987 were followed up. There was an
appreciable increase in the exchanges in the economic, scientific
and technological fields. Under the transfer of technology the
Cray XMP-14 Super Computer was delivered to India in October 1988 and
which was installed at the Indian meteorological Department in New
Delhi. The Government of India has applied for another Super Computer,
the Cray YMP-132 for the Indian Institute of Science at Bangalore.
The Science and Technology Initiative (STI) which was extended for
a three - year period beyond 1988 during the Prime Minister's
visit to USA in October 1987 was signed in October 1988.
The
developing Indo-US relations were also underlined by the exchange of
important visits between the USA and India. Among the notable
visits from the US were that of the Defence Secretary; the Chief of
the Army Staff; the Assistant Secretary of Defence; the Assistant
Secretary of State and the Chairm an of the US House of
Representatives Sub-Committee on Asian and Pacific Affairs.
(xvi) During his visit to New York to attend the 43rd
Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Minister for
External Affairs, Shri P.V. Narasimh a Rao met President Reagan
and the then Secretary of State Mr George Shultz.
Indo-Canadian
relations continued to be cordial. The Annual Ministerial
Consultations held in Canada in May 1988 covered the entire gamut of
Indo- Canadian relations besides identifying new areas of cooperation.
The Canadian Government took a firm line against terrorists
abusing Canadian laws in carryin g on their anti-Indian
activities.
The year under report was marked by a lively
interaction between India and the countries of Latin America and the
Caribbean. The main highlight was the visit of the Vice-President,
Dr S. D. Sharma, to Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago in
May. A large delegation including Members of Parliament led by the
Vice-President, represented India at the 150th Anniversary of Indian
arrival in Guyana. During his visits to the three countries, the
Vice-President held discussions with the Presidents and th e Prime
Ministers of these countries which included matters of bilateral and
international interest.
From Latin America, the important
visitors to India were the Foreign Minister of Guyana, the Speaker of
the Trinidad & Tobago Assembly, the Foreign Minister of Nicaragua,
and the Governors of Cordoba and Negro in Argentina. The
Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri K. K. Tewary, represented
India at the inauguration of President Carlos Salinas de Gortari,
who was elected President of Mexico in July. Shri K. K. Tewary visited
Peru where he delivered a message from the Prime Minister to
President Garcia of Peru. He also represented India at the 30th
Anniversary of the Cuban Revolution in Havana on 2 January 1989.
In spite of the easing of tensions in Central America following
the Peace Accord signed by the five Central American Presidents in
August 1987, India showed concern for the situation. In May, India
co-sponsored a UN General
(xvii) Assembly Resolution on "The
Situation in Central America : Threats to Peace and International
Security and Initiatives for Peace and Special Programmes for
Economic Assistance". This co-sponsorship was deeply appreciated
by the countries of the area. The Joint Declaration of the Presidents
of El Salvador, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua on
14 February 1989, has carried forward the peace process. As in
the past the Non-Aligned Movement played a crucial role in creating
a better international climate and contributed to the resolution
of some of the regional conflicts, particularly the Kampuchean
problem.
The Co-ordinating Bureau of NAM at its meeting in New
York in October condemned the inhuman Israeli practices in the
occupied Arab territories and supported the Palestinian cause.
The Movement continued to monitor developments regarding the inde-
pendence for Namibia and expressed indignation and concern at the
continued illegal occupation of Namibia by the South Africa regime.
At the NAM Foreign Ministers conference held at Nicosia in
September, the commitment to seek a solution to the financial crisis
faced by the UN was reiterated. It also called for the restructuring
of the present world econ omic order on the basis of equity and
justice. The role of the UN during the year 1988 in contributing
to the resolution of conflicts has been warmly welcomed by India.
These included the Geneva Accords on Afghanistan, the ceasefire in the
Iran-Iraq war and the Namibian and Angolan accords. On the Palestinian
issue the stage has been set for the UN to play a constructive
role. India continued to maintain that all Inter- national Peace
Conference on the Middle-East was necessary.
India continued its
active support for the UN and continued to play ail active role in it.
India also continued to play an active role in the Common- wealth
and also in the Non-Aligned Movement. Despite continuing efforts,
however, the lack of progress in the international economic field was
a matter of disappointment.
(xviii) There was no
change in India's principled stand regarding convening, of the
Conference on the Indian Ocean latest by 1990. India also maintained that
the great power naval presence in the Indian Ocean was
contributing to tension and instability. India voiced its
strong concern at the developments in South Africa and called for a
complete elimination of aparthied and reiterated its appeal for
imposition of comprehensive and mandatory sanctions against the racist
regime of South Africa. India's Permanent Representative was
re-elected as Vice- President of the Council for Namibia.
India continued to play a prominent part in the main International
fora for disarmament namely, the Conference on Disarmament in
Geneva, the UN Disarmament Commission and the First Committee of the
UN General Assembly. The near unanimity achieved at the Conference on
Disarmament and Develop- ment under the UN aegis was a matter of
considerable satisfaction. In the field of disarmament the highlight
of India's efforts during the year was the Action Plan presented
by the Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi.
The Indian delegation
played a useful role in negotiations leading to the declarations
adopted at the Ministerial Meetings of the Group of 77 and of the
Non-aligned Countries held prior to the 43rd Session of the UN
General Assembly. The General Assembly decided to set up an ad hoc
committee of the whole to formulate an international development
strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade.
An
appreciation of India's positive role in the UN was reflected in her
election to important UN bodies such as the Inter-Governmental
Working Group of Experts on International Standards of Accounting and
Reporting; the Commission on Human Rights and the International
Institute for Unifica- tion of Private Law. India was also elected to
the prestigious post of Secreta ry- General of the International
Civil Aviation Organization and President of the international
Institute of Cotton.
Besides the programmes of bilateral
cooperation with neighbouring coun- tries India continued to
foster South-South cooperation by offering technical
(xix)
and economic assistance under the Indian Technical and Economic
Cooperation (ITEC) programme which is administered by the Ministry of
External Affairs. The expansion of the ITEC programme continued apace.
ITEC activities take the form of project assistance, deputation of
experts, training, and the provis ion of relief supplies such as
medicines and pesticides etc. to famine affected cou ntries of
Africa.
Afghanistan, Mauritius, Vietnam, Kampuchea, Laos,
Ethiopia, Kenya and the Seychelles were the main recipients of project
assistance. Requests were received for 127 experts in addition to
about 90 long-term Indian experts in position in different countries.
Till the end of December 1988, 358 persons ha d come to India for
training.
A comprehensive programme was drawn up in connection
with the birth centenary celebrations of India's first Prime Minister,
Shri Jawaharlal Nehru. Many functions were organised at several
world capitals through Indian Missions with the help of material
on photographic exhibitions and documentaries supplie d from
India. Indian Missions abroad also marked the conclusion of the cele-
brations of the Fortieth Anniversary of India's independence which
reinforced the image of a dynamic India with a rich cultural
heritage.
The improved climate of international relations and the
emerging detente has vindicated the stands taken by India and by
the Non-Aligned Movement over a wide-range of global and regional
issues. The continued relevance of th e Movement to promote the
process of detente and disarmament, the resolution of regional
conflicts and the re-ordering of the global economy places a specia l
responsibility on its members to seize the opportunities and meet the
challenge s of transforming the world order.
(xx)
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India's
Neighbours |
| Top |
CHAPTER I
INDIA'S NEIGHBOURS
DURING the year under report, India
continued to pursue the goals of peace, friendship and cooperation in
relations with its neighbours in South Asia, bilaterally and through
fora like the SAARC, the Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations.
The Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement continued to be the framework for the
improvement and strengthening of bilateral relations between India and
Sri Lank a. Despite the continued, and often violent opposition of
extremist elements on both sides of the ethnic divide in Sri Lanka,
several steps were taken for the further implementation of the
Agreement. The most important of these was the successful holding
of elections to the North-eastern Province on Nov 19, 1988 which
completed the process of creation of Provincial Councils in all the
provinces of Sri Lanka. With these elections, the merger between the
Northern and Eastern Provinces became a reality and the
institutional framework for greater autonomy for the Tamils of Sri
Lanka was in place. The Government of Sri Lanka also passed the
16th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution giving Tamil equal
status as an official language along with Sinhala. Earlier, legisl
ative action had been taken to end the vexing problem of
citizenship for Tamils of Indian origin in the Central Highlands. With
the establishment of near normal conditions the displaced persons
continued to return to their homes. More than 34,000 Tamil
refugees have returned to Sri Lanka from India since the signing
of the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement.
With these developments,
the desire of all sections of Sri Lankan society for a return to
peace and normalcy became more and more apparent. Despite LTTE's
threats of violence against anyone participating in the Provincial Counc
il elections, and their calls for a boycott of these polls, an
overwhelming number of Tamil voters turned out to vote for peace
and harmony. The commitment of the people of Sri Lanka to
democratic norms was again demonstrated in
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the Presidential elections in December 1988.
These developments enabled the Government to start withdrawing some
elements of the Indian Peace Keeping Force. If this encouraging trend
is maintained in the coming year, it should b e possible to
continue the process of a phased withdrawal of the IPKF.
The year
was marked by a continuation of close consultations and exchange
of visits between the two countries. Prime Minister Premadasa made
a month- long pilgrimage to India in March 1988. India's Minister of
Defence visited Colombo at the end of May as part of this continuing
exchange of visits.
India has the most cordial and friendly
relations with the Republic of Maldives. When foreign mercenaries
invaded Male in the early hours of 3 November 1988, India had no
hesitation in responding to a request from the democratically elected
Government of the Maldives for immediate military assistance to
protect their independence, non-alignment and sovereignty. India n
troops landed in Male in less than fourteen hours of receiving the
appeal from its Government and speedily brought the situation
under control. The Indian Navy conducted a successful commando
operation on the high seas and rescued Maldivian hostages who had been
seized by the fleeing mercenaries.
Almost every country in the
world supported India's action to assist Maldives in its hour of need.
Indian troops started withdrawing the very next day leaving a
small contingent of 275 troops at the express request of the President
of Maldives. President Gayoom paid a two-day visit to India on 7
and 8 December 1988.
In his meetings with the Indian Prime
Minister, ways and means of further expanding and consolidating
bilateral relations were discussed. Efforts to maintain and
further improve friendly relations with Bangladesh continued.
Events in that country were dominated by the disastrous floods in
September 1988. While unprecedented rains and a freak coincidence
of peak floods in several major rivers caused heavy damage all across
the sub-continent , the devastation caused by the floods
overshadowed everything else in that country. In keeping with its
responsibilities as a friendly neighbour, India w as
PG3
the first country to respond to an appeal by the
Bangladesh Government for relief. Four Indian Air Force helicopters
were placed at the disposal of the Bangladesh Government within
hours of the appeal and more than 90 tonnes of food, clothing and
medicines were air lifted for relief work.
Unfortunately, there
were attempts by some sections to politicize this tragedy by blaming
India for what the Bangladesh Foreign Minister himself aptly described
as "an aberration of nature". India has been urging Bangladesh to
cooperate with it to harness the Brahmaputra river so that its flood
potenti al can be controlled and its abundant waters harnessed for
the benefit of both countries. India's comprehensive proposal first
made in 1978, was renewed to President Ershad when he visited
India on 29 September 1988. A Joint Task Force of water resources
experts of the two countries was set up to discuss pos sible
cooperation between the two countries for flood management.
Almost 45,000 Bangladeshi Chakma refugees continue to remain in
India almost three years after they first arrived. India continued to
urge Bangladesh to create the necessary conditions so that the
refugees gain the confidence to return voluntarily to their homes.
Burma is a close neighbour with whom India shares a long and
sensitive border. Relations between the two countries have
traditionally been cordial and without any major problems. India was,
therefore, concerned at the serious unrest which erupted in that
country during 1988. While this was essentially an internal
affair of that country, statements by Indian leaders made clear India's sympathy for the democratic aspirations of the people of Burma
and anguish at the suffering inflicted on the common people and the
large number of deaths of innocent people. In keeping with India's
tradition of not turning away peop le who come to Indian borders
to seek shelter, Burmese citizens crossing into India as a result
of the unrest were allowed to stay in camps in Mizoram and Arunachal
Pradesh. It is the earnest hope of the Government of India that the
problem in Burma will be resolved soon in accordance with the
wishes of the people of that country.
The tradition of
exchanges of high-level bilateral visits between India and Nepal
continued during the year under review. The Prime Minister and the
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King of Nepal had an opportunity for bilateral
discussions during the King's visit to Delhi in September 1988
primarily in his capacity as Chairman of the SAARC. The Minister
for External Affairs visited Kathmandu in August 1988 for a meeting of
the SAARC Ministerial Council. Bilateral discussions followed the
SAARC meeting; the first meeting of the Indo-Nepal Joint Commission was
also held. The Nepalese Foreign Minister made a transit halt in Delhi
en route to Islamabad for the SAARC Summit in December 1988 and
held bilateral discussions with the Minister for External Affairs. The
Speaker of the Lok Sabha visited Nepal in September 1988.
Indo-Nepal economic cooperation continued to be close.
Negotiations for the renewal of the Treaty of Trade between the two
countries were concluded successfully with the initialling in
October 1988 of the text of the new Treaty of Trade. India
continued to implement a number of economic development projects in
Nepal under its Aid Nepal Programme. Cooperation in the field of
water resources was comprehensively reviewed at the first meeting
of the Sub- Commission on Water Resources of Indo-Nepal Joint
Commission. The meeting took important decisions on the Karnali and
Pancheshwar multi-purpose projects and a number of other projects
on smaller rivers common to India and Nepal. Transfer of technology in
water resources between India and Nepal was also discussed.
The traditionally close and friendly relations between India and
Bhutan were further strengthened. There were important exchange of
visits. From India , the Foreign Secretary, Shri K.P.S. Menon; the
Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi and the President, Shri R.
Venkataraman visited Bhutan from 5 to 8 April 1988, 23 to 27
September 1988 and 18 to 21 October 1988 respectively. From Bhutan,
the Deputy Minister of Planning, Dasho Chenkyab Dorji visited
India from 15 to 18 June and on 16 September 1988 and the Bhutanese
Foreign Minister, Lyonpo Dawa Tsering, on 28 August 1988. During these
visits fruitful discussions on subjects of mutual interest were
held. The discussions were marked by a close identity of views
and understanding on matters of mutual interest reflecting the
relationship of trust and cooperation that prevails between the two
countries.
|
Cooperation
flourished in the economic field. On 21 October the prestigious
336 MW Chukha Hydel Project built entirely with Indian assistance was
jointly inaugurated by the President, Shri R. Venkataraman and His
Majesty the King of Bhutan. As per the 1974 Chukha Agreement, India is
continuing to purchase
PG5
power from Chukha which is
surplus to Bhutan's internal requirement. The Royal Government of
Bhutan has earned Rs. 30.11 crores from February to October 1988 by
the sale of surplus power to India. A long-term agreement on purchase
of power is under finalisation.
Discussions are continuing (i) for
the implementation of Dungsum (Nanglam) Cement Project in Eastern
Bhutan estimated to cost over Rs. 140 crores with the surplus cement
production to be purchased by India;
(ii) Kurichu 45 MW
Hydro-Electric Project at the estimated cost of over Rs. 100 crores;
(iii) Gaylegphug Area Development Project at the estimated cost of
over Rs. 5 crores. The annual bilateral meeting to discuss the
Bhutanese Sixth Plan (1987-92 ) was held in New Delhi in June 1988
at, which progress in the on-going projects and projects for other
mutually beneficial projects were discussed. The Khaling Mi ni
Hydel Project (0. 6 MW; Rs. 1.9 crores) inaugurated on 8 March 1988 in
expected to be handed over to the Royal Government early in 1989
and the Gyetsa Mini Hydel Project (1.5 MW; Rs. 3.84 crores)
commissioned in July 1988 is also expected to be handed over to Bhutan
early in 1989.
Other on-going projects are : Chukha Transmission
Line Project (Rs. 18 crores); the River Training Works at Dhoti
Khola and Paro (Rs. 1.28 crores); the Taktichu Super Group Drop
Project (Rs. 3.7 crores); the Paro Airfield Extension Project (over
Rs. 6 crores) and the Broadcasting Station Project (Rs. 5.9 crores).
The Bongaingaon-Gaylegphug Transmission Line Project (Rs. 8.55 crores)
is expected to be completed by December 1989 and the Thimphu- Paro
Sub-transmission and distribution systems project (Rs. 11.5 crores) by
1990.
India continues to provide experts and specialists to
Bhutan in the fields of forestry, industry, telecommunications,
hydel-survey and education etc. In education, India continues to
offer opportunities for secondary as wel l as higher education,
for training in various fields such as civil aviation, pol ice,
defence, customs, medicine and engineering. As in the past, about 40
Bhutanese students a year are availing of Government of India
scholarships. In addition a large number of scholarships are
provided to the Bhutanese under the Colombo Plan for studies in India.
PG6
In order to strengthen bilateral cultural relations, the
two Governments have agreed to hold a Bhutan week in Delhi which
is scheduled to be held from 10 to 16 March 1989. As in the past,
delegations from the Bhutan-India Friend- ship Association (BIFA),
Schools etc. visited India during 1988. With effect from 28
November 1988 the Bhutanese Druk Air has also started its direct twice
a week Paro-Delhi-Paro flights with the newly acquired BAe 146-100
aircraft. It is expected that this would contribute to greater
interaction bet ween the nationals of the two countries and
increase in bilateral trade.
India continued to supply at the
request of the Royal Government of Bhutan, certain essential
commodities such as wheat, rice, sugar, coal, explosi ves, steel
and edible oil at controlled prices. India has consistently sought
to develop friendly and good neighbourly relations with Pakistan in
accordance with the Simla Agreement. India welcomed the emergence
of a democratic government in Pakistan, which hopefully would
facilitate the normalisation of relations between the two countries.
In 1988, both President Venkataraman and Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi had occasion to visit Pakistan. The President, Shri
Venkataraman, led a high- level delegation to Pakistan for the
funeral of the late President Zia-ul-Haq o n 20 August 1988. The
Prime Minister visited Islamabad from 29 to 31 December 1988 in
connection with the 4th SAARC Summit. During the visit be had intensiv
e discussions with Prime Minister Ms Benazir Bhutto on bilateral
and other issues of mutual interest. These talks culminated in the
signing of three agre ements with Pakistan, namely;
(i)
Prohibition of Attack against Nuclear Installations and
Facilities,
(ii) Cultural Cooperation Agreement and (iii) Avoidance of
Double Taxation of Income Derived from International Air Transport.
The Indian Commerce Minister Shri Dinesh Singh also visited
Islamabad from 1 to 5 October 1988 to attend an informal Ministerial
Meeting oil GATT- related issues. During the visit he held talks with
his Pakistani counterpart Dr Mehboob-ul-Haq on Indo-Pak trade.
PG7
In order to maintain a continuous dialogue with Pakistan
with the aim of improving relations, a number of important bilateral
meetings at the official level were held during the year. Home
Secretary and Foreign Secretary level talks were held in New
Delhi from 14 to 16 May and from 1 to 2 June 1988 respectively .
During these talks India's over-riding concern at Pakistan's abetment
of terrorist activity directed against India was again conveyed
to them. Two rounds of Defence Secretary level talks were held in May
and September 1988 to arriveata solution to the Siachen issue.
Other important bilateral meetings were Secretary-level talks to
resolve the issue of the Tulbul Navigation Project; the secondr ound
of talks to discuss problems arising from the detention of fishermen
and fishing vessels by India and Pakistan and a meeting of the
India-Pakistan Committee to combat drug trafficking and smuggling.
India is keen to work for an accelerated normalisation of
relations with Pakistan. It is hoped that the impetus given to the
relations by the meeting between the two Prime Ministers in
December 1988 can be sustained. This will, however, depend in
large measure on how Pakistan responds to India's major concerns
particularly its support to terrorist activities directed against Indi
a, its clandestine weapon-oriented nuclear programme, its
acquisition of sophistic a- ted weapons far beyond its genuine
defence requirements, its reluctance to increase people-to-people
contacts and its unwillingness to enter into non- discriminatory trade
relations with India. However, India has taken note of Prime Minister
Benazir Bhutto's statements that she wants to resolve all out-
standing bilateral problems within the framework provided by the
Simla Agreement and that Pakistan would not like to interfere in
India's internal affairs.
In view of its vital stakes in
Afghanistan, India continued to take an act ive interest in the
rapidly changing situation there. The signing of the UN-sponsored
Geneva Agreements on Afghanistan in April 1988 was an important step
towards a peaceful political settlement of the Afghan problem.
India welcomed these accords maintaining that their sincere
implementation by all parties concerned could lead to restoration of
peace and stability in the region. India stands for a sovereign,
non-aligned, independen t Afghanistan and further feels that the
Afghans themselves should be allowed to decide upon their future
without external pressures.
PG8
President Najibullah paid an
official visit to India from 4 to 6 May 1988 for an exchange of
views. The visit took place in the context of India's conti nuing
dialogue on the Afghanistan problem with all concerned including all
shades of Afghan opinion. Earlier, on 3 May the Foreign Secretary,
Shri K.P.S. Menon visited Islamabad as the Prime Minister's special
emissary for discussion on th e Afghan situation with President
Zia and other Pakistani leaders.
Bilateral relations between India
and Afghanistan developed satisfactorily . India remained in close
touch with the Government of Afghanistan on all matters of mutual
interest and undertook to provide an assistance of Rs. 10 crores for
relief and rehabilitation of the Afghan refugees. Half of this
assistance is t o be provided bilaterally and the other half
through the UN system. In addition Ind ia is continuing with its
cooperation programme in Afghanistan, which is directed at
benefiting the common man in areas such as public health, small scale
indust ry, education etc.
A mid-term review meeting of the
Indo-Afghan Joint Commission on Economic, Technical, Trade and
Cultural Cooperation was held in Kabul in June 1988. The
Indo-Afghan Cultural Exchange Programme was extended upto 31 December
1989. SAARC continued to make progress during the year. The
Ministry of External Affairs functioned as the national focal point
and worked closely with all the other Ministries, Departments and
agencies involved with specific aspec ts of India's participation
in SAARC activities.
The Fourth SAARC Summit in Islamabad in
December 1988 provided the opportunity for a complete review of the
organization's activities during 1988. The Summit took the
following major decisions : -- Education was included as an area
of cooperation and a Technical Committee set up, to be chaired by
Bangladesh. Specific programmes are now to be devised. -- As a
measure to foster closer and more frequent contacts among the people
of the member countries, Supreme Court judges and Members of
Parliament of each member country would be entitled to a special
PG9
SAARC Travel Document which would exempt them from visas
while travelling in the region. The Council of Ministers is to make
recommen- dations regarding other categories of persons who should be
given this facility. -- A regional perspective plan called
"SAARC 2000 : A Basic Needs Perspective" is to be prepared, based on
the aggregation of development targets set by individual member
countries for the turn of the century in core areas of interest such
as food, clothing, shelter, education, primary health care, population
planning and environmental protection.
-- A proposal for the
establishment of a Centre for Human Resource Development is to be
examined. -- South Asian Festivals are to be held from time to
time. India is to ho st the first such Festival. In areas
where activity has been on-going, the Summit decided as follows --
The comprehensive Study on the Causes and Consequences of Natural
Disasters and the Protection and Preservation of the Environment
should be concluded in the shortest period of time. A joint study
would be undertaken on the "Greenhouse effect" and its impact on the
region. -- Specific areas where economic cooperation in trade,
manufactures and |
services may be
feasible immediately are to be identified. -- 1989 was designated
as the "SAARC Year for Combating Drug Abuse and Drug Trafficking". A
concerted campaign is to be launched. The possibility of drawing
up a Regional Convention on Drug Control is to be examined.
--
Member States should adopt enabling measures to implement the SAARC
Regional Convention on the Suppression of Terrorism at the earliest.
-- The Year 1990 is to be the "SAARC Year of the, Girl Child".
PG10
The Summit also endorsed the decisions of the Council of
Ministers taken at the latter's fifth session in Kathmandu in
August 1988, on : -- The admission of any country in the region,
subscribing to the objective s and principles of the SAARC
Charter, as a member of the Association, by a unanimous decision of
the Heads of State or Government. -- The establishment of contact
with organizations with similar aims and purposes, subject to the
approval of the Standing Committee in each case, with a view to
sharing of experiences and exchange of documents and information, and
-- The increased involvement of non-governmental organizations,
consisting of nationals of member countries based in the region,
in SAARC activi- ties in agreed areas of cooperation. There
were several other noteworthy developments during the year
(i) The
Agreement establishing the SAARC Food Security Reserve became
operational from 12 August 1988. All member countries have earmarked
their respective shares for the Reserve.
(ii) The SAARC Regional
Convention on Suppression of Terrorism came into force on 22 August
1988 after ratification by all member States. Member countries are to
pass national legislation wherever necessary to implement the
Convention.
(iii) The terms of reference and methodology for the
comprehensive study on the Causes and Consequences of Natural
Disasters and Protection and Preservation of Environment have been
agreed upon. The objective of the regional study is to provide a basis
for the member countries to draw up policy conclusions and
recommendations and to identify areas, keeping in view the potential
and possibilities of evolving a regional plan of action, for
strengthening disaster management capa- bilities and for the
protection and preservation of the environment. Country-wise studies
are to be conducted in the first instance, accor- ding to a
standardised format which is to be finalised.
(iv) Studies are to
be undertaken to identify specific constraints to the growth of
intra-regional trade and economic cooperation. The terms of reference,
methodology and format have been agreed upon. Work is being done on a
country-wise basis to start with.
PG11
(v) The Third Meeting
of Planners held in Kathmandu in November 1988 made several
far-reaching recommendations regarding the role of economic
cooperation in developing a long-term perspective for SAARC
activities. The meeting underlined that economic cooperation would
provide the means by which regional cooperation could contri- bute to
fulfilling the basic needs of people in the Member countries. The
meeting also made suggestions regarding regional cooperation in the
field of education and human resource development.
(vi) The SAARC
Agricultural Information Centre at Dhaka started taking shape with the
first meeting of its Governing Board in December 1988.
|
(vii) The SAARC
Audio-Visual Exchange (SAVE) completed its first year in November
1988. The first special programme, the SAARC Quiz, was produced by
India for telecast by member countries in February 1989. The Islamabad
Summit lauded the smooth functioning of SAVE and directed that
emphasis be given to social, economic and technical issues.
(viii) The SAARC Youth Volunteers Programme and the Scheme for
SAARC Chairs, Fellowships and Scholarships were launched. Both are
expected to be fully operational in 1989. Under the Integrated
Programme of Action in the 11 areas of cooperation, some 50
activities were organised between the end of the Kathmandu Summit, in
November 1987, and December 1988. India participated in nearly all the
activities and organised 16. In addition, India hosted two Technical
Committee meetings, on Agriculture and Women in Development to
plan activities in these sectors, two meetings of the SAARC
Audio-Visual Exchange Committee to plan and choose programmes for
region-wide broadcast and telecast and two meetings to work out
details for the SAARC Documentation Centre and for the Scheme on SAARC
Chairs, Fellowships and Scholarships respectively.
India has
announced a contribution of Rs. 20 million for SAARC activities
for the year 1989-90.
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CHAPTER II
SOUTH-EAST ASIA |
| Top |
THE mutual desire
to widen and diversify bilateral cooperation between India and the
countries in South-East Asia was evidenced by the exchange of several
official delegations leading to increased interaction in economic, comm
er- cial and other fields.
Indonesia's Foreign Minister,
Mr Ali Alatas visited India in August 1988 and held discussions on
the Kampuchean question. Shri N.D. Tiwari, the then Minister for
Finance and Commerce was in Indonesia in April 1988 to participate
in an ADB Meeting. In August 1988 a senior officials delegation
from Indonesia came to discuss the widening and diversifying of
the scope of the Trade Agreeme nt signed in 1978.
Prime
Minister Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore paid an official visit to India
in March 1988. Other important visits included the seventy member
business delegation led by Mr Mah Bow Tan, Singapore's Minister of
State for Trade and Industry in November 1988. From the Indian side,
Shri Ram Niwas Mirdha, Minister for Textiles paid a brief visit to
Singapore in December 1988 to discu ss further commercial
interaction between the two countries. His visit was preced ed by
a delegation from the Confederation of Engineering Industries in November
1988. A four-member Thai delegation led by the Secretary,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand, visited India from 19 to 22
April 1988 for annual bilateral consultations. Commercial
relations with Thailand, and indeed the whole ASEAN region expanded
considerably. Rice purchases from Thailand were useful in building up
India's buffer stocks depleted during the prolonged droug ht
situation in previous years.
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PG13
General
Manuel Yan, Under Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Government of the
Philippines paid an official visit to India in December 1988. During th
e discussions, it was agreed to explore cooperation in atomic
energy, agricultura l, technical and economic fields.
Sultan Yang Di Pertuan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
Muizzaddin Waddaulah would be paying a State visit to India in March
1989.
India's relations with the three Indo-China states remain
extremely cordia l. Relations with Vietnam were marked by
exchanges of visits at high levels. The Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv
Gandhi paid a one day official visit to Vietnam on 16 April 1988.
He was received by the General Secretary of the Communist Party of
Vietnam. On the Prime Minister's invitation the General Secretary, Mr
Van Linh was the Chief Guest at the celebration of India's Republic Day in
January 1989.
The third Indo-Vietnamese Joint Commission
Meeting was held from 20 to 23 January 1989. During the meeting,
credits, commodity loans and grant assistance were reviewed. The
Work Programmes under the Science and Technology Agreement and in the
field of Atomic Energy were also taken up. Delegations from All India
Radio and Doordarshan visited Vietnam and identified areas of
cooperation. The Rice Research Centre is functioning well.
The
Indian Ambassador to Vietnam, Shri Arun Patwardhan, his wife and son
were killed along with seven officials from the Department of Education
and the regional representative of Central India Machinery
Manufacture Company (CIMMCO) when the Air Vietnam flight in which they
were travelling crashed near Bangkok on 9 September 1988. The
Vietnamese leadership conveyed their sincere condolences at this
tragic accident.
A delegation led by Shri Ram Niwas Mirdha,
Minister for Textiles repre- sented India at the celebrations of
the Tenth Anniversary of the People's Repub lic of Kampuchea in
January 1989. The restoration of the Angkor Vat in Kampuchea by
the Archaeological Survey of India is continuing to the satisfaction
of the Kampuchean Government.
PG14
The Kampuchean Prime
Minister, Mr Hun Sen was in India for a brief working visit from 16 to
17 November 1988. Apart from discussing bilateral relations, the
purpose of the visit was to consult with Indian leaders on the
Kampuchean question. India's friendly relations and
economic cooperation were maintained through the Indian Technical
Cooperation Programme. India provides training in diverse fields such
as Science and Technology, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry ,
classical dance and music, etc. to nominees from Vietnam, Laos and
Kampuchea.
Indian experts are also deputed to these countries for
training purposes as wel l as to work on projects. In
December 1988, Shri K. Natwar Singh, Minister of State for External
Affairs toured Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and
Singapore as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Kampuchea to
discuss progress in the resolution of the Kampuchean problem. The
Minister also briefed the Govern- ments on the important visit of
President Gorbachev to India and held consulta- tions on the
historic visit of the Prime Minister to China. India's contributi on
to the process of resolution of the Kampuchean problem was deeply
appreciated and an interest was evinced in working with India towards
this end.
Apart from meeting with the various parties including
Prince Sihanouk, Kampuchean Prime Minister Hun Sen and leaders in the
Indo-Chinese and ASEAN countries, India participated in the Senior
Officials' Meetings of the Non-alig ned countries the first of
which was held in New Delhi from 15 to 16 July. This wa s followed
by a second meeting at Harare from 15 to 17 August 1988. The NAM
Foreign Ministers' Conference at Nicosia considered the Report of the
Senior Officials' Meeting and set up a NAM Committee on Kampuchea
which now has fourteen members. The Non-Aligned Movement welcomed the
Jakarta Informal Meetings chaired by Indonesia and regarded its own
efforts as supportive and complementary to the regional initiative.
There was a marked increase in exchanges with Australia in the
fields of trade, science and technology, mining, coal,
agriculture, energy and railways.
India's participation in the
bicentennial celebrations of Australia, the signin g of a new
Cultural Exchange Programme for the year 1989 to 1991, the eleventh
meeting of the India-Australia Joint Trade Committee in Canberra in
May and
PG15
the discussions held during the visit of Mr John
Kerin, the Australian Minister for Primary Industries and Energy
with his counterparts in India culminated in the visit of the
Australian Prime Minister Mr R.J.L. Hawke in February 1989. The,
Third meeting of the Joint Business Council took place during that visit.
The visit of Mr Hawke and his talks with Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi has given a new impetus to the relationship in accordance
with the desire expressed by both leaders during Shri Rajiv Gandhi's
visit to Australia in October 1986. Memoranda of Understanding in the
fields of Railways, Telecommunications and Meteorology were signed as
well as one on Concessional Financing of Development Projects.
Delegations of the Members of Parliament visited Australia in the
month of September 1988 to attend the World Women Parliamentarians'
Peace Confe- rence and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association
Conference. The Minister of State for Science and Technology, Shri K.
R. Narayanan visited Australia from 17 to 29 October 1988. The Chief
of Army Staff, General V.N. Sharma, paid a goodwill visit to Australia
from 20 to 26 November 1988.
India and New Zealand have also been
maintaining friendly relations. The situation in Fiji deteriorated
further as the effect of the two milit ary coups of 1987 seeped
into the fabric of daily life. The Internal Security Decre e and
the Sunday Observances Decree were the instruments that constrained the
activities of Fijians of Indian origin and strained relations between
the diffe rent races. The draft of a new Constitution was approved
by the Interim Government despite protests by the deposed Prime
Minister, Dr Bavadra and the Indian ethnic members of the Fijian
Parliament. The Government of India issued a statement regretting that
the draft had not given just and equitable representa - tion to
the different communities and contained several provisions that were
undemocratic and discriminatory and detrimental to the interests of
peace, stability and racial harmony in Fiji. The Interim Government
set |
up a Constitu
- tion Enquiry and Advisory Committee which was supposed to
receive submissions from all sections and communities and generate
debate on the proposed Consti- tution. In actual fact, Dr
Bavadra's Coalition members were prevented from organising public
meetings to debate the provisions of the draft Constitution.
Nevertheless, leaders of the Indian community have rejected the
draft as blatan tly
PG16
discriminatory, seeking to
deprive them of their guaranteed Constitutional righ ts. While
institutionalising ethnic Fijian political dominance, it also discriminat
es against Commoner Fijians. Through letters to the editors of
newspapers and submissions to the Constitution Enquiry Committee, in
their private capacities, the Coalition leaders, both Indian and
Fijian, have highlighted the racist, feu dal and authoritarian
character of the proposed Constitution. The Government of India has
issued several statements on the provisions of the draft Constitution
, sporting contacts between Fiji and South Africa etc. and calling
for the restor a- tion of the democratically elected Government,
the revocation of the Internal Security Decree and the return to
racial harmony in Fiji. India continued its trade ban with Fiji.
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East Asia
|
| Top |
CHAPTER III
EAST ASIA THE year under review saw the first visit by a
Prime Minister of India to C hina in thirty-four years. The Prime
Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi's visit to China, from 19 to Dec 23,
1988 was recognised as an event of major importance and historic
significance. The visit marked a new beginning in India-China
relations. The enhancement of mutual understanding between India and
China, and their joint reaffirmation of the Five Principles of
Peaceful Co-existence, not only conforms to the fundamental
interests of the peoples of both countries, but actively contributes
to peace and stability in Asia and the world where als o there is
some movement towards the replacement of confrontation by dialogue.
The Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi held discussions on
bilateral, regional and international issues with the Chinese Premier,
Li Peng, Chairman o f the Central Military Commission, Deng
Xiaoping, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party, Zhao
Ziyang, and the Chinese President Yang Shangkun. During the visit, the
two Governments signed an Agreement on Cooperation in Science and
Technology, an Agreement relating to Civil Air Transport, and an
executive programme for the years 1988, 1989 and 1990 under the
Agreement for Cultural Cooperation.
Earnest and in-depth
discussions were held on the boundary question. It was agreed that
this question should be settled through peaceful and friendl y
consultations between India and China. There was recognition that a
favourable climate and conditions for a fair and reasonable, and
mutually acceptable solut ion of the question, should be created
through sincere and unremitting efforts by both countries. It was
decided to establish a joint working group on the question. The Group
will address the question of an overall boundary settlemen t, as
well as ensure the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border
areas . it was also agreed to develop relations actively in other
fields. A joint grou p on economic relations, trade, and science
and technology, would be set up at the Ministerial level.
PG17
The Minister for External Affairs,
Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao, who accompanied the Prime Minister during his
visit to China, held discussions on a wide-range of regional and
international issues with the Chinese Foreign Minister, Qian Qichen.
These discussions were held in a cordial and frank atmosphere. The
Minister for Commerce, Shri Dinesh Singh, also held discussion s
with the Chinese Minister for Foreign Economic Relations and Trade,
Zheng Tuobin.
The Prime Minister extended an invitation to the
Chinese Premier, Li Peng, to visit India. The invitation was accepted.
A Cultural Agreement between India and China was signed in May
1988. An annual Trade Protocol for 1988-89 was also signed in June
1988, during the visit of the Commerce Secretary, Shri A.N. Varma,
to Beijing. During the year, delegations that visited India from
China included those in the fields of electronics, biotechnology,
forestry, buffalo breeding and the film industry. A five-member
delegation from the State Planning Commission of China also
visited India in June 1988. Delegations that visited China from India
included a delegation from the Communist Party of India led by Shri
Rajeswara Rao, a Congress (I) delegation led by Shri B.R. Bhagat, MP,
a CPI (M) delegation led by Shri Jyoti Basu, Chief Minister of
West Bengal, and all All India Forward Bloc delegation led by Shri
Chitta Basu, MP.
India's relations with Japan in the economic,
commercial, cultural and scientific fields registered further
progress. India-Japanese relations had re ceived a new impetus
with the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister to India in 1984 an d
the visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Japan in 1985. The
Festival of India was held in Japan from April to October 1988. This
was held in more than thirty cities in Japan. The highlights were
the rendition of Indian music and display of paintings, sculpture
and tribal art. The Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, visited
Tokyo on 15 April to inaugurate the Festiv al along with the
Japanese Prime Minister. During his visit discussions were held
between the two leaders on bilateral and international issues. It
was agreed t hat Japan would assist India in the modernisation of
the Indian Iron and Steel Company in Burnpur.
PG19
The
Minister of State for Railways, Shri Madhavrao Scindia visited Japan
in December to discuss possibilities of cooperation in the railway sector
especially, the upgradation of some railway workshops and
intra-city traffic movement.
Japan's Official Development
Assistance (ODA) to India was Yen 87.9 billion. This was a 25 per cent
increase over the previous year's and made Jap an the largest
bilateral donor to India in gross terms. In India-Japan trade, the
deficit declined to a lower level than in the previous year. The
noticeable features in trade were a considerable increase i n
Indian exports of diamonds to Japan and the high Yen-induced decline
in imports of Japanese machinery and equipment. The
Twenty-first Joint Meeting of the India-Japan Business Cooperation
Committee was held in New Delhi from 5 to 7 December. Measures to
promote trade, investment, joint ventures and other collaborations
were discussed. The Second meeting of the Joint Committee on
Science and Technology took place in Tokyo in July.
With the
Republic of Korea (ROK) and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
(DPRK) there was further intensification of cooperation and dialogue.
Mr Ahn Byong Wha, Minister of Trade of ROK visited India from
28 September to 1 October alongwith a purchase mission. Several new
products were identified for future trade.
The meeting of
the India-ROK Joint Economic Council which is coordinated on the
Indian side by the Confederation of Engineering Industry (CEI) and the
ROK side by FKI was held in Seoul from 24 to 26 August. A meeting
of the Joint Business Cooperation Committee, coordinated on the Indian
side by FICCI and on the ROK side by KCCI was held in India from 31
May to 4 June 1988.
Shri P.R. Dasmunshi, Minister of State for
Commerce visited ROK in July.
PG20
From the DPRK, Premier
Li Gun Mo accompanied by a 30-member delegation including the Minister
of Foreign Trade visited India. A Memorandum of Understanding was
signed which envisaged an increase in bilateral trade. Mr Hwang Yang
Yop, Secretary of the Central Committee of the Korean Workers Party
visited India in December as a guest of the AICC.
Visitors from
India to DPRK were the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Balram Jakhar
and the Secretary-General, Dr S.C. Kashyap. Smt. Mohsina Kidwai,
Minister for Urban Development visited, DPRK to participate in the
Fortieth Anniversary celebrations of the establishment of DPRK.
Relations between India and the Mongolian People's Republic were
brought to a new level by the first ever Presidential visit from India
which to ok place from 13 to 16 July 1988. During this visit, an
Agreement on Cooperation on Science and Technology was signed. An
Indo-Mongolian Protocol on Agricultural Research and Education was
also signed.
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West Asia And
North Africa |
| Top |
CHAPTER IV
WEST ASIA AND NORTH AFRICA DURING
the year under review,
India's relations with the countries of the West Asia and North
Africa region saw a further intensification and consolidation in all
the important areas including political, economic and cult ural.
An important development in the region was the renewed
international focus on the Palestinian question as a result of the
Palestinian uprising in th e West Bank and the Gaza Strip against
continued Israeli occupation. The "intifida" was largely responsible
for the decision to establish the State of Palestine. In October
1988 Chairman Yasser Arafat visited India to brief the Indian
leaders on the then Prevailing situation in the occupied territories and
the various options that were under consideration by the PLO. He
was assured of India's full support. The historic proclamation of an
independent Palestine State was made on Nov 15, 1988 at the end of the
extraordinary Palestinian National Council Sessions in Algiers during
which a wide-ranging political statement aimed at creating a positive
climate for resumption of the Middle- East peace process was also
adopted. India was among the first countries to recognise the newly
declared Palestinian State.
India continued with its firm and
unequivocal support for the Palestinian cause bilaterally and in
the relevant international fora. Israeli atrocities a gainst
unarmed Palestinian civilians in the occupied territories were
strongly condemn ed. India had expressed regret at the US refusal
of a visa to Chairman Arafat to address the UN General Assembly
Session in New York. India welcomed the emergence of positive
political trends in the region and it is India's hope tha t these
will lead to the early convening of the International Peace Conference
under UN auspices with the participation of all the parties to the
Arab-Israeli dispute including the PLO as the sole legitimate
representative of the Palestin ian people. India feels that such a
conference provides the only viable forum for effective
Middle-East peace negotiations and has been actively supporting all
efforts to bring this about.
PG21
PG22
The
Speaker of the Palestinian National Council, Sheik Abdul Hameed
El-Sayeh visited India in March 1988. India had deplored the
assassination in Tunis in April 1988, of Khalil Al Wazir (Abu
Jihad), Deputy Commander-in- Chief of Palestine Revolutionary Forces.
The Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi visited Syria in June 1988.
Wide- ranging discussions on bilateral, regional and international
issues of common interest with Syrian leaders gave a renewed
impetus to bilateral ties. From th e Syrian side, a Parliamentary
delegation visited India in August 1988 and an Indian Parliamentary
delegation visited Syria in January 1989. The Prime Minister's visit
to Jordan in July 1988 provided an opportunity for further
strengthening bilateral economic cooperation and continuing the close
political dialogue between the two countries. Earlier, the Crown
Prince of Jordan visite d India in April 1988. From the Indian
side, the visits of the Minister of State for Health, Kumari Saroj
Khaparde in September and of the Chief Justice of India, Shri R.
S. Pathak and a high-level Science and Technology delegation in October
1988 added to the growing content of Indo-Jordanian relations. An
Agreement on Civil Aviation was signed between India and Jordan in May
1988. A Manpower agreement was signed during the visit of Mr Marwan
Akram Issa Dudin, Jordanian Labour Minister in October 1988. The
release on 4 October 1988 of Dr Mithileshwar Singh who was kidnapped
in Beirut in January 1987 was another welcome development. The
Government of India had maintained constant pressure for his release.
Relations between India and Egypt witnessed further
intensification. The Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri
K.K. Tewary visited Egypt in Octob er 1988 and had very useful
discussions with Egyptian leaders on various international, regional
and bilateral issues of mutual interest. The second Se ssion of
the Joint Commission also took place in October 1988. The Minister for
Commerce, Shri Dinesh Singh, visited Cairo for this meeting at which
intensifi- cation of bilateral economic interaction was discussed.
A Parliamentary delega - tion led by the Speaker, Shri Balram
Jakhar, visited Egypt in December 1988. T he Egyptian Minister of
State for Scientific Research, Dr Adel Abdel Hamid Ezz visited India
in April 1988. During the visit, a work plan for scientific and
techno- logical cooperation between the two countries for the
period 1988-91 was signed .
The Egyptian Minister of Education, Dr
Ahmed Sirour visited India in September 1988. Apart from
discussions on cooperation in the field or education, a Cultu ral
Exchange Programme was also signed during the visit.
PG23
India's relations with Sudan, Somalia and Djibouti in
the Horn of Africa remain friendly. India sent relief assistance
amounting to Rupees five lakhs t o Sudan in the wake of severe
floods in the Blue Nile basin in August 1988. The Foreign Minister
of Djibouti visited India in January 1989. During his visit an
agreement on cultural, scientific and technical cooperation was si
gned. In February 1989, a Special Envoy of the President of
Somalia visited India with a message from the President.
In
the Maghreb region, India maintained its close consultations and
cooperation with Algeria. The meeting of the Indo-Algerian
Joint |
Commission
was held in March 1988. The Algerian Minister of Light Industries, Mr
Zitauni Messaoudi visited India in this connection. With Tunisia
also, bilateral conta cts were strengthened both in the political
and economic spheres. The Minister of State for External Affairs,
Shri K.K. Tewary, visited Tunisia in October 1988.
This was the
first high-level visit from India since the present Tunisian Gover
nment came into power. India's relations with Libya
remained good. Efforts to resolve the problem of outstanding
payments to Indian companies continued. Diplomatic relations were
restored between India and Morocco on 21 October 1988. The respective
Embassies started functioning from 21 November 1988. Shri Anand
Sharma, MP, participated in the celebrations of the Fifteenth
Anniversary of Polisario Front in May 1988. A Special Envoy of the
Saharawi Arab Democratic Repub- lic (SADR) President visited India in
June 1988. A consignment of relief items was sent to the Saharawi
Red Cross Society during 1988. The Head of the Arab League, Mr
Chadli Klibi visited India in May 1988 for discussions with the Indian
leaders. India continued with its efforts to bring an early end to
the Gulf confli ct through regular contacts with Iraq, Iran and
all other concerned countries. The escalation of foreign Naval
presences in the Gulf had caused concern. Indi a deplored the
shooting down of an Iranian civilian aircraft by the US Navy on 3 July
1988. The ceasefire in the war on 20 August 1988, was warmly welcomed
and it was hoped that negotiations under UN auspices to implement
UN Security
PG24
Council Resolution 598 would lead to the
establishment of a just and durable peace and the strengthening of the
forces of non-alignment in the region. Indi a has deputed 15
military officers to serve with the United Nations Iran and Iraq
Military Observers Group established to monitor the ceasefire.
Special envoys from Iraq and Iran visited India during the period
under review to brief the leadership on developments concerning the
war and the post-war negotiations. India has been invited to and hopes
to participate actively in the post-war reconstruction of Iran and
Iraq. Though the Indo-Iranian Joint Commission did not meet during
1988, efforts continued to be made to expand bilateral economic
interaction. Efforts were made to increase trade through the
purchase of Iranian crude oil and intensive negotiations were
undertaken to evolve a mutually acceptable settle- ment of the
long pending problem of the Kudremukh Iron Ore Project. The
Eleventh Session of the Indo-Iraqi Joint Commission held in October
1988, in Baghdad, identified areas for intensified bilateral economic
coopera- tion. Indian companies which continued to operate in Iraq
throughout the war have been assured of preferential treatment for
participation in Iraq's ambitio us post-war reconstruction
programme.
Shri K. K. Tewary, Minister of State for External
Affairs, participated in the Second International Babylon Festival
and undertook a review of bilateral, regional and international
matters with the Iraqi leadership.
The ability of India to
maintain its share of the labour market despite a degree of
economic recession through the presence of about a million expatriate
s has furnished a valuable link between India and the Gulf region.
India has als o secured a larger share of the industrial market in
these countries and there is growing interest in joint investment
in the region and in India.
Shri K. Natwar Singh, Minister of
State for External Affairs visited Oman from 8 to 12 April 1988.
During this visit intensive discussions were held wit h the
leadership in Oman on regional and international issues and the areas in
which bilateral cooperation could be intensified were identified. This
visit served to underscore the growing political and economic
entente between India and the Gulf region.
PG25
Dr
Kayyal, Minister of Posts and Telegraphs of Saudi Arabia visited India
in November 1988, to explore the further expansion of Indian participatio
n in the telecommunications sector in the Kingdom.
Dr
Abdul Aziz Al-Daly, Foreign Minister of the People's Democratic
Republic of Yemen, paid an official visit to India in December 1988.
Apart fro m holding discussions on bilateral, regional and
international issues with his In dian counterpart he was received
by the Vice-President and the Prime Minister to who m he delivered
a message from the Secretary-General of the Yemeni Socialist Party.
The PDRY has sought Indian assistance in the petroleum sector. The
Yemeni request is being examined and an exploratory visit by a
delegation from Hydrocarbons India Limited has taken place. There
are good prospects of cooperation with the PDRY in the petroleum
sector and in other areas of economi c and industrial development.
Shri Janak Raj Gupta, Member of Parliament, represented India at
the Silver Jubilee Celebrations of the Yemeni Revolution Day on 14
October 1988.
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Africa (South
Of The Sahara) |
| Top |
CHAPTER V
AFRICA (SOUTH OF THE SAHARA) INDIA'S friendly relations
with the countries of Africa (South of the Sahara) were further
strengthened during the year under review. India continued to play a
leading role at the United Nations and other international fora in
supporting the struggle of the people of South Africa and the Frontline
States in Southern Africa against the abhorrent system of
apartheid in South Africa.
The second meeting of the
Commonwealth Committee of Foreign Ministers on South Africa of which
India is a member, was hold in Toronto in August 1988. The Indian
delegation was led by the Minister for External Affairs. India along
with other like-minded countries ensured that the question of
sanctions against the Pretoria regime remained in the forefront.
In a message on the occasion of the 70th birth anniversary of
Nelson Mandela, the Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi demanded his
immediate unconditional release and reiterated the call for imposition
of comprehensive mandatory sanctions against South Africa.
India continued to support the demand for immediate Namibian
indepen- dence as envisaged in the UN Security Council Resolution 435
of 1978. In this context, India warmly welcomed the conclusion of the
Brazzaville Protocol which laid a definite framework for the
implementation of Resolution 435. The President of SWAPO visited
India in October 1988 at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Shri
Rajiv Gandhi to discuss various issues relating to Namibia 's
transition to independence and to share views on what assistance India
could offer to SWAPO and Namibia. India is contributing personnel to
the civilian component of the United Nations Transition Assistance
Group which is headed by an Indian, General Prem Chand (Retd.).
PG26
PG27
At the invitation of the Nine Minister,
the President of Angola, Mr Jose Eduardo dos Santos visited India
in October 1988 with a high-powered delegation at a time when the
negotiations on Namibia were at a crucial stage. Wide- ranging
discussions between the two sides led respectively by the Prime Ministe
r of India and the President of Angola, covered bilateral and
other matters of mutual interest. The evolving situation in
South-western Africa was discussed in detail. In the bilateral
sphere, diverse areas such as transport and commun i- cation,
agriculture, trade and commerce and defence were identified for
cooperation.
India is contributing officials to the United
Nations Angola Verificatio n Mission which would oversee the
return of Cuban forces from Angola. At the Non-Governmental
Organizations (NGOs) Conference "Towards a Nuclear Weapon Free and
Non-Violent World" held in New Delhi in November 1988, Mr Wole Soyinka
of Nigeria, a Nobel Laureate, was the keynote speaker. The Chairman of
the National Assembly of Mozambique, Marcelino dos Santos and the
Deputy Prime Minister of Tanzania, Mr Salim Ahmed Salim were amongst
the distinguished participants.
The Vice-President and
Minister of Finance and Development Planning of Botswana, Mr Peter
Mmusi visited India in April 1988 in his capacity as Chairma n of
the Southern African Development Co-ordination and Co-operation (SADCC)
Council of Ministers. Mr Mmusi called on the Prime Minister during his
stay here. The Organization of African Unity (OAU) celebrated
its silver jubilee th is year. Shri K. R. Narayanan, Minister of
State for Science and Technology participated in the OAU silver
jubilee celebrations in Addis Ababa in May 1988. Mr Ide Omuarou,
Secretary-General of the OAU visited India in September 1988 to attend
a seminar "OAU at 25". India continued to cooperate with the
United Nations Economic Commis- sion for Africa (UNECA). An agreement
for promotion of small-scale indus- tries in the African region was
signed earlier in January 1988 and the Executiv e Secretary of the
UNECA visited India in August 1988.
PG28
India continued to
assist the countries in Africa to the extent possible.
A team of
experts from the Archaeological Survey of India has undertaken the
renovation of the Armed Forces Museum in Luanda (Angola). The project
is funded by the Ministry of External Affairs. A number of
high-level visits were exchanged with the countries in Africa.
The existing friendly relations with Mozambique were further
strengthened with the visit of Mr Joaquim Alberto Chissano,
President of Mozambique and Madam Chissano in May 1988. The President
was accompanied by a delegation of senior Mozambican Ministers and
officials and held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral, regional
and international issues. President Chissano's visit was preceded
by the visit of the Minister of Transport and Communications of
Mozambique, Armando Emilio Guebuza at the invitation of the Minister
of State for Railways, Shri Madhavrao Scindia.
Mr Guebuza
discussed matters relating to cooperation in the areas of railways,
surface transport and communications with the concerned officials
and organi- zations and visited a number of public sector
undertakings.
The Governor General of Mauritius, Sir Veerasamy
Ringadoo visited India with Lady Ringadoo in November 1988. During his
stay be exchanged views on bilateral relations and other matters of
interest with the President, the Vice-President and the Prime
Minister. Bilateral relations with Ethiopia received an impetus
with the visits of Ethiopian Ministers of Planning; Labour and
Social Affairs; Information; and Tea and Coffee Development. Extensive
discussions on exchange of informa- tion in various areas and
exploring avenues for increasing cooperation in agriculture were held
during these visits.
Mr Remi Clement Tiandraza, Member of the
Supreme Revolutionary Council and Chairman of the CSR Commission on
Agriculture, Livestock and Forests of Madagascar, during his visit in
April 1988 exchanged views on cooperation in agriculture and science
and technology. |
PG29
The
Prime Minister of Uganda, Dr S. M. Kiseka, utilised his unofficial
visit in July 1988 to explore possibilities of economic and
commercial cooperat ion particularly In the field of establishment
of small-scale industries in Uganda. The Ugandan Minister of
Information and Broadcasting also visited India in June 1988.
Nigeria's Minister of Labour, Employment and Production visited
India in September 1988 to observe and study the employment-generating
schemes of the Government of India. He exchanged views on these
subjects with the Indian Minister for Labour. The
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Zaire visited India in Nove
mber 1988 and exchanged views with the Minister of State for
External Affairs, Shri K. K. Tewary. A Trade Agreement was signed
during his visit. Shri N. Krishnan, Special Envoy of the Prime
Minister for Africa visited Tanzania in April 1988.
At the
invitation of the Government of Mauritius Dr S. D. Sharma, Vice-
President visited Mauritius with a delegation of MPs and a
cultural troupe in March 1988 to participate in the 20th
Anniversary Celebrations of the Indepen- dence of Mauritius.
During his stay in Mauritius, the Vice-President met the Governor
General, the Prime Minister and other Ministers of Mauritius and hold
wide-ranging discussions on bilateral and international issues.
The Vice-Presi dent also inaugurated the tea machinery factory
which has been established with Indian financial and technical
assistance. The AFRICA Fund which was constituted by the 8th
Summit of the Heads of State/Government of the Movement of Non-aligned
countries in Harare in September 1986, has so far received pledges in
cash, kind and project assistanc e equivalent to US $ 413 million
from 52 countries the world over. The actual cash contributions
received by the Fund are approaching US $ 1 million.
After
launching the appeal, contributions were received from individuals
as well as organizations in India. A society called AFRICA (Public
Contri- butions-India) Fund to manage these contributions in Indian
Rupees was set
PG30
up. The Society has received
contributions totalling Rs. 2.36 crores including Rs. 1 crore each
presented by Coal India and the State Bank of India to the Pri me
Minister on Dec 10, 1988; the 40th Anniversary of the Human Rights
Day. Out of the contributions received by the Society, medicines worth
Rs. 25 lakhs have been supplied to Mozambique. India had,
at the AFRICA Fund Summit of January 1987, announced a contribution of
Rs. 50 crores spread over a period of three years. For this, s everal
projects have been selected. Out of the identified projects, material
supplies have been arranged for ANC, about 300 vehicles have been
delivered to Tanzania and a consignment of medical equipment has
reached Botswana. Angola has re- ceived medicines from India under the
AFRICA Fund and some Angolan students are receiving higher education
in Indian universities.
Zimbabwe has received a supply of
tarpaulins. Transport vehicles, ambulances, X-ray machine s and an
electric generator have been sent to SWAPO. One hundred railway wagons
for delivery to Zambia are currently being manufactured and would
be shipped by February/March 1989. Software for the Mozambican Railway
Protection Force and consumer durables to Mozambique are expected to
reach Mozambique by March/April 1989. By the end of the financial year
1988-89, about 50 % of the total Indian contributions is expected
to be utilised or firmly committed. Negotiations are underway with
suppliers such as STC, PEC, TATAs, Mohan exports, MECON, HSCC and NSIC
for the remaining projects. Agreements on the implementation of Indian
AFRICA Fund projects have been signed with Botswana, Tanzania, Angola
and Mozambique. Agreements with Zimbabwe are being worked out.
Several other donor countries also have already initiated a number
of projects. Projects being taken up or under consideration include
assistance in transport, human resource development covering
diverse sectors, agro-industry, agricultural sector and supply of
food-stuffs, medicines and other essential commodities. A
brochure on AFRICA Fund for distribution in USA and Europe financed by
the United Nations Centre Against Apartheid was released in New York on
28 July 1988. An Inter-Agency meeting of different UN organizations to
discus, ", the ways of assisting AFRICA Fund was also held in New
York under the Chairmanship of the Under Secretary-General of the
United Nations.
PG31
As Chairman of the Fund, India has been
in touch with anti-Apartheid Movements of UK, the Continent and Japan.
These organizations have expressed keen interest to cooperate with the
AFRICA Fund in mobilising public opinion and raising funds.
Support for AFRICA Fund has also been specially sought in pamphlets
distributed in UK by the anti-Apartheid Movement of UK.
The
Third meeting of the AFRICA Fund Committee at the level of Senior
Officials was held in Lima, Peru, from 2 to 5 August 1988. The donor
and the UN and several other international agencies were invited
to attend the meeting along with recipients, the Frontline States
and Liberation Movements. The meeting reviewed the progress on the
activities of the Fund including utilisati on of contributions,
mobilisation of public opinion and additional financial resou rces.
Among the important results of the meeting was a decision to donate a
modest but symbolic sum of US $ 50,000 to the International Conference
on the Plight of Refugees, Returnees and Displaced Persons in
Southern Africa held under UN and OAU auspices. In addition, the
meeting considered and adopted a |
report which was
submitted on behalf of the AFRICA Fund Committee to the Conference of
the Foreign Ministers of Non-aligned countries held from 5 to 9
September 1988 in Nicosia, Cyprus. A comprehensive report on the
AFRICA Fund was submitted by Shri N. Krishnan, Special Envoy of the
Prime Minister on behalf of the AFRICA Fund Committee to the
Conference of the Foreign Ministers. The final declaration of the
conference made appreciative reference s to the progress made so
far by AFRICA Fund and called for support to the Fund and also
early fulfilment of the pledges made.
Opportunities afforded in
various international fora are being utilised to disseminate
information regarding the objectives and progress on the activities
of the AFRICA Fund. Shri N. Krishnan, Special Envoy of the Prime
Minister for Africa was invited to attend a twin conference on
Apartheid hosted by Association of West European Parliamentarians for
Action Against Apartheid (AWEPPA) in Harare in March 1988. He
addressed the European Parliamen- tarians and presented a paper on
AFRICA Fund. The Special Envoy also par- ticipated in an international
North-South Round Table Conference held in Harare under the aegis
of UNICEF from 1 to 3 December 1988. A presentation on the progress of
the activities of the AFRICA Fund was also made at the Conference.
PG32
The Fourth meeting of the Senior Officers of the AFRICA
Fund Committee was hold in Now Delhi from 14 to 17 February. The
meeting took stock of the progress of the Fund, emphasised the need
for urgent implementation of projects planned, put the donors and
recipients in direct touch with each other and decided about the
future of the Fund.
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Europe
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| Top |
CHAPTER VI
EUROPE WESTERN EUROPE INDIA values its relations
with West European countries. A dense network of political,
economic, commercial, scientific, technological and cultural contacts
exists between India and countries in this region. The European
Community is India's biggest trading partner. In the area of joint
ventures, flow of investments, transfer of technology, the West
European presence in Indi a is increasing. A significant role is
played by them also in terms of bilateral assis- tance through
multilateral organizations.
In 1988 there were significant
positive developments in India's relations with the West European
countries as a result of an exchange of several high- level visits.
The Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi visited the Federal Republic
of Germany in June 1988. The last visit by an Indian Prime Minister to
that count ry had taken place in 1971. Apart from holding talks
with Chancellor Kohl and other political leaders, the Prime Minister
met and addressed a select group of top German industrialists,
businessmen and bankers. The establishment of rapport at the highest
political level between the two countries, the decision to
maintain a political dialogue on a regular basis and stimulating the
interest o f the German business community in India were some of
the positive results of the visit. Prior to it, in March 1988,
signalling its increasing interest in I ndia as an economic
partner, the Federal Republic organised a major exhibition
"Technogerma" hi India.
PG33
PG34
The Prime
Minister visited Spain and Turkey in July 1988. This was the first
visit to Spain by an Indian Prime Minister. It was a timely visit in the
con- text of Spain's membership of the Community and the
significant economic progress achieved by that country in recent years
which has opened up prospects of fruitful economic and commercial
exchanges between India and Spain. The visit laid the groundwork for
positive developments in Indo-Spanish relations. In the last
few years relations with Turkey have developed very rapidly. Prime
Minister Rajiv Gandhi's visit was in response to that of Turkish Prime
Minister Ozal's to India in 1986. During the visit a shipping
agreement and two agreements in the consular field were signed apart
from a railway contract between IRCON and Turkish Railways. Several
decisions on promoting cooperation in diverse areas were taken with a
view to establish a wider framework of relations. Earlier, the
Indo-Turkish Joint Commission had met in Ankara in May 1988 with the
basic objective of not only expanding commercial and economic ties
between the two countries but also developing the necessary
infrastructure to support an expanding relationship.
The
President, Shri R. Venkataraman paid State visits to three West
European countries in 1988: the Netherlands, Finland and Cyprus. The
Dutch participation in several important areas of India's economy is
noteworthy and t his visit served to confirm the friendship and
understanding between the two countr ies and their shared interest
in developing mutually beneficial ties. The Finnish President, Mr
Koivisto had visited India in 1987 and President Venkataraman's
return visit continued the political dialogue which was
established between the two countries and which has served to
create a better understanding between the two, besides opening up
prospects on the commercial/economic side in the light of the
considerable economic progress made by Finland in recent years.
India has traditional ties of friendship and understanding with
Cyprus and the political dialogue and cooperation between the two
through exchange of visits and interaction in various fora is
well-established and mutually appre- ciated. President
Venkataraman's visit marked a continuation and consolida- tion of this
dialogue and an affirmation of India's interest in the preservatio n
of the unity, integrity and sovereignty of Cyprus.
PG35
As against the outward visits from India to West
European countries,- du ring the year, there were incoming visits
to India by West European leaders also. T he Prime Minister of
Malta visited India from 7 to Jan 13, 1989, the last such visit from
the Maltese side being in the year 1968. Between Malta, a strategica
lly placed non-aligned country, and India there has been
interaction within the Non - Aligned Movement, the Commonwealth
and the United Nations. During the visit, possibilities of expanding
bilateral economic cooperation were explored. It was agreed that
an economic mission from India including rpresentatives from the
Government and the private sector would visit Malta in the near
future.
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French President
Mitterrand visited India from 1 to 4 February 1989. He was present at
the inauguration in Bombay on 3 February of the year-long Festival of
France, the first return festival by a West European country. Indo -
French relations have over the years acquired a solid base. French
participatio n in key and sophisticated sectors of India's economy
has been valuable and to mutual advantage. Apart from discussions on
issues of global interest such as the North-South dialogue and
disarmament, President Mitterrand's visit served to renew a dialogue
at the highest level between the two countries in an atmosphere of
cordiality and mutual understanding with the aim of imparting new
dynamism and substance to mutual cooperation between the two.
President Evren of Turkey paid the first ever State visit by a
Turkish President to India (22 to 26 February 1989). This visit
constituted an importan t step forward in giving a political depth
to relations between the two countries .
Earlier, in October 1988,
Prime Minister Lubbers of the Netherlands made a transit halt in Delhi
and this provided a useful occasion for the two countries to have
an exchange on matters of bilateral and international interest.
The first round of discussions for the implementation of the
provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding on economic, industrial
and technological cooperation between India and Norway was held in
Oslo in October 1988. It was decided to initiate measures to
strengthen trade, economic and industrial cooperation for which
several specific areas were identified.
PG36
Contacts with
Parliamentarians of West European countries continued to be
maintained. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha led Parliamentary delegations
to the European Parliament and to Turkey. Parliamentary
delegations from the European Parliament, Cyprus, Ireland, Austria and
Spain visited India during the year. Within the West European
region, India's relations with the Economic Community have special
importance. The Community is India's largest trading partner,
accounting for the largest chunk of India's international trade defici
t. India's interest in expanding her exports to the Community with
a view to achieve a better balance of trade is manifest. The progress
towards greater European integration through the establishment of a
Single Market in 1992 and its possible implications for the long
standing economic partners of the Community such as India is a subject
of considerable interest. India naturally hopes that the result of
the integrated Community will mean more and not less Indian
exports to West Europe. The Indo-EEC Troika meeting was held in Bonn
in June 1988 at which international developments of interest to the two
sides were reviewed. India is one of the few individual countries with
which the Community has arrangement for Troika meetings and it is
recognised that the importance of this dialogue will increase as
political cooperation within the Community under the aegis of the
European Political Cooperation grows.
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THE USSR AND
EASTERN EUROPE
India's traditionally close and friendly relations
with the USSR and the other socialist countries of Eastern Europe
further strengthened. There were many exchanges of visits at the
highest levels with these countries. These visi ts, as well as
exchanges at the lower levels and the decisions taken by the Joint
Commissions with many of these countries, gave added stimulus and
invested greater content to India's bilateral economic,
scientific-technical and cultura l ties with these countries.
The President, Shri R. Venkataraman paid a State visit to the USSR
in July 1988 in the course of which he had discussions on bilateral
matters and international issues with the Soviet leadership and
participated in the closing ceremony of the Festival of India in
the USSR. President Gorbachev visited
PG37
India in November
1988. Apart from extensive discussions with the President and the
Prime Minister, he participated in the closing ceremony of the Festival
of Soviet Union in India and received the Indira Gandhi Prize for
Peace, Dis- armament and Development. Mr Gorbachev's visit in
November 1988, his first visit abroad after becoming President,
provided the opportunity to both sides to reiterate their mutual
desire to maintain the tradition of regular hig h- level exchanges
which have given a new character and dynamism to Indo-Soviet relations
in recent years. During the visit, the Prime Minister and Mr Gorbache
v signed a Joint Summit Statement that sets out shared perceptions
on bilateral and international matters. Five agreements were
signed during the visit.
These are : an agreement on the
construction of a nuclear power station in India, a framework
agreement on the construction of hydro and thermal power stations with
a capacity of 6000 MW by 2000 AD, an agreement on economic and
technical credit for Vindhyachal Thermal Power Station (II), an
agreement on avoidance of double taxation and an agreement on
cooperation in the field of outer space.
There were frequent
contacts at the Ministerial level too during this peri od. These
included visits of Shri K.C. Pant, the Defence Minister, Shri M.L. Foteda
r, Minister of Steel and Mines, Shri H.K.L. Bhagat, Minister for
Information and Broadcasting, Shri B. Shankaranand, Minister for
Water Resources, Shri Madhavrao Scindia, Minister of State for
Railways and Shri K. Natwar Singh, Minister of State for External
Affairs, from the Indian side. From the Soviet side, First Deputy
Prime Minister Maslyukov, Deputy Prime Minister Kamentsev and Defence
Minister Yazov visited India.
Bilateral trade rapidly increased
during this period to reach a level of Rs. 5200 crores in 1988. It
was agreed that this accelerated growth in trade should be
maintained in the coming years. The Trade Plan for 1989 has a target
of Rs. 7000 crores. In view of the modernisation and changing character
of the economies of the two countries, both sides felt that full
advantage shou ld be taken of the emerging complementarities in
the economies of both the countri es and changes brought about in
the structure of trade and new strategies for futu re cooperation.
These include greater involvement of Indian private sector in business
with the USSR, direct ties between enterprises, promotion of joint
ventures and production cooperation, Indian participation in the
development of the Soviet Far East and Siberia, and greater sharing of
the latest technologies.
PG38
The implementation of the
Integrated. Long Term Programme (ILTP) of Science and Technology
Cooperation signed by the Prime Minister and President Gorbachev
in July 1987 has given a new momentum to Indo-Soviet cooperation in
this field through intensified scientific exchanges and setting up of a
Join t Council to monitor implementation and coordination of the
ILTP. Eighty specific projects have been identified and over 100
scientists' visits have tak en place from each side.
The
unprecedented and unique Festivals of India and the USSR in each
other's countries gave a fresh impetus to all aspects of bilateral
relations. It was agreed that this momentum should be maintained.
A new Cultural Exchange Programme envisaging more intensive and
innovative exchanges was signed in November 1988. It was agreed to set
up an Indo-Soviet Nehru Foundation in order to provide a forum for
greater interaction between scholars and scient ists of the two
countries. Following the earthquake which devastated Armenia,
relief supplies con- taining Arctic tents; blankets, woollens,
hospital beds, stretchers, various ca te- gories of medicine and
medical equipment, were airlifted to Armenia. A special Fund
called "Prime Minister's Armenia Earthquake Relief Fund" was opened to
receive contributions from organizations and individuals. A National
Relief Committee under the Chairmanship of the Minister of State
for External Affairs, Shri K. Natwar Singh was set up to
coordinate relief supplies from India.
Relations between India
and Czechoslovakia were further strengthened with the visit of the
President, Shri R. Venkataraman to Czechoslovakia from 20 to 22
September 1988. The President had meetings with his Czechoslovak
counterpart, Mr Gustav Husak as well as with the General Secretary of
the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, Mr Milos Jakes. It was agreed
that there was considerable unutilised potential for strengthening
bilateral economic and other ties. The Minister for
Information and Broadcasting, Shri H.K.L. Bhagat led India's
delegation to the Karlovy Vary Film Festival in Czechoslovakia in July
1988 where the Indian entry Anantram was awarded a prize.
PG39
Indo-Hungarian relations received a major impetus with
the visit of the Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi to Hungary from 10
to 12 June 1988. During the visit, he held talks with the
Hungarian Prime Minister and General Secretar y of the Hungarian
Socialist Workers' Party, Mr Karoly Grosz, and also met the President
of the HSWP, Mr Janos Kadar. Both international and regional issues
were discussed as also methods to intensify bilateral economic
cooperation. An agreement for cooperation between the television
organizations of the two countries was signed during the visit.
The 8th Session of the Indo-Hungarian Joint Commission took place
in New Delhi from 24 to 28 October 1988. The Indian delegation was led
by the Industry Minister, Shri J. Vengala Rao and the Hungarian
delegation by the Hungarian Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Petar Medgyessy.
The major recommen- dations of the Joint Commission include enlarging
cooperation in industrial, economic, scientific and technical fields
and wider contacts between the two countries for transfer of
technology. It is expected that more non-traditional items would
be traded.
Shri K.C. Pant, the Minister for Defence visited
Hungary from 9 to 13 October 1988 at the invitation of his Hungarian
counterpart. The 40th anniver- sary of the establishment of
diplomatic relations between India and Hungary was celebrated in both
countries in November.
Traditionally friendly relations continued
to develop with Yugoslavia. Close cooperation in the bilateral and
international fields, particularly in th e Non- Aligned Movement,
was further consolidated with the Prime Minister's visit to
Yugoslavia in July 1988. Agreements for cooperation in the fields
of informatio n, science and technology and sports were signed,
while the agreements in the fiel d of peaceful uses of nuclear
energy was extended. A Commercial-level shipping agreement was signed
during the year. On the economic side, the 17th Session of the
Joint Committee for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation held
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in June 1988,
explored prospects for sustaining the tempo of growing commercial
and scientific-technical cooperation by devising new forms and
areas of cooperation. The 9th Session of the Indo-Bulgarian
Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation
was held in New Delhi from 15 to 18 Novem- ber 1988, at which the
Indian delegation was led by the Agriculture Minister,
PG40
Shri Bhajan Lal. The Bulgarian delegation was led by
Mr Ognian Doinov, Deputy Prime Minister and Member of the
Politburo of the Bulgarian Communist Party.A protocol signed on this
occasion spelt out the wide-range of possibilities of co-
operation between the two countries especially in high technology
areas includi ng computers, electronics, etc. An agreement for
cooperation in the field of tourism was also signed during this
Session. A new dimension was added to cultural cooperation between
India and Bul- garia with the holding of "Days of Indian Culture
in Bulgaria" inaugurated by the then Minister for Human Resource
Development, Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao in June 1988. This festival of
Indian culture proved extremely popular in Bul- garia and aroused
widespread interest and enthusiasm towards India among the people at
large. A reciprocal "Days of Bulgarian Culture in India" was also held
in India in January 1989. Folk troupes and exhibitions from Bulgaria
visited numerous Indian cities. The Minister for Defence, Shri K.C.
Pant visite d Bulgaria from 13 to 17 October 1988.
Bilateral relations with the GDR were strengthened in all fields.
The Ind o- GDR Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 1988-89
was signed between the two Governments in New Delhi in June 1988. A
similar exchange programme in the field of scientific and technical
cooperation was signed in December 198 8, The Indo-GDR bilateral
committee on shipping also met in 1988 to review bilateral shipping
agreements.
The 12th Session of the Indo-Polish Joint Commission
was held in New Delhi from 10 to 17 January 1989. The Indian
delegation was led by the Union Energy Minister, Shri Vasant Sathe,
and the Polish delegation by Mr A. Kwasniewski, Minister and Member of
the Presidium of the Polish Council of Ministers.
The Minister
of State for Commerce, Shri P.R. Dasmunshi visited Poland in June 1988
and held discussions with the Polish leaders on measures to increa se
and expand bilateral trade. The Third Session of the Indo-Polish Joint
Committe e on Shipping met in India in December 1988 to review the
bilateral shipping arrangements,
PG41
The Indo-Romanian
Joint Commission held its session in the first half of 1988 in
Bucharest. The Indian delegation was led by Shri N.D. Tiwari the then
Minister of Commerce. It was agreed to widen the trade basket and
to enhance Indo-Romanian economic cooperation on a balanced basis.
Shri P.R. Dasmunshi, Minister of State for Commerce also visited
Romania in March 1988 to discuss economic matters. India's
diplomatic relations with Albania which had been under suspension
were revived during the year with the presentation of credentials
by the Albani an Ambassador in August 1988.
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The Americas |
| Top |
CHAPTER VII
THE AMERICAS NORTH AMERICA THE main thrust in
Indo-US relations during the period under review was towards
consolidating the positive trends that have developed in recent years.
Initiatives taken during the Prime Minister's visit to Washington in Oct
ober 1987 were followed up. These facilitated an expansion of
exchanges in the economic, scientific and technology transfer fields.
An indication of the improving climate in Indo-US relations was
the num- ber of high-level political and official exchanges which
took place during the year. From the US side, Defence Secretary
Frank Carlucci visited India in April 1988; Chief of the Army
Staff, General Carl E. Vuono visited in October 1988; and Ass is-
tant Secretary of Defence, Richard L. Armitage and Assistant Secretary
of State Richard W. Murphy visited in December 1988. Chairman of
the US House of Re- presentatives Sub-Committee on Asian and Pacific
Affairs, Stephen Solarz and tw o other members of the
Sub-Committee visited India and had wide-ranging discus- sions on
regional and bilateral issues with the Prime Minister, the External
Affairs Minister, Minister of State, Shri K. Natwar Singh and the
Foreign Secre tary. They also visited Punjab. An invitation was
sent by the Minister of Commerce, to the US Commerce Secretary Mr
R. Mossbacher to attend the Engineering Trade Fair in February
1989 at which USA is a partner country with the Confederation of
Engineering Industry of India. The Minister for External Affairs
visited New York to attend the UN General Assembly Session in
September/October 1988 and met President Reagan and Secretary of State
George Shultz.
Review meetings of the Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) procedures on Technology Transfer were held with the US
government in January 1988 and again in March 1988 and January 1989.
Several details and modalities of the
PG42
PG43
technology transfer arrangements were
worked out and a comprehensive system has been put in place. There is
a continuous dialogue underway to streamline exchanges and to
facilitate easier access of Indian industry to sophisticated t echno-
logies and products. It is expected that the value of US export
licences issued for controlled technology items in 1988 would be
close to US$ 1 billion.
The Cray XMP-14 Super Computer was
received in India in October 1988 and has been installed at the
National Centre for Medium Range Weather Fore- casting (NCMRWF) on the
premises of the Indian Meteorological Department in New Delhi. The
Government of India has applied for an export licence for another
Super Computer-the Cray YMP-132 for the Indian Institute of Science,
Bangalore. During the Prime Minister's visit in October 1987,
the Science and Tech- nology Initiative (STI) was extended for an
additional three years beyond 1988 . The formal extension of the
STI till 30 September 1991 was signed by Dr W.R.
Graham, Science
Adviser to President Reagan and the Minister of State for Science and
Technology, Shri K.R. Narayanan in October 1988. An important
issue pursued during the year was the conclusionof a treaty on
avoidance of double taxation. Most of the issues have been sorted out and
it is expected that an Agreement will be signed in 1989.
The period under review continued the trend of cordial relations
between India and Canada. The whole range of issues in
Indo-Canadian relations were reviewed at the Annual Ministerial
Consultations (AMC) held in Canada in May 1988 and new areas of
cooperation were identified. Growing economic coopera- tion and
Canadian assistance for various projects in India were also assessed.
An important aspect in bilateral relations was the problem of
Canada-based Sikh extremists. Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and
Secretary of State Joe Clark followed a firm policy in suppressing
terrorism and abuse of Canadian laws and rights by terrorists. The
Punjab issue has acquired a certain domestic politic al dimension
in Canada and the Canadian government came under considerable pressure
for the release of two Canadians of Indian origin, Balkar Singh and Da
ljit Singh Sekhon, who were apprehended in Punjab for involvement
in extremist activities.
PG44
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
AND THE CARIBBEAN During the period under review India's
traditionally friendly relations wi th the countries of Latin
America and the Caribbean continued to develop satis- factorily.
Exchange of high-level visits and signing of bilateral agreements, c
on- tinued cooperation in international fora and India's support
for the aspiration s of the people of the region contributed to
the strengthening of bilateral ties. At the invitation of the
Government of Guyana, India participated in Com- memoration of the
150th Anniversary of the Indian arrival in Guyana on , 1838 505 o, .
the 150th Anniversary of the Indian arrival in Guyana on @@18380 A
high-level d elegation led by the Vice-President, Dr Shanker Dayal
Sharma visited Guyana from 4 to 9 May 1988. The delegation included
six Mem- bers of Parliament, senior officials of the Ministry of
External Affairs and representatives of the Indian Council of
Agricultural Research, Projects and Equipment Corporation and the
National Small Industries Corporation.
A composite manifestation
of Indian performing arts, a food festival, exhibitions of arts and
crafts, science and technology, books, photographs of Jawaharlal
Nehru, selected cartoons by Abu Abraham, a fashion show and a festival
of Indian films were held in Georgetown and other towns. The scale of
public and Government participation in various events was impressive.
Durin g the visit the Vice-President met with President Hoyte,
Prime Minister Green and other Guyanese leaders. Mr Rashleigh
Jackson, the Foreign Minister of Guyana visited India between 23
and 27 August 1988. He met the Prime Minister and the Minister for
External Affairs and discussed matters of bilateral and international
interest.
Following his visit to Guyana, the Vice-President
paid a visit to Suriname
|
(9 to 11 May
1988) and had wide-ranging discussions with President Ramsevak Shankar
and Prime Minister H. Arron. Possibilities of Indian cooperation in
developmental activities in various areas in Suriname were discussed-
The Vice- President also addressed a special session of the
National Assembly of Suriname . During his visit to Trinidad
& Tobago (1 to 4 May 1988), the Vice-Presiden t had bilateral
discussions with President Noor Hassanali, Prime Minister Robinso n
PG45
and other leaders. During his visit to the Parliament
House in Port of Spain, the Speaker's Chair gifted by India was
installed for the first time. The Speaker of the Trinidad &
Tobago Assembly, Mr Nizam Mohammed visited India from 26 September to
3 October 1988. He called on the President, the Vice-President,
the Prime Minister and the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs.
Central America continued to be an area of tension. However,
following the Guatemala Peace Accord signed by the five Central
American Presidents in August 1987 and their meeting in Costa Rica in
January to review its compliance and implementation, there has
been a certain defusion in the situation.
On 23 March 1988, a
ceasefire agreement was signed between the Nicaraguan Govern- ment and
the Contras in the presence of President Ortega providing for freeing
of all political prisoners, guaranteed freedom of expression and
the return of exiles. Subsequent rounds of negotiations have,
however, been inconclusive. In May 1988 India co-sponsored a UN
General Assembly Resolution on "The Situa- tion in Central America:
Threats to Peace and International Security and Initia - tives for
Peace and Special Programmes for Economic Assistance". The Vice-
President of Guatemala conveyed the gratitude on behalf of the Central
American Governments for India's co-sponsorship and support.
A welcome development was a Joint Declaration signed by the
Presidents of the five Central American States namely, El Salvador,
Guatemala, Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua, on 14 February 1989, at
La Paz which analysed the situation of the peace process in Central
America and adopted a resolution to ensure its validity. The
Declaration also endorsed the measures proposed by Nicaraguan
President Ortega to evolve a process of democratisation and national
reconciliation in Nicaragua. This holds out the prospect of promoting
the peace process in Central America.
Dr Carlos Salinas de
Gortari, the candidate of the ruling PRI (Institution al
Revolutionary Party) was elected President of Mexico in July winning
50.4% of the votes. The Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri
K.K. Tewary represented India at the inauguration of President Salinas
in Mexico on
PG46
1 December 1988. President Salinas
granted an exclusive audience to Shri Tewary who handed over a letter
from Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. President Salinas expressed Mexico's
keen desire to promote, intensify and expand bilater al relations
with India.
India and Mexico signed a Cultural Exchange Programme
for the years 1988-90. The Programme envisages exchanges between the
two countries in the fields of education, art and culture, radio and
television, cinema, sports and youth affairs.
The Foreign
Minister of Nicaragua, Dr Miguel D'Escoto Borckmann visited India from
20 to 23 August 1988. He delivered a letter from President Daniel
Ortega to the Prime Minister. He also met the Minister for External Affa
irs and had discussions on a wide-range of issues.
Hurricane `Joan' hit Nicaragua on 22 October 1988 causing
extensive damage throughout the country. The Prime Minister sent a
message to President Daniel Ortega expressing sympathy for those
affected by the disaster. Medical |
relief supplies
were despatched to Nicaragua as a token of India's solidarity.
The Prime Minister sent a message to Prime Minister Eduard
Seaga of Jamaica expressing sympathy for the victims of hurricane
`Gilbert' which caused extensive destruction in Jamaica in October
1988. As a measure of relief a gif t of medical supplies was
despatched. The Governors of the Argentine States of Cordoba and
Negro, Dr Eduardo Angelos and Dr Horacio Massaccesi visited India in
the last week of March with a commercial delegation. They called
on the Vice-President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker and the
Minister of State for External Affairs.
As in previous years,
India once again co-sponsored a Resolution in the UN General Assembly
calling upon Argentina and the UK to hold negotiations with a view to
resolve their dispute over Falklands/Malvinas. The Resolution was
adopted by 109 votes to 5 with 37 abstentions.
PG47
In
January 1988, Dr Rodrigo Borja Cavallos was elected as the President
of Ecuador in succession to Febres Cordero. The President and the
Prime Ministe r sent congratulatory messages to the
President-elect. In a Presidential plebiscite held on 5 October
1988, the Chilean voters decisively rejected General Pinochet's bid
for eight more years as President. In an official statement, the
Government of India welcomed the democratic process instituted in
Chile and hoped that the process of restoration of democracy in
Chile would go forward smoothly. Under the, present Constitution,
Presidential elections on a multi-candidate basis are due at the
end of 1989.
The Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri K.K.
Tewary visited Peru from 4 to 8 December 1988. He delivered a
message to President Garcia from Prime Minister Gandhi. President
Garcia expressed his special affection and regard for India.
International issues and bilateral cooperation were discussed in
the Minister's meetings with the President and the Foreign Minister of
Peru.
The Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri K.K.
Tewary led a delega- tion representing India at the 30th
Anniversary of the triumph of Cuban Revolution in Havana on 2 January
1989. He delivered a letter from the Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi
to President Fidel Castro conveying the Prime Minister's personal
greetings and good wishes. The Minister of State also met, among
others, Mr Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, Vice-President of the Council
of State and Ministers and Foreign Minister Malmierca and held
discussions on bilateral and international matters.
The Prime
Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi sent a message of felicitations to t he
President-elect Carlos Andres Perez of Venezuela who was elected as
the candi- date of the ruling Accion Democratic Party in December
1988 to assume office on 2 February 1989. He was earlier President
during 1974-79.
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United Nations
And International Conferences |
| Top |
CHAPTER VIII
UNITED NATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES
1988 was the
year of the United Nations. The UN Peace Keeping Operations was
awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. The Jawaharlal Nehru Peace Prize
was also awarded to the Secretary-General of the UN, Mr Perez de
Cuellar. The patient and persistent diplomacy of the United Nations
was capped in 1988 by the signing of the Geneva Accord on
Afghanistan, the agreement on a cease- fire in the Iran-Iraq war,
renewal of intercommunal talks in Cyprus, the creati on of an
environment conducive to the resolution of the problem of Western Sahara
and the beginnings of the solution to the Namibia problem.
India welcomes the reaffirmation of faith in the UN and its
ability to con - tribute to peace. India's active and constructive
role in the United Nations as well as in major international
conferences organised by the United Nations and its specialised
agencies in 1988 was geared to provide a boost to the return of
multilateralism. and the revival, of the active diplomacy of the
UN. The Minis ter for External Affairs, Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao,
who led the Indian delegation to the Forty-third Session of the
General Assembly, summarised the Indian position on the principal
issues on the UN agenda in his speech to the General Assembly
which was addressed in Hindi on Oct 04, 1988. The dramatic
improvement in relations between the Super Powers benefited the
deliberations of the Forty- third Session and was applauded in his
speech.
Both the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement
benefited greatly from India's active participation and the interest
India took in enhancing the effectiveness of both NAM and the
Commonwealth on issues of primary concern. While welcoming the
detente and its positive impact on the role of the United Nations in
the political arena, particularly of regional conflicts, Indi a
was disappointed at the lack of progress in the international economic
field.
PG48
PG49
It is India's hope that the
United Nations which has contributed positively to the peace
process in 1988 will give equal attention to the solution of the many eco
- nomic problems faced by the developing countries in the
immediate future. Political Issues India welcomed the
adoption of the draft resolution on Afghanistan at the 43rd
General Assembly without vote and without debate. Earlier, while addres-
sing the Plenary, the Minister for External Affairs had said: "The
Geneva Accor ds (on Afghanistan) have established a framework
which would enable the people of Afghanistan to decide on their future
free from foreign interference or inte r- vention. While the
withdrawal of Soviet troops has proceeded as per schedule, we are
greatly perturbed at the persistent report of violation of the Geneva Ac
cords and hope that the Accords will be implemented faithfully by
all parties. In ad di- tion to restoring peace and stability to
the region, the implementation of the Geneva Accords would also
remove the ostensible cause for the introduction of sophisticated
arms into the area."
India termed Chairman Arafat's speech to the
General Assembly meeting at Geneva as "one of courage and foresight".
India welcomed the three-point framework of the Palestinian peace
initiative put forward by Chairman Arafat and hoped that it would
evoke a simultaneous and constructive response from Israel.
Earlier, India had supported the United Nations General Assembly
resolu- tion which shifted the venue of the UNGA debate on the
Question of Palestine from New York to Geneva, following the decision
of the Host Country for the UN Headquarters, to deny a visa to
Chairman Arafat of PLO who had wished to travel to New York to address
the General Assembly.
India continues to maintain that an
International Peace Conference on the Middle-East was the most
feasible and credible framework to resolve the Arab- Israel
conflict. This Conference should address the fundamental issues involved
: attainment by the Palestinian people of their inalienable right
to self-determi na- tion and the recognition that all States in
the region, including the States of Palestine and Israel and other
neighbours, have the right to live in peace and security within
internationally recognised borders.
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India welcomed the
ceasefire between Iran and Iraq which came into effect on 20
August 1988. The External Affairs Minister said in his Plenary Statement
to the 43rd Session of the UN General Assembly that the:
"Ceasefire is an impor - tant first step and must be consolidated.
The negotiations between the two coun - tries currently underway,
under UN auspices, must be pursued."
India has also contributed a
contingent of 15 military officers to the Uni ted Nations
Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group set up pursuant to Security Council
|
Resolution 619 of
1988, to verify, confirm and supervise the ceasefire and with -
drawal to internationally recognised boundaries.
The draft
text of the resolution presented to the General Assembly this ye ar
was different from the resolution passed in the earlier year. The
draft did not thrust legitimacy upon a group which had no claims
to it. It underlined support to regional initiatives. The draft
was more balanced in its identification of t he ele- ments
required for a just and lasting Kampuchean solution. India particularly
welcomed the call for "non-return to the universally condemned
policies and practices of a recent past" contained in the resolution.
However, the draft contained certain provisions which India could
not support. India was also disappointed that no determined effort had
been made to find consensus among the delegations principally
concerned. While abstaining on the resolution, India underlined that
this would in no way detract from its support to the diplomatic
efforts underway at the time to find a political solu tion to the
Kampuchean problem.
India continued to support the convening of
the Conference on the Indian Ocean at an early date but not later
than 1990, as stipulated in the General As sem- bly resolution on
the subject. India believes that the continued Great Power na val
presence in the Indian Ocean remains a factor contributing to tension
and in- stability. India reiterated the call for the withdrawal of
all military forces of out- side powers from the Indian Ocean, so
that it can emerge as a Zone of Peace. it is India's view that the
International Conference on the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace
must be attended by all major powers which have military presence in
the Indian Ocean if the Conference is to achieve success.
PG51
The Ad hoc Committee on the Indian Ocean had finalised a
consensus report and draft resolution for recommendation to the First
Committee. The resolution was subsequently adopted without vote both
in the First Committee and in the Plenary. As in 1987,
negotiations between treaty parties and non-treaty members failed to
produce a consensus text for a draft resolution on Antarctica in the
UN General Assembly in 1988. Two resolutions were subsequently
introduced in the First Committee.
Consistent with its
anti-apartheid policy, India voted for the draft resol ution
calling for the exclusion of South Africa from all meetings of the
Antarctic Tr eaty Consultative Parties. As for the
substantive draft resolution on Antarctica, India joined other
Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties in not participating in the
debate on thi s resolution.
After six years of
negotiations, the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties adopted a
convention on the Regulation of Antarctic Mineral Resources by con-
sensus, on 2 June 1988, at Wellington, New Zealand. India was a
party to the consensus. The Convention seeks to ensure that there is
no damage to the fragil e Antarctic environment in the event that
mining activity should ever take place on the icy continent.
Disarmament Issues During 1988 India played a leading role
in the three main multilateral dis - armament fora, viz., the
Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, the UN Dis- armament Commission
and the First Committe of the UN General Assembly. At the Third
Special Session of the General Assembly devoted to Disarmament held in
June 1988, the Indian delegation led by the Prime Minister put forward
a number of new proposals including a far-reaching Action Plan for
ushering in a Nuclear Weapon Free and Non-Violent World Order. The
initiatives taken by
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India arose out of the deeply held
conviction that global nuclear disarmament i s necessary for the
very survival of mankind. India has consistently maintained that
the arms race, in particular the nuclear arms race, will be finally ended
only when the doctrine of deterrence and the balance of terror
that goes with it, is given up. Only then will it be possible to
work towards freeing this world from |
nuclear weapons.
Over the past decade, the arms race has proceeded at a
progressively accelerating pace. The world has been brought to the
very edge of a precipice. Increasingly, the realisation grew that
such a situation could not be allowed t o continue. The INF Treaty
and the relative relaxation in East-West tension constituted a good
augury for the Special Session of the General Assembly on Disarmament.
Our assessment was that SSOD-III provided a good oppor- tunity to
seriously consider changes in doctrines, policies, attitudes and inst
itu- tions required to manage a nuclear weapon-free world order,
rooted firmly in non-violence and faithful to the principle of
peaceful co-existence. Our large r objective was to further the
multilateral process of disarmament negotiations within the
framework of a time-bound programme and to move towards re-
structuring international relations based upon justice, equity,
universality an d respect for diversity. It is to further these
objectives that India tabled a ti me- bound and phased Action Plan
at the Special Session.
The Action Plan contains a package of
measures that structurally link the entire range of issues
presently on the world disarmament agenda. The Plan calls upon the
international community to negotiate a binding commitment to general
and complete disarmament-a commitment which should be total and
without reservation. The most essential feature of the Action Plan is
the achievement of the objective of elimination of nuclear weapons by
the year 2010 at the latest. The Action Plan is based on the
premise that the process of disarmament could not be confined to the
USA and the USSR. There should be a binding commitment by all nations
to eliminate nuclear weapons. All nuclear weapon States must join the
process without delay. Those States which are capable of crossing the
nuclear threshold should also assume corresponding obligations for
doing so. India specifically proposed that negotiations must commence
PG53
immediately for a new Treaty to replace the NPT which
lapses in 1995 unless it is extended. This new Treaty should give
legal effect to the binding com- mitment by the entire international
community to eliminate all nuclear weapons by the year 2010. In
addition, two other initiatives were proposed by India relating to
"New Technologies and the Qualitative Arms Race" and "Disarma- ment of
the Warheads of Nuclear Missiles Covered by the INF Treaty between the
USA and the USSR".
In the Conference on Disarmament, the sole
multilateral negotiating body, India maintained its position of
principle and played a leading role in the Gro up of neutral and
Non-aligned countries. The Indian delegation coordinated the Group's
positions on the issues of "Cessation of the Nuclear Arms Race and
Nuclear Disarmament" and "Prevention of Nuclear War and Other Related
Matters". India continued to press for commencement of negotiations in
these areas as also for a comprehensive Nuclear Weapons Test Ban
Treaty. In the Ad hoc Committee on Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer
Space proposals on strengthening the existing legal regime were made
which attracted wide- spread support. Indian experts also participated
in UN-sponsored meetings of seismologists for monitoring a Nuclear
Test Ban and negotiations on a conven- tion prohibiting chemical
weapons. The Minister of State Shri K. Natwar Singh addressed the
Conference on Disarmament highlighting India's commit- ment and
contribution to the multilateral disarmament process. The Action Plan
on disarmament tabled at SSOD-III was submitted as a document to the
Conference on Disarmament to be considered in negotiations on a
"Compre- hensive Programme of Disarmament".
In the First
Committee of the UN General Assembly, India introduced a new
resolution on "Impact of Scientific and Technological Developments on
International Security". This resolution calls for an assessment of
scientific and technological trends and evaluation of their impact
on the international security environment with a view to ensure that
scientific and technological developments are used solely for peaceful
purposes and for the common benefit |
of mankind. The
resolution was adopted by an overwhelming majority. In addition, India
also presented a resolution on a Convention on Non-Use of Nuclear
Weapons which, as in previous years, was strongly supported by a large
number of States. The Indian resolution on Freeze on Production of
Nuclear Weapons and Fissionable Material intended for Nuclear Weapons
was merged with a similar resolution by Mexico enabling us to increase
our co-sponsorship as also the support in the General Assembly. In
addition to these, the Indian
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delegation negotiated
on other issues especially those relating to chemical wea - pons
and confidence building measures where the resulting resolutions were
adopted by consensus. An International NGO Conference "Towards
a Nuclear Weapon Free and Non-Violent World" was held in New Delhi
from 14 to 16 November 1988. The Conference constituted one of the
first important events marking the com- mencement of Jawaharlal
Nehru's birth centenary celebrations. The Con- ference, in which most
of the important international peace movements and dis- armament
related organizations were represented, unanimously adopted a Joint
Statement which endorsed the Action Plan presented by India at
SSOD-III. The Joint Statement contains a number of new disarmament
ideas and propo- sals, many of which were put forward for the first
time in any international gathering.
Economic Issues
The Ord Session of the UN General Assembly was not able to sustain
the momentum generated by the positive outcome of the 7th Session of
the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD VII). In spite of
the con- tinuation of modest growth in the industrialised countries,
the developing countries continued to face serious problems. These
included, among others, the external debt crisis, protectionism and
continuing depressed commodity prices, stagnation in resource flows
and adverse external environment. The Second Committee in the Ord
Session did not achieve any meaningful progress in the areas of
traditionally held importance to developing countries.
The 43rd
Session of the UN General Assembly also addressed the issue of the
financial crisis facing the UN due to pendency of arrears of dues from
some member States, some long-term measures for increasing the
liquidity of the UN such as issuance of interest-free bonds, were
under consideration of the Secret ary- General. However, with a
partial release of US arrears of contribution, the financial situation
had eased somewhat. The Secretary-General is keeping the situation
under review.
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The overall standstill in international
economic negotiations in the UN fo ra continued in 1988. The
developed countries persisted in their strategy of rega rd- ing
the role of the UN as a forum for exchange of views rather than serious
negotiations on development issues which are left to the domain of
specialised fora such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and
Trade (GATT), the In- ternational Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World
Bank. The major industria- lised countries also maintained the
tendency to consult and reach agreements on far-reaching issues among
themselves without the involvement of the deve- loping countries.
India's efforts in such circumstances were restricted to preventing
any erosion of fundamental positions of developing countries. The
Indian delegation played a useful role in negotiations leading to the
declarations adopted at the Ministerial Meetings of the Group of
77 and of the Non-aligned Countries, both held prior to the 43rd
Session. Discussions in the Second Committee were mainly on
external debt crisis and related issues, en- vironmental matters and
the proposal of the Group of 77 to convene a special session of the
General Assembly to reactivate growth and development in the
developing countries. Regrettably the resolution on debt had to be
voted upon for the second year in succession; in addition to the
negative vote of the Unit ed States, Japan abstained. The Indian
delegation played an active role in facili- tating consensus on
the resolutions on environment. A major achievement this year was in
obtaining agreement on the "main responsibility" of develop- ed
countries for combating pollution.
The General Assembly decided to
set up an ad hoc committee of the whole to formulate the international
development strategy for the Fourth Unit- ed Nations Development
Decade. It also decided to meet in a resumed session in February 1989
to take a decision on the proposal of the Group of 77 to convene a
special session on the reactivation of growth and development. The
resolution on fulfilment of target for official development
assistance (ODA) was another achievement of the 43rd Session. Wherever
the action sought was of a limited procedural nature such as in the
case of new and renewable sources of energy, global strategy for
shelter to the year 2000, international decade f or natural
disaster reduction, consensus was achieved fairly quickly.
At the
request of the Chairman of the Group of 77, India coordinated the
negotiations on the resolution on the report of the Trade and
Development Board . India also played an active role in the
resolution on the preparations for an international
development strategy for the Fourth United Nations Development Decade.
We lent strong support to the Nordic countries in their initiative on
the resolution on ODA. India's role in facilitating a consensus on
the resoluti on on food and agriculture by proposing balanced
formulations to take into account the interests of both food
exporting and food importing developing countries was highly
appreciated. India was a member of ECOSOC during 1988 and played
an active role in the second regular session. Important initiatives
were taken by the Group of 77 during the second regular session in the
area of environment. These included resolutions on additionality
of resources and increase in technical cooperation , strengthening
of the environment fund, traffic in toxic products and wastes and
dumping of nuclear wastes. The Group of 77 also took the
initiative in negotiat - ing a resolution on the revitalisation of
the Council itself. The role played b y India in amending the
resolution presented by the United States on entrepreneur - ship
to reflect national entrepreneurs including public sector and the role of
entrepreneurship in employment generation and acquisition of
technologies earned the appreciation of delegations from all sides.
The Pledging Conference for Operational Activities for Development
for 1989 showed an increase in nominal terms in the pledges for the
major funds and programmes of the United Nations. This was in part
attributable to exchange rate variations. However, the United States
continued to withhold contributions to the UN Population Fund
(UNFPA). India attended the first meeting of the Standing
Ministerial Committee on Economic Cooperation which had been set
up by the Eighth Non-aligned Summit in Harare. The Committee had
extensive discussions on new approaches to revive the North-South
Dialogue and means to intensify economic cooperation amongst
developing countries. It adopted a Declaration and issued a Press
Communique which highlights the salient concerns of the developing
countries in the present world economic situation.
India also
participated actively in the negotiations on the economic decla ra-
tion of the NAM Ministerial Meeting in Cyprus. Several of our ideas,
particularly on monetary and financial issues and the international
development
PG57
strategy for the Fourth UN Development
Decade 1991 to 2000 had been included by Cyprus in the initial draft
document. India also had extensive pre-conferenc e discussions
with delegations which have been active on economic issues. The
Cyprus Ministerial Meeting adopted a detailed paragraph on the Uruguay
Round on Multilateral Trade Negotiations. This was for the first time
that all Non-aligned countries identified and accepted specific elements
which can constitute a common position of developing countries in
the negotia- tions. India played a leading role in the
negotiations leading to this outcome.
In October 1988, India
hosted the first Inter-Governmental Consultative Conference of
Experts, of Non-aligned and Developing Countries on New and High
Technologies in New Delhi. This is a new area of cooperation in an
emerging field. The meeting was attended by experts of 20 developing
countries. Programmes of cooperation were identified in each of
the five theme areas of th e Conference. It was also decided that
this programme would be coordinated by the NAM Centre of Science and
Technology when it came into being. Till then the participants
requested the Government of India to coordinate these activiti es.
It is proposed to hold the first meeting of the Governing Council
of the NAM Centre of Science and Technology in March 1989. The
meeting is expected to approve the programme of work, the budget and a
formula for sharing of the expenses of the Centre.
The
Ministry also participated actively in all preparatory meetings and
finalisation of briefs for delegations attending international
conferences in t he economic field. In particular the Ministry was
largely involved in discussions relating to GATT, UNCTAD and
ESCAP. Administrative and Budgetary Matters The Fifth
Committee agreed to by consensus on a revised estimate of US 8
865.1 million for the United Nations regular budget for 1989.
Since 1946, it w as the first time that the budget of the
organization as a whole was not voted upon;
PG58
in the
past, one or the other major contributors have either voted against or
abstained from supporting the overall budget. The agreement on the
budget was facilitated by continuing progress in the administrative
and financial refo rms in the organization including agreement by
consensus in the Fifth Committee on the preliminary estimate of
1990-91 budget at US$ 1767 million (at 1988 rates) and its
recommendation to address further in 1989 the question of settin g
up a reserve to deal with additional expenditures due to inflation and
currency fluctuation for 1990-91. The negotiations on the latter
item were chaired by th e Indian delegation. The Indian
delegation, alongwith other developing countries, made efforts to
improve the geographical balance of the Committee on Conferences. The
newly reconstituted Committee on Conferences shall have
proportionately higher seats allocated to the African and Asian groups
in accordance with their larger numbers.
The Indian
delegation together with other developing countries was also able to
include a paragraph in the resolution on implementation of General
Assembly resolution 41/213 requesting for review of the proposed
high-level posts reduction in smaller offices of the Secretariat in
the areas of disarmame nt, economic and social development, UNEP,
and UN Centre for Human Settlement. All the four Indian candidates
to the various expert committees related to the Fifth Committee
were elected/re-elected for a new three-year term beginning 1
January 1989 by acclamation. These are: Shri B.K. Nehru (UN Investment
Committee), Ambassador Samar Sen (UN Administrative Tribunal), Shri
M.A. Vellodi (International Civil Service Commission) and Shri Yogesh
Gupta (UN Staff Pension Committee). Social and Humanitarian
Issues As in previous years, and in keeping with its principled
commitment to human rights and social justice, India continued to play
an active role in rega rd to the consideration of Social and
Humanitarian issues in the UN General Assembly, the Commission on
Human Rights and other related fora in the United Nations. In
recognition of this role, India was re-elected to the Human Rights
PG59
Commission. Shri Murlidhar Bhandare, MP was also
elected to the Sub- Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and
Protection of Minorities. Shri Bhandare is currently serving as
Chairman of the Sub-Commission. Indian representatives
participated actively in the 44th Session of the Commission on Human
Rights held in Geneva in February-March 1988 and the 40th Session of
the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of
Minorities held in Geneva in August-September 1988 and also
contributed to the discussion on different aspects of standard setting
in the f ield of human rights. At the 44th Session of the
Commission on Human Rights, India made statements and moved
resolutions on the most serious human rights situations in the world
arising from apartheid in South Africa, the continued colonisation
of Namibia and the occupation by Israel of Arab territories, including
Palestine. India also continued to contribute positively to the on-
going exercise of drafting conventions relating to the Rights of
the Child and the Rights of Migrant Workers and also the on-going
discussion on the practical measures for implementing the
Declaration of the Right to Development which was adopted at the 41st
Session of the UN General Assembly.
The situation in Sri Lanka
came up for discussion during the 44th Session of the Commission
on Human Rights. The Indian delegation stressed that the situation had
undergone a change following the signing of the |
Indo-Sri Lanka
Agreement to establish peace and normalcy in Sri Lanka on 29 July
1987, and that there was Widespread consensus that the Agreement's
full and satisfactory implementation would be of universal
benefit. It was also pointed out that the Agreement was structured
to meet the legitimate demands and aspirations of the Tamils of Sri
Lanka through an adequate and durable devolution of power within the
framework of Sri Lanka's unity and integrity and that it provided the
framework for a political solution. The Indian delegation emphasised that
no lasting solution could be achieved by violence or use of force
and appealed to all those who were opposed to the Indo-Sri Lanka
Agreement to give up their opposition, to eschew violence and to
join the peaceful democratic process which would enable all
communities in Sri Lanka to live in harmony and dignity.
The
year 1988 marked the 40th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights. At a ceremony held in New York to mark this
occasion, one of the five United Nations Human Rights prizes was
awarded to Baba Amte for his outstanding contribution to humanitarian
causes.
PG60
Apartheid The deteriorating conditions
in Southern Africa continue to be a focal poi nt of international
concern and indignation. The racist Pretoria regime on the one hand
escalated its repression within the country in an attempt to stifle di
ssent and opposition while on the other it stepped up its
terrorist activities across the frontiers against the neighbouring
independent States. Renewal of the state of emergency and a series
of repressive measures adopted against leading anti- apartheid
movements and individuals, as well as domestic and foreign media,
demonstrated once again Pretoria's desperate attempts to sustain its
illegal re gime through indiscriminate use of force and
State-sponsored terrorism. India voiced its strong concern at the
developments in Southern Africa in various international fora
including the United Nations General Assembly. It called for
complete dismantling of apartheid and also reiterated its appeal for
imposition of comprehensive and mandatory sanctions againt the
racist regime of South Africa.
India also continued to play an
active role in the Special Committee again st apartheid and was
re-elected as its Rapporteur. India was also re-elected to th e sub-
committee on Implementation of United Nations resolutions and
collaboration with South Africa, the Task Force on Women and Children
under Apartheid and the Task Force on Political Prisoners. The
43rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted eleven
resolutions on the Policies of Apartheid of the Government of South
Africa of which India co-sponsored nine. Each of these resolutions
was adopted by a large majority. The resolution relating to
International Solidarity with the Liberation Struggle in South Africa
called for increased support and contributi ons to the AFRICA Fund
of which India is the Chairman.
Decolonization In the
activities of the United Nations Bodies relating to the Decolonizat
ion, India was particularly active in the Special Committee of 24
and the United
PG61
Nations Council for Namibia. India's
Permanent Representative was re-elected as Vice-President of the
Council for Namibia and India was also elected Chairma n of the
Drafting Committee and Working Group of the Body. India
reconfirmed the availability of Major General (Retd.) Prem Chand to
lead the military component of the United Nations Transitory
Assistance Group in Namibia, and to provide Observers to the
United Nations Angola Verification Mission (UNAVEM) to verify the
withdrawal of Cuban forces from Angola.
Elections to UN Bodies and
other International Organizations India's role in the United
Nations was reflected in the results of electio ns to important
bodies. India was elected by acclamation to another term to the
Inter-Governmental Working Group of Experts on International Standards
of Accounting and Reporting, Commission on Human Rights and
International institute for Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT).
India's Permanent Representative was re-elected as Vice-President of
the United Nations Council for Namibia and India was also elected
Chairman of the Drafting Committee and Working Group of the UN Body
relating to Decolonization.
India successfully contested elections
to the posts of Secretary-General o f the International Civil
Aviation Organization and President of the Internationa l
Institute of Cotton. Activities of the Non-Aligned Movement
The changed international environment resulting from the Super
Power detente and the increasing consensus among members of the
Non-Aligned Movement to reform its practices and procedures with a
view to increase its effectiveness were the major pre-occupations of
NAM during 1988. The Move- ment also took a creditable initiative on
the Kampuchean question. Its focus on disarmament and economic issues
was maintained.
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An extraordinary Ministerial meeting of
the Coordinating Bureau was convened in Havana in May 1988 to prepare
for the Third Special Session of the UN General Assembly devoted to
Disarmament. This enabled the members to coordinate their positions
during the Special Session. The Coordinating Bureau in conjunction
with the Committee of 9 on Palestine continued to monitor the
developments in the Middle-East. On 29 January 1988, it issued a
communique in-support of the popular uprising of the Palestinian
people in the Occupied Territories. It called upon the Security
Council to provide safety and protection to the Palestinian people in
these territories. The Coordinating Bureau of NAM in its meeting held
on 26 October 1988 in New York again condemned the brutal Israeli
practices in the occupied territories. The Committee of 9 first
met on 7 September 1988 in Nicosia prior to the meeting of the
Non-aligned Foreign Ministers. It issued a communique supporting the
"intifada" (popular uprising) of the Palestinian people and issued a
communique calling for the termination of Israeli occupation of these
territories and the creation of a UN Force to administer the
Palestinian territ ories over a transitional period pending
creation of a Palestinian State. The Commi- ttee of 9 also decided
to continue to work for the convening of an internationa l peace
conference on the Middle-East. The Committee of 9 met again in Geneva
on 14 December 1988 to support the three-point programme suggested by
Mr Yasser Arafat for the creation of a Palestinian State The
Non-aligned countries played an active role in arousing global opinion
on the issue of closure of the PLO Observer Mission in New York by
the USA and on the question of issuance of visa to the PLO Chairman
Yasser Arafat to participate in discussions on Palestine at the 43rd
UN General Assembly.
The Non-aligned Coordinating Bureau closely
followed the developments relating to the issue of independence for
Namibia. During the 43rd UNGA, Ministers and Heads of Delegations of
all Non-aligned countries expressed their indignation and concern at
the continued illegal occupation of Namibia. They urged the
Security Council to categorically declare that Walvis Bay and Offshore
Islands are an integral part of Namibia and as such, should not be the
subject of negotiations between South Africa and independent
Namibia. The Non-aligned Security Council caucus was united in its
efforts to prevent a scal ing
PG63
down of the UN Peace
Keeping Force to be deployed in Namibia. In October 1988, the
Coordinating Bureau of the NAM also declared the municipal elections
held in South Africa based on an apartheid Constitution, to be
null and void. The Coordinating Bureau of NAM, in April 1988,
focussed on South Africa's violation of Botswana's sovereignty and
territorial integrity, by its raid on Gaberone on 28 March 1988.
On 9 March 1988, the Bureau issued a communique calling upon the
US to desist from any actions that violated Panama's independence,
sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Chairman of the
Non-Aligned Movement, as mandated, by the 8th Summit, set up a Senior
Officials' Group to explore the possibilities of NAM contributing
towards the search for a peaceful settlement of the Kampuchean
question. These officials met twice, in New Delhi on 15 and 16 July
1988 and in Harare from 15 to 17 August 1988 and submitted their
recommendations to the Chairman. The NAM Foreign Ministers Conference
in Cyprus in September 1988, set up a NAM Committee of 13 on
Kampuchea. This was mandated to work for the promotion of an
international conference on Kampuchea. Economic issues
continued to receive special attention of the Movement. The second
Consultative Meeting of Experts on the question of External Debt was
convened in Casablanca, Morocco from 22 to 25 February 1988. This
meeting reiterated the call for the convening of an International
Conference on Money and Finance for Development. The first
substantive meeting of the Standing Ministerial Committee for Economic
Cooperation was held in Harare from 4 to 7 July 1988. A document
entitled "Assessment of the current state of North-South dialogue and
proposals for its revitalisation" was adopted. A meeting of
experts was held in Pyongyang from 16 to 20 July to consider the
statute for the Centre for Irrigation and Drainage. Action is also in
hand for |
opening of a NAM
Centre for Science and Technology in India.
PG64
The NAM
Foreign Ministers' Conference held in Nicosia from 5 to 10 September
1988 noted that despite the detente between the USA and the USSR,
international relations were still characterised by the use of force,
intervention and interference. The need for the current detente to be
widened in scope, content and participation was stressed.
Recalling NAM's consistent support to multilateralism,
particularly with- in the framework of the UN, NAM Foreign
Ministers noted the initiatives taken by the UN during 1988. NAM's
commitment to seek a solution to the financial crisis being faced by
the UN was reiterated. The Ministers also calle d for the
transformation of the present world economic structure through coopera-
tive action on the basis of equity and justice. They expressed
their readiness to engage in dialogue for finding solutions in the
crucial and inter-related areas of debt, money, finance and trade.
The Ministers recognised that South-South cooperation would help
stimulate the economic growth of developing countries, facilitate
the achievement of collective self-reliance and enhance their counte
r- vailing power in international negotiations.
The
Ministers decided that the 9th Conference of the Heads of State or
Government of NAM would be held in Belgrade in Yugoslavia in 1989.
They decided to establish a Ministerial Committee to examine the
preparation and organization of NAM meetings, the content and format
of the documentation, forms and methods of action as well as the
effectiveness of its instrumentaliti es. The Ministers also agreed
to hold an extraordinary Ministerial Conference of NAM countries on
Peace and International Law to commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the
First World Conference on Peace.
The NAM Meeting on Reforms and
Methodology appointed by the Foreign Ministers held in Nicosia from 13
to 16 January 1989, evaluated the rol e and methodology of NAM. In
keeping with their mandate, the Committee dis- cussed the various
suggestions on meetings, documentation, decision-making and related
issues. The Committee's work will be carried on by Chairman Cyprus who
will prepare a working paper for eliciting the views of all members.
The final report to be submitted to the 9th Summit Conference in
Belgrade would be based on suggestions received on that working
paper. This working paper would be discussed by the Committee on
Reforms and Methodology at Harare in May 1989 just prior to the
Coordinating Bureau meeting.
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Commonwealth India
was in the forefront of the Commonwealth activities aimed at imple-
mentation of the decisions taken at the Vancouver Summit of the
Common- wealth in 1987. As a member of the Commonwealth Committee of
Foreign Ministers on Southern Africa which was set up by the Vancouver
Summit with a view to follow up the recommendations of the Summit
relating to Southern Africa, India contributed positively to the
Committee's deliberations on sancti ons against South Africa.
|
The four main
areas of activity of the Committee pertain to the widen- ing and
strengthening of sanctions against South Africa, the special needs of t
he Frontline States, the need to reach out to all sections of
anti-apartheid opini on within South Africa and the issues
relating to Namibia. As a member of the Committee, India has
agreed to make demarches both individually and jointly with those
countries which have been found to be increasing their bilateral trade
with South Africa. India has contributed to a joint study on South
Africa's links with international financial instituti ons with a
view to curtail such links. A number of important suggestions made in
the study have been recommended for adoption by Governments. These
include the banning of new lending, including new trade credits to
South Africa as well as a ban on insurance cover provided by
official credit agencies for lo ans to South Africa. The role
played by anti-apartheid and other NGO's in pressurising financial
institutions to cut off links with South Africa has been
emphasised. The Committee also examined in detail ways and means
of strengthening the arms embargo against South Africa. The Committee
also considered a report on the security needs of Frontline States as
well as the question of providing technical and other assistance to
Mozambique through the Special Fund. In response to the Canadian
strategy paper for counter- acting South African censorship and
propaganda, India offered to provide additional scholarships to South
African journalists at appropriate institution s in India as well
as to conduct a feasibility study in regard to a possible shor t
wave radio facility to be established in one of the Frontline States
for broad- casting to South Africa. The question of Namibia was
reviewed in some detail by the Committee. At its last meeting in
Harare the Committee hoped that the differences in regard to the
implementation of Security Council Resolution
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435
would be resolved without impairing the ability of the UN Secretary-
General to hold free and fair elections. It was hoped that the
Commonwealth members would respond favourably to requests from the
Secretary-General for personnel in constituting observer components of
the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG). The
meeting of Senior Officials of the Commonwealth was held in Seychelles
from 23 to 25 November 1988. The meeting reviewed progress in the
implementation of decisions adopted by the Vancouver Summit and made
preparations for the forthcoming Summit in Kuala Lumpur in October
1989. The Indian delegation was among the prominent participants.
India also participated in the meetings of the Commonwealth Youth
Affairs Summit held in Samoa in May 1988, the Commonwealth Finance
Ministers' meeting in Cyprus in September 1988 and the Commonwealth
Health Ministers' meeting in Geneva in May 1988. India is actively
involved in the preparations which resulted in the setting up of the
Commonwealth of Learning at Vancouver, Canada. This institution is
mandated to promote Common- wealth-wide cooperation in the field of
distance learning.
International Law : Development and Activities
During the year under review, India ratified the SAARC Convention
on Suppression of Terrorism. Significant features of this SAARC
Convention were already reported in the Ministry's Annual Report of
last year. All the other countries of the SAARC have also ratified the
same and the Convention has come into force with effect from 22 August
1988. Necessary steps are also being taken to implement the
Convention under Indian law through enactment of appropriate
legislation. The 30th Session of the International Law Commission
was held in Geneva from 9 May to 29 July 1988. The Commission
discussed the Fourth Report on International Liability, the
Watercourses, the Sixth Report on the Draft Code of Crimes Against
the Peace and Security of Mankind and the Eighth Report on the Status
of the Diplomatic Courier and the Diplomatic Bag not
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accompanied by Diplomatic Courier. In addition, the
Commission also had a Preliminary Report on the Jurisdictional
Immunities of States and their Pro- perty and on State Responsibility.
As a result of its work, the Commission discussed 9 draft Articles
on International Liability, completed the first reading of upto 21
Articles on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses and adopted Articles
4, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12 with com- mentaries thereto on the subject
of draft Code of Crimes. It also completed th e second reading of
the 33 draft Articles on the Status of Diplomatic Courier and the
Diplomatic Bag.
The United Nations Commission on International
Trade Law (UNCITRAL) after completing its work on the draft Convention
on International Bills of Exchange, transmitted the draft Convention
to the General Assembly with the recommendation that the General
Assembly consider the draft Convention with a view to its adoption or
any other suitable action to be taken. The Indi an delegation
supported the proposal for adoption of the draft Convention on
International Bills of Exchange by the General Assembly. The draft
Convention is designed to overcome difficulties arising from the
present disparities betwe en major legal systems of the world. The
draft Convention on International Bills of Exchange and
International Promissory Notes embodies a uniform legal regime for
International Negotiable Instruments. The new Convention would allow
International Bills of Exchange and Promissory Notes to be denominated
as payable in monetary credits of accounts such as the Special Drawing
Rights. The United Nations General Assembly (Sixth Committee)
at its 43rd Session considered 14 agenda items during its
deliberations from 23 September to 1 December 1988. Out of 19
Resolutions/Decisions that were adopted, ten were adopted without vote
and nine by vote. India voted in favour of the Resolutions along
with a large majority of non-aligned and other developing countries. Ind
ia co-sponsored three Resolutions in the Sixth Committee on (1)
Peaceful Settle- ment of Disputes between States, (2) Report of
the Ad hoc Committee on the Drafting of an International Convention
Against Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries and
(3) Report of the Committee on Relations with Host Country. It also
co-sponsored two resolutions on items (i) Co- operation between United
Nations and AALCC and (ii) Law of the Sea, dealt directly within the
Plenary of the General Assembly.
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Among the main
highlights of the Work of the Sixth Committee of the General Assembly
at its 43rd Session, are:
(i) Adoption of a draft Convention on
International Bills of Exchange and International Promissory Notes by
consensus. This is the result of the work of the UNCITRAL on this
subject over a period of 10 years.
(ii) While adopting the
Report of the Special Committee on the Charter Review, the General
Assembly adopted by consensus a declaration on the prevention and
removal of disputes and situations which may threaten international
peace and security and on the role of the United Nations in this
field.
(iii) The General Assembly also adopted by consensus a
draft Body of Principles for Protection of All Persons under any form
of Detention or Imprisonment, thus completing the consideration of
this Agenda item which was under consideration since 1975.
(iv) The Sixth Committee recommended by a vote as part of the
considera- tion of the item "Report of the Committee on Host Country
Relations" to shift the venue of the General Assembly temporarily to
Geneva from New York to enable Mr Yasser Arafat, PLO Chief, to address
the General Assembly as he was refused visa to visit New York for
this purpose. As a result of the decision taken by the General As-
sembly, Mr Yasser Arafat was able to address the General Assembly
which was specially convened for this purpose in Geneva.
During the visit of the Prime Minister to Turkey in July 1988
India and Turkey signed two agreements on Mutual Judicial Assistance
covering civil and criminal law matters. The Agreement on Civil Law
matters provides for the issue of summons and letters of request for
examination of witnesses in eac h other's countries. The Agreement
on criminal law matters provides for exa- mination of witnesses and
transfer of documents and articles seized during crim i- nal
proceedings. These agreements will come into force in India upon issue of
Gazette Notifications under suitable provisions of the Indian
Civil Procedure Code and the Indian Criminal Procedure Code.
The Legal Sub-Committee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of
Outer Space (COPUOS) held its twenty-seventh session at Geneva from 14
to 31 March 1988 and considered legal issues relating to the extension
of the arms race into
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outer space, the use of
neclear power sources in outer space, the definition an d
delimitation of outer space, the geostationary orbit and the adoption
of a new agenda item.
Expressing their grave concern over
the threat of extending the arms race into outer space, some
delegations stressed that every effort should be made to avert that
danger and that COPUOS, as well as its Sub-Committees could make
important contributions in that regard, playing a supportive role for othe
r international fora dealing with the problem of preventing an
arms race in oute r space. India also favoured this view but there
was no general agreement on the matter with some delegations
expressing the view that disarmament questions did not fall within
the competence of COPUOS. On nuclear power sources, the
Sub-Committee considered a set of seven draft principles relating to
safety assessment and notification; guidelines and criteria for
safe use; notification of re-entry; assistance to States; responsi
bility of States; applicability of international law and
compensation. During consi- deration by the Sub-Committee, two
more principles regarding the relationship with other
international treaties and settlement of disputes were added.
Regarding definition and delimitation of outer space many
countries including India stressed that it was a practical and legal
necessity in view of the different legal principles that were
applicable and considered the USSR working paper of 1983 to be a
good basis for a solution to the issue. Some delegations
reiterated their view that the lack of such definition or
delimitation had not created any practical problems in the
peaceful exploration of outer space and therefore there was no
immediate need for definition and delimitation.
Regarding the
geostationary orbit, some delegations expressed the view that there
were converging opinions among many delegations on the following
points: that the geostationary orbit was a part of outer space and was
a limite d natural resource which should accordingly be used in a
rational and economic way; that the geostationary orbit was not
subject to national appropriation by claim of sovereignty, by means of
use or occupation or by any other means; and that all States
should have equitable access to the utilisation of the geos ta-
tionary orbit. These delegations expressed the view that these
converging opin ions could form a basis of agreement on which
further work could proceed.
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The Sub-Committee also
adopted by consensus a new agenda item entitled "Consideration of the
legal aspects related to the application of the principle that the
exploration and utilisation of outer space should be carried out for t
he benefit and in the interests of all States, taking into
particular account the needs of developing countries" based on the
proposal of the Group of 77 and subsequen t consultations.
The 27th Annual Session of the Asian African Legal Consultative
Com- mittee was held in Singapore from 14 to 19 March 1988. The
Session was successful in electing Mr Frank X Njenga of Kenya as
Secretary-General for a term of three years. He assumed office with
effect from 10 May 1988. Mr Nje nga thus replaced Shri B. Sen of
India who worked as Secretary-General of the AALCC mostly in
honorary capacity since its inception in 1956 until 1987. The Sessio n
also considered several legal items concerning the work of the
International Law Commission, international trade law, law of the sea,
law of refugees, law of extradition and the concept of peace
zones.
A list of treaties and agreements entered into by India
during 1988 is giv en at Appendix II. |
|
Foreign
Economic Relations |
| Top |
Jan 01, 1988
CHAPTER IX
FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS
Bilateral Cooperation through ITEC INDIA remained firmly
dedicated to the cause of South-South cooperation and continued to
actively foster cooperation with fellow developing countries,
inter-alia, by offering technical and economic assistance under the
Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme
administered by the Ministry of External Affairs. A tangible evidence
of this objective is found in the expanding nature of activities
under this scheme largely as a result of pressing demand from the
beneficiary countries necessitating progressively high er
financial commitment year after year. The ITEC Programme when first
launched in 1964 had a modest outlay of Rs. 4.6 crores; during
1988-89 it crossed the mark of Rs. 20 crores, excluding expenditure on
similar activities in respect o f Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal,
Bhutan and Maldives. The major components of the Programme, which has
so far covered over 70 developing countries across Asia, Africa
and Latin America, consist of project aid, techno-economic surveys,
deputation of technical experts in diverse fields, and training in spe
cialised fields, both civilian and defence, of foreign nationals.
A brief summary of ITEC activities that took place during the
current year in each of these fields is as follows : Project
assistance In this area Afghanistan, Mauritius, Vietnam,
Kampuchea, Laos, Ethiopia, Kenya and the Seychelles were the main
recipients. Decisive progress was achie ved towards supply of
equipment/consultancy services in respect of
(a) Construction
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PG72
of the Indira Gandhi Institute of
Child Health Expansion Project, Kabul, Afghanistan, and Jawaharlal
Nehru and Moka (Eye) hospitals in Mauritius,
(b) Common Facility
Centres (small-scale industry) set up with India's assistan ce in
Ethiopia and Afghanistan,
(c) Buffalow and Forage and Rice Research
Projects , Vietnam, and
(d) Pilot Weaving Project in Ethiopia. A
team of 16 experts from Archaeological Survey of India was also
despatched to complete Phase III of the prestigious Angkor Vat
Restoration Project. Order was placed for the supply of 4 Patrol Boats
to Mauritius worth over Rs. 2 crores, apart from taking in band of
fresh proposals from a number of friendly countries, including the
Philippines, Laos and Afghanistan.
Deputation of Experts
At the beginning of the year there were about 90 long-term (for
two or mor e years) Indian experts in position in various
countries, entirely at India's exp ense, except that expenditure
on accommodation was mostly borne by the host country. So far
requests for 127 additional experts have been received of which selectio
n of 64 experts has been finalised and 23 have actually left for
their respective assign- ments. Other cases remain under various
stages of consideration. Besides long-term experts, a total of 21
short-term experts have also been deputed on short-term
assignments to countries such as Mauritius, Afghanistan, Panama,
Vietnam, Ethiopia and Nicaragua.
Training As in the
previous years, training facilities continued to be provided in
India under the ITEC Programme to nominees of other developing
countries. Till December 1988, 358 persons had come for training for
periods varying from |
six weeks to
three years. Another 80 persons are expected during the remaining
part of the year. Besides, 96 persons, who came last year, also
continued for various periods during 1988-89 to complete their
courses. Some of the areas in which training facilities are
provided under ITEC Programme are., Agriculture and Rural
Development including Development of Water Resources, Education,
Health, Industry, Manpower Development, Banking, Meteorology and other
fields. The civilian fields apart, nominees from a selected number of
friendly
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countries also received training in the
defence field under the ITEC Programme, as well as, on
self-financing basis. This defence training has proved immensel y
popular and is in great demand. Beginning this year, the
Ministry also started looking after training of foreign nationals
under SCAAP and is expected to receive over 300 trainees from the
Commonwealth and other developing countries covered by the scheme. The
scheme, hitherto with the Ministry of Finance with a budget provision of
Rs. 50 lakhs, was given added impetus by augmenting financial
commitment to exceed Rs. 1.21 crores this year, expanding greatly
training facilities to cove r a larger number.
Other
assistance India continued to provide relief supplies consisting
of milk-powder, medicines, irrigation pump sets and pesticides to
famine affected countries of Africa. The Government of Yemen Arab
Republic was supplied with 200 tonnes of improved wheat seeds at the
cost of Rs. 12 lakhs and Vietnam gifted with forage seeds of a number
of plants. To Afghanistan medicines worth Rs. 20 lakh s per annum.
continued and several feasibility studies and techno-economic survey s
were either completed or proposals mooted in respect of Mauritius,
Vietnam and others following receipt of formal proposals through
our Missions.
Delegations from abroad With a view to
create a better awareness about India's scientific and technological
capabilities in Industry and Agriculture and other sectors, senio r-
level official delegations from 6 fellow developing countries
including Malawi, Uganda, Ghana, Yemen Arab Republic, Afghanistan
and Vietnam were invited. Over a period of time, this initiative is
likely to go a long way in generating political goodwill for India
and lead to a better appreciation of the suitabili ty of our
technical knowhow and developmental experience to requirements of other
developing countries and thus open up ways towards greater and
more meaningful South-South interaction.
|
|
Policy
Planning And Research |
| Top |
CHAPTER X
POLICY PLANNING AND RESEARCH THE Policy Planning Division
of the Ministry continued to function under t he overall guidance
of the Foreign Secretary and the supervision of Secretary (E &
ER). During the year under review the Policy Planning Division interacted
with other Divisions of the Ministry and the officials
participated on a regula r basis in inter-Ministerial and
inter-departmental meetings. The Division continued to maintain
active contacts with the Area Study Centres of various Universities
specialising in international affairs. A numbe r of seminars and
symposia were partly financed by the Policy Planning Division and
among them, particular mention may be made of the followings :
(i)
A meeting and an exhibition was organised at Vigyan Bhavan on 1- Jul
06, 1988 to celebrate the 70th birth anniversary of Nelson Mandela by
the World Youth Action Against Apartheid (WYAAA). It was inaugurated
by the Vice-President of India.
(ii) The 7th Congress of
Afro-Asian Peace Solidarity Organization was held at Vigyan Bhavan in
New Delhi from 24 to 28 November 1988. It was inaugurated by the Prime
Minister and addressed by the Minister for External Affairs. It was
widely attended by a number of delegates from Afro-Asian countries.
(iii) A Seminar on "Security Problems in Asia and the Pacific in
the 1990s" was held in New Delhi on 12 and 13 November 1988 by the
Inter- national Institute for Asia Pacific Studies, New Delhi. The
Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs, Shri K.K.
Tewary inaugu- rated this Seminar.
(iv) A Seminar on "Current
Situation in Afghanistan" was organised at Hyderabad by the Institute
for Asian Studies, on 26 September 1988. The Seminar was also
addressed by Secretary (E & ER).
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Mention may also be made of other Seminars
supported by the Division :
(i) A Seminar on "India's Role in
Reducing World Tension" was organised by the Indian Council of
International Affairs, in New Delhi in July 1988. Another Seminar on
"India & Apartheid" by Indian Council of International Affairs,
New Delhi was also held in November 1988.
(ii) The Indian Centre
for Regional Affairs, New Delhi organised a Seminar on "Current
Development in Pakistan and its Nuclear Capability" on 6 and 7 August
1988.
(iii) A Seminar on "Afghanistan and Implementation of Geneva
Agree- ment" was organised by the Indian Centre for Regional Affairs
on 24 and 25 September 1988.
(iv) The Institute of Defence
Studies & Analysis organised a Seminar on "Delhi Declaration &
After" on the occasion of the second anniversary. of the Delhi
Declaration on 27 November 1988.
(v) (a) A Seminar on
"Indo-Guyanese Relations" by Antar Rashtriya Sahyog Parishad, Bharat
was organised in May 1988.
(b) Another Seminar on "Fiji at Patna"
by Antar Rashtriya Sahyog Parishad, Bharat was organised on 30
November 1988.
(vi) An International Workshop on "Iran, Iraq and
Afghanistan" was organised by the International Peace Academy on 6 and
7 December 1988 and was co-hosted by the India International Centre,
New Delhi.
(vii) A Seminar on "India's Foreign Policy Through the
Ages" by Bihar Puratativ Evam Sanskriti Parishad is being organised
and will be inaugurated by the Minister of State for External Affairs,
Shri K.K. Tewary. Studies : A grant was provided to the United
Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) for its study
project on Security for Third World Countries with the Institute of
Defence Studies & Analysis as Coordinator. The study is expected
to be completed by June 1989. Studies on neighbouring countries have
also been undertaken.
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The Research Organization of the
Ministry of External Affairs, the Histori cal Division prepared a
number of research and background papers on important subjects
pertaining to international affairs. The Division interacted with the
various territorial divisions of the Ministry and also with other
Ministries. The Division also made available documents and
information on request to other departments of the Government of India
and to Indian Missions abroad.
The Historical Division performs
the function of scrutinising the maps published in India and abroad to
ensure that India's external boundaries are correctly depicted. In
many cases, inaccuracies were found and remedial action was taken
to get them corrected. The Division assisted Indian delegations which
negotiated boundary issues with some of the neighbouring
countries.
The Historical Division also scrutinises and vets
records of the Ministry in the National Archives of India before
they are released to scholars for study.
|
|
External
Publicity |
| Top |
CHAPTER XI
EXTERNAL PUBLICITY THE year longcelebrations of the birth
centenary of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indi a's first Prime Minister and
maker of modem India and one of the founders of the Non-Aligned
Movement started on Nov 14, 1988. These celebrations, along with the
40th Anniversary of India's Independence on 15 August 1988, served as
catalysts to the continuing efforts of the External Publicity (XP) Di
vision to project the image of a modern and dynamic India with a
rich cultural heritag e. The main thrust was to bring out India's
foreign policy perspectives, promote widespread awareness of
India's political resilience, economic, scientific and technical
progress already achieved, and counter anti-India propaganda through
misrepresentation of political developments in the country.
The XP Division continued to regularly brief the foreign and
Indian press about India's policy on various issues. The Division
continued to offer hospita - lity to select mediamen from all over
the world, and local hospitality to visit ing foreign mediamen,
and assist in their travel within the country to enable them to
meet a cross section of the Indian people. Indian Missions abroad kept
in regul ar touch with foreign media to brief them about the
current developments in India and provide them with factual
material on matters of current interest. To that end, the XP
Division provided information bulletins mainly by twice daily
transmissions to 75 missions/posts abroad. Besides, 48 missions
received bi- weekly press cables and 16 posts received regular
information bulletins by diplomatic bag.
The XP Division
continued to undertake the printing and publication of high quality
publicity literature on India depicting different facets of India' s
national life in the English, Arabic, French, German and Spanish
languages. These publications have been widely circulated by Indian
Missions abroad and have been found to be extremely popular and
useful.
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For the year long birth centenary
celebrations of Jawaharlal Nehru which started on 14 November
1988, the XP Division has chalked out a comprehensive programme to
make a world wide impact :
(a) A photographic exhibition (in five
sets) on Nehru's life and times and his contribution to the making of
a modern and dynamic India is being organised in selected
capitals/centres of the world. The Missions are being supplied with
publicity material including folders and catalogues for distribution
during the exhibition.
(b) A 30-minute special documentary,
`Jawaharlal Nehru', has been prepared in U-matic and VHS cassettes and
is being supplied to all Indian Missions abroad.
(c) A large
number of special photographs and portraits for issuing postage stamps
abroad, and for other uses by local organizations, have been sent to
Missions abroad.
(d) Missions have been supplied with a model
advertisement announcing the beginning of the Nehru Centenery.
(e) Children's films have been supplied to a number of Missions.
Indian Missions shall also be organising film weeks as part of the
Centenary celebrations.
(f) A 16-mm documentary on Jawaharlal
Nehru has been supplied to a number of Missions.
(g) Articles
on Jawaharlal Nehru with matching photographs have been supplied for
bringing out special issues/supplements/articles by news- papers and
journals being published abroad. These have also been used by Indian
Missions for their journals.
(h) India-Perspectives, the elegant
monthly journal of the XP Division, devoted its November 1988 issue to
Jawaharlal Nehru.
(i) Tributes paid to Jawaharlal Nehru at the
time of his death by world leaders and leading
newspapers/journals/magazines have been collected and supplied to
Missions abroad for their selective use.
(j) Nehru-folders brought
out by Jawaharlal Nehru Implementation Committee are being purchased
in bulk for supply to Indian Missions abroad.
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The XP
Division helped to bring into international focus, the operations
of the Indian forces at the invitation of the Maldives Government
in November 1988 to suppress the coup attempt by mercenaries. The
Division took 35 Indian |
and foreign
mediamen to Male during the operations for on the spot reporting.
The coverage in the international media has been extensive and on
the whole extremely positive. The Division continued to get in focus
the on-going ethnic problem in Sri Lanka and the operations of the
Indian forces there. On the first anniversary of the signing of
Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement, the XP Division brought out an attractive
publication in English, Arabic, French, German and Spanish, and
another publication of high quality highlighting ethnic issues in the
English and Tamil languages.
From July 1988, the XP Division
started bringing out a high quality monthl y journal in colour and
black and white, namely, India-Perspectives in the Englis h,
French and Spanish languages. The earlier fortnightly magazine Indian
and Foreign Review and its French counterpart Courrier de L'Inde were
discontinued. Apart from the publication of monthly Foreign
Affairs Record, the XP Division brought out about a dozen high
quality publications in the English, Arabic, French, German and
Spanish languages as the occasion demanded, some of these of regular
nature like the Prime Minister's statements on foreign policy, some
others of a general nature and some relating to specific occasions
to achieve optimum results.
The External Publicity
Division is placing increasing emphasis on the cir- culation of
audio-visual material by Indian Missions abroad. They have been
equipped with TV sets and Video Cassette Recorders. Missions abroad
have also been provided with video libraries depicting India's
agricultural, industr ial, scientific and technological progress
and different facets of India's cultural heritage, apart from
topics of contemporary interest. In close cooperation with Door-
darshan, the External Publicity Division is regularly sending a weekly
Televisi on capsule titled India Magazine to Indian Missions
abroad about developments in India. The capsules have been widely
welcomed and are also being used by the national television stations
in a number of countries, for viewing by their public. These
programmes are also being lent by Indian Missions abroad to
individuals, cultural organizations and educational institutions for wider
impact. The programmes have proved to be particularly useful in
catering to the needs of the Indian community and the people of Indian
origin abroad.
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The weekly India Magazine TV capsules
are being used extensively by the Indian ethnic television programmes
in the USA and Canada. A monthly news summary Dateline is especially
prepared with the cooperation of Doordarshan and sent for use by the
ethnic TV stations in these countries. These are being viewed not
only by the Indian community but also by others. Missions in five
of India's neighbouring countries have been provided with dish
antennae to enable these Missions to tune into programmes telecast by the
different stations of Doordarshan. These are in Indian Missions in
Bhutan, Nepal, Burma, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. The installation of
dish antennae at the Mission in Islamabad is being processed.
To meet the increasing demand for Indian films across the world,
the XP Division is getting sub-titled in the English, Arabic, French
and Spanish langu ages, 17 titles of films for wider circulation
and screening by Missions abroad. The XP Division also provided
the Missions with documentary films produced by Films Division on
different aspects of India's national life. The Division is
assisting in the production of two documentaries namely, India
within India, and India-Continuity in Change. Another documentary on
Jawaharlal Nehru has already been produced and is in circulation. The
XP Division has obtained distribution rights of M/s Asian Films
Production Mahatma Gandhi's Vision : India's Tryst with Freedom, for
wider viewing through Indian Missions abroad.
The photo
libraries of Missions abroad containing photographic slides on
different facets of development of India are being continuously
strengthened. The Missions are being regularly supplied with
photographs of current develop- ments in India. During nine months
ending December 1988, about 24,000 news photographs and 100 colour
transparencies were sent to Indian Missions abroad.
During the
year under review, the XP Division made complete logistical
arrangements with the help of Indian Missions abroad and of other
agencies wher e necessary, for the media parties which accompanied
the following Indian leaders on their visits abroad : the
President on his visit to the USSR and Mongolia 6 to 20 July 1988;
Netherlands, Czechoslovakia, Cyprus and Finland 12 to 23 September
1988; Bhutan 18 to 21 October 1988; of the Vice-President to Guyana
4 to 14 May 1988 and the Prime Minister to Japan 15 to 17 April
1988; Yugoslavi a, Jordan, Spain and Turkey 11 to 20 July 1988;
Bhutan 23 to 25 September 1988; China 19 to 23 December 1988 and
Pakistan 29 to 31 December 1988. On these
PG81
occasions
press kits and audio-visual material were sent to Indian Missions abr
oad in the countries concerned for a pre-publicity build-up.
Similarly, the XP Div ision made logistical arrangements including
press conferences for visiting dignitari es and the accompanying
media parties.
The XP Division continued to subscribe to the
feature news services of new s agencies and commissioned special
articles on the occasion of the Republic Day and the Independence
Day for dissemination abroad. The publication of special
supplements on India by foreign newspapers/journals/magazines were
facilitated.
With the assistance of the Ministry of Home
Affairs, the XP Division con- tinued to regularly brief Indian
Missions abroad on the developments in the Punjab and to counter
extremist propaganda against India. The Missions abroad have
adopted a multi-pronged approach, including keeping in close touch with
the resident Indian communities to brief them regularly about the
developments in India including the situation in the Punjab, with
a view to isolate the host ile elements. The Missions are being
provided with journals/magazines projecting developments in the Punjab
in a balanced way. Selected Missions abroad are also being provided
with information from the Punjab Government about the developments in
that State.
|
|
Cultural
Relations |
| Top |
CHAPTER XII
CULTURAL RELATIONS SINCE 1950 the Indian Council for
Cultural Relations (ICCR) has worked steadily to project the cultural
image of India abroad and to bring to India the finest manifestations
of culture from abroad. With a network of seven regional offices and
five cultural centres abroad, and with the active assistan ce of
Indian Missions abroad, the Council has succeeded in taking India's
culture to the farthest corners of the world.
The
activities of the Council in 1988-89 followed the trends established i
n earlier years. The Council continued its focus on
countries and regions having traditiona l and historical ties with
India and with developing countries in Asia, Africa an d Latin
America. Like the Centre for Africa, which was set up in the Council
in 1986-87, two other centres viz., the Centre for Latin America and
the Centre for South and South-East Asia have also started
functioning under the aegies of the Council. More intensive
cultural exchanges have taken place with these regions during the year
under review than in any period in the past. The shift of the
Council's focus from the advanced western countries to the
developing countries is reflected in the following statement
1985-86 1986-87 1987-88 1988-89 Outgoing Visitors To the USA,
East and West Europe 91 60 10 21 To Asia, Africa and Latin America 23
19 23 13 Outgoing Cultural Troupes To the USA, East and West
Europe 44 19 18 35 To Asia, Africa and Latin America 19 18 **55 33
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------
*Excluding troupes which visited the USSR
for Festival of India. **Includes troupes sent for the
International Ocean Festival in Mauritius in Se ptember 1987.
PG82
PG83
During 1988-89 the Council continued to
involve itself with the work relat - ing to selection, travel
arrangements and presentation of artistes from India a t the
Festival of India in the USSR. The Council was also assigned the task of
presenting the major cultural troupes of the Festival of the Soviet
Union in In dia. The selection of the artistes for the
Festivals abroad in the USSR and oth er countries was done in an
objective and impartial manner with the assistance of Advisory
Panels of specialists in the fields of dance, music, theatre and folk
arts. A special feature of the selections has been the promotion
of young talent. A number of outstanding young performing artistes
were given an opportunity to participate in Festivals abroad. In fact,
in the field of dance, the young perf or- mers exceeded the number
of the established artistes.
Four new sections were opened within
the Council, viz : - Audio-Visual Reference - Contemporary
Arts - Traditional Arts and Crafts - In-House
Publications. This reflected the growing importance of these areas
in the Council's acti vities. Two new Cultural Centres were
set up in Jakarta and Mauritius. The year-long Festival of India
in the USSR and the Soviet Festival in Ind ia, in which the
Council was entrusted with the Performing Arts, ended on Jul 08, 1988
and 19 November 1988 in Moscow and New Delhi respectively. While
Shri R. Venkataraman, the President of India, went to Moscow to be
present at the time of the closing ceremony of the Festival of
India in the USSR, the Sovi et President Mikhail Gorbachev,
witnessed the closing ceremony in New Delhi of the Soviet Festival in
India.
The highlights of the Soviet Festival in India were the
Kirov Ballet, the Ballet on Ice, the Soviet Circus and leading
theatre, dance and puppet groups whose performances were organised
in major cities in India. An amount of approximately Rs. 2.3 crores,
representing the sale proceeds of the programmes was collected for
the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.
PG84
The closing
events of the Festival of India in the USSR included the parti -
cipation of the leading Indian musicians and choreographers including
Pandit Ravi Shankar, Dr L.N. Subramaniam and Shrimati Kumudini Lakhia.
Mr Zubin Mehta conductor of New York Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted
the USSR State Symphony Orchestra as a guest conductor during the
closing phase of the Festival. The eminent artists who participated in
the Festival in India in- cluded Ms Leela Samson (Bharatnatyam),
Swapna Sundari (Kuchipudi), Kanaka Srinivasan (Bharatnatyam), Sonal
Mansingh (Odissi), Shobha Naidu (Kuchipudi), Mani Krishnaswamy
(Vocal) and T.N. Sheshagopalan (Vocal).
an interesting feature of
the closing of the Festival of India in the USSR was a series of
joint productions presented by the Council, which brought Sovie t
and Indian artists on a common platform. These included :
(i)
Orchestral composition by Pandit Ravi Shankar which was performed by
Indian musicians playing with the Academic Symphony Orchestra, the
Chamber Choir of the USSR Ministry of Culture and the Boyan Russian
Folk Instruments Orchestra; |
(ii) Jazz played
by Dr L.N. Subramaniam and his group along with the Pikaski Orchestra;
(iii) Dr L.N. Subramaniam playing his compositions with Fedoseev
Symphony Orchestra; and (iv) Dance choreography by Shrimati
Kumudini Lakhia performed by the Kadamb Group of Ahmedabad with the
dancers and musicians of the Bakhor group of Uzbekistan. Apart
from the Soviet Festival in India, the Council also arranged more than
sixty cultural programmes in which Indian and Foreign artists were present
ed. The series entitled "Guru Shishya Parampara," "Parivara
Parampara" and "Choreographic Compositions" was well received and
favourably commented by critics and artistes alike.
India sent
a contingent of 10 cultural troupes consisting of 126 artistes to
participate in the 150th Anniversary Celebrations of the arrival of
Indians in Guyana. Some of the artistes also performed in Trinidad
Tobago and
PG85
Suriname. The high-level Indian
delegation for the celebrations, which openedin Georgetown,
Guyana in May 1988 was led by the Vice-President of India and
President of the ICCR, Dr Shanker Dayal Sharma. The 25th
Anniversary of the `Organization of the African Unity' was marked by
celebrations of African Unity Day on 25 May 1988 with the Vice-
President of India as the Chief Guest. This was followed by two weeks
of per- formances in Delhi, Chandigarh and Bombay by cultural
delegations from Uganda and Kenya. The Council also arranged for
an exhibition on Nelson Mandela, the screening of African films and a
reception for African students.
A public meeting and film show was
organised on 16 June 1988 to mark SOWETO Day. On 18 July 1988 a
concert by eminent Indian musicians was arranged as a tribute to
Nelson Mandela on his 70th Birthday. An Indo-African Seminar on
the "Organization of African Unity at Twenty-Five" was organised in
New Delhi on 6 and 7 September 1988 with distinguished participants from
African countries as well as India. The Vice-President of India, Dr
Shanker Dayal Sharma inaugurated the Seminar while the
Secretary-General of OAU, Mr Ide Oumarou delivered the keynote
address.
Among the Indian visitors sponsored by the Council to
Africa were Shrimati Shakuntala Narasimhan, Prof G.S.S. Srinivas
Rao, Shrimati Tara Bhattacharya and Shri Ajit Ninan Mathew.
Prof Ebun Clerk from Nigeria and Prof Uttam Bissoondoyal from
Mauri- tius visited India as guests of the ICCR. The Council also
received 10 parti- cipants at the OAU Seminar organised on 6 and 7
September 1988 from Ethiopia, Ghana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya,
Egypt and Senegal. Chain tours of the following groups were
organised covering Mauritius, Seychelles, Reunion Island, Madagascar,
Comoros, Zambia, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Lesotho, Swaziland,
Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia :
(a)
Qawali - Shrimati Prabha Bharti and group.
(b) Bharatnatyam - Ms
Uma Rao and group.
(c) Sitar - Pt Uma Shankar Mishra.
(d)
Andhra Natyam Perini - Shri Kala Krishna and group.
(e) Folk
Dancers from Orissa - Shri Bhagaban Sahu and group.
PG86
A
dance group from Tanzania gave performances at Delhi, Kulu, Chandi-
garh, Trivandrum and Bombay. The Council received 42 visitors
in India from different countries of Asia . Eight Indian experts
visited Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Japan and Australia. The following 16
cultural delegations visited countries as noted against each :
|
|
Sl. No.
|
Particulars
of the Troupe |
countries
visited |
|
|
1. |
22 Member
Parvatiya Kala Kendra troupe |
DPRK, China
and Thailand |
|
|
|
(3 to 23
April 1988) |
|
2. |
Ms Sanjukta
Panigrahi (Odissi) |
Indonesia
(June 1988) |
|
3. |
15 Member
Kadamb group of |
|
|
Ms Kumudini
Lakhia |
Mongolia
(13 to 23 Jul1y 1988)(Kathak). |
|
4. |
7 Member
Composite troupe of |
Afghanistan
|
|
(i) |
Shri
Kashinath Bodas (Vocal) |
(11 to 20
August 1988) |
|
(ii) |
Shri
Rajendra Kulkarni (Flute), |
|
5. |
10 Member
Composite troupe of |
Maldives
|
|
(i) |
Ms
Kaushalaya (Kuchipudi) |
13 to 19
August 1988) |
|
(ii) |
Ms
Manjushri Chatterjee (Kathak). |
|
6. |
8 Member
Composite troupe of |
Bhutan
|
|
(i) |
Ms
Arundhati Roy (Odissi) |
(12 to 20
August 1988) |
|
(ii) |
Joydeep
Ghosh (Sarod). |
|
7. |
8 Member
troupe of Daksha Sheth (Kathak) |
Australia
|
|
|
(11 to 23
November 1988) |
|
8. |
8 Member
Dance troupe of Trio Sisters from Madras |
Iraq
|
| |
(2
September to 2 October 1988) |
|
9. |
14 Member
Composite troupe of |
PDRY,
Qatar, Kuwait, Baharain, |
|
(i) |
Ms Kum Kum
Dhar (Kathak) |
The UAE and
Muscat |
|
(ii) |
Ms Ratna
Roy (Odissi) |
(12 October
to 8 November 1988) |
|
(iii) |
Shri
Dhyanesh Khan (Sarod). |
|
|
10. |
17 Member
Composite troupe of |
Indonesia,
Singapore, Thailand, |
|
(i) |
Guru Pankaj
Charan Das (Odissi) |
Laos and
the Philippines |
|
(ii) |
Ali Ahmed
Hussain Khan (Shehnai). |
(17
December 1988 to 7 January 1989) |
|
|
|
The Council sent
ten performing delegations to Guyana in May 1988 during the
celebrations of the 150th Anniversary of the arrival of Indians. The
Festival of India in the USSR and the Soviet Festival in India was yet
another cause of large number of troupes and the experts exchanged
between India and Europe.
PG87
Other important visits
from/to countries in Europe, North and South America were as under :
(i) Incoming visitors :-(a) Mrs Markia Leisea, Deputy Minister of
Culture of Cuba and two others who came to participate in the Cuban
week in India (May 1988);
(b) Mr Bernard Ziegler, Minister of
Justice and Police of the Canton of Geneva, Switzerland, accompanied
by his wife (1 to 9 December 1988).
(ii) Incoming performing
delegations :-(a) Two performing delegations from Cuba for the Cuban
week in India (May 1988);
(b) 17 Member Cumbra Flamens Dance
Troupe from Spain (1 to 9 December 1988).
(iii) Outgoing
visitors:-Ms Elizabeth Brunner for Exhibition of her works
and to
receive "Order of the Banner" Award in Hungary (7 to 20 Sep-
tember
1988).
(iv) Outgoing performing delegations :-(a) The following
performing delegations of Classical/Folk Dances and instrumental music
partici- pated in the `Days of Indian Culture in Bulgaria' in June
1988 :
(1) Ms Sonal Mansingh (Odissi)
(2) Ms Kanaka
Srinivasan (Bharatanatyam)
(3) Purulia Chhau group of Jagroo
Mahato
(4) Rajendra Prasanna (Flute);
(b) The following
dance and music groups were sent to participate in the Cervantino
Festival in Mexico in October 1988 :
(1) 15 Member Seraikella
Chhan
(2) 4 Member Kaori Gopalnath (Sexophone). The Indian
Cultural Centres in Fiji, Guyana, Suriname, Indonesia and Mauritius
continued their activities by conducting classes in classical music,
dance, Hindi, etc. and holding functions on various occasions. The
Centres also organised lectures, exhibitions and essay competitions
PG88
Two new Cultural Centres to be named after Shri
Jawaharlal Nehru are due to be opened in Moscow and London.
For promoting studies in Indology and Indian languages, the
Council deputed 13 visiting Professors in various disciplines to
Trinidad Tobago, Thailand, Indonesia, Romania, Poland, Bulgaria,
GDR, Republic of Korea, China and Belgium. In Guyana, Suriname and
Trinidad & Tobago, Professors of Hindi were deployed under the
scheme of Propagation of Hindi abroad on behalf of the Ministry of
Human Resource Development.
The ICCR has been entrusted with the
welfare activities of the foreign students studying in India under
various scholarship schemes of the Government of India as also the
self-financing students. The Council awarded 30 scholarships to
foreign students under its Cultural Scholarship Scheme for
1988-89. It also disbursed scholorship on behalf of other agencies of
the Government of India besides rendering assistance in the form
of reception on arrival, location of accommodation and social get-together
s. The Council, in cooperation with the Foreign Students Advisers
located in Indian universities, has also taken steps to improve the
facilities for foreign students on the recommendations of the
Inter-Ministerial Standing Committee on Foreign Students. For making
the foreign students aware of India's cultural heritage, eight
Study Tours were arranged to places like Bombay, Goa, Chittor-
garh, Udaipur, Jaipur, Bangalore, Mysore and Ooty. Four summer
camps- three in Jammu and Kashmir and one in Ooty and Bangalore-were
also arranged. A number of cultural programmes were organised
for the foreign students on various occasions at the ICCR's
Headquarters, the Regional Offices and the University Campuses.
Foreign Students Day coinciding with the centenary of the birth of
Maulana Azad was celebrated in a big way. A large number of foreign
students participated in functions held in Delhi and different parts of
India.
|
The ICCR Library
with a stock of over 50,000 books, journals, etc. was visited by about
4500 persons both from India and abroad including scholars, writers
and journalists.
PG89
In pursuance of the guidelines issued
by the Central Cultural Committee of the Government of India in 1971,
the ICCR continued to supervise the activities of Foreign
Cultural Organizations including the Max Mueller Bhavan, the Alli-
ance Francaise, the House of Soviet Culture and the British
Libraries. |
The Council
continued to publish the quarterly journal Indian Horizons and Africa
Quarterly in English, Gagananchal in Hindi, Thaqafatul Hind in Arabic,
Rencontre avec l 'Inde in French and Papeles de la India in Spanish.
A brochure on the activities undertaken by the Council was brought
out. The Annual Report of the Council for the year 1987-88 was also
printed. The Council participated in the following International
Book Fairs and Exhibitions during the year :
(i) London
International Book Fair in March 1988;
(ii) International Fair for
Books and Press in Guyana in May 1988;
(iii) The Malaysia Book Fair in
July/August 1988;
(iv) International Book Fair in Singapore in
September 1988;
(v) The Frankfurt Book Fair in October 1988; and
(vi) Cairo International Book Fair in January/February 1989.
Selected ICCR titles were sent for display in all the above
mentioned fairs. Besides the Council also supplied ICCR titles to
Exhibition of Books under the Festival of India in the USSR in
July 1987 and May 1988. All cultural programmes sponsored by the
Council were recorded on audio and video tapes using the format of 3/4
U-matic video recording. Lecture demonstrations by eminent Indian
artistes have also been recorded for archival and publicity
purposes. Besides special recording of eminent artistes were arranged
. A series of one hour video films for introducing classical dance
forms of India to foreign audiences have also been prepared.
During 1988-89 the Council organised the following exhibitions :
(i) May/June 1988 : `Chitrakala'-Exhibition of paintings by six
young contemporary painters shown in the Festival of India in Sweden;
and
(ii) November 1988 : Exhibition of paintings by young painters
and photographers from Sri Lanka.
PG90
The Council
continued to supply books, audio-cassettes and art objects to
Indian Missions abroad for presentation purposes. Video cassettes
of Ramanand Sagar's Ramayana were sent to the Indian Cultural
Centres in Suva and Port Louis. On behalf of the Ministry of External
Affairs, books worth Rs. 50,000 were supplied to each of the
Indian Missions in Baharain and Qatar for presenta - tion to the
Indian school in Baharain and the MES Indian school in Qatar,
respectively. Books were also sent to the Centre for Asian, African
and Caribb ean Studies at the University of Carabobo at Valencia
in Venezuela and various universities in Chile. Musical instruments
worth Rs. 68,000 approximately have also been supplied to Missions
abroad for presentation to various institut ions/ associations.
Folios containing drawings of eminent Indian artistes have also
been sent to Missions abroad for publicity and presentation.
The Implementation Committee on the 40th Anniversary Celebrations
and the Nehru Centenary Celebrations has put a sum of Rs. 25 lakhs at
the disposal of the Ministry of External Affairs to be used for
projects to commemo - rate the centenary of Shri Jawaharlal Nehru.
Books on and by Shri Nehru have been supplied under this scheme to a
number of Indian Missions abroad.
Besides, 280 Tanjore plates to be
used as prizes for competitions organised by Indian Missions
abroad have also been sent. Among other items sent by the Council to
Missions abroad are : painting kits, drawing papers, etc. in pursuan
ce of the latter's proposals for holding of painting competitions.
The Council has instituted a prize of Rs. 10,000 annually for the
best ess |
ay on
subjects dear to Maulana Abul Kalam Azad. The essay competition has been
instituted in memory of the late Maulana. The subject of the essay for
1989 is `Secularism and Nationalism'.
A postage stamp in
commemoration of the birth centenary of the late maulana Abul Kalam.
Azad was issued on his birthday falling on 11 November 1988. The
design for the stamp was proposed by the ICCR. Some of the
important activities of the Indo-US Sub-Commission on Educa- tion
and Culture were as follows :
(i) Workshop on new technology and
advertising for small and medium sized papers organised by the Press
Information Bureau held in October 1988;
PG91
(ii)
Workshop on newspaper lay-out and design organised by the Press
Information Bureau held in October 1988; and
(iii) Visit of Mr
Jacques d'Amboise, Choreographer in December 1988 for whom a workshop
was organised by the ICCR in Delhi. His visits to Ahmedabad, Trichur
and Madras were also arranged.
The Council organised functions to
mark the UN Day on 24 October 1988 and a Day of Solidarity with the
Palestine People on 19 November 1988 with Dr Shanker Dayal Sharma, the
Vice-President of India and President of the ICCR and Shri K.K.
Tewary, the Minister of State for External Affairs respectively as
Chief Guests.
|
|
Indians
Overseas |
| Top |
Jan 01, 1988
CHAPTER XIII
INDIANS OVERSEASIT estimated that
there are about 12 million persons of Indian origin resi - ding in
different parts of the world which include those having Indian nationa-
lity. The phenomenon of Indians travelling overseas is not a new
one and dates back to time immemorial. Large number of persons of
Indian origin were also settled abroad during the colonial period and
have made contributions to t he economic development of the
countries of their residence. In the last few decad es a number of
Indian nationals have emigrated to the Gulf, Western Europe and the
USA. They too have made a marked contribution in a variety of
fields. The overseas Indians are increasingly being recognised as a
valuable asset for Indi a as a bridge of understanding between
India and the country of their domicile.
In May 1988, the 150th
anniversary of Indian emigration to Guyana was celebrated in
Georgetown which was attended by a high-level Indian delegation
headed by the Vice-President of India, Dr Shanker Dayal Sharma.
During this visit the Vice-President also went to Suriname and
Trinidad Tobago and these visits contributed to the
strengthening of India's relations with all three cou ntries as
well as the cultural and emotional links with the Indian communities
there.
A Special Coordination Division was set up in the
Ministry with a view to develop social, economic and cultural
contacts between India and the overseas Indians. Indian Missions
have been asked to maintain close contacts with overseas Indians and
render them all possible assistance. This unit also dissem i-
nates information about matters of interest to overseas Indians like
investment procedures in India through the Missions abroad. It
also represents the Ministr y in inter-Ministerial deliberations
involving NRI affairs.
It is the consistent policy of the
Government that persons of Indian origi n who have taken foreign
nationality should identify themselves with and integrat e in the
country of their domicile. The Government naturally, remains alive to,
their interest and general welfare and encourages cultural
contacts with them. |
As regards Indian
nationals the Government continues to exercise due care for their
safety and welfare and takes all necessary steps in this regard.
PG92 |
|
Protocol
|
| Top |
CHAPTER XIV
PROTOCOL DURING the year 1988-89 the Heads of Mission of
the following 24 countries left India on completion of their
assignment : Finland, the Philippines, Ghana, Vietnam, Portugal,
Malaysia, Uganda, Mexico, Iran, Kampuchea, Jordan, Pakistan, German
Democratic Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Laos,
Hungary, Belgium, Colombia, Brunei (non-resident), United States of
America, Trinidad Tobago, Benin (non-resident), Lesotho
(non-resident) and Singapore. During the year 1988-89, Heads of
Missions of the following 28 countries and Head of Delegation of
the Commission of the European Communities for South Asia presented
their credentials to the President of India Thailand, Nepal,
Austria, Mexico, Lesotho (non-resident), Rwanda (non- resident),
Portugal, Denmark, Laos, Maldives, Malaysia, the Philippines, Uganda,
Benin (non-resident), Hungary, Vietnam, Lebanon, Czechoslovakia,
Kampuchea, German Democratic Republic, Belgium, Colombia, Pakistan,
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Jordan, Trinidad Tobago,
United States of America, Albania (non-resident), Burkina Faso
(non-resident).
Senegal re-opened its diplomatic Mission in New
Delhi. The Ambassador, H.E. Mr Ahmed al-Mansour presented his
credentials to the President on Dec 05, 1988. Diplomatic
relations Were established with Morocco on 21 October 1988 and its
Mission started functioning from 21 November 1988.
A list of Heads
of State/Government and Foreign Ministers who visited India during
1988 is at Appendix XVII.
PG93
|
|
Passport And
Consular Services |
| Top |
CHAPTER XV
PASSPORT AND CONSULAR SERVICES PRESENTLY there are 21
Passport Offices, spread over the country and two Liaison Offices
(Shimla and Trivandrum). It has been decided to open some more
Passport Offices/Liaison Offices.
A statement showing the number
of applications for fresh passport/misc. services received and the
number of passports issued/misc. services rendered fo r the period
1 January to Dec 31, 1988, is given at Appendix VI. The total revenues
earned by the passport offices from January to December 1988 was Rs.
13.18 crores. The total expenditure incurred upto December 1988 stood at
Rs. 4.72 crores. A detailed statement in this regard is given at
Appendix VII. A system of regular inspections and monitoring
of passport offices has bee n devised. So far, 19 teams of
Officers have inspected various passport offices. Added to this,
some of the passport offices were visited by the Minister of Sta te
for External Affairs and Officers of the CPV Division.
Passport Adalats were successfully held in passport offices at
Jalandhar, Chandigarh and Jaipur by the Chief Passport Officer and
some of the Senior officials of the Passport Organization. This was
very much appreciated by the press and the public.
Training facilities at Institute of Staff Training Management
(ISTM) were fully utilised for imparting training to the officials
in `Cash and Accounts' a nd `Vigilance matters'. A beginning was
made to get officers trained in `Public Relations' and
`Behavioural Skills' at FSTI. After the police and CID reports
were made compulsory before the actual issue of passports, the
workload in passport offices increased considerably although the
sanctioned strength of personnel has remained the same as before.
Steps are being taken to get the Staff Inspection Unit (SIU) norms
revised in consultation with the Ministry of Finance.
PG94
PG95
Six passport offices, namely, Delhi,
Bombay, Madras, Cochin, Goa and Lucknow have been computerised.
Computer sites at passport offices at Banga-lore, Hyderabad,
Bhopal and Chandigarh are ready to receive computers whereas site
preparation at passport offices at Jaipur, Bhubaneshwar and Ahmedabad is
nearing completion. Computer site preparation at the passport
office at Calcutta is also being taken up. New office
accommodation for passport office at Patna is being obtained which
will have provision for a computer room. Computer site at Srinagar
passport office would be prepared by the State Government of Jammu
and Kashmir. A computer unit has also been installed at the CPV
Division. A high powered committee under the Chairmanship of
Secretary (E E R) had been set up to review all aspects of the
functioning of the passport offices. This Committee has already
reviewed problems connected with issue of passports in order to
improve efficiency without compromising the security aspect. The
Committee has recommended introduction of more secured passport
(MSP) booklets with effect from 1 July 1989. As part of the
on-going drive to improve efficiency, steps have been taken in
consultation with the Ministry of Home Affairs to expedite police
verification of passport applicants. Delayed and incomplete
reports are being regularly moni- tored and reviews are taken up
at a higher level. Chief Ministers of all the S tate Governments,
Chief Secretaries and State Home Secretaries were approached to help
expedite police reports of passport applicants from their respective St
ates.
During the year 1988, there were 1920 cases of
registered complaints on delay in issue of fresh passports or renewal
thereof. They were computerised a nd followed up successfully. As
a result, 1325 complaints were settled by issuing passports and
rendering the desired services. Forty-six cases of appeals again st
the order of impounding or refusal of passport facilities to Indian
nationals by |
the passport
offices were received. In 33 cases, the Chief Passport Officer he ard
the appeals and passed orders. Other cases of appeals are in the
process of consideration. About 102 cases of forgery of
entries in passports and visas were reported to the Ministry.
Investigations are being made in all these cases of forgeries.
Three hundred and seventy seven applications were received for
issue of certificate of Identity of Stateless persons, most of them
being Tibetan refugees.
In most of the cases, certificates of
Identity were issued to the applicants.
PG96
twenty-eight
requests were received from Indian passport holders for grant
of
endorsement for South Africa. Almost all the cases were disposed of on
merits.
During the year, 149 fresh applications from Travel
Agents were received for recognition to deal with the passport
offices in passport matters under the new criteria introduced with
effect from September 1986. One hundred and eighty-eight Travel
Agencies were approved and recognised while 112 applica- tions were
rejected for non-fulfilment of prescribed criteria. (These figures a
lso include the applications received before 1988). As on 31
December 1988, 583 Travel Agencies were recognised to deal in passport
matters in the country.
During the year, plots of land and
passport offices at Ahmedabad and Panaji were acquired for
constructing office-cum-residential building for passp ort
offices. There are proposals to construct office-cum-residential
buildings for passport offices at Kozhikode, Cochin, Bhubaneshwar
and Jaipur.
Consular Matters During 1988, 458 cases of
deportation of Indian nationals by foreign govern-ments were
brought to the notice of the Ministry. Most of them originated from
the Gulf countries. Indian Missions and posts abroad, repatriated
88 persons, who were in distress in foreign countries. Financial
assistance was extended to deserving cases. Cases of 337 Indian
nationals arrested in various countries were reported to the
Government. Every consular assistance was rendered to them and
wherever possible their release and return to India was facilitated by
the Missions concerned.
Three hundred and ninety-one cases
of death of foreign nationals in India were also handled. Three
hundred and eleven cases of death of Indian nationals |
abroad came to
the notice of the Ministry and actions were initiated to settle
their claims of dues and death compensation through respective
Indian Missions.
Consular assistance was also rendered in all
cases of labour disputes brought to the notice of the Indian
Missions abroad. One lakh six thousand nine hundred and
seventy-eight documents-received from the public for submission to
foreign authorities were attested/authenticated by the Consular
Section of the CPV Division. The procedure for authentication
PG97
of documents has been streamlined so as to enable
the public to get back the docu- ments duly attested on the same
day. There is no service charge at present for consular
attestation by the Ministry. During 1988, Visa fees were revised
in respect of 37 countries. On a reci - procal basis, visa fee has
been abolished for the nationals of Zimbabwe. The provisions
relating to the grant of long-term multiple entry visas were further
liberalised. Certain categories of businessmen and technicians
belonging to UK, FRG and Japan are now extended such visa facilities
on a reciprocal basis.
The requirement of visa application forms
and photographs has been waived for Indian and US Diplomatic/Official
passport holders when they apply for visas in New Delhi and
Washington respectively. The Southern African State of Botswana has
introduced a visa regime for Indian nationals with effect from
March-1988.
In 1988, a total of 1699 Diplomatic passports and
7095 Official passports were issued by the CPV Division. One
thousand five hundred and ninety consular services on diplomatic
passports and 6633 services on official passports were rendered.
About 16,200 visa notes requesting foreign diplomatic Missions in
India to issue Diplomatic/Official visas were also issued.
Computerisation of Diplomatic and Official passports issued by the
Ministry has begun from this year.
|
|
Administration
And Organizationa |
| Top |
CHAPTER XVI
ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANIZATION SHRI P.V. Narasimha Rao
assumed charge as Minister for External Affairs on Jun 27, 1988,
Shri K.K. Tewary took over as Minister of State in the Ministry on
25 June 1988. Shri K. Natwar Singh continued as Minister of State in the
Ministry. Shri K.P.S. Menon demitted charge of Foreign
Secretary on 15 February 1989. Shri S.K. Singh, formerly Ambassador in
Pakistan, assumed charge as Foreign Secretary on the same day.
Shri A.N.D. Haksar took over as Dean, FSTI while S/Shri P.L.
Sinai, M. Dubey and A.G. Asrani took over charge as Special
Secretaries. Shri Asrani has since been transferred as Ambassador
of India to Japan. S/Shri Sinai and Dubey were appointed
Secretaries in the Ministry w.e.f. 12 December 1988.
Shri A.K.
Banerjee has remained as Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser.
Shri Prakash Shah was promoted to the rank of Additional Secretary on
24 January 1989.
The Embassy at Conakry was closed down on 4
December 1988. The Ministry now has 139 Resident Missions/Posts abroad
manned by officials from India.
The total sanctioned strength
of IFS and IFS(B) both at Headquarters and Indian Missions abroad
is 3656. This includes 28 posts of the combined research cadre
and 30 posts of the interpreters' cadre. The cadre-wise strength is given
in Appendices VIII and IX.
PG98
PG99
In
addition, there are 1914 locally recruited staff in Indian Missions/Posts abroad.
The list showing the number of officers of this
Ministry who have qualified in various foreign languages is given
in Appendix X. During the year under report the Computer Cell of
the Ministry developed more application software for various
divisions of the Ministry. "Country Data Bank" for use by seven
territorial divisions-Afghanistan Pakistan Division , Bangladesh,
Sri Lanka and Maldives Division, Europe West, Europe East, Africa,
Division, Northern Division and East Asia Division have been installed.
The Computer Cell has also developed Personal Information System
for IFS `A' and IFS `B' personnel, Indian Overseas Data Bank, UN
Resolution Informa- tion System for XP Division and Monitoring System
on Duty Exemption Certi- ficates. The Cell is also in the process of
developing Leave Account System, Pay Slips, Service Books, System
for UN, System for SAARC, Project Monitoring System for South
Africa Unit, Technology Transfer Monitoring System for AMS Division,
System for Foreign Postings covered by Foreign Service Board, Senior
Establishment Board and Junior Establishment Board.
Eight
Application Packages-Passport Information System, Visa Control System,
Accounts Packages, Rental Information System, Application package for
Political work in Missions abroad, Immovable Property information
system, Application package for stock register & Library
Management System-have been identified for development and
installation in Indian Missions abroad. Over 150 personnel of the
Ministry have been imparted training in MS-DOS, Xenix, Word Processing
and Data Bank Management. The Computer Cell also organises on an
on-going basis, training programmes for personnel of various divisions,
who are being handed over Application Software.
A Steering
Committee chaired by Shri Sam Pitroda, Adviser to the Prime Minister
on Technology Missions, has been constituted to lay down Policy
guidelines and to periodically direct and monitor progress of
computerisation |
of the Ministry
of External Affairs and its Missions abroad. To review the work done
in the area of computerisation, a Review Committee headed by the
Minister for External Affairs has been set up. This Committee is likely
to meet every quarter.
PG100
In line with the
Government's direction on use of Official language, bilin gual
package Sulekh has been loaded in the Computers of the Ministry. Two
com- puters have also been installed in the Hindi and Parliament
Sections of the Ministry. During the year under review, the
Computer Cell has installed a total of 44 Personal Computers
(PCs-17, PC-XTs-6, PC-ATs-15, Super ATs-2 and HCL work horse-4) in
various divisions of the Ministry of External Affairs. Tender s
have been invited for purchase of Computers for use in the Ministry
and for Missions abroad.
On the basis of achievements in the
last few years on being able to almost fully utilise funds
earmarked for capital investment and acquisition of propert y
abroad, budget for this activity of this Ministry was increased to Rs.
32 crore s during the current year from Rs. 22 crores last year.
Progress achieved so far include the following: Embassy Residences
in Rome and Lilongwe were purchased; a Chancery-cum-residential
complex in Mahe and a new Chancery in Athens were purchased. The
Ministry also decided to acquire land in Bonn and Baghdad for the
construction of Chancery and residences, and is finalising
purchase of plots for staff residences at Dar-es-Salaam and Nicos ia.
The project for the construction of Chancery in Islamabad has been
completed and the Embassy has begun functioning from the new premises.
The project at Kuwait to house the Chancery, Embassy Residence and
some accommodation for officers as well as the project at Lagos for
the construction of Chancery and t he entire residential
requirements were initiated in May 1988. Both will be com- pleted
by early 1990. Preparations for the projects for Chancery and residence
at Dubai, Chancery of the PMI and a housing complex for officials
at New York and Chancery and housing at Kuala Lumpur are under way
and construction is expected to begin early in next financial year.
Approval for the projects f or the construction of Chancery and
Embassy Residence at Doha has been given and similar projects at Abu
Dhabi and Brasilia are being finalised.
Indian Missions at Hanoi,
Phnom Penh, Vientiane, Doha, Muscat, Baharain and Colombo were
inspected during the current financial year. Review of the regulation
governing entitlement of Government of India's officials posted abro
ad was undertaken to simplify the procedures.
PG101
Nearly 1500 employees, who are recruited locally are
also on the rolls of Indian Missions and Posts abroad. During the
last two years the Ministry evolv ed systems which will protect
their emoluments and improve their conditions of service in several
countries where the local currency is vulnerable to major fl uctua-
tions. Administrative measures for the standardisation of the
conditions of se r- vice are being finalised.
Computerisation of information in various sections of the
Establishment Division was undertaken so that access to rules and
regulations as well as thei r interpretation, data on all aspects
of the conditions of service of locally rec ruited staff in
Missions, property questions as well as matters relating to supplies t
o Missions abroad can be speeded up through the use of computers.
The soft- ware is already under preparation and the work will be
completed before the end of the year. The Conference Cell
continued to play a useful role in providing logistica l support
and managerial assistance for all the international conferences convene
d by the Ministry of External Affairs. It also arranged various
functions concer ning the visits to India of foreign Heads of
State/Government. The Cell shared its expertise with other
Departments of the Government in the successful organizati on of
their conferences. The available equipments was loaned, free of cost, to
va rious Government organizations from time to time. All these
measures resulted in considerable savings in expenditure to the
Government, both in Indian Rupees and foreign exchange. An
illustrative list of conferences/functions organised during the
year is given in Appendix XV
|
|
Foreign
Service Training Institute |
| Top |
CHAPTER XVII
FOREIGN SERVICE TRAINING INSTITUTE
DURING the period under
review, the training activities of the Foreign Ser vice Training
Institute (FSTI) increased manifold in range, scale and scope. The
FSTI was placed under the full time charge of a Dean in the rank of
Secreta ry to Government of India. (Shri A.N.D. Haksar, a Grade I
IFS Officer, took charge as Dean in March 1988). Two IFS Officers of
Grade IV joined the FSTI Faculty against two newly created posts. The
FSTI staff position also improved following the joining of one
Accounts Officer (SAS), two Accounts- knowing Assistants and three
LDCs against newly created posts. Joint Secretary (FSTI) was delegated
the financial powers of a Head of Department in order to facilitate
the functioning of the FSTI as a training institution.
The
first-ever meeting of the FSTI Advisory Committee under the
Chairmanship of the Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri K.
Natwar Singh, took place on Aug 16, 1988. Others who participated in
this meeting were Foreign Secretary, Special Envoy to Prime Minister,
Dean of FSTI, Special Secretary (Administration) and Additional
Secretary (Financial Adviser). The Committee reviewed the
functioning of the FSTI, and approved various measures to enhance
the efficacy of the FSTI as a training institution.
Several new
courses (Orientation Programme for Spouses, Course on Crisis
Management, Refresher Course for Commercial Representatives in
Missions abroad, Special Programme for RITES officials, Orientation
Course on Computers for Database Management, Orientation Programme
for State Government Protocol Officials, Course for Group D Officials,
Course on Telephone Techniques, etc.) were introduced this year.
Details of these course s are included in Appendix XVI.
PG102
PG103
Under instructions from the Minister for
External Affairs the duration of the course for IFS Probationers (1987
batch) was extended by three months and new Modules on Intelligence,
Crisis Management, Conference handling, etc. were introduced apart
from lengthening the module on Indian Culture and Cultural Diplomacy.
Details of the courses of the IFS Probationers (both 1987 and 1988
batches) are given in Appendix XVI.
During 1988-89, the FSTI
conducted eight Basic Professional, Courses for about 400 Section
Officers, Assistants, Upper Division Clerks and Lower Division Clerks
who were/are proceeding on transfer to Indian Missions abroad. The
BPC covered modules on Computers, Administration, Accounts, Consular
and General Areas (Diplomacy/Information/Commerce). The Minister for
External Affairs presided over the Certificates-Presentation-Ceremony
to the successful participants of XIIIth BPC Course. In addition to
BPC, special workshops/seminars on Administration, Finance and
Accounts were also conducted (Appendix XVI). As a part of
mid-career training programme, the FSTI organised a course for
Commercial Representatives serving abroad in February 1989. In accordance
with the decision of the FSTI Advisory Committee, a proposal for a
high-level Refresher Course for Heads of Mission has been
formulated and submitted for the Committee's consideration.
The FSTI geared up its activities to meet requests for providing
appropria te orientation to officials from other Government of
India Departments/Ministries being posted abroad, and also for
training of officials from other countries.
During 1988, several
Military Attache-designates from Ministry of Defence and officials
from Ministries of Tourism/Information/Commerce attended selected
modules from the course for 1987 IFS Probationers. During 1989
(January-March), two Diplomatic Officers from Mauritius and officials
from Ministry of Defence/Ministry of Tourism will attend training
modules from the course meant for 1988 batch IFS Probationers.
Consequent on the above mentioned courses, the total number of
trainees who availed all FSTI courses in 1988-89 was 612 compared to
289 in 1987-88 and 122 in 1986-87. The FSTI enlarged its
cooperating contacts with other training institutes (LBSNAA, IIFT,
ASCI, MDI, IIPA and NDC) in India and initiated contacts with similar
organizations (ADDAIIR, EROPA) abroad. It also developed
PG104
relations with multilateral training institutions like
UNITAR, UNDTCD and ITC (CATT/UNCTAD). As a result of this increasing
cooperation with other organizations, a number of visits took place in
1988-89; details of such visits are given in Appendix XVI.
FSTI is in the process of establishing a documentation centre. It
has commenced a publication programme and already brought out one
brochure and two booklets on work in Missions abroad. A written
symposium on the Role of the Junior Diplomat in Missions abroad, and
another on Commercial representation are under preparation.
|
|
Use Of Hindi
In Official Work |
| Top |
Jan 01, 1988
CHAPTER XVIII
USE OF HINDI IN OFFICIAL WORK USE of
Hindi in this Ministry has two aspects-Implementation of the Offici al
Language Policy of the Government and Propagation of Hindi in foreign
countries. The Ministry has three Committees namely, Hindi
Advisory Committee, Official Language Implementation Committee and a
sub-committee of the Hindi Advisory Committee, working under
chairmanship of the Minister for External Affairs, Secretary (10) and
JS(AD) respectively. During the year under review meetings of
these committees were held and efforts were made to implement their
suggestions.
Several sections in the Ministry and Regional
Passport Offices at Hyderabad, Madras and Calcutta were inspected and
remedial instructions issued. Besides, an incentive scheme
carrying cash prizes for officials and staff who d o their entire
official work or a part thereof in Hindi, has been introduced. To
encourage Regional Passport Offices to do their work in Hindi, a
competitive scheme has been introduced with the winning office
receiving a shield. A kit o f Hindi aid material was distributed
in the sections and to the Regional Passport Offices. In addition
a Hindi Week was organised in the Ministry in December 1988.
The Ministry continued its efforts to propagate Hindi abroad. Sets
of Hindi books on various facets of India, Hindi Text Books,
Children's Literature , Devanagari Typing Machines, Hindi
Linguaphone Cassettes and Records, Hindi alphabet charts, standard
Hindi-English and English-Hindi Dictionaries were sent to the Indian
Missions abroad for helping them to build standard Hindi Libraries or
for donation/presentation to deserving Governmental or voluntary
institutions/organizations engaged in propagation of Hindi abroad.
The Hindi Teaching Scheme for children in Missions abroad
continued satisfactorily and some new classes were added.
PG105
PG106
In order to encourage foreign students to
learn Hindi in their countries, our Mission in Jakarta instituted
an award for the best Hindi student in the Gandhi Memorial
International School, Jakarta and our Mission in Seoul organised a
Hindi Speech contest in Pusan University of Foreign Studies, Pusan.
As in previous years, this year also, the OSD (Hindi) was sent
to the PMI, New York to assist the Indian delegation to the United
Nations General Assembly wishing to speak in Hindi in UNGA. The
Minister for External Affairs, Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao addressed the
UN General Assembly in Hindi and one member of the Indian delegation
spoke in Hindi in one of the Committees of the United Nations.
|
Appendix-I
Division-wise List of Countries
|
| Top |
|
|
Division-wise List of Countries |
|
|
|
|
AFRICA
DIVISION |
AFRICA
DIVISION-Contd. |
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
Angola
41. |
Zaire
|
|
2. |
Benin
42. |
Zambia
|
|
3. |
Botswana
43. |
Zimbabwe
|
|
4. |
Burkina
Faso |
|
5. |
Burundi
|
|
6. |
Cameroon
|
AMS
DIVISION |
|
7. |
Cape Verde
|
|
8. |
Central
African Republic |
1.Canada
|
|
9. |
Chad
|
2.United
States of America |
|
10. |
Comoros
|
|
11. |
Congo
|
|
12. |
Cate d'
Ivoire |
AP DIVISION
|
|
13. |
Equatorial
Guinea |
|
14. |
Ethiopia
|
1.Afghanistan |
|
15. |
Gabon
|
2.Pakistan
|
|
16. |
Gambia
|
|
17. |
Ghana
|
|
18. |
Guinea
|
BSM
DIVISION |
|
19. |
Guinea-Bissau |
|
20. |
Kenya
|
1.Bangladesh |
|
21. |
Lesotho
|
2.Burma
|
|
22. |
Liberia
|
3. Indian
Ocean |
|
23. |
Madagascar
|
4.Maldives
|
|
24. |
Malawi
|
5.Sri Lanka
|
|
25. |
Mali
|
|
26. |
Mauritius
|
|
27. |
Mozambique
|
EAST ASIA
DIVISION |
|
28. |
Namibia
|
|
29. |
Niger
|
1.China,
People's Republic of |
|
30. |
Nigeria
|
2.Hong Kong
|
|
31. |
Rwanda
|
3.Japan
|
|
32. |
Sao Tome
and Principe |
4.Korea,
Democratic People's Republic of |
|
33. |
Senegal
|
5.Korea,
Republic of |
|
34. |
Seychelles
|
6.Mongolia
|
|
35. |
Sierra
Leone |
|
36. |
South
Africa |
EE DIVISION
|
|
37. |
Swaziland
|
|
38. |
Tanzania,
United Republic of |
1.Albania
|
|
39. |
Togo
|
2.Bulgaria
|
|
40. |
Uganda
|
3.Czechoslovakia |
|
size=2> |
|
|
|
PG109> |
|
|
|
PG110> |
|
| |
|
|
EE
DIVISION-Contd. |
LAC
DIVISION |
|
|
|
4. |
German
Democratic Republic |
1.Antigua
& Barbuda |
|
5. |
Hungary
|
2.Argentina
|
|
6. |
Poland
|
3.Bahamas
|
|
7. |
Romania
|
4.Barbados
|
|
8. |
Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics |
5.Belize
|
|
9. |
Yugoslavia
|
6.Bolivia
|
|
|
7.Brazil
|
|
|
8.Chile
|
|
|
EW DIVISION
|
9.Colombia
|
|
1. |
Austria
|
10. Costa
Rica |
|
2. |
Belgium
|
11.Cuba
|
|
3. |
Cyprus
|
12.Commonwealth of Dominica |
|
4. |
Denmark
|
13.Dominican Republic |
|
5. |
Finland
|
14.Ecuador
|
|
6. |
France
|
15.El
Salvador |
|
7. |
Germany,
Federal Republic of |
16.Grenada
|
|
8. |
Gibraltar
|
17.Guatemala |
|
9. |
Greece
|
18.Guyana
|
|
10. |
Holy See,
The |
19.Haiti
|
|
11. |
Iceland
|
20.Honduras
|
|
12. |
Ireland
|
21.Jamaica
|
|
13. |
Italy
|
22.Mexico
|
|
14. |
Liechtenstein |
23.Nicaragua |
|
15. |
Luxembourg
|
24.Panama
|
|
16. |
Malta
|
25.Paraguay
|
|
17. |
Monaco
|
26.Peru
|
|
18. |
Netherlands
|
27.St.
Christopher and Nevis |
|
19. |
Norway
|
28.St.
Lucia |
|
20. |
Portugal
|
29.St.
Vincent and the Grenadines |
|
21. |
San Marino
|
30.Suriname
|
|
22. |
Spain
|
31.Trinidad
& Tobago |
|
|
nbsp;
|
|
23. |
Sweden
|
32.Uruguay
|
|
24. |
Switzerland
|
33.Venezuela |
|
25. |
Turkey
|
|
|
26. |
United
Kingdom of Great Britain |
|
|
|
and
Northern Ireland. |
NORTHERN
DIVISION |
|
|
|
|
|
1. Bhutan
|
|
|
2. Nepal
|
|
|
GULF
DIVISION |
|
|
|
1. |
Bahrain
|
|
2. |
Democratic
Yemen |
SOUTHERN
DIVISION |
|
3. |
Iran,
Islamic Republic of |
|
4. |
Iraq
|
1.Australia
|
|
5. |
Kuwait
|
2.Brunei
|
|
6. |
Oman
|
3.Fiji
|
|
7. |
Qatar
|
4.French
Polynesia |
|
|
|
8. |
Saudi
Arabia |
5.Indonesia
|
|
9. |
United Arab
Emirates |
6.Kampuchea
People's Republic of |
|
10. |
Yemen
|
|
|
7.Kiribati
|
|
|
SOUTHERN
DIVISION-Contd. |
WANA
DIVISION |
|
|
|
|
1.Algeria
|
|
8. |
Lao
People's Democratic Republic |
2.Djibouti
|
|
9. |
Malaysia
|
3.Egypt
|
|
10. |
Marshall
Islands Republic of |
4.Israel
|
|
11. |
Nauru
|
5.Jordan
|
|
12. |
New
Caledonia |
6.League of
Arab States |
|
13. |
New Zealand
|
7.Lebanon
|
|
14. |
Papua New
Guinea |
8.Libya
|
|
15. |
Philippines
|
9.Mauritania |
|
16. |
Singapore
|
10.Morocco
|
|
17. |
Solomon
Islands |
11.Palestine |
|
18. |
Thailand
|
12.SADR
(Saharawi Arab DemocraticRepublic) |
|
19. |
Tonga
|
13.Somalia
|
|
20. |
Tuvalu
|
14.Sudan
|
|
21. |
Vanuatu
|
15.Syria
|
|
22. |
Vietnam
Socialist Republic of |
16.Tunisia.
|
|
|
|
|
|
PG111> |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Appendix-II
Treaties conventions/Agreements |
| |
APPENDIX II
Treaties conventions/Agreements concluded or renewed by India with
other countr ies in 1988*
---------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
Sl No. |
Title of
Convention/Treaty
Agreement |
Date of
signature |
Date of
Ratification/Accession |
Date of
entryinto |
|
|
|
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
|
MULTILATERAL |
|
|
|
|
Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau International
|
|
|
|
1. |
Agreement
on Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau |
|
|
International |
Apr 22,
1988 |
22-7-1988
|
22-7-1988
|
|
|
|
|
Customs
Cooperation Council |
|
|
|
2. |
International Convention on Mutual Adminis- |
|
|
trative
Assistance for the Prevention, Investigation |
|
|
and
Repression of Customs |
| |
offences(Nairobi, 9-6-1977) |
20-6-1988
|
20-9-1988
|
|
|
|
3. |
Customs
Convention concerning Facilities for the |
|
|
Importation
of Goods for display or use at Exhi- |
|
|
bitions,
Fairs, Meetings or similar Events |
20-6-1988
|
20-9-1988
|
|
|
|
|
European
Economic Community |
|
|
|
4. |
Financing
Agreement between the Republic of India |
|
|
and the
European Economic Community Coopera- |
|
|
tive Rural
storage, Bihar (Agreement ALA/86-07) |
11-3-1988
|
11-3-1988
|
|
|
|
5. |
Financing
Agreement between the Republic of India |
|
|
and the
European Economic community-Coconut |
|
|
Development, Kerala (Agreement ALA/87-9) |
25-3-1988
|
25-3-1988
|
|
|
|
6. |
Financing
Agreement between the Republic of India |
|
|
and the
European Economic Community-Sheep |
|
|
Development, Tamil Nadu (Agreement ALA/87-04) |
11-4-1988
|
11-4-1988
|
|
|
|
|
European
Space Agency |
|
|
|
7. |
Cooperative
Agreement between the President of |
|
|
India
represented by the Indian Space Research |
|
|
Organization and the European Space Agency |
14-4-1988
|
14-4-1988
|
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
*This list
is not exhaustive. |
|
PG113 |
|
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
(5)
|
|
|
Food and
Agriculture Organization |
|
|
|
8. |
Memorandum
of Responsibilities to be Assumed by |
|
|
the
Government of the Republic of India and by |
|
|
the Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United |
|
|
Nations for
the Twenty-fourth Session of the Inter- |
|
|
governmental Group on Jute, Kenaf and Allied
|
|
|
Fibres
|
1-8-1988
|
1-8-1988
|
|
|
|
|
International Atomic Energy Agency |
|
|
|
9. |
Convention
on Early Notification of a Nuclear |
| |
Accident
|
29-9-1986
|
28-1-1988
|
28-1-1988
|
|
|
|
10. |
Convention
on Assistance in the case of a Nuclear |
|
|
Accident or
Radiological Emergency |
29-9-1986
|
28-1-1988
|
28-1-1988
|
|
|
|
|
International Sugar Agreement |
|
|
|
11. |
International Sugar Agreement, 1987 |
24-3-1988
|
24-3-1988
|
|
|
|
|
South Asian
Association on Regional Cooperation |
|
|
|
12. |
SAARC
Regional Convention on Suppression of |
|
|
Terrorism
(Kathmandu, 4-11-1987) |
4-11-1987
|
22-8-1988
|
22-8-1988
|
|
|
|
|
United
Nations |
|
|
|
13. |
Agreement
between the Government of India and |
|
|
the United
Nations regarding Arrangements for the |
|
|
Eleventh
Session of the Commission on Human |
|
|
Settlement
of the United Nations |
5-4-1988
|
5-4-1988
|
|
|
|
14. |
Agreement
between the Government of India and |
|
|
the United
Nations Department of Technical Co- |
|
|
operation
for Development (UNDTCD) regarding |
|
|
the
National Highway Project : Training of Profes- |
|
|
sionals for
Central and State Highway Organizations |
|
|
(No.
IND/86/XOI) |
17-5-1988
|
17-5-1988
|
|
|
|
|
United
Nations Development Programme |
|
|
|
15. |
Agreement
between India and the United Nations |
|
|
Development
Programme regarding Project No. |
|
|
IND/87/Q12/A/01/37-Sewing machine develop- |
|
|
ment
Centre, Ludhiana, Phase II |
11-5-1988
|
11-5-1988
|
|
|
|
16. |
Agreement
between India and the United Nations |
|
|
Development
Programme regarding Project No. |
|
|
IND/88/007/A/01/99-Instrumentation for Micro-
|
|
|
electronics
|
31-5-1988
|
31-5-1988
|
|
PG114 |
|
|
|
| |
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17. |
Agreement
between India and the United Nations |
|
|
Development
Programme regarding Project No. |
|
|
IND/87/011/C/01/99-International Management |
|
|
Education
|
14-6-1988
|
14-6-1988
|
|
|
|
18. |
Agreement
between India and the United Nations |
|
|
Development
Programme regarding Project No. |
|
|
IND/88/003/A/01/99-Development of Electric |
|
|
Transportation Technology |
20-7-1988
|
20-7-1988
|
|
|
|
19. |
Agreement
between India and the United Nations |
|
|
Development
Programme regarding Project No. |
|
|
IND/88/008/A/01/12-Assistance to Wildlife Insti-
|
|
|
tute of
India, Phase II |
21-7-1988
|
21-7-1988
|
|
|
|
20. |
Agreement
between India and the United Nations |
|
|
Development
Programme regarding Project No. |
|
|
IND/88/012/A/01/88-Development of Improved |
|
|
Corrosion
Evaluation and Project Techniques in |
|
|
Project and
Development India Ltd. |
19-8-1988
|
19-8-1988
|
|
|
|
21. |
Agreement
between India and the United Nations |
|
|
Development
Programme regarding Project No. |
|
|
IND/88/015-Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Re- |
|
|
search,
Development and Design Centre |
7-12-1988
|
7-12-1988
|
|
|
|
22. |
Agreement
between India and the United Nations |
|
|
Development
Programme regarding Project No. |
|
|
IND/88/010/01/37-Support to the Ceramic Tech-
|
|
|
nological
Institute |
7-12-1988
|
7-12-1988
|
|
|
|
|
BILATERAL
|
|
|
|
|
Afghanistan
|
|
|
|
23. |
Protocol on
Cooperation in the Field of Television |
|
|
between
Doordarshan India, Ministry of Informa- |
|
|
tion and
Broadcasting, Government of the Republic |
|
|
of India
and the State Committee for Radio, Tele- |
|
|
vision and
Cinematography of the Republic of |
|
|
Afghanistan
|
22-6-1988
|
22-6-1988
|
|
|
|
|
Argentina
|
|
|
|
24. |
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
|
7-1-1988
|
7-1-1988
|
|
|
|
25. |
Agreement
on Economic Cooperation between the |
|
|
Government
of the Republic of India and the |
|
|
Government
of the |
|
|
Republic of
Argentina |
24-1-1985
|
6-5-198
|
6-5-1988
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Belgium
|
|
|
|
26. |
Supplementary Protocol Modifying the Agreement
|
|
|
between the
Government of India and the Govern- |
|
|
ment of
Belgium for the Avoidance of Double Taxa- |
|
|
tion and
the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with |
|
|
respect to
Taxes on Income and the Protocol signed |
|
|
at Brussels
on 7 February 1974 |
20-10-1984
|
23-1-1988
|
|
|
|
|
Bulgaria
|
|
|
|
27. |
Protocol of
the Ninth Session of the Indo-Bulgarian |
|
|
Joint
Commission for Economic, Scientific and |
|
|
Technical
Cooperation |
18-11-1988
|
18-11-1988
|
|
|
|
|
Burkina
Faso |
|
|
|
28. |
Cultural
Cooperation Agreement between the |
|
|
Government
of the Republic of India and the |
|
|
Republic of
Burkina Faso |
12-12-1983
|
28-11-1988
|
28-11-1988
|
|
|
|
|
China,
People's Republic of |
|
|
|
29. |
Cultural
Agreement between the Government of |
|
|
the
Republic of India and the Government of the |
|
|
People's
Republic of China |
28-5-1988
|
21-11-1988
|
|
|
|
|
Czechoslovakia |
|
|
|
30. |
Agreement
between the Government of the Republic |
|
|
of India
and the Government of the Czechoslovak |
|
|
Socialist
Republic on Cooperation in the Field of |
|
|
Health and
Medical Sciences |
5-1-1988
|
5-1-1988
|
|
|
|
31. |
Protocol on
Mutual Cooperation in the Field of |
|
|
Sports
between Department of Sport and Youth |
|
|
Affairs,
Ministry of Human Resource Development, |
|
|
Government
of India and the Czechoslovak Asso- |
|
|
ciation of
Physical Culture and Sports for the years |
|
|
1989-1994
|
20-5-1988
|
20-5-1988
|
|
|
|
|
Germany,
Federal Republic of |
|
|
|
32. |
Agreement
between the Government of India and |
|
|
the
Government of the Federal Republic of Germany |
|
|
concerning
Financial Cooperation |
21-3-1988
|
21-3-1988
|
|
|
|
|
Japan
|
|
|
|
33. |
Exchange of
Notes between India and Japan regar- |
|
|
ding Grant
Assistance of 600 Million Yen for incre- |
|
|
asing Food
Production |
21-4-1988
|
21-4-1988
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (4) | (5)
| |
| | 34. | Exchange of Notes between India and Japan regard-
| | | ing Grant Assistance of 911 Million Yen for the
| | | Fisheries Resources Survey Project | 21-4-1988 | 21-4-1988
| |
| | 35. | Exchange of Notes between India and Japan regard-
| | ing Grant Assistance of 371 Million Yen for imp-
| | rovement of Training and Testing Equipment of the
| | Farm Machinery Institutes | 21-4-1988 | 21-4-1988
| |
| | 36. | Exchange of Notes between India and Japan regard-
| | | ing Grant Assistance of 508 Million Yen for imp-
| | | rovement of Medical Equipment of Regional Cancer
| | | Centres | 21-4-1988 | 21-4-1988
| |
| | 37. | Exchange of Notes between India and Japan regard-
| | | ing Debt Relief Grant Assistance of 1254 Million
| | | Yen Nepal | 18-2-1988 | 18-2-1988
| |
| |
| |
| | 38. | Exchange of Letters Amending the Agreement bet-
| | | ween the Government of India and His Majesty's
| | | Government of Nepal for the establishment of an
| | | Industrial Estate at Rajbiraj in
| | | Nepal (18-1-1987)Peru | 16-9-1988 | 16-9-1988
| |
| |
| |
| | 39. | Cultural Agreement between the Government of
| | | the Republic of India and the Government of the
| | | Republic of Peru | 25-1-1987 | 4-4-1988 | 4-4-1988
| | | Seychelles
| |
| | 40. | Cultural Cooperation Agreement between the
| | | Government of the Republic of India and the
| | | Government of the Republic
| | | of Seychelles | 22-12-1987 | 21-6-1988 | 21-6-1988
| | | Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
| |
| | 41. | Protocol of the Seventh Session of the Working
| | | Group on Cooperation in Coal Industry within the
| | | Framework of the Inter-governmental Indo-Soviet
| | | Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical
| | | Cooperation | 18-3-1988 | 18-3-1988
| |
| | 42. | Agreement between the Government of the Republic
| | | of India and the Government of the Union of Soviet
| | | Socialist Republics on Long Term Cooperation in
| | | the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful
| | | purposes | 20-10-1988 | 20-10-1988
| |
| | 43. | Agreement between India and the Union of Soviet
| | | Socialist Republics regarding Launch Service for
| | | Indian Remote Sensing Satellite
| | | IRS-IB | 2-11-1988 | 2-11-1988
| | | | | |
| | | |
|
|
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
|
|
44. |
Agreement
between the Government of the Republic |
|
|
of India
and the Government of the Union of Soviet |
|
|
Socialist
Republics on Economic and Technical |
|
|
Cooperation
in the setting up of Vindhyachal Thermal |
|
|
Power
Station Stage II in the |
|
territory
of India |
20-11-1988
|
20-11-1988
|
|
|
|
|
United
Kingdom |
|
|
|
45. |
Exchange of
Notes between India and the United |
|
|
Kingdom
regarding Hyderabad Habitat Improve- |
|
|
ment
Project, Phase II A: |
|
|
Local Costs
Grant 1988 |
19-1-1988
|
19-1-1988
|
|
|
|
46. |
Exchange of
Notes between India and the United |
|
|
Kingdom
regarding Vishakhapatnam Habitat Imp- |
|
|
rovement
Project : Local Costs Grant 1988 |
18-3-1988
|
18-3-1988
|
|
|
|
|
United
States of America |
|
|
|
47. |
Extension
of the Science and Technology Initiative |
|
|
between
India and the |
|
|
United
States of America |
5-10-1988
|
5-10-1988
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Appendix-III
Major international Conferences/Meetings/Seminars
|
| |
APPENDIX III
Major international Conferences/Meetings/Seminars etc. organised
by Inter- governmental Organizations at which Government of India
was represented in 1988-89 |
|
Sl.No
|
Title of
Conferences etc. |
Venue
|
Date
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
1. |
2nd
Tripartite ILO regional round table |
|
|
on
International Labour Migration Arabian |
|
|
and Asian
Countries |
Amman
|
4 to Apr
07, 1988 |
|
|
|
2. |
ILO/ARPLA/CLI Inter-country seminar |
|
|
on Labour
Inspection in Engineering Indus- |
|
|
try at
Central Labour Institute |
Bombay
|
4 to 20
April 1988 |
|
|
|
3. |
Session of
WMO Commission for Agri- |
|
|
cultural
Meteorology Working Group on |
|
|
Monitoring,
Assessment Combat of Drought |
|
|
and
Desertification |
Florence
|
5 to 9
April 1988 |
|
|
|
4. |
IAEA
Technical Committee Workshop of |
|
|
Incident
Reporting System-Information |
|
|
Users from
Utilities |
Vienna
|
6 to 8
April 1988 |
|
|
|
5. |
IAEA
International Conference on Radia- |
|
|
tion
Protection in Nuclear Energy/7th |
|
|
international Congress of the IRP |
Sydney
|
9 to 22
April 1988 |
|
|
|
6. |
13th
Session of FAO Committee on World |
|
|
Food
Security |
Rome
|
13 to 19
April 1988 |
|
7. |
12th
Session of the Coal Mines Committee of ILO |
Geneva
|
13 to 21
April 1988 |
|
8. |
Seminar on
Working Conditions of Office- |
|
|
workers in
Selected countries . |
Bangkok
|
18 to 22
April 1988 |
|
|
|
9. |
UNICEF
Executive Board Session |
New York
|
18 to 29
April 1988 |
|
10. |
Annual
Session of the Executive Council |
|
|
of the
Universal Postal Union |
Berne
|
18 April to
4 May 1988 |
|
|
|
11. |
National
Workshop on Female Headed |
|
|
Households
and the Development of |
|
|
Guidelines
for their participation in |
|
|
Development
|
New Delhi
|
22 to 26
April 1988 |
|
|
|
12. |
Meeting of
Commonwealth Health |
|
|
Minisetrs
pre-WHA Meeting |
Geneva
|
1 May 1988
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PG118 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
PG119 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
13. |
Forty-first
Session of World Health |
|
|
Assembly
|
Geneva
|
2 to 13 May
1988 |
|
|
|
14. |
4th Special
Antarctic Treaty Consultative |
|
|
Meeting on
Antarctic Minerals-Informal |
|
|
Consultations and |
|
|
final
Session |
Wellington
|
2 May to 2
June 1988 |
|
|
|
15. |
First
Regular Session of Economic and |
|
|
Social
Council |
New York
|
3 to 27 May
1988 |
|
|
|
16. |
Meeting of
the Committee on Conditions of |
|
|
Work in the
Fishing Industry of ILO |
Geneva
|
4 to 13 May
1988 |
|
|
|
17. |
International Symposium on the Use of |
|
|
Computer
Technology in Employment |
|
|
services
|
Stockholm
|
10 to 18
May 1988 |
|
|
|
18. |
WHO
Executive Board Eighty-second |
|
|
Session
|
Geneva
|
16 to 17
May 1988 |
|
|
|
19. |
WMO
Technical Conference on Instruments |
|
|
and Methods
of Observation |
Leip zing
(GDR) |
16 to 20
May 1988 |
|
|
|
20. |
IAEA
Research Coordination Meeting on |
|
|
Optimising
Reactor Pressure Vessel Sur- |
|
|
veillance
Programmes and their Analysis |
Vienna
|
17 and 18
May 1988 |
|
|
|
21. |
Ninth
Meeting of Commonwealth Youth |
|
|
Affairs
Council |
Samoa
|
19 to 23
May 1988 |
|
| |
|
22. |
240th
Session of the Governing Body of |
|
|
ILO
|
Geneva
|
19 to 28
May 1988 |
|
23. |
46th
Session of the Board of International |
|
|
Centre for
Advanced Technical and |
|
|
Vocational
Training |
Turin
|
20 May 1988
|
|
24. |
14th
Ministerial Session of the World Food |
|
|
Council
|
Nicosia
|
23 to 26
May 1988 |
|
25. |
First
Session of WMO Commission for |
|
|
Instruments
& Method of Observation |
|
|
Advisory
Working Group |
Potsdam
(GDR) |
24 to 27
May 1988 |
|
26. |
Third
Special Session of the UNGA devoted |
|
|
to
Disarmament (SSOD-III) |
New York
|
31 May to
25 June 1988 |
|
27. |
75th
Session of the International Labour |
|
|
Conference
|
Geneva
|
1 to 22
June 1988 |
|
28. |
13th IABSB
Congress |
Helsinki
(Finland) |
6 to 12
June 1988 |
|
29. |
40th
Session of WMO Executive Council |
Geneva
|
6 to 16
June 1988 |
|
30. |
Thirty-fifth Session of UNDP Governing |
|
|
Council
|
Geneva
|
6 June to 1
July 1988 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
31. |
60th
Session of IMO Council |
London
|
20 to 24
June 1988 |
|
32. |
First
Meeting of the Working Party to |
|
|
study
International Bureau, Suggestion on |
|
|
the
operation of the Universal Postal Union |
Berne
|
26 to 28
June 1988 |
|
33. |
First
Session of the Inter-governmental |
|
|
Oceanographic Commission (IOC) Regional |
|
|
Committee
for the Central Indian Ocean |
Islamabad
|
26 June to
9 July 1988 |
|
34. |
World
Conference on the Changing |
|
|
Atmosphere
Implication to Global |
|
|
Security
|
Toronto
|
27 to 30
June 1988 |
|
35. |
Second WMO
Regional Workshop on |
|
|
Asian
Winter Monsoon |
Kuala
Lumpur |
27 June to
1 July 1988 |
|
36. |
Regional
Workshop on Occupational |
|
|
Safety and
Health for Asia and the Pacific |
Kuala
Lumpur |
4 to 8 July
1988 |
|
37. |
IAEA
International Conference on Solvent |
|
|
Extraction
|
Moscow
|
18 to 24
July 1988 |
|
38. |
Seminar on
Executive Development for |
|
|
Senior
Labour Administrators organised |
|
|
by
ARPLA/ILO and National Labour |
|
|
Law
Association of India |
New Delhi
|
27 to 30
July 1988 |
|
39. |
Second
Meeting of the Commonwealth |
|
|
Committee
of Foreign Ministers on |
|
|
Southern
Africa |
Toronto
|
2 to 3
August 1988 |
|
40. |
NAM Group
of Meetings in the Sphere on |
|
|
Standardization, Measurement and Quality |
|
|
Control
|
DPR Korea
|
2 to 8
August 1988 |
|
41. |
8th
Conference of Commonwealth Postal |
|
|
Administrations |
Malawi
|
6 to 19
August 1988 |
|
42. |
IAEA/WHO
Seminar on Training in |
|
|
Nuclear
Medicine in Developing Countries |
Vienna
|
8 to 12
August 1988 |
|
43. |
IAEA/WHO
International Symposium on |
|
|
Applications of Dynamic Functional |
|
|
Studies in
Nuclear Medicine in Developing |
|
|
countries
|
Vienna
|
15 to 19
August 1988 |
|
44. |
WMO/FAO/BCKV/IMD Workshop on |
|
|
Agrometeorological Information for |
|
|
planning
and operation in Agriculture |
Calcutta
|
22 to 26
August 1988 |
|
45. |
World
Administrative Radio Conference |
|
|
on Space
Services Planning (WARC-ORB- |
|
|
88-Session-II) |
Geneva
|
29 August
to 5 October 1988 |
|
|
|
|
PG121> |
|
| |
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
46. |
World
Administrative Radio Conference |
|
|
on the use
of the geostationary satellite |
|
|
orbit and
on the planning of space services |
|
|
utilizing
it (WARC-ORB-88) |
Geneva
|
29 August
to 5 October 1988 |
|
47. |
NAM
Ministerial Meeting |
Nicosia
|
September
1988 |
|
48. |
Workshop on
Women Workers in Asia |
|
|
Region
|
New Delhi
|
2 to 3
September 1988 |
|
49. |
9th Session
of WMO Regional Associa- |
|
|
tion-II
(Asia) |
Beijing
|
5 to 16
September 1988 |
|
50. |
ILO/ARPLA/Turin Centre "Asian Regional |
|
|
Seminar on
the use of Economic Data in |
|
|
Labour
Administration Function |
Pattaya
|
5 to 16
September 1988 |
|
51. |
Annual
Session of Asian Pacific Union |
Male
|
10 to 21
September 1988 |
|
52. |
Asian
Tripartite Seminar on the Improve- |
|
|
ment of
Working conditions and Produc- |
|
|
tivity in
Small and Medium Enterprises |
Bangkok
|
12 to 16
September 1988 |
|
53. |
IAEA
Symposium on Uranium and |
|
|
Electricity
and World Materials Congress 1988 |
Saskatoon,
Canada, Chicago |
13
September to 12 October 1988 |
|
54. |
Inter-relationship of advanced and new |
|
|
technologies in the area of biotechnology |
|
|
and law of
intellectual property |
Geneva
|
15 to 17
September 1988 |
|
55. |
UN
International Seminar on Development |
|
|
and
applications of Communication systems |
Beijing
|
19 to 23
September 1988 |
|
56. |
Commonwealth Finance Ministers and |
|
|
Senior
Finance Officials Meeting |
Cyprus
|
20 to 22
September 1988 |
|
57. |
Session of
WWMO Commission for Agri- |
|
|
cultural
Meteorology-Working Group on |
|
|
practical
use of Agrometeorological Data |
|
|
and
Information in Agriculture |
Geneva
|
26 to 30
September 1988 |
|
58. |
International Seminar on Cable stayed |
|
|
Bridges
|
Bangalore
|
3 to 5
October 1988 |
|
59. |
IAEA/UNDP/RCA Regional Workshop |
|
|
on Image
Processing Techniques for NDT |
Tokyo
|
3 to 7
October 1988 |
|
60. |
IAEA 1st
Research Co-ordination Meeting |
|
|
on the use
of nuclear related techniques in |
|
|
the study
of environmental pollution |
|
|
associated
with solid wastes (Yugoslavia) |
Ljubljana
|
3 to 7
October1988 |
|
|
|
|
|
PG122 |
|
| |
|
|
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
61. |
Tenth
Session of the Chemical Industries |
|
|
Committee
of IUO |
Geneva
|
5 to 13
October 1988 |
|
62. |
RRSP-ESCAP-UNDP/RAS/86/141-Work- |
|
|
ing Group
Meeting on Education |
|
|
and
Training in Remote Sensing for the |
|
|
ESCAP
Region |
Wuhan
|
10 to 13
October 1988 |
|
63. |
IAEA/FAO
Research Coordination Meet- |
|
|
ing on the
use of Nuclear and Isotopic |
|
|
techniques
to improve crop production on |
|
|
salt
affected soils |
Vienna
|
10 to 14
October 1988 |
|
64. |
Annual
Session of the Consultative Council |
|
|
for Postal
Studies (CCPS) |
Berne
|
16 to 29
October 1988 |
|
65. |
FAO
Workshop on Biotechnology Network |
|
|
for Animal
Production and Health in Asia |
Bangkok
|
17 to 21
October 1988 |
|
66. |
Second
Session of WMO Commission for |
|
|
instruments
& Methods of Observation |
|
|
Working
Group on Upper Air Measure- |
|
|
ments
|
China
|
24 to 28
October 1988 |
|
67. |
ESCAP-Inter-governmental Meeting of |
|
|
Highway
Experts |
Bangalore
|
31 October
to 4 November 1988 |
|
68. |
International Conference on Maritime |
|
|
safety
|
London
|
31 October
to 11 November 1988 |
|
69. |
241st
Session of the Governing Body of |
|
|
ILO
|
Geneva
|
3 to 8
November 1988 |
|
70. |
IAEA
International Symposium on Re- |
|
|
gulatory
practices and safety standards for |
|
|
nuclear
power plants |
Munich
|
6 to 11
November 1988 |
|
71. |
47th
Session of the Board of International |
|
|
Centre for
Advanced Technical and Voca- |
|
|
tional
Training |
Geneva
|
7 November
1988 |
|
72. |
IX Plenary
Assembly of the Inter-orbital |
|
|
Telegraph
and Telephone Consultative |
|
|
Committee
(CCITT) |
Melbourne
|
14 to 25
November 1988 |
|
73. |
61st
Session of IMO Council |
London
|
21 to 25
November 1988 |
|
74. |
Meeting of
ESCAP Committee on Popula- |
|
|
tion and
Social Development |
Bangkok
|
21 to 25
November 1988 |
|
75. |
Third
Inter-regional High level Seminar |
|
|
on the
Theory and Practice for Modern |
|
|
Labour
Administration for Development |
Nicosia
|
|
|
21 November
to 2 December 1988 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
76. |
Regional
Training Course on Labour |
|
|
Inspection
skills in industries using/ |
|
|
manufacturing chemicals |
Philippines/Japan |
21 November
to 3 December 1988 |
|
77. |
The
Commonwealth Senior |
|
|
Official
Meeting |
Seychelles
|
22 to 25
November 1988 |
|
78. |
Tripartite
Workshop on Formulation of |
|
|
Policies
and Programmes and Supervision |
|
|
of the
Construction Industry |
Kuala
Lumpur |
22 to 25
November 1988 |
|
79. |
National
Tripartite Seminar on Linking |
|
|
Wages and
Productivity |
New Delhi
|
22 to 26
November 1988 |
|
80. |
Fifth Asian
Pacific Regional Seminar on |
|
|
National
and International Labour |
|
|
standards
|
Yogyakarta(Indonesia) |
22 November
to 1 December 1988 |
|
81. |
4th Session
of the Joint Committee on the |
|
|
Public
Service of ILO |
Geneva
|
23 November
to 1 December 1988 |
|
82. |
International Conference on "Environ- |
|
|
mental
Impact Analysis" for Developing |
|
|
countries
|
New Delhi
|
28 November
to 2 December 1988 |
|
83. |
World
Administrative Telegraph and Tele- |
|
|
phone
Conference (WATTC-88) |
Melbourne
|
28 November
to 9 December 1988 |
|
84. |
43rd
Session of UN General Assembly |
New York
|
|
|
September
to December 1988 |
|
85. |
Asian
Sub-regional Tripartite Seminar on |
|
|
the
protection of Home workers |
Manila
|
5 to 9
December 1988 |
|
86. |
Workshop on
"Women in Export Development |
Geneva
|
5 to 9
December 1988 |
|
87. |
12th
Session of the Metal Trades Committee of ILO |
Geneva
|
7 to 15
December 1988 |
|
88. |
UN General
Assembly debate on the |
|
|
question of
Palestine due to shifting of |
|
|
venue from
New York to Geneva |
Geneva
|
12 to 16
December 1988 |
|
89. |
RAS/85/009
Asian Regional Programme on |
|
|
International Labour Migration Steering |
|
|
Committee
meeting and Terminal Review |
|
|
of the
project |
Bangkok
|
14 to 16
December 1988 |
|
90. |
41st
Session of the International Conference on Education |
Geneva
|
9 to 17
January 1989 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
91. |
IAEA/ICTP
Workshop on Theoretical |
|
|
Fluid
Mechanics and Applications |
Trieste
(Italy) |
9 to 27
January 1989 |
|
92. |
3rd Meeting
of the Working Party to study |
|
|
suggestions
on the working of the UPU |
Berne
|
10 to 13
January 1989 |
|
93. |
Ministerial
Committee on Reforms of NAM |
Cyprus
|
12 to 16
January 1989 |
|
94. |
IAEA
Workshop on proper use of Irradica- |
|
|
tion to
reduce post-harvest food losses |
|
|
for
countries in Asia and the Pacific |
BARC
|
6 to 24
February 1989 |
|
95. |
IAEA RCA
Workshop on Neutron Activa- |
|
|
tion
Analysis for Mineral Resources |
|
|
Prospecting
and Materials Characterisation |
BARC
|
6 to 24
February 1989 |
|
| |
|
Appendix-IV
Major International Conferences/Meetings/Seminars |
| |
APPENDIX IV
Major International Conferences/Meetings/Seminars etc. organised
by Non-go vernmental Organisations in which Indian experts
participated in their personal capacity with Government assistance in
1988-89 |
|
Sl.No.
|
Title of
Conferences etc. |
Venue
|
Date
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
Meeting of
ISO/TC 126 "Tobacco and |
|
|
tobacco
products" |
Beijing
|
25 to Apr
30, 1988 |
|
2. |
Meeting of
ISO Council Committee on |
|
|
Confirmity
Assessment (CASCO) & ISO |
|
|
Committee
on Consumer Policy |
|
|
COPOLCO)
|
Geneva
|
2 to 6 May
1988 |
|
3. |
International Conference on Nuclear Test |
|
|
Ban
Verification |
Linkoplay
(Sweden) |
16 to 19
May 1988 |
|
4. |
2nd
International Conference on Low-level |
|
|
measurements of actinides and Long-lived |
|
|
radionuclides in Biological and Environ- |
|
|
mental
Samples |
Akita
(Japan) |
16 to 20
May 1988 |
|
5. |
International Workshop on Statistical |
|
|
Data
Processing and Data Base |
Geneva
|
30 May to 3
June 1988 |
|
6. |
Meeting of
ISO/TC28 "Petroleum products |
|
|
and
Lubricants" |
Tokyo
|
6 to 9 June
1988 |
|
7. |
37th
Session of the United Nations |
|
|
Scientific
Committee on the effect of |
|
|
Atomic
Radiation |
Vienna
|
6 to 17
June 1988 |
|
8. |
3rd Meeting
of National Coordinators for |
|
|
Radiation
Processing and review Tripartite |
|
|
meeting of
National Counterparts. |
Jakarta
|
8 to 17
June 1988 |
|
9. |
International Conference on High Tem- |
|
|
perature
Superconductivity |
Singapore
|
27 June to
3 July 1988 |
|
10. |
International Conference on |
|
|
Atomic
Physics |
Paris
|
29 June to
1 August 1988 |
|
11. |
14th
International Symposium on the |
|
|
effects of
Radiation on Materials |
USA
|
30 June to
27 July 1988 |
|
12. |
IAU General
Assembly |
Baltimore
|
2 to 11
August 1988 |
|
13. |
World
Congress on Medical Physics and |
|
|
Bioengineering |
Texas
|
5 to 27
August 1988 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
14. |
International Position Workshop and 8th |
|
|
International Conference on positron |
|
|
annihilatio
|
FRG &
Belgium |
25 August
to 3 September 1988 |
|
15. |
5th
International Symposium on Hyper- |
|
|
thermic
oncology |
Kyoto
(Japan) |
29 August
to 3 September 1988 |
|
16. |
'EMCON-88',
International Seminar on |
|
|
Energy
Conservation |
Hyderabad
|
7 to 9
September 1988 |
|
17. |
Meeting of
GATT Committee on Technical |
|
|
Barriers to
Trade |
Geneva
|
13 to 16
September 1988 |
|
18. |
Meetings of
ISO Council, ISO DEVCO, |
|
|
ISO RLO
& ISO General Assembly |
Prague
|
13 to 22
September 1988 |
|
19. |
Environtech
'88-3rd International Confe- |
|
|
rence on
Industrial Pollution Control and |
|
|
Safety
|
Bombay
|
21 to 26
September 1988 |
|
20. |
IAEA
Sponsored Workshop of a Computer |
|
|
programme
for real time dose assessment |
|
|
model
|
California
|
3 to 7
October 1988 |
|
21. |
International Conference on the role of |
|
|
Women in
Scientific and Technological |
|
|
Development
of the Third World |
Italy
(Trieste) |
3 to 14
October 1988 |
|
22. |
First
Conference of the International |
|
|
Association
for Official Statistics |
Rome
|
4 to 7
October 1988 |
|
23. |
39th
International Astronautical Federa- |
|
|
tion
Congress |
Bangalore
|
8 to 15
October 1988 |
|
24. |
Meetings of
ISO/TC 34 `Agricultural Food |
|
|
Products'
|
China
|
24 to 26
October 1988 |
|
25. |
Meeting of
ISO/TC 102 `Iron Ores' |
Brazil
|
24 to 28
October 1988 |
|
26. |
Meeting of
IES/TC 12 "Radiocommuni- |
|
|
cations"
|
Rome
|
7 to 11
November 1988 |
|
27. |
Third
International Rangeland Congress |
New Delhi
|
7 to 11
November 1988 |
|
28. |
Conference
Towards a Nuclear Weapon |
|
|
Free and
Non-Violent World |
New Delhi
|
14 to 16
November 1988 |
|
29. |
COMMEX 2000
"Communication Excellence |
|
|
for High
Quality of Life" |
New Delhi
|
24 and 25
November 1988 |
|
30. |
Energy
Conservation in Industry |
New Delhi
|
24 and 25
November 1988 |
|
|
|
|
PG127> |
|
|
|
| |
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
31. |
8th
Antarctic Expedition |
Antarctica
|
|
|
24 November
1988 to 30 April 1989 |
|
32. |
ITMA's 3rd
International Conference on |
|
|
Transformers |
New Delhi
|
25 and 26
November 1988 |
|
33. |
Working
Group Meeting of Statistical |
|
|
Experts
|
Bangkok 28
November to 1 December 1988 |
|
34. |
ESCAP/SIAP
Seminar on Improving |
|
|
Timeleness
and Quality of Statistics |
Bangkok
|
12 to 16
December 1988 |
|
35. |
Second
World Buffalo Congress |
New Delhi
|
12 to 17
December 1988 |
|
36. |
International Conference on Residual Life |
|
|
of Power
Plant Equipment-Prediction & |
|
|
Extension
|
Hyderabad
|
23 to 25
January 1989 |
|
| |
|
Appendix-V
Miscellaneous Major International Conferences |
| |
APPENDIX V
Miscellaneous Major International Conferences etc. in 1988-89 at
which Gove rnment of India was represented or in which Indian
experts participated with Government of India's assistance In
their personal capacity |
|
Sl.No.
|
Title of
Conferences etc. |
Venue
|
Date
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
21st
Session of United Nations Com- |
|
|
mission on
international Trade Law |
|
|
(UNICITRAL)
|
New York
|
11 and Apr
12, 1988 |
|
2. |
Expert
Group meeting on Harmonization |
|
|
of Economic
classifications |
New York
|
25 to 29
April 1988 |
|
3. |
Asia/Pacific Regional Workshop for Corn- |
|
|
monwealth
jurisdiction on Mutual Assis- |
|
|
tance in
Criminal matters |
Sydney
|
16 t 20 May
1988 |
|
4. |
Workshop on
Biological DNA Modification |
Gloucester,
USA |
May 1988
|
|
5. |
Ministerial
meeting of the NAM Coordi- |
|
|
nating
Bureau |
Harare
|
26 to 30
May 1988 |
|
6. |
International Meeting on Nuclear Weapons Free Zone
|
Berlin
|
20 to 22
June 1988 |
|
7. |
Expert
Group Meeting on improving |
|
|
Government
Information System & Com- |
|
|
puterisation |
Bangkok
|
21 to 24
June 1988 |
|
8. |
12th
Session of Prepcom, International |
|
|
Centre for
Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology |
Vienna
|
5 to 8 July
1988 |
|
9. |
Meeting of
the Commission of International |
|
|
Union of
Applied Chemistry and 8th |
|
|
international Biotechnology Symposium |
Paris
|
13 to 23
July 1988 |
|
10. |
International Conference on Global Impacts |
|
|
of Applied
Microbiology Biotechnology |
|
|
and
International Conference on Applied |
|
|
Biology and
Biotechnology |
Hong Kong
|
1 to 5
August 1988 |
|
11. |
63rd
Conference of International Law Association |
Warsaw
|
21 to 27
August 1988 |
|
|
|
PG128 |
|
PG129 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12. |
Meeting of
the General Assembly of the |
|
|
international Peace Bureau |
Sydney
|
9 to 12
September 1988 |
|
13. |
International Fiscal Association's 42nd |
|
|
international Congress |
Amsterdam
|
11 to 16
September 1988 |
|
14. |
IAEA-XXXII
General Conference and |
|
|
meetings of
the Board of Governors, |
|
|
Special
Advisory Committee, and discus- |
|
|
sions with
UK AEA |
Vienna
London |
11
September to 1 October 1988 |
|
15. |
5th
Symposium on International terrorism |
Paris
|
13 to 15
September 1988 |
|
16. |
International Workshop on Advanced |
|
|
Technologies for increased agricultural |
|
|
production-actual situation, future pros- |
|
|
pects and
concrete possibilities of applica- |
|
|
tion in
developing countries |
Geneva,
Italy |
25 to 27
September 1988 |
|
17. |
International Meeting on Oral Cancer |
London
|
10 and 11
November 1988 |
|
18. |
General
Assembly Session of ICPO, Interpol |
Bangkok
|
17 to 23
November 1988 |
|
19. |
International Conference on Roads |
|
|
Road's
problems by University of Roorkee |
New Delhi
|
12 to 15
December 1988 |
|
20. |
Transgenic
Technology in Biology
Medicine and Agriculture |
USA
|
12 to 15
December 1988 |
|
21. |
Conference
of the States Party to the 1925 |
|
|
Geneva
Protocol and all other interested |
|
|
States on
Chemical Weapons use |
Paris
|
7 to 11
January 1989 |
|
| |
Appendix-VI Statement showing the number of
Passports/Miscellaneous services |
| |
Jan 01, 1988
APPENDIX VI
Statement showing the number of
Passports/Miscellaneous services applicati ons received and number
of Passports issued/Miscellaneous services rendered during the period
January t o December 1988 |
|
Sl.No.
|
Station
|
No. of Passport
applications received
|
No.of Passports
issued for misc.
|
No.of applications
services received
|
No. of misc.
services rendered
|
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
(5)
|
(6)
|
|
|
|
1. |
Ahmedabad
|
89,387
|
88,893
|
47,404
|
47,059
|
|
2. |
Bangalore
|
55,020
|
48,174
|
31,961
|
29,735
|
|
3. |
Bareilly
|
62,953
|
53,587
|
26,204
|
22,499
|
|
4. |
Bhopal
|
21,780
|
19,916
|
10,574
|
10,291
|
|
5. |
Bhubaneshwar |
6235
|
4908
|
2912
|
2764
|
|
6. |
Bombay
|
224,176
|
219,171
|
167,017
|
165,061
|
|
7. |
Calcutta
|
53,121
|
50,852
|
31,753
|
31,297
|
|
8. |
Chandigarh
|
77,961
|
67,226
|
45,563
|
43,026
|
|
9. |
Cochin
|
133,995
|
114,572
|
97,463
|
94,054
|
|
10. |
Delhi
|
100,553
|
92,546
|
62,263
|
51,863
|
|
11. |
Goa
|
12,256
|
12,127
|
10,528
|
10,233
|
|
12. |
Guwahati
|
4753
|
3888
|
1402
|
1320
|
|
13. |
Hyderabad
|
119,941
|
88,307
|
51,585
|
49,993
|
|
14. |
Jaipur
|
49,247
|
39,842
|
29,555
|
28,225
|
|
15. |
Jalandhar
|
74,771
|
70,481
|
56,586
|
52,793
|
|
16. |
Kozhikode
|
108,560
|
80,036
|
59,844
|
58,053
|
|
17. |
Lucknow
|
53,899
|
43,765
|
13,911
|
13,709
|
|
18. |
Madras
|
92,657
|
84,125
|
55,069
|
54,923
|
|
19. |
Patna
|
12,768
|
11,504
|
8067
|
8046
|
|
20. |
Srinagar
|
6289
|
6231
|
2311
|
2784
|
|
21. |
Tiruchirapalli |
93,432
|
88,127
|
59,454
57,223 |
|
|
Total
|
14,53,754
|
12,88,278
|
871,426
|
826,951
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PG130 |
|
|
|
| |
|
Appendix-VII
Statement showing Revenue and Expenditure |
| |
Jan 01, 1988
APPENDIX VII
Statement showing Revenue and Expenditure in
respect of Passport offices in India during the period January to
December 1988 |
|
Sl.No.
|
Station
|
Revenue (in Rupees)
|
Expenditure (in Rupees)
|
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
|
|
|
1. |
Ahmedabad
|
90,75,948
|
30,72,488
|
|
2. |
Bangalore
|
53,46,469
|
22,04,104
|
|
3. |
Bareilly
|
53,90,630
|
20,31,931
|
|
4. |
Bhopal
|
13,02,752
|
845,188
|
|
5. |
Bhubaneshwar |
527,503
|
385,200
|
|
6. |
Bombay
|
2,16,88,629
|
72,59,447
|
|
7. |
Calcutta
|
51,05,076
|
19,89,728
|
|
8. |
Chandigarh
|
51,26,295
|
20,40,628
|
|
9. |
Cochin
|
1,12,95,661
|
31,29,346
|
|
10. |
Delhi
|
89,62,998
|
52,20,771
|
|
11. |
Goa
|
10,38,179
|
16,98,423
(from Feb 17, 1988)
(from January 1988) |
|
12. |
Guwahati
|
223,842
|
198,887
|
|
13. |
Hyderabad
|
1,06,54,994
|
28,70,296
|
|
14. |
Jaipur
|
47,58,111
|
17,92,375
|
|
15. |
Jalandhar
|
74,41,491
|
24,08,162
|
|
16. |
Kozhikode
|
96,40,783
|
22,29,666
|
|
17. |
Lucknow
|
49,74,051
|
19,60,187
|
|
18. |
Madras
|
85,52,741
|
29,06,814
|
|
19. |
Patna
|
13,86,209
|
756,827
|
|
20. |
Srinagar
|
632,134
|
311,539
|
|
21. |
Tiruchirapalli |
87,48,876
|
19,54,992
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
13,18,73,372 |
4,72,61,049
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Appendix-VIII
Cadre strength at Headquarters |
| |
Jan 01, 1988
APPENDIX VIII
Cadre strength at Headquarters and 139
Missions/Posts abroad during 1988-89 |
|
|
|
Sl.No. |
Cadre/Post |
Posts at Head-quarters |
Posts at Missions abroad |
Total No.Posts
|
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
(4)
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
|
|
IFS
|
|
|
|
1. |
Grade I
|
3
|
18
|
21
|
|
|
|
2. |
Grade II
|
3
|
25
|
28
|
|
3. |
Grade III
|
20
|
96
|
116
|
|
4. |
Grade IV
|
17
|
66
|
83
|
|
5. |
Sr. Scale
|
52
|
200
|
252
|
|
6. |
Jr. Scale
|
5
|
28
|
33
|
|
7. |
Training
Reserve (Prob) Jr. Scale |
27
|
27
|
|
8. |
Training
Reserve for all Grades |
10
|
10
|
|
9. |
Leave
Reserve |
19
|
19
|
|
10. |
Deputation
Reserve |
20
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
IFS (B)
|
|
|
|
1. |
Grade I
|
62
|
63
|
125
|
|
2. |
Grade
II/III |
167
|
163
|
320
|
|
3. |
Grade IV
|
359
|
516
|
875
|
|
4. |
Grade V/VI
|
451
|
197
|
648
|
|
5. |
Grade II of
Cypher Sub-Cadre |
81
|
119
|
200
|
|
6. |
Selection
Grade of Steno Cadre |
17
|
35
|
52
|
|
7. |
Grade I of
Steno, Cadre |
32
|
164
|
196
|
|
8. |
Grade II of
Steno Cadre |
204
|
238
|
442
|
|
9. |
Grade III
of Steno Cadre |
42
|
79
|
121
|
|
|
|
|
Combined
Research Cadre |
22
|
6
|
28
|
|
|
Interpreters' Cadre |
15
|
15
|
30
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
1634
|
2022
|
3656
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Appendix-IX
Cadre strength of IFS |
| |
Jan 01, 1988
APPENDIX IX
Cadre strength of IFS during 1988-89
|
|
Sl.No.
|
Grades
|
Total Posts
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
Grade I
|
21
|
|
2. |
Grade II
|
28
|
|
3. |
Grade III
|
116
|
|
4. |
Grade IV
|
83
|
|
5. |
Sr. Scale
|
252
|
|
6. |
Jr. Scale
|
33
|
|
7. |
Training
Reserve (Prob) Jr. Sc. |
27
|
|
8. |
Training
Reserve for all grades |
10
|
|
9. |
Leave
Reserve |
19
|
|
10. |
Deputation
Reserve |
20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
609
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Appendix-X
Foreign Language Chart |
| |
Jan 01, 1988
APPENDIX X
Foreign Language Chart |
|
Sl.No.
|
Compulsory
Foreign Languages officers |
No. of
|
|
1. |
Arabic
|
88
|
|
2. |
Bahasa
Indonesia |
7
|
|
3. |
Burmese
|
2
|
|
4. |
Chinese
|
46
|
|
5. |
Dutch
|
1
|
|
6. |
French
|
81
|
|
7. |
German
|
42
|
|
8. |
Gorkhali
|
4
|
|
9. |
Hungarian
|
1
|
|
10. |
Italian
|
4
|
|
11. |
Japanese
|
27
|
|
12. |
Kiswahili
|
11
|
|
13. |
Malay
|
2
|
|
14. |
Persian
|
17
|
|
15. |
Polish
|
1
|
|
16. |
Portuguese
|
12
|
|
17. |
Russian
|
68
|
|
18. |
Serbo-Croatian |
4
|
|
19. |
Sinhalese
|
3
|
|
20. |
Spanish
|
54
|
|
21. |
Swedish
|
1
|
|
22. |
Thai
|
2
|
|
23. |
Tibetan
|
3
|
|
24. |
Turkish
|
1
|
|
25. |
Vietnamese
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
485
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PG134> |
|
| |
|
Appendix-XI
Revenue expenditure of the Ministry of External Affairs
|
| |
Jan 01, 1988
APPENDIX XI
Revenue expenditure of the Ministry of
External Affairs during the Fin ancial year 1988-89 |
|
|
Revised
Estimates 1988-89 |
(Rs. in
lakhs) |
|
|
|
|
Headquarters |
3957.00
|
|
|
Missions/Posts abroad 10,550.00 |
|
|
Supply Wing
Washington/London |
200.00
|
|
|
|
|
Other items
|
|
|
|
|
Contribution to UN 355.00 |
|
|
Commonwealth Secretariat 29.00 |
|
|
Commonwealth Foundation 19.00 |
|
|
SAARC
Secretariat & Other International Institutions |
136.00
|
|
|
Central
Passport Organization |
950.00
|
|
|
SCAAP
Programmes |
121.00
|
|
|
Special
Diplomatic Expenditure |
8422.00
|
|
|
Grant-in-Aid to ICCR & Other Organizations |
841.00
|
|
|
Other
Miscellaneous Items |
986.00
|
|
|
|
|
Aid to
other countries |
|
|
|
|
Aid to
Bangladesh |
81.00
|
|
|
Aid to
Bhutan |
7938.00
|
|
|
Aid to
Nepal |
1732.00
|
|
|
|
|
Aid to
other developing
countries (including Rs. 18.63
crores to SriLanka and
Rs. 3.96 crores to Maldives) |
2959.00
|
|
|
|
|
ITEC
Programmes |
1888.00
|
|
|
Aid under
AFRICA Fund |
1666.00
|
|
|
Total
Revenue Expenditure 1988-89 |
42,830.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Appendix-XII
Expenditure on Indian Missions/Posts Abroad |
| |
an 01, 1988
APPENDIX XII
Expenditure on Indian Missions/Posts Abroad
and Headquarters of the Mini stry of External Affairs in 1988-89
The estimated expenditure on the Headquarters organization of the
Ministry during the current financial year 1988-89 is expected to
be Rs. 3957.00 lakhs out of which Rs. 350 .00 lakhs will be on
External Publicity, Rs. 304.00 lakhs on Travel Expenses, Rs. 919.00
lakhs on Sa laries and Wages of Establishment, Rs. 8.00 lakhs on
Subsidy to Departmental Canteens, Rs. 730.0 0 lakhs on Rents and
Maintenance and Rs. 1646.00 lakhs on other miscellaneous items.
The total estimated expenditure on Indian Missions abroad
excluding Supply Wing Washington and London is expected to be Rs.
10,550.00 lakhs. This amount comprises Rs. 41 00.00 lakhs on
Salaries, Wages and allowances including Foreign Allowance. Rs.
1270.00 lakhs o n Transfers, Home Leave Passages and Local Tours,
Rs. 2658.00 lakhs on Rents, Rates and Taxe s as well as on
maintenance and repairs of accommodation owned/rented for Missions
abroad and Rs. 2522.00 lakhs on other miscellaneous items.
Average expenditure per Mission abroad is Rs. 76.45 lakhs.
The expenditure mentioned above on Headquarters and Missions/Posts
abroad including expen- diture on Publicity works out to
approximately 33.87 percent of the total estim ated Revenue Expen-
diture of this Ministry. The remaining 66.13 percent of the Revenue
Estimates of the Ministry are being spent on various Aid
Programmes to neighbouring and other developing coun tries, Aid under
the AFRICA Fund, Contribution to United Nations and other
International bodies, Passport Orga- nization, Hospitality and
Miscellaneous items.
PG136
|
|
Appendix-XIII
Statement showing the total number of employees |
| |
APPENDIX XIII
Statement showing the total number of employees (both permanent
and tempor ary) in the Ministry of External Affairs under various
groups and representation of Scheduled Ca stes and Scheduled Tribes
therein (Position as on Dec 31, 1988) |
|
Group
|
Total No.
|
Scheduled
Castes |
Scheduled
Tribes % of |
Employees |
total
Employees
Employees |
|
Group `A'
|
726
|
94
|
12.94%
|
39
|
5.37%
|
|
Group `B'
|
1818
|
181
|
9.95%
|
30
|
1.65%
|
|
Group `C'
|
833
|
94
|
11.28%
|
40
|
4.80%
|
Excluding
`D'
(excluding Sweepers) |
558
|
106
|
18.99%
|
11
|
1.97%
|
|
Group `D'
|
8
|
|
PG137 |
Appendix-XIV
Statement showing the number of appointments
|
| |
Jan 01, 1988
APPENDIX XIV
Statement showing the number of appointments
(both by direct recruitment and promotion) made in various Groups
in the Ministry of External Affairs and reserved vacancies filled by
Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes during the year 1988
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Group
|
Total Number of reserved
candidates
Scheduled Castes
/Scheduled Tribes |
Number of vacancies reserved
for
Scheduled Castes
/Scheduled Tribes |
Number of
reserved candidates
appointed Scheduled
Castes/Scheduled Tribes |
No. of vacancies de-reserved
due to non-avail ability
of reserved candidates
Scheduled Castes
/Scheduled Tribes |
|
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Group `A'
|
39
|
7
|
3
|
7
|
3
|
|
|
|
Group `B'
|
115
|
27
|
20
|
15
|
1
|
11
|
15
|
|
|
|
Group `C'
|
18
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
2
|
1
|
2
|
|
|
|
Group `D'
|
(excluding
|
|
Sweepers)
|
22
|
|
|
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| |
|
Appendix-XV
International Conferences/Meetings |
| |
APPENDIX XV
International Conferences/Meetings and functions arranged during
the year 19 88-89 with the assistance of the Conference Cell,
Ministry of External Affairs
1. SAARC Meeting of
Non-Governmental Organizations on Drug Abuse-April 1988.
2.
Meeting of the Central Haj Advisory Board-May 1988.
3. Press
Conference of the President of Afghanistan-May 1988.
4. Meeting of
the Senior Officials of NAM countries on Kampuchea-July 1988.
5. SAARC Meeting on Chairs, Fellowships and
Scholarships-September 1988.
6. Third Meeting of SAARC Audio
Visual Exchange (SAVE) Committee-October 1988
.
7. Meeting of
the Central Haj Advisory Board-October 1988.
8. Consultative
Conference of Experts on New and High Technologies of NAM and
Developing Countries-October 1988.
9. Conference `Towards
a Nuclear Weapon Free and Non-Violent World'-November 1988.
10. The Indira Gandhi Award Ceremony-November 1988.
11.
The SAARC Quiz Meeting-November 1988.
12. Press Conference of the
Prime Minister of Malta-Jan 10, 1989
13. Press Conference of the
General Secretary of Communist Party of Vietnam and the Foreign
Minister of Vietnam-27 January 1989.
14. Fourth Meeting of the
SAARC Audio Visual Exchange (SAVE) Committee-7 and 8 February
1989.
15. Fourth Meeting of Senior Officials of AFRICA Fund
Committee-14 to 17 Febr uary 1989.
PG139
|
|
Appendix-XVI
Training Programmes organised by the Foreign Service |
| |
APPENDIX-XVI
Training Programmes organised by the Foreign Service Training
Institute (FSTI) during 1988 and some Programmes envisaged for
1989 |
|
Sl.No.
|
Course
|
Date
|
No. of Participants
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SPECIAL
COURSES |
|
|
|
1. |
1st Course
on Crisis |
|
|
Management
for senior officials |
12 to
211988 |
325
|
|
2. |
1st
Orientation Programme for |
|
|
RITES
officials |
4 and 5
April 1988 |
15
|
|
3. |
1st
Orientation Programme for Spouses |
1 to 3
August 1988 |
30
|
|
4. |
Two Special
Courses on Computers for Database |
|
|
Management
|
27 June to
1 July and |
24
|
|
|
17 to 23
August 1988 |
|
5. |
Orientation
Programme for State Government Protocol |
|
|
officials
|
9 to 14
January 1989 |
35
|
|
6. |
Refresher
Course for Commercial Representatives |
|
|
abroad
|
6 to 25
February 1989 |
20
|
|
|
|
7. |
2nd
Orientation Programme for Spouses |
28 to 30
March 1989 |
30
|
|
| |
|
raining Programme
for IFS Probationers (1987 Batch) during 1988 (No. of Participants
: 15) MODULES
1. Dimensions of Indian Foreign Policy
2. Indian Foreign Policy-Landmarks
3. National Security
4. Overseas Indian Communities
5. International Law
6. Diplomatic Practice and Protocol
7. Administration,
Establishment, Accounts and Vigilance
8. (a) Typing
9. (b)
Indian Culture & Cultural Diplomacy
10. Communications
Security (Bureau of Security)
PG140
PG141
11.
External Publicity
12. Driving
13. Economic Relations in
Foreign Policy (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade)
14.
Commercial work in Indian Missions
(Indian Institute of Foreign Trade)
15. Intelligence Work
16. Crisis Management
Negotiating Skills
17. Hindi
18. Consular Work
19.
Computer Appreciation including Word Processing
20. Social
Behaviour, Etiquette and Representational Skills
21. Multilateral
Diplomacy and International Organizations
22. Attachment with
offices of Ministers and Secretaries
23. Conference Attachment
with UN Division/Conference Cell
24. Bharat Darshan
(Tour of
places of cultural and historical importance)
25. Attachment with
Administration
26. Indian Culture & Cultural Diplomacy-Part II
(with ICCR)
27. Food Back and Evaluation Workshop
28.
Desk Attachment Till Transfer for Language Training. Training,
Programme for IFS Probationers (1988 Batch) in 1988-89
|
|
|
|
|
(No. of
Participants : 20) |
|
|
|
|
ORIENTATION
PROGRAMME |
|
|
|
|
Module I
|
Introduction |
|
|
Module II
|
Diplomacy
and Indian Foreign Policy |
|
|
Module III
|
Diplomatic
Practice and Protocol |
|
|
Module IV
|
International Law |
|
|
Module V
|
Indian
Culture & Cultural Diplomacy |
|
|
Module VI
|
Representational Skills. |
|
|
PG142> |
|
|
|
|
Courses for
Junior Officials during 1988 |
|
|
|
|
|
Name of
Course |
Total No.
of participants |
|
|
|
|
10th Basic
Professional |
Course
|
|
|
Second
Course on Public |
14
|
|
|
Relations
Techniques for RPOs |
5
|
|
|
Third
Course on Public Relations |
|
|
Techniques
for RPOs |
5
|
|
|
11th-17th
Basic Professional Course |
166
|
|
|
First C
& R Course |
9
|
|
|
Second Cash
& Accounts Course |
8
|
|
|
Third Cash
& Accounts Course |
..
|
|
|
Administration & Finance Workshops |
70
|
|
|
First T.P.
for Group `D' officials |
31
|
|
|
Second T.P.
for Group `D' officials |
28
|
|
|
Administration Workshops |
74
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Visits
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Sl.No.
|
Name
|
Name of Designation |
Date of Visit |
Conference/Seminar |
|
1. |
J. D.
Chinada |
Ambassador, |
21 and 22
October 1988 |
FSTI
|
|
|
Nigerian
Delegation |
|
|
|
2. |
J. Fakayode
|
Ambassador,
|
21 and 22
October 1988 |
|
|
FSTI
Nigerian Delegation |
|
3. |
M. B.
Ekpang |
Ambassador,
|
21 and 22
October 1988 |
|
|
FSTI
Nigerian Delegation |
|
4. |
Claude
Cellich |
Head of
Trg. Divn. |
31 October
to 1 November 1988 |
|
|
FSTI
GATT/UNCTAD,ITC,Geneva |
|
|
|
5. |
Maldvyn
Thomas |
Sr. Adviser
|
1 and 2
December 1988 |
|
|
FSTI ITC,
Geneva |
|
|
|
6. |
Ajit
Banerjee |
Special
Technical Adviser 15 to 23 December 1988 |
|
|
FSTI UNDTCD
|
|
|
|
PG143> |
|
|
|
|
FSTI
Faculty |
|
|
|
1. |
A. N. D.
Haksar |
Dean FSTI
|
20 and 21
June 1988 |
|
|
ASCI &
IPA Hyderabad. |
|
2. |
A. N. D.
Haksar |
Dean FSTI
|
19 to 24
September 1988 |
|
|
ADDAIIR,
Geneva |
|
|
|
|
|
3. |
A. N. D.
Haksar |
Dean FSTI
|
10 and 11
May & 24 and 25 November 1988 |
|
|
LBSNAA,Mussoorie. |
|
|
|
4. |
K. Gajendra
Singh |
JS (FSTI)
|
4 to 9
April 1988 |
|
|
Seminar on
Trg. of 3rd world Diplomats, Nairobi. |
|
|
|
5. |
P. S. Ray
|
Director
(FSTI-I) |
17 to 28
October 1988 |
|
|
2nd
Executive Development Programme for EROPA Countries in Seoul.
|
|
|
|
6. |
P. S. Ray
|
Director
(FSTI-II) |
8 to 10
October 1988 |
|
|
LBSNAA,
Mussoorie. |
|
|
|
7. |
Deepak
Vohra |
Director
(FSTI-III) |
9 to 14 May
1988 |
|
|
ATI,
Nainital. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Appendix-XVII
VVIP visits to India |
| |
APPENDIX XVII
VVIP visits to India during 1988 |
|
Sl.
|
Heads of
State/Government |
Date
|
|
No.
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
1. |
H.E. Dr
Carlos Rafeel Rodriguez, Vice-President of the Councils of
|
|
|
State and
of Minister of the Republic of Cuba |
3 to
@@19880308 Mi, |
|
|
ster of the
Republic of Cuba 3 to @ |
|
2. |
H. E. Mr
Lee Kuan Yew, Prime Minister of Singapore |
15 to 17
March 1988 |
|
|
|
3. |
H.E. Mr
Peter S. Mmusi, Chairman of the SADCC Council of |
|
|
Minister
and Vice-President of Botswana |
10 to 15
April 1988 |
|
|
|
4. |
His Royal
Highness Prince El Hassan Bin |
|
|
Talal,
Crown Prince of Jordan |
23 to 27
April 1988 |
|
|
|
5. |
H.E. Dr
Najibullah, President of Afghanistan |
4 to 6 May
1988 |
|
|
|
6. |
H.E. Major
General Joaquim Alberto Chissano, |
|
|
President
of Mozambique |
14 to 16
May 1988 |
|
|
|
7. |
H.E. Mr A.
A. Makanou, Vice-President of the |
|
|
Supreme
Soviet of the USSR |
13 to 15
August 1988 |
|
|
|
8. |
H.E. Mr H.
M. Ershad, President of Bangladesh |
29
September 1988 |
|
|
|
9. |
His Majesty
King Birendra Bir Bikram |
|
|
Shah Dev,
King of Nepal |
29 and 30
September 1988 |
|
|
|
10. |
H.E. Mr
Daniel Arap Moi, President of Kenya |
3 and 4
October 1988 |
|
|
|
11. |
H.E. Mr
Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the |
|
|
Palestine
Liberation Orga-nization |
5 October
1988 |
|
|
|
12. |
H.E. Mr
Daniel Arap Moi, President of Kenya |
7 and 8
October 1988 |
|
|
|
13. |
H.E. Mr
Eduardo dos Santos, President of Angola |
24 to 26
October 1988 |
|
|
|
14. |
H.E. Mr R.
F. M. Lubbers, |
|
|
Prime
Minister of the Netherlands 28 and 29 October 1988 |
|
|
|
15. |
H.E. Sir
Veerasamy Ringadoo, |
|
|
Governor
General of Mauritius |
12 to 25
November 1988 |
|
|
|
16. |
H.E. Mr Hun
Sen, Member of the Polit Bureau, Chairman of the |
|
|
Council of
Minister, Kampuchea |
16 and 17
November 1988 |
|
|
|
17. |
H.E. Mr
Mikhail S. Gorbachev, Chairman of the Presidium of the
|
|
|
Supreme
Soviet of the USSR, General Secretary |
|
|
of the
Central Committee of the CPSU |
18 to 20
November 1988 |
|
|
|
18. |
H.E. Mr Sam
Nujoma, President of the Swapo |
23 to 27
November 1988 |
|
|
|
19. |
H.E. Mr
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, |
|
|
President
of the Maldives |
7 and 8
December 1988 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PG145> |
|
|
|
(1)
|
(2)
|
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
Visits of
Foreign Ministers |
|
|
|
1. |
H.E. Mr
Abdul Wakil, |
|
|
Foreign
Minister of Afghanistan |
2 and 3
February 1988 |
|
|
|
2. |
H.E. Mr
Marian Orzechowaki, |
|
|
Foreign
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland |
22 to 29
February 1988 |
|
|
|
3. |
H.E. Dr
Peter Varkonyi, Minister of |
|
|
Foreign
Affairs of the |
|
|
Hungarian
People's Republic to |
27 February
1988 to 2 March 1988 |
|
|
|
4. |
H. E. Mr
Miguel D'Escoto Brockmann, |
|
|
Foreign
Minister of Nicaragua |
20 to 24
August 1988 |
|
|
|
5. |
H.E. Mr
Rashleigh Jackson, |
|
|
Foreign
Minister of Guyana |
23 to 27
August 1988 |
|
|
|
6. |
H.E. Mr Ali
Alatas, Foreign Minister of Indonesia |
24 to 26
August 1988 |
|
|
|
7. |
H.E. Mr
Abdul Wakil, |
|
|
Foreign
Minister of Afghanistan |
1 to 4
September 1988 |
|
|
|
8. |
H.E. Mr
Abdulaziz Al-Daly, |
|
|
Foreign
Minister of PDR Yemen |
6 to 11
December 1988 |
|
| |
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|
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