Annual Report 1993-94
CONTENTS |
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1993
Introduction
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THE Ministry of External Affairs, as the introduction to the report
for 1992-93 stated, was engaged in adjusting to the changes and
uncertainties which characterised the international situation at that
point of time. The current year 1993-94 was characterised by more
complexities in which India's Joreign policy had to be fashioned and.
implemented.
The year commenced in an atmosphere of challenge for India's foreign
relations. The destruction of the disputed structure in Ayodhya and the
subsequent communal disturbances generated international doubts about
our future. The bomb blasts in Bombay perpetrated by criminal elements,'
supported by Pakistani intelligence agencies, struck at the economic
capital of India to generate doubts about the continuity of our economic
policies and the stability of our economy. India's foreign policy
therefore had to meet the external ramifications of these serious and
volatile events, while, at the same time addressing the problems and
issues generated by external events, emerging inter-state equations of
important countries, and their attitudes towards issues affecting
India's basic concerns and interests.
The macro-level issues which India had to deal with were:
(a) The increasing and collective pressure on non-proliferation, arms
control and disarmament issues.
(b) International trends generated by some countries to control, and to
the extent possible, deny access to sophisticated technologies in the spheres of space exploration and satellite development and other
civilian end-uses.
-v>
(c) To adjust to emerging new global regimes affecting international
trade, trans-border movement of technologies and those related to
environment.
(d) First to assess and define, and then to acquire an appropriate role
for India in relation to the various regional groupings, in a manner
which will subserve India's interests.
(e) To establish a pattern Of relationship and equation with countries
in the region, as well as those which are further distant, which would
ensure a safe security environment for India.
(f) To ensure projection of India's economic potential and capacity in a
manner, where the necessary external contributions to Indian economy
would continue, safeguarding the socio-economic well-being of the people
and improvements in. their quality of life.
Issues of more immediate concern, on which attention had to be fiocussed
in terms of India's foreign policy, were:
(a) Managing the persistently adversorial relationship with Pakistan.
(b) The pressure mounted on India by some countries, on the human rights
issues.
(c) The encouragement of centrifugal tendencies by external entities and
their agencies.
(d) Stabilising India's relations with her other neighbours despite
inevitable problems affecting relations between countries in
geographical proximity.
(e) Dealing with multilateral issues on which international attention
was focussed, like establishment of new international trading
arrangements under the Uruguay Round, the restructuring and reform of
the UN system, fashioning appropriate policies and responses to numerous
suggestions and proposals put forward by different countries in
discussions on disarmament and security arrangements, arranging for
India's diplomatic presence in different countries, responding to the
emergence of new states on the international scene.
-vi>
The conduct of India's foreign relations was characterised by
flexibility, a clear perception of India's national interests and a
measured, down to earth, approach in meeting these interests.
India's relations with the major countries in the international
community were maintained on a stable pattern despite the fluctuations
in the attitudes and policies of some. US policy did not attach high
priority to India,- US concerns being Euro-centric, specially in
relation to East Europe and its Asian attention concentrating mostly on
China and Japan. Russia was largely pre-occupied with its internal
issues. Despite these limitations, India's relations with these two
countries remained on an even keel in the substantial spheres of
economic, commercial and technological interaction responsive to India's
requirements. Hopes for an incremental relationship were not fully
achieved, not because of any lacuna in India's policies towards these
countries, but because of their perceptions and limitations of policies
and India's firmness in safeguarding her own interests on matters on
which there were differences of approach with them.
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With China, Japan and major European countries, relations were positive,
demonstrating an increase in the content and range of bilateral
relations.
India's relations with her immediate neighbours in the South Asian
region continued to receive primary attention. While relations with
Pakistan remained uneven due to Pakistan's intrusive and adversary
attitude, the Indian endeavour was to prevent the relationship from
degenerating into any adventurist or conflict situation. In this, India
succeeded without compromising her interests in any manner. Our
relations with Bangladesh, barring on issues related to the sharing of
water resources, are stable and developing on practical lines. The
positive patterns of relationship established with Nepal, Bhutan and Sri
Lanka were given adequate momentum.
India played an active role in encouraging the consolidation of
cooperation in the SAARC region through the institutional mechanisms of
the SAARC.
Despite the upheavals in Afghanistan, India maintained contacts with all
important political leaders and factions of the country. The
traditionally friendly relations with Maldives continued to develop, and
a constructive equation has been established with Myanmar.
President's visit to Iran in July 1993 in transit and the Prime
Minister's visit to Tehran in September 1993 forged positive links with
this important neighbour. The foundation for a multifaceted and positive relationship
with Iran was laid during Prime Minister's visit.
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As far as East and South-East Asia are concerned, the Prime Minister's
visit to Beijing and Seoul in early September 1993 and his visit to
Thailand in April 1993 were important landmarks. The signing of the
Sino-Indian Agreement on Maintaining Peace and Tranquillity on the Line
of Actual Control between the borders of the two countries was an
important step forward towards normalising bilateral relations and
developing them on positive lines. The Prime Minister's visit to South
Korea was the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister, opening
significant new avenues of co-operation. Prime Minister's visit to
Bangkok and his meetings with the President of Indonesia and the Prime
Ministers of Malaysia and Singapore galvanised the on-going process of
India's efforts to establish close links with the ASEAN region.
India signed the Third Generation Agreement on Economic Cooperation with
the European Community and issued a joint statement on political
cooperation between the Community and India in December 1993. This was a
step in the right direction to establish a steady relationship ensuring
continuity in our interaction with the important countries of Europe.
The visit to India of President Yeltsin, Prime Minister john Major and
Chancellor Kohl, in quick succession in the first quarter of 1993 on the
one hand indicated mutuality of interests, on which close and
incremental relationships are being established with the UK, Germany and
the Russian Federation, important entities in the European area. On the
other our President's visit to Ukraine, Hungary, Turkey and the United
Kingdom in the late summer of 1993 created an additional dimension to
India's relations with the European continent.
Responding to new developments in West Asia and South Africa, India
continued to expand relations with South Africa and Israel, at the same
time expanding the economic, cultural and commercial content of our
relations with the Arab countries. The visits of Foreign Ministers of
South Africa and Israel to India during 1993 constituted the beginning
of high-level political contacts between these two countries and India.
Prime Minister's visit to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan completed the
initial cycle of highest level political visits between the leaders of
Central Asian Republics and India. The objective was to work out long-
term plans for political and economic contacts with our Central Asian partners.
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India has always been an active participant in the proceedings of the
United Nations and all its specialised agencies. India effectively
countered efforts by Pakistan to get the UN and its agencies to pass
resolutions against India on issues of human rights and Kashmir. India,
along with Turkey, successfully co-sponsored a resolution against
terrorism at the UN General Assembly in 1993. India also co-sponsored
the important resolutions on disarmament-related to comprehensive test
ban treaty and control of fissile material, which were passed at the
General Assembly. India's approach to issues before the United Nations
was structured to meet her concerns and interests. India actively
participates in the discussions in the working group meeting dealing
with the restructuring and democratisation of the UN.
The Prime Minister led the Indian delegation to the SAARC Summit in
April 1993. External Affairs Minister, Shri Dinesh Singh, led the Indian
delegation to the SAARC Foreign Ministers' meeting in December 1993.
India played an active role in promoting the project for a South Asia
Preferential Trade Arrangement. India was asked to be the host for the
next SAARC Summit which will be held in late 1994 or early 1995. India
commenced her formal relationship with ASEAN by participating in the
first sectoral dialogue with the ASEAN countries at the meeting held in
Bali (Indonesia) in january 1994.
Responding to the requirement of added and focussed publicity efforts to
counter pressures related to issues like human rights, Kashmir etc, a
decision was taken by the Government to create a separate publicity wing
under the charge of an officer of the rank of Secretary to the
Government. This unit was established in 1993 and is now operational.
In overall terms, the Ministry of External Affairs met the difficulties,
faced the challenges and utilised the opportunities affecting
international relations in a manner which safeguard India's interests.
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USA
INDIA PAKISTAN URUGUAY CHINA RUSSIA JAPAN BANGLADESH BHUTAN NEPAL AFGHANISTAN MALDIVES IRAN KOREA THAILAND MALI INDONESIA MALAYSIA REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE GERMANY UNITED KINGDOM UKRAINE HUNGARY TURKEY SOUTH AFRICA ISRAEL KAZAKHSTAN UZBEKISTAN
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1993
1. India's Neighbours |
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RELATIONS between India and Nepal have traditionally been close and
friendly. India has an open border with Nepal and shares strong ties
based on history, geography, culture and religion.
During the year under review, the traditionally close and friendly
relations with Nepal continued to develop. The King of Nepal, His
Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah, paid a State visit to India in
May 1993. The visit was a symbol of the close links between the two
countries at the highest level, since the King as constitutional Monarch
is the Head of State of Nepal.
India's economic co-operation programme with Nepal continued to bear
fruit. An industrial estate at Rajbiraj and a telephone exchange at
Rangeli in Nepal were successfully commissioned during the year.
Government of India also made available ten thousand tonnes of rice and
corrugated sheets for the flood affected people of Nepal.
Under the new trade regime which came into force in April 1993 access to
the Indian market free of customs duty for manufactured articles was
improved to. include articles containing not less than 50% of Nepalese
materials and labour. Several procedural simplifications were introduced
and it is hoped that these, along with the growth in the Indian and
Nepalese economies, will lead to further growth in bilateral trade.
The presence of approximately 100,000 Bhupali refugees in Nepal was a
sensitive issue between two friendly neighbours of India. A joint Nepal-Bhutan Ministerial Committee consisting of three members from each
side was established and met in October 1993 in Kathmandu. Both sides
agreed on a categorisation of refugees. India hopes that Nepal and
Bhutan will arrive at an amicable settlement of the issue. -1>
The warm, close and friendly relations between India and Bhutan were
further strengthened during the year. His Majesty King Jigme Singye
Wangchuck visited India from 4 to 7 January 1993 and held discussions
with the President, Prime Minister and other senior Ministers of the
Government of India on issues of mutual interest. The Prime Minister,
Shri P V Narasimha Rao, paid a goodwill visit to Bhutan on 21 and 22
August 1993. The visit was fruitful and helped to advance co-operation
in several on-going projects in Bhutan. At the talks, both India and
Bhutan resolved to expand their traditionally strong, warm and cordial
ties. Close and regular exchanges at all levels continued with the
visits of the Bhutanese Planning Minister, Minister for Trade and
Industry, Foreign Minister and Finance Minister. The Minister of
External Affairs and Secretary (Power) of India also visited Bhutan.
Bhutan's 7th Five Year Plan (1992-97) was launched in July 1992. The
total Indian assistance for Bhutan's 7th Plan would be Rs 750 crores.
The close economic co-operation which has been steadily increasing right
from 1961 when India fully funded Bhutan's Ist Five Year Plan has been
intensified during the 7th Five Year Plan. The Annual Plan talks were
held in February 1993 in New Delhi and review of the Plan was done in
September 1993 in Thimphu.
Work on several major projects began during the financial year including
an airport terminal building at Paro, Kurichu Hydel Project in Eastern
Bhutan, hospitals, schools, roads and bridges, transmission lines and
substations, rural electrification, survey projects, etc. The long co-
operation between India and Bhutan in the power sector was further
strengthened in January 1993 with the signing of the Memorandum of
Understanding between India and Bhutan for a multipurpose project on
Sankosh river with an estimated capacity of 1525 MW of power and is
expected to irrigate half a million acre of land downstream in India.
India also provided assistance for rehabilitation of mini hydel
projects.
India continued to offer Bhutanese students opportunities for secondary
as well as higher education and training in various fields like survey
sector, road sector, etc. Co-operation in the educational and cultural
fields continued to be close.
-2>
During the year 1993, the level of interaction with the Government of
Bangladesh continued to remain high despite differences of opinion on
some important bilateral issues such as the sharing of river waters,
repatriation of Chakma refugees to Bangladesh and illegal immigration
from Bangladesh.
Prime Minister visited Dhaka on 10 and 11 April 1993 to attend the 7th
SAARC Summit. During a bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister of
Bangladesh on 11 April 1993, SAARC-related matters, bilateral issues
such as the sharing of river waters, demarcation of Indo-Bangladesh Land
Boundary and Maritime Boundary, transit facilities and economic co-
operation were discussed.
Minister of External Affairs paid visits to Dhaka from 7 to 11 April
1993 to attend the 7th SAARC Summit and from 1 to 5 December 1993 to
participate in the 13th Session of the Council of Ministers from SAARC
countries. During these visits, he had bilateral meetings with the
Foreign Minister of Bangladesh.
The goodwill generated by these visits was further enhanced by the
visits to Delhi of the Bangladesh Ministers for Communications from 2 to
9 May 1993 and Foreign Affairs from 11 to 13 June 1993 and the
Bangladesh Army Chief from 10 to 16 May 1993, and the visit to Dhaka by
the Home Secretary from 7 to 9 October 1993.
However, there were some setbacks to the relationship due to a critical
statement by Bangladesh on the River Water question in the United
Nations General Assembly on 1 October 1993. It was alleged that the
economic structure of Bangladesh was facing disaster as a consequence of
the Farakka Barrage which had created unimaginable adverse effects on
their economy and environment.
In a statement issued on 8 October 1993, India noted with considerable
regret that Bangladesh thought it fit to raise the bilateral issue of
river waters at UN General Assembly. References to the Farakka Barrage
and related issues neither did justice to the documented facts nor
referred to the understanding in May 1992 between the two Prime
Ministers on the principles and framework of a solution. India remains
committed to devising "an equitable, long-term and comprehensive
arrangement" on water sharing with Bangladesh through bilateral
discussions.
Despite the understanding reached between India and Bangladesh on the
repatriation of Chakma and other tribal refugees now in Tripura during the visits of the Bangladesh Minister for Communications and of
the Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Salman Khurshid, to
Tripura on 8 and 9 May 1993, the repatriation did not take off on 9 June
1993 as refugees remained largely unconvinced about the assurances given
by the Government of Bangladesh about their security and safety in
Bangladesh and also about the rehabilitation package offered. During the
visit of the Home Secretary to Dhaka in October 1993, it was agreed to
continue efforts to remove the negative factors in connection with the
repatriation. -3>
The first meeting of the Indo-Bangladesh joint Business Council was held
in New Delhi on 5 July 1993.
India's exports to Bangladesh in 1992-93 were valued at Rs 1,031 crores
whereas imports from Bangladesh were Rs 35 crores.
As the internal situation in Myanmar improved following the policies of
liberalisation introduced by the SLORC, India developed a better working
relationship with the Myanmar Government. Simultaneously, India
continued to support the restoration of democratic government in
Myanmar.
An Indian delegation led by Foreign Secretary visited Myanmar from 29 to
31 March 1993. The two sides held wide-ranging discussions on bilateral
issues such as insurgency, drug trafficking, trade, contacts between
civilian and military authorities in the border regions of the two.
countries to prevent illegal activities, etc. An agreement on Prevention
of Drug Abuse and Trafficking was signed during the visit. Discussions
held during the visit included negotiations on a Border Trade Agreement
and a Memorandum of Understanding on co-operation between civilian
border authorities of the two countries. A Tripartite Maritime Agreement
determining T-Point in the Andaman Seas between India, Myanmar and
Thailand was signed on 27 October 1993.
An Indian delegation led by Surveyor General of India successfully
visited Myanmar during September 1993 and worked out a schedule for
joint inspection, repair and maintenance of boundary pillars.
Deputy Foreign Minister of Myanmar, U Nyunt Swe, paid an official visit
to India from 19 to 24 January 1994 at the invitation of the Foreign
Secretary. He was accompanied by a six-member Inter-Ministerial
Delegation. Delegation level talks took place on 20 and 21 January 1994
which covered the entire gamut of bilateral relationship. The Indian
delegation was led by Foreign Secretary. A Memorandum of Understanding
on Co-operation between Civilian Border Authorities and a Border Trade
Agreement we're signed during the visit. The Deputy Foreign Minister of
Myanmar called on External Affairs Minister, Commerce Minister and
Ministers of State for External Affairs, Home Affairs and Defence during
his visit. -4>
The assassination of President Premadasa of Sri Lanka by the forces of
violence on 1 May 1993, was a grave loss not only for Sri Lanka, but for
the entire SAARC region, as President Premadasa had played an active and
significant role in promoting regional co-operation under the auspices
of the SAARC. As a mark of respect to the departed leader, the
Government of India declared a three-day State mourning. India's
delegation for the State funeral of President Premadasa was led by the
Vice President and included the Minister of State for External Affairs,
Shri R L Bhatia.
The new Government in Sri Lanka under President D B Wijetunga shares
India's desire to continue the process of further strengthening the
friendly relations between the two countries. The visit of the new Prime
Minister, Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe, to India in June 1993, shortly after
his assumption of office, provided a very useful opportunity for
interaction at the highest level. The Sri Lankan Prime Minister conveyed
to Prime Minister and other Indian leaders his Government's desire to
further expand bilateral co-operation for mutual benefit in various
areas. The Prime Minister conveyed to the Sri Lankan Prime Minister that
India fully favoured the strengthening of economic and commercial co-
operation between the two countries. It was agreed that the second
session of the Indo-Sri Lanka joint Commission co-chaired by the Foreign
Ministers would be held shortly to identify further possibilities of co-
operation.
In pursuance of the above decision, official level discussions
preparatory to the joint Commission were held in Colombo in November
1993. Besides reviewing progress on various proposals at these talks,
the officials prepared a set of recommendations for the consideration of
the joint Commission at the level of Foreign Ministers.
India continued to favour a peaceful solution to the ethnic crisis in
Sri Lanka within the framework of the unity, sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Sri Lanka, through negotiations involving all those parties
which have eschewed the path of violence.
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The successful completion of the resumed phase from 12 April to 6
September 1993, of the voluntary repatriation of Sri Lankan refugees to
their country, has been a matter of satisfaction for both countries.
During this phase, nearly 7,000 refugees returned to Sri Lanka; the
total number of refugees who have returned so far is about 36,000.
The problems pertaining to fishermen from both countries straying into
each other's waters and related matters continue to be a subject of
consultations between India and Sri Lanka. The Government of India
strongly conveyed its concerns to the Government of Sri Lanka in the
wake of reports of attacks on Indian fishermen in the Palk Straits in
September/October 1993 and the proclamation by Sri Lanka Government in
September 1993 of a "prohibited zone" in Sri Lankan territorial waters.
Talks were held at the Foreign Secretaries level in New Delhi on 15
October 1993. Both sides agreed on the need for effective measures to
prevent such incidents in future. Further discussions continued on the
subject.
During the year 1993, there was active interaction between the two
countries in economic, commercial and technical areas. The meetings of
the Sub-Commissions on Science & Technology, and on Social, Educational
and Cultural matters, were held in Delhi in the first quarter of the
year 1993. The Joint Business Council met in Colombo in March 1993.
Among notable bilateral proposals/exchanges were the visits by the
Chairman and other officials from National Dairy Development Board to
Colombo for co-operation in dairy development sector; official level
discussions on civil aviation matters and on co-operation in the tea
sector; visit of a team of experts to Sri Lanka to prepare a blue print
for the proposed setting up of an Institute of Technology and Management
in Sri Lanka; gifting of Radiosonde equipment to Sri Lanka; and setting
up of a joint venture in Sri Lanka for the manufacture of automotive
tyres.
India's traditionally close and friendly relations with Maldives were
further consolidated by high-level meetings and consultations during the
year / 1993. Both countries looked forward to furthering bilateral co-
operation in mutually identified areas during the fourth term of office
of President Gayoom, to which he was re-elected on the basis of a
referendum held in October 1993. The Indian Government was represented
by the Railway Minister at the inaugural ceremonies of President
Gayoom's fresh term.
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The visit of the Foreign Minister of Maldives, Mr Fathulla Jameel, to
India in May 1993, provided a very useful forum for discussions. Besides
calling on the Prime Minister and the Minister of External Affairs, Mr
Jameel held discussions with the Ministers of State for External
Affairs, Surface Transport and Commerce. The Foreign Minister of
Maldives interacted with a wide cross-section of Indian business
community during his stay in Bombay and Delhi and discussed ways, and
means for promoting bilateral economic and commercial co-operation.
The Minister of Justice and Islamic Affairs of the Government of
Maldives visited New Delhi in October 1993. The Maldivian Minister
called on Prime Minister and held discussions with the Minister of State
for Law, justice and Company Affairs.
During the SAARC Ministerial meeting held in Dhaka in December 1993, the
Foreign Minister of Maldives called on the Minister of External Affairs.
The two Ministers held wide ranging discussions on matters of mutual
interest.
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During the year 1993, the Indian Government made vigorous efforts to
complete the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital at Male, which is a major
landmark of India-Maldives friendship and co-operation. Senior officials
from the Indian side visited Male to monitor the works-in-progress in
coordination with their Maldivian counterparts. The hospital is expected
to be handed over to the Government of Maldives shortly and is due for
commissioning during 1994.
India-Pakistan relations continued to show a negative trend. Pakistan's
support to terrorism directed against India and its proclivity to
interfere in India's internal affairs was manifest in the bomb blasts in
Bombay in March 1993. Pakistan's aid to and abetment of terrorism
directed against India in the States of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab and
other parts of the country vitiated the atmosphere and has had a
negative impact on bilateral relations.
Pakistan's complicity in the planning and execution of the bomb blasts
in Bombay resulted in an increased perception of the public in India of
Pakistan's designs to interfere in India's internal affairs and to
engineer conditions of instability. This issue was firmly taken up by
the Prime Minister in his meeting with Mr Nawaz Sharif, the then Prime
Minister of Pakistan, in April in Dhaka during the SAARC Summit. In
spite of Pakistani assurances of co-operation in locating, apprehending
and returning to India the members of the Memon family, prime suspects
in the incident of the bomb blasts in Bombay, there has been no positive
response from Pakistan.
-7>
Internal political developments in Pakistan including frequent changes
in Government through most of the year also precluded any meaningful
interaction between the two Governments.
In his congratulatory message to Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto on 19
October, Prime Minister offered wide ranging and sustained bilateral
discussions at the earliest to progressively normalise the relations.
Foreign Secretary level talks were announced on 24 November and were
held in Islamabad from 1 to 3 January 1994.
Earlier, Pakistan indulged in a spate of false propaganda in reaction to
the incident at Hazratbal with a view to arousing communal feelings and
further encouraging extremist elements. Pakistan's efforts to introduce
a resolution on the human rights situation in Jammu & Kashmir at the
Third Committee of the UN General Assembly Session did not fructify.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has been sending delegations and addressing special
messages to a number of countries with a view to furthering its designs
on Jammu & Kashmir. The views of the Government of India were made known
to all, concerned.
India has consistently held the view that the only logical and rational
approach is harmonious co-existence based on the fundamental principle
of non-interference in each other's internal affairs as enshrined in the
Simla Agreement. This approach requires an equal commitment on behalf of
Pakistan.
The seventh round of Foreign Secretary level talks between India and
Pakistan took place in Islamabad from I to 3 January 1994. Foreign
Secretary called on the President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
of Pakistan. There were four rounds of delegation-level talks. The
discussions were intensive and wide ranging and both sides reiterated
the need to engage in a meaningful dialogue with a view to addressing
all outstanding problems.
As indicated during the Seventh Round of Foreign Secretary level talks,
India handed over to Pakistan on 24 January 1994 six non-papers on
Siachen, Sir Creek, a proposed agreement on maintaining peace and
stability on Line of Control, Tulbal Navigation Project, Additional
Confidence Building Measures and the Indo-Pak joint Commission.
-8>
The continuing instability in Afghanistan was a major impediment in the
continuance of traditional programmes of co-operation between India and
Afghanistan. Owing to a serious deterioration in the security situation,
the Indian Mission in Kabul had to be temporarily closed down in
February 1993. The Mission was reopened in September 1993. India
maintained useful official exchanges with the Afghan leadership. The
Foreign Minister of Afghanistan, Mr Hidayat Amin Arsala, visited New
Delhi in July 1993. As a humanitarian gesture to the people of
Afghanistan, India donated Rs 1.4 crore worth of medicines and tea to
Afghanistan under the UN's assistance programme.
The climate of uncertainty, instability and conflict which has
characterised the situation in Afghanistan since April 1992 has
continued. India has stood for a sovereign, independent, non-aligned and
united Afghanistan. The Government believes that a political settlement
taking into account the wishes of all sections of the Afghan people
should be arrived at by the Afghans themselves without any form of
external interference.
The holding of the Seventh SAARC Summit in Dhaka on 10 and 11 April 1993
was a major event. On the conclusion of the Summit, the Dhaka
Declaration was adopted unanimously on 11 April 1993. The SAARC leaders
also agreed on setting up of the SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement
(SAPTA).
The Seventh SAARC Summit welcomed the Report of the Independent South
Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation which had been established at
the Colombo Summit. The Heads of State/Government committed their
Governments to the eradication of poverty in South Asia preferably by
2002 AD through an Agenda of Action, which embodies a strategy of social
mobilisation, decentralised agricultural development, small scale labour
intensive industrialisation and human development policies with a
priority focus on the rights to work and to primary education. A basic
nutritional or "dal-bhat" approach has been advocated.
Another notable event has been the enactment by the Government of India
of enabling legislation to implement the SAARC Regional Convention on
Suppression of Terrorism. The necessary legislation in this regard has
been passed by both Houses of Parliament and has become an Act of
Parliament after receiving the assent of the President of India on 26
April, 1993.
India ratified the SAARC Convention on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances in August 1993 and the Convention came into force
with effect from 15 September 1993 after being ratified by all the
SAARC member States.
-9>
The SAARC leaders at their Seventh SAARC Summit endorsed the "Colombo
Resolution on Children" adopted by the Second SAARC Ministerial
Conference on Children held at Colombo in September 1992. The
"illustrative goals" contained in the Colombo Resolution on Children
have been incorporated as intermediate goals in the Indian National Plan
of Action on Children.
The SAARC leaders welcomed the decisions to institutionalise co-
operation in core areas. They further underlined the critical importance
of urgently promoting intra-regional co-operation, particularly in the
area of manufactures in order to enhance the productive capacity of the
member countries, and to promote sustained growth and development to
prevent the marginalization of South Asia's trade interest in the larger
global context.
One of the major achievements of the Seventh SAARC Summit was the
signing of the SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA), which is
a concrete step in the direction of trade liberalisation in the SAARC
region. The Third Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Group on Trade
Liberalisation was held in November in Colombo and after that the Fourth
Meeting of the Committee on Economic Co-operation was held in Dhaka on
21 and 22 November 1993. The lists of items for seeking tariff
concession have been exchanged and negotiations being held on the
subject. At the Council of Ministers Meeting held in Dhaka on 4 and 5
December 1993, the Council strongly urged member States to complete all
formalities to put into operation the SAPTA latest by 1995.
The meetings of the 13th Session of the Programming Committee, 18th
Session of the Standing Committee and 13th Session of the Council of
Ministers were held at Dhaka between 30 November and 5 December 1993. In
her inaugural address at the 13th Session of the Council of Ministers,
the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Chairperson of the South Asian
Association for Regional Co-operation, emphasised that the SAARC
activities must keep pace with the preparations being made by the
international community for the World Conference on Population and Women
in 1994, the World Social Summit in 1995 and the Habitat-IIts
in 1996. The Council of Ministers welcomed India's offer to host two
Workshops in 1994 with a view to evolving a collective position by SAARC member States for the World Summit for Social Development to be
held in Copenhagen in 1995 and the World Conference on Natural Disaster
Reduction in 1994. India has also offered to host in February 1994 a
Workshop of the representatives of the non-govern mental organizations
active in the field of girl-child combinid with the preparatory meeting
for the 4th World Women's Conference.
-10>
In accordance with the decision of the Seventh SAARC Summit, a SAARC
Ministerial Conference on Women and Family Health was held in Kathmandu
from 21 to 23 November 1993. The Ministers adopted a Kathmandu
Resolution on Women and Family Health and resolved that the text of the
Kathmandu Resolution may be forwarded to the International Conference on
Population and Development Secretariat at New York as the input of SAARC
member countries to facilitate preparatory work of the Conference on
Population and Development.
Under the aegis of SAARC, so far approximately 66 activities have been
held in 1993 out of which 15 were held in India. These include training
courses, seminars, workshops, technical studies, etc.
The Eighth SAARC Summit will be held in India in late 1994 or early
1995.
India values SAARC co-operation as a complementary dimension of her
bilateral relationship with the neighbouring countries and continues to
play an active role with the view to achieve and promote the objectives
enshrined in the SAARC Charter.
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1993
2. South-East Asia and the Pacific |
Top |
INDIA'S traditionally close and friendly relations with member
countries of Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and with
countries in Indo-China were further strengthened by numerous high level
contacts during 1993-94. The special policy focus continued on forging
close economic ties with 'the ASEAN countries.
Traditional ties with Thailand were revitalised with the visit of Prime
Minister, Shri Narasimha Rao, to Thailand in April 1993. The two Prime
Ministers agreed on the need for high level political direction to
augment bilateral trade and commerce by at least 20% each year. Specific
areas such as fisheries, aquaculture, tourism, agriculture, and science
& technology including peaceful uses of atomic energy were identified
for time-bound co-operation.
Subsequent to the Prime Minister's visit, two rounds of talks on
fisheries co-operation have already been held. India, Thailand and
Myanmar signed the Trilateral Maritime Boundary Agreement, along with an
Indo-Thai Bilateral Maritime Boundary Agreement in New Delhi in October
1993.
The Second India-Thailand joint Commission Session held in New Delhi
from 2 to 5 November 1993, co-chaired by the Thai Foreign Minister, Sqn
Ldr Prasong Soonsiri and the Minister of External Affairs, Shri Dinesh
Singh, reviewed follow-up action to Prime Minister's visit to Thailand.
Both sides agreed to take specific action to augment. trade and expand
economic relations between the two countries. The two sides exchanged
views on the positive. trends in bilateral relations on regional issues
such as SAARC,. ASEAN, ARF and APEC and on
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international issues such as human rights, cross border terrorism and
disarmament.
The Singapore industry and corporate sector is displaying a high level
of interest in India, particularly in the wake of India's economic
liberalisation and her attempt to integrate with the global economy.
Several India-Singapore Joint ventures in the field of information
technology, an integrated complex of hotels, shopping arcades, etc are
already in the pipeline. A Software Technology Park is being planned in
Bangalore by the Karnataka Government in collaboration with Singapore
companies and the Tatas.
At the political level, Singapore has consistently signalled its desire
to bring about a qualitative upgradation in the bilateral relations.
Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Goh Chok Tong, visited India from 23 to
30 January 1994 as the Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations
this year. He led a delegation comprising Foreign Minister, Minister of
Trade and Industry, CEOs of 36 major business houses, senior civil
servants and a large media team. Apart from ceremonial attendance at
Republic Day celeberations, his programme in Delhi consisted of meetings
with President, Vice President, Prime Minis ter, Finance Minister, and,
Ministers of Surface Transport, Communications and Environment. He also
addressed about a 100 strong gathering of captains of Indian industry at
a Round Table Conference organized by CII He laid the foundation stone
in Bangalore of an Information Technology Park, a Rs 150 crores joint
venture project between private companies in India and Singapore and the
State of Karnataka in the fields of computer software and electronics.
In Bombay, he inaugurated the representative office of Development Bank
of Singapore. His visit was aimed towards forging a strategic economic
alliance with India for coordinated action by the Governments and
business in both countries to enhance joint ventures in diverse areas
such as tourism, civil aviation, telecommunications, real estate and
highways, financial services, ports and shipping, warehousing and
information exchange.
Relations with Malaysia continued to be close. The Malaysian Prime
Minister, Dr Mahathir Mohammad, visited India in December 1993 during
the G-15 meeting and had bilateral discussions with the Indian
leadership on issues of mutual interest. Six Memorandums of
Understanding were signed during this visit in various fields with
Indian private/ public firms. The Malaysian Minister for Energy,
Telecommunication and Posts visited India in April 1993 and held
discussions with his counterparts.
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As a result of the recent Supreme Court judgement about admissions to
professional colleges, Malaysian students may not be able to pursue
medical education in India as in the past.
Philippines Agriculture Minister, Mr Roberto Sebastian, visited India in
August 1993 and held discussions with his counterpart, Shri Balram
jakhar, on enhancing co-operation with the Philippines, particularly in
the livestock sector. The Agriculture Minister also paid an official
visit to the Philippines in September 1993 and held discussions on
matters of bilateral interest.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed with the Philippines firm
Autocorp in August 1993 for the assembly and sale of Tata trucks.
Discussions are going on with the Philippines authorities for
collaboration in various sectors including power projects.
The Indonesian President, Mr Suharto, visited India in December 1993 for
discussions on bilateral and multilateral issues with the President and
the Prime Minister. President Suharto also participated in the
"Education for All" Summit meeting in New Delhi. Earlier, Minister of
State for External Affairs, Shri R L Bhatia, had visited Indonesia in
May 1993 for the NAM Ministerial meeting and subsequently in September
as Special Envoy of Prime Minister carrying a letter of invitation for
President Suharto for the G-15 Summit. Shri Bhatia had meetings with
Indonesian Foreign Minister, Mr Ali Alatas, and called on President
Suharto. The latter was also invited for an official visit to India.
These visits have helped both the countries in getting a better idea of
each other's viewpoints on various issues of mutual concern.
The political co-operation between the two countries has been enhanced.
Regular discussions and consultations are being held in the context of
the Non-Aligned Movement, G-15, GATT and on human rights.
The meeting of the Indo-ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue took place in January
1994 in Jakarta. Bilateral trade is on the increase. More Indian
companies are in the process of setting up joint ventures in Indonesia.
Some Indonesian firms are also investing in joint ventures in India in
the field of palm oil and other projects. The India-Indonesia joint
Business Council meeting was held in Delhi in November 1993.
The close and friendly relations with Vietnam were given a further boost
by exchange of high-level visits. Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of
State for External Affairs, visited Vietnam in February 1993. Many
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areas for economic co-operation between India and Vietnam were
identified. Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Capt Satish
Sharma, visited Vietnam in July 1993, to review the progress of the off-
shore exploration project of the Oil and Natural Gas Commission (Videsh
Ltd) in southern Vietnam and discuss about other areas of co-operation.
Vice President, Shri K R Narayanan, accompanied by his wife, paid a
good-will visit to Vietnam from 22 to 28 September 1993. The visit
provided an opportunity for an exchange of views with the Vietnamese
leadership. Both sides felt the need to enhance the economic co-
operation to make it commensurate with the excellent political relations
existing between India and Vietnam.
The Vietnamese Vice-Minister of Finance, Mr Pham Van Trong, visited
India in October 1993 for discussions on Indo-Vietnamese economic
relations and the forthcoming joint Commission meeting to be held in
Hanoi in early 1994.
A number of Indian companies are, in the, process of setting up projects
in Vietnam. KCP of Madras has signed an agreement with a Vietnamese
company for setting up a sugar plant. Another Indian company, Harrison
Malayalam, is setting up a rubber plantation and processing project in
Vietnam.
Through agreement on recycling of the credit of Rs 390 million to
Vietnam, continued economic co-operation between the two countries was
spurred. An agreement on air services between India and Vietnam was
signed in May 1993, opening up opportunities for direct air services
between India and Vietnam.
The close and cordial relations between India and Cambodia were further
strengthened. The 1,800 strong Indian contingent under United Nations
Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) made significant contribution
to the UN efforts towards the establishment of peace in Cambodia and in
the electoral process. The UNTAC authorities gave fulsome praise for the
peace-keeping role and the civic action programme of the Indian
contingent. The Prime Minister, Prince Ranariddh, also expressed his
appreciation for the contributions of the Indian contingent.
On completion of their 7-year project for restoration of the Angkor Vat
Temple in Cambodia, the Archaeological Survey of India team returned to
India in May 1993. The Indian contribution has been appreciated by
various Cambodian leaders.
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India sent a consignment of 2,000 tonnes of rice to Cambodia in May
1993. Cambodian trainees continued to be offered facilities for various
technical courses in India under Indian Technical and Economic
Cooperation Programme.
The traditionally friendly relations with Laos were maintained. A 2-
member delegation of the Lao PDR National Assembly led by Dr Khamlieng
Pholsena, member of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly And
Head of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs Commission,, visited India
in April 1993 to attend the 89th Inter Parliamentary Congress held in
New Delhi.
Bilateral relations with Australia continued to be cordial. The Prime
Minister in his message of greetings to Prime Minister Paul Keating on
his re-election as Prime Minister also invited him to visit India.
Visits during the year included that of Minister of State for Waste Land
Development, Col Rao Ram Singh, to Western Australia from 13 to 18 June
1993 at the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister of Western
Australia, Mr, Hendy Cowan, to study the development of Wastelands. In
turn, Mr Hendy Cowan visited India at the invitation of Minister of
State for Commerce, Shri Kamaluddin Ahmed, from 14 to 24 November 1993
to explore the possibilities of joint ventures with India. The Speaker
of the Lok Sabha, Shri Shivraj Patil, accompanied by the Leader of the
Opposition, Shri A B Vajpayee, visited Canberra from 10 to 18 September
1993, to participate in the IPU Conference. The Deputy Speaker, of Lok
Sabha, Shri S Mallikarjunaiah, attended the 5th Commonwealth
Parliamentary Seminar in Perth in May 1993. An Australian Parliamentary
delegation led by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Henry Jenkins, visited India
from 21 to 27 November 1993.
The Bilateral Official Consultations with Australia took place on 2 and
3 February 1994. Secretary (East) led the talks from Indian side and was
accompanied by joint Secretary (AP).
Exchanges on defence and related fields were another feature of India-
Australia relations. Vice Admiral, IDG MacDougall, Chief of Naval Staff
of Australia, visited India from 9 to 16 May 1993 at the invitation of
Chief of the Naval Staff of India. An NDC Team from India visited
Australia from 20 June to 4 July 1993. A senior officer also
participated at a Conference on "Australia's Maritime Bridge into Asia"
in November 1993. A senior official from the Australian Foreign Office
visited New Delhi in November 1993 for discussions and to brief India on
Australia's views on CTBT.
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Bilateral trade with Australia, which has been growing steadily over,
the years, reached a total of Rs 31084.77 crores in 1992-93 reflecting
an increase of 102% compared to the bilateral trade in 1987-88. However,
Australia continued to enjoy a trade surplus, which stood at Rs 1,737
crores in 1992-93 mainly on account of Australia's supplies of coal and
wool to India. The India-Australia joint Working Group in Power met in
New Delhi in March 1993. The Seventh India-Australia joint Business
Council (JBC) met in New Delhi in February 1993.
The India-Australia joint Ministerial Committee had its 3rd meeting in
Sydney on 4 February 1994. The Indian delegation was led by Minister of
State for Commerce, Shri Kamaluddin Ahmed.
Bilateral relations with New Zealand continued to be friendly and
cordial. The general elections in New Zealand on 6 November 1993
resulted in the ruling National Party returning to power with a wafer-
thin majority winning 50 of the 99 seats and enabling Prime Minister Jim
Bolger to form the Government again. Prime Minister, Shri P V Narasimha
Rao, sent a message of congratulations to Prime Minister Bolger.
The Bilateral Official Consultations with New Zealand took place on 7
and 8 February 1994 in Wellington. joint Secretary (AP) led the Indian
side.
Trade continued to be the focal point in India's relations with New
Zealand. Exports from India in 1992-93 stood at Rs 93 crores against the
imports from New Zealand of Rs 177 crores. The India-New Zealand joint
Business Council met in New Zealand on 4 August 1993. A Punjab
Government delegation visited New Zealand in March 1993 and a delegation
from the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry visited New Zealand
from 9 to 14 October 1991 New Zealand participated in the 89th Inter
Parliamentarians Congress held in New Delhi from 9 to 17 April 1993. The
first India-New Zealand joint naval exercises took place off Bombay from
27 to 29 July 1993 during the visit of the two New Zealand warships to
India. Former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr David Lange, visited New
Delhi twice during the period under review.
The situation in Fiji continued to receive India's attention. Following
the Fiji Parliament's rejection of the Budget on 29 November 1993, Prime
Minister Sitiveni Rabuka dissolved the Parliament and called for
elections now scheduled to be held in February 1994. Earlier, in
response
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to persistent demands, the Fijian Parliament had under the terms of
reference called for the setting up of a Constitutional Review
Commission. The ban on economic, technical and commercial co-operation
with Fiji continued to remain in force. Scholarships however continued
to be given to deserving Fijian students.
The President of Nauru, Mr Bernard Dowiyogo, visited India on 10 and 11
June 1993 to sign the agreement for sale of the equity held by Nauru in
Paradeep Phosphates Ltd. India acquired the equity share of Nauru in PPL
for Australian S 63.8 million (Rs 135.745 crores).
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha visited Papua New Guinea in connection with
the Conference of Commonwealth Speakers and Presiding Officers held
there in January 1994. High Commissioner of India, Kuala Lumpur, will
concurrently be accredited to Papua New Guinea.
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|
1993
3. East Asia
|
Top |
THE momentum of high-level political dialogue and steady improvement
in India-China relations was maintained during 1993-94 as Government
continued their efforts to work towards the goal of establishing a long-
term,, stable and good neighbourly relationship with China. It was
recognised by the two countries that in a rapidly changing international
situation where developing nations were being subjected to new
pressures, countries like India and China must maintain substantive
contacts and that a constructive engagement between them would not only
conform to their mutual interests but would also be conducive to peace,
stability and development in Asia and the world.
The visit of Prime Minister, Shri P V Narasimha Rao, to China in
September 1993 reinforced the positive trend in bilateral relations. The
most significant outcome of the visit was the signing of the Agreement
on the Maintenance of Peace and Tranquillity Along the Line of Actual
Control in the India-China Border. Areas. It is an enabling agreement
which lays down the framework for ensuring peace and harmony along the
Line of Actual Control (LAC). Under it, India and China have agreed to
observe the LAC without prejudice to their positions on the boundary
question. Experts from both sides would jointly check and determine the
LAC in those segments where there were differences. The two countries
have also agreed to put in place several other measures, including
redeployment of forces in border areas.
The India-China Expert Group, set up to assist the joint Working Group
(JWG) in implementation of the agreement, had its first meeting
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in New Delhi, in February 1994. It is Government's expectation that the
implementation of this agreement would strengthen the likelihood that
peace and tranquillity would continue to be maintained along the India-
China border, thus creating a tension-free atmosphere in which the two
countries could address the larger issue of boundary settlement.
India and China persevered in their efforts in the JWG to seek a fair,
reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement of the boundary question.
The sixth meeting of the India-China JWG was held in New Delhi in June
1993. Apart from continuing their useful dialogue on the boundary
question in an atmosphere free of rancour, the two sides also made
significant progress in their discussions on concrete steps that could
be taken by them to enhance mutual confidence and harmony in border
areas.
As part of the process of generating mutual trust, defence exchanges
between India and China were carried forward. The visit of the Chinese
Naval ship 'Zheng He' to Bombay in November 1993 was the first visit by
a Chinese warship to an Indian port.
India and China continued their efforts to expand the dialogue and
exchanges between their parliamentary institutions. In November 1993, Mr
Li Ruihuan, Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference and a top-ranking leader of the, Chinese Communist Party, led
a high-level delegation to India at the invitation of the Vice-
President.
Bilateral trade and economic co-operation showed signs of modest
increase. A positive development was the approval given for the setting
up of several Chinese joint ventures in India and the agreement on the
establishment of the first-ever Indian joint venture in China.
Recognising, however, that the present level of bilateral economic
interaction remained inadequate, the two countries agreed during Prime
Minister Rao's visit to make special efforts to enlarge their economic
links. New ideas were also explored during the visit of Commerce
Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, to China in June 1993 and, later,
during the visit of the Chinese Vice-Premier, Mr Li Lanqing, to India in
December 1993. During the Prime Minister's visit, a Protocol extending
border trade to Shipki Pass, on, Himachal Pradesh-Tibet border was
signed.
There was also a marked increase in functional exchanges between India
and China in 1993-94, based on the logic of mutual co-operation for
mutual benefit. A Festival of India would be mounted in China in
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May-June 1 994; a Chinese cultural festival had earlier been organized
in India in December 1992.
On the whole, it was possible for India and China to steadily improve
their relations in all spheres of state-to-state and people-to-people
interactions. The peace and tranquillity agreement in particular
reflected the determination of the two countries to overcome past
differences and seek durable relationship on the basis of mutuality of
interests.
The Asia-Pacific region emerged as the focus of global attention during
the year, particularly in the context of rapid evolution of the Asia-
Pacific economic co-operation. This region, in India's immediate
neighbourhood, is one of great importance, and India continued to
sustain her close and cordial relations with the countries in the
region.
The momentum in India's relations with Japan generated by Prime
Minister, Shri P V Narasimha Rao's visit to Japan and the visit of
Prince Akishino to India in 1992 was maintained during the year under
review. Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan,, Mr
Shozo Azuma, paid an official visit to India in January 1994. Important
visitors to Japan included Finance Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, who
visited Japan between 27 and 30 June 1993 as the Special Envoy of the
Prime Minister in his capacity as Chairman of G-15 carrying a message
from Prime Minister to the then Japanese Prime Minister, Mr Kiichi
Miyazawa, who had assumed Chairmanship of G-7. He also met Foreign
Minister Kabun Muto and Finance Minister Yoshiro Hayashi to discuss
bilateral matters particularly the economic reforms. Minister of Power,
Shri N K P Salve, visited Japan from 15 to 17 June 1993 to attract
Japanese investment in the power sector in India. Minister of State for
Petroleum, Shri Satish Sharma, visited Japan in April 1993 to promote
Japanese interest in the hydro-carbon sector.
At the official level, contacts between India and Japan were
intensified. The Annual Foreign Office Bilateral Consultative Talks held
in New Delhi on 1 and 2 April 1993 covered a wide-range of issues
including non-proliferation in the Indian sub-continent. As a follow-up
to the understanding reached between Prime Minister and the then Prime
Minister of Japan, Mr Kiichi Miyazawa, in June 1992, the first ever
official level talks on Non-Proliferation and Nuclear-issues were held
in New Delhi on 11 and 12 March 1993. The discussions afforded the two
sides a better understanding of each others respective positions on non-
proliferation and related matters. Other official meetings that took
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place during the year were Annual Consultations on the Bilateral
Assistance Programme, the Trade Talks and the Railway Working Group. For
the first time a Vice-Minister from the Ministry of International Trade
and Industry of Japan visited New Delhi in March 1992 for discussions
with senior Government officials.
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Japan's interest and continuing support for India's restructuring of the
economy was reflected in tangible ways. It retained its primary position
in the list of donor nations pledging Yen 119.64 billion as Official
Development Assistance (ODA) for 1993-94, a 7% increase over 1992-93.
The six projects selected included three in the power sector, two in the
transport/infrastructure sector and one in the small scale sector.
Additionally, Japan extended Grant-in-Aid for Small Scale, Health,
Education and Social Welfare Projects and technical training. The Japan
International Co-operation Agency JICA) set up an independent Resident
Office in New Delhi. Japan Interntional Co-operation Agency President, K
Yanagiya, visited India in December 1993. Government of India accepted
the recommendation of the Japan International Co-operation Agency Expert
Team for Gurgaon as the first priority site for an Industrial Model Town
(IMT) in India. While Japanese Official Development Assistance
increased, investment figures showed a decline. Investment from Japan to
India which had shown a dramatic increase and was the third highest in
1992 at Rs 610.23 crores, fell sharply in 1993 to Rs 257.43 crores.
Government of Japan, as a follow up to the Economic Mission sent in
January 1992, led by Mr R Ishikawa, stated its intention to send a
second high level Economic Mission in March 1994 to follow up and see
the progress in Indian economic reforms. Japan continued to remain one
of India's largest trade partners though India's share in Japan's total
trade remained miniscule at less than 1 per cent. In terms of volume,
bilateral trade which has shown consistent growth registered a total of
Rs 8,213.77 crores in 1992-93. In the first six months of fiscal year
1993-94 1 e from April to September 1993, the trade turnover with Japan
stood at Rs 4,484.82 crores.
At the non-government level too, exchanges and interaction continued.
Extensive and fruitful discussions on wide range of issues were covered
at the 23rd joint Meeting of the India-Japan Standing Committee (IJSC)
held in Tokyo on 7 and 8 October 1993 led by Shri Vasant Sathe, on the
Indian side and former Prime Minister of Japan, Mr Toshiki Kaifu, the
Hony Chairman, on the Japanese side. The Confederation of Indian
Industry (CII) sent several delegations to Japan including its second
Economic Mission from 16 to 20 October 1993 and also participated at the
Global Business Opportunities Convention (GBOC) in Osaka. The India-
Japan Business Co-operation Committees met in Japan on 22 and 23 April
1993 at Urabandai, Fukushima Prefecture. The 16th Standing Committee of
the India-Japan Business Co-operation Committee (IJBCC) which met in New
Delhi on 25 and 26 November 1993 concentrated on sectoral discussions on
financial services, power and telecommunications. In response to an
Indian initiative, a Study Mission from the power sector of Japan
representing both business and industry and government officials of
Japan visited India from 12 to 18 December 1993 to examine prospects for
investment in the power sector in India. From India other delegations to
Japan included those from the forgings & castings, cashew, spice, tea,
electronics and computer software, sericulture, leather, coir and marine
products sectors.
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In the cultural field co-operation continued apace. The Japan Foundation
opened an office in India. The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace,
Disarmament and Development was awarded to Dr Saburo Okita, eminent
economist and former Japanese Foreign' Minister, posthumously, for his
contribution to the economic development of Japan and for enhancing
India-Japan relations.
The enhanced importance that India and the Republic of Korea placed in
each other's bilateral relations saw the visit of Prime Minister, Shri P
V Narasimha Rao, to the Republic of Korea from 9 to 11 September 1993 at
the invitation of President Kim Young Sam. The visit was the first ever
by an Indian Head of Government to the Republic of Korea. In addition to
the Summit Meeting with the President, Prime Minister also met Prime
Minister Hwang In Sung, and Foreign Minister Han Sung Joo. Prime
Minister's visit laid a firm foundation for mutual efforts to upgrade
and diversify India-Republic of Korea exchanges at all levels-political,
economic and cultural. President Kim Young Sam undertook to provide
positive encouragement to the Republic of Korea's private sector to
extend trade investment and joint ventures with India. Three documents
were signed during the visit, namely, an Agreement on Tourism Co-
operation, the Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) for 1993-95 and a
Protocol on Science and Technology Co-operation. Other high level visits
to the Republic of Korea included that of Shri Satish Sharma, Minister
of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, to Seoul on 6 and 7 April 1993
to attract South Korean participation in the field of oil and natural
gas and Shri jagdish Tytler, Minister of
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State for Surface Transport, from 3 to 6 June 1993 for discussions with
the major Korean ship-builders. Exchanges at the official level also
took place. In addition, a Korean National Defence delegation visited
India on a study tour in October 1993, while a Naval training squadron
from the Republic of Korea paid a goodwill visit to Bombay the same
month..
The India-Korea joint Business Council held its annual meeting when the
Prime Minister was in Seoul and undertook to double India-Republic of
Korea trade within three years from the present figure of about US $ 1
billion. Several delegations from India visited Republic of Korea
including those dealing with leather exports, deoiled cakes, jute
manufacture, plastics, cashew and shellac. In turn, South Korea's
businessmen too came on exploratory missions. The Republic of Korea's
participation and presence in Indian off-shore projects continued to
remain substantial. Direct bi-weekly flights between Seoul and Bombay
were begun during the year under review. Co-operation in the cultural
field continued apace with a special interest being shown by South
Korean Buddhist groups for increased interaction with India.
Prime Minister, Shri P V Narasimha Rao, addressed a meeting of Indian
Heads of Mission stationed in North East Asia in Seoul in September
1993. The meeting examined inter alia recent developments in the region
as also security and economic issues in the Asia Pacific.
Relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea remained
friendly. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea Vice President, Mr
Li Jong Ok, visited India as Special Envoy of the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea President on 25 and 26 March 1993 and met the Prime
Minister, where he explained his country's position on nuclear issue.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Song Won Ho also visited India. Shri K P Singh Deo, Minister for
Information & Broadcasting, visited Pyongyang from 14 to 17 June to
attend the COMINAC-IV. From the Democratic People's Republic of Korea a
delegation of the Socialist Democratic Party of Korea led by Chairman,
Mr Kim Byong Sik, visited India and called on the Prime Minister and
other high dignitaries. Contacts at the party to party and people to
people level were also maintained. A Cultural Exchange Programme for
1993-95 was signed in April 1993.
The year under review witnessed further consolidation of traditionally
friendly relations between India and Mongolia.
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Mr J Choinkhor, Deputy Minister for External Relations of Mongolia, paid
a visit to India in February 1993. During the visit, a number of Working
Programmes and Protocols were signed to enhance bilateral co-operation
in the field of science and technology. Government of India also agreed
to make available to Mongolia a line of credit upto an amount of Rs 5
crores to help set up oil extraction, traditional medicine and mini
cement plants, for which an Agreement was signed between the two
countries in April 1993.
Secretary (East) visited Mongolia in June 1993 for bilateral
discussions with his counterpart. He called on the President and Foreign
Minister of Mongolia during the visit.
Kum Selja, Deputy Minister of Culture, Ministry of Human Resource
Development, visited Mongolia in September 1993 in connection with the
first-ever exhibition of Buddha relics in Ulan Bator which was very
successfully organized by the Government of India.
The President of Mongolia will be paying a State visit to India in
February 1994 during which a number of bilateral agreements are expected
to be signed.
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|
1993
4. Central Asia |
Top |
INDIA lays great emphasis on the development of her relations
withcountries of Central Asia, with whom she has historical
associations.As neighbours, the security and stability of Central Asia
is of vital importance to India.
As in 1992-93, the current year was also marked by many high level
exchanges between India and the Central Asian countries which were
undertaken to further develop the multifaceted and mutually beneficial
relationship with these countries. It was decided to open resident
diplomatic missions in the capitals of Kyrghyzstan, Tajikistan and
Turkmenistan in addition to the Embassies in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan,
which are already functional. The Embassies are expected to open before
the end of 1994. Similarly, Kazakhstan and Kyrghyzstan have opened
resident missions in New Delhi and it is expected that other countries
will do so in the near future. The Ambassador of Kazakhstan presented
his credentials to President on 12 November 1993 and became the first
resident Ambassador from a Central Asian country.
Prime Minister, Shri Narasimha Rao, visited Uzbekistan from 23 to 25 May
1993. During the visit a treaty on the principles of inter-state
relations and co-operation between the two countries was signed by the
Prime Minister and President of Uzbekistan. This agreement sets out the
principles for bilateral relations by promising to develop relations in
political, economic, trade, science & technology, cultural, exchange of
information and other fields. During this visit the Prime Minister
announced the decision to set up an Indian Cultural Centre at Tashkent
for which preparatory work has since been concluded. The Prime Minister
-26>
also announced the setting up of an India Chair in the World University
of Economics and Diplomacy. He announced a gift of medicines to be used
by the people of the ecologically damaged area near Aral Sea. These
medicines have since been sent. The Prime Minister and the President of
Uzbekistan agreed that programmes supplied to Uzbek TV would be
broadcast for viewing in Uzbekistan. The technical work for reception of
these broadcasts is being conducted at present. The Prime 'Minister
agreed to an increase in the Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation
(ITEC) slots available to Uzbekistan by 50 and also agreed to the
extension of second instalment of credit of US 10 million after the
Uzbek side complete the utilisation of the current line of credit of US
$ 10 million for development of capital projects.
The first meeting of the Indo-Uzbek joint Commission was held in New
Delhi on 27 and 28 July 1993. The Indian Co-Chairman was Minister of
External Affairs, Shri Dinesh Singh, and the Uzbek Co-Chairman was
Deputy Prime Minister, Mr T M Miryakubov. The Joint Commission
identified areas of technical co-operation on which follow-up action is
being taken up by the specialised Ministries and Departments of the
Government of India.
President Karimov paid a State visit to India from 3 to 5 January 1994,
this being his first visit to India as President of sovereign
Uzbekistan. An early return visit by President of Uzbekistan to the
visit of Prime Minsiter in May 1993 is a reflection of their
reciprocating India's desire to strengthen bilateral relations with this
neighbouring country in a region of considerable interest to India.
President Karimov had discussions with President, and had two rounds of
discussions with Prime Minister: he also received Commerce Minister and
Finance Minister and the Minister of State for External Affairs. During
these high level interactions, views were exchanged about extending
bilateral co-operation in different sectors. President Karimov Was
awarded an honorary degree by Jawaharlal Nehru University and had an
exchange of views with a representative cross-section of Indian business
leaders. The members of the Uzbek delegation, representing the key Uzbek
business and production establishments, also interacted with various
business groups here. During the visit, President Karimov and Prime
Minister signed an agreement on comprehensive economic co-operation.
Besides, the Instruments of Ratification of the Indo-Uzbek Treaty on
Principles of Inter-State Relations and Co-operation were exchanged and
agreements on cultural co-operation, scientific co-operation, postal co-
operation and co-operation in the telecom sector were signed.
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As part of the preparation for the visit of President Karimov and also
for exchange of views on international relations, the Uzbek Foreign
Minister, Mr S Saidkassim, visited India from 1 to 4 December 1993. He
had detailed exchange of views with the Minister of External Affairs. He
also called on Prime Minister, Finance Minister and the Commerce
Minister.
At an international meet in Tashkent on 12 and 13 January 1994, convened
by the Government of Uzbekistan to seek international assistance to
alleviate the crisis in the social sector in that country, Indian
Government pledged US $ 500,000 in rupee equivalent over the current and
the next financial year.
Prime Minister visited Kazakhstan on 25 and 26 May 1993. The Prime
Minister announced the setting up of a Cultural Centre at Almaty for
which preparations have since been completed. Prime Minister also
announced the increase in ITEC slots available to Kazakhstan by 50 from
the existing number. He also announced the extension of a second
instalment of credit of US $ 10 million ' to be used by Kazakhstan after
the utillsation of the first instalment of credit for the same amount
announced earlier.
The first meeting of the Indo-Kazakh joint Commision was held in New
Delhi from 21 to 23 July 1993, Shri Balram Jakhar, Minister for
Agriculture, was the Indian Co-Chairman and Mr G A Abilsyitov, Dy Prime
Minister and Minister for Science & New Technologies, was the Kazakh Co-
Chairman. The Joint Commission identified several areas of co-operation
which are to be studied further through exchange of specialist
delegations.
President Nazarbaev stopped over in Delhi during a visit abroad on 20
July 1993 and had an exchange of views with Prime Minister.
The Chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Kazakhstan visited
India from 1 to 5 December 1993. In addition to an exchange of views
with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the distinguished visitor called on
the President and the Prime Minister.
Foreign Minister, Mr E O Karabaev, of Kyrghyzstan visited India from 4
to 6 August 1993.
The Prime Minister of Tajikistan, Mr Abdumalik Abdullogjanov
Abdullajanov, visited India from -14 to 18 February 1993. With the
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establishment of the resident Indian Mission in the Tajik capital
Dushanbe it is expected that contacts between the two countries will
increase significantly.
The relations between India and Turkey were strengthened further as a
result of the visit of the President and Smt Vimala Sharma from 16 to 19
July 1993, at the invitation of President of Turkey, Mr Suleyman
Demirel-the first ever visit by President of India. Our two countries,
founded on the principles of secularism and democracy, have friendly
relations with the visit providing opportunity for high level exchange
of views on matters of vital concern to both countries. During his stay,
President had exchanges of views with President Demirel, Prime Minister,
Prof Tansu Ciller, Deputy Prime Minister and other dignitaries; he also
addressed leading businessmen of Turkey in Istanbul and had a free
exchange of views on increasing the bilateral economic co-operation.
Mister of State for External Affairs, Shri R L Bhatia, who was the
Minister-in-waiting, had detailed discussions with the Turkish Foreign
Minister, Mr Hikmet Cetin, on international issues and on closer
collaboration between the two Foreign Ministries. Understanding was
reached between the two sides for closer coordination in international
fora. 'The Indian and Turkish delegations collaborated at the UN on
resolution on terrorism. The Turkish leadership expressed keen interest
in India's economic liberalisation successes with a view to sharing this
experience. During the course of the President's visit, with the
exchange of instruments of ratification, the Indo-Turkish agreement on
mutual assistance in criminal matters and the Indo-Turkish agreement on
mutual judicial assistance in civil and criminal matters came into
force. India took part in the Izmir Trade Fair from 8 to 20 September
1993 and considered it to be a successful participation.
Amongst other important visits, Minister, of State for Defence, Shri
Mallikarjun, paid a visit to Turkey in September 1993. Minister for
Tourism and Civil Aviation, Shri Gulam Nabi Azad, represented India at
the funeral of late President Turgut Ozal in April 1993.
President conveyed his congratulations to President Haider Aliyev of
Azerbaijan on his election.
The Government is opening resident missions in Ashkabad (the capital of
Turkmenistan), Dushanbe (the capital of Tajikistan) and Bishkek (the
capital of Kyrghyzstan) and a Consulate General of India in Istanbul.
Indian Ambassador in Ankara has been concurrently accredited to the
Azerbaijan Republic.
-29>
Kazakhstan has opened its diplomatic mission, headed by an Ambassodar,
and Kyrghyzstan and Uzbekistan have opened their diplomatic missions at
the level of Charge d'Affaires in New Delhi.
Minister of External Affairs, Shri Dinesh Singh, and Minister of State
for External Affairs, Shri Salman Khurshid, had bilateral consultations
with foreign ministers and other senior leaders of the countries of the
region during the United Nations General Assembly.
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|
1993
5. The Gulf, West Asia and North Africa |
Top |
INDIA'S bilateral relations with the Gulf countries are marked by
growing cordiality and friendship. The year 1993-94 saw further
development in India's relations with the Gulf There are an estimated 2
million Indians resident in the Gulf and inward remittances are of the
order of over Rs 7,800 crores annually. The Gulf countries account for
approximately two-thirds of India's oil imports. The Gulf countries thus
have a significant economic profile from India's point of view. By July
1993, the Gulf countries had invested over Rs 10.4 crores in India.
During the year 1992-93 India's total trade with the Gulf region was
Rs.16,610 crores of which about Rs 4,584 crores represented India's
exports. India's new trade policies have led to expansion and
diversification in bilateral trade with countries in the Gulf
India considers peace, security and stability in the Gulf region as of
great importance and her endeavour has been to further strengthen ties
with each of the Gulf countries. 1993 was marked by further development
in India's relations with the Gulf countries and by a number of
important visits.
Shri Shivraj V Patil, the Speaker of Lok Sabha, visited Bahrain in
September 1993.
An Iraqi delegation led by their Foreign Ministry Permanent
Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Mr Abdul Jabbar Omar al-Douri,
paid an official visit to India in September 1993. This first bilateral
talks at
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such level for over two years was aimed at exchange of views and to
resolve long-pending bilateral economic matters.
The Kuwaiti Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister, Mr Sheikh Sabah Al-
Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, paid an official visit to India in February
1993 to thank India for her support to the Kuwaiti cause especially
during her membership of UN Security Council. A Kuwaiti Parliamentary
delegation led by Mr Ahmed Abdul Aziz Al-Sadoun, Speaker of the National
Assembly, paid an official visit in October 1993 at the invitation of
the Speaker of Lok Sabha.
The Prime Minister, accompanied by a high level delegation paid an
official visit to the Sultanate of Oman. He was accompanied by Shri R L
Bhatia, Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Kamaluddin Ahmed,
Minister of State for Commerce, and other high ranking officials. Prime
Minister's talks with Sultan Qaboos were held in an Ambience marked with
cordiality and keenness to promote bilateral economic co-operation.
During the visit, three important agreements concerning bilateral
economic co-operation in the areas of trade, hydrocarbons and
fertilizers were signed.
Earlier in March 1993, during a visit to Oman by Captain Satish Sharma,
Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, two Memorandums of
Understanding were signed. These concerned laying a US $ 4.5 billion
1,450 kin sub-sea gas pipeline from Oman to India and the setting up of
two oil refineries in India. Omani Minister of Petroleum and Minerals
visited India in September.
Shri R L Bhatia, Minister of State for External Affairs, participated in
the inaugural function of INDEXPO and inaugurated India Trade Centre in
Muscat in November 1993.
The first ever Indo-Omani joint Naval Exercises took place off the coast
of Oman in January 1993. The then Chief of Naval, Staff, Admiral L Ram
Das, visited Oman in May. The Indian Navy has bagged a contract for
hydrographic survey in Oman. Air Vice Marshal Mohammed bin Mahfudh bin
Sa'ad Al Ardi, the Commander of the Royal Air Force of Oman, visited
India in December to hold talks with his Indian counterpart.
Shri R L Bhatia, Minister of State for External Affairs visited Oman and
the UAE in May 1993 and held extensive discussion with his counterparts.
Shri N K P Salve, Minister of Power, also visited these
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two countries in July to explore private sector and NRI participation in
power projects in India.
Shri Kamaluddin Ahmed, Minister of State for Commerce, visited Qatar and
the UAE in April to further explore possibilities of increasing India's
trade with these countries.
A 19-Member Haj delegation led by Shri P M Sayyed, Minister of State for
Home Affairs, visited Saudi Arabia in May 1993.
A pattern of bilateral Foreign Office consultations at Secretary level
With the Gulf countries has become a regular feature of Indian
diplomacy. During the year such consultations were held with Bahrain,
Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen.
In December, 3 Indian naval vessels paid three week goodwill visit to
Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
The Sixth and Seventh Sessions of the Indo-UAE joint Commission were
held in Abu Dhabi in June 1993 and in New Delhi in January 1994 at
Foreign Ministry Secretaries level. The Commission reviewed the
bilateral economic ties.
Mr Mohammed Abdulla Ali Al Shami, Yemeni Deputy Minister of Education,
visited India in October. Possibilities of Indian co-operation in the
primary and secondary education under a World Bank assisted project were
discussed. Mr Ahmed Dhiaifullah Al-Ozaib, Permanent Under Secretary for
Political Affairs of the Republic of Yemen, visited India in May 1993
and held Foreign Office level talks with Secretary in the Ministry.
While India's bilateral relations with the Gulf countries are problem-
free, domestic developments in India and Pakistan's activism in the
Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) do sometimes affect their
stances in international forums.
The Islamic Foreign Minister's Conference and the OIC adopted
resolutions and issued statements concerning Kashmir and Hazratbal
incident. These were appropriately rebutted by the official spokesman.
The Special Kuwait Cell is handling the Gulf War claims of Indian
nationals, Indian companies and Government of India. The A, B, C, and D
claims numbering about 1,40,900 till December 1993 valued at $ 1874.5
million and about 100'E'claims of about S 1360 million have
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been forwarded to the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC),
Geneva.
After eliminating the duplicate/ multiple applications and claims found
ineligible, the Ministry is still saddled with about 32,000 A, B, C, and
D claims mainly due to the deficiencies in the claim applications.
Individual letters were sent to these 32,000 claimants asking them to
remove the deficiencies by furnishing full Information as per UNCC
requirements. This was followed up by deputing Ministry of External
Affairs officers to some States, namely, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil
Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, to
educate the claimants for supplying the missing information.
Subsequently, a public notice was published advising all the defaulters
to expedite their replies to the Special Kuwait Cell.
The UNCC Secretariat notified vide its note verbale of 26 April 1993
that claims within each category would be processed in the order in
which they were received by it. This procedure of "first come first
served" was considered detrimental to India's interests as she started
forwarding her claims to Geneva later than some countries though the
percentage of total number of claims lodged with the UNCC upto June 1993
by India was comparatively higher. India therefore suggested to the UNCC
that each batch of claims which UNCC Secretariat processes must comprise
a proportionate number of claims of that category from every concerned,
country. Secretary (West), joint Secretary (SKC) and Director (L&T)
visited Geneva to actively lobby with members of the Governing Council
and despite stiff opposition succeeded in persuading the UNCC to agree
to compose batches of "A" category claims on proportionate basis with
some due weightage to the chronological order of claims.
Most of the 126 "E" claims received from Indian companies, on
preliminary scrutiny, were found to be incomplete/defective. The
representatives from about 20 companies were called in February 1993 and
advised to improve the presentation of their claims. In addition,
letters were sent to more than 100 companies advising them to resubmit
their claims in accordance with UNCC regulations. In September 1993, an
Inter-departmental Committee was constituted and letters were again sent
to 105 Indian Companies requesting them to send representatives to
appear before the Committee; but only 56 companies cared to appear.
However, when all efforts of Special Kuwait Cell failed to get all the
claims completed/rectified as per UNCC requirements, it was decided to
forward all the pending "E" claims to the UNCC.
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Although acknowledgements to most of the claimants whose claims had been
forwarded to the UNCC were issued by end July 1993, many claimants who
had returned to Kuwait had not received them due to postal delays,
change of address or other reasons. A team of two officers of the
Special Kuwait Cell visited Kuwait from 7 to 12 August 1993 to answer
queries from Indian claimants in Kuwait and inform them about the status
of their claims.
The "F" claim of the Government of India is under compilation and is
expected to be finalised soon.
The last date for filing A, B, C & D claims with the UNCC, Geneva was
originally 1 July .1993 which has now been extended to 1 January 1994.
Extended deadlines for filing "E" and "F" claims are 1 April 1994 and 1
May 1994 respectively.
As regards payment, the UNCC is the sole authority to scrutinise and
evaluate the claims, evolve the payment procedure and deliver the
awarded compensation to the eligible claimants for payment through
respective national governments. For the convenience of the public, it
has been agreed in principle to utilise the services of some
nationalised Indian banks to disburse the compensation as and when
received.
The efforts initiated in recent years to develop a multi-faceted
relationship of mutual advantage with Iran were pursued with vigour and
purpose. There was a significant step-up in high-level exchanges which
contributed to expansion and diversification of bilateral co-operation
in several areas.
President, Dr Shanker Dayal Sharma, was in transit in Tehran on 13 July
1993. The opportunity was used for fruitful discussions with the Iranian
President, Mr Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani.
Prime Minister, Shri P V Narasimha Rao, paid an official visit to Iran
from 20 to 23 September 1993 for wide ranging discussions with the
Iranian leadership on bilateral, regional and international issues of
mutual concern. This was the first Prime Ministerial visit from India to
Iran after the Islamic Revolution of 1979, and was characterised by
President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani as "a turning point" in bilateral
relations. A joint communique was issued and two Memorandums of
Understanding, on Co-operation in Science & Technology, and on Co-
operation in Surface Transport and Transit Facilities, concluded during
Prime Minister's visit.
-35>
Several Ministerial level visits also took place during the period under
review: (i) the Union Minister of State for Labour, Shri P A Sangama,
visited Iran from 21 to 23 April 1993; (ii) the Iranian Minister for
Heavy Industries, Mr Nejad Hosseinian, visited India from 16 to 23 April
1993; (iii) Capt Satish Sharma, Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural
Gas, visited Tehran on 5 and 6 July 1993; (iv) the Iranian Minister for
Co-operation, Mr Gholam Raza Shafiee, visited India from 23 to 28
September 1993; (v) Shri C K Jaffer Sharief, Union Minister for
Railways, visited Iran from 6 to 9 November 1993; and (vi) the Iranian
Oil Minister, Mr Gholam Raza Aqazadeh, visited India from 15 to .18
November 1993.
In addition, several delegations were exchanged at the level of senior
officials. The Foreign Offices of the two countries also maintained
regular high-level contact on bilateral, regional and multi-lateral
issues of common concern.
With the exchange of Ministerial level delegations, co-operation in the
petroleum sector was sought to be expanded beyond India's on-going
purchase of crude petroleum from Iran. Technical studies were initiated
to examine the feasibility of setting up a pipeline to transport Iran's
natural gas to India. It is also envisaged that Indian involvement in
exploration and drilling, as well as in downstream activities in Iran
would be expanded.
In the steel sector, the public sector Kudremukh Iron Ore Company Ltd
(KIOCL) expanded its iron ore exports to Iran and entered into
arrangements for provision of consultancy services to some steel plants
in Iran. As a result of exchange of senior level delegations, co-
operation in the steel, mining and metullurgy sector is poised for
further expansion and diversification.
|
A joint venture fertilizer project in the Qeshm Island was the subject
of active discussions in the period under review. It was expected that
given India's large requirements of fertilizer " and Iran's abundant
natural gas reserves, the proposed project would be of considerable
mutual benefit.
Increased inter-Governmental exchanges also facilitated greater
interaction between business and industry of the two countries. Several
Indian businesses actively pursued opportunities in the heavy
engineering, automobiles, machine tools, power and cement sectors in
Iran. Indian
-36>
companies also actively sought contracts in the consultancy and services
sector in Iran.
During the period under review, India's relations with the countries of
West Asia and North Africa were characterised by a spirit of traditional
understanding and co-operation. Countries like Algeria, Egypt and
Tunisia expressed concern about the growing danger arising out of
religious extremism and terrorism and threat to regional stability. The
high level contacts and exchange of visits contributed to further
strengthening of ties between India and the WANA countries
The signing of the Declaration of Principles between the PLO and Israel,
preceded by the mutual recognition of Israel and the PLO, was a major
breakthrough in the Middle East Peace Process. India welcomed it and
hoped that this notable first step would lead to a comprehensive
settlement in the Middle East which would restore the legitimate rights
of the Palestinian people. India actively participated in the third and
fourth round of the Working Group Meetings of the multilateral track of
the Middle East Peace Process held in April/May and October/November
1993 respectively. India pledged at the Donors Conference in Washington
on 1 October 1993 an amount of US $ 1 million for assistance in kind to
the Palestinian people in Gaza and West Bank, offered training slots for
the Palestinian para-medical staff in the occupied territories, proposed
to set up a Technical Training Centre in Gaza/Jericho, and indicated her
willingness to host a Workshop in early 1994 in New Delhi as part of the
on-going activities under the multilateral Working Group on Arms Control
and Regional Security of the Middle East Peace Process.
India and Algeria continued to maintain high level contacts. The
Minister of State for External Affairs and Special Envoy of the Prime
Minister, Shri R L Bhatia, visited Algeria on 11 and 12 October 1993. He
called on Mr Ali Kafi, President of the High Committee of State (HCE),
and conveyed an invitation from the Prime Minister for attending the G-
15 Summit in New Delhi. He briefed President Ali Kafi about Pakistan's
continued support to terrorism in India and interference in India's
internal affairs.
The fifth session of the Indo-Algerian joint Commission was held in
Algiers from 5 to 8 June 1993. The Indian delegation was led by Shri
Kamaluddin Ahmed, Minister of State for Commerce and the Algerian
delegation by Mr M Mustafa Mokraoui, Minister of State for
-37>
Commerce. The joint Commission decisions covered a number of sectors for
bilateral co-operation including trade, agriculture, industry, health,
education and scientific research, transportation and culture.
A 3-member Algerian agricultural delegation visited India from 30 June
to 8 July 1993. Agreed Minutes signed during the visit covered specific
areas of co-operation in the field of agriculture.
An EXIM Bank Line of Credit of US $ 50 million was utilised by Algeria
for import of goods and equipment from India.
India noted with appreciation Algeria's continued constructive and
positive stance on the Kashmir issue specially at the OIC meetings.
During the Foreign Office level consultation between Secretary (West)
and his counterpart held in Djibouti in September 1993, the two sides
discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Djibouti, which is a current member of the Security Council, OIC and the
Arab League, expressed its desire to work with India in the UN on major
international issues concerning the two countries and the developing
world. Secretary (West) briefed his counterpart about Pakistan's
interference in Kashmir and Punjab. He expressed India's distress at
criticism of India in every OIC meeting and hoped that Djibouti would
use its good offices to stop Pakistan's insidious campaign against India
in OIC forums. The Djibouti side conveyed that it considers the Simla
Agreement as the right forum for solving Indo-Pak differences. Secretary
(West) also called on the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister and
offered India's assistance under ITEC.
Relations between India and Egypt remained close. The Minister of
State for External Affairs, Shri R L Bhatia, paid a visit to Egypt in
October 1993 as the Special Envoy of the Prime Minister to convey
invitations for G-15 and Education For All (EFA) Summits to President
Mubarak. He also conveyed congratulatory messages from President,
Dr Shanker Dayal Sharma, to President Mubarak for his re-election
for the third consecutive term. President Mubarak indicated his keenness
to strengthen the traditional relationship existing between the two
countries. The Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha, Dr Najma Heptulla,
visited Cairo to attend the Conference "On the Contribution of Islam to
Civilization" in August 1993. She called on President Mubarak and
conveyed a message from President Shanker Dayal Sharma. The Chief
justice of the Supreme Constitutional Court of Egypt, Mr Awad Mohamed
El-Mor, paid a 7-day visit from 11 to 17 April 1993 to India
-38>
at the invitation of the Chief justice of India. justice Mohamed Said
Ashmawy, Chief justice of the Higher State Security and Criminal Court,
paid a 13-day visit from 4 to 16 December 1993 at the invitation of ICCR
to deliver the Azad Memorial Lecture.
The quantum of bilateral trade for the period April-September 1993 was
20% higher in dollar terms than that for the same period in 1992. Four
Indian Companies won orders worth US dollars 33.975 million. A
breakthrough was also achieved in the field of industrial collaboration
when an Indian Company signed a joint venture agreement with an Egyptian
Company worth US $ 40 million for production of carbon 'black.
Secretary (Culture) accompanied by Director General (ICCR) paid a 5-day
official visit to Egypt for discussing ways and means to implement the
existing provisions of the Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP). He also
inaugurated the new Library in the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian
Culture in Cairo.
There has been a number of visits at' official and ministerial levels
between India and Israel. The visit of Israeli Foreign Minister, Mr
Shimon Peres, in May 1993 was the first ever important political visit
from that country to India after the establishment of diplomatic
relations in January 1992. Foreign Minister Peres called on the Prime
Minister and the President and held discussions with Ministers of
External Affairs, Human Resource Development, Finance, Agriculture and
Ministers of State for External Affairs and Commerce. Three Agreements
on Science & Technology, Culture and Tourism, a Memorandum of
Understanding on Economic Co-operation and an Agreed Minutes for
consultation between the two Foreign Offices were signed during the
visit. Shri Sharad Pawar, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, led a high
level delegation to the Agricultural Exhibition (AGRITECH) held in
Israel 'in the first week of May 1993. The Minister of State for
Tourism, Smt Sukhbans Kaur, visited Israel in June 1993 and the
Agriculture Minister, Shri Balram jakhar, paid a visit to Israel in July
1993. The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Chimanbhai Patel, also visited
Israel from 5 to 10 September 1993. Consultations at the Foreign
Secretary level were conducted in Tel Aviv in March 1993.
Agriculture and related areas, water management, solar energy, tourism,
culture and trade have emerged as promising areas for bilateral co-
operation with Israel.
-39>
An Agreement for co-operation in the field of agriculture was signed
during the visit of Israeli Agriculture Minister to India from 17 to 24
December 1993. The Israeli Airlines EL-AL started its flights to Bombay
from 10 December 1993. An Air Services Agreement is also likely to be
signed during the visit of the Israeli Transport Minister in the first
quarter of 1994.
India welcomed the signing of Common Agenda for Peace between Jordan and
Israel on 14 September 1993.
The 6th Session of the Indo-Jordan Trade and Economic joint Committee
was held in New Delhi from 13 to 15 December 1993. The Jordanian
delegation was led by its Secretary-General in the Ministry of Industry
and Trade, Mr Marwan Awad. Both sides felt that considerable scope
exists for further stepping up of export of Indian goods to Jordan like
leather, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, rice, sorgum and soyabean meal. The
Indian side responded favourably to the Jordanian request for preparing
a software package for equipment maintenance and material management
system for 4 major plants in Jordan-Arab Potash Company, Jordan
Phosphate Mines Company, Jordan Cement Company and Jordan Petroleum
Refinery Company. Both sides also agreed to a Round Table meet in Jordan
during the second quarter of 1994 to continue mutual efforts towards
broadening of co-operation in various fields such as industrial joint
ventures,' exchange of technical knowhow, training of scholars, banking
services/investment, shipping and transport.
Relations between India and Lebanon showed signs of considerable
improvement. Secretary (West) visited Lebanon in September 1993. This
was the first-ever consultation at Secretary level after the signing of
the Taif Agreement. Secretary (West) called on the Lebanese Foreign
Minister. Bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest
were discussed.
Lebanon showed interest in India's participation in the reconstruction
of Lebanon and revamping its transport system, both civil and air.
A major part of outstanding dues owed to Indian companies by Libya was
recovered in December 1992 and January 1993 through oil payments.
Efforts have continued since then to recover the remaining dues after
adjusting the income-tax liabilities, etc of the Indian companies.
-40>
The Foreign Minister and Special Envoy of Col Gadaffi, Mr Omar Mustafa
Al Muntasser, visited India from 29 to 30 April 1993. He called on the
President, the Prime Minister and held discussions with the Minister of
State for External Affairs, Shri R L Bliatia. He briefed the Indian
leadership on the Lockerbie issue, discussed bilateral relations and
said that Libya wanted the Kashmir problem to be resolved through
negotiations between India and Pakistan on the basis of the Simla
Agreement. It was agreed to hold a technical level official meeting
prior to the meeting of the Indo-Libyan joint Commission which last met
in New Delhi in July 1986. This meeting took place in New Delhi from j5
to 17 December 1993.
Stalemate on the Lockerbie issue continued and Libya remained under UN
sanctions, which have been further strengthened with effect fiom 1
December 1993 with the imposition of additional sanctions which include
freezing of Libyan financial assets abroad and a ban on export of oil
equipment to Libya. India has indicated that she favours continuation of
political dialogue to resolve the dispute and feels that indefinite
continuation or further extension of sanctions is inappropriate to the
issues involved.
India's Ambassador in Dakar, Senegal, was earlier concurrently
accredited to Mauritania. A decision has now been taken for logistical
reasons to change the concurrent accreditation from the Indian Embassy
in Dakar to the Indian Embassy in Algiers. It is in the process ofbeing
implemented.
India's relations with Morocco received impetus when the Vice President
of India visited Morocco from 30 June to 3 July 1993 in response to an
invitation from the Moroccan Prime Minister. The Vice President was
received in audience by King Hassan II. He handed over an invitation
from the President of India to King Hassan 11 to pay a State visit to
India. Invitations were also extended to the Prime Minister and the
Crown Prince of Morocco to visit India at their convenience. The
discussions mainly focussed on bilateral relations and international
issues, in particular, the situation in Maghreb countries and the Middle
East Peace Process. This was the first high level visit to Morocco since
the restoration of diplomatic relations in 1988. It was described by the
Moroccan Prime Minister as a turning point in Indo-Moroccan relations.
Invitations were also extended to the Ministers of External Trade,
Commerce, and Mines by the Minister of State for Chemicals and
Fertilisers, Shri Eduardo Faleiro, who accompanied the Vice President to
Morocco.
-41>
India's relations with the PLO continued to be marked by close
understanding and exchange of views. Consultations were held on major
developments concerning the Middle East Peace Process (MEPP) and other
issues relevant to each other.
Foreign Minister Faroukh Kaddoumi paid a visit to India in April 1993 as
Chairman Arafat's Special Envoy to brief the Prime Minister on expulsion
of 415 Palestinians by the Israeli authorities as well as the outcome of
rounds of discussions of the bilateral track of the Middle East Peace
Process which were held in Washington. India expressed her continuing
and deep concern at the expulsion and urged the Government of Israel to
withdraw the expulsion order and to implement Resolution 799 of the
Security Council which was piloted by India as the then President of the
Security Council. Shri R L Bhatia, Minister of State for External
Affairs, visited Tunis in May 1993 as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy
to brief Chairman Arafat on issues concerning India and the PLO and to
reassure India's continued support to the Palestinian cause.
In a message issued on the occasion of the Observance of the
International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, Prime
Minister reiterated India's continued support for the Palestinian cause.
The External Affairs Minister in his speech during the function
organized to observe the Palestine Day indicated India's resolve to
continue to extend moral, material and technical assistance to the
Palestinian people.
With regard to Saharwi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), Indiajoined
others in the Fourth Committee of the UN in a consensus statement which
authorised the UN Secretary General to continue the dialogue between
Polisario and Morocco for finding an amicable settlement to the Western
Sahara Question.
In response to a request from the UN, India sent approximately 5000
troops to Somalia to join UNOSOM-11. Earher, India had sent two naval
ships to assist UNITAF operations in Somalia. The role of the Indian
troops has won praise from the UN as well as the local population. India
has also decided to distribute relief supplies worth Rs 5 lakhs through
the Indian contingent stationed in Somalia.
Both India and Syria made efforts towards strengthening of bilateral
relations between the two countries. In this context, Secretary (West)
visited Syria in September 1993 for conducting Foreign Office level
-42>
dialogue. Syria indicated that it is against mixing religion with
politics and would not like fora such as OIC to be utilised to discuss
bilateral issues. It expressed its opposition in principle to tabling of
various Resolutions on Jammu & Kashmir by Pakistan in OIC and other
international organizations.
A 3-member Syrian delegation led by the Vice Minister of Petroleum and
Mineral Resources, Mr Issa Ibrahim, visited India during October 1993.
Possibilities of further expanding bilateral co-operation in various
fields were,discussed. The Syrian side expressed its interest to export
yock phosphate to India.
A Work Plan Agreement (1993-94) for co-operation in the field of
agriculture and allied sectors between the two countries was also signed
in Damascus in September 1993. The Work Plan calls for exchange of germ-
plasma in respect of field of forage crops. India also participated in
specialised international Fair for Textile, Garment and Machinery,
Damascus, in May 1993.
The largest exhibition of work ofcontemporary Indian painters organized
by the National Gallery of Modern Art in co-operation with the Syrian
Ministry of Culture was opened by the Syrian Minister of Culture, Dr
Nazah Al-Attar, at the Syrian National Museum on 8 December 1993 for a
duration of 3 weeks in which paintings of world-known Indian painters
like M F Hussein, Satish Gujral, Souza and others were exhibited.
A Memorandum of Understanding on co-operation in the peaceful
application of remote sensing was signed on 8 December 1993 between the
Department of Space, Government of India, and the General Organization
of Remote Sensing of Syria.
Kum Selja, Deputy Minister for Education and Culture, paid an official
visit to Damascus from 22 to 31 December 1993. A Protocol for Cultural
Exchange Programme for the years 1994-96 was signed during the visit.
His Eminence Dr Sheikh Ahmed Kiftaro, the Grand Mufti of Syria, paid a
visit to India from 17 to 24 January 1994 at the invitation of the
Indian Council for Cultural Relations, New Delhi, under its
distinguished visitors programme. The Grand Mufti called on the
President, the External Affairs Minister, the Deputy Chairman of Ra . ya
Sabha and the Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri R L Bliatia.
He also held meetings with prominent Islamic scholars. He visted the
Aligarh
-43>
Muslim University and met the Vice-Chancellor as well as other senior
Professors.
The Sixth Session of the Indo-Tunisian joint Committee was held in Tunis
from 10 to 12 June 1993. The decisions covered a number of areas of
bilateral co-operation including trade and economy, scientific research,
agriculture, culture, tourism and handicrafts. Minister of State for
External Affairs and Special Envoy of Prime Minister, Shri R L Bhatia,
during his visit to Tunis from 26 to 28 May 1993 met the Tunisian acting
Foreign Minister, Mr Sayed Bin Mustafa, and exchanged views on bilateral
relations and international issues of mutual interest.
-44>
|
1993
6. Africa (South of the Sahara) |
Top |
AFRICA, like the rest of the world, is in the midst of change,
political as well as economic. The emerging trend towards a democratic
and multi-party system is progressively taking shape although the
transformation is uneven. The reform process in South Africa has now
become irreversible and India looks forward to the formation of a
representative and non-racial Government after the elections in April
1994.
India welcomes the move towards multi-party democracy in Africa. In the
first multi-party elections in Kenya, President Daniel T Arap. Moi, was
re-elected. In its transition to multi-party system, several political
parties have been registered with the National Election Commission in
Tanzania where elections are slated for 1995. Prof Zafy Albert was
elected President of Madagascar in February 1993. President Rene was
elected in Seychelles in July 1993 in its first multi-party elections.
In Gabon and Equatorial Guinea elections were held. In Nigeria, the
transition however received a set back. In Mozambique, the peace process
is holding and is moving towards the establishment of a multi-party
system. In Angola, the situation still remains fragile.
Significant changes are being effected in Sub-Saharan Africa.. However,
it is still not free from conflicts and trouble spots. The African
Governments have decided to evolve a mechanism for conflict prevention,
management and resolution under the OAU umbrella. At the mini OAU Summit
in Cairo in December 1993, the actual mechanism including an OAU Peace
Fund was established. The members resolved that the new mechanism should
operate within a framework acceptable to all
-45>
the parties of the conflict. India welcomes this important African
initiative to sort out its own affairs. Such initiatives can have useful
effects over other parts of the world as well.
The socio-economic situation in the continent remains in a precarious
state. Poverty, deterioration of terms of trade, plummeting prices of
primary commodities, high external indebtedness -and a resultant reverse
flow of resources have undermined the ability of African countries to
face ecbnomic changes. M6st of the countries had to accept the
Structural AdJustment,Programme as a major means of their economic
recovery, even though the conditionalities involve a lot of sacrifice.
The basic responsibility for development rests with individual
countries, yet regional co-operation is an important factor to
strengthen national efforts. Therefore, economic groupings like ECOWAS,
SADC, PTA as also the recently established COMESA (Common Market for
Eastern and Southern Africa) and the revived East African Community are
expected to play a greater role in the economic integration and develop-
rent of Africa.
These changes taking place in Africa have a bearing on India's relations
with the continent. With the political independence of all African
countries and the prospect of reform within South Africa, the struggle
against colonialism and institutionalised racialism is moving towards a
successful conclusion. In future, new relationship based on concrete
economic, commercial, technological and educational co-operation will
assume enhanced significance. India is ready to co-operate in the
setting up of mutually beneficial projects. India is also ready to
assist them in their human resource development.
India attaches special significance to her relations with Africa. She
has had close political relations with the countries of Africa and is
now in the process of concretising that close relationship into mutually
beneficial economic co-operation.puring 1993, India had intense
interaction with countries in Southern Africa, Eastern Africd, Western
Africa as also countries of the Indian Ocean. From Southern Africa-
there were State visits from Zambia and Zimbabwe. From Eastern Africa
there was the State visit from Tanzania. Similarly from Western Africa,
India had the first ever State visit from Burkina Faso. From the Indian
Ocean area came President Cassim Uteem of Mauritius. In addition, there
was also intensified interaction with countries of Southern Africa. Mr R
F Botha, Foreign Minister of South Africa, visited India in November.
From Eastern Africa India received the First Deputy Prime Minister.of
Uganda.
-46>
A major development in India's relations with South Africa was the
restoration of diplomatic and consular relations on 22 November 1993
(which were severed way back in 1954 on account of the apartheid
policies pursued by the Government of South Africa). Protocols to this
effect were signed during the visit to India of South African Foreign
Minister, Mr R F Botha, on 21 and 22 November 1993. Trade links were
earlier restored on 25 September 1993 in response to the progress in
Sofith Africa towards the establishment of transitional mechanisms to
oversee the first multi-racial elections scheduled for April 1994.
Shipping and air links were also restored. Indian Cultural Centre in
Johannesburg, which was set up in May 1993, has now been upgraded into a
Consulate General. The South African Representative Office in New Delhi
has been upgraded into a full-fledged Embassy.
While the foundation has been laid, further progress in bilateral
relations is expected to come into full play once the new government
comes to power on the basis of 27 April 1994 elections. South Africa is
seen as an important market and gateway to other neighbouring African
countries. It has the infrastructure to, service the entire Sub-Saharan
Africa and provides a mid-way base for trade with Latin America. The
presence of more than a million strong Indian ethnic community in South
Africa provides a continuing link between the two countries.
While further strengthening the traditional relations with ANC, India
was able to establish contact with the South African Government as also
various other parties. The centenary of Mahatma Gandhi's arrival in
South Africa was celebrated which happily coincides with the dismantling
of the structure of apartheid in that country.
The success of the negotiating process in South Africa has led to the
establishment of the Transitional Executive Council (TEC) and the
adoption of the draft Interim Constitution. These represent important
steps forward in the evolution of a democratic and non-racial South
Africa. India views that the political process in South Africa has now
become irreversible.
Despite the postponement of the G-15 Summit, President Mugabe of
Zimbabwe decided to stick to his programme of visit to India,
demonstrating his commitment to G-15 and South-South co-operation as
well as his regard for India. The visit offered excellent opportunities
for exchange of views on bilateral, international and multilateral
issues. Zimbabwe expressed its keen desire to enhance bilateral co-
operation specially in the economic, 'transport and small scale sectors with special emphasis on rural development.
-47>
|
President Chiluba's visit to India emphasised that Zambia and India
continued to enjoy close relations after political changes in Zambia
following introduction of multi-party democracy. President Chiluba's
visit as well as the joint Commission meeting held in Lusaka clearly
underlined the importance which Zambia attaches to its relations with
India, with special emphasis on co-operation in the field of industry,
transport, human resource development, small scale industries, railways,
food processing and rural development. Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of
State for External Affairs, led the Indian Delegation to the second
Indo-Zambian joint Commission.
The UN imposed an embargo on supply of arms and petroleum products
against UNITA in Angola in September. Of late, there have been a series
of meetings between UNITA and MPLA in Lusaka. The situation, however,
remains uncertain.
Despite some difficulties in implementation of the peace accord in
Mozambique the situation is settling down. It is expected that the peace
process will hold and elections would take place in October 1994 as
scheduled. India has contributed a contingent of about 900 Indian troops
for UN Peace Keeping Operations in Mozambique (ONUMOZ).
India's relations with Namibia and Botswana continued to be intensified
in the economic and commercial fields. The Indian Mission in Malawi was
closed down in 1993 for financial reasons. India maintains cordial and
friendly relations with these countries.
Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Salman Khurshid, visited
four countries of Southern Africa from 11 to 24 January 1994, namely,
South Africa (Durban), Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Botswana. In Durban, the
Minister of State for External Affairs met leaders of all major parties
across the political spectrum of South Africa including the ruling
National Party, ANC, Inkatha and the Natal Indian Congress. The meetings
helped in strengthening existing ties and in establishing new links with
various parties at a time when the country's first ever multi-racial
elections are round the corner in April 1994. He also delivered a
keynote address 'at a function well attended by members of Indian
community to mark Swami Vivekananda's birthday on 14 January. Minister
of State for External Affairs also met members of the business
-48>
community of Durban and expressed confidence that economic relations
between the two countries would grow.
In his discussions with the leaders of Mozambique, the focus was 'on the
peace process there and India's assistance in the forthcoming multiparty
elections and in national reconstruction. Both the sides stressed the
need to tap and maximise benefits from the prevailing business climate
in the two countries characterised by economic liberalisation. Three
ambulances donated by India to Mozambique were also handed over. Co-
operation in the health sector was also explored.
Minister of State for External Affairs visited and addressed the Indian
contingent at the United Nations Observer Mission in Mozambique.
During his visit to Zimbabwe, meetings with the Zimbabwean leadership
focussed on bilateral ties as well as on the international situation
particularly in the context of recent developments in Southern Africa.
The Zimbabwean side expressed interest in intensified co-operation with
India in the field of small scale industies. The two sides reiterated
the importance of greater interaction between the respective business
communities to take advantage of economic liberalisation measures in
both the countries with a view to increasing trade and setting up joint
ventures etc. The Zimbabwean side also sought India's assistance in
setting up projects in the agriculture and allied sector.
At various meetings with his counterparts in Botswana, talks focussed on
ways and means to strengthen and diversify bilateral relations, and the
role of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Overall, the visit was successful as it helped strengthen and renew
contacts with the leadership of four important countries of the Southern
African region.
President Cassem Uteem of Mauritius visited India in July 1993. This was
his first official visit abroad after taking over as President of
Mauritius. There were also exchanges of a number of visits at
ministerial level reflecting India's close relationship with Mauritius.
India's relationship with Mauritius has been further strengthened iii
the commercial, economic and cultural fields. There have been high level
exchanges of business delegations as also a further increase in trade
between the two countries. A number of joint ventures in diverse fields
also appear to be on the anvil. The Fourth World Hindi Conference
-49>
was successfully held in Mauritius in December 1993 further
strengthening linguistic ties between the two countries. The Indo-
Mauritius joint Commission was held in Delhi in January 1994. The
Mauritius delegation was led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister
of Economic Planning and Development.
Seychelles held its first multi-party elections and President Rene was
re-elected. The Indo-Seychelles joint Commission meeting was held during
1993 and it reviewed various areas of co-operation.
President Mwinyi's visit in May 1993, while reaffirming the existing
close and friendly relations between India and Tanzania, offered
opportunity to exchange views at the highest level and gave a concrete
thrust to strengthening of commercial and economic relations, especially
in the field of agriculture, industry and human resource development.
The visit of Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of State for External
Affairs, to Kenya in September 1993 offered an opportunity to exchange
views with the Kenyan leadership at the highest level. In view of the
drought situation, it was decided to give to Kenya food aid amounting to
Rs 50 lakhs.
As a follow up of President Museveni's visit to India in October 1992,
several technical teams visited Uganda for feasibility studies, for
example, in the fields of phosphatic fertilizers, hydro-electric power,
etc to assess the possibility of co-operation in these fields. The visit
of Mr Eriya Kategaya, First Deputy Prime Minister of Uganda, further
emphasised close relations between the two countries.
The first meeting of Indo-Ugandan joint Committee was held in Kampala in
January 1994. The meeting reviewed the extent and scope of existing
relations between the two countries and considered several proposals as
well as ways and means to further strengthen bilateral relations.
Following exchange of visits by Minister of State for External Affairs
and Ethiopian Foreign Minister in 1992, a technical team visited
Ethiopia to assess co-operation in the fields of rural technology
particularly agroindustries, small scale industries and human resource
development.
In Nigeria, the Presidential elections held in June 1993 were annulled.
After a brief interlude by a nominated government, a military government
headed by General Sani Abacha took over the reigns of the country in
-50>
November 1993. India's economic and commercial relations with Nigeria,
however, continued to show an upward swing.
After a long struggle, Eritrea achieved independence in May 1993. India
immediately recognised the Provisional Government of Eritrea. She has
also signed protocols establishing diplomatic and consular relations
with Eritrea.
India had the first ever State visit from Burkina Faso. It was decided
to gift grinding mills, Bajaj three wheelers and a drilling rig to
Burkina Faso which would assist in their development plans and introduce
Indian products to Burkina Faso. It was also decided in principle to
establish a joint Commission.
Relations with Ghana also were further strengthened resulting in a
substantial increase of exports. India's relations with Western Africa
generally continued to develop satisfactorily.
The civil war i ' n Liberia finally came to an end with warring factions
signing a peace accord in July 1993 and setting up of an interim
government. The accord provides for elections in February 1994.
In Senegal, though President Diouf was re-elected, the deteriorating
economic situation is a cause of concern and was a factor in the
inability of the President to attend the G-15 Summit.
President Felix Houphouet Boigny of Ivory Coast died after being in
power since independence for the last 33 years. He was regarded as a
magisterial figure who spearheaded his country's freedom struggle and
proved a powerful spokesman for Africa.
In the course of the year, India closed down the Mission in Zaire due to
financial considerations, while maintaining traditional friendly
relations.
-51>
|
1993
7. Europe
|
Top |
Eastern Europe
#INDIA'S relations with countries of the former USSR and Eastern Europe
during 1993-94 were characterised by the continuation of efforts to
reinvigorate the relationships taking into account the changes underway
in the region. The effort to build a new structure of relations was
predicated on the assumption that it is in the interest of all parties
that those elements of the earlier relationship which continue to be
relevant be retained. At the same time, new opportunities to expand and
strengthen ties were taken advantage of and challenges posed by the
transition processes in Eastern Europe met.
The multifaceted changes underway in Russia continued into 1993.
Internal political events were a factor which had to be taken into
account by the entire world. India shares with other major countries the
desire that Russia remain stable and strong even as it continues its
transition to political pluralism and economic reform. Therefore, the
political impasse between the President and the Parliament in the middle
of 1993 leading to armed clashes later aroused concern.
The consolidation of democracy and pluralism among the countries that
emerged from the former USSR and in East Europe was a welcome
development. It was the Indian endeavour to express support for the
positive direction of change. Offers of assistance were made in areas
where it was felt that the Indian experience could be of value to the
countries concerned. Exchanges between political, economic and
commercial institutions, the establishment of new trade arrangements and
the offer of training facilities were relevant in this context.
-52>
Political and strategic developments in the region during the year were
significant and are expected to impact seriously on the evolution of
European politics, economic and security structures and on the new
international order. This axiomatically is of substantial concern and
interest to India. Noteworthy among these developments were Russian
foreign policy pronouncements emphasising the legitimacy of its security
interests in the countries which constituted the former USSR. The slow
evolution and expansion of the Commonwealth of Independent States as a
regional organization, t he ratification of the CIS Collective Security
Treaty by its six members, and the undertaking of peace-keeping
operations in, the framework of the CIS is to be noted. The position
taken by Russia that it does not envisage its efforts of peacekeeping in
the former USSR within the framework of the CIS to be replaced by any
other organization has a significant bearing on the emergence of a
regional security mechanism in that part of the world.
The announcement of a new Russian military doctrine in November 1993 was
reflective of the changing internal and regional security perceptions.
The salient features of the new doctrine were:
(a) The sources of military danger are identified as direct threat of
armed aggression against Russia, armed conflicts caused by aggressive
nationalism and religious intolerance, territorial claims by other
states, local wars and armed conflicts proximate to Russia,
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their nonsanctioned
use, upsetting of strategic stability, expansion of military alliances
damaging to Russian security, suppression of rights of Russian citizens
in foreign states and attacks on Russian forces and installations
abroad.
(b) The principal way of ensuring military security of Russia is seen in
the maintenance of stability in regions adjoining Russia, controlling
the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and promoting co-
operation with foreign states, primarily with CIS members and countries
of Central-East-Europe.
(c) Local wars and conflicts are regarded as the main threat to
stability and peace and internal conflicts as endangering the vitally
important interests of Russia and liable to be exploited by other
States.
(d) The emphasis in building up the armed forces is on the creation of
mobile forces. This is related to the task of assisting internal
security forces to maintain law and order.
-53>
(e) The stationing of Russian troops and facilities outside its
territory is envisaged, with such troops constituting part of either
joint or Russian grouping.
(f) The use of nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear state is envisaged
in contingencies where the latter is part of an agreement or alliance
with a nuclear weapon state and commits aggression against Russia or its
allies.
The military doctrine appears to reflect a continued aspiration to
retain Great Power status and a determination to defend basic security
interests as defined by Russia.
The political changes in Eastern Europe and the Baltics reflected some
of the difficulties in the transition from a socialist system to
democratic pluralism accompanied by free market economics. The accession
to the power of leftist political parties in Lithuania and Poland was
indicative of the need for greater social security at a time of economic
hardship. The growing acceptance of pluralist political processes in the
region was a welcome development in so far as India was concerned.
At a strategic level, the proposed eastward expansion of the NATO
appeared to stir a controversy vis-a-vis security concerns expressed by
Russia. It was Russia's position that it would not object to the
expansion of NATO provided this was viewed 'in perspective, aimed at all
European integration, and was not contrary to the interests of other
states including Russia. This led to the US proposal of "Partnership for
Peace" which envisages bilateral NATO agreements with individual
countries providing for joint training, manoeuvre and exercises and
exchange of information but stopping short of extending security
guarantees. The approach to NATO expansion will inevitably have an
impact on the evolution of European security structures and constitutes
a matter of global concern as it could lead to a revival of tension and
rivalries which have only recently abated.
The NATO Summit in Brussels on 10 and 11 January 1994 addressed the
question of the eastward expansion of the alliance. The declaration
issued at its conclusion specified that the consolidation and
preservation throughout Europe of democratic societies and their freedom
from any form of coercion or intimidation was of direct concern to the
NATO. It was stressed that the Russian Government's firm commitment to
democratic and market reform and to a reformist foreign policy was
-54>
important for the security and stability in Europe. The Summit agreed
that the alliance remained open to the membership of other European
countries and adopted the US sponsored Partnership for Peace proposal.
This proposal envisages NATO expansion as an evolutionary process taking
into account political and security developments in the whole of Europe.
It invites States participating in the NACC and other CSCE countries to
join the Partnership for Peace. The criteria for subscribing to the
Partnership include openness in national defence planning and budgeting,
ensuring democratic control of defence forces, and developing co-
operative military relations with NATO. NATO will consult with any
active participant in the Partnership if that partner receives a direct
threat to its territorial integrity, political independence or security.
The potential entrants to the Partnership are required to provide NATO
with presentation documents identifying steps they will take to achieve
the political goals of the Partnership as well as military and other
assets which might be used for Partnership activities. Each subscribing
State will develop with NATO an individual Partnership.
The Partnership for Peace-proposal was discussed by President Clinton
during his visit after the NATO Summit to Prague where he met the
Presidents of the Visegard countries. It was also the subject matter of
discussions during his visit to Moscow from 12 to 15 January 1994. The
Russian-US Moscow Declaration on the visit states that the two
Presidents agreed that the concept of the Partnership is an important
element of an emerging new European security architecture. President
Yeltsin stated Russia's intention to participate actively in the
Partnership and conclude substantive agreements opening the way for
broad and intensive co-operation between Russia and NATO as a partner.
President Clinton welcomed the prospect of Russia's active participation
in the Partnership. The two Presidents also agreed on the need to create
an inclusive and non-discriminatory new European security order that is
focussed on practical political and security co-operation.
The Russian-American Summit at the Presidential level in January 1994
was a significant development with respect to the global strategic
situation. At the end of the Summit, the two Presidents issued the
Moscow Declaration as well as a joint Statement on Non-Proliferation of
weapons of mass-destruction and the means to their delivery, a joint
Statement on human rights, a statement on the Middle-East and a
Memorandum on Co-operation in the field of export control. The Moscow
Declaration reaffirmed the fundamental importance of
-55>
Russian-US co-operation which was described as a strategic partnership.
It called for enhancement of transparency and responsibility in, the
transfers of conventional arms and sensitive dual use of technology.
With regard to nuclear issues, it supported the early completion of the
Comprehensive Test Ban (CTB) Agreement, for a cut-off of production of
fissible materials and considered new measures to strengthen strategic
stability. In terms of bilateral co-operation, the, declaration
reaffirms support for the rapid growth of bilateral trade and investment
as a special priority. Co-operation in space was described as a key
expression of the relationship. The Russian President affirmed the
irreversibility of the transition to a market economy and emphasised the
requirement to address social needs associated with this transition.
From the US side, it was recognised that social issues could be a new
and promising area for co-operation. On European security, in addition
to the Partnership for Peace proposal, the two Presidents agreed on
making the CSCE a key mechanism for international co-operation in
Europe. They spoke of a new agenda whose priorities were preventive
diplomacy, peacekeeping, protection of human rights and rights of
national and other minorities. They condemned aggressive nationalism,
violation of human rights and religious intolerance of any kind
including antisemitism. The two countries also stated that they would
intensify their coordination within the framework of UN and CSCE to
promote conflict resolution on the basis of respect for the
independence, sovereignty and existing borders of the Former Soviet
Union (FSU) States.
The US-Russian joint statement on non-proliferation stressed the resolve
of the two countries to co-operate actively and closely to prevent and
reduce this threat to international security. It called for the
indefinite extension of the NPT and the expeditious conclusion of a CTB
agreement. A verifiable ban on production of fissile materials for
nuclear purposes was deemed important for non-proliferation.
The two countries agreed to review strengthening security assurances to
those states that renounced the possession of nuclear weapons and
complied with their non-proliferation obligation. They also urged
effective implementation of the principle of full scope safeguards as a
condition for nuclear and dual use material export. The two Presidents
expressed their determination to prevent the proliferation of missiles
capable of carrying weapons of mass-destruction. The need for close co-
operation to develop policies on non-proliferation applicable to
specific regions was stated and references made to the situation in the Korean peninsula
and in South Asia. With respect to the latter, both US and Russia
expressed support for efforts to reach agreement on the establishment of
a multilateral forum to consider measures in the field of arms control
in non-proliferation and called on India and Pakistan to join
negotiations and become signatories to the treaty banning nuclear weapon
test explosions, to the convention to ban production of fissile material
for nuclear explosives and to refrain from deploying ballistic missiles
capable of delivering weapons of mass-destruction to each others'
territories. -56>
Responding to the joint statement on non-proliferation, spokesman of the
Government of India noted that the basic orientation of the declaration
echoes the objectives emphasised by India in the 1989 Special Session on
Disarmament and the views expressed by the Prime Minister at the special
Summit of the UN Security Council in January 1992. India views the
suggestions in the Declaration in the context of its deep and abiding
commitment to general and complete disarmament particularly nuclear
disarmament. India believes that the objectives of comprehensive test
ban, initially controlling the production and dissemination of fissile
material and ultimately banning its production should be pursued
expeditiously within a specific time frame applicable to all members of
the international community. It is with this purpose in view that India
pursues confidence building measures with its neighbours and has
participated in a series of bilateral discussions with different
countries. It is India's expectation that these efforts would further
the cause in view. As for the suggestion that the Nuclear Non-
Proliferation Treaty should be extended indefinitely and unconditionally
in its present form, India's view that the Treaty in its present form is
discriminatory is well known. Hence, there is need to alter the NPT on
non-discriminatory lines, taking into account international developments
over the last three decades and the imperative necessity for general and
complete disarmament to end all weapons of mass-destruction.
During President Clinton's visit to Moscow, Russia, the US and Ukraine
signed a tripartite agreement for the elimination of nuclear weapons on
the territory of Ukraine. The agreement reaffirmed-.- the non-nuclear
status of Ukraine and provided for the withdrawal of nuclear warheads
from its territory to Russia. Russia and the US jointly guaranteed
Ukraine's security as a non-nuclear State in the context of the
processes envisaged in the agreement.
-57>
The NATO Summit, the Clinton-Yeltsin meeting and the tripartite
agreement are significant moves in the process of evolution of new
European and Trans Atlantic security structures. The outcome of these
efforts will also have an impact on the process of European integration
and other related issues.
A disturbing aspect of the transition processes in Eastern Europe and
former Soviet Union following the end of the Cold War and the
dissolution of the Former Soviet Union is the rise of ethnic nationalism
and the resurfacing of traditional rivalries. The conflicts in Nagorno-
Karabakh, in Abkhazia, in the Trans-Dneister region, in southern Russia
and in its most extreme form in the countries of the former Socialist
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia are a matter of concern for the
international community for their conflagrative potential. India
believes that the break up of the former SFRY is the outcome of an
intensely ethnoreligious exercise compounded by considerations of power
politics in the Balkans in which external powers have had their own
defined interest. The handling by the international community of the
consequences of the break up of the SFRY is a matter of great concern.
India has taken the position in favour of a political solution to the
crisis in Bosnia-Herzegovina without resort to threat of force or
violence. India is also committed to the principle that an eventual
settlement has to be patently fair, reasonable and acceptable to the
three. communities concerned. India has consistently and forcefully
condemned atrocities committed in Bosnia-Herzegovina and believes that
practices such as ethnic-cleansing and use of systematic rape as a
political weapon is unacceptable irrespective of the party which commits
them. As regards the several territorial and succession issues that have
arisen following the dissolution of the USSR, it is India's position
that all concerned would work towards an early, peaceful and mutually
acceptable settlement without resort to threats or use of force or
violence. Apart from discussions among concerned parties, it is noted
that the UN and CSCE are involved in the process of bringing about
peaceful settlements. The escalation of the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh
has been a matter of particular concern and the Government expressed its
position in a statement on 7 September 1993 which recalled the December
1991 Alma Ata Declaration with its provisions of respecting territorial
integrity, inviolability of borders and the rejection of use and threat
of force and economic and other pressures. The Governments of Armenia
and Azerbaijan were urged to resolve their differences through early
peaceful negotiations.
-58>
The conclusion of agreements with Russia as part of the disaggregation
of relations with the countries of the former Soviet Union was a notable
feature of the development of relations during the year. The Treaty of
Friendship and Co-operation between India and Russia was ratified in
Moscow on 11 October 1993 through an exchange of instruments of
ratification. The Rupee-Rouble Agreement was also ratified through an
exchange of notes between the two Governments in April 1993 and came
into effect on 11 May 1993. An ambitious Indo-Russian Cultural Exchange
Programme for the period 1993-95 was signed in Moscow during the visit
of Secretary, Department of Culture, on 16 September 1993. A Protocol on
Co-operation in Medical Sciences and Public Health was concluded during
the visit to Russia of Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare,
from 12 to 18 September 1993. A meeting of the ILTP joint Council on
Science & Technology took place in New Delhi in November 1993 along with
the first session of the Indo-Russian Working Group on Science &
Technology. Civil aviation talks between India and the Russian
Federation took place in Moscow on 6 and 7 September 1993. It is
expected that talks, on the conclusion of a Shipping Agreement with
Russia would take place in the near future.
A visit by the Russian co-chairman of the Inter-governmental Commission
to India at the invitation of his Indian counterpart is scheduled for
the near future. The Commission will review issues of succession as a
result of the dissolution of the former Soviet Union and define new
growth areas in the bilateral relationship. On the economic side,
notable developments in 1993 were the extension of a swing credit of Rs
3 billion to Russia by India and the promotion of direct ties between
the business and industry sectors of the two countries.
The Russian Minister of Internal Affairs, General V F Yerin, visited
India from 16 to 20 October 1993. He held discussions with the Home
Minister and signed an Agreement on Co-operation between the Russian
Ministry of Interior and India's Ministry of Home Affairs. This
framework agreement deals with combating terrorism, trafficking in
illegal narcotics and international crime.
The Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad,
visited Russia from 5 to 8 September 1993 and held discussions on the
possibilities of expanding tourism between the two countries.
Official bilateral talks took place in Moscow during the visit of
Foreign Secretary from 10 to 12 October 1993. Foreign Secretary met
First
-59
Deputy Prime Minister Shumeiko, First Deputy Defence Minister Kakoshin
and Deputy Foreign Minister Lavrov. The development of bilateral
relations and concrete steps to be taken to expand co-operation in
various fields including defence were discussed during the visit.
Regional concerns and positions on important international issues were
also covered during the official discussion.
A significant development, in Indo-Russian relations during the year was
the decision of the Russian Government, conveyed on 16 July 1993, to
invoke the force majeure clause to state that Glavkosmos found itself in
a situation of not being able to fulfil all its obligations under the
January 1991 agreement with ISRO on the development of cryogenic stage
for GSLV. Russia justified its decision on the grounds that some
elements of the contract were inconsistent with the new Russian export
control regime with respect to technologies, materials and equipment
dealing with rocket engines. The Government of India's regret at this
decision was stated by official spokesman on 17 July 1993. Further
consultations between ISRO and Glavkosmos were held in India in December
1993.
The President of India, Dr S D Sharma, paid a State visit to Ukraine
from 13 to 16 July 1993. He held talks with President Kravchuk on the
development of bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and
international issues. President received Prime Minister Kuchma, Deputy
Prime Minister Zhulinsky, Foreign Minister Zlenko and Foreign Economic
Relations Minister Gertz during the visit. He addressed the people of
Ukraine on national television and was conferred an honorary doctorate
by the University of Kiev.
The development of relations with Ukraine during the year was
encouraging reflecting the potential for further growth. Exchanges in
the field of trade and commerce continued to expand. A long term
programme of co-operation in science & technology was signed during the
visit of Secretary, Department of Science & Technology to Kiev on 7 June
1993. Secretary, Ministry of Surface Transport visited Kiev on 11 and 12
October 1993 and held discussions on the conclusion of a shipping
agreement. The early conclusion of an Agreement on the establishment of
an Inter-governmental Commission, a Protocol on Foreign Office
Consultations, an Agreement on Double Taxation Avoidance, a Technical
and Economic Co-operation Agreement and Agreement on Civil Aviation is
envisaged with Ukraine.
The Chairman of the Belarus Council of Ministers,. Mr V F Kebich,
visited India from 12 to 15 May 1993 leading a high level delegation.
Seven agreements which constitute the framework for the bilateral
relationship were signed during the visit: a Declaration of Principles
and Directions for Co-operation; an Agreement for Co-operation in the
field of Science & Technology; an Agreement on Co-operation in the
spheres of Culture, Arts, Education, Mass Media, Sports and Tourism; an
Agreement on Co-operation in Tourism; a Trade and Economic Co-operation
Agreement; i Memorandum of Understanding on Defence related Technical
Co-operation and an Agreement on Visa-free Travel of Diplomatic/Official
Passport Holders. -60>
|
Taking note of the considerable interaction between India and Belarus
when the latter was a constituent of the USSR, it is India's expectation
that the bilateral co-operation particularly in the economic, commercial
and science & technology fields is likely to expand in the years to
come. Agreements on the establishment of an Inter-governmental
Commission and Double Taxation Avoidance are likely to be concluded
shortly. A joint Business Council is also in the process of creation.
The President of Moldova, Mr M I Snegur, paid a State visit to India
from 17 to 19 March 1993. The Moldovan President called on President and
held talks with Prime Minister. A Declaration on Principles and
Directions of Co-operation, a Protocol on Foreign Office Consultation, a
Technical and Economic Co-operation Agreement, a Cultural Agreement, a
Science & Technology Co-operation Agreement and a Trade and Economic Co-
operation Agreement were signed during the visit. External Affairs
Minister, Commerce Minister and Defence Secretary called on President
Snegur while the accompanying Moldovan Ministers held discussions with
the Indian Ministers of Health & Family Welfare and Agriculture.
A Moldovan trade delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Mihai Coscodan
visited India from 13 September to 2 October 1993. The delegation called
on the Minister of Human Resource Development and held meetings with the
Indo-CIS Chamber of Commerce. The accompanying Deputy Foreign Minister
reviewed the development of bilateral relations with the Ministry of
External Affairs.
India announced the gifting of medicines of Rs 50 lakhs each to Ukraine,
Belarus and Moldova during the year. The medicines to Ukraine and
Belarus were to be used by those affected by the Chernobyl nuclear
accident.
-61>
Deputy Foreign Minister Navasardyan of Armenia visited India from 10 to
12 March 1993 and held discussions with Secretary (West). He also called
on External Affairs Minister, Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary.
During the visit an Agreement on Trade and Economic Co-operation and a
Protocol on Foreign Office Consultations were signed.
An Indian official delegation visited Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia from
24 June to 2 July 1993. It held discussions with senior officials and
Ministers in the three countries and initialled a Trade and Economic Co-
operation Agreement with Estonia and Latvia and signed it with
Lithuania. Memorandums of Understanding on counter trade were also
initialled with Estonia and Latvia.
Estonian Foreign Minister, Mr Trivimi Velliste paid a visit to India
from 14 to 17 October 1993. He held talks with External Affairs Minister
and called on President and Prime Minister. He also met the Commerce
Minister and Minister for Human Resource Development. Secretary (West)
called on the Minister and discussed bilateral and international issues
of mutual interest. During the visit, a Declaration on Principles and
Directions of Co-operation, an Agreement on Trade and Economic Co-
operation, an Agreement on Technical and Economic Co-operation and a
Cultural, Educational and Scientific Co-operation Agreement were signed.
Indian interest in expanding trade, economic and cultural ties with the
Baltics and exploring their role as transit points with respect to
regional commerce was conveyed.
The Cultural Exchange Programme for 1993-95 with Poland was renewed in
June 1993 in Warsaw. the Krakow University organized an international
conference on Sanskrit and related studies to commemorate the centenary
of its Sanskrit Chair. On the commercial side, the Indo-Polish joint
Business Council held its meeting in Warsaw in October 1993.
The Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic, Mr Josef Zieleniec, visited
India on 21 June 1993. He held discussions with External Affairs
Minister and Minister of State for External Affairs. The visiting
Minister called on the President. The Czech Minister for Industry and
Trade signed an Agreement on Trade and Economic Co-operation during his
visit to India in March 1993. He had meetings with Commerce Minister and
Ministers of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas and Steel. A significant
development in the commercial field was the awarding of the IOC
Kandla-Bhatinda pipeline contract to the Czech company, Skoda Export.
-62>
The President of the Czech Republic, Mr Vaclav Havel, paid a State visit
to India from 7 to 11 February 1994. The President was accompanied by
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, and the Foreign Minis ' ter
of the Czech Republic. President Havel received the 1993 Indira Gandhi
Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development.
The Slovak Minister of Economy, Mr J Kubecha, visited India in May 1993
and signed an Agreement on Trade and Economic Co-operation. He called on
Commerce Minister, Railway Minister and Ministers of State for Steel,
Defence and Industry.
The President of India, Dr S D Sharma, visited Hungary from 20 to' 22
July 1993. President had extended discussions with President Arpad Goncz
and received the Foreign Minister and Minister for International
Economic Relations. He was presented with the Golden Key to the City of
Budapest.
Minister of State for Defence, Shri Mallikarjun, led a delegation to
Hungary in October 1993 to discuss further prospects for co-operation in
defence between the two coutries.
The 9th Session of the Indo-Hungarian joint Commission was held in
October 1993 in Budapest. A meeting of the joint Business Council also
took place at the same time.
The 'Days of Indian Culture' was celebrated in Hungary in April 1993
with facets of culture portrayed through dance and music performances,
film festivals, exhibitions of bronzes and odhnis, a book exhibition and
a writers workshop.
An Indian Parliamentary delegation led by the Speaker of Lok Sabha
visited Romania from 4 to 9 June 1993. The delegation met the Speaker of
the Romanian Chamber of Deputies and the Chairman of the Senate as well
as the President and Prime Minister of Romania. A Romanian Parliamentary
delegation led by the Vice President of the Senate, Mr D I Taracila,
paid a return visit to India from 5 to 11 August 1993.
Bilateral official talks were held in New Delhi during the visit of the
Romanian State Secretary G Tinca. In addition to the talks with the
Indian delegation led by Secretary (West), the State Secretary called on
External
Affairs Minister and Minister of State for External Affairs. A Protocol
on Foreign Office Consultations was signed during the visit. A Romanian
Ministry of Defence Delegation visited India in October 1993 for
discussions on possible co-operation arrangements.
-63>
Bilateral agreements signed with Romania during the year included an
Agreement on Science & Technology Co-operation in October 1993 and an
Air Services Agreement in December 1993. ,
The traditionally friendly relations with Bulgaria were strengthened by
the visit of the Indian Parliamentary delegation led by the Speaker of
Lok Sabha from 9 to 15 June 1993. The delegation was received by the
President of Bulgaria.
A Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Co-operation was signed during
the visit of Minister of State for Defence, Shri Mallikarjun, to
Bulgaria from 13 to 15 July 1993. Bilateral consultations between the
Foreign Ministries of the two countries was held in New Delhi on 28 and
29 September 1993. The Indian delegation was led by Secretary (West) and
the Bulgarian by Deputy Foreign Minister Ikonomov.
The Indo-Bulgarian joint Commission met in Sofia from 1 to 3 February
1994. Agriculture Minister, who is the Indian Co-chairman of the joint
Commission, led the Indian delegation. The joint Commission reviewed the
state of bilateral co-operation in the context of the changes which have
taken place since its last meeting in 1988.
India has not recognised any of the republics of the former Socialist
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) as successor state. India
continues to scrupulously implement sanctions under the relevant UN
Security Council Resolution on former SFRY/FRY.
The FRY Foreign Minister, Mr V Jovanovic, paid an official visit to
India on 29 and 30 November 1993 and held discussions with External
Affairs Minister. He called on President, Prime Minister, the Speaker
and Commerce Minister. The talks focussed on the continuing crisis in
the countries of the former SFRY. Government of India stated its
position that the development of normal relations with FRY would have to
await a political settlement of the crisis and the lifting of UN
sanctions.
India provided humanitarian relief worth Rs 10 lakhs in medical supplies
to the ICRC in Yugoslavia in June 1993.
-64>
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Economic Relations of
Slovenia, Dr D Kracun, visited India in December 1993. An Agreement on
Trade and Economic Co-operation and a Memorandum of Understanding on
Science & Technology were signed during the visit.
Western Europe
| Top |
Despite problems and delays, progress towards the European Union
continued apace. The Maastricht Treaty came into force on 1 November
1993, thereby creating an entity committed to a Monetary Union, a Common
Foreign and Security Policy and greater coordination in internal
affairs. In order to interact more effectively with the European Union
(EU), steps were taken to institutionalise multi-sectoral co-operation
between India and the EU. A new Third Generation Indo-EU Co-operation
Agreement on Partnership and Development was signed on 20 December 1993,
providing for substantially enhanced levels of co-operation in economic,
scientific, technical and agricultural fields. The Agreement was
designed to build up India's economic capability to interact more
effectively with the EU. A joint Statement on Political Dialogue between
India and the EU was also issued on 20 December 1993, institutionalising
dialogue at ministerial level between India and the EU Troika and
affirming their mutual resolve to reinforce and intensify Indo-EU
relations. The Co-operation Agreement and joint Statement symbolised the
high importance attached by both sides to seek a substantial enhancement
and expansion of mutually beneficial co-operation between the European
Union and India. They also reflected the EU's recognition of the fact
that India's economic reforms, along-with a shared commitment to
democratic principles, provided the underpinnings of a close
relationship with vast future potential.
While upgrading links with the EU, concerted efforts were also
undertaken by the Ministry to strengthen bilateral relations with
countries in Western Europe, particularly in the areas of trade,
investment, technology transfer and joint ventures.
As a result of initiatives taken by the Ministry to intensify contacts
at various levels and to promote bilateral relations with all the key
partners in Western Europe, considerable success was achieved in
projecting developments in India in their proper perspective as well as
India's regional concerns. India was thereby able to ensure that there
was no setback to her expanding relations with Western Europe in the key
areas of trade and investment. Vigorous efforts were also undertaken to counter Pakistani propaganda on alleged human rights violations in
Jammu & Kashmir, while projecting India's concerns regarding crossborder
support for terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab. In general, in the
statements of the European Union as well as those of individual West
European countries, there was widespread appreciation of India's secular
and democratic traditions as well as ample recognition of the vast
potential for enhancement of economic relations.
-65>
Indian Missions in Western Europe also continued to be engaged in
projecting India's economic reforms, commitment to democracy and the
rule of law and her concerns related to terrorism, while at the same
time addressing concerns voiced in European public, press and
parliamentary opinion on a variety of areas ranging from the environment
to human rights and non-proliferation.
The visit of British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, in January 1993 was
an important milestone in Indo-British relations, signifying the desire
of both countries to carry forward their relations and co-operation in a
modern context, taking full advantage of shared historical contacts and
affinities. An industry-led Indo-British Partnership Initiative (IBPI)
was launched during Mr Major's visit. During the course of 1993, IBPI
achieved considerable success in promoting India as an attractive
investment destination in the UK and projecting the UK as a suitable
partner for joint ventures and technology transfer. Foreign direct
investment approvals from the UK registered a sharp rise in 1993, as did
bilateral trade.
The tempo of high level interaction, which has paid rich dividends to
Indo-UK relations in recent years, was maintained during 1993. The Vice
President visited the UK in May 1993. This was followed by a visit by
the President in July 1993 and by the Minister of External Affairs in
August 1993. The British Foreign Secretary, Mr Douglas Hurd, visited
India on 15 and 16 November 1993. Instruments of Ratification of the
Indo-UK Extradition Treaty were exchanged, bringing it into immediate
effect. This step
symbolised the continuing resolve of the two countries to stand together
in the defence of democratic values against the menace of terrorism.
Foreign Secretary level talks with the UK were held in July 1993,
Secretary level talks in April 1993 and the Second Round of bilateral
talks on Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and International Security
Issues in December 1993. These exchanges raised mutual understanding on
issues of interest and concern to both countries to qualitatively higher
levels. On issues such as Kashmir and
human rights, the UK continued to follow a constructive and balanced
approach which showed sensitivity towards India's concerns.
-66>
The forward momentum imparted by Chancellor Kohl's visit in February
1993 was also maintained in Indo-German relations. Germany, India's
leading economic partner in the EU, attached new importance to relations
with India in the context of its increasing focus on Asia, given the
shared democratic values and prospects for wider co-operation opened up
by India's economic reforms. A German Parliamentary Delegation led by Dr
Rita Sussemuth, the President of the Bundestag, visited India on 8 and 9
October 1993. It was agreed that Parliamentary visits and contacts
between the two countries should be further expanded. The Second Meeting
of the Indo-German Consultative Group (IGCG) was held in New Delhi on 9
and 10 October 1993. The IGCG, comprising of eminent personalities from
both countries, submitted a number of recommendations to the two
Governments to strengthen bilateral co-operation in the political,
media, cultural, science & technology and economic fields. A bilateral
dialogue was initiated with Germany on multilateral issues, including
disarmament.
At the invitation of Chancellor Kohl, Prime Minister paid a return visit
to Germany from 2 to 5 February 1994. Prospects for enhancing bilateral
relations and evolving a long-term Indo-German partnership were given a
further strong impetus by the visit. An Indo-German Economic Conference
held during the visit also provided further momentum to bilateral
economic relations in the areas of investment, technology transfer and
joint ventures. Germany's new "Concept on Asia" policy identified India
as an Asian country with which Germany desires closer political and
economic links.
The President of Ireland paid a State visit to India from 26 September
to 3 October 1993, marking the beginning of a new phase in Indo-Irish
relations. A Communique signed during the visit provided for annual
consultations between the Foreign Offices of the two countries. An Irish
business delegation also visited India during the visit of the Irish
President, and an agreement on expanding commercial and economic
relations was concluded between the Confederation of Indian Industry and
the Irish Trade Board.
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, accompanied by Queen Silvia, paid a
State visit to India from 10 to 18 October 1993, The visit marked the
first high level exchange between the two countries in five years.
-67>
The Swedish Royal Couple was accompanied by Foreign Minister Margaretha
of Ugglas, Telecommunications Minister Mats Odell and a high ranking
business delegation. As a result of interaction between the Swedish
business delegation and their Indian counterparts, prospects for
enhancing bilateral economic and 'commercial relations were given a
strong impulse.
The Prime Minister of Netherlands, Mr R F M Lubbers, accompanied by
Foreign Minister Peter Kooijmans and a 21-member high-level business
delegation, visited India from 26 to 28 October 1993. The main focus of
the visit was on intensification of ecoriomic relations. The Dutch Prime
Minister and accompanying businessmen welcomed the liberalisation and
de-regulation of the Indian economy and conveyed their serious intent to
expand Dutch presence in the Indian market by exploiting new
opportunities opened up by India's economic reforms.,
Relations with Italy continued to expand during the year, with India's
exports continuing to increase resulting in a substantial trade balance
in India's favour. The first meeting of the Indo-Italian Industrial
Forum (IIIF), set up to promote interaction between business
representatives and increased awareness of opportunities, was held in
Venice on 8 June 1993. A large number of businessmen, bankers and
industrialists from both countries participated. Finance Minister, Dr
Manmohan Singh, addressed the IIIF at its inaugural session. Other
ministerial visits exchanged during the year included those of the
Italian Minister for Foreign Trade, Senator Claudio Vitalone, in
February 1993, Defence Minister Fabio Fabbri in September 1993 and
Foreign Minister Beniamino Andreatta in January 1994.
The Danish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Business Affairs, Mrs
Mimi Jakobsen, as well as Finance Minister, Mr Lykketoft, visited India
in January 1994 accompanying a high level Danish business delegation.
The visit signified the increasing interest among countries of Western
Europe in business and investment opportunities in India aroused by
India's economic liberalisation programme.
During the year, Foreign Secretary level consultations were held with
the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Greece and Cyprus.
-68>
|
1993
8. The Americas |
Top |
North America
INDO-US relations have been marked by dichotomous trends during 1993.
On the one hand were the more positive and tangible aspects underpinned
by the fact that encouraging results were seen in the domain of
commercial and economic interaction between the two countries. The US
remained the single largest country for bilateral trade, the single most
important source of direct foreign investment and an important source of
high technology imports. On the other hand fundamental differences
persisted in areas such as human rights, non-proliferation and trade
policy.
The first high-level contact with the Clinton Administration was
initiated by the Foreign Secretary's visit to Washington for bilateral
consultations from 25 to 27 August 1993, at the invitation of his
counterpart, the US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.
Discussions were indicative of the mutual desire to hold substantive and
actionoriented dialogue on all issues of concern to the two countries.
A notable feature in Indo-US relations relates to trade and investment.
Trends in bilateral trade for 1993 indicate that total trade turnover is
set to reach US S 7 billion as against US $ 5.69 billion during 1992. US
investments in India during the year registered a quantum jump (approved
investment amounted to Rs 3209 crores during the period January--October
1993) and exceeded the cumulative US investment in India from 1947 to
mid-1991 (Rs 2416 crores).
A high-powered FICCI delegation led by the Organization's President
visited USA under a US Aid Project from 21 June to 1 July 1993. The
Indo-US joint Business Council (JBC) held its 16th meeting in Delhi on 9
and 10 November 1993.
-69>
Bilateral negotiations were successful in narrowing the gap on the
issues of copyrights, trade marks and entry of US motion pictures,
though differences on the issue of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)
continued in the area of patents, especially in food, pharmaceutical and
chemical sectors. With the conclusion of the Uruguay Round of
multilateral trade negotiations, a framework has been accepted
multilaterally to resolve these issues.
The US showed an increasing tendency to link technology transfers to
non-proliferation objectives and to deny exports of dual-use items and
technologies to India. India and the US are currently considering a new
draft agreement on science and technology and a bilateral review of the
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which was signed in 1984, is also
expected to take place in 1994.
Differences with respect to the approaches to achieve non-proliferation
persist. While the US seeks universal and indefinite extension of the
NPT, India's long-standing position has been that this treaty is
discriminatory in character and the issue of non-proliferation can only
be
addressed through measures which are comprehensive, universal, non-
discriminatory and verifiable.
US policy on non-proliferation seeks to cap, roll back and eventually'
eliminate the nuclear capabilities of India and Pakistan. Some emerging
elements of US policy are indicative of being more accommodative towards
Pakistan. The discussion draft of the Foreign Assistance Act submitted
by the US Government to the US Congress contained provisions,
subsequently withdrawan, which could have led to the repeal of the so-
called Pressler Amendment.
Three US Senators, Thad Cochran, Larry Pressler and Hank Brown, visited
India from 9 to 13 December 1993 for discussions with Government on
security related issues.
The Indo-US Agreement for Peaceful Nuclear Co-operation of 1963, under
which the Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS) was set up, expired on 24
October 199.3. India voluntarily extended existing IAEA safeguards on
TAPS, a step that was welcomed by the US. The need that TAPS should
continue to function for its useful life of 10-15 years
was appreciated by the US side and discussions will continue on ways to
overcome the problem of fuel for TAPS.
-70>
US Government's policy towards the Kashmir issue evolved gradually from
the stance since 1947 to a more recent reiteration that "for more than
four decades the consistent US position has been that the former
princely state of Jammu and Kashmir is disputed territory" and that "the
US view is that negotiations between Governments of India and Pakistan,
as envisaged by Simla Agreement, provide best means for resolving
dispute over Kashmir. As a practical matter, US believes this process of
bilateral negotiation needs to take into account wishes of Kashmiri
people". President Clinton's remark in his speech to the 48th UN General
Assembly equating Kashmir with Angola and the Caucasus as a place where
bloody, ethnic, religious and civil wars rage, also pointed to the
increasingly higher profile being imparted by the US to the Kashmir
issue in the international arena.
India made known her position during exchanges that she would not brook
any outside interference from any quarter over Kashmir and will only
discuss the Kashmir issue bilaterally with Pakistan within the framework
of Simla Agreement.
Despite overwhelming evidence of Pakistan's continuing support to
terrorism in India, the US Government announced in July 1993 that
listing of Pakistan as a state sponsor of terrorism was not warranted.
Bilateral ties continued to be vitiated over the issue of alleged human
rights violations by Indian security forces in Kashmir and Punjab due to
the anti-Indian propaganda and lobbying by "Khalistan" and pro-pak,
Kashmiri groups. President Clinton's letters of 27 December 1993 to the
anti-Indian Kashmir American Council and to Congressman Gary Condit on
the Punjab issue are cases in point. The US President's formulations
came in the wake of a series of negative pronouncements by US officials
on issues such as Kashmir, human rights and Punjab. Government has
reiterated that India's commitment to human rights and democracy is
axiomatic to India's existence and no external prescriptions would be
accepted in this regard. The Government has also conveyed that such
official pronouncements by the US Government, including at the highest
level, cannot but have a negative impact on Indo-US bilateral relations.
Government of India expressed the hope that the US, as another
democracy, would make more positive moves in the context of bilateral
relations.
-71>
India has always maintained that her system of Parliamentary democracy
offers constitutional remedies against human rights abuses, which are
also safeguarded by the free press and an independent judiciary in
India. The National Human Rights Commission has been set up as an
additional mechanism and contacts have been established with
international human rights organizations such as Amnesty International
and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Indian and US Armed Forces continued limited interaction in the fields
of training, seminars and joint exercises. The fourth Indo-US Strategic
Symposium was held in Jaipur from 20 to 23 September 1993. Indo-US co-
operation on the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) project continues under the
aegis of the MOU implemented by means of a special Agreement.
The fourth meeting of Indo-US joint Working Group (JWG) on Narcotics was
held in February 1993 in Washington. Narcotics control has become an
important issue in bilateral relations. The bilateral discussions sought
to ensure the continuation of the preferential access arrangements that
India has for licit opium to the US market and ways and means to combat
trafficking in illegal drugs.
A delegation comprising of seven American judges from the US Supreme
Court and Circuit Courts and five lawyers visited India from 24 January
to 4 February 1994.
The existing bilateral Textile Agreement between India and the US
expired on 31 December 1993. The matter of extending the arrangements
under this Agreement is Presently being considered by both countries.
Fundamental differences notwithstanding, Government accord high priority
to the improvement of relations with the US. Government has pursued a
policy of dialogue to promote, in a substantive manner, areas of mutual
benefit such as trade and investment while persisting with the on-going
efforts to narrow down existing differences of perception over the issue
of human rights, non-proliferation and trade practices.
Based on shared historical ties of the Commonwealth, Indo-Canadian
relations have traditionally been warm and friendly. Both countries
share common features of being multi-racial, multi-ethnic societies with
Westminster style democratic systems of Government.
-72>
The economic liberalisation underway in India has been welcomed by
Canada. Indo-Canadian trade jumped to C$ 788.4 million in 1992 mainly on
account of large wheat imports by India. In the first 8 months of 1993,
India's exports to Canada increased by 23.8% to reach C$ 232.86 million
while imports plummeted by about 30% to reach C$ 180.877 million. There
is also considerable potential for joint ventures and technical
collaboration between the two countries.
India his expressed concern over the fact that extremist elements among
the Sikhs in Canada interact with their counterparts in India and are an
important source of financial and other assistance for their violent
activities. These groups also indulge in anti-Indian propaganda. In
Canada's liberal polity there is a degree of indulgence and freedom of
expression. India has continued to stress concern over the fact that
extremist elements continue to use Canadian soil for sponsoring acts of
terrorism against India. Pakistan has continued to act as the meeting
ground and facilitator between extremist elements from Canada and India.
India has also conveyed concern about some Canadian politicians making
political capital out of the problems in Punjab in the name of human
rights for garnering support from their Punjab-origin constituents.
India and Canada are currently negotiating a Treaty on Mutual Assistance
in Criminal Matters. The blowing up of Air India's Kanishka aircraft in
1985 resulted in greater Canadian interest in the area of security co-
operation. This sense of urgency was lacking earlier despite repeated
Indian requests that extremist groups were active in Canada and were
promoting terrorism in Punjab. The Indo-Canadian Extradition Treaty
signed in October 1987 marked the culmination of closer co-operation to
combat terrorism.
Bilateral visits during the year included the visit to Canada of Shri
Kamal Nath, Minister of State for Environment and Forests, to attend the
9th Executive Committee Meeting of the Multilateral Fund for the
Implementation of the Montreal Protocol from 8 to 10 March 1993. Mr
Charles Joseph Joe) Clark, the then Minister for Constitutional Affairs,
visited India from 16 to 19 March 1993. A three-member delegation led by
the Assistant Deputy Minister for Political and International Security
Issues, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, visited
Delhi on 22 and 23 April 1993 for bilateral discussions. Shri Jagdish
Tytler, Minister of State for Surface Transport, visited Canada from 7
to 11 June 1993. Director General, Asia Pacific Bureau, Canadian
Foreign Office held discussions with Ministry of External Affairs
officials in Delhi on 26 November 1993 on bilateral and multilateral
issues of concern to both sides.
-73>
The Indo-Canada Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Textiles expired in
end 1993. It was extended by mutual agreement uptill 31 January 1994
pending negotiations for the signing of a new MOU.
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), a trade-bloc bringing
together the advanced economies of the USA and Canada with the
developing one of Mexico, had a rough passage through the US Congress,
which finally approved the Agreement in November 1993. The Agreement
will be implemented once it has been ratified by Canada and Mexico.
NAFTA opens the door to great increases in trade and investment flows
between the participating countries through the elimination of trade
barriers and the facilitation of cross-border movement of goods and
services. NAFTA brings together a market of approximately 360 million
consumers and trade and investment, flows which are already of the order
of US $ 500 billion.
The implications of NAFTA for India are mainly in the areas of its trade
displacing effect, its provision of a fillip to investment in Mexico and
its strengthening of global trends towards regional and sub-regional
economic groupings.
Central and South America and the Caribbean |
Top |
Latin America and the Caribbean region consists of more than 35
countries and territories. It has a population of about 450 million.
Almost all the countries in the region, including Cuba, have liberalised
their economies, inter-alia, by privatising Government undertakings and
facilitating foreign investment. The results of economic restructuring
have been generally positive although social conditions in many
countries have deteriorated. The democratic process which began about
four years back seems to have firmed up, with representative democracies
throughout the region, except Cuba and Haiti. Regional organizations
such as the Rio Group and OAS have played a pivotal role in ensuring
democratisation.
Another noticeable trend in the area is the growing tendency towards
closer economic integration. Caricom, Andean Group, Mercosur,
NAFTA, etc are being given added importance and relied upon as means of
promoting free trade among the member States, besides arriving at
consensus on various issues. Therefore, there prevails a very favourable
atmosphere for India to react more vigorously with the countries of the
LAC region.
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India maintains 12 Missions in the region. As a measure of economy, the
Embassy in Colombia was closed down during the year. However, there are
proposals to strengthen commercial wings in a select number of Indian
Missions in the region, in view of increased prospects of commercial and
technical exchanges between India and the countries concerned.
The official visit of the Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri
Salman Khurshid, with,a business delegation, to six of the LAC region
countries in September 1993, followed by visit to Guyana and Cuba in
November 1993, and that of Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External
Affairs to Peru, Venezuela and Guyana constituted major steps towards
intensification of India's ties with the area, particularly with regard
to trade and joint ventures. India's exports to the region meanwhile
continued to grow steadily. Exports during 1992-93 stood. at Rs 356
crores, compared to Rs 305 crores in 1991-92. Exports from India were
merely Rs 118 crores in 1988-89. During the first six months of the
current year, total exports increased to Rs 381 crores from Rs 216
crores during the same period last year., Trade balance, however, still
remains against India. As a result of Minister of State for External
Affairs, Shri Salman Khurshid's visit and several visits by Indian
business delegations and holding of buyer-seller meets, trade is bound
to be boosted up further, as specific measures identified for the
purpose get implemented.
Parliamentary delegations from several countries of the region
participated in the Inter-Parliamentary Union Conference held in New
Delhi early in the year.
Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Salman Khurshid, visited
Argentina and had fruitful discussions with the leaders of the Argentina
Government and private sector. Agreements on issue of long-term visas to
each other's businessmen and on bilateral political consultations were
signed. The Minister also inaugurated the Office of Indo-Argentine
Chamber of Commerce meant to devote itself to bilateral trade promotion,
including presentation of Argentina by it in the India International
Trade Fair 1994. Argentina showed interest in co-operating in high-tech
areas such as space, satellite communications and defence-related
computer software. The level of the joint Trade Committee was raised to
joint Commission. During the year, a buyer-seller meet by Apparel Export
Promotion Council was held and action was initiated to focus on
promoting identified products in the Argentine markets, besides joint
ventures.
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India's interaction with Brazil was reflected in (a) policy level
consultations in New Delhi with' the Brazilian Under Secretary General
of Foreign Affairs and (b) visit by Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of
State for External Affairs, to Brazil (Brasilia, Rio and Sao Paulo),
both in September 1993. During Shri Salman Khurshid's visit, an
agreement for co-operation in railways was signed and several measures
to boost trade and commercial exchanges were identified for
implementation. An Indian pharmaceutical company opened its office in
Sao Paulo to augment its product exports to Latin America. The Brazilian
side showed keen desire to collaborate closely with India at the UN and
to seek co-operation in space, telecommunication, etc. It was agreed to
consider setting up a joint Commission between the two countries.
With a spectacular growth registered by the Chilean economy in recent
years, the already existing friendly relations between the two countries
were given a more substantive turn towards enhancing interaction in
trade, technology and joint ventures, having regard to the
complementarities existing between India and Chile. Official discussions
focussed on these lines during Minister of State for External Affairs,
Shri Salman Khurshid's visit to Santiago in September 1993. The Chilean
Foreign Minister's visit to New Delhi for the G-15 Summit subsequently
was utilised for discussing bilateral issues of mutual concern. A
cultural agreement between the two countries was concluded.
The Deputy Foreign Minister of Cuba, Mr Mario Rodriquez's visit to New
Delhi, followed by Shri Salman Khurshid's visit to Havana in November
1993, enabled both sides to discuss new areas of economic and technical
co-operation, besides allowing discussions on ways in which past debts
from India could be liquidated. Fisheries, tourism, agricultural
machinery, pharmaceuticals and auto-sector were some of the areas agreed
to be pursued for mutual co-operation. India decided to increase
technical assistance to Cuba under the ITEC Programme. The next meeting
of the joint Commission was slated to be conveyed early next year.
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The last general elections (1992) in Guyana brought to power President
Jagan and his party (PPP), for the first time. A Special Envoy of
President Jagan was sent to New Delhi to discuss an increased level of
economic and technical assistance from India. President jagan, at the
invitation of the Prime Minister, visited India from 24 to 31 December
1993. He was accompanied by a high-level delegation, consisting among
others, of the Foreign Minister, Mr Clement Rohee. He held wide-ranging
talks with the Prime Minister, besides calling on the President. India
agreed to extend a government line of credit and an EXIM Bank loan for
the rehabilitation of the sugar industry. Government of India also
agreed to send experts in small scale industries, rice cultivation, etc
and to gift a pilot project to Guyana. India would also continue with
the existing assistance being given under the Indian Technical and
Economic Co-operation Programme (ITEC). During the visit of President
Jagan, the following agreements were signed :
(a) on co-operation between Council of Scientific and Industrial
Research of India and Institute of Applied Science and Technology of
Guyana;
(b) waiver of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official
passports; and
(c) a Cultural Exchange Programme.
An informal meeting of India-Guyana joint Business Council also took
place during the visit of President Jagan.
Mexico emerged as India's leading trade and economic partner in the
region, with promising start in investment in each other's country. From
India, Ministers of State for Steel, Welfare and External Affairs,
visited Mexico during the year. The Fisheries Minister of Mexico, on the
other hand, visited India. Another event of significance was the second
session of the Indo-Mexican joint Commission held in New Delhi in
November 1993, after a considerable gap. Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan set up
its Mexico Branch in September 1993 which is expected to further promote
the cultural relations between the two countries. Mexico acquired
importance for India because its membership of the North American Free
Trade Agreement with USA and Canada. With this in view, Indian
industrialists and EPCs were encouraged to visit Mexico for greater
interaction with their Mexican counterparts. A number of agreements were
finalised for formal signing at the time of
the proposed visit of the Mexican President. The postponed visit is
likely to take place early next year when these agreements may be
signed.
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Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Salman Khurshid, visited
Peru briefly and handed over Prime Minister's formal invitation to the
President of Peru for the G-15 Summit. He also held discussions on
bilateral relations with his counterpart in the Peruvian Foreign Office.
Secretary (East) also visited Lima for annual political consultations.
Efforts 'were made to ensure better utilisation of the EXIM Bank credit
to the Andean Group countries. Ashok Leyland achieved a breakthrough by
contracting to supply a number of its buses to a Peruvian company.
Bilateral relations with Suriname were strengthened. The Surinamese
Public Works Minister visited New Delhi and finalised with BEML a
contract worth Rs 5 crores for purchase of earth-moving equipment. The
Speaker of the National Assembly paid a bilateral visit to India when
substantive discussions for enhancing relations in different areas were
held during his meetings with the President, Prime Minister, External
Affairs Minister and several public and private sector undertakings.
Proposals to organize the first meeting of the Joint Commission and an
official visit of the Surinamese Vice President to India were pursued
further.
Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Salman Khurshid, visited
Venezuela in September 1993 and had detailed talks with leaders of the
Government and business on increasing economic and commercial co-
operation in diamond mining, agriculture and tourism. It was also
decided to have formal linkage between the apex trade bodies and to
constitute a joint trade and economic committee between India and
Venezuela.
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|
1993
9. United Nations and International Conferences |
Top |
INDIA played a significant role in the continuing evolution of the
United Nations in the post-Cold War, era. A reinvigorated UN with a more
focussed agenda has been increasingly perceived as having moved to
centrestage and as having assumed an increasingly significant role in
directly or indirectly shaping events the world over. Acting in the
conviction that the principles of the United Nations Charter have stood
the test of time for nearly half a century, India succeeded in
moderating the enthusiasm on the part of certain countries to extend the
jurisdiction and the authority of the UN into new areas of activity. At
the same time, India helped the restructuring process with a view to
making the Organization responsive to the challenges and demands of the
times.
Human Rights issues remained on the top of the international agenda. In
addition to the Agenda for Peace and the Restructuring of the UN, the UN
also focussed on issues such as environment, peace-keeping and
preparations for major international conferences like the Conference on
Population and Development (Cairo 1994), the World Summit on Social
Development (Copenhagen 1995) and the International Conference on Women
(Beijing 1995).
The most important negotiations in the UN during the current year were
on the Secretary General's proposals in "An Agenda for Peace" submitted
at the request of the Security Council Summit of 1991. The new horizons
in preventive diplomacy, peace-making, peace-keeping
and peace-building envisaged in the Report went beyond the traditional
role of the UN in these areas. India, together with a large number of
other Non-Aligned countries, ensured that these proposals were tempered
to the extent necessary in order to safeguard the principles such as
national sovereignty, territorial integrity and domestic jurisdiction of
States which have suitably been reflected in the resolution. While the
enhanced role of the UN in the domain of preventive diplomacy etc was
acknowledged, it was stressed that this should be on a case by case
basis and with the consent of the State(s) concerned. Sufficient
safeguards were included in the relevant resolution to take care of the
interests of the vast majority of member States.
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The peace-keeping activities of the UN witnessed a dramatic increase
during the year in terms not only of size but also of complexity. As a
member of the Special Committee on Peace-keeping Operations, India
contributed actively to the discussions on peace-keeping and ensured
that these operations did not become a means for intervention. Her
efforts resulted in a clear recognition that peace-keeping operations
should observe the principles of UN Charter and follow the scheme
envisaged for them in Charter provisions. The importance of command and
control by the United Nations of peace-keeping operations was emphasised
and effective participation by troop contributing countries in decision
making was achieved.
The United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC)
successfully completed its task with the holding of elections. India has
contributed to this successful operation by providing about 1300 troops
of all ranks, which included an Infantry Battalion, Field Ambulance, an
Engineers Team, Military Observers, Military Police and Staff Officers &
Clerks. India also contributed around 400 civilian Police Monitors for
this operation. The Special Representative of UNSG for UNTAC formally
acknowledged and appreciated the conduct and performance of Indian
troops. .
The year also witnessed the United Nations operations in Somalia
(UNOSOM-II). This had been preceded by the establishment of the United
Task Force (UNITAF) by a Security Council Resolution and where USA took
the primary responsibility for establishing a secured environment in
Somalia. India joined the international effort and contributed two naval
vessels: one Corvette and one Landed Ship Tank (LST). At the request of
the United Nations, India also contributed a Brigade for UNOSOM-II of
about 5000 men of all ranks. The contingent
consists of 3 infantry Battalions, a Mechanised Infantry Battalion (less
one company), an Armoured Squadron, an Engineer Company, Air Force
Missile Directorate and support elements. UNOSOM-II is the first UN
operation under Chapter VII of the Charter for peace enforcement. 29
countries have contributed 29,284 troops for UNOSOM-II. However, some of
these countries have announced withdrawal of their contingents.
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India also contributed troops for the UN operations in Mozambique
(ONUMOZ), numbering about 973 men of all ranks. Military observers were
also deputed to the UN operations in Liberia, Angola etc.
Of about 80,000 civilian and military personnel that now serve in 17 UN
Peace-keeping Operations across the world, India has provided around
6,000 personnel. The cost of peace-keeping missions is expected to rise
from $ 1.4 billion in 1992 to an estimated $ 3.6 billion by the end of
1993, which is an indication of the increased involvement of UN in
peace-keeping operations. India has been making a mandatory contribution
to the UN Peace-keeping Budget and has continued her tradition of
consistently and substantially contributing, both in terms of personnel
and financial obligation, to the UN's effort in peace-keeping.
India participated actively in the discussions among the various
delegations during the 48th General Assembly on the reform of the
Security Council including its expansion. India started the process of
informal discussions at the start of the Session and participated in all
the subsequent drafting exercises which finally led to the adoption of a
General Assembly Resolution in December 1993. This resolution set up a
working group under the Chairmanship of the President of the General
Assembly to consider all aspects of the question of equitable
representation in and the reform of the Council. The working group is to
commence its work by the end of January 1994 and is to submit its report
to the General Assembly by the end of 1994.
Earlier, in pursuance of Resolution 47/62, India forwarded her written
comments to the UN Secretary General on the question of "equitable
representation on and increase in the membership of the Security
Council". Responses from 65 other member States were also received by
the Secretary General. Most member States have supported the need for
Security Council's expansion in the light of changed circumstances
including a large increase in the membership of the UN which now stands
at 184 as compared to 51 when it was established in 1945.
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India was also instrumental in securing an enhanced role for the General
Assembly in the negotiations leading to the revitalisation of its work.
Apart from reducing the number of Main Committees by merging the Special
Political Committee with the Fourth, the relevant resolution emphasised
the strengthening of co-operation and coordination among the principal
organs of the UN and an effective role for the General Assembly in
accordance with the UN Charter.
India, being the Rapporteur for the Special Committee against Apartheid,
played an important role in the functioning of the Committee. India also
chaired the drafting group for the Annual Report of the Special
Committee against Apartheid. In the latter capacity, India was able to
ensure that the Annual Report of the Special Committee further dilutes
its rhetoric and addresses itself to the practical and realistic issues
of encouraging the peaceful political processes in South Africa towards
establishment of a united democratic and non-racial South Africa. As a
result of India's efforts, balanced and realistic resolutions were
worked out. ' Emphasis was put on the positive developments such as the
emergence of several democratic structures including the International
Investive Council, the Electoral Bill and other developments like the
announcement of the first non-racial elections on 27 April 1994 for the
establishment of an interim government.
India continued her principled support for resolutions on the Middle
East in the 48th UNGA. India. supported the resolutions on Middle East
Peace Process, Jerusalem and the Syrian Golan. India also supported
seven resolutions dealing with the work of the UN Relief and Works
Agency which included resolutions on Palestine refugees, return of
population and refugees displaced since 1967, etc. As a member of the
Committee on the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, India
contributed towards formulation of balanced resolutions.
The Co-ordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement in New York was
extremely active during the year in pursuance of the decision taken at
the Jakarta Summit. The Coordinating Bureau set up Working Groups to
deal with the restructuring of the UN, human rights, Somalia and peace-
keeping., India participated actively in these groups.
Disarmament and International Security |
Top |
The period under review witnessed some remarkable developments in the
field of disarmament. With the end of the Cold War, positive
developments took place in a number of areas in which initiatives had
been announced by India decades ago. India continued to play a leading
role in the various multilateral disarmament fora-the Conference on
Disarmament in Geneva, the UN Disarmament Commission and the First
Committee of the UN General Assembly.
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In January 1993, the Chemical Weapons Convention was opened for
signature. India, along with 131 countries, became an original signatory
to this Convention. India had played a key role in the successful
conclusion of the negotiations that have resulted in a unique
multilateral disarmament agreement, which is comprehensive and non-
discriminatory. Its universality is evident in the fact that there are
today more than 150 signatories to the Chemical Weapons Convention. The
Indian delegation, supported by experts, are currently engaged in
preparatory processes to ensure that the Convention enters into force in
early 1995.
India's approach on the subject of nuclear disarmament continues to be
guided by the philosophy that a commitment to the elimination of nuclear
weapons in a time-bound, manner is essential. In this context, India has
called for a ban on testing of nuclear weapons, a freeze in the
production of fissile materials for nuclear weapons purposes, a
convention prohibiting the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons and
multilateral negotiations involving all nuclear weapon states aimed at
reducing and then eliminating nuclear weapons under an international
verification regime.
Positive developments have been registered in some of these areas. With
the change in position among nuclear weapon states, for the first time
the UN General Assembly was able to adopt a consensus resolution urging
negotiations to be undertaken by the Conference on Disarmament for a
universal treaty banning all nuclear weapon tests and explosions. 152
countries including India co-sponsored the resolution. Positive
development was also registered on the subject of a ban on production of
fissile materials intended for nuclear weapons and explosive devices. A
resolution calling for negotiations for such a convention that would be
multilateral and non-discriminatory, co-sponsored by 27 countries
including India, was adopted by consensus. It is hoped that these
negotiations can commence shortly.
India also tabled resolutions on the subject of a Convention on the
prohibition of use and threat of use of Nuclear Weapons. Unfortunately,
a number of nuclear weapon states and their allies continue to oppose
this initiative though more than 125 countries supported it in the UN
General Assembly. Another initiative by India is aimed at stemming the
qualitative arms race by promoting greater sensitisation to the role of
scientific research and development in the field of designing new weapon
systems. India had brought this item on the international agenda in 1988
and has played a key role in the on-going deliberations on this subject
in the UN Disarmament Commission.
-83>
A beginning was made in the development of norms of transparency with
the coming into being of the UN Arms Register. The first report by the
UN Secretary General for 1992 indicates that more than 80 countries,
including India, have given information on their arms imports and
exports in an attempt to build confidence and in turn encourage
restraint by nations, thus reducing misunderstandings and
misperceptions. India had played an important role in the development of
this Register.
In keeping with her efforts to promote peace and security, India played
a constructive role through her participation in regional security
initiatives and dialogues such as those conducted by the UN Regional
Centre in Kathmandu and the initiative launched by President Nazarbaev
of Kazakhstan. Bilateral dialogues on disarmament, non-proliferation and
security-related issues were held with the US, UK, Japan, Germany,
France and Russia. These dialogues are aimed at developing a better
understanding of each other's security concerns in the context of the
changing international security environment. During these dialogues,
India has projected that her security concerns cannot be addressed in
the narrow framework of India-Pakistan but a regional security paradigm
must be developed that can adequately address the security concerns of
the states belonging to the Asia and Pacific regions.
The General Assembly adopted a resolution on Indian Ocean as a Zone of
Peace. The resolution recalled the declaration of the Indian Ocean as a
Zone of Peace of December 1971. It also requested the Ad Hoc Committee
to continue consideration of new alternate approaches. It called upon
the Permanent Members of the Security Council and the major maritime
users of the Indian Ocean to participate in the work of the Ad Hoc
Committee. It invited the member States to submit to the Secretary
General by 31 May 1994, their views on new alternate approaches. The
Secretary General will submit a report by 30 June 1994.
The question of Antarctica once again came up in the General Assembly.
As during the last Session, the two traditional resolutions on the
subject
were combined into one resolution. India did not participate in the vote
on the resolution along with the other Antarctica Treaty Parties.
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Human Rights |
Top |
Increasing importance being attached to the question of promotion and
protection of human rights manifested in the World Conference on Human
Rights in Vienna from 14 to 22 June 1993. India was active both in the
preparatory phase of the Conference and at the Conference. The
Conference was preceded by four meetings of the Preparatory Committee
and three regional meetings including the Asian regional meeting in
Bangkok. A high level Indian delegation, led by Finance Minister, Dr
Manmohan Singh, participated in the World Conference.
The World Conference on Human Rights at Vienna reaffirmed the commitment
to the purposes and principles contained in the Charter of the United
Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. At the end of the
Conference, the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action was adopted.
Its significant features are as follows:
(a) The World Conference recognised acts, methods and practices of
terrorism as activities aimed at destruction of human rights,
fundamental freedoms and democracy, threatening territorial integrity
and security of States, and destabilising legitimately constituted
governments. The Vienna Declaration called upon the international
community to take the necessary steps to enhance co-operation to prevent
and combat terrorism.
(b) It reaffirmed the right to development as a universal and
inalienable right and an integral part of fundamental human rights.
(c) The Vienna Declaration called for 48th Session of the UNGA to begin
consideration of the proposal for creation of the post of High
Commissioner for Human Rights.
Pakistan's attempt to introduce a country-specific resolution against
India on the situation in Jammu & Kashmir, coupled with sustained
propaganda on human rights violations in Jammu & Kashmir, dominated the
meetings of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva and the Third
Committee in New York. Kashmir was raised by Pakistan in all possible
forums, including the Security Council, but on account of the efforts
made by India, at headquarters as well as in Missions abroad, no
resolution was tabled. A vast majority of the States urged direct
dialogue between India and Pakistan and refused to take sides on the
issue. Pakistan also raised the Kashmir issue in meetings of other UN
bodies and agencies including ECOSOC, UNESCO, ILO and UNDP.
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The unanimous adoption of a resolution on terrorism as an obstacle to
human rights at the 48th UNGA, co-sponsored by India, was another
achievement of Indian diplomacy during the year. The resolution
unequivocally condemned acts, methods and practice of terrorism as
activities aimed at the destruction of human rights and fundamental
freedoms and democracy, threatening territorial integrity and security
of States and destabilising legitimately constituted governments. It
called upon all States to take effective measures and prevent, combat
and eliminate terrorism. Pakistan's efforts to amend the resolution to
exclude the struggle for self-determination from terrorism found no
support in the Committee. Earlier, the Commission on Human Rights and
the Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of
Minorities also adopted resolutions against. Terrorism. The resolutions
reflect growing awareness of terrorism as a violation of human rights.
India succeeded in shelving a proposal made by Liechtenstein for self-
determination through autonomy because of its implications on
multiethnic societies such as India.
India also played a prominent role in the negotiations on the mandate of
the post of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and ensured that his
mandate would not be intrusive, but would respect the UN Charter and the
sovereignty, territorial integrity and domestic jurisdiction of States.
India acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the
Convention on Elimination of Discrimination against Women during 1993.
Economic, Social and Humanitarian Issues |
Top |
India maintained her active role in the Economic and Social Council, the
governing councils of specialised agencies, various environmental forums
and the Second Committee. India has sought to ensure that the
developmental issues were given due emphasis in the activities of the
United Nations, and that the United Nations' "Agenda for Development" is
not overlooked in the current emphasis on security issues and intrusive
diplomacy under the guise of the so-called "Agenda for Peace".
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A Meeting of the High Level Segment of the ECOSOC was held in June-July
1993. The Meeting focussed on the forthcoming Summit on Social
Development, important developments in the world economy and
international economic co-operation, and coordination of the policies
and activities of the specialised agencies of the United Nations.
Agreement was reached on the restructuring of the ECOSOC and the
composition of the Executive Boards of operational activities in a
manner that safeguards the interests of the developing countries. With
regard to the Secretary General's proposals for integrated offices,
India played a major role in ensuring that the execution of operational
activities would remain the national responsibility and that
disbursement of developmental resources was not made conditional on
political or any other extraneous considerations.
While the work of the Second Committee continued to focus on the
traditional issues such as debt, the financing of development, transfer
of resources, poverty and human development, there was an increased
emphasis on issues pertaining to the environmental, social and
humanitarian concerns.
During the year, India actively participated in activities connected
with the implementation of the agreements reached at the UN Conference
on Environment and Development in 1992 and related follow-up action. The
specific areas of activity are given below:
(a) India is an elected member of the Commission on Sustainable
Development (CSD) which has been set up as a 53-member functional
commission of the ECOSOC. CSD held its first substantive session from 14
to 25 June 1993. The Indian delegation was led by the Minister of State
for Environment and Forests, Shri Kamal Nath. It adopted a thematic
programme of work for the next three years. It has also laid down
guidelines for the organizing of information to be supplied by
Governments on the plans and reports of implementation of Agenda 21
including problems faced over such matters as transfer of financial
resources and technology. The CSD also seeks to set up two open-ended
expert groups on the transfer of technology and transfer of financial
resources for the implementation of Agenda 21. A high level advisory
board on sustainable development was also set up. justice R S Pathak of
India is a member of this Board.
(b) In pursuance of Resolution 47/188, work has begun on the elabora-
tion of an international convention to combat desertification in those
countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification,
particularly in Africa. India participated in the first two sessions of
the inter-governmental negotiating committee.
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(c) The UN Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory
Fish Stocks was held in July 1993. This Conference was aimed at
promoting the effective implementation of the UN Convention of the Law
of the Sea on such Fish Stocks. This would need to be done through
setting up of conservation and management measures and through co-
operation between coastal States and distant water fishing States. India
participated in this Conference as an important coastal State.
(d) The Inter-governmental Negotiating Committee on the Framework
Convention on Climate Change (INC-FCCC) held its Eighth Session in
August 1993. The meeting was preparatory in nature in view of the first
Conference of Parties (COP) to be held in early 1995. This meeting was
useful in clarifying certain issues and. concepts in the Convention.
India worked actively to strengthen the provisions of the Convention
relating in particular to policy guidelines, Joint implementation and
incremental costs.
(e) The Inter-governmental Committee on Convention on Biodiversity
(ICCBD) held its first session to prepare for the Conference of Parties
(COP), expected to be held at the end of 1994. India was elected to the
Bureau of the ICCBD. As Chairman of the Asian Group, India ensured that
the essential provisions of the Convention were enforced.
(f) There were also inter-governmental meetings during the year under
review of the World Climate Programme (organized by World Meteorological
Organization), Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and
Basel Convention on Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes. India
participated actively in these meetings.
(g) India attended the meetings held during the year on possible
restructuring of the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) to reflect the
concerns of the developing countries. After the last round held in
Cartagena, no agreement emerged on the issue.
Consistent with the United Nations' renewed emphasis on social and
humanitarian issues, a number of new initiatives and programmes were undertaken during the year under review. Preparations for a number of
important global summits were taken on hand. These include:
(i) The International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD),
which is scheduled to be held in Cairo in 1994, will be the third in a
series of UN sponsored global population conferences. Earlier
conferences were held in Bucharest (1974) and Mexico City (1984).
-88>
|
The second meeting of the ICPD Preparatory Commission was held during
1993. In addition, Indonesia, as Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement,
constituted a meeting of Ministers of Non-Aligned member States in order
to prepare the NAM position in advance of the Cairo Ministerial Meeting.
India has participated actively in all the preparatory meetings for the
ICPD 1994. She has sought to evolve a global consensus on the need to
limit the population growth rates and to obtain commensurate resources
from the donor community in order to meet targeted reductions in
population growth rates. India has sought, furthermore, to ensure that
the emphasis on population and development is not diluted.
(ii) The World Summit on Social Development is to be convened in
Copenhagen in 1995. The Social Development Summit will focus on means
and methodology necessary to promote human centered development.
Important aspects of the work programme pertain to integration of
socially disadvantaged groups into the economic mainstream, improving
literacy and human skills necessary for gainful economic employment, and
economic productivity through enhanced skills, training and wider
employment opportunities.
India has considerable experience in issues that would be dealt within
the purview of the Social Development Summit. Government of India is in
the process of constituting the National Committee for India which would
coordinate inputs and prepare the national report for India in respect
of the forthcoming Summit.
(iii) The World Conference on Women is another important international
meeting scheduled to be held in Beijing in 1995., The aim of the meeting
is to focus world attention on women's issues, particularly the need to
raise the status of women in society. The empowerment and equal dignity
of women in the society has been a long cherished objective of Indian
domestic policy and she has been playing an active role in the
preparations for the World
Women's Conference. A large number of non-governmental organizations who
are active in this field are working along with official agencies and
concerned government departments.
-89>
Administrative and Budgetary Issues |
Top |
India participated actively in the work of the Fifth Committee. Since
her election to the Board of Auditors, India made efforts to ensure that
the role of the Board was strengthened and that necessary resources were
provided to it. India's efforts in the budgetary process were to ensure
that the priority activities of the. Organization, including economic
development, were provided with adequate resources. During the
discussions on the scale of assessments for contributions to the regular
budget, India made every effort to modify the scale methodology so that
it reflected 'the capacity to pay' of Member States.
Elections And Appointments |
Top |
India was elected to the following bodies during 1993 by
election/consensus:
1 World Food Council
2 International Maritime Council
3 World Tourism Organization
4 UNESCO Executive Board
5 UNESCO Inter-governmental Bodies:
(i) IIP (Inter-governmental. Informatics Programme)
(ii) IPDC (International Programme for the Development of
communications)
6 Commission on Sustainable Development
7 Expert Committee on Natural Resources
8 Programme Committee of FAO
9 FAO Council
10 Chairman, Committee on Programme and Coordination
11 Industrial Development Board of UNIDO
12 Programme and Budget Committee of UNIDO.
Activities of the Non-Aligned Movement |
Top |
The Coordinating Bureau of NAM met in New York from time to time and
played an active role in contributing to discussions and resolutions in
the General Assembly and other bodies of UN on various matters of
interest to the Non-Aligned members. The Ministerial Meeting of the NAM was held in New York on 4 October 1993. Shri S Khurshid,
Minister of State for External Affairs, attended the Meeting. -90>
The continued relevance and importance of NAM in global affairs was
evident from the new applications for joining the movement in 1993.
Thailand And Honduras were admitted as new members. Macedonia and
Slovakia were admitted as guests. Kyrghyzstan was admitted as an
observer.
The NAM Coordinating Bureau had set up working groups to deal with the
restructuring of UN, human rights, Somalia and peace-keeping. NAM had
contributed to the UN resolutions on the Agenda for Peace and
revitalisation of the UN General Assembly and in the discussions on
South Africa and Palestine issues. NAM had advocated that UN should pay
more attention to the promotion of economic and social development. The
NAM Ministerial Meeting emphasised the importance of reviving the North-
South dialogue.
Two Ministerial Meetings were convened during the year by Indonesia as
Chairman of the Non-Aligned Movement. The Standing Ministerial Committee
(SMC) meeting held in Bali in May 1993, emphasised the importance of
reviving the North-South dialogue. In November 1993, the NAM Ministerial
Meeting on Population was held to forge a common position among NAM
member States in advance of the International Conference on Population
and Development scheduled for 1994. The NAM Meeting of Population
Ministers revealed the considerable consensus and broad unanimity that
exists in NAM member States on the need to curb population growth rates.
India had taken initiatives and played a key role within the NAM in
evolving a constructive and balanced approach to the various issues and
particularly in the case of sensitive issues such as human rights.
Commonwealth |
Top |
The Summit meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) was held
at Limassol, Cyprus from 21 to 215 October 1993. 47 countries
participated, of which 36 were represented by Heads of State or
Government. The Indian delegation was led by Finance Minister, Dr
Manmohan Singh.
The Indian delegation participated actively in the Cyprus CHOGM and
contributed to its major decisions and outcome. India's conviction
that the Commonwealth should concentrate on expanding co-operation in
areas of social and economic development and refrain from involvement in
controversial or divisive issues that would have a detrimental I ,
Impact on the Commonwealth as a whole was reaffirmed. The Cyprus
Communique preserved the balance struck at the Harare CHOGM in October
1991 between Commonwealth activities in the field of social and economic
development and the promotion of its fundamental political values. At
the behest of the Indian delegation, the Communique recognised terrorism
as one of the most pernicious threats to stability and human rights. The
results of the Cyprus CHOGM also reflected a greater desire on the part
of Commonwealth member States to take the lead in setting the priorities
and agenda of this voluntary association of sovereign states.
-91>
Conferences |
Top |
Protocol-Conference Cell of the Ministry of External Affairs is
responsible for providing logistical support and managerial assistance
in the organization of international conferences convened by the
Ministry as also certain others organized by other
'Ministries/Departments of Government of India. In this financial year
till date the following international conferences/ meetings, etc were
organized:
(i) The former Tanzanian President Julius Nyrere's visit from 27 March
to 1 April 1993.
(ii) The meeting of Personal Representatives. of Heads of State/
Government of G-15 countries which was held in New Delhi on 18 and 19
April 1993.
(iii) Indo-Nepal Border Talks, held from 26 to 29 April 1993, the
logistical arrangements for which were taken care of by this Cell.
(iv) The logistical support for the talks on India-Hong Kong Extradition
Arrangements, held in New Delhi from 13 to 16 july 1993, was provided.
(v) The Seminar on Business Opportunities for Indian Companies in Sub-
Saharan Africa held in New Delhi on 23 and 24 july 19931.
(vi) The Ministry of Non-Conventional Energy Sources was assisted in
convening the meeting on the G-15 Project on Solar Energy Applications,
in New Delhi from 27 September to 1 October 1993.
-92>
(vii) Assistance for organizing the 4th Indira Gandhi Conference in New
Delhi from 19 to 23 November 1993 was provided.
(viii) The Association of Indian Diplomats was helped in organizing the
Indira Gandhi Memorial Lecture which was held on 26 November 1993.
(ix) A major conference for which extensive arrangements were made was
the fourth Summit Level Meeting of Heads of State/ Government of G-15
countries which was to be held from 13 to 15 December 1993. The Summit
was postponed; however, the G-15 Conference was held at Personal
Representatives and Ministerial Level from 8 to 11 December 1993.
(x) The Ministry of Human Resource Development was helped in organizing
the Education for All Summit (E-9) in New Delhi on 1.6 December 1993.
International Law: Developments and Activities |
Top |
At the 48th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Sixth
(Legal) Committee considered 14 agenda items during its deliberations
from 24 September to 26 November 1993. The main agenda items related to
the work of the International Law Commission (ILC), the United Nations
Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), the Special Committee
on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the
Role of the Organization, measures to eliminate international terrorism,
draft convention on jurisdictional immunities of States and their
property, responsibility for attacks on United Nations and associated
personnel, the United Nations Decade of International Law and the
question of seeking an advisory opinion of the International Court of
justice on abductions abroad.
The Indian delegation participated actively in the Committee's
deliberations, including its consultations on several matters and
commented on the progress made by the ILC at its 45th Session
particularly on the question of preparation of a draft statute for an
international criminal court, international rivers, State responsibility
and the question of international liability for injurious consequences
arising out of activities not prohibited by international law. Further,
on India's initiative, the General Assembly decided to seek the views of
Member States on practical measures to eliminate acts of terrorism, on
ways and means
of enhancing the role of the United Nations and the relevant Specialised
Agencies in combating international terrorism' and on ways to consider
this question within the Sixth Committee.
-93>
The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law held its 26th
session. in Vienna from 5 to 23 July 1993 and adopted the Model Law on
Procurement for Submission to the United National General Assembly
(UNGA). The Model Law would serve as a model for national legislation on
Government purchasing of goods dealing with procedures to be followed by
various government agencies in their procurement practices. The Model
Law is intended to be a codification of sound public procurement rules
of goods by ensuring transparency, competition and objectivity. Its
model nature means that it could be used as a guideline by countries
that are yet to establish legislation in the field of procurement or it
could be used to measure the adequacy of existing legislation.
The Legal Sub-Committee of the UN Committee on Peaceful Uses of Outer
Space (COPUOS) met at New York from 22 March to 8 April 1993. The
meeting discussed, in addition to the general legal issues of peaceful
uses of outer space and disarmament, other specific issues relating to
some matters of continuing interest like the geostationary satellite
orbit, the definition and delimitation of outer space, and the
exploration and exploitation of outer space for peaceful purposes,
taking into account the needs and interests of the developing countries.
The discussion on the principles governing the use of nuclear powered
sources in outer space focussed on the need to review the principles
adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1992.
The UN Conference on Straddling and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks, held
at New York from 12 to 30 July 1993, was the first major conference
convened by the United Nations in the area of the Law of the Sea after
the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS III)
which resulted in the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the
Law of the Sea, 1982. The central issues before the conference related
to the balancing of the interests of coastal States and the distant
water fishing nations with due regard to the principles of conservation
and equitable utilisation of the highly migratory fish and taking into
account the Sovereign Rights of Coastal States in their exclusive
economic zones. Another important issue discussed was the prevention of
reflagging of fishing vessels on high seas to avoid responsibility and
liability under the flag-State jurisdiction upon violation of
conservation measures. The next session will be held in March 1994.
-94>
The claims of Indian nationals and corporations who were adversely
affected by the Iraq-Kuwait conflict were presented by Government of
India to the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC). The
Governing Council of the UNCC held two sessions during the year at which
several legal and policy issues concerning the handling of the claims
were considered. The basic position adopted by the Government of India
is to defend the claims of India as permissible under relevant UN
Security Council Resolutions as well as the mandate of UNCC and further
to cover such claims for settlement by the Commission on a priority
basis from the initial stages.
The International Institute for the Unification of Private Law
(UNIDROIT) held the fourth session of the Committee of Governmental
Experts on the International Protection of Cultural Property at Rome
from 29 September to 8 October 1993 to consider the text of a draft
convention on the international return of stolen or illegally exported
cultural objects. The Committee made substantial progress on several
important issues including the definition of "cultural property" and
special protection for "public collections".
The International Conference on Protection of War Victims, sponsored
jointly by the Government of Switzerland and the International Committee
of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva in September 1993, discussed several
legal issues of contemporary importance. The conference reaffirmed faith
in international humanitarian law and adopted a declaration suggesting
measures to promote the same.
The Thirty Second Annual Session of the Asian African Legal Consultative
Committee (AALCC) was held in Kampala from 1 to 6 February 1993. The
Session enabled legal experts of the member States from Asia and Africa
as well as observers from other States and several international
organizations to have an exchange of views on several international
legal issues of contemporary concern such as environment and
development, human rights, the UN Decade of International Law, Status
and Treatment of Refugees, Law of the Sea. Exchange of views also took
place on legal issues concerning International Trade Law being discussed
in the UNCITRAL and other fora. India has been a host of this Committee,
so far, which has been functioning on a temporary basis, its term being
renewable once in every five years. For the first
time at Kampala, the Committee decided to establish a permanent
Headquarters and upon an invitation received from the State of Qatar the
same was decided to be established at Doha.
-95>
As in previous years, the Ministry undertook negotiations and processed
for signature, ratification, and accession several multilateral and
bilateral treaties involving India.
India ' became a party to several multilateral Conventions, for example,
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the
Convention Establishing the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency.
The Indo-UK Extradition Treaty, signed at London on 22 September 1992,
entered into force from 15 November 1993 i e the date of exchange of the
instruments of ratification which took place at New Delhi. To give full
effect to the provisions of this Treaty, the Indian Extradition Act 1962
has been amended, bringing the same into effect in December 1993. A list
of Treaties entered into by India during the year is in Appendix III.
-96>
|
1993
10. Foreign Economic Relations |
Top |
THE Ministry's role and activities during this period reflected the
increased emphasis placed on the economic objectives and content of
India's diplomatic efforts, both at the bilateral and multilateral
levels, and on its intensification and diversification. Interaction. at
the inter-governmental level was complemented by and provided dynamism
through ensuring active involvement of trade and industry, media and
academia in India as well as in concerned countries.
In the past year, the Ministry's strategy in this regard continued to
evolve in the context of a number of international developments and
domestic imperatives and priorities. The impact of changes in the world
economy on India's increasingly liberalising trade and technology driven
economy was felt with greater effect because of the growing
interdependence of the issues of trade, money, finance, technology and
services within and across national borders. The strengthening of the
trend towards regional and sub-regional economic co-operation and
integration groupings which exclude India tended to affect her market
access in traditional areas and regions of export interest to India, as
also her prospects of attracting investment flows. The coming into force
of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) among USA, Canada and
Mexico,, and the gradual consolidation of co-operation among the Asia-
Pacific countries in the context of the first APEC Summit in Seattle
symbolised this trend. Although the Uruguay Round for setting up a more
liberalised, rule-based multilateral trading system concluded with a
fundamental restructuring of world trade and economic relations, new
protectionist pressures and discriminatory barriers threatened to appear
on the trade policy horizon in the form of labour and environment-related conditionalities. The structural
changes taking place in Eastern Europe brought about a consequential
adaptation and reorientation of India's commercial and economic
interaction with them. Economic liberalisation in the developing
countries and the impressive economic performance of some of them
provided new avenues for co-operation in trade, investment and
technology, and at the same time put new competitive pressures on India.
Given the criticality of access, transfer and diffusion of technology as
an input for economic growth and development, India had to cope with the
trends towards monopoly controls and restrictive regimes on technology
transfer, particularly those relating to the so-called dual use and
sensitive technology. To meet the objectives of sustainable development,
favourable, including preferential, access to environmentally sound
technologies acquired a new urgency.
-97>
Taking into account the constraints and opportunities posed by these
issues and development, India attempted in international organizations
like the UN, its conferences, agencies and regional fora: NAM, CHOGM, G-
77 and most recently the G-15, to activate more focussed and meaningful
North-South dialogue and a new partnership for development which would
make for a greater flow of financial resourcesbilateral and
multilateral, official and private into developing countries like India,
a growth-oriented solution to her debt problems, better and considerably
enhanced market access for her exports as well as access to critical
tools of competitiveness such as technology, particularly high
technology and global trade and information networks. The Ministry has
also used these fora to coordinate, articulate and pursue India's,
interests on emergent issues in the context of world conferences such
as those on environment, population and social development.
India is the current chairman of the Group of 15 (G-15). This Summit
level Group on South-South consultation, is a compact, trans-regional
group of developing countries that seeks to pursue, on a more realisitic
and implementable basis, the specific goals- of South-South co-operation
and North-South partnership. South-South co-operation is to be made a
reality through identification of complementarities with regard to
trade, technology and investment. 18 co-operative projects, as well as
structured and regular interaction among business communities of the
member countries through the annual G-15 Business Forum, have been
created so as to translate these complementarities into actual
transactions. The resultant capacity building and progress will confirm
the viability of South-South co-operation, thus opening new avenues for
development.
-98>
India made considerable progress in implementing the projects relating
to Solar Energy Applications and Gene Banks on Medicinal and Aromatic
Plants. Both these projects involve information exchange, technical co-
operation and long term institution building. Preparations are on for
the setting up of a Vocational Training Centre for Africa in Senegal and
establishing a Computer Training,, Facility for G-15 countries in New
Delhi. This Ministry also coordinated and enabled India's participation
in and benefit from projects coordinated by other G-15 countries
particularly South Investment Trade and Technology Data Exchange Centre
(SITTDEC) coordinated by Malaysia, and the Petroleum, Gas and
Petrochemicals Design, Execution and Management project coordinated by
Egypt.
The Fourth Summit of G-15 which was scheduled between 13 and 15 December
in New Delhi in 1993 could not be held due to a lack of quorum caused by
an unfortunate coincidence of circumstances which prevented many Heads
of State/Government from attending the Summit. However, the Personal
Representatives of Heads of State/Government and the Foreign Ministers
of G- 15 countries met as scheduled and carried out their preparatory
work for the postponed Summit. A Draft Agenda for the Fourth Summit was
discussed, as were the concepts, message and format of the Draft joint
Communique. The Agenda and the Draft joint Communique are to be fine-
tuned and updated nearer the April Summit. The attempt is to promote
South-South Consultation and North-South Dialogue with a view to
influencing for common benefit,, the evolution of economic, political
and social issues and events impacting on peace and development.
India's efforts to establish closer linkages with the regional groupings
in Asia assumed a new dimension with the commencement of sectoral
dialogue partnership with the ASEAN. The first meeting was held in New
Delhi in March 1993, and the first substantive meeting within the
framework of the dialogue was scheduled for January 1994. The sectors
identified for co-operation are' trade, investment and tourism. In order
to provide business underpinning to this dialogue, the Ministry
facilitated the setting up of the India-ASEAN Economic Co-operation
Committee as a counterpart to the ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and
Industry.
-99>
The Economic Division continued to act as a catalyst in promoting
economic and commercial interests abroad in the following respects:
(1) In concert with Indian Missions abroad, the Division has. been
actively gathering and disseminating information on trade, technology
and investment opportunities in different sectors. In doing so, it seeks
to facilitate an accurate, realistic and reliable assessment of existing
conditions and potential prospects in different countries and regions.
This is done, inter alia, through periodic and special despatches,
conducting market surveys in specific areas and products, assisting in
holding and participating in trade fairs, exhibitions, symposia and
workshops etc.
(2) It continued to provide backup support with regard to promotion
(including promotion of project exports), coordination (vis-a-vis other
Ministries, Departments, Indian and foreign parties to transactions),
monitoring and follow-up of trade, investment and technology
transactions.
(3) Facilitated removal of irritants and bottlenecks in respect of such
transactions, inter alia, through help in resolving trade disputes and
issues such as those relating to blocked funds in some trading partners.
One of the major functions of the Division is to facilitate visits of
the business delegations from India and to India. Over the year,
business delegations from countries as varied as Burkina Faso, Belarus,
Kyrghyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Israel were assisted through
meetings convened by Indian apex chambers. Business delegations that
accompanied VVIPs were also put in contact with apex chambers in India.
In the first quarter of the year, the Prime Ministers of Spain and UK
and the German Chancellor visited India with business delegations.
Indian business delegations mounted by FICCI, FIEO, ASSOCHAM, PHD
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, AIMO and OCCI were assisted by the Division through Indian
Missions and Posts abroad to have fruitful and meaningful interactions
with their counterparts in Central Asian States, Europe, USA, Africa and
South-East Asia.
The Division's objective was to diversify India's export markets. This
was done, inter alia, through participation in seminars, talks etc. In
July 1993, the Division organized a seminar on "Trade, Technology and
Investment in Sub-Saharan Africa" through FIEO. The seminar was attended
by Indian businessmen who had business interests in Africa and also
those who were interested in doing business in Africa. The Heads of
Mission of the African Embassies in New Delhi also actively participated
in the seminar, which evoked enormous response. The action points that
resulted from the seminar were also forwarded to the Ministry of
Commerce for their comments and inputs.
-100>
In the spirit of South-South co-operation, the Division participated
actively in the Indo-Latin file-sponsored seminar in October 1993. The
Division also coordinated the G-15 Business Forum and Exhibition held
from 10 to 15 December 1993. With the postponement of the G-15 Summit,
bilateral business meetings between delegations that came from Malaysia,
Indonesia, Nigeria, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Argentina, Venezuela and Senegal
and India took place.
The Economic Division was also closely associated with the Joint
Business Council meetings in India and Indonesia, Japan, South Africa,
Mauritius, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Malaysia and several others. The
JBC is an important forum for private businessmen of India and foreign
countries to spell out their requirements and follow up their commercial
interests. There are, at present, nearly 46 JBCs spanning all
continents.
The Economic Division, as a member of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on
Overseas Investments, provides through Indian Missions abroad, important
inputs that are considered by the Committee in deciding on joint venture
applications. The Missions also play an effective role in interceding
with the Government agencies of the host countries when required to
solve the problems of Indian joint ventures.
The Division is a member of the Committee which evaluates the
feasibility study reports prepared by the Department of Science and
Technology, the Telecom Export Promotion Committee, the high level
Export Promotion Committee, ITPO governing body, WAPCOS project exports
etc. Through all such meetings, the Division contributed its share to
the Government's policies and to the nation's export efforts.
The Division kept Indian Missions abroad abreast with the changes in the
Government's policies relating to trade by promptly informing them of
such changes and other relevant details. An Exporter's Directory is
prepared, updated and improved upon on a regular basis, in consultation
with trade and industry in India and Indian Missions abroad.
-101>
The Division through the year assisted several Missions in the
collection of information for commercial enquiries from concerned
departments and despatched the same expeditiously to the Missions.
Indian businessmen who sought information about markets/ contacts abroad
were also provided the necessary assistance. The Division also
interacted with other Ministries and agencies in trade dispute matters
which were brought to its attention by Missions abroad. Important
tenders, commercial deals etc were also actively pursued with the
concerned Ministries.
The Economic Division is the agency which is involved in the execution
of the operation of the Indian Technical and Economic Co-operation
(ITEC) Programme and the Special Commonwealth African Assistance
Programme (SCAAP). These two programmes constitute major instruments for
promoting technical assistance by India to other partner countries in
the developing world in the true spirit of South-South co-operation.
The year witnessed a significant increase in the scope and extent. of
activities covered under the ITEC in terms of increased geographical
coverage as well as the areas in which technical training is imparted in
Indian civilian institutions. Apart from traditional areas like rural
development, small scale industries, banking etc, greater emphasis is
being given to areas like electronics, computers, foreign trade,
diplomacy etc. Efforts are also afoot to streamline the ITEC programme
and to bring about a greater harmonisation between the activities under
the programme and the pursuit of India's economic and commercial
interests abroad. Following the coverage of ITEC to all the successor
States of the former USSR, greater focus is being imparted to the newly
emergent Republics of Central Asia. Special cources in Banking, Foreign
Trade, Diplomacy and Hotel Management were held for Central Asian
Republics and Russia during the year. A Plan of Action for intensifying
coverage of ITEC to Central Asian Republics (CAR) for the period 1993-94
to 1996-97 has been formulated. Under this, each year, apart from
executing a few projects in each of the CAR, it is also planned to
undertake feasibility studies, consultancy services on specific
areas/projects of interest to India and to give more slots for training
in Indian civilian institutions.
During 1993-94, around 700 nominees from partner countries have availed
of training in Indian civilian institutions under ITEC/SCAAP in areas
ranging from small scale industries, computer training, management,
diplomacy, foreign trade etc.
-102>
Nearly 450 military personnel from about 20 countries have availed of
training facilities in Indian Defence Institutions including National
Defence College (NDC) in New Delhi and the Defence Services Staff
College in Wellington (Tamil Nadu).
Among the projects which were executed or are nearing completion during
this year are a hand-tool design centre in the Philippines and the 7th.
and final phase of an ambitious project for the restoration of the
famous Angkor Vat temples in Cambodia. Among the projects under
execution are a Multipurpose Training Centre in the small scale sector
in Vietnam, a Vocational Training Centre in Mongolia, a Solar
Photovoltaic Plant in Oman, a Common Facilities Centre in Palestine (in
the context of Indian support to the Middle East Peace Process), a
Remote Sensing Centre in Mauritius and various other projects in Asia
and Africa.
During 1993-94, around 30 experts were sent to various developing
countries to assist the latter in areas as varied as agriculture,
education, engineering, medicine, taxation, etc.
Study visits from partner countries to India organized under the ITEC
are aimed at familiarising the former of India's capabilities in select
areas, to facilitate finalising concrete areas of co-operation. Among
the study visits undertaken in 1993-94 are those from Ghana, South
Africa, Zimbabwe in 1993; visits from Egypt, Seychelles and Central
America are also planned to be held in the course of the year.
During the year, a 3-member team of evaluators has undertaken a
comprehensive review of the ITEC programme and the entire gamut of
activities covered by the same. The recommendations of the team are
varied and wide-ranging, including improvement of the terms and
conditions under which foreign nominees avail of training programmes in
India, deputation of Indian experts abroad, prioritising the areas in
which assistance is sought to be extended etc. The recommendations are
aimed at increasing the efficacy of ITEC as an instrument in promoting
India's overall economic and commercial interests abroad, particularly
in the light of the on-going reforms in the Indian economy. The
recommendations of the evaluation team are under examination. Meanwhile,
action has already been initiated to implement some of the
recommendations; ie, grading Indian civilian training institutions
(where training is imparted) on the basis of a careful evaluation of the
course content and accommodation facilities, prioritising the areas
where assistance is sought to be given on the basis of the specific
requirements of partner countries and improving the terms and conditions
under which training is imparted in Indian civilian training
institutions.
-103>
Among the countries for which emergency relief assistance has been
extended in 1993-94 are Grenada, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Belarus,
Jordan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrghyzstan, Eritrea,
Mongolia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kenya and Liberia.
-104>
|
1993
11. Trade and Investment Promotion |
Top |
MINISTRY of External Affairs has always accorded high priority to
promoting India's economic and commercial interests abroad. Following
the announcement of India's new economic policies and the emphasis
placed on increasing exports and foreign investment and progressively
integrating the Indian economy with global economy, the Ministry has
further intensified its economic and trade promotion efforts.
India's new economic policies encourage increased interlinkages with the
world economy and give the opportunity and the flexibility to deal
effectively with the challenges of a new and more complex world order
and the emergence of a true global economy-a world in which radical
economic changes have taken place on an unprecedented scale and in which
decisions concerning production, distribution, capital and technology
flows are increasingly being taken not on a national but on a global
basis. MEA fully recognises that India can ignore these developments
only at the risk of marginalisation in the world order and that it is
imperative to manage India's economic priorities in an integrated
manner.
Towards this, end, Ministry of External Affairs has been active in
coordinating with its Missions and Posts on the various promotional
measures that need to be undertaken and in providing full support to
these initiatives. These efforts are especially focussed on those
countries where the potential for increasing, trade and investment flows
is the highest: a list of such target countries has been drawn up for
the purpose.
-105>
In this process, it has been liaising closely with the other Ministries
involved such as Finance, Industry and Commerce.
Each of the Ministry's 140 Embassies/Posts abroad have arrangements for
doing commercial and economic work. These arrangements have been
progressively strengthened; priority has been given to providing
Economic and Commercial Wings with the necessary infrastructure and back
up support to aid them in the efficient execution of their
responsibilities. Officers posted to Missions as Commercial
Representatives undergo intensive training; refresher courses are also
arranged from time to time.
Specific details of trade and investment promotion undertaken by
Ministry of External Affairs both at Headquarters and through its
Missions and Posts abroad in the year under review are as follows:
Trade Promotion |
Top |
Missions and Posts were fully engaged in the aggressive drive to promote
exports within the broad approach chalked out by the Ministry of
Commerce in respect of thrust areas and "extreme focus" products. In
addition to day to day functions such answering trade enquiries from
Indian exporters and local importers, liaising with incoming exporters'
delegations, attending to trade complaints and commercial disputes,
coordinating participation in local trade fairs and interacting with
local chambers of commerce and trade associations, Missions have made
special efforts to organize seminars and workshops and encourage
exchange of delegations in the thrust areas.
In the period under review, as part of a pro-active campaign to reach
out to exporters and inform them of the rules and procedures of doing
business with various foreign countries, Missions were asked to prepare
detailed handbooks for exporters wishing to do business in their areas.
These handbooks have been re-printed by apex Chambers of Commerce and
distributed to exporters on request.
As part of the same approach, several Missions and Posts have converted
specific areas in their premises into "business centres" where Indian
exporters may access commercial and economic information with the
Embassies and use the premises for business meetings.
-106>
Investment Promotion |
Top |
Following the decision by Government of India to entrust the work
relating to investment promotion abroad to Indian Embassies and Posts,
Ministry of External Affairs has designated an officer in each Mission
abroad to handle investment work. Missions have built up a wide network
of contacts with local Chambers of Commerce, business communities,
economic journalists and other opinion makers in order to keep them
appraised of the Government of India's new economic policies and its
progressive evolution towards even further liberalisation.
A large number of high level seminars have been organized in important
business centres in Europe, Japan, South-East Asia and USA to project
India as an investment destination and to create greater awareness of
business opportunities in India. Speakers at such seminars have included
Ministers/senior Government officials, representatives of Reserve Bank
of India and leading financial institutions, management consultants, tax
experts and captains of Indian industry. In the period under review,
major seminars were organized in several cities of the USA, Japan,
Germany, UK, Italy and Australia. Among other countries that received
special attention were Singapore, Malaysia, Korea and UAE. A special
effort was made to attract British investment through the Indo-British
Partnership Initiative, involving close co-operation between the two
Governments as well as trade and industry in the two countries.
Special emphasis was placed on a sector-specific approach in Missions
investment promotion efforts. In Germany, for instance, a series of
seminars were arranged in March 1993 focussing specifically on the
software industry; in Japan, seminars were organized on castings and
forgings and auto components, to name only two sectors. Another seminar
in Singapore in May 1993 concentrated on investment opportunities in the
Indian capital market. A similar sectoral approach has been followed in
other countries as well such as USA and Australia.
Speaking engagements before business audiences have been arranged
wherever possible when Ministers/officials from economic Ministries
visited a particular country. For instance, the visit of the Finance
Minister to the USA in October 1993 in connection with World Bank
meetings was utilised for arranging his interaction with opinion makers
in key economic journals, important members of the corporate business
community and think tanks in Washington and New York.
-107>
Apex industry organizations are being increasingly co-opted into the
Government's efforts to attract foreign investment. Overseas visits by
business delegations are in particular, being used to project India as
an attractive destination; apex chambers have, in collaboration with
their overseas counterparts and with the active participation of the
local Missions, organized several promotional events.
A number of Missions have started bringing out economic newsletters and
bulletins focussing on the new economic policies and aimed at generating
greater awareness about business opportunities in India. Some of these
publications are in the local language; they are all distributed to a
carefully targeted audience. The High Commission of India in Singapore
has taken the initiative of sending out its weekly economic bulletin on
electronic mail to major local business entities; other Missions have
also been asked to look at the possibilities of doing something similar
in their areas.
Back-up Support to Missions and Posts |
Top |
The Ministry of External Affairs provides comprehensive back-up support
to its Missions and Posts in their on-going efforts to ensure the widest
possible dissemination of information about the new economic policies.
Missions and Posts are being kept regularly and, in case of target
Missions, instantly informed by fax about important changes in economic
policies and procedures so that they in turn can keep business, industry
and other sections of targeted audiences in host countries suitably
informed. Arrangements have also been made with Indian Chambers of
Commerce to keep Missions regularly informed about the evolving economic
scene and other economic issues.
Special importance has been given to. developing publicity material
aimed at projecting India as an investment destination. The first such
publicity kit prepared in October 1991 comprised a set of brochures and
a floppy diskette entitled "Doing Business with India,"; the diskette
provides detailed information on investment related policies and
procedures in an user-friendly manner. In addition, two slide packages
have been prepared in collaboration with CII and ASSOCHAM to assist
Missions in projecting the new economic policies. To supplement this
material in industrialised countries, a special computer-aided visual
package has been prepared in collaboration with the Industrial Credit
and Investment Corporation of India (ICICI). In August 1993, a set of 7
brochures detailing various aspects of Doing Business in India such as
Trade, Investment and Tax policies, the size of the market and how to
establish a business presence in the country were published by the
Economic Coordination Unit of the Ministry and over 10,000 copies
distributed through Missions and Posts abroad. This material has
received widespread appreciation and is also being used by other
Ministries of Government of India for distribution to foreign investors.
-108>
Attention has also been paid to reaching out to business journalists in
target countries and arranging their visits to India in order to
catalyse favourable coverage of the economic reform programme in the
local media of these countries.
1993 highlighted a growing trend for visiting Heads of State and
Government to bring along with them high level industrial delegations
for the purpose of interactions with Government as well as industry on
the Indian side. Ministry of External Affairs utilised this opportunity
to organize Round Table interactions of the visiting industrial
delegations with a panel of Secretaries from Ministries relating to
their areas of interest. Such interactions were organized during the
visits of British Prime Minister John Major, German Chancellor Kohl, the
King of Sweden, Dutch Prime Minister Lubbers and Malaysian Prime
Minister Dr Mahathir Mohammad. They have been found by visiting
industrialists to be extremely useful in receiving first hand briefings
and clarifications on India's new industrial policies. Further, the
format in which these delegations are allowed the opportunity to
interact at one point with several decision makers in Government of
India has spoken for itself in conveying the Government's commitment to
welcoming foreign investment and the genuineness of its desire to hear
the foreign investors' point of view.
World Economic Forum |
Top |
India was represented at the 1994 Annual Meeting of the World Economic
Forum (WEF) at Davos by a delegation headed by the Prime Minister, and
including Commerce Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Chief Minister of
Maharashtra, Shri Sharad Pawar, Principal Secretary to the Prime
Minister, Finance Secretary and several other senior officials of
Goverment of India and major industralists.
The 1994 meeting had as its theme "Redefinning the Basic Assumptions
about the Great Challenges Facing Mankind". At the request of WEF
Prime Minister addressed the valedictory session as the final speaker on
1 February 1994. In addition, India was one of the seven countries
chosen for a special country specific session, where Prime Minister,
Commerce Minister and Government officials answered questions from a
packed audience on India's economic reforms and new business
opportunities.
-109>
The importance given to India at Davos and the high degree of interest
expressed by the members of the international corporate community
present are indicative of increasing foreign interest in India as an
investment destination and the growing conviction that the reforms are
here to stay and will be carried forward. The "India session" at the
Annual Meeting of 1994 was attended by over 130 delegates, much more
than the number of delegates who attended a similar session in 1992.
-110>
|
1993
12. Policy Planning and Research |
Top |
THE Policy Planning and Research Division prepared briefs and back-
ground notes on issues concerning India's foreign policy in the rapidly
changing international scenario. It continued its co-operation with the
sponsors of Seminars and Conferences on international issues for
extending partial financial assistance. This facilitated the
organization of seminars and symposia by a number of institutions in
different parts of India. It extended such assistance to 15 Seminars
Conferences during the period under review on subjects covering
challenges to India's foreign policy, regional security perspectives,
geo-political parameters of South-Eastern Indian Ocean, peaceful uses of
nuclear energy, China and South Asia in the post-cold war world, South-
South co-operation and G- 15 Summit, etc. It also extended financial
support to scholars and academic institutions for studies and research
projects on subjects relevant to this Ministry.
The Division assisted the territorial Divisions as well as Indian
Missions abroad on issues relating to India's international boundary or
whenever any specific information or documents on international
relations were required.
The Division examined maps printed in foreign publications (both
official and private), which incorrectly depicted international
boundaries of India, in consultation with the concerned territorial
Divisions. It also took up the matter with the concerned publishers
through Indian Missions abroad for necessary corrective measures.
The Division continued to coordinate the Ministry's approval to new
Survey of India maps depicting international boundaries of India. It
also coordinated with the Survey of India and the Ministry of Defence
for the supply of restricted map-sheets to various Government or semi-
Government agencies for use in their official work.
-111>
The Division handled the requests from research scholars for access to
the closed records of the Ministry in the National Archives of India
relating to the restricted areas as laid down in the Access Rules in
consultation with the concerned territorial Divisions. It also
scrutinised excerpts of the closed period records taken by research
scholars for clearance in consultation with the concerned territorial
Divisions.
An important task of the Division is to edit and coordinate the printing
of the Annual Report of the Ministry prepared on the basis of the
material sent by the various Divisions.
The Printing of Old Records (POR) Unit, attached to this Division, is
entrusted with the task of editing and printing selected old policy
files of the Ministry. It also undertook review/weeding of old files of
the Record Management Section of the Ministry as well as of Indian
Missions abroad referred to it by them. Similarly, the Unit reviewed the
old closed records kept in the National Archives of India. The Research
Section of the Division continued to coordinate the distribution of
periodical reports from Indian Missions abroad.
To support the research efforts, a library equipped with modern
facilities and large resource material is maintained with over one
hundred thousand books and documents in its collection. The Library
subscribes to 600 periodical titles. The library is equipped with an in-
house computer system with 12 terminals, two of which support data entry
and retrieval in Indian languages; a microfilm/fiche reader printer and
a plain paper photocopier. A Laser Printer with DTP software is also
available and is being utilised for producing documents of the Division.
Documentation/Bibliographic Services as well as other library operations
and services were computerised using an integrated software package
developed in India. Information about books and selected periodical
articles received in the Library since 1986 is available on-line through
each terminal. All new documents received in the Library-books, maps,
microforms, selected articles from periodicals etc-are being fed into
the in-house computer system to create a database on foreign affairs.
Using this database, the Library provides Current Awareness Service and
Bibliographical Services. In addition, the Library regularly
issued a monthly Chronicle of Events, a Foreign Affairs Documentation
Bulletin and an annotated monthly list of Recent Additions to the
Library.
-112>
Library users including Research Scholars can access on-line computer-
based information held in the Library in different databases through the
Foreign Affairs Information Retrieval System (FAIRS). Photocopying and
Computer Print-out facilities are also available to all Library users
including Research Scholars.
The Policy Planning & Research Division has embarked upon the collection
of information on Indian Scholars and Mediapersons specialising in
international affairs as well as Scholars and Mediapersons from selected
foreign countries specialising on India/South Asia. This database has
been computerised in the Library.
The Division has commenced publication of India's bilateral treaties and
agreements with foreign countries signed after Independence. The first
three volumes of the publication covering the period from August 1947 to
December 1960 were published, in January 1994. The publication is
expected to fulfil a long-felt need of scholars of international
relations and serve as useful reference material.
-113>
|
1993
13. External Publicity |
Top |
THE External Publicity Division (XP Division) has been entrusted with
the responsibility of projecting India's views and concerns on national
and international issues, and acquainting audiences abroad with
developments in India in the political, economic, social and cultural
spheres, with particular reference to all issues that have a connection
with the foreign policy of India.
There are two broad streams in XP Division's work: the first is the on-
going work of projecting India on the world stage, which is basically
done by providing Indian Missions abroad with adequate and appropriate
publicity material of various kinds and supporting their information
efforts. This on-going work includes organizing the media element of
Indian VVIP visits abroad as well as foreign VVIPs who visit India,
hosting journalists and other persons from abroad, monitoring the world
media, preparing print as well as audio visual publicity material, etc.
The second stream is the special efforts that need to be mounted for
meeting the requirements of the publicity fall-out from major events,
countering anti-India propaganda, etc.
During the year under review, the XP Division was actively engaged in
discharging its responsibility of projecting India's position on various
issues and developments in India as well as countering propaganda
directed against India. Simultaneously, due emphasis was given to
dissemination of credible information relating to the positive aspects
of India's economic, scientific and technological progress and
underlining the sustained march of Indian democracy. A thrust was given
to the wide publicity on the new policy initiative undertaken by the
present
Government, particularly, the drive for economic liberalisation
including the country's concerted efforts to attract foreign investment.
-114>
The XP Division continued to assist Indian Missions/Posts abroad with
publicity material in different languages for distribution to local
dignitaries, prominent persons, opinion makers and academic
institutions, etc. These publications have been especially designed with
the objective of acquainting foreign audiences with the multi-faceted
nature of the Indian polity and the sustained progress of independent
India.
False and malicious propaganda relating to human rights, the situation
in Punjab and Kashmir and other incidents such as Ayodhya, bomb blasts
in Bombay, communal riots in India, the Hazratbal incident, etc, were
focussed upon by certain countries such as Pakistan.
While developments in Jammu & Kashmir have figured prominently in the
international media, the focus has been on activities of terrorists as
well as allegations of excesses by security forces and violations of
human rights, the latter being the subject of an intensive propaganda
effort by Pakistan.
To counter such disinformation a number of specific and important steps
have been taken.
The basic aim of the efforts being made by the Ministry of External
Affairs to counter the anti-Indian allegations are:
(i) To try to put the overall situation in the proper perspective;
(ii) To rebut specific allegations by providing correct factual
position.
A substantial amount of material including pictorial descriptions, video
films, pamphlets, has been compiled and disseminated to all our Missions
so that they could utilise this effectively for briefing Governments of
their accreditation, opinion makers, media personnel, officials and
politicians. The material has highlighted the truth behind the situation
in Kashmir and Punjab as well as Pakistan's aiding and abetting of
terrorism in these States. Other material include facts about human
rights violations, factual position with regard to the special
legislation passed in India to deal with abnormal situations created by
secessionist movements and terrorists, such as the TADA, the Armed
Forces Special Powers Act, etc. Material has also been widely
distributed regarding Pakistan's links with narco terrorism, its
training camps for terrorists as well as material which pinpoints the
activities of terrorists in these
States in exhaustive detail. Amnesty International's comprehensive
report on India has been examined with other concerned Departments of
the Government of India and a comprehensive rebuttal prepared, giving
the factual position which proved very effective in blunting adverse
criticism and exposing the grossly exaggerated picture of human rights
allegations apart from showing that it is the terrorists, armed and
trained and financed by Pakistan, who are violating the fundamental
human- right to life, by killing innocent people.
-115>
"India Perspectives", the monthly magazine which is published by the XP
Division, is now brought out in 10 languages and has emerged as a major
component in the Ministry's publicity efforts. The magazine has widened
its readership and feedback from Indian Missions has been most
encouraging. At present, 50,000 copies are printed and sent out to
Indian Missions abroad for further redistribution.
The Division continued to regularly brief the foreign and Indian Press
about India's policy on various issues. Government's swift response, as
well as material outlining facts and all steps taken to counter communal
forces, were disseminated to all the Missions abroad in order to enable
them to present India's point of view to foreign officials, foreign
governments as well as Media, opinion makers and others. During the
period under review almost daily press briefings were held for the Media
and press releases issued. In all, more than 490 Official Spokesman's
statements/press releases were issued.
As part of its regular programme of inviting foreign journalists on
familiarisation visits, XP Division hosted 40 journalists from 19
different countries during the period and made a further commitment to
visits of 17 more foreign journalists from 10 other countries. The
countries include the Philippines, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Oman, Nepal,
Ukraine, Republic of Korea, Bangladesh, Austria, Sri Lanka, UAE,
Pakistan, Greece, Tunisia, Thailand, Kenya, Syria, Namibia and Sweden.
In addition, reputed economic journalists from select target countries
such as Britain, Germany, France, Japan, Russia and South Africa visited
India, in pursuance of Prime Minister's directive of inviting such
journalists to enable them to have first hand information about economic
liberalisation in India. Some of these visits coincided with the India
Engineering Trade Fair and the India International Trade Fair. The
outcome of these visits reflects a considerable degree of success
achieved in generating goodwill and promoting the cause of favourable
projection of India's views and concerns on international issues.
-116>
The XP Division looked after logistics/media arrangements for VVIP
visits abroad. During the period under review, the Division has handled
media arrangements and logistics for journalists accompanying the
President to Ukraine, UK, Turkey, Greece and Hungary, the Vice President
to UK, Morocco and Vietnam and the Prime Minister to Thailand,
Bangladesh, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Oman, China, Republic, of Korea,
Bhutan and Iran.
The Division facilitated media arrangements for the foreign journalists
accompanying the VVIPs on their visits to India. A Liaison Officer from
XPR Section was attached with each visiting delegation. The Following
VVIPs visited India during the period:
King of Bhutan, Prime Minister of UK, President of Sri Lanka, Prime
Minister of Spain, German Chancellor, President of Moldova, President of
Mauritius, King and Queen of Nepal, President of Tanzania, Prime
Minister of Belarus, President of Burkina, Faso, President of Nauru,
President of Ireland, President of Zambia, King & Queen of Sweden, Prime
Minister of Netherlands, Chairman of National Committee of Chinese
People's Political Consultative Conference.
XPR Section also arranged the media coverage for the incoming visits of
ten Foreign Ministers and Deputy Prime Ministers from different
countries.
XPR Section also processed documentary proposals from foreign TV
producers for clearance and this involved references to various
departments agencies in the Government of India. A total of 189
proposals were processed during the period. In addition, 109 foreign
journalists were accredited and provided other miscellaneous press
facilities.
Information and publicity activity through the audio-visual media were
substantially expanded during the year. Approximately 50 documentaries
on various aspects of India were acquired from various sources besides
Doordarshan and Films Division for distribution to Missions Posts in the
appropriate colour systems for non-commercial presentation.
Approximately 15 of these were acquired in the 16 or 35 mm film formats
also. Missions were also requested to promote films of outstanding
quality commercially as, information or entertainment software.
-117>
Under the XP Division's film production programme, a film on investment
opportunities opened up by the economic reforms in India was produced
and circulated to all Missions and Posts. This film as wen as some other
films from the XP Division catalogue were telecast in approximately 40
countries world-wide notably on the occasion of the Independence Day
1993. French and German versions of an earlier production "Continuity in
Change" were also produced.
The XP Division runs an active film programme through Indian Missionse
Posts abroad. Approximately 150-200 Indian feature films from XP
Division and from the Directorate of Film Festivals were presented at
nearly 40 film events/festivals organized in this manner. The XP
Division has also had a role in the organization of the India
International Film Festival 1994 (IFFI 1994), the Bombay International
Documentary and Short Film Festival 1994, and the International
Children's Festival at Udaipur in October 1993.
The XP Division processes the hardware audio-visual requirements of
Missions/Posts. Twelve Missions were sanctioned satellite dish antennae
for reception of satellite TV, requirements of 16 Missions for TV/VCRs
were met as also the requirements of 3 Missions for film projectors. On
the organizational front, the entire inventory of feature films,
documentary films, video programmes, photographs and transparencies were
computerised.
On the photo publicity side, 12,000 photographs mostly from Photo
Division, 5,000 transparencies, and 1,300 posters acquired from
independent sources were circulated/distributed to Missions.
Aproximately 250 new transparencies were acquired.
A Special Unit has been set up to strengthen India's external publicity
efforts and to coordinate the external publicity efforts amongst the
various Ministries of the Government of India.
-118>
|
1993
14. Protocol |
Top |
DURING the year 1993-94, Heads of Diplomatic Mission of the following
eighteen countries left India on completion of their assignments:-
1 Ghana
2 Slovakia
3 Germany
4 Tanzania
5 Greece
6 USA
7 Cyprus
8 Austria
9 Brunei
10 Japan
11 Mauritius
12 Colombia
13 Libya
14 Thailand
15 Korea (DPR)
16 Bhutan
17 Philippines
18 Argentina
During the same period, Heads of Diplomatic Mission of the following
sixteen countries presented their credentials to the President of
India:-
1 New Zealand
2 Bulgaria
-119>
3 Chile
4 Poland
5 Indonesia
6 Qatar
7 Austria
8 Japan
9 Cuba
10 Colombia
11 Greece
12 Laos
13 Kazakhstan
14 Cyprus
15 Portugal
16 Germany
During the period under review, the following countries opened their
'Resident Missions' in New Delhi:-
1 Ukraine
2 Uzbekistan
3 Kazakhstan
4 South Africa
A list containing names of foreign dignitaries who visited India and a
list containing information about visits by Indian VVIPs to foreign
countries during the year are at Appendices XIII and XIV.
-120>
|
1993
15. Passport and Consular Services and Indians Overseas |
Top |
THE main areas of focus during 1993 were reduction in the backlog and
time taken in the issue of passports, simplification of procedures,
upgradation of facilities and a long term review of all aspects of
passport issue.
The pendency, which had peaked at over 12 lakhs in May 1992 and was
approximately 11.4 lakhs at the start of January 1993, was reduced to
around 5.3 lakhs as on 31 December 1993.
The output of the Passport Offices increased further during 1993 with
the issue of over 27 lakh fresh passports. This figure represents an
increase of about 21 per cent over the output in 1992 which itself was
an increase of 46.4 per cent over the 1991 output. Detailed input and
output figures regarding fresh passports and miscellaneous services are
at Appendix IV.
The factors that contributed to this increase included a stable supply
of an adequate number of passport booklets, some increase in staff, the
introduction of an incentive system geared to enhance the output from
all personnel and a ma or overall effort.
The Passport (Amendment) Act 1993 came into effect on 1 July 1993. Major
features of the Act include provisions to enable the Government to fix
the fee based on the cost of production and preparation of passports and
to increase the penalties for violations of the Act. Consequent to the
Act coming into force, passport fees were rationalised and revised
with effect from 10 July 1993 in a manner by which what was in effect a
subsidy to passport holders from the rest of the public was put to an
end. It is Government's policy to provide passport services on a
noprofit basis.
-121>
Further systematisation and streamlining of procedures resulted in
operational measures in the following areas
(1) Specific instructions for students studying in hostels or away from
home were drawn up, by which minors below 15 years of age would have the
option of applying at the Passport Office covering either their
parents/permanent address or present place of residence while all others
would need to apply at their place of normal residence for the major
part of the year.
(2) After a thorough examination of the operation of the system of
recruitment of labourers for Saudi Arabia, the procedure for issuing
passports on priority on grounds of employment was clearly laid down in
a manner to ensure that, no genuine case with a specific visa or demand
letter would be denied a passport on the basis of authentic
documentation.
(3) With the resumption of diplomatic relations with South Africa, the
erstwhile restriction on travel to South Africa on passports of Indian
nationals stands deleted. Passport Offices are to provide this service
free and as a matter of course Immigration check points have also been
advised that the limiting endorsement with regard to South Africa, if
found on a passport, is to be treated as deleted.
(4) In order to keep the public informed about the position in the
processing of applications, Passport Offices now issue a weekly press
release indicating the application date covered in the previous week on
a first-come-first-served basis where the application is complete in all
respects. This has helped to give the public an idea of when their cases
are likely to be processed. It has also helped individuals to bring to
the attention of the Passport Officers and the Ministry those cases
which might have not been processed for various reasons such as
incomplete documentation and enabled appropriate necessary action.
(5) An officer of the CPV Division meets members of the public every day
to hear complaints and resolve problems.
-122>
(6) Letters of complaint received by the CPV Division are entered into a
computer database and followed up at various levels as a result of which
several cases have been resolved. Complaints against staff are
investigated and where it is established that action is called for, the
official is proceeded against either departmentally or by the CBI.
(7) In order to facilitate travel where the renewal of a passport issued
at another office requires verification of the particulars from the
original issuing office, all passport issuing authorities can on
application renew a passport for a period of one year pending
verification of the document.
(8) With the stabilisation in the supply of passport booklets,
applicants wishing to have an additional booklet instead of visa sheets
may now be issued an additional booklet as per their preference.
(9) A `jumbo' passport booklet with an increased number of pages for the
frequent traveller is to be introduced. A proto-type has been developed
and is presently undergoing testing for introduction once found
acceptable.
The Ministry worked in close consultation with various law enforcement
agencies on matters concerning passport fraud. An inter-ministerial
group has completed work on the format and features of machine readable
passports and visas in terms of international standards and the
Government of India's requirements. Proto-types are now to be produced
by India Security Press (ISP) (Nasik) for testing before acceptance and
introduction.
As part of the on-going work to place the cadre management of the
Central Passport Organization on a stable basis, 110 promotions and 416
confirmations were effected during the year. A majority of the 400 newly
created posts were filled up through promotions and nominations
forwarded by the Staff Selection Committee. Vacancies at lower levels
resulting from promotions are now in the process of being filled up as
per prescribed procedures.
The Passport Offices at Calcutta, Chandigarh, jalandhar, Kozhikode,
Lucknow, Madras, Patna and Tiruchirapalli were inspected during the year
and specific operational problems identified and addressed.
Regional Passport Office (RPO) (Bombay) suffered a serious setback
with one of the blasts of 12 March 1993 occurring close to its premises,
causing considerable damage. The office was however operational on the
first working day after the blast with the Regional Passport Officer and
his staff ensuring that services to the public were not disrupted in any
major way.
-123>
Government took steps to identify alternate premises for several
Passport Offices and to upgrade facilities wherever possible in existing
offices. New and more spacious premises for the Regional Passport Office
(Delhi) have been got ready at Bhikaji Cama Place. Completion
formalities are now awaited in order to enable the office to shift.
Construction of new office space at Cochin and Kozhikode is nearing
completion. Proposals regarding Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad,
Lucknow and Panaji are at various stages of processing. An overall
package to upgrade office equipment and fittings has resulted in most
Passport Offices now having fax machines, franking machines,
photocopiers and electronic typewriters in addition to whenever
necessary, public address systems and generator sets (to ensure
availability of electricity during power cuts to run the laminating
machines so as not to delay the issue of passports). Computer
installation at Regional Passport Office (Bombay) which got delayed
owing to the bomb blast, has been completed and is being
operationalised. Site preparation at the CPV Division is presently going
on.
Security of Passport Offices is an area that has required greater
attention. Whenever necessary, arrangements by the State Government were
supplemented with the hiring of private security agencies. This has so
far been done in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Cochin, Kozhikode, Lucknow and
Madras.
Consular work with regard to Indian nationals abroad continued to be an
area requiring constant attention particularly in regions where there is
a high concentration of labour. Assistance provided to Indians included
repatriation of destitute Indians, using the Missions' good offices to
settle differences with local employers, tracking cases of Indians under
trial in foreign countries, visiting Indians in jails, assisting with
formalities for Indians who died abroad including either the performance
of last rites in the country concerned or the return of the bod y to
India, follow-up with the next of kin regarding necessary documentation
and dues and so on.
Figures regarding various categories of cases where consular services
were provided in India and abroad may be seen at Appendix VI.
-124>
The subject of foreigners in Indian prisons came in for specific
attention during the year. An agreement for the transfer of convicted
prisoners has been initialled with Spain. Similar agreements are under
consideration with some other countries.
Fees for consular services such as authentication of documents, rendered
by Missions and Posts abroad were last revised on I November 1985. Due
to a steep rise in costs, fees for consular services were revised with
effect from 1 December 1993.
There are approximately 13 million overseas Indians including Indian
citizens and persons of Indian origin and descent who have adopted the
citizenship of other countries. While the welfare of Indian citizens
remains the prime responsibility of the Government of India, the close
links of the entire overseas Indian community with India were sought to
be strengthened further in both the cultural and economic fields. Indian
Missions abroad interacted closely with overseas Indians for this
purpose.
-125>
|
1993
16. Administration and Organization |
Top |
SHRI Dinesh Singh continued to hold charge as Minister of External
Affairs with Shri R L Bhatia and Shri Salman Khurshid as Ministers of
State for External Affairs, during the year 1993-94.
During the year reported upon, a new Mission was opened in Brunei on 18
May 1993 and an Indian Cultural Centre was opened in Johannesburg (South
Africa) on 24 May 1993. In addition, the Government proposes to open 6
new Missions/Posts shortly in Ashkabad (Turkmenistan), Dushanbe
(Tajikistan), Bishkek (Kyrghyzstan), Istanbul (Turkey) and Durban and
Pretoria (South Africa). This is being done in accordance with policy
directions given by the Government, to safeguard India's economic and
political interests in the post cold war global scenario. The Mission in
Kabul was re-opened on 25 September 1993.
Separately, and as a measure of economy, the Embassies in Malawi,
Colombia and Zaire were closed down.
The Ministry, therefore, has now 140 Resident Missions/Posts abroad
including Indian Cultural Centre in Johannesburg and 3 special Missions.
The Indian Cultural Centre in Johannesburg has recently been upgraded to
Consulate General of India.
In order to streamline the work at headquarters and to meet the changing
functional requirements, two new units have been set up in the Ministry
to deal with international economic co-operation and disarmament.
The total strength of IFS and IFS(B) at Headquarters and Indian Missions
and Posts abroad is 3484. This includes certain posts borne on the
budget of Ministry of Commerce but excludes ex-cadred posts and
those held in abeyance. In addition, 11 posts are held by ex-cadre Heads
of Mission. The cadre-wise strength is at Appendix VIII. The list of
officers qualified in various foreign languages is at Appendix IX. The
statement showing the number of appointments (both by direct recruitment
and promotion) made in various groups in the Ministry and reserved
vacancies filled by Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes during the year
1992 is at Appendix X.
-126>
In pursuance of the directive of the Standing Committee of the
Parliament, the Ministry intensified efforts to purchase and construct
office and residential accommodation for Indian Missions abroad, keeping
in view functional requirements, condition of the real estate market in
various countries and availability of funds. A plot of land was
purchased in Lucknow for construction of a Regional Passport Office-cum-
residential building. An agreement has been signed with Bangladesh to
acquire a plot of land in Dhaka, on exchange basis, for the construction
of a Chancery-cum-residential complex for Indian High Commission. Land
has also been purchased in Delhi to build residential accommodation for
officers and staff of the Ministry.
Proposals are under active consideration for purchase of properties for
Indian Missions in London, New York, Vladivostok, Dhaka, Almaty and
Regional Passport Office, Hyderabad. The construction work at Papankala
project to provide residential accommodation for Ministry's officials
has begun. The interior work at the new premises for the Regional
Passport Office, Delhi at Bhikaji Cama Place has been completed. The
Ministry has taken various steps to enable the start of construction of
a new headquarters of the Ministry on Maulana Azad Road and the Foreign
Service Institute in JNU Campus.
The pre-construction work for projects in Riyadh, Abu Dhabi, Islamabad
(Phase--II) and Tashkent is at an advanced stage. The pre-construction
planning for projects in Beijing, Kathmandu, Dhaka, Kiev, Muscat, Port
Louis and Bonn has been initiated.
In order to assess the functioning of Indian Missions abroad, Foreign
Service Inspectors inspected Missions in Abu Dhabi, Almaty, Beijing,
Brunei, Bonn, Buenos Aires, Frankfurt, Islamabad, Karachi, Lima, Manila,
Riyadh, Rome, Shanghai, Tashkent and Ulan Bator.
The Ministry provided computers to several more Divisions at
Headquarters and in Missions abroad to further improve their efficiency.
-127>
|
1993
17. Foreign Service Institute |
Top |
DURING the year under review, the initiative taken by the Foreign
Service Institute in 1992 in organizing exclusive courses for foreign
diplomats, has found wide and positive response resulting in a large
demand for such courses. Although it has been impossible to cater to the
entire demand, the Foreign Service Institute held the third exclusive
Course from 20 September to 30 November 1993. In this programme there
were 26 diplomats from 17 countries. These included diplomats from the
Baltic Republics (Latvia and Lithuania), the Central Asian Republics
(Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan), Armenia, Moldova, Poland and Bulgaria,
South Africa (ANC and PAC), Kiribati, Vietnam, Laos, Syria as well as
Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
The Institute successfully completed in November 1993, the Professional
Course in Diplomacy and International Relations for IFS Probationers of
the 1992 batch. A special feature of their programme this year was the
emphasis on getting to know the country and its institutions.
Accordingly, an all round exposure was organized on defence related
matters. The Probationers spent time with the Army, Air Force and Navy.
During their tour on training they travelled to the Southern States of
India, while for their District Attachment they chose either States in
the North, East or non-home States. For the second successive year, the
Probationers were given an exposure to management issues and the foreign
service: this was organized at the Indian Institute of Management in
Bangalore. The Probationers were also given training in the use of
computers and learnt Hindi in addition to a foreign language.
-128>
The new economic policies of Government were appropriately highlighted
in all courses carried out at the Institute. India's experience in
liberalising the economy and the steps taken by her to encourage flow of
investment and technology were discussed and highlighted especially in
the exclusive course for foreign diplomats and in the IFS Probationers
training programme.
The Institute's language laboratory was completed this year. It is now
fully operational and has borne fruit. Language courses are available to
all members of the Foreign Service and these are being organized as
required. Likewise, the Institute modernised and upgraded its computer
training equipment and actively continued to provide computer
famillarization training programmes. These programmes are exceedingly
popular and the Institute receives more requests for admission than the
limited capacity available.
The Institute made special efforts to develop and foster linkages with
similar institutions in other countries. During the year, the Dean
visited Vienna to attend the meeting of the Associations of Directors of
Diplomatic Academies and Institutes of International Relations (ADDAIR),
Budapest for interaction with University of Economic Sciences and New
York to attend the 8th session of the high-level committee and
consultations with UNDP headquarters. Representatives of the Institute
visited Botswana to discuss training requirements for ANC diplomats from
South Africa, and Zimbabwe to attend the inaugural seminar for setting
up of an Institute of International Affairs there. The Zambian
authorities made a request to FSI for technical assistance in developing
their training programmes, the discussions for which are in progress.
The German Foundation in International Development has expressed a
desire to establish linkages with FSI and several Asian, African and
European countries have requested for training.
Under the Ford Foundation Project, one member of the faculty visited
Washington and successfully completed the MBTI Qualifying Workshop.
Under the UNDP Project, two Foreign Service officers will be sent abroad
for the academic year 1993--94.
Apart from these special activities, the basic functions of the Foreign
Service Institute continued with the training of officers and members of
staff under different programmes. These included:
-129>
(i) "Introduction to India "-Familiarisation Programme for Resident
Diplomats.
(ii) Basic Professional Course for IFS (B) personnel being posted
abroad.
(iii) Hand-on Computer Programmes.
(iv) Language Programmes.
The Institute expanded its activities by arranging special programmes
for non-MEA personnel going on posting to Indian Missions abroad.
-130>
|
1993
18. Implementation of Official Language Policy and Propagation of Hindi Abroad
|
Top |
THE Ministry continued to implement with vigour the Official Language
Policy. Steps were also taken to propagate Hindi abroad. The Hindi
Advisory Committee of the Ministry provided guidance in both these
tasks. The Official Language Implementation Committee, headed by joint
Secretary (Administration), oversaw the day to day implementation of
these tasks.
In general terms, workshops were organized for those having working
knowledge of Hindi, a Hindi module for the Indian Foreign Service
Probationers of the 1992 Batch was organized, Hindi week was observed
and various competitions organized at Headquarters as well as in some
Indian Missions abroad and Passport Offices in India. The Ministry
persisted with its decision not to purchase Roman typewriters.
Special emphasis was laid on monitoring the implementation of the
Official Language Policy in the Passport Offices. Officers from
Headquarters inspected Passport Offices from this point of view at
Chandigarh and jalandhar. The Committee of Parliament on Official
Language also inspected the Passport Offices at Bangalore and
Bhubaneshwar. This Committee of Parliament also received the Oral
Evidence from a team of officials of the Ministry headed by the Foreign
Secretary.
An encouraging picture emerged from Ministry's efforts to propagate
Hindi abroad. Specifically, sets of standard Hindi literature, Hindi
teaching aids like text books, audio cassettes, charts, dictionaries,
etc were
supplied to specific Indian Missions abroad. There were noticeable
demands from institutions in foreign countries for such material. Some
Indian Missions started Hindi classes on the request of local residents.
In this context, the Indian Missions in Mexico, Buenos Aires, Budapest
and Ulan Bator need to be mentioned.
-131>
The Fourth World Hindi Conference was held from 2 to 4 December 1993 in
Mauritius. Ministry of External Affairs coordinated all Indian
assistance given to the Conference, which included the holding of an
exhibition on Hindi language and literature, despatch of cultural
troops, presentation of books and electronic bilingual typewriters, etc.
A high-powered 15-member official delegation, led by Shri Madhukar Rao
Chowdhury, Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, participated on
behalf of the Government. Shri Ram Lal Rahi, Deputy Home Minister, was
the Deputy Leader of the Indian delegation. The Conference was attended
by scholars, writers and intellectuals from twenty odd countries.
The Indian Consulate in Kobe and the Embassy in Paramaribo organized
Hindi Essay Competitions for students. The Ministry provided prizes for
the winners.
-132>
|
1993
19. Cultural Relations |
Top |
THE Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) was established in
April 1950 with the primary objective of establishing, reviving and
strengthening cultural relations and mutual understanding between India
and other countries. The Council has since worked steadfastly towards
that direction.
The major activities of the Council include: administration of
scholarship schemes on behalf of Government of India for overseas
students and welfare of overseas students; exchange of scholars,
academicians, opinion makers, artistes and writers; exchange of
exhibitions; organization of and participation in seminars and symposia;
exchange of performing arts groups; establishing and maintaining chairs
and professorships for Indian studies abroad; presentation of books;
organizing annual Maulana Azad Memorial Lectures and Maulana Azad Essay
Competitions; providing the secretariat for the Jawaharlal Nehru Award
for International Understanding; publications; maintaining Indian
cultural centres abroad and supporting special bilateral programmes.
Scholarships and Welfare of Overseas Students
During the year 1993-94, the Council granted scholarships to 647 new
overseas students for graduate and post-graduate courses. The total
number of overseas students under various ICCR scholarships is 1782.
Most of the scholarship holders are from developing countries while
there are a few from developed countries like Japan, France, Germany,
Austria and Canada.
-133>
The Council has decided to institute a new scholarship in the memory of
the late Apa Sahib Pant. The Apa Sahib Pant Memorial. Scholarship will
be awarded annually from the academic year commencing July 1994 for a
meritorious Kenyan student. Apa Sahib was the first Indian Commissioner
to Kenya.
At the request of the family of the former Japanese Foreign Minister,
the late Mr Saburo Okita, the Council will administer an annual
scholarship in the memory of Mr Okita for an Indian student to study
Indo-Japanese relations. The scheme would come into effect from the
academic session commencing July 1994.
The welfare of all foreign students is the responsibility of the
Council. In May 1993, the Council organized a meeting of all Foreign
Students' Advisers of various Universities throughout India to review
and discuss matters related to the welfare of overseas students.
The Council celebrated the birth anniversary of its founder, Maulana
Azad, on 11 November as Foreign Students Day by arranging special get-
togethers of overseas students in Delhi and at various Universities. On
these occasions, overseas students presented cultural programmes
relating to their countries. Indian Missions abroad also organized
special functions to mark the day by inviting former alumni of Indian
Universities, thus keeping alive contacts with former alumni who studied
in India.
Performing Arts
The major highlights of presentation of India's composite culture abroad
have been the Days of Indian Culture in Hungary, participation at the
Theatre Festival at Glasgow, Brisbane International Festival, London
International Festival of Theatre, Teatre Tascabole Di Bergamo in Italy,
XVIII Festival of Eastern Venezuela and Five Continents and on the
occasion of the Fourth World Hindi Conference in Mauritius.
During April-December 1993, the Council sponsored 33 cultural troupes
abroad to 39 countries (Details at Appendix XIX). Following is an
indicative list of troupes/artistes sponsored by the Council:
(i) Smt Madhavi Mudgal-Odissi Dancer
(ii) Shri Karaikudi Mani-Percussionist
(iii) Naya Theatre Group led by Shri Habib Tanvir
(iv) Sankirtana Group, Imphal
(v) Smt Penaaz Masani-Vocalist
-134>
(vi) Guru Maya Dhar Raut-Odissi and pupils
(vii) Ustad Bismillah Khan-Shehnai
(viii) Kum Alarmel Valli-Bharatanatyam
(ix) Kum Neera Batra-Kathak
(x) Karnataka College of Percussion, Bangalore
(xi) Teejan Bai-Pandavani Singer
(xii) National School of Drama Repertory-Theatre Group
(xiii) Jhaveri Sisters-Manipuri
During April-December 1993, the Council received 14 cultural troupes
from 12 countries (Details at Appendix XX). Following is an indicative
ist of troupes/artistes received from abroad:
(i) Zanoubi Folk Dance Troupe-Syria
(ii) Children's ensemble-D P R Korea
(iii) Talking Drums-Nigeria
(iv) Sonia Amelio-Mexico
(v) Het Folkloristisch Danstheater-Netherlands
(vi) Ms Zaniboni-France
(vii) Kroumata Percussion Ensemble-Sweden
(viii) Reda Dance Troupe- Egypt
(ix) Compagnie Didier Thorne-France
(x) VTM Military Band-Switzerland
The Council organized 7 special performances of Indian artistes in
honour of VVIP visitors/delegates/conferences (Details at Appendix XXI).
Exhibitions
Major exhibitions abroad organized by the Council were "Magical Hands-
living Indian Crafts" in Schallaburg, Austria from April to November
1993 and "India Songs-Multiple Streams in Contemporary Indian Art" in
five Australian cities from April to October 1993. Both these
exhibitions were highly acclaimed and the one in Austria had a record
number of 1,00,000 visitors. Other exhibitions organized by the Council
during April-December 1993 were: " Photographic Exhibition My Land My
People" in Egypt and Lebanon; "Children's Paintings" in South Korea; and
"Contemporary Art Exhibition-Meeting Point" in UK (Details at Appendix
XXII).
Visitors Programme
During April-December 1993, the Council sponsored and assisted 35 Indian
scholars, intellectuals, academicians and artists to participate in
seminars, symposia, study tours, etc abroad (Details at Appendix XXIII).
During the same period, the Council received 31 visitors from 12
countries under the Incoming Visitors Programme (Details at Appendix
XXIV).
-135>
Seminars and Symposia
The Council in collaboration with the Supreme Council of Culture of the
Arab Republic of Egypt. organized a seminar on "Contemporary Cultural
Relations between India and Egypt" in New Delhi from 20 to 23 December
1993, focussing on contemporary literature, theatre and cinema. Eminent
scholars and personalities from both countries participated in the
dialogue. The seminar was second in the series on Indo-Egyptian
relations.
The Council also collaborated with the Khuda Baksh Library, Patna, in
organization of the Seminar on "Historical & Cultural Links between
India & Uzbekistan from ancient times to present day".
Indian Cultural Centres Abroad
To promote greater awareness and appreciation of India's composite
culture abroad, the Council has established cultural centres in
Georgetown (Guyana), Moscow (Russia), Port Louis (Mauritius), Paramaribo
(Suriname), Cairo (Egypt), Berlin (Germany), London (UK), Johannesburg
(South Africa) and Jakarta (Indonesia).
The centres with the exception of Berlin, London and Johannesburg impart
lessons in Indian music, dance, yoga and languages. For this purpose
teachers are deputed by the Council. Each centre maintains a library and
a reading room and organizes lectures, symposia, exhibitions, essay
competitions, plays, dance and music, performances and screening of
films.
The centres in Berlin and London primarily focus their activities on the
local decision makers, opinion makers, intellectuals and friends of
India through lectures, seminars, symposia, cultural programmes and
films. The centres also maintain contact with a wide cross-section of
students, teachers, scholars and cultural personalities.
The Cultural Centre in Johannesburg established in May 1993 has started
its activities and these presently relate to information and consular
services. The centre is expected to enhance its activities in the
financial year 1994-95.
-136>
All cultural centres abroad extend a supportive role to ICCR's
activities by coordinating events from India in their respective
regions.
Visiting Professors and Chairs of India Studies
|
The Council deputes visiting professors abroad to teach Indology, Indian
languages and other related subjects. The deputation of Professors
abroad is done under the bilateral Cultural Exchange Programme and where
'institutional arrangements exist with ICCR.
ICCR presently has on deputation abroad 19 Professors teaching Hindi,
Sanskrit, Tamil and Anthropology/Sociology (Details at Appendix XXV)
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Essay Competition
The Council annually organizes an Essay Competition for citizens of
SAARC countries below the age of 30 years. The Essay Competition is held
in three languages, namely, Hindi, Urdu, and English. The topics for the
Essay Competition relate to the ideals of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and
their relevance in the contemporary situation with particular focus on
the SAARC region.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Memorial Lecture
The 27th Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Memorial Lecture was delivered on 6
December 1993 by justice Mohamad Sai'd Al Ashmawy, Chief justice of the
Higher State Security and Criminal Court of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The topic of the lecture was "Religion and Politics".
Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding
The Council provides the secretariat for the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for
International Understanding. All nominations received for the award were
processed and compiled.
Indo-US Sub-Commission on Education and Culture
The Council provides the secretariat for the Indo-US Sub-Commission on
Education & Culture.
The thrust of the Indo-US Sub-Commission's programmes has been the area
of new information technology. A series of programmes under the umbrella
of "Information 2000+" have been organized in India.
-137>
These are:
(i) an exhibition on "Structures" at National Science Centre, New Delhi;
(ii) "Classroom 2000+", a programme on Distance Learning by the
Department of Education and Central Institute of Educational Technology;
(iii) a symposium on the "Future of the Mind: Mind of the Future";
(iv) seminar on "New Mass Communications Environment";
(v) Workshop on "Low Altitude Aerial Photography" in co-operation with
the US and the Indian experts from the Archaeological Survey of India.
Indo-British Discussion Group
The Council provides the secretariat for the Indo-British Discussion
Group. This year the meeting of the Indo-British Discussion Group took
place in London in June 1993 and the theme of the discussions was
"Dominant Trends in International Relations in the 1990s".
Africa Day, UN Day and PLO Day
The Council organized special functions to observe the Africa Day (25
May), the UN day (24 October) and the PLO Day (29 November).
Publications
The Council brings out six quarterly journals in different languages
English ('Indian Horizons' and 'Africa Quarterly'), Hindi (Gagananchal),
French (Rencontre avec l'Inde), Spanish (Papeles de la India) and Arabic
(Thakafatul Hind). A special issue of Gagananchal was brought out on the
occasion of the 4th International Hindi Conference held at Mauritius.
This issue was unique as it carried a large number of contributions from
non-Indian scholars writing in Hindi. Similarly, a special issue of
Africa Quarterly on Post-apartheid South Africa was brought out in
celebration of the process underway for dismantling racism in South
Africa. To mark the Poetry Festival, a Special Issue of Indian Horizons
was brought out on Indian poetry and was dedicated to the memory of Prof
A K Ramanujam.
The Council has also brought out two books, "Studying in India" which is
a revised edition of a publication providing information on India for
foreign students wishing to study in India, and "Contemporary
Relevance of Sufism" which was released on 11 November 1993 by President
as part of the Maulana Azad Celebration, is a compendium of papers from
50 scholars both from India and abroad who had participated in an
international symposium in New Delhi on Sufism.
-138>
The Council also participated in three international book fairs: the
45th Frankfurt Book Fair, the Madison and Chicago Book Fair and the
Paris International Book Fair.
Library
The Council has a well-stocked library of around 70,000 titles. The
prestigious personal collection of Maulana Azad is also housed in the
library in a special section called Ghosha-E-Azad. These rare books and
manuscripts are being laminated so that they can be preserved for
reference use by researchers and scholars. An annotated catalogue of the
Maulana Azad collection is also being prepared. This year a total of 105
new books have already been accessioned and the process of accessioning
more books, relevant to the Council's interests is underway.
Presentation of Books/Musical Instruments
During the period April-December 1993, the Council under its
presentation programme presented books to institutions, distinguished
persons, academicians and opinion makers in the 30 countries. Major
presentations were: donation of 1000 books on India to Silpakorn
University in Bangkok, Thailand and presentation of a set of collected
works of Mahatma Gandhi to University of Botswana. In addition, the
Council presented musical instruments and audio/video tapes to
institutions in 15 countries (Details at Appendix XXVI).
Administration
The Statutory Bodies of the Council viz the Governing Body, General
Assembly and Finance Committee were reconstituted in July 1993 for a
period of three years and the meetings were held on 19 and 20 July 1993.
Programmes/events Scheduled for Period January-March 1994
Performing Arts
The Council proposes to send 10 cultural troupes abroad to about 12
countries. ICCR would collaborate with jazz India in the organization of
"Jazz Yatra" a biennial event in February 1994. In addition to the above, ICCR will receive 3 cultural troupes from France, Germany and
Mongolia.
-139>
Visitors Programme
ICCR will sponsor three scholars to the IXth World Sanskrit Conference
to be held in Melbourne, Australia and a Qari to participate in the
International Quranic Reciters Assembly to be held in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia. Visitors from Austria, China, Germany, Hungary, the
Netherlands, Turkey, USA and Uzbekistan are to be hosted.
-140>
|
1993
20. International Assistance for Maharashtra Earthquake Victims |
Top |
THE devastating earthquake in Maharashtra in September 1993 evoked
immediate response from friendly countries, International
Organizations/Institutions including the concerned agencies of the
United Nations, NGOs and NRIs from all over the world, The countries
which sent assistance, cash and/or in kind, include the following:
Algeria, Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Canada, China, Czech Republic,
Denmark, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait,
Luxemberg, Maldives, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, New
Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Portugal, Qatar, Singapore, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand. Turkey, UAE, UK, USA and Uzbekistan.
-141>
|
1993
APPENDIX-I List of Divisions.
|
Top |
Ministry of External Affairs-List of Divisions.
Specialized & Support Divisions
1 Administration Division
2 Bureau of Security
3 Coordination Division
4 CPV & 01 Division
5 Disarmament and International Security Affairs Division
6 Economic Division
7 Economic Coordination Unit
8 Establishment Division
9 External Publicity Division
10 Foreign Service Institute
11 International Organization Division
12 Legal & Treaties Division
13 MER Division
14 Policy Planning and Research Division
15 Protocol (including Conference Division)
16 Special Kuwait Cell
Territorial Division
1 Africa Division
2 AMS Division
3 Asia Pacific Division
4 ASEAN Division-South East Asia Division
5 BSM Division
6 Central Asia Division
7 Europe East Division
8 Europe West Division
9 Gulf Division
10 IPA Division
11 LAC Division
12 North East Division
13 South East Asia Division
14 WANA Division
-145>
|
1993
APPENDIX-II Division-wise List of Countries
|
|
Ministry of External Affairs-Division-wise List of Countries and
Regions.
AFRICA DIVISION
|
1 | Angola | 16 Gabon | 31 Nigeria
|
| 2 | Benin | 17 Gambia | 32 Rwanda
|
| 3 | Botswana | 18 Ghana | 33 Sao Tome & Principe
|
| 4 | Burkina Faso | 19 Guinea | 34 Senegal
|
| 5 | Burundi | 20 Guinea Bissau | 35 Seychelles
|
| 6 | Cameroon | 21 Kenya | 36 Sierra Leone
|
| 7 | Cape Verde Islands | 22 Lesotho | 37 South Africa
|
| 8 | Central African
| Republic | 23 Liberia | 38 Swaziland
|
| 9 | Chad | 24 Madagascar | 39 Tanzania
|
| 10 | Comoros | 25 Malawi | 40 Togo
|
| 11 | Congo | 26 Mali | 41 Uganda
|
| 12 | Cote d'Ivoire | 27 Mauritius | 42 Zaire
|
| 13 | Equatorial Guinea | 28 Mozambique | 43 Zambia
|
| 14 | Eritrea | 29 Namibia | 44 Zimbabwe
|
| 15 | Ethiopia | 30 Niger |
|
| | AMS DIVISION | |
|
| 1 | Canada | 2 United States of |
| | | America | 3 The Bahamas
|
| | ASEAN DIVISION |
|
| 1 | Brunei | 3 Malaysia | 5 Singapore
|
| 2 | Indonesia | 4 Philippines | 6 Thailand
|
| | ASIA PACIFIC DIVISION | |
|
| 1 | Australia | 7 Marshall Islands | 14 Society Islands
|
| 2 | Cook Islands | 8 Nauru | 15 Tonga
|
| 3 | Democratic People's | 9 New Zealand | 16 Tuvalu
| | Republic of Korea | 10 New Caledonia | 17 UN Trust Territori- es in South Pacific
|
| -146> | | |
|
| 4 | Fiji |
11 Papua New Guinea |
18 Vanuatu |
|
|
| 5 | Japan | 12 Republic of | 19 Western Samoa
| | Korea |
|
| 6 | Kiribati | 13 Solomon Islands |
|
| | BSM DIVISION | |
|
| 1 | Bangladesh | 3 Myanmar | 5 Indian Ocean
|
| 2 | Maldives | 4 Sri Lanka |
|
| | CENTRAL ASIA DIVISION |
|
| 1 | Azerbaijan | 4 Tajikistan | 6 Turkmenistan
|
| 2 | Kazakhstan | 5 Turkey | 7 Uzbekistan
|
| 3 | Kyrghyzstan |
|
| | EE DIVISION |
|
| 1 | Albania | 9 Georgia | 16 Romania
|
| 2 | Armenia | 10 Hungary | 17 Russia
|
| 3 | Belarus | 11 Latvia | 18 Slovak Republic
|
| 4 | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 12 Lithuania | 19 Slovenia
|
| 5 | Bulgaria | 13 Macedonia | 20 Ukraine
| | | (Not yet recognised) |
| 6 | Croatia | 14 Moldova | 21 Yugoslavia (FRY-
| | | | Serbia and Montene- gro)
| 7 | Czech Republic | 15 Poland |
|
| 8 | Estonia | |
|
|
|
| EW DIVISION | |
|
| 1 | Austria | 10 Holy See, The | 19 Norway
|
| 2 | Belgium | 11 Iceland | 20 Portugal
|
| 3 | Cyprus | 12 Ireland | 21 San Marino
|
| 4 | Denmark | 13 Italy | 22 Spain
|
| 5 | Finland | 14 Liechtenstein | 23 Sweden
|
| 6 | France | 15 Luxemberg | 24 Switzerland
|
| 7 | Germany, Federal | 16 Malta 25 United Kingdom of
| | Republic of | |
|
| 8 | Gibraltar | 17 Monaco | Great Britain and
|
| 9 | Greece | 18 Netherlands | Northern Ireland
| -147>
|
| | GULF DIVISION | |
|
| 1 | Bahrain | 4 Oman | 7 Saudi Arabia
|
| 2 | Iraq | 5 Qatar | 8 United Arab Emirates
|
| 3 | Kuwait | 6 Republic of Yemen |
|
| | IPA DIVISION | |
|
| 1 | Afghanistan | 2 Iran | 3 Pakistan
|
| | LAC DIVISION | |
|
| 1 | Antigua & Barbuda | 13 Dominican Republic | 25 Panama
|
| 2 | Argentina | 14 Ecuador | 26 Paraguay
|
| 3 | Barbados | 15 El Salvador | 27 Peru
|
| 4 | Belize | 16 Grenada | 28 St Christopher and
|
| 5 | Bolivia | 17 Guatemala | Nevis
|
| 6 | Brazil | 18 Guyana | 29 St Lucia
|
| 7 | Caynan lslands | 19 Haiti | 30 St Vincent and the
|
| 8 | Chile | 20 Honduras | Grenadines
|
| 9 | Colombia | 21 Jamaica | 31 Suriname
|
| 10 | Costa Rica | 22 Netherlands | 32 Trinidad & Tabago
| | | Antilles |
|
| 11 | Cuba | 23 Mexico | 33 Turks and Caicos
| | | | Islands
|
| 12 | Commonwealth of | 24 Nicaragua | 34 Uruguay
| | Dominica | | 35 Venezuela
|
|
| | NORTH EAST DIVISION | |
|
| 1 | Bhutan | 3 Hong Kong | 5 Nepal
|
| 2 | China | 4 Mongolia | 6 Taiwan
|
| | SOUTH EAST ASIA DIVISION | |
|
| 1 | Cambodia | 2 Laos | 3 Vietnam
| -148>
|
| | WANA DIVISION | |
|
| 1 | Algeria | 7 Lebanon | 13 Somalia
|
| 2 | Djibouti | 8 Libya | 14 Sudan
|
| 3 | Egypt | 9 Mauritania | 15 Syria
|
| 4 | Israel | 10 Morocco | 16 Tunisia
|
| 5 | Jordan | 11 Palestine |
|
| 6 | League of Arab States | 12 SADR (Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic) |
|
| -149>
|
| |
|
1993
APPENDIX-III Treaties/Conventions/Agreements concluded or renewed by India
|
Treaties/Conventions/Agreements concluded or renewed by India with other countries in 1993.*
|
S NO TITLE OF CONVENTIONS/ DATE OF DATE OF DATE ON
TREATIES/AGREEMENTS ETC SIGNATURE/ RATIFICATION WHICH
ADOPTION ACCESSION OR ENTERED
ACCEPTANCE INTO
FORCE
MULTILATERAL
1 International Sugar
Agreement 1992 31.12.1992 19.1.1993 20.1.1993
2 Convention on the 30.7.1980 9.7.1993 8.8.1993
Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination
Against Women
3 Amendments to Convention 9.1.1989 10.9.1993 10.9.1993
and Operating Agreement
on International Maritime
Satellite Organization
4 International Coffee 4.6.1993 22.9.1993 1.10.1993
Agreement 1983
5 United Nations Framework 10.6.1993 1.11.1993 31.1.1994
Convention on Climate
Change
6 Agreement on SAARC 11.4.1993
Preferential Trading
Arrangement
7 Agreement between Govern- 27.10.1993
ment of Republic of India
and Government of Union
of Myanmar and the Govern-
ment of the Kingdom
of Thailand on the
Determination of the
trijunction between the
Three Countries in the
Andaman
8 SAARC Convention on 23.11.1990 31.8.1993 15.9.1993
Narcotic Drugs and
Psychotropic Sub-
stances
BILATERAL
Belgium
9 Double taxation Avoidance 26.4.1993
Agreement between the
Government of the Re-
public of India and
the Government of
Kingdom of Belgium
Belarus
10 Agreement between the 14.5.1993
Government of the Re-
public of India and the
Government of the Re-
public of Belarus on
Cooperation in Science
and Technology
* This list is not exhaustive.
-150>
11 Agreement between the 14.5.1993 14.5.1993
Government of the Re-
public of India and the
Government of the Re-
public of Belarus on
Cooperation in the
spheres of Culture,
Arts, Education, Mass
Media, Sports and Tourism
Bhutan
12 Memorandum of Understanding 4.1.1993
between the Government
of India and the Royal
Government of Bhutan regard-
ing the Sankosh Multipurpose
Project
13 Exchange of Letters on 17.3.1993 17.3.1993
Paro Airport Terminal
Complex
14 Protocol to the Agreement 13.5.1993 13.5.1993
between the Government
of India and the Royal
Government of Bhutan
regarding the Chukha
Hydro-Electric Project
(rescheduling of the loan
repayment and power tariff)
15 Exchange of Letters on 16.11.1993 16.11.1993
Sale of Bhutan Lotteries
China
16 Agreed minutes of the 5.1.1993
Fourth Session of India-
China joint Group on Eco-
nomic Relations and Trade,
Science and Technology
17 Trade protocol between 5.1.1993 1.1.1993
the Government of the
Republic of India and
the Government of the
People's Republic of
China for the calendar
year 1993
18 Memorandum of Understanding 18.1.1993 18.1.1993
between the Government
of Republic of India and
the Government of the
People's Republic of China
on Cooperation in the field
of Geology and Mineral
Resources
19 Agreement on the Maintenance 7.9.1993 7.9.1993
of Peace and Tranquillity
along the Line of Actual
Control in the India-China
Border Areas
20 Protocol, for Extension 7.9.1993 7.9.1993
of Border Trade across
Shipkila Pass
21 Agreement between the 7.9.1993 7.9.1993
Ministry of Information
and Broadcasting of the
Republic of India and the
Ministry of Radio, Film,
Television of the People's
Republic of China on Radio
and Television Cooperation
-151>
22 Agreement on Environmental 7.9.1993 7.9.1993
Cooperation between the
Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of the People's Republic of
China
23 Protocol on Festival of 23.11.1993 23.11.1993
India in China between
the Ministry of Human
Resource Development of
the Government of the
Republic of India and the
Ministry of Culture of the
Government of the People's
Republic of China
Eritrea
24 Protocol on the Est- 17.9.1993 17.9.1993
ablishment of Diplomatic
Relations between the Re-
public of India and the
State of Eritrea
25 Protocol on the Establish- 17.9.1993 17.9.1993
ment of Consular Relations
between the Government of
the Republic of India and
the Government of the State
of Eritrea
European Community
26 Cooperation Agreement 20.12.1993
between the Republic of
India and the European
Community on Partnership
and Development
European Space Agency
27 Cooperative Agreement 11.11.1993 11.11.1993
between the Indian Space
Research Organization and
the European Space Agency
France
28 Protocol of the seventh 27.7.1993 27.7.1993
meeting of the Indo-
French Working Group on
Mineral Exploration and
Development of the Indo
French joint Committee
on Economic and Technical
Cooperation
29 Agreement for Cooperation 17.11.1993 17.11.1993
in the Field of Outer
Space between the Indian
Space Research Organiza-
tion and the Centre
National D'Etudes
Spatiales
Great Britain
30 Extradition Treaty between 22.9.1992 15.11.1993 15.11.1993
the Government of the
Republic of India and
the Government of the
United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern
Ireland
-152>
31 Memorandum of Under- 13.9.1993 13.9.1993
standing between the
Government of India and
the Government of the
United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern
Ireland on Cooperation
for the Promotion of
International Under-
standing and Progress
in the Conservation,
Management and Sustain-
able Development of
Forests
Israel
32 Agreed Minutes between 17.5.1993 17.5.1993
the Ministry of External
Affairs of the Republic of
India and the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the
State of Israel
33 Agreement on Scientific 17.5.1993
and Technological `Co-
operation between the
Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of the State of Israel
34 Cultural Agreement between 18.5.1993
the Government of the
Republic of India and
Government of the
State of Israel
35 Agreement between the 18.5.1993
Government of the Re-
public of India and the
Government of the State
of Israel on Cooperation
in the fie1d of Tourism
36 Memorandum of Under- 17.5.1993 17.5.1993
standing between the
Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of the State of Israel on
Economic Cooperation
Japan
37 Loan Agreement No ID-C7 3.12.1992 3.12.1992
for Hydro-carbon Sector
Program between the Overseas
Economic Cooperation Fund,
Japan and the President of
India
38 Loan Agreement No ID-P83 3.12.1992 3.12.1992
for Anpara B Thermal Power
Station Construction Project
(IV) between the Overseas
Economic Cooperation Fund,
Japan and the President of
India
39 Exchange of Notes signed 7.12.1993 7.12.1993
between the Government of
India and the Government
of Japan for extension of
the Japanese Debt Grant
Assistance to India for
the year 1993-94 of Yen
251,833,000
-153>
40 Loan Agreement No ID-P84 21.12.1992 21.12.1992
for Yamuna Action Plan
Project between the Over-
seas Economic Cooperation
Fund, Japan and the
President of India
41 Loan Agreement No ID-P86 21.12.1992 21.12.1992
for Gandhar Gas Based
Combined Cycle Power Pro-
ject (III) between the
Overseas Economic Co-
operation Fund, Japan and
the President of India
42 Loan Agreement No ID-P85 21.12.1992 21.12.1992
for Srisailam Power Trans-
mission System Project
between the Overseas Ec-
onomic Co operation Fund,
Japan and the President
of India
43 Exchange of Notes between 28.5.1993 28.5.1993
the Government of the
Republic of India and the
Government of Japan for
extension of Japanese grant
assistance to India of 700
million yen for increase of
food production in India
44 Exchange of Notes between
the Government of the Re-
public of India and the
Government of japan for
extension of the follo-
wing Japanese assistance
to India :
(i) Debt relief Grant 28.6.1993 28.6.1993
Aid of Yen
272,151,000
(ii) Grant Aid of Yen 28.6.1993 28.6,1993
907,000,000 for
Updating Training
Equipment for
Nautical and
Marine Engineering
Education
(iii) Anpara'B'Thermal 7.12.1993 7.12.1993
Power Projecte
(Stage V)
(iv) Bakreswar Thermal 7.12.1993 7.12.1993
Power Station Project
(v) Faridabad Thermal 7.12.1993 7.12.1993
Power Station
Project
(vi) Bridge across the 7.12.1993 7.12.199?
River Yamuna near
Naini Project
(vii) Four-Laning of 7.12.1993 7.12.1993
National Highway
No 5 Project
(viii) Small-scale Indus- 7.12.1993 7.12.1993
tries Development
Programme (Stage IV)
-154>
Kazakhstan
45 Agreement between the 25.5.1993
Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of the Republic of Kazakhstan
on Co-operation in Science
and Technology
Malaysia
46 Memorandum of Understanding 2.2.1993 2.2.1993
on Defence Cooperation
between the Government
of the Republic of India
and the Government of
Malaysia
Moldova
47 Agreement between the 19.3.1993
Government of the
Republic of India and
the Government of the
Republic of Moldova
regarding Cooperation
in Education, Science,
Culture, Arts, Mass-Media,
Sports, Tourism and
Youth Affairs
Myanmar
48 Agreement for Mutual 30.3.1993 30.3.1993
Cooperation between the
Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of the Union of Myanmar for
Reducing Demand and Preve-
nting Illicit Trafficking in
Narcotic Drugs and Psycho-
tropic Substances and
Related Matters
Poland
49 Agreement between the Gove- 12.1.1993
rnment of the Republic of
India and the Government
of the Republic of Poland
on Cooperation in Science
and Technology
Romania
50 Agreement between the Gove- 18.10.93
rnment of the Republic of
India and the Government
of the Republic of Romania
on Cooperation in Science
and Technology
-155>
Russian Federation
51 Agreement on Cooperation 28.1.1993 28.1.1993
between the Government of
the Republic of India and
the Government of the
Russian Federation
on the Matters relating to
Competence of the Ministry
of Finance of the Republic
of India and the Ministry of
Security of Russian
Federation in the sphere of
combating Illicit Traffic in
Narcotics Drugs and Psychot-
ropic Substances
52 Agreement between the Gov- 28.11.1993
ernment of the Republic of
India and the Government
of Russian Federation on
Cultural and Scientific
Cooperation
53 Agreement on Cooperation 18.10.1993
between Ministry of Home
Affairs, Government of
India and the Ministry
of Internal Affairs
of the Russian Federation
Singapore
54 Memorandum of Understanding 5.2.1993
between the Government of
the Republic of India
and the Government of the
Republic of Singapore
concerning Cooperation in
the fields of Arts, Heritage
and the Archives
South Africa
55 Protocol on the Establishment 22.11.1993 22.11.1993
of Diplomatic Relations
between the Republic of
India and the Republic
of South Africa
56 Protocol on the Establishment 22.11.1993 22.11.1993
Consular Relations between
the Republic of India and
the Republic of South Africa
Syria
57 Memorandum of Understanding 8.12.1993 8.12.1993
between the Department of
Space, Government of the
Republic of India and the
General Organization of
Remote Sensing of the
Syrian Arab Republic on
Cooperation in the
Peaceful Applications
of Remote Sensing
Tajikistan
58 Memorandum of Understanding between 14.12.1993
the Government of the Republic of India
and Government of the Republic of
Tajikistan
-156>
59 Agreement between the 15.2.1993 15.2.1993
Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of the Republic of Tajiki-
stan on Cooperation in the
spheres of Culture, Arts,
Education, Science, Mass-
Media (including Cinemato-
graphy) and Sports
Thailand
60 Agreement between India and 27.10.1993
Government of the Kingdom of
Thailand on the Maritime Bo-
undary between the two
countries in the Andaman Sea
from Point 7 to the Trijunc-
tion Point (Point T) between
India, Thailand and Myanmar
Uzbekistan
61 Agreement between the 29.7.1993
Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of Republic of Uzbekistan on
Cooperation in Science and
Technology
62 Treaty on the Principles of 24.5.1993 5.1.1994 5.1.1994
Inter-State Relations and
Cooperation between the
Republic of India and the
Republic of Uzbekistan
UNDP
63 IND/93/012-Upgradation of 5.5.1993 5.5.1993
R&D Facilities of RDSO,
Lucknow (Phase II)
64 IND/92/031-Comparative Study 3.3.1993 3.3.1993
of Corporate and Industry
Competitiveness in India and
selected Countries in the
Asia-Pacific Region
65 IND/93/006-Modernisation of 11.3.1993 11.3.1993
the Administration and More
Effective Use of Trade Marks
in India
66 IND/93/014-Quality Assurance 22.3.1993 22.3.1993
in Telecom Materials
Products and Components
67 IND/93/007-Managment 7.5.1993
Development of Senior
Administrators
68 IND/93/016/A/01/99- 16.8.1993 16.8.1993
Assistance to Indian
Railways for Organizational
Development and System
Changes
69 IND/93/004/A/01/99- 22.6.1993 22.6.1993
Institute for Auto
Parts Technology
-157>
Zambia
70 Mutual agreement between the 4.12.1993 4.12.1993
Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of the Republic of Zambia
to Combat Illicit
Trafficking in Narcotic
Drugs and Psychotropic
Substances and Money
Laundering
-158>
APPENDIX-III A
Full Powers issued during 1993.
S NO CONVENTION/TREATY DATE OF FULL POWERS
1 Full Powers in Favour of Shri M V Chandrashekara, 18.2.1993
Minister of State, Ministry of Finance to sign
the Convention between the Government of the
Republic of India and the Government of
the Republic of Italy for the Avoidance of
Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal
Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income
2 Full Power in favour of Shri S L Malik, 30.6.1993
Ambassador of India to Vietnam to sign the
Air Services Agreement between the
Government of the Republic of India and
the Government of Socialist Republic of Vietnam
-159>
APPENDIX-III B
Instruments of Ratification issued during 1993.
S NO CONVENTION/TREATY DATE OF DATE OF
SIGNATURE/ INSTRUMENT
ADOPTION
1 Convention Establishing the multilateral 13.4.1992 6.9.1993
Investment Guarantee Agency
2 Cultural Agreement between the Government 13.1.1993 25.8.1993
of the Republic of India and the
Government of the Republic of Chile
3 Cultural Agreement between the Government 22.9.1992 13.8.1993
of the Republic of India and the
Government of the Republic of
Suriname
-160>
|
1993
APPENDIX-IV Statement showing the number of Fresh and Miscellaneous applications
|
Statement showing the number of Fresh and Miscellaneous applications
received and services granted by each Passport Office during the year
1993.
|
FRESH APPLICATIONS MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
S NO STATION RECEIVED GRANTED RECEIVED GRANTED
1 AHMEDABAD 111325 124080 60467 60517
2 BANGALORE 111035 104068 32583 31532
3 BARELLEY 59603 61906 29213 28566
4 BHOPAL 25833 26410 11856 11848
5 BHUBANESHWAR 10069 11114 3263 3255
6 BOMBAY 211059 209480 155031 158233
7 CALCUTTA 42470 51720 29796 29246
8 CHANDIGARH 73766 95554 39156 37923
9 COCHIN 137771 183535 76620 76168
10 DELHI 129632 128186 75190 72132
11 GOA 16065 16015 15723 15780
12 GUWAHATI 8840 9358 2794 2914
13 HYDERABAD 202069 215090 108142 102011
14 JAIPUR 67030 106104 28657 29875
15 JALANDHAR 80042 110070 35611 36989
16 KOZHIKODE 206917 341000 103262 192911
17 LUCKNOW 139215 138457 33628 33575
18 MADRAS 152674 188416 66646 68047
19 NAGPUR 12934 12890 3548 3454
20 PATNA 45485 46661 13469 13270
21 TRICHY 218491 334847 56508 55433
22 TRIVANDRUM 124600 194319 75051 74719
GRAND TOTAL 2186925 2709280 1056214 1138398
-161>
| 1993
APPENDIX-V Statement showing the Revenue and Expenditure Figures
|
Statement showing the Revenue and Expenditure Figures of Passport
Offices during the year 1993.
|
S NO OFFICE REVENUE EXPENDITURE
EARNED INCURRED
1 AHMEDABAD 25186018 4711127
2 BANGALORE 24556840 5436392
3 BAREILLY 12712307 4171790
4 BHOPAL 5841435 1030511
5 BHUBANESHWAR 2122435 686795
6 BOMBAY 57623170 13184579
7 CALCUTTA 11386505 3022308
8 CHANDIGARH 16859165 5765348
9 COCHIN 29152568 7402184
10 DELHI 29953574 8444914
11 GOA 4219296 1603441
12 GUWAHATI 1960136 741401
13 HYDERABAD 43607389 8071238
14 JAIPUR 5548346 4135097
15 JALANDHAR 17411576 5262669
16 KOZHIKODE 45642319 8256166
17 LUCKNOW 27573448 6106207
18 MADRAS 33136816 6662241
19 NAGPUR 2554935 1056565
20 PATNA 7444640 1701047
21 TRICHY 49836603 6848198
22 TRIVANDRUM 27592916 5463702
TOTAL 481922437 109763920
CPV DIVISION - 324072325
TOTAL 481922437 433836245
-162>
| 1993
APPENDIX-VI Consular Data for 1993.
|
Consular Data for 1993.
1 Number of Attestations 2,08,342
2 Number of Indians repatriated at Government cost 237
3 Number of Indians arrested abroad* 3,503
4 Number of deaths of Indians reported to the Ministry* 1,181
5 Number of foreigners arrested in India* 912
6 Number of foreigners died in India* 229
7 (i) Numer of requests for extradition received by
Government of India from abroad 7
(ii) Number of requests for extradition from
Government of India to foreign Governments 2
8 Number of lost/damaged passport cases received* 11,150
-163>
| 1993
APPENDIX-VII Names of Ambassadors/High Commissioners of India
|
Names of Ambassadors/High Commissioners of India abroad who have taken charge from 1.1.93 to 17.12.93.
|
EMBASSIES/HIGH COMMISSIONS
S NO COUNTRY CAPITAL AMBASSADOR/ DATE OF
HIGH COMMISSIONER APPOINTMENT
1 Azerbaijan Baku K Gajendra Singh 9.12.1993
2 Bahrain Bahrain Rajanikanta Verma 18.11.1993
3 Belarus Minsk R C Shukla 16.1.1993
4 Brunei Darussalam Brunei Dar-
ussalam Brig (Retd) 28.6.1993
Bhawani Singh
5 Bulgaria Sofia B P Aggarwal 7.7.1993
6 China Beijing C Dasgupta 8.1.1993
7 Cuba Havana R S Rathore 18.1.1993
8 Cyprus Nicosia Y M Tiwari 14.7.1993
9 France Paris Ranjit Sethi 8.11.1993
10 Guyana Georgetown P L Goyal 1.4.1993
11 Hong Kong Hong Kong Smt Kamlesh Kumar 1.2.1993
12 Iran Tehran S K Arora 25.1.1993
13 Maldives Male Dr Harswarup Singh 29.3.1993
14 Namibia Windhoek K S Jasrotia 1.2.1993
15 Norway Oslo S K Mathur 23.6.1993
16 Peru Lima T Cherpoot 29.1.1993
17 Singapore Singapore BMC Nayar 3.9.1993
18 Spain Madrid G D Atuk 22.3.1993
-164>
| 1993
APPENDIX-VIII Cadre Strength at Headquarters and Missions/Posts abroad during 1992-93
|
Cadre Strength at Headquarters and Missions/Posts abroad during 1992-93
including posts budgeted by Ministry of Commerce-December 1993.
|
SL NO CADRE/POST POSTS AT POST AT TOTAL
HEADQUARTERS MISSIONS
IFS (A)
1 Grade-I 4 17 21
2 Grade-II 5 23 28
3 Grade-III 25 101 126
4 Grade-IV 32 77 109
5 junior Administrative Grade/Senior Scale 52 182 234
6 junior Scale 3 30 33
7 Training Reserve (Prob) junior 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 25 119 144
2 Grade-II/III 171 153 324
3 Grade-IV 351 378 729
4 Grade-V/VI 451 192 643
5 Grade-II of Cypher Sub-Cadre 81 123 204
6 Selection Grade of Stenographer Cadre 16 34 50
7 Grade-I of Stenographer Cadre 31 146 177
8 Grade-II of Stenographer Cadre 212 177 389
9 Grade-III of Stenographer Cadre 42 77 119
10 Combined Research Cadre 21 5 26
11 Interpreters' Cadre 11 24 35
12 L & T Cadre 16 1 17
TOTAL 1598 1886 3484
-165>
| 1993
APPENDIX-IX List of Officers qualified in various foreign languages List of Officers qualified in various foreign languages.
|
SL NO | COMPULSORY FOREIGN LANGUAGE | NO OF OFFICERS
| 1 | Arabic | 88
| 2 | Bahasa Indonesia | 9
| 3 | Bulgarian | 1
| 4 | Burmese | 1
| 5 | Chinese | 50
| 6 | Dutch | 1
| 7 | French | 84
| 8 | German | 37
| 9 | Gorkhali/Nepali | 1
| 10 | Hungarian | 1
| 11 | Italian | 5
| 12 | Japanese | 23
| 13 | Kazaka | 1
| 14 | Kishwahili | 9
| 15 | Laotian | -
| 16 | Malay | 1
| 17 | Persian | 13
| 18 | Polish | 1
| 19 | Portuguese | 14
| 20 | Russian | 73
| 21 | Serbo-Croatian | 3
| 22 | Sinhalese | 1
| 23 | Spanish | 49
| 24 | Swedish | 1
| 25 | Thai | 1
| 26 | Tibetan | 3
| 27 | Turkish | 3
| 28 | Ukrainian | 1
| 29 | Vietnamese | 2
| |
|
-166>
|
1993
APPENDIX-X Statement showing the number of appointments 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 1993.
|
|
GROUP TOTAL NO OF NUMBER OF NUMBER OF RESERVED NUMBER OF
VACANCIES VACANCIES CANDIDATES APPOINED VACANCIES
FILLED RESERVED DE-RESERVED
FOR DUE TO NON-
AVAILABILITY
OF RESERVED
CANDIDATES
SC ST
Group'A' 37 6 3 6 1 As per rules
Group'B' 99 25 7 21 5 As per rules
Group'C' 130 35 6 28 6 As per rules
Group'D' 30 5 5 Nil As per rules
(Excluding Sweepers)
-167>
| 1993
APPENDIX-XI Revenue Expenditure of the MEA during the Year 1993-94.Revenue Expenditure of the Ministry of External Affairs during the Financial Year 1993-94.
|
|
REVISED ESTIMATES 1993-94
(IN CRORES OF RUPEES)
Headquarters 48.88
Missions/Posts abroad 317.75
International Conferences and Meetings 10.79
Hospitality Charges 6.50
Contribution to International Organizations (including UN) 21.76
Central Passport Organization 50:90
Special Diplomatic Expenditure 156.29
Grants-in-Aid to ICCR 15.00
Other Miscellaneous items 14.64
Loss by Exchange 23.90
Payment to SCI for charter operations between Madras-Port Blair
sector 8.30
Payment to Indian Airlines for charter operations between
Madras-Port Blair sector 1.07
Aid to other Countries
Aid to Bangladesh 1.70
Aid to Bhutan 62.00
Aid to Nepal 13.00
Aid to Sri Lanka 5.73
Aid to Maldives 21.17
Aid to Cambodia 4.05
Aid to Other Developing Countries 38.54
Aid under AFRICA Fund 1.27
TOTAL REVENUE EXPENDITURE: 823.24
-168> | 1993
APPENDIX-XII Expenditure on Indian Missions/Posts abroad Expenditure on Indian Missions/Posts abroad and Headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs in 1993-94.
|
The estimated expenditure on the Headquarters Organization of the
Ministry during the current financial year (1993-94) is expected to be
Rs 48.88 crores which is 5.94% of the total estimated revenue
expenditure of this Ministry. Out of this, Rs 11.57 crores will be on
Salaries and Wages, Rs 11. 00 crores on Travel Expenses, Rs 15.97 crores
on Office Expenses, Rs 5.50 crores on Publicity and Rs 4.00 crores on
Rent and Maintenance.
The total estimated expenditure on Indian Missions/Posts is expected to
be Rs 317.75 crores during the current financial year which works out to
38.60% of the total revenue expenditure of this Ministry. Out of this,
an amount of Rs 133.83 crores is for Salaries (including Foreign
Allowance), OTA and Wages, Rs 38.34 crores for Travel Expenses (Transfer
Passages/Home Leave Passages and Local Tours), Rs 65.04 crores for
Office Expenses and Rs 80.54 crores for Rent, Rates and Taxes as well as
for Repairs and Maintenance of Government owned/rented accommodation in
Missions abroad. Average expenditure per Mission abroad (including
Publicity) works out to Rs 2.25 crores.
The remaining 55.46% of the estimated revenue expenditure of the
Ministry is being incurred on various aid programmes for neighbouring
and other developing countries including ITEC programmes, Aid under
AFRICA Fund, SAARC and SCAAP Programmes, contribution to United Nations
Organizations and other International bodies, Passport Organizations,
Hospitality, Grants-in-Aid to Indian Council for Cultural Relations and
other miscellaneous items.
In the Capital Section there is a total provision of Rs 79.76 crores in
RE 93-94. Out of this an amount of Rs 15.00 crores is for Loan to Nepal,
Rs 15.00 crores for Loan to Bhutan, Rs 4.00 crores for Loan to
Bangladesh and Rs 44.25 crores for Construction and Purchase of
Properties.
-169>
|
1993
APPENDIX-XIII VVIPs Visits to India during 1993.
|
VVIPs Visits to India during 1993.
|
SL NO NAME OF VISITOR DATE
Heads of State, Vice President, Heads of Government
1 His Majesty Jigme Singhye Wangchuk 4 to 7 January 1993
King of Bhutan
2 His Excellency Mr R Premadasa 14 to 17 January 1993
President of Sri Lanka (Private)
3 His Majesty Jigme Singhye Wangchuk 22 to 25 January 1993
King of Bhutan (Private)
4 His Excellency Mr John Major 23 to 27 January 1993
Prime Minister of United Kingdom
5 His Excellency Mr Boris Yeltsin 27 to 29 January 1993
President of Russia
6 His Excellency Mr Felipe Gonzalez 7 to 10 February 1993
Prime Minister of Spain
7 Mrs Rafiaakaroui wife of Prime Minister of 13 February 1993
Tunisia (Private)
8 His Excellency Mr Abdumalik Abdullojonov 14 to 18 February 1993
Prime Minister of Tajikstan
9 Mrs Maurine wife of Zambian Vice President
(Private) 16 February 1993
10 His Excellency Dr Helmut Kohl 18 to 22 February 1993
German Chancellor
11 His Excellency Mr Arpad Goncz President of 22 February 1993
Hungary (Transit)
12 Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales
(Princess Diana) 2 to 6 March 1993
(Transit)
13 His Excellency Mr Mircea Ion Snegur President
of Moldova 17 to 19 March 1993
14 His Excellency Mr LI Jong OK 25 to 27 March 1993
Vice President of Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea
15 His Excellency Mr G P Koirala 26 to 28 March 1993
Prime Minister of Nepal (Private)
-170>
16 His Excellency Dr Mahattir Mohd 31 March 1993
Prime Minister of Malaysia (Transit)
17 His Excellency Mr Cassam Uteem 2 to 9 April 1993
President of Mauritius
18 His Excellency Dr Mahattir Mohd 9 April 1993
Prime Minister of Malaysia (Transit)
19 His Excellency Mr R Premadasa 12 to 15 April 1993
President of Sri Lanka (Private)
20 His Excellency Dr Robert Mugabe 6 to 12 May 1993
President of Zimbabwe (Transit)
21 His Majesty King Birendra Bir 6 to 12 May 1993
Bikram Shah of Nepal
22 His Excellency Mr Ali Hassan Mwinyi 10 to 15 May 1993
President of Tanzania
23 His Excellency Mr V F Kebich 12 to 15 May 1993
Prime Minister of Belarus
24 His Excellency Mr Blaise Compaore 30 May to 3 June 1993
President of Burkina Faso
25 His Excellency Mr Bernard Dowiyogo 9 to 11 June 1993
President of Nauru
26 His Excellency Mr Ranil Wickremesinghe 21 to 23 June 1993
Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
27 His Excellency Mr N A Nazarbaev 20 July 1993
President of Kazakhstan (Transit)
28 Her Excellency Mrs Mary Robinson 26 September to 3 October 1993
President of Ireland
29 Chairman Yasser Arafat of Palestine Liberation
Organization 28 September to 2 October 1993
(Transit)
30 His Excellency Mr J Rawlings President of Ghana
(Transit) 1 and 2 October 1993
31 His Excellency Mr Yoweri Kaguta Museveni 4 October 1993
President of Uganda (Transit)
32 His Excellency Mr Fjt Chiluba 5 to 8 October 1993
President of Zambia
-171>
33 King Carl Gustaf of Sweden 10 to 18 October 1993
34 His Excellency Mr R F M Lubbers 26 to 28 October 1993
Prime Minister of Netherlands
35 King Carl Gustaf of Sweden (Transit) 4 and 5 November 1993
36 Crown Prince of Nepal (Private) 8 to 17 November 1993
37 His Excellency Mr Ong Teng Cheong 21 to 30 November 1993
President of Singapore (Private)
38 His Excellency Mr A Jugnauth 22 to 24 November 1993
Prime Minister of Mauritius (Private)
39 His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah of
Nepal (Private) 29 November 1993
Deputy Prime Ministers, Foreign Ministers
and Others 11 December 1993
1 Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jabar Al-Sabash 10 and 11 February 1993
First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
of Kuwait
2 His Excellency Mr Datuk Abdullah HJ Haji Ahmed
Badawi 14 February 1993
Foreign Minister of Malaysia (Private)
3 His Excellency Mr D Fokker 2 to 16 April 1993
Labour Minister of Mauritius (Transit)
4 His Excellency Mr Farouo Qaddoumi 5 to 9 April 1993
Foreign Minister of Palestine
5 Datuk Abdullah Badawi Foreign Minister of
Malaysia (Transit) 6 April 1993
6 His Excellency Mr Vermon J Mwaanga 18 to 21 April 1993
Foreign Minister of Zambia
7 His Excellency Mr Theodere Hele 20 to 24 April 1993
Foreign Minister of Benin
8 His Excellency Mr Omar Mustafa Al Muntasir 29 and 30 April 1493
Foreign Minister of Libya
9 His Excellency Mr Shimon Peres Foreign Minister
of Israel 16 to 18 May 1993
-172>
10 His Excellency Mr Fathulla Jameel 17 to 21 May 1993
Foreign Minister of Maldives
11 His Excellency Mr IU F larov 24 to 31 May 1993
Deputy Prime Minister of Russia (Transit)
12 His Excellency Mr A S M Mostafizur Rahman 11 to 13 June 1993
Foreign Minister of Bangladesh
13 His Excellency Mr Josef Zieleniec 16 to 21 July 1993
Foreign Minister of Czech Republic
14 His Excellency Mr Hedayat Amin Arsala 16 to 21 July 1993
Foreign Minister of Afghanistan (Private)
15 His Excellency Mr G A Abilsyitov 19 to 25 July 1993
Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
16 His Excellency Mr T M Miryakubov 26 to 30 July 1993
Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan
17 His Excellency Dr Qmar Bin Abdul N Al Zawawi 1 and 2 August 1993
Special Advisor of Sultan of Oman
18 His Excellency Mr E O Kapabaev 4 to 6 August 1993
Foreign Minister of Kyrghyzstan
19 His Excellency Mr Trivimi Velliste 14 to 17 October 1993
Foreign Minister of Estonia
20 His Excellency Sq Ldr Prasong Soonsiri 3 to 8 November 1993
Foreign Minister of Thailand
21 Sir Duglas Hurd 15 to 18 November 1993
Secretary of State of United Kingdom
22 His Excellency Mr R F Botha 21 to 23 November 1993
Foreign Minister of South Africa
23 His Excellency Mr Yladislav jouanovic 27 November to 1 December 1993
Foreign Minister of Yugoslav
24 His Excellency Mr L I Ruihuan 29 November to 4 December 1993
Chairman NCCPPC China
25 His Excellency Mr Saidkassimov 1 to 4 December 1993
Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan
-173>
| 1993
APPENDIX-XIV Visits abroad of the President, VP and PM
Visits abroad of the President, Vice President and Prime Minister of India during 1993.
|
1 Visit of the Vice President 27 January to I February 1993
to Paris
2 Visit of the Prime Minister to 7 to 11 April 1993
Thailand and to Bangladesh
3 Visit of the Vice President 6 and 7 May 1993
to Sri Lanka
4 Visit of the Vice President 16 to 29 May 1993
to United Kingdom
5 Visit of the Prime Minister to 23 to 26 May 1993
Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan
6 Visit of the Prime Minister to Muscat 14 to 16 June 1993
7 Visit of the Vice President to 28 June to 5 July 1993
France & Morocco
8 Visit of the President to Ukraine, 13 to 26 July 1993
Turkey, Hungary, United Kingdom and Greece
9 Visit of the Prime Minister to Bhutan 21 and 22 August 1993
10 Visit of the Prime Minister to 6 to 11 September 1993
China and Korea
11 Visit of the Prime Minister to Iran 20 to 22 September 1993
12 Visit of the Vice President to Vietnam 22 to 28 September 1993
and Republic of Korea
-174>
|
|
1993
APPENDIX-XV Major International Conferences /Meetings/ Seminars
|
Major International Conferences /Meetings/ Seminars etc organized by Inter- Governmental Organizations at which Government of India was represented in 1993-94.
|
1 Sixth meeting of Rockfeller Chiang Mai 10 to 15 February 1993
Institute Programmeon Rice Bio-technology
2 13th Conference of Asia and Pacific Labour Tehran 21 to 23April 1993
Ministers
3 14th Session of UNCHS Nairobi 26 April to 5 May 1993
4 UNICEF Executive Board Session New York 26 April to 7 May 1993
5 11th Meeting of Technical Committee on Thimpu 30 April to 2 May 1993
Health and Population Activities of SAARC Countries
6 4th Meeting of Commonwealth Ministers Nicosia 5 to 9 July 1993
responsible for Women's Affairs
7 42nd Conference of State Labour Ministers New Delhi 7and 8 July 1993
8 7th Session of the UN Group of Experts on Geneva 12 to 21 July 1993
Transport of Dangerous Goods
9 ICGEB Meeting Vienna 18 to 23 July 1993
10 Regional Consultation on "Managing Wate Manila 24 to 27 August 1993
Resources to meet Mega City needs"
11 Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Rabat 6 to 11 September 1993
Council Meeting
12 Regional Seminar on Nature of and Beijing14 to 16 September 1993
rationale for the protection of plant varieties
13 To serve as a Member of International UK 20 to 24 September 1993
Commission on Radiological Protection
14 ESCAP sponsored meeting on New Delhi 27 September to 1 October 1993
Network ofRegional Training Institution in Asia and Pacific
-175>
15 8th SAARC Technical Committee Meeting on Dhaka 6 and 7 October 1993
Women Development
16 Seminar on Examination of Geneva October to 2 November 1993
Patent Applications
17 ESCAP Conference on Asia and Bangkok 27 October to 2 November 1993
Urbanisation in Pacific Region
18 Meeting on Safety Procedure Hague 15 to 26 November 1993
on Chemical Weapons TheStorage Facilities
19 UNDP-ESCAP sponsored Third Congress of Bombay 20 to 24 November 1993
Citynet
20 SAARC Ministerial level Conference Kathmandu 21 to 23 November 1993
on "Women & Family Health"
21 ILO Seminar on Sexual harassment at Manila 22 to 26 November 1993
Work Place
22 East & South Asian Workshop Beijing 29 November to 3 December 1993
on Strategies for Accelerating Improvement of Civil Registration
and Vital Statistics Systems
23 Meeting on Chemical The Hague 29 Nov-ember to 3 December 1993
Weapons Destruction Facility
24 Asia Pacific Workshop or Micro Kaula 2 to 5 December 1993
-Enterprisesand Entrepreneur Development for Island and Rural
Lumpur
25 International Meeting on Plant Culture Dhaka 19 to 21 December 1993
Tissue
26 Meeting of the Inter-Sessional Group to New York 10 to 1 January 1994
working develop the Platform for Action
-176>
|
1993
APPENDIX-XVI Major International Conferences /Meetings/ Seminars
|
Major International Conferences /Meetings/ Seminars organized by Non Governmental Organizations in which Indian Experts participated in their personal capacity with Government assistance in 1993.
|
I Children delegation as India's Kobe 28 April to 5 May 1993
participation in World Children's Forum
2 G-15 Meeting (on biotechnology) Brazil 18 to 23 1993
3 US Agency for International Bangalore 26 to 28 August 1993
Development-TRF Workshop on the "Role of Cities for
Management of Urban Environment in India"
4 WEDC Conference on "Water, Accra 6 to 10September 1993
Sanitation, Environment and Development"
5 Australian Biotechnology Conference 20 to 24September 1993
6 First Asian Region Meeting of Jakarta 11 to 13October 1993
G-15 Jakarta
7 Indian Water Works AssociationNagpur 26 to 28November 1993
-International Water Supply Association Workshop on
"Alternate Methods of Water Treatment"
8 SAARC Meeting on Plant-tissue Culture 7and 8 December 1993
-177>
|
1993
APPENDIX-XVII
|
Miscellaneous Major International Conferences, etc in '1993-94 at which
Government of India was represented or in which Indian Experts participated with Government of India's assistance in their personal capacity.
|
1 International Seminar on Kathmandu 19 to 21 April 1993
Hydrology with a Special
Colloquium on Environmental Problems
and Water Resources of Himalayan Region
2 IEEE 1993 National Radar Boston 20 to 22 April 1993
Conference
3 International Congress of Cannes 25 to 28 April 1993
Nuclear Cardiology
4 5th Asian and Oceania Thyroid
Association Congress Sydney 2 to 5 May 1993
5 Global Consultation on the Tunis 3 to 7 May 1993
Construction Industry
6 3rd International Symposium on Special
Topics in Chemical Propulsion: 10 14 May 1993
Scheveningen Non-Intrusive Combustion
Diagnostics
7 3rd (1993) International Offshore 6 to 11 June 1993
Singapore and Polar Engineering Conference
8 IEEE Signal Processing Workshop California 7 to 9 June 1993
on Higher Order Statistics
9 8th International Conference on Kiev 8 to 14 June 1993
Fractures (ICF-8)
10 Indo-German Workshop on Surface 13 to 19 June 1993
Germany Engineering
11 Indo-German Workshop on Surface 13 to 26 June 1993
Germany Engineering
12 1993 IEEE AP-S International Michigan 27 june to 2 July 1993
Symposium & URSI Radio Science Meeting
13 International Conference on the Vancouver 8 to 14 August 1993
Applications of the Mossbauer
14 AIAA Atmospheric Flight Mechanics California 9 to 11 August 1993
Conference
15 3rd International Conference on Tokyo 31 August to 4 September 1993
Advanced Materials
-178>
16 Workshop on Domestic Capacity Building Nairobi 6 to 8 September 1993
in the Building Materials Sector for African Region
17 International Food Convention Mysore 7 to 11 September 1993
(IFCON-93) at CFTR
18 20th General meeting of the San Francisco10 to 25 September 1993
International Towing Tank Conference (ITTC)
19 13th International Congress of Calgary 12 to 18 September 1993
Biometerology
20 7th International Conference on Image Bari 20 to 22 September 1993
Analysis & Processing
21 14th International Symposium on Quebec 26 to 29 September 1993
Ballistics
22 International Symposium on Structural Pennsy1vania 26 September 1993
to 30 Intermetallics
23 Seminar on Non-Proliferation Dual Use Philadelphia 3 to 6 October 1993
Technologies and New Initiatives
24 The INMARSAT International Conference Paris 12 to 14 October 1993
and Exhibition on Mobile Satellite Communications
25 2nd Asian-Pacific International Symposium Beijing 15 to 18 October 1993
on Combustion and Energy Utilisation
26 International Trade Exhibition-Batimat Paris 9 to 14 November 1993
27 13th Asian and Pacific Conference of 14 to November 1993
Correctional Hong Kong 20 Administrators
28 International Workshop on Physics New Delhi 14 to December 1993
Semiconductor 18 Devices
29 International Symposium on Recent New Delhi 15 to December 1993
Advances in 18 Microwave Technology
30 International Congress on Oral Cancer Madras 22 to 25 January 1994
-179>
|
1993
APPENDIX-XVIII Meetings/Conferences held under the aegis of the NAM
|
Meetings/Conferences held under the aegis of the Non-Aligned movement(NAM during 1993-94.
|
S NO TITLE OF CONFERENCE VENUE DATE
1 17th Meeting of the Ministers of Bali 4 May 1993
Health of Non-Aligned and Other
Developing Countries
2 Meeting of the Standing Nlinisterial Bali 10 to 13 May 1993
Committee for Economic Cooperation
of the Non-Aligned Movement
3 IV Conference of the Ministers of Pyongyang 14 to 18 June 1993
Non-Aligned Countries
4 Expert Group Meeting on Population Bali 19 to 21 July 1993
of the Non-Aligned Movement
5 Expert Group Meeting on the Jakarta 13 and 14
Promotion and Enhancement of September 1993
the Self-Propelling Growth
Strategy within the Framework of
international Development Cooperation
6 Meeting of Ministers of Foreign New York 4 October 1993
Affairs and Heads of Delegation
of the Movement of Non-Aligned
Countries to the 48th Session of
the UN General Assembly
7 Ministerial Meeting on Population Bali 9 to 13
of the Non-Aligned Movement November 1993
8 Long term Projection on the Use Jakarta 26 and 27
and Application of Modern November 1993
Technology by the Mass Media in
Non-Aligned Countries
-180>
|
1993
APPENDIX-XIX Outgoing Performing Arts Delegations (ICCR)
|
Outgoing Performing Arts Delegations (ICCR) (April to December 1993).
|
S NO COUNTRY TYPE OF GROUP PERIOD REMARKS
1 North Cultural 7 to 18 April Spring Friendship
Korea Delegation April 1993 Art Festival in Pyongy-
Mongolia from Leh, ang and to give perfor-
Ladakh mances in Mongolia
2 to 4 Hungary, (i) Daya- 19 to 24 To give performances o-
Slovak Shehnai April 1993 n the occasion of Days
Republic of Indian Culture in H-
Hungary and to give pe-
rformances in other co-
untries
Hungary (ii) Ms Madhavi
Mudgal, Odissi
Dancer and Shri
Gautam Bhatta-
charya, Light
Expert
Hungary, (iii) Shri Kar-
aikudi Mani,
South Indian
Percussion Gro-
up
5 Mauritius 16-member 8 April to To visit Mauritius at
Sharon 4 May 1993 the invitation of Gove-
Prabhakar, rnment of Mauritius an-
Pop Singer, d perform for the rele-
Bombay ase of two Tea Products
6 Romania, Smarjit 2 to 11 To give Lectures and m-
Czechoslov Chakravorty May 1993, eet counterparts under
Republic 12 to 27 CEP item No 44 as an o-
Germany May 1993, observer to the Prague
27 May to Spring Festival
1 June 1993
7 UK 38-member 10 May to Partial trave1 assista-
Naya Theatre 10 June nce to group to give p-
Group led by 1993 erformances at the inv-
Habib Tanveer itation of Tramway Com-
pany, Glasgow and in L-
eicester, Haymarket
-181>
8 Australia 9-Member Langas 26 May 1993 To participate in the
& Manganiyars Brisbane Festival
from Rajasthan
9 Tanzania, 5-Member Kathak 2 June to To give performances
Kenya, Group of Ms 16 July
Neera Batra 1993
Uganda,
Burundi,
Rwanda,
Zambia,
Zimbabwe,
Zanzibar,
Botswana,
South Africa
10 Poland, Folk Dance 4 to 7 June, To give performances at
Lithuania, Group from 17 to 12 the time of an Art Exh-
Germany, Rajasthan June, ibition of India being
Norway 13 june to held in Szczecin (Polan-
4 July, d) prior to their visit
20 June to to Stuttgart on 13 June
2 July for India Week at the
1993 International Horticul-
ture Exhibition (IGA)
in Stuttgart (Germany)
and to give performanc-
es during Magic Hands
Exhibition in Austria
and to give performanc-
es in Lithuania
11 UK 23-Member 13 June to Request from London In-
group of Ms 17 July ternational Festival of
Neelam Man- 1993 Theatre (Council's lia-
singh Chou- bility 50% towards air-
dhury from fares)
Chandigarh
12 Sweden Naveena Jafa 6 to 19 At the invitation of S-
& Rani Khanam July 1993 venska Rikskonserter,
Kathak Dancer Sweden to participate
in Folk Festival and to
give performances in N-
orway
13 Italy Sankirtana 7 August to Request received from
Group from 8 September Theatre Tascabole Di B-
Imphal led 1993 ergamo, Italy
by Lokendra
Arambam
-182>
14 Bhutan Penaaz Masani 12 to 19 For India's Independen-
Popular Singer August 1993 ce Day Celebrations
15 Pakistan Rajendra & Nina 17 to 21 For India's Independen-
Ghazal Singer August 1993 ce Day Celebrations
16 Seyche- Ms Parwati Khan 20 August To participate in the
lles, Pop Singer to 9 Sept- 4th Indian Ocean Games
Mauritius ember 1993 in Victoria, Seychelles
and to give performanc-
es in Mauritius
17 & (i) USA C V Chandra- 22 August At the invitation of B-
18 sekhar Group to 26 Sep- attery Dance Company,
tember 1993 USA
(ii) USA Jhaveri Sisters 22 August At the invitation of B-
Mexico Group to 25 Sep- attery Dance Company,
tember 1993 USA; To participate in
Cervantino festival in
Mexico
19 South Manipuri Dance 27 August To participate in the
Korea, Group of Priti 1993 Taejon Expo 1993 in Se-
Patel & Sruti eoul
China Banerjee 8 to 16 To participate in Yang-
September Ko (Folk Dance) Festiv-
1993 al in Shenyang Lioning
Province in China
20 USA Two accompa- 30 August Ravillia Festival of M-
nists of Ms to 30 Sep- usic and Dance
Leela Raja tember 1993
21 USA Ms Protima 20 September To give performances
Bedi Odissi to 24 Nove- and workshops at the
Dance mber 1993 invitation of Internat-
ional foundation for V-
edic Education, USA
-183>
22 UK, 9- Member Odi- 2 to 4 To give performances in
ssi Group October Germany arranged by In-
of Guru 1993, do-German Society. To
Ireland, Maya Dhar 4 to 6 participate in Dublin
Raut October 1993 Theatre Festival (Agre-
Germany, 8 October to ed in principle). To
7 November give performances in
1993, UK, Belgium and Nether-
9 to 11 lands.
Belgium, November
1993,
Netherlands 12 and 13
November
23 Germany Four Travel International Shadow P-
Grants to lay Theatre Festival of
Shadow Puppet Oberhausen 1993
Group
24 UK (i) Shri Rudra- For Uk University Circ-
patnam Srikan- uit
than Ramakanth
Carnatic/other
Traditions
Vocalist
(ii) Ms Tiru-
vengadam Rukmani
Violinist & Vi-
calist
(iii) Ms Sukanya
Ramgopal Percu-
ssionist
25 South Pt Uma Shankar 17 to 24 To participate in the
Korea Mishra Sitar October Asian Contemporary M-
Player 1993 usic Festival in South
Korea
26 Venezuela, 3-Member 25 to 30 To participate in XVIII
Valencia, Kathak Group October Festival of Eastern Ve-
Curacao, of Ram Mohan 1993 nezuela and Five Conti-
st Maarten Mishra along- 31 Octo- nents and to give perf-
with Dr Nalini ber to ormances at other plac-
eswith 7 November es
1993
-184>
27 UK, Ustad Bismillah 6 to 20 At the invitation of S-
Germany Khan Shehnai November hireen Isal, Sargam
Player 1993 (UK) and to give perfo-
rmances in Germany
28 Muscat Nandu Bhende 6 to 12 For Indian Trade Fair
Pop Singer November
1993
29 & 30 Japan (i) Alarmel 23 November For Min-On Concert tour
33 Valli to 9 Dec-
(ii) Karnataka ember 1993
College of
Percussion
31 to 33 Mauritius (i) Teejan Bai 22 November To participate in the
Pandavani Sin- to 5 Dec- 4th Word Convention on
ger
Hindi
Pandavani Singer 5 December 1993
(ii) Bhojpuri Folk Music do -
Group of Ms Shailesh
Srivastava
(iii) 31-Member Drama 29 November to
Group from National 8 December 1993
School of Drama (NSD)
-185>
|
1993
APPENDIX-XX Incoming Performing Delegations (ICCR).
|
Incoming Performing Delegations (ICCR). (April to December 1993).
|
1 25-Member Zanoubia Folk Dance Group from Syria was in India from 8 to
17 April 1993. The group performed at Delhi, Chandigarh, Bombay and
Hyderabad.
2 15-Member Children Instrumental Ensemble from DPRK visited and
performed in Delhi, Lucknow and Calcutta from 17 to 26 April 1993.
3 AFRICA DAY CELEBRATION : As an annual feature the Council observed the
Africa Day on 25 May 1993 at Siri Fort Auditorium. Under this
Celebration the following two groups were invited:
(a) 6-Member Musical group from Nigeria visited India from 24 May to 6
June 1993 and performed at Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Calcutta and
Bombay.
(b) 10-Member Folk Dance Group from Mauritius was in India from 24 May
to 9 June 1993 and performed at Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Calcutta,
Barrackpore, Hyderabad and Bombay.
4 3-Member Group of Sonia Amelio (Castanet Player) from Mexico gave a
performance on 17 June 1993 at India International Centre. The programme
was organized in collaboration with the IIC.
5 38-Member Group of Het Folkloristisch Danstheatre from Netherlands was
in India from 11 to 25 September 1993 and performed at Delhi, Bangalore,
Madras, Bombay and Calcutta.
6 In collaboration with the Alliance Francaise de Delhi, the Council
sponsored the visit to India of Evelyne Zaniboni, Blues Singer from 22
September to 15 October 1993. She also performed at Chandigarh, Bhopal,
Calcutta, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Madras, Trivandrum, Bombay, Pune and
Delhi.
7 In collaboration with the Max Mueller Bhavan and Embassy of
Switzerland, the Council lent support to the theatre production of Swiss
Parate Labor Project under the aegis of the Indo-Swiss Co-operation in
the field of theatre on 25 September 1993.
8 9-Member percussion Ensemble from Sweden-'Kroumata' visited India from
2 to 13 October 1993 and performed at Bombay, Bangalore and Delhi. A
Special programme was also arranged at Teen Murti Auditorium on 12
October in honour of the King and Queen of Sweden.
9 7-Member Flamenco dancers from Spain together with 6-member Kathak
dancers presented a joint show on 13 October 1993 at Delhi in
collaboration with the Embassy of Spain.
10 15-Member Redo Cultural Troupe from Egypt visited India from 23 to 31
October 1993 and presented shows in Delhi and Bombay. The programme was
organized in collaboration with the Embassy of the Arab Republic of
Egypt and the group also presented a
programme at the Embassy.
11 35-Member VTM Military Band from Switzerland was presented in Delhi
on 14 November 1993 in collaboration with the Indian Army and the
Embassy of Switzerland.
12 Priya Mitchell, an eminent violinist and Christian Schuster, a
pianist presented a concert in collaboration with the British Council
Division in Delhi on 6 November 1993. The duo also travelled to Bombay,
Bangalore, Hyderabad and Calcutta for performances.
13 Council in collaboration with the British Council Division and
Sangeet Natak Akademi conducted a percussion workshop by Evelyne Glennie
alongwith Indian percussionists like T H Vinayakram, Govind Chakravorty,
Tej Prakash Tulsi and Gazi Khan. The workshop was held on 25 November at
the BCD Auditorium. The Council also in collaboration with
-186>
BCD and National School of Drama arranged a theatre workshop by members
of Northern Broadsides who toured India between 14 November to 7
December 1993 with their Shakespeare Drama 'The Merry Wives'.. Mr Barrie
Rutter, Artistic Director, conducted the workshop on 25 November at the
NSD.
14 The Council in collaboration with the Alliance Francaise sponsored
'Iron Works' a contemporary French Dance by Compagnie Didier Theron. The
group toured India from 3 to 17 December and performed in Delhi,
Hyderabad, Madras, Bombay and Chandigarh.
15 The Council in collaboration with the IIC has agreed to lend support
to the Indo-Japanese Association by organizing a concert of string and
flute players from India who will perform alongwith 6-member Flute and
Shakuhachi Players from Japan. The programme held on 23 December 1993 at
India International Centre.
-187>
|
1993
APPENDIX-XXI Special Programmes in honour of VVIP (ICCR)
|
Special Programmes in honour of VVIP (ICCR)visitors/delegates/conferences
|
1 Council organized a programme by Ms Vijya Lakshmi (Mohiniattam) and
Biswajit Roy Chowdhury (Sarod) for the delegates of the 4th Regional
Conference of United Nations Association of Asia Pacific on 28 April
1993 at Hotel Taj Mahal, Mansingh Road, New Delhi.
2 Council presented an Odissi Dance recital by Madhavi Mudgal in honour
of the visit of the Irish President, Mrs Mary Robinson to India. The
programme was presented at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 27 September 1993
3 As an annual feature, the Council celebrated United Nations Day on 25
October 1993 at Teen Murti Auditorium. Ms Kavita Dwivedi presented an
Odissi recital on the occasion.
4 For the delegates of the Indo-Uzbekistan Seminar on historical and
cultural links, the Council presented a Kathak recital by Malti Shyam
and Renu Bassi on 6 December 1993 at Teen Murti Auditorium.
5 Council organized a concert by Shri Bhajan Sopori, Santoor Player on
13 December 1993 at Rashtrapati Bhavan for the delegates to the G-15
Summit.
6 The Council organized a Flute Recital by Shri Rajendra Prasanna on 16
December 1993 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The programme was organized in
honour of the President of Indonesia.
7 For the delegates of the Global Organization of People of Indian
Origin living abroad, the Council presented Odissi Dance by Rajlakshmi
Behera on 28 December'1993 at IIC.
-188>
INDIA
UZBEKISTAN INDONESIA
|
1 Council organized a programme by Ms Vijya Lakshmi (Mohiniattam) and
Biswajit Roy Chowdhury (Sarod) for the delegates of the 4th Regional
Conference of United Nations Association of Asia Pacific on 28 April
1993 at Hotel Taj Mahal, Mansingh Road, New Delhi.
2 Council presented an Odissi Dance recital by Madhavi Mudgal in honour
of the visit of the Irish President, Mrs Mary Robinson to India. The
programme was presented at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 27 September 1993
3 As an annual feature, the Council celebrated United Nations Day on 25
October 1993 at Teen Murti Auditorium. Ms Kavita Dwivedi presented an
Odissi recital on the occasion.
4 For the delegates of the Indo-Uzbekistan Seminar on historical and
cultural links, the Council presented a Kathak recital by Malti Shyam
and Renu Bassi on 6 December 1993 at Teen Murti Auditorium.
5 Council organized a concert by Shri Bhajan Sopori, Santoor Player on
13 December 1993 at Rashtrapati Bhavan for the delegates to the G-15
Summit.
6 The Council organized a Flute Recital by Shri Rajendra Prasanna on 16
December 1993 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The programme was organized in
honour of the President of Indonesia.
7 For the delegates of the Global Organization of People of Indian
Origin living abroad, the Council presented Odissi Dance by Rajlakshmi
Behera on 28 December'1993 at IIC.
-188>
INDIA
UZBEKISTAN INDONESIA
|
1993
APPENDIX-XXII Exhibition (Outgoing and Incoming)
|
Exhibition (Outgoing and Incoming) for 199-1-94 (ICCR).
|
S NO TITLE OF COUNTRY PERIOD NAME OF REMARKS
EXHIBITON COMMISSIONER/
ARTIST
SPONSORED
outgoing Exhibitions.
1 'Magical Hands' Austria April to Dr Jyo-
tindra Jain ICCR sponsored an exi-
'Living Indian Crafts' November 1993 hibition of living In-
ian crafts 'Magical
Hands' to Austria for
display at the intern-
ational Exhibiton Cen-
tre at Schallaburgh C-
astle. The Exhibiton
included the live dem-
onstration of skill of
crafts persons at the
venue.
2 Photographs Egypt July 1993 An Exhibition of 48
photographs was spons-
ored to Egypt for dis-
play at the Maulana A-
bdul Kalam Azad centre
for Indian culture in
Cairo. The Exhibition
was inaugurated on 5th
July 1993 by Mr Moham-
mad Ghoneim, First U-
nder Secretary, Egyp-
tian Ministry of Cul-
ture in the presence
of the Ambassador.
Lebanon Exhibiton proposed to
be sent to Lebanon fr-
om Cairo.
3 Bust of Gurudev Guyana May 1993 A marble bust of Guru-
dev Rabindranath Tagore Tagore was sent to Guyana
for presentation to
the Tagore Memorial S-
econdary School in Ge-
orgetown.
-189>
4 Children's Paintings Seoul (Korea) May 1993 An exhibit-ion of 20
award winning
children paintings
were sent to Korea
for participation in
the Third
International
Children's Art
Exhibition.
5 Marble bust of Gandhiji Myanmar September 1993 A marble bust of
Gandhiji was sent
for installation at
the Mahatma Gandhi
Prayer Hall,
Zeyawadi.
6 Contemporary Art UK September 1993 Works of C Jagdish,
Exhibition 'Meeting Ms Kanchan Chander,
Point' Ms Shyamli Kastigar
and Regi Mon
Augustine were sent
to UK for display at
the Wolverhampton
Museum & Art
Gallery, Exhibition
was organized as
part of the South
Asian Visual arts
festival. Visit. of
Shri C jagdish and
Ms Kanchan Chander
was also sponsored
to UK for this
purpse.
7 India Songs: Australia March to Shri Haku An Exhibition of
Shan & contemporary works
Streams in Contemporary October 1993 Urban & Folk art
Manjit Bawa display at the
Indian Art New South W ales
gallery in Sydney
during March 1993.
The Exhibition was
inaugurated by our
High Commissioner in
Canberra. The
Exhibition was also
displayed in other
few cities in
Australia.
The Works of
following artists
were sent:
Amitava Das, Bhupen
Khakhar, Nalini
Malini, R Reddy, N N
Rimzon, Arpita
Singh, J
Swaminathan,
Ganesh, Teju,
Megha Devi, Yamuna
Devi, Pema Fatya,
etc. A few items
from the collection
of National Museum,
New Delhi, were also
sent.
-190>
| 1993
APPENDIX-XXIII Outgoing Visitors (ICCR).
|
Outgoing Visitors (ICCR).
|
S NO NAME OF PERSON COUNTRY PURPOSE PERIOD
1 Ms Aruna Sunderlal UK Study Tour-to 3 April to
Founder & Director Germany visit Music 16 May 1993
Bangalore School of Schools and to
Music learn about the
Bangalore developments in
music education
for children
2 Shri M Varadarajan South Africa To attend the 23 April to
Member International 1 May
Minorities Commission Conference on
New Delhi Culture organized
by the African
National Congress
in Johannesburg
3 Ms Kristine Michael UK To participate 1 to 30
Ceramic Artist and work in the May 1993
New Delhi Pottery's
Exhibition at the
Aldermaston Pottery
4 Dr N Rajasekharan Germany To participate in 17 to 22
Reader in Linguistics the First May 1993
Annamalai University International
Annamalainagar Conference/Seminar
on Dravidian
Studies at Stuggart
5 Dr Pabitra Mohan Nayak Austria To participate in 18 to 22
Reader & Head the Triennial May 1993
Post Graduate Department Conference of
of English European
SCS College Association for
Puri (Orissa) Commonwealth
Literature and
Language Studies at
the University
of Graz
-191>
6 Professor A H H Abidi Russia To participate in 24 to 28
Professor the Seminar on May 1993
Centre for West Asian 'Muslim
and African Studies Minorities and
Jawaharlal Nehru University Christian Majority'
in Russia and
Europe at Astrakhan
7 Dr & Smt Karan Singh South Africa To participate in 26 May to
New Delhi a public meeting 2 June 1993
organized by
the Transvaal Indian
Community in
Johannesburg to
inaugurate the
year-long
Centenary Celebrations
of Gandhiji's
arrival in
South Africa
8 Professor B R Nanda South Africa To give the 2 to 15
Gandhian Scholar Commemorative June 1993
Address at the
University of
Durban-Westville
in connection
with Centenary
Celebrations of
Gandhiji's arrival
in South Africa
9 Shri Ranjan Kumar Singh Norway To attend a From 25
Sub-Editor-cum Reporter six-week course June 1993
Navbharat Times in Norwegian Art
New Delhi at the
International
Summer School
University
of Oslo
10 Shri Eric Gonsalves UK To attend meeting 4 to 8
of the July 1993
Indo-British
Discussion
Group
11 Shri Dileep Padgaonkar - do - - do - - do -
Editor
Times of India
New Delhi
12 Shri Rajiv Kumar - do - - do - - do -
Senior Economic Adviser
Ministry of Finance
New Delhi
-192>
13 Dr Amarjiva Locha, UK (i) To participate 5 to 10
Lecturer in History in the 5th July 1993
Shivaji College International
University of Delhi Conference on Thai
Studies in London
and and
New Delhi Mexico (ii) 13th 29 July to
International 5 August
Congress of 1993
Anthro-pological
& Ethnological
Sciences in
Mexico
14 Shri Raj Bisaria UK To attend a 5 to 31
Theatre Director four-week Summer July 1993
Lucknow School at the
Centre for Extra
Mural Studies,
Birkback College,
University of London
in Contemporary
British Theatre,
Literature and
Culture
15 Shri C Mohd Sherif Germany To participate in 8 to 26
Technical Director the Summer Seminar July 1993
Kerala Kalarippayat Akademy of the Kadgamala
Kannur (Kerala) Akademie at Bunsoh
16 Dr Mrs Parul Shah Japan To participate in 1 to 12
Dance/Performer JADE 1993 August 1993
Vadodra International
Dance Conference &
Festival
17 Ms Prakriti Kashyap - do - - do - - do -
Dance/Performer.
Bombay
18 Smt Alka Raghuvanshi UK To participate 15 August to
Arts Editor in the Edinburgh 4 September
The Pioneer Festival for 1993
New Delhi Performing Arts
19 Dr Aru Alagappan Sri Lanka To participate in the 18 to 25
Head Tamil Sahitya Day August 1993
Department of Tamil Celebrations
Annamalai University
Annamalainagar
-193>
20 Dr R M Periakaruppan Sri Lanka To participate in 18 to 25
Tamil Scholar the Tamil Sahitya August 1993
Celebrations
21 Dr O Lourdo - do - - do - - do -
Professor & Head
Department of Folklore
St Xaviers College
Palayamkottai
Tamil Nadu
22 Dr M I Khan Hong Kong To participate in 21 to 29
Reader the 34th August 1993
Sanskrit Department International Congress
University of Delhi of the Asian and North
African Studies
Dr D P Sharma - do - do - - do -
Keeper
National Museum
New Delhi
23 Professor Meenakshi Germany To participate 24 September to
Chairperson the Annual 2 October 1993
Centre of Linguistics meeting of German
English Jawaharlal University Professors
Nehru University in English
New Delhi (Anglistentag)
held in Eichstadt, Bavaria
24 Shri K L Nandan UK To participate in the 25 to 26
Editor in Chief International September 1993
Sunday Male Hindi Conference
& Kavi Sammelan in Manchester
25 Dr Nemai Sadhan Bose France To participate in the 5 to 20
Former Vice-Chancellor function in connection October
Vishwa Bharati University with the Centenary 1993
Calcutta Celebrations of Swami
Vivekananda's Parliament of
Religions at Chicago in 1893
-194>
26 Professor Hossainur France To participate in the 5 to 20
Rahman function in connection October
Professor of History with the Centenary of 1993
Mahassin Government College Parikrama and his Address at
West Bengal the Word Parliament the of
Religions at Chicago in 1893
27 Ms Roxana D Italy To participate as 11 to 19
Anklesaria Indian Jury member for 1993
Concert Pianist and Valentino Bucchi November 1993
Adjudicator Award in Rome
Poona Music Society
Poona
28 Professor Saroja Poland To participate in the 22 to 28
Bhate International September 1993
Department of Sanskrit & Conference on Sanskrit and
Prakrit Languages Related studies to be organiz-
University of Poona ed by the Jagellonian Univers-
ity at Krakow
29 Professor T N Kenya To Participate in the 4 to 9
Krishnan Kenya Music August 1993
Vice President Adjudicator
SNA
30 Professor Vinod France To collect 18 September to
Bhatia source 16 October 1993
Academy of Third World material on 'Central' Asia
Jamia Millia Islamia Paradoxes of Translation
New Delhi
31 Professor Dauji Gupta Mexico To participate in 29 July to
Ex-Mayor the 13th 5 August 1993
Lucknow International Congress of
Anthropological and Ethnologi-
cal Science
32 Smt Veena Verma Norway To participate in 24 to 27
MP Seminar October 1993
33 Shri Shankar Dayal Singh - do - - do - do -
MP
-195>
34 Shri Shrikant Norway To participate 24 to 27
Ramchandra Jichkar Seminar October 1993
35 Professor Jaya Shekara Russia To identify 5 December 1993
Centre for Soviet and East one to 15 January 1994
European Studies two Russian Research Institute
School of International Studies with the help of Indian
JNU, New Delhi Embassy in Moscow to Establish
direct Co-operative relations
between JNU & these institutes
-196>
|
1993
APPENDIX-XXIV > Incoming Visitors ICCR.
|
Incoming Visitors ICCR.
|
S NO NAME OF THE VISITOR COUNTRY PERIOD PURPOSE REMARKS
1 Mr Hans Vermeersch Belgium July- To Meet Orientation
Music composer August Indian Grant for two
1993 Musicians months
2 Dr Artemio D Palongpalong Philipp- 8 to 21 To meet
Dean, Asian Centre ines August his counterpart and to
University of Philippines 1993 visit Indian Universi-
ties and Institutions
3 Mr Paddy Ashdown UK 2 to 9 Goodwi- MEA Agency
Leader of the UK's Liberal October ll vis- work
Democratic Party and 1993 it
Mrs Ashdown
4 Professor Man Young Republic 18 to 27 To speak at the
Hwang Korea October inaugural function of
Associate Professor of the 1993 the exhibition on 'Cu-
Department of Painting ltural Interflow'
Mokwon University, Taejon between India and the
Pensive Beyond' and to
meet Indian artists
Three member delegation
5 (i) Professor Valentin Russia 27 Octob- To finalise programme
Sidorov er to of the Proposed Word
President 2 Novemb- Congress on Spiritual
International Association er 1993 Concord
International Association
"Peace Through Culture"
(ii) Dr Boris Autenshlus
General Director
Experimental Creative Centre
-197>
(iii) Mr Nicolai Ogorodni- Russia 27 Octob- To finalise programme
kov er to 2 of the proposed World
finalise
kov 2 November 1993 programme of the
Assistant Secretary General
International Association 2 November 1993 proposed World
Congress on
"Peace Through Culture" Spiritual Concord
(Interpreter)
6 Mr Amanzhol Shamkenov Kazakhstan 29 October to Goodwill
Eminent Poet and Recipient 7 November 1993 visit
of the Jawaharlal Nehru
Friendship Award
7 His Excellency Thailand 10 to 19 To deliver
Dr Thanat Khoman Former November 1993 Jawaharlal
Foreign Minister and Nehru Memo
Deputy Prime Minister of -rial Lecture
Thailand & Mrs Khoman
8 Dr Moosajee Bhamjee Ireland 22 to 29 Goodwill visit
Member of Parliament November 1993
9 Ms Djahel Vinaver Mexico November- To Orientation
Dancer and December update Grant for
Choreographer 1993 her knowledge/ two months
techniques of Odissi Dance
10 5 Scholars Uzbekistan 4 to 9 To participate
December 1993 in the Intern-
ational Seminar
on Historical &
Cultural Links
between India
and Uzbekistan
from ancient times
to present day
11 Mr justice Mohamad Sai'd Egypt 4 to 16 To deliver Maulana
Al Ashmawy December 1993 Abul Kalam Azad
Chief justice of Higher State Memorial lecture
Security and Criminal Court
12 Mr Nirj Deva UK 18 to 23 Goodwill MEA
Member of Parliament December 1993 visit Agency
work
-198>
13 10-Member delegation led Egypt 18 to 26 To participate in
by Dr Gaber Asfour, Secretary December 1993 the 'Indo-
General Supreme Council of Egyptian Seminar on
culture Contemporary Cultural
Relations between
India and Egypt'
14 Dr (Mrs) Ursula Pasterk Austria 20 to 30 To meet Cultural
December 1993 Personalities and
visit Indian dance
& music Institutions
15 Dr (Ms) Kathleen Raine UK 19 December 1993 To meet Indian
Poet/Writer and Philosopher to 2 January 1994 writers, poets
and give talks
at universities
16 Lord Templeman UK 20 December 1993 Goodwill MEA
to 7 January 1994 visit Agency
work
-199>
|
1993
APPENDIX-XXV Visiting Professors-Chairs of Indian Studies Abroad (ICCR).
|
Visiting Professors-Chairs of Indian Studies Abroad (ICCR).
Under various schemes, the ICCR Council sends abroad Visiting Professors
for teaching Indology, Indian languages and allied subjects. During the
period under report the following academics were in position abroad:
1 Dr Devendra Shukla
Designate Visiting Hindi Professor at the University of Sofia, Sofia,
Bulgaria.
2 Dr Arun Prakash Mishra
Visiting Associate Professor of Hindi at the Indian Cultural Centre,
Georgetown, Guyana.
3 Dr Jai Singh Yadav Visiting Associate Professor of Indian Studies at
the Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Java, Indonesia.
4 Dr K Subramoney
Visiting Professor of Tamil Language & Literature at the University of
Warsaw, Warsaw,
Poland.
5 Dr Hari Mohan Sharma/Dr Abdul Bismillah Visiting Associate Professor
of Hindi at the University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland.
6 Dr Satya Brat Sharma Visiting Professor of Hindi at the Adam
Machiewicz University, Poznan, Poland.
7 Dr Triloki Nath Singh Visiting Hindi Lecturer at the Indian Cultural
Centre, Paramaribo, Suriname.
8 Dr Y Venkataramana Rao Visiting Professor of Hindi at the School of
Foreign Languages (NIHERST), Port of Spain, Trinidad.
9 Dr P K Mishra/Dr N Jayaram Visiting Professor of Social & Cultural
Anthropology at the University of West Indies, St Augustine Campus,
Trinidad and now Dr Jayaram is being deputed.
10 Dr V R Jagannathan Visiting Associate Professor of Hindi at the
University of West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad.
11 Dr (Mrs) Kamlesh Singh Visiting Assistant Professor of Hindi Language
and Literature at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. She is
also teaching Hindi at the State University of Ghient.
12 Dr O P Singhal Visiting Associate Professor of Hindi Language &
Literature at the Beijing University, Beijing, China.
13 Dr (Mrs) Usha Satya Vrat Shastri Visiting Professor of Sanskrit at
the Silpakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
14 Dr (Mrs) C Tulasamma Visiting Professor of Hindi at the Hankook
University, University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
15 Dr Mohan Lal Sar/Dr (Mrs) Anita Ganguly Visiting Associate Professor
of Hindi at the Helsinki University, Helsinki, Finland.
16 Dr (Mrs) Noorjahan Begum Visiting Associate Professor of Hindi at the
Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey.
17 Dr (Mrs) Jogesh Kaur Visiting Associate Professor of Hindi at the
Jawaharlal Nehru Cultural Centre, Moscow,
Russia.
-200>
18 Dr Syed Asghar Wajahat Visiting Associate Professor of Hindi at the
Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest, Hungary.
19 Dr N S Shukla/Dr S K Lal Visiting Professor of Sanskrit at the
University of Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris-III, Paris, France.
Books, cassettes, video tapes and musical instruments,
furnitures/fixtures etc have been sent to the Cultural Centres abroad.
-201>
|
1993
APPENDIX-XXVI Presentation Unit (ICCR)
|
Presentation Unit (ICCR) (April to December 1993)
Presentation of Books
|
1 Thailand For presentation to five Universities A set of Buddhist
books A set of books (1000)
and for Prime Minister's visit to
Thailand
To Princess in Thailand Books on India
To Indian Mission Books on Vivekananda
2 Turkey For presentation to Indian Mission 3 copies of Indian
Music
3 South Korea For presentation by Indian Ambassador ICCR Publications
4 Mexico For presentation to University of ICCR Publications
Veracruz in Mexico
5 Philippines For preser tion to Asian Centre A set of books on
University of Philippines Art & Culture
National Society Council Books on India
Asian Centre University Indian Culture
6 Singapore For presentation to Indian Fine A set of books on
Arts Society Indian Culture
7 Zimbabwe Children School in Zimbabwe A set of children
books
8 Romania The Institute for Educational ScienceBooks on Hindu Vedas
Central Universities Library A set of books on
Indian Culture
9 Mauritius HRM's visit to Mauritius Books on Indian Culture
10 Myanmar Presentation in School Children Books NCERT Books
To School
11 Sweden Oriental Studies Books on Religion
12 Belgium For presentation 50 Books on Art & Culture
and 120 audio cassettes
13 Botswana Various Universities Books on Gandhi
Association Books on Hinduism
For presentation in University Collected Works
of Mahatama Gandhi (Vol 1-90)
-202>
14 Egypt Presentation purpose Short Stories
For presentation Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
To Egyptian Universities Short Stories
ICC, Egypt Panchatantras
15 Italy For presentation purposes 100 Portfolios
Romanian Students Dictionaries
16 Ghana Embassy for presentation ICCR Publications
Library & Archieval Studies Books on Library
Sciences
17 Pakistan For publicity purposes Books on India
18 Ukraine Presentation to School Hindi Books
19 Malaysia Indian University Books on Vivekananda
20 Cuba Sixth International Book Fair ICCR Books
21 Peru Museum Library ICCR Books
22 Syria Local dignitaries Books on Gandhi
23 Sri Lanka Presentation Purposes Books on Nehru
24 Vietnam Presentation purposes ICCR Publications
25 Russia For display Books on Indian Dances
26 Switzerland For Exhibition Guru Granth Sahib
27 Ireland Trinity College Books on India
28 Laos For presentation Books on Buddhism &
ICCR Publications
29 Trinidad & To Mission for presentation Books on Vivekananda
Tobago
-203>
Presentation of Art Objects/Musical Instruments
1 Jamaica For Club India, Indian Cultural A set of musical
Society instruments
2 Cuba For presentation to the Cuban 6 Cassettes of
Institute of Friendship with people Rabindra Nath Tagore
organized the function in Cuba
3 Mauritius For presentation purposes 25 sets of musical
instruments
4 Brazil For presentation purposes 120 Audio Cassettes
5 Ukraine To Indian Mission A set of musical
instruments
6 Suriname For presentation to Hindustani A set of musical
immigrants instruments
7 Singapore To Indian Fine Arts Society A set of musical
instruments
8 Ghana For presentation purposes A set of musical
instruments
9 South Africa To Cultural Centre Audio Cassettes (2)
10 Iran For presentation purposes 6 Audio Cassettes
11 Kenya For presentation purposes 4 Tanjavur plates
12 Philippines Art Gallery One pair of doll
(Rajasthani)
13 Trinidad & For presentation purposes A set of musical
Tobago instruments
14 Mozambique To Indian Association in Maputo A set of musical
instruments
15 Uzbekistan Prime Minister's visit to Tashkent 4 Typewriters
-204>
|
|