MEA Library
Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India

CHAPTER I INDIA'S NEIGHBOURS

THE Government of India's objectives in Sri Lanka are the restoration of Indo - Sri Lanka relations to their traditional levels of cordiality; striving for the safety and security of Tamils in Sri Lanka; promoting lasting peace amongst all sections of the population in that country; and the expeditious deinduction of the IPKF from Sri Lanka.

By the beginning of 1989, the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement appeared well on the way to being implemented. A Provincial Council had been set up in the North- Eastern Province, an elected Tamil Government was in position in Trincomalee, and the security situation in the North-Eastern Province was satisfactory. It was, therefore, felt that a phased withdrawal of the IPKF could start. Unfortunatel y, this process was disrupted and delayed due to certain unilateral actions by the Sri Lankan Government. However, the misunderstandings were removed and the process resumed once again after the signing of a joint communique on Sep 18, 1989.

The importance attached by the Government to Indo-Sri Lanka relations was reflected by the fact that the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister was the first foreig n dignitary to visit India after the installation of the new Government, from 6 t o 8 December 1989. The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister came to India for a second visi t from 4 to 6 January 1990.

The Government announced in Parliament on 28 December, that keeping logistical and other factors in mind, it should be possible to complete deinduc tion of the IPKF from Sri Lanka by the end of March 1990.

During the year under review, relations with Bangladesh were strengthened, particularly in the economic field. The Jute Minister of Bangladesh visited In dia in September 1989 to discuss a joint strategy to protect long term interests of the two countries in this sector. The Indo-Bangladesh Joint Economic Commission, whose term ended in October 1987, was revived and extended to a further period of fiv e Years with effect from 6 October 1987 through an exchange of letters between th e Foreign Ministers of the two countries in October 1989. The Indo-Bangladesh Trade Agreement was renewed for another three years effective form 3 October 1989, in Dhaka during the Trade Review Talks held in September 1989. The Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade was renewed for another two years with effect from 4 October 1989.

The Minister for External Affairs visited Bangladesh form 16 to 18 February 1990 at the invitation of the Bangladesh Foreign Minister. He Called on Presid ent Ershad. A number of bilateral issues Such as the sharing of the Ganga Waters, Tin Bigha, Chakma refugees, influx of illegal immigrants from Bangladesh were discussed.

Such exchanges have created a favourable climate for further strengthening and diversifying of India's relations with Bangladesh in the political and econ omic fields. The warm and cordial relations between India and the Maldives were further strengthened and diversified during the year under report. The last of the Ind ian troops returned to India on 3 November 1989, after a ceremonial send off by the Government and people of the Maldives.

Exchanges at the political level continued. The Maldivian Foreign Minister, Fathulla Jameel visited Delhi in August 1989 and this was followed by President Gayoom's two-day official visit to New Delhi on 18 and 19 September 1989. In keeping with the warmth of Indo-Maldives relations, the External Affair Minister, Shri I K Gujral chose Maldives as the first country to be visited by him after assuming office. He was in the Maldives from 12 to 16 January 1990, for the first meeting of the Indo-Maldives Joint Commission. During this visit, the foundation stone of the Rs 18 crores Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital being buil t with Indian assistance, was laid by President Gayoom. A decision to waive visa requirements for nationals of either country wishing to visit the other country , was also announced.

India and Myanmar share not only a long border but also religious and cultural affinities. The people of the two countries have traditional and frie ndly ties and it is, therefore, natural for India to be interested in developments in Mya nmar. While maintaining the policy of strict non-interference in the internal affai rs of Myanmar, India continued its principled support to the democratic aspirations o f the people of Myanmar. It is hoped that the multi-party elections promised for May 1990 will be held in it tree and fair manner and relations between the two countries will be restored to their traditional warmth.

The relations between India and Bhutan have traditionally remained close and friendly. These ties were further strengthened during the year under review. His Majesty the King of Bhutan visited India in July 1989 and held discussions with the President, Shri R Venkataraman, the then Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, and other senior Ministers of the Government of India. The discussions were marked by a close identity of views and held in an atmosphere of warmth and cordiality . His Majesty's visit was preceded by the visit to Bhutan of the Chief of the Arm y Staff in May 1989 and the Foreign Secretary in June 1989.

The flourishing economic cooperation between the two countries was main tained. The remaining work on the prestigious 330 MW Chukha Hydel Project, built entirely with Indian assistance, has also begun satisfactorily. The trans mission line projects connected with Chukha Project have now been completed.

The Thimphu-Paro sub transmission and distribution system project (Rs 11.5 crores) was also completed successfully The upgradation of the airport faciliti es of Bhutan's Paro airport is being done by India and is expected to be completed soon. Preliminary studies were done for second airport in South Bhutan to be b uilt by India on a turnkey basis under project aid. A 50 kW broadcasting station ha s been set up in Thimphu by India on a turnkey basis and is to be commissioned soon.

On 1 August 1989, the ISD link between India and Bhutan was inaugurated by the King of Bhutan and the then Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi. An agreement was also signed in the same-month for a rural development project in the Gaylegphug area of South Bhutan.

The Gyetsa Mini Hydel Project (1.5 MW; Rs 4.42 crores) which was commissioned in July 1988 was inaugurated on 14 December 1989. Further work on the Taktichu Super Group Drop Microwave Transmission Project (Rs 3.7 crores) is progressing satisfactorily. Moreover, over and above Bhutan's Sixth Plan, Rs 70 crores has been approved for the Kurichu Hydel Project.

India continues to cooperate with Bhutan in various other fields also. It provides experts and specialists to Bhutan in the fields of forestry, industry, telecommunications, hydel survey, education etc. India also gifted to Bhutan 8 2 top quality cross bred cows and heifers.

In the sphere of education, India continues to offer Bhutanese students opportunities for secondary as well as higher education and training in various fields such as civil aviation, police, defence, customs, medicine and engineeri ng. About 40 Bhutanese students are availing of the Government of India scholarship s. Further, a large number of scholarships are given to the Bhutanese under the Colombo Plan for studies in India.

India continues to supply to Bhutan, at their request, essential commodities such as wheat, rice, sugar, coal, steel and edible oils at controlled prices un der a special quota system.

The first ever Bhutan Week in India organised in New Delhi in March 1989 proved very popular. Relations between India and Nepal have traditionally been close and cordial The Government of India attaches high priority to improving Indo-Nepal relation s, as part of their efforts to improve relations with India's neighbours. Over th e years, India has been extending considerable economic and technical assistance to Nepal and till recently was one of its largest donors. However, strains surfac ed in Indo-Nepal relations, especially after the lapse of the Indo-Nepal Treaties of Trade and of Transit in March 1989. This was consequent on the non-fulfilment by Nep al of the commitments made when a new trade treaty was negotiated and initialled i n October 1988.

The expiry of both these treaties and the agreements for the supply of POL products and coal in March 1989 was followed by a number of diplomatic demarches and communications between India and Nepal regarding the agenda and related details for bilateral talks. On 19 April 1989, India asked Nepal to sug gest a comprehensive agenda and the venue, date and level for bilateral talks. The invitation was reiterated on 8 and 18 May 1989. Nepal responded on 25 May 1989 suggesting a restricted agenda. On 16 June, India proposed a comprehensive agenda for Nepal's consideration. The Nepalese suggested certain amnendments o n 26 June which were considered and responded to by India on 16 August 1989. On 25 August 1989, the then Minister for External Affairs, Shri P V Narasimha Rao visited Kathmandu to discuss outstanding issues with the Foreign Minister and the King of Nepal and prepare the ground for a meeting between the then Prime Minister and the King of Nepal during the NAM Summit at Belgrade in early September 1989. This was followed. by a meeting between former Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi and King Birendra of Nepal during which matters concerning Indo-Nepal relations were discussed.

Despite the expiry of the Indo-Nepal Transit Treaty efforts were made to ensure smooth and unhindered transit of goods imported by Nepal from third countries through the authorised checkposts of Raxaul and Jogbani, which had earlier carried 80%-90% of Nepal's transit trade. Separate transit routes from Bhutan and Bangladesh to Nepal were also made available. India also continued to allow Nepal-Nepal transit through Indian territory.

In spite of the lapse of the special quota arrangements with the expiry of th e Treaty on Trade, India offered to make available to Nepal the full quantities requested by Nepal of seven essential commodities of mass consumption at levy prices. Nepal has availed only of the offer of 15,000 tonnes of sugar. During the year under review, India continued to implement the economic development projects and obligatory works in Nepal under its Aid to Nepal programme. For this purpose, export of essential construction materials and PO L products was allowed even through denotified checkposts.

India in line with the commitment to take effective steps to improve relation s with neighbours, will strive for friendly and comprehensive discussions to achi eve the early resolution of all outstanding issues between Nepal and India. Accord - ingly, the Minister for External Affairs invited the Nepalese Foreign Minister for talks in December 1989. The latter responded to the invitation and the talks w ere held in New Delhi from 3 to 5 January 1990. This resulted in greater understan ding of each other's interests and concerns.

This process has been carried further with the visit of the Nepalese official level delegation, led by the Nepalese Foreign Secretary and including the Nepal ese Defence Secretary, Commerce Secretary and other senior officials to New Delhi for detailed talks with their Indian counterparts from 19 to 22 February 1990. All aspects of Indo-Nepal relations were discussed exhaustively. The progress achi eved would be further built upon (hiring the next round of official talks, at which work will begin on the documents that would comprise a broad framework of the close and age-old Indo-Nepal relationship on an enduring basis.

The Government of Nepal has extended an invitation to the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister to visit Nepal. An invitation has been exten ded to the King of Nepal to visit India. India continued its efforts to develop friendly and good neighbourly relation s with Pakistan in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Simla Agreement.

During the visit of the then Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi in December 1988, it had been decided to maintain a close dialogue at all levels on the ent ire range of bilateral issues with the objective of accelerating the normalisation process. Accordingly, the following meetings took place during 1989: Water Resources Secretaries (28 to 31 March 1989), Directors General Civil Aviation ( 10 to 13 May 1989), Railway Authorities (11 to 15 May 1989), Home Secretaries (21 to 23 May 1989), Surveyors General (29 May 2 June 1989), Defence Secretaries (15 and 16 June 1989), Foreign Secretaries (17 and 18 June 1989), and the Joint Commission (18 and 19 July 1989). These meetings have generally had a positive outcome and helped to consolidate the normalisation process.

The then Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, paid an official bilateral visit to Pakistan on 16 and 17 July 1989. It was the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister since 1960, when Prime Minister Nehru had visited to sign the Indus Water Treaty. The Prime Minister held talks with President Ghulam Ishaq Khan and the Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. The talks which covered bilateral, regi onal and multilateral issues were cordial and held in an atmosphere of mutual trust and rapport. Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto reiterated her commitment to reorientin g bilateral relations with India.

Mr Aitzaz Ahsan, Interior Minister of Pakistan, visited India from 8 to 11 April 1989 as Special Envoy of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to solicit support for the candidature of Justice (Retd.) Dorab Patel of Pakistan for the Internationa l Court of Justice. During his stay he had discussions with the Indian leaders o n bilateral and other issues of mutual interest. During the third round of Home Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan held in Islamabad from 20 to 24 May 1989. both sides agreed on a number of measures to contain terrorism, drug trafficking, Smuggling and illici t border crossings along the India-Pakistan border. The Defence Secretaries of t he two countries during their meeting in June 1989 discussed specific proposals ai ming at an early solution of the Siachen issue in accordance with the Simla Agreemen t.

At their meeting in June 1989, the Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and also laid the groun d- work for the third meeting of the Joint Commission. The Joint Commission meeting, which was chaired by the External Affairs Minister and Foreign Ministe r of Pakistan, was held after a gap of four years. The constituent Sub-Commissio ns of the Joint Commission met on 17 July 1989. The meetings of the Sub- Commissions and the Joint Commission evolved several concrete measures to increase cooperation between the two countries in the fields of agriculture, industries, health, planning and to further promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries particularly in the fields of education, culture and media. Agreement was also reached on relaxation of visa regime including exemption from personal police reporting for those visiting for less than 14 da ys, increase in the number of cities allowed for visit during one trip from 4 to 8, measures to promote group tours and increase in the number of shrines and pilgrims allowed for reciprocal visits.

The Foreign Minister, Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, visited India on 24 and 25 July 1989 for discussions on SAARC matters. The External Affairs Minister paid a visit to Pakistan from 7 to 9 November 1989 to attend the SAARC Ministerial meeting. During the visit the Foreign Secretary held talks with his counterpart on bilateral relations.

India has consistently sought to develop friendly and good neighbourly relations with Pakistan in accordance with the Simla Agreement. However, there have been disturbing developments in the form of increased support by pakistan to terrorism directed against India in Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, deliberate attempts are being made to generate religious hysteria. Pakistan has also been attempting to distance itself from the commitments it undertook Under the Simla Agreement such as to resolve all issues peacefully and bilaterally. not to inte rfere In internal affairs, and not to indulge in hostile propaganda. India has clear ly reiterated its consistent position that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part o f India, and that any interference in India's internal affairs will not be tolera ted. The unity and integrity of India will be preserved at any cost. India continues to hope that the Government of Pakistan will cooperate with India in its endeavour to promote peace and stability in the region. This had been conveyed suitably to Mr Abdus Sattar, a Special Envoy of the Pakistan Prime Minister, who visited India from 7 to 11 January and Sahabzada Yaqub Khan, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, who was in India from 21 to 23 January 1990.

India continued to take an active interest in the developments in Afghanistan and kept in touch with those concerned with the situation. India had welcomed the signing of the Geneva Accords in April 1988 in the hope that it would lead to restoration of peace and stability in the region. T he Accords have not, however, been implemented by all the parties involved despite the complete withdrawal of Soviet troops, by 15 February 1989.

The resistance groups formed an Afghan Interim Government, in February, following a Shoora that had been convened in Rawalpindi. However, dissensions arose in the Iran-based rebels remaining outside the framework. There was also severe infighting among the Peshawar based rebels.

The international community continued its efforts for a resolution of the iss ue. A debate was held in the UN Security Council in April 1989. The Final Communique of the CHOGM (October 1989), the Resolution adopted at NAM Summit as well as the 44th Session of the UN General Assembly in October 1989, made references to the situation in Afghanistan. These references emphasised t he need for a comprehensive political settlement, the right of the Afghan people t o determine their own future and the need to preserve the sovereignty, territoria l integrity, political independence and nonaligned status of Afghanistan. The NA M also called upon the Chairman of the Movement to undertake an initiative for finding a solution to the Afghan conflict.

India is for the strict implementation of the Geneva Accords. India would li ke to see a political settlement in Afghanistan arrived at by the Afghans themselv es without external interference or intervention and which takes into account the existing realities and the legitimate interests of all concerned. India is als o for the cessation of bloodshed in that country and the preservation of Afghanistan's st atus as a sovereign, nonaligned and independent country.

Bilateral relations developed satisfactorily. India sent relief supplies to Afghanistan worth Rs 1.3 crores. India is also committed to providing assistan ce of Rs 10 crores for refugee rehabilitation through the UN and bilaterally. The process of regional cooperation under the auspices of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) received a serious setback during the year, although interaction at the technical level continued.

The setback occurred with the postponement of the 7th Session of the Council of Ministers, scheduled to have been held in Islamabad in June-July 1989 owing to Sri Lanka's decision not to participate in the meeting. Since the Council of Ministers would not have been able to take any decisions in the absence of any single member country, the meeting was postponed to a date to be decided after mutual consultations between all the member States. The Session was eventually held in Islamabad on 8 and 9 November 1989. It was preceded by the 12th Sessio n of the Standing Committee of Foreign Secretaries and the 7th Session of the Programming Committee of senior officials.

The uncertainty facing SAARC continued with the dates and venue of the 5th SAARC Summit, which should have met in 1989, remaining undecided. The Summit was to have been hosted by Sri Lanka but did not take place. Consultations have been going on among the member States on the subject. The Pakistan Foreign Minister, Sahabzada Yaqub Khan visited New Delhi in January 1990 for this purpose on behalf of the current SAARC Chairperson, the Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. He informed the Government of the discussions h e had held with the Maldives and Sri Lankan leaders in December 1989. It was agreed that Pakistan would keep the Government of India informed of further consultations to be held on the subject with other SAARC member countries. The Government of India has viewed this slow pace of SAARC meetings with great disappointment, and has reiterated categorically that SAARC must not be affecte d by bilateral and contentious issues.

The postponement of the Council of Ministers meeting also resulted in the delay in decision-making on various ongoing projects and administrative matters relating to the Secretariat, which were subsequently settled through correspondence.

In spite of this slow pace of SAARC meetings, work continued at the technical level through the organisation of short term activities like workshop s and seminars and other projects. The Ministry functioned as the national focal poi nt to coordinate India's involvement and worked in close association with all other Ministries, Departments and agencies involved with various specific aspects.

The year witnessed some progress in the implementation of schemes and projects already agreed upon: The Council of Ministers decided that the scheme for the issue of a Special SAARC Travel Document, for visa-free travel in the region-for Members of Parliament and Supreme Court Judges to start with-would come into effect from 1 May 1990 after some preparatory work in this connection;

The Technical Committee on Education, set up by a decision of the 4th SAARC Summit in Islamabad in December 1988, held its first meeting and commenced work on drawing up plans for regional cooperation in the areas of primary education; literacy, post-literacy and continuing education; science and technical education; educational research; education for under-served areas/groups and modernisation of curriculum;

The SAARC Audio Visual Exchange (SAVE) completed two years of smooth functioning. Guidelines for the co-production of programmes for both radio and television have been adopted. Also, special magazine type programmes on development issues have been scheduled twice a year on both media- these would be in addition to the regular monthly programmes on radio and television contributed by each member country and broadcast throughout the region on the same day each month.

The year 1989 was observed as the SAARC Year for Combating Drug Abuse and Drug Trafficking, and a regional Plan of Action was drawn up by the Technical Committee concerned. This included steps to increase public awarenes s about the adverse effects of drug abuse through a campaign in the print and electronic media and the distribution of educational material. Eighth December 1989 was observed in all member countries as the SAARC Day Against Drug Abuse. The President Shri R Venkataraman issued a special message on the occasion. The Government of India doordinated a comparative study of existing laws with a view to harmonising drug-related legislation in member countries an d hosted a meeting of legal experts in New Delhi in December 1989 in this connection.

The member countries also focused their attention on measures to streamline SAARC activities, of which 62 were held during 1989-90, in the 12 sectors of cooperation (Agriculture, Education, Health and population activities. Meteorology, Postal Services, Prevention of Drug Trafficking and Drug Abuse, Rural Development, Science and Technology, Sports, Arts and Culture, Telecommunications, Transport and Women in Development). Steps for smoother intersectoral coordination among the respective Technical Committees were decided on. It was also agreed that before considering any new proposals for t he establishment of regional institutions, it would be necessary to assess the functioning of the institutions already approved.

In keeping with the move to increase the involvement of non-governmental organisations in SAARC activities, it was decided that at least one of the act ivities planned each year by each of the Technical Committees should involve the participation of NGOs/professional bodies. Member countries have agreed that there is a need for a qualitative change i n the nature of SAARC activities, so as to make them effective instruments for th e transfer of technology. India also continued to stress the urgency for SAARC t o include core economic areas such as trade, industry, money and finance within t he purview of regional cooperation; this would impart to SAARC a new dynamism which would enable the Association to play an active role in the economic development and growth of the region. Economic cooperation together with increased people-to-people contact and the freer flow of information would give SAARC the impetus required for progress in developmental areas, within the overall framework built up for cooperation.

Shri K K Bhargava, the nominee of the Government of India, assumed (tic office of Secretary General at the SAARC Secretariat in October 1989, on the expiry of the term of Mr Abut Ahsan of Bangladesh.

1989
South-East Asia and the Pacific

Jan 01, 1989
CHAPTER II

SOUTH-EAST ASIA AND THE PACIFIC INDIA'S traditionally close relations with the South-East Asian and Pacific region were further diversified through frequent official interaction and India 's supportive role in promoting a peaceful negotiated settlement in Cambodia. As the Prime Minister's Special Envoy, Shri K Natwar Singh, then Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs met leaders of ASEAN and the Indo-China countries as also USSR and France for consultations. At the International Conference on Cambodia in Paris in August 1989, India co-chaired the First Committee which dealt with the establishment of an International Control Mechanism. Although t he Conference was unable to achieve a comprehensive settlement, important areas of agreement were identified and India's contribution was appreciated. A delegati on led by Shri B R Bhagat, MP, witnessed the final withdrawal of Vietnamese troops from Cambodia at the end of September 1989. Since then, India has held further consultations in the search for a solution to the Cambodian problem. A senior official of the Ministry of External Affairs visited Phnom Penh, Hanoi and Bangkok to discuss the recent peace initiatives. In this context the Governmen t has also been in close touch with Australia regarding the proposal for a UN Tole in Cambodia.

Close and friendly relations with Cambodia continued. An official delegation visited Cambodia in June 1989 to study prospects for increasing bilateral assis tance to Cambodia for reconstruction of its war-ravaged economy. Restoration work of the Angkor Wat by the Archaeological Survey of India has made progress.

Important visits to India from Vietnam were those of the Vice-Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Gen. Yo Nguyen Giap in April 1989 and of Foreign Minister Co Thach. Bilateral trade and economic cooperation grew as ONGC Videsh Limited began seismic survey in offshore areas under contract with Petro Vietnam. An agreement in the field of atomic energy is being drawn up by the Indian Atomic Energy Commission. A Protocol for cooperation between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Vietnam Institute of Scie nce was signed. A trade delegation visited India at the invitation of CIMMCO International to explore prospects for cooperation in the tea and textile indus tries. An agreement to set up a Vietnam-India Joint Chamber of Commerce was finalised during the visit of a delegation of the Indian Merchants' Chamber. Provision of technical assistance under the ITEC Programme is continuing. The Rice Research Institute and the Buffalo Breeding and Forage Research Centre are due to be handed over to Vietnam in early 1990. When Vietnam was struck by three typhoons in October 1989, medicines worth Rs 5 lakhs were sent by air as emergency relief.

Cooperation between Doordarshan and the All India Radio on the one hand, and their Vietnamese counterparts on the other, became closer as a result of th e visit of a Doordarshan delegation in April 1989, and the visit of a delegation from the Voice of Vietnam to India in December.

An Indian Consulate General was opened in Ho Chi Minh City in January 1990.

Friendly relations and economic cooperation between India and Laos were maintained. Training in diverse areas such as forestry, agriculture, fine arts , media etc, was provided under the ITEC Programme, alongwith the deputation of Indian experts. A Lao cultural troupe was sponsored by the ICCR in November 1989. The warm relations between India and Thailand received a fillip with the firs t ever visit of a Thai Prime Minister, Gen. Chatichai Choonhavan, in March 1989. An agreement to set up a Joint Commission was signed. ONGC and the Petroleun Authority of Thailand signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation in activities related to exploration and production of petroleum.

The External Affairs Minister visited Thailand in May 1989 for the first meeting of the Indo-Thailand Joint Commission. It was agreed to expand bilatera l trade to US $ 1 billion within three years. It was also resolved to establish a Joint Business Council. The Minister of State for Science and Technology visited Thailand in July 1989. With the Thai Deputy Prime Minister, he inaugurated the Electronic Design Laboratory at Chulalonkorn University which had been set up with assistance from the Government of India. The Deputy Foreign Minister of Thailand visited India in connection with the Republic Day celebrations in 1990 The Foreign Secretary visited Malaysia in September-October 1989 as a Special Envoy of the Prime Minister for exchange of views on issues of mutual interest and called on the Malaysian Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister. A return visit by the Malaysian Secretary General for Foreign Affairs took place in January 1990. The Commerce Minister visited Malaysia in September 1989, and held discussions on the entire range of trade related issues with a view to pro mote bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

The Minister of State for External Affairs visited Indonesia in April and in June 1989, for discussions on the Cambodian issue. Cultural ties between the people of India and Indonesia were further strengthened by the inauguration of the Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Cultural Centre in Jakarta. The Indonesia-India Friendship Association was inaugurated in November 1989, in the presence of the Indonesian Foreign Minister and other prominent Indonesian leaders.

A number of Indians were arrested in Singapore, following the recent enactment of a new immigration law providing for the sentence of caning in addition to varying periods of imprisonment for foreigners who overstayed their visas by more than 90 days and /or for illegally entering the country. They we re subsequently granted clemency by the President of Singapore. The Singapore authorities also agreed to the repatriation without any panel action of about 1 900 overstayers who voluntarily registered themselves with the Indian High Commission in May and July-August 1989. Although the problem of immigration offenders from India was amicably settled through cooperation between the two Governments and wide publicity was given both in India and Singapore to prevent violation of Singapore's harsh immigration regulations, in the past few months some more arrests and convictions for overstaying have occurred. Some of the offenders were carted. The Ministry of External Affairs strongly protested thi s punishment with the Singapore Government while simultaneously continuing its efforts in India to prevent recurrences.

In December 1989, a faction in the Philippine military made an abortive attempt to overthrow the elected Government led by President Aquino. In keepin g with India's firm commitment to democratic principles, the Government of India expressed its support to the Government of the Philippines for the steps taken to restore normalcy and the rule of law.

Bilateral relations between India and Australia were characterised by exchang e of many visits at Minister level. The Australian Prime Minister, Mr Hawke, had visited in February 1989, and exchanged views on various issues of bilateral in terest including disarmament, chemical weapons and the political situation and strateg ic environment in the Asia Pacific region. During his visit, four Memoranda of Understanding had also been signed in the fields of meteorology, tele- communications, railways and concessional finance. The Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Gareth Evans, visited in June 1989. During the visit, letters were exchanged to establish an Indo-Australian Joint Ministerial Commission. The Minister for Commerce led the Indian delegation to the first meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council held in Australia in July 1989. Modal ities for expansion of bilateral trade and economic cooperation were identified. The Minister of State for Railways and Shri Abid Hussain, Member, Planning Commission, also visited Australia. The Australian Minister for Employment, Education and Training and the Minister for Industry, Technology and Commerce visited India in September and October 1989, respectively. The Piparwar openca st coal mining project in Bihar and the feasibility study for the establishment of the Karwar naval base in Karnataka were awarded to an Australian-led consortia. The then Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri K Natwar Singh visited Australia and Newzealand to discuss issues to be taken up at the impending CHOGM meeting in Kualalumpur. In Australia he met the Prime Minister and in Newzealand, the Prime Minister and Minister for External Relations. These meetings also provided opportunities for discussing bilateral matters.

India and Newzealand maintained their traditionally friendly relations. In February 1990, the Attorney General of Newzealand and former Prime Minister, Mr David Lange visited Delhi and was a guest of the Ministry of External Affair s.

The constitutional crisis in Fiji remained unresolved with the submission of its Report by the Constitution Inquiry and Advisory Committee appointed by the Interim Government. The CIAC Report reiterated the thrust of the Draft Constitution proposed in September 1988, which had been criticised by the ouste d National Federation Party-Fiji Labour Party Coalition, as an authoritarian, feu dal and racially discriminatory document. The Government of India issued a Stateme nt criticising the CIAC Report which had failed to address the central issue of weeding out the retrograde and racially discriminatory features of the Draft Constitution. India continued its ban on trade with Fiji. In international fora, India has continued to criticise the apartheid-like character of the present dispensation in Fiji.

1989
East Asia

CHAPTER III EAST ASIA

DURING the year under review, the steady momentum in the fostering of cooperative interaction between India and China was maintained. It was recognised that normalisation of India-China relations is in the interests of b oth countries and that efforts should be made to improve and expand this relationsh ip. It was stressed by the Government in December 1989, that the outstanding boundary question should be resolved in a fair and reasonable manner in consonance with India's national interests.

In a message of felicitation addressed to the Prime Minister, Shri V P Singh, the Chinese Premier, Mr Li Peng expressed the hope that the good neighbourly relations between India and China would improve and develop further on the basi s of the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence. The Chinese Premier referred to the traditional friendship between the peoples of India and China. In his resp onse, the Prime Minister said that India was confident that the traditional friendshi p and mutual respect between the two peoples and the common commitment of both countries to the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence would help the furthe r development of bilateral relations and the resolution of outstanding issues. H e stated that the process of understanding and cooperation initiated in recent ti mes between India and China would be continued by the Government.

Messages of felicitations were also addressed by the Chinese Vice Premier Yao Yilin and the Foreign Minister, Qian Qichen to the Deputy Prime Minister, Shri Devi Lal and the External Affairs Minister, Shri I K Gujral, respectively on their assumption of office.

The year was marked by the exchange of a number of high level visits between the two countries. Vice Premier Wu Xueqian of China paid a goodwill visit to India in October 1989 at the invitation of the then External Affairs Minister, Shri P V Narasimha Rao. During the visit. views were exchanged on a number of issu es of bilateral and international concern. Vice Premier Wu called on the then Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi. He visited places of scientific, industrial and Cultural interest in Delhi, Bombay, Goa and Bangalore. The Chinese Minister for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Fishery, Mr He Kang visited India in March 1989. A Memorandum of Consultation in the field of Agriculture was signed during the visit. The Vice Minister of the State Science and Technology Commission, Madame Zhu Lilan visited India in March 1989 for the first meeting of the India-China Sub Group on Science and Technology under the Joint Group on economic relations, trade and science and technology. The Exchange Programme in Science and Technology for 1989-90 under the Agreement in Science and Technology was signed during the visit. Mr Zheng Tuobin, Minister for Foreign Economic Relations and Trade, visited India in September 1989 at the invitation of the then Commerce Minister for the first meeting of the India-China ministerial level Joint Group in trade, economic relations and science and technology. A Trade Protocol for the period September 1989 to September 1990 was concluded. The two sides stressed their resolve to redress imbalances in bilateral trade and to increase this trade. The possibilities of technology exchange, joint ventures and investment were also discussed.

From the Indian side, the visit of the then Minister for Steel and Mines, Shri M L Fotedar, to China in April-May 1989 resulted in the identification of areas for cooperation in the geology and mining industries. Shri S B Chavan, then Finance Minister, visited Beijing for the ADB Board of Governors meeting in May 1989.

The India-China Joint Working Group (JWG) on the boundary question held its first meeting in July 1989 at Beijing. The Indian delegation was led by the Foreign Secretary. The meeting discussed modalities for future consultations within the Group. It was resolved not to dwell on past differences but to look to the future in a practical, workmanlike and realistic manner in order to reach a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement of the boundary question. It was agreed that peace and tranquillity should be maintained in the border areas. The need for confidence-building measures was recognised. Other bilateral contacts covered such fields as biotechnology, contemporary international relations, trade fairs, standards and norms, public administration, literature and the arts, electronics, fisheries, and an India China seminar on tradition, modernity and change, at Beijing in November 1989.

India's relations with japan imporved steadily despite the vicissitudes of Japan's internal politics. Japan continues to be the biggest donor to india with ODA loan totalling Rs 1100 crores approximately (96,710 million Yen) for the fiscal year 1989. Th is represents an increase of 36.6% over the previous year. The most significant a spect of ODA loan to India in 1989 was that Japan would henceforth, meet 85% of the total cost of projects whether incurred in foreign exchange or in local currenc y.

Grant aid for debt relief amounting to Rs 13 crores was received in February 1989; Rs 6 crores in October 1989; and Rs 5.5 crores in December 1989 bringing total grant aid for debt relief to a figure of Rs 225 crores received by India since 1979. Similarly, in November 1989, approximately Rs 7 crores was allocated to India as grant aid to increase food production in India. This amount is to be utilised for import of fertilisers for agriculture which has been given the hig hest priority under the Seventh Plan.

Around Rs 49 lakhs (41 million Yen) was further received in 1988-89 for the import of audio video equipment for the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts in March 1989 and Rs 7.3 crores (616 million Yen) in June 1989 for supply of medic al equipment for regional cancer centres. The Seventh round of Indo-Japan Trade talks were held in Tokyo from 9 to May 11, 1989. Aid India Consortium meeting was held in Tokyo from 16 to 20 May 1989. Indo-Japan Business Cooperation Committee meeting was held at New Delhi on 5 June 1989.

An Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation was signed between India and Japan on 29 November 1989. A delegation led by the Director General, Anthropological Survey of India, visited Tokyo from 25 to 31 May 1989 to hold talks for computerisation plan for Project India 400.

A Parliamentary delegation headed by the Hon'ble Speaker visited Japan from 27 August to 2 September 1989. With the Republic of Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea India's relations progressed smoothly. The Cultural Exchange Programme between the Republic of Korea and India was signed for the years 1990-92 in November 1989. The Embassy of India, Seoul, organised various events in commemoration of Pandit Nehru's Birth Centenary. Chairman, Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Republic (Parliament Speaker) of Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Mr Fang Myong Sop, paid an official visit to India in April 1989 at the invitation of the Indian Parliamen t. He called on the then Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi.

Cultural and academic exchanges took place between India and Democratic People's Republic of Korea with the visits of an Odissi cultural troupe to Pyongyang and a 5-member delegation from the Indian Council for Social Sciences Research at the invitation of the DPRK Academy of Social Sciences. In July 198 9 the Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports with 10 Members of Parliamen t and a 350-strong Indian contingent visited Pyongyang to participate in the 13th World Youth Festival. The Group held discussions/meetings on NAM, women's rights, apartheid, disarmanent etc.

India's relations with Mongolia progressed significantly with the visit of H. E. Mr Jambyn Batmunkh, President of Mongolia, to India on 7 March 1989. During his visit a Protocol on Science and Technology was signed and it was announced that a Chair for Mongolian Studies would be set up at Jawaharlal Nehru University. A Mongolian Cultural troupe headed by Mongolia's Vice Minister for Culture, Madame Narantoya, visited India from 9 to 27 March 1989, and gave performances in various parts of the country.

The Mongolian People's Republic issued a special commemorative stamp on the occasion of the Nehru Centenary Celebrations.

1989
West Asia and North Africa

CHAPTER IV WEST ASIA AND NORTH AFRICA INDIA'S relations with the countries of the West Asia and North Africa region in the political, economic and cultural fields were further Consolidated and diversified during the year under review.

The Palestinian issue remained the centre of international focus for the seco nd year in succession as the Palestinian uprising against the tight grip of contin ued Israeli occupation in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip showed no sign of slackening. Chairman Yasser Arafat visited India in March 1989 to brief Indian leaders on the various PLO initiatives to create a positive climate for resumpt ion of the peace process. India's firm and unequivocal support for the Palestinian ca use in international fora was reiterated. During his visit, the PLO Embassy in New De lhi was renamed "The Embassy of the State of Palestine." India strongly feels that the moderate and constructive proposals of Chairman Arafat need to be reciprocated by other involved countries in order to find a solution to the longstanding Mid dle- East problem. India is convinced that only the convening of an International P eace Conference under the UN auspices with the participation of all parties to the A rab- Israeli dispute including the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people can lead to a just and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian problem and durable peace in the region.

Close consultations between India and Egypt on matters of mutual interest continued during the period under review. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Egypt, Dr Boutros Ghali visited India in April 1989. This was prece ded by the visit of the Egyptian Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Wafaa Hegazi.

Relations with Syria continued to grow in strength. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Syria, Mr Farouk Al-Shara visited India in April 1989. An informati on delegation form Syria visited India in August-September 1989. A protocol on ra dio and television cooperation was signed during the visit. The Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Dr Najma Heptullah visited Syria in September 1989 to attend the Conference of Arab Parliamentarians on Population and Development. An exclusive Indian industrial exhibition was held by the Trade Fair Authority of India in Syria in October 1989.

India's relations with Jordan continued to grow. In March-April 1989, the third meeting of the Indo-Jordanian Trade Committee was field in Amman. In May, a delegation of C-DOT Technology Mission visited Jordan and signed a Memorandum of Understanding to set up a joint venture for digital switching equipment. In June, FICCI held the first Joint Investment Round Table Meeting in Amman. In September, TFAI held it trade and industrial exhibition in Jordan. India gifted a consignment of medicines to Lebanon in 1989. India's relation s with Somalia, Djibouti and Sudan remained friendly.

In the Maghreb region, Indo-Algerian relations continued to grow. A delegation led by Shri M S Gill, Secretary, Chemicals and Petrochemicals, visit ed Algeria in February. In July, a delegation from the Ministry of Heavy Industry of Algeria visited India to explore possibilities of cooperation. Talks were held between experts from both sides to finalise an agreement for Indian credit and for a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. A team of journalists visited Algeria i n October to report on Indian projects in the field of railways. Cultural cooper ation continued apace with cultural troupes from both sides holding performances. An exhibition of contemporary art of India was held in Algiers in July.

The Minister of State of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia, Mr Habib Ben Yahya visited India in October and held wide ranging talks on bilateral and internati onal matters of mutual interest. Indian dance troupes participated in the Carthage International Festival in Tunis.

India's relations with Libya continued to be good and efforts were made to resolve the problem of outstanding payments of Indian companies. In November, some payments were received in the form of a petroleum shipment. Shri Janakraj Gupta, MP, participated in the festivities marking the 20th Anniversary of Liby an Revolution in September. An Indian cultural troupe also gave performances du ring the celebrations. India's relations with Morocco remained cordial. Problems concerning supply of phosphoric acid by Morocco to India were resolved in October when Morocco agreed to withdraw arbitration claims and the supply of phosphoric acid to India was resumed. A Special Envoy of the President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, Mr Bashir Mustapha Sayeed visited India in August. A relief consignment of medicines was sent to the Sahrawi Government during the year.

India's cordial and mutually beneficial relations with the countries in the G ulf region were further strengthened, with renewed accent on the economic content i n bilateral relations. With the increase in demand for manpower, the number of Indians working in the Gulf region has risen to over 1.21 million. A labour delegation led by Sec retary (Labour), Shri Suresh Mathur, visited the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman in September 1989 with a view to study the conditions of Indian labour and to renew contacts with the Ministries of Labour . There were two visits by Saudi medical recruitment teams during 1989 resulting in large scale recruitment of Indian specialists, generalists and paramedical pers onnel by the Saudi Ministry of Health.

Shri Alfred Gonsalves, Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs visited Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates in April 1989 as Prime Minister's Special Envoy. The Indian naval ships, INS Shakti and INS Godavari, paid a goodwill visit in November 1989 to Muscat (Sultanate of Oman), Doha (Qatar) and Kuwait. Dr Najma Heptullah, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha visited Saudi Arabia in February 1989 as an emissary of Prime Minister. A delegation from the Saudi Command and Staff College visited a number of Indian defence establishments in July 1989.

Intensive efforts were undertaken in 1989 to further develop Indo-Iranian cooperations. A mutually acceptable settlement was reached over the long pendi ng issue of Kudremukh Iron Ore Project. The Iranian Foreign Minister, Dr Ali Akbar Velayati paid a visit to India on Aug 20, 1989. A broad agreement was reached during the visit on a wide range of political issues between India and Iran.

A major programme of reconstruction is beginning in Iran. There are expectations that India could play a positive role in this reconstruction. The Fifth Session of the Indo-Iranian Joint Commission is expected to meet in Tehran early in 1990. The External Affairs Minister will be leading the Indian delegation. The Joint Commission meeting would discuss the possibilities for augmenting the volume of bilateral trade, apart from identifying new avenues of mutually beneficial economic scientific and technical Cooperation.

Mr Nizar Hamdoon, Permanent Under Secretary in the Iraqi Foreign office, visited New Delhi in February 1989, as Special Envoy of President Saddam Hussein. Shri Madhavrao Scindia, the their Minister of State for Railways paid a visit t o Iraq from 31 May to 2 June 1989. to participate in the first anniversary celebr ations of the 5-year Operations and Maintenance Contract between Rail India Technical Services and the Iraqi Railways.

A 2-member Iraqi defence delegation visited India in November 1989 to study the organisational infrastructure of the Institute for Defence Studies and Anal ysis (IDSA). Mr Mohd. Hamza Al Zubaidi, Iraqi Minister of Transport and Communications paid a visit to India from 1 to 4 February 1990, at the invitati on of the Railway Minister, Shri George Fernandes. Apart from holding discussions with the Railway Minister, He also had discussions with the Ministers of Commerce, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Civil Aviation, and Transport and Communications. He called on the Prime Minister and the Minister for External Affairs.

Thirtyfive Indian companies are active in Iraq. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Mana Said Al Otaiba, Federal Minister of Petroleum and Minerals. United Arab Emirates, visited India in July and October 1989, respectively. Sheikh Sauood Muohammed Al-Oseimi, Kuwaiti Minister of State for Foreign Affairs visited India in March 1989. The then Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, met Bahraini Amir Sheikh Issa bin Salman Al-Khalifa during the Nonaligned Summit in Belgrade in September 1989. From Oman, Deputy Prime Minister for Security and Defence, H.E. Sayyid Faher bin Taimour Al-Said and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Sheikh Mohammed Al-Hinai visited India in March and September 1989, respectively. India and the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen signed a cultural exchange programme in September 1989 to enhance bilateral cooperation in media and other sectors.

A high level delegation from the Oil and Natural Gas Commission visited the Yemen Arab Republic to explore the possibility of Indian participation.

CHAPTER V AFRICA (SOUTH OF THE SAHARA) DURING the year under review, there was a movement towards peace and normalisation in the Southern African region. Elections were held under UN supervision in Namibia. India contributed military, police and civilian person nel to the UN Transition Assistance Group deployed for this purpose. In addition to participating in the NAM and the Commonwealth Observer teams which visited Namibia, India opened an Observer Mission in Windhoek, Namibia, to monitor the peace process. After successful holding of elections to the Constituent Assembly, the transition process was firmly established. Sam Nujoma, leader of SWAPO, chaired the Constituent Assembly, and on the adoption of the Constitution was declared President-elect of Namibia. He will assume office, on Namibia attaining independence on Mar 21, 1990. Namibian leaders have warmly acknowledged India's bilateral assistance.

In the Republic of South Africa, the Government and the majority opposition are moving towards a negotiated settlement. President de Klerk, after assuming office on 15 August 1989, moved rapidly, on the one hand, to satisfy some of th e preconditions made by the ANC for commencing negotiations and, on the other, continued to safeguard some of the pillars of apartheid structure like the Peop le's Registration Act. This exercise culminated in the release of Nelson Mandela on 11 February 1990. Since then, India has established a Nelson Mandela Reception Committee, chaired by the Prime Minister. The Minister for External Affairs is the Vice-Chairman of the Committee. It consists of over 175 eminent Indians from a ll walks of life. The Prime Minister in an address to the nation, expressed relie f and satisfaction over Mandela's release. A Special Envoy of the Prime Minister cal led on Mandela, in South Africa, to convey his message and invitation to visit Indi a, which was accepted. India has cautiously welcomed the announcement made by the South African Government, while emphasising the need to dismantle apartheid forthwith and urged rapid transition of South Africa to a non-racial, democrati c state. Lessening of tensions in South Africa is bound to have a salutory effec t on the war-like situations in Angola and Mozambique, where the rebels have had overt and covert support of the South African Government and the ongoing peace initiatives are likely to benefit by the latest developments in South Africa.

With the exception of Kenya, the economics of the countries on the East Coast of Africa are under stress. These countries are facing acute foreign exch ange shortages. India, in the spirit of South-South Cooperation, has maintained str ong economic links with these countries through its Technical and Economic Cooperation Programmes, Trade Agreements etc. Substantial technical and other assistance in the fields of agriculture, transport, industry, health, education , defence etc. is being extended. India has played a pioneering role in the establishment of small scale industries in a number of countries in the region. Despite disturbed conditions in Ethiopia, Technological Exposition of such machines was held in Addis Ababa in December 1989.

The year 1989-90 also saw the opening of new areas of cooperation in India's relations with West Africa. An intensification of interaction was particularly noticeable in relations with Nigeria.

Economic trends were favourable in the Indian Ocean Island Countries Advantage in terms of enhanced economic cooperation was sought by the formation of a Joint Commission with Seychelles and the holding of the First Meeting of the Joint Business Council with Mauritius.

At the bilateral level, India's relations with the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa continued to further improve and diversify during the year 1989-90. The re was a concerted attempt to deepen economic and technical relations as well as continue moral and material support to the Frontline States fighting for the abolition of apartheid and for democracy in Namibia and South Africa. India continued to enjoy close relations with the countries of Southern Afric a and the Liberation Movements fighting for freedom of Namibia and the dismantlement of the minority rule in the Republic of South Africa.

An important event was the visit of the President, Shri R Venkataraman, to Zimbabwe and Zambia where he received very warm welcome. The President was in Zimbabwe on 6 and 7 June 1989 and had talks with President Mugabe. In Zambia on 8 and 9 June 1989 the President held talks with President Kenneth Kaunda and also with the President of the African National Congress, Oliver Tambo. The President also met the Indian community at Lusaka and Ndola. The visit served to strengthen the ties of friendship and cooperation between India and these countries.

In May 1989, a composite delegation consisting of representatives of the Transvaal Indian Congress, Natal Indian Congress, and the Mass Democratic Movement visited India as guests of the Government of India. This was the firs t time in 40 years that a representative delegation from South Africa called on t he Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister and had talks with the Members of Parliament and intellectuals. Talks were held at the official level too. T he delegation further visited Madras and Bombay.

Thomas N'kobi, Treasurer-General of the African National Congress accompanied by Mr I Coovadia, visited Delhi in April 1989. During this visit, a cheque for US $ 200,000 from the AFRICA Fund was handed over to the Treasurer-General. In July-August 1989, the Heads of the Legal and the Constitution Departments of the African National Congress, Dr Zola Skeweyiya and Mr Aziz Pahad visited Delhi for discussions regarding the anti-apartheid strugg le.

A 12-member delegation of Zambian industrialists led by Mr Dev Babbar, Chairman, Zambia Association of Manufacturers visited India from 7 to 16 April 1989 and met Indian industrialists and the various export organisations with a view to exploring the possibilities of joint ventures, transfer of technology and arrangements for collaboration in the projects included in the Fourth National Development Plan of Zambia. The team visited Delhi, Bangalore, Madras and Bombay.

A defence delegation from Zambia visited India in July-August 1989 and had discussions with their Indian counterparts with a view to strengthening bilater al cooperation.

Mr Fernando Muteka, Agriculture Minister of Angola visited India from 7 to 12 May 1989 to familiarise himself with the progress made by India in the field of agriculture and agricultural engineering. He and his team had talks with the I ndian agricultural experts and researchers and the Officers of the Ministry of Agricu lture and visited tractor factories and agricultural implements production centres. Measures to strengthen Indo-Angolan cooperation in the field of agriculture wer e discussed.

In May 1989, Gen. Alberto Chipande, Defence Minister of Mozambique visited India and had talks with the then Defence Minister, Shri K C Pant. The close and friendly relations with Tanzania received further impetus with the visit in June 1989 of President R Venkataraman to Tanzania. Mr Julius Nyerere had visited in November 1989 for the meeting of the South Commission. President Mwinyi accompanied by his Foreign Minister and other members of the delegation, transited through Delhi in December 1989 and held fruitful discussi ons with the Prime Minister, Shri V P Singh on bilateral and international issues. The Tanzanian Foreign Minister also exchanged views with the External Affairs Minister, Shri I K Gujral.

Friendly relations with Ethiopia were further strengthened. Shri M. Dubey, Secretary (ER) represented India at the Technological Exposition and Workshop jointly organised in December 1989 by NSIC and its Ethiopian counterpart HASIDA in collaboration with the UNDP where some 1200 machines and equipment for thirtyeight small scale industrial projects were displayed. A 4-member Indian delegation visited Ethiopia in November 1989 to explore possible cooperation in the field of agriculture.

Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, Uganda's Minister of Transport and Communications visited India in May 1989 and held fruitful discussions. The second session of the Indo-Nigerian Joint Commission was held in New Delhi on 21 and 22 August 1989. The Joint Commission decided on the establishment of Joint Committees at the official level, on cooperation in the area of Industrial Development and Science and Technology. The Minister of External Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Maj. Gen. Ike Mwachukwu, paid an official visit to India from 19 to 23 August 1989. He announced the decision o f his Government to waive the US $ 31.5 million bond executed by Air India in 1987. The Senegalese Minister of industrial Development and Handicrafts Mr Famara Ibrahima Sagna visited India form 14 to 20 May 1989. Mr. Sagna paid a courtesy call on the then Prime Minister. Shri Rajiv Gandhi, and held useful discussions With file Minister for Commerce and Ministers of State for External Affairs, Fertilisers and Industrial Development.

The President of Burkina Faso, Capt. Blaise Campaore, was in India on a transit halt oil 16 and 17 September 1989 on his way back to Ouagadougou from China.

The Ghanaian Minister of Local Government and Rural Development Mr Kwamena Ahwoi visited India from 20 to 23 November to attend the 33rd Executivc Committee Meeting of the Afro-Asian Rural Reconstruction Organisation (AARRO).

Relations between India and the Indian Ocean Island Countries continued to be strengthened. The foundation stone for the building of the Centre of Indian Studies, to be set up by Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Mauritius was laid by the Mauritian Prime Minister Sir Anerood Jugnauth on 15 August 1989. A 15-member FICCI delegation visited Mauritius from 15 to 21 September 1989 for the first meeting of the Indo-Mauritian Joint Business Council. The Mauritian Minister of Education, Arts and Culture had discussions with the then External Affairs Minister during a private visit to New Delhi on 22 and 23 September 1989. Shri M Dubey, Secretary (ER) in the Ministry of External Affairs, visited Mauritius on 9 and 10 October 1989 as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister and called on the Mauritian Prime Minister and the Minister of External Affairs.

The Prime Minister of Mauritius, Sit Anerood Jugnauth paid it State visit to India from 24 to 31 January 1990, and was the Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations. He called on the President, the Vice President and the Prime Minister. The Minister for External Affairs, the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Commerce and Tourism and the Minister of State for Science and Technology, called on him. During his visit, agreements were signed on Drug Trafficking and Related Matters and Cooperation in the fields of Science and Technology, and on the setting up of a Radio Telescope in Mauritius. Protocols on Cooperation in Oceanography and Ocean Development and on Cooperation in Sports and Youth Affairs were signed. Agreement on the Cultural Exchange Programme for 1990-92 was also signed during the visit. The President, Shri R Venkataraman paid a State visit to Seychelles from 23 to 25 September. This was the first visit by an Indian Head of State to Seyche lles. During the visit, the establishment of a Joint Commission was announced as also the extension of a Rs 2 crore line credit by the EXIM Bank. A Cultural Exchang e Programme was signed during the visit.

The AFRICA Fund constituted in September 1986, has so far received pledges in cash and kind including project assistance equivalent to US $ 428 million fr om 54 countries the world over. An offer of US $ 50 million in the form of grants an d soft term loans was also earmarked by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for AFRICA Fund projects in the area of agriculture and rural development. US $ 3.5 million in cash has been received by the Fund.

Contributions to the Fund were also received from individuals as well as organisations in India. A society called AFRICA (Public Contributions-India) Fund was set up to manage these contributions in Indian rupees. The Society ha s received contributions totalling Rs 2.36 crores. Out of the contributions rece ived by the Society, medicines worth Rs 25 lakhs have been supplied to Mozambique and a consignment of 45 jeeps valued at Rs 1 crore is being sent to Namibia.

India had, at the AFRICA Fund Summit of January 1987, announced it contribution of Rs 50 crores. Several projects were identified for financing u nder this contribution. Out of the identified projects, material supplies have been arranged for ANC, about 300 vehicles have been delivered to Tanzania and a consignment of medical equipment has reached Botswana. Further, Angola has received medicines from India under the AFRICA Fund, 38 Angolan students are receiving higher education in Indian Universities and detailed project reports identifying priority areas for immediate attention have been prepared in the transport sector in Angola. Zimbabwe received a supply of tarpaulins and a consignment of 44 trucks. Transport vehicles, ambulance, X-ray machines and an electric generator have been sent to SWAPO. One hundred railway wagons in Semi Knocked Down condition have been delivered to Zambia and the assembly of these wagons by Zambian personnel trained in India is currently in progress.

Software for the Mozambican Railway Protection Force and consumer durables have already been shipped to Mozambique. By the end of the financial year 1989-90, about 60% of the total Indian contributions is expected to be utilised or firmly committed. The execution of several other projects is underway with Implementing Agencies such as STC, PEC, TATAs, Mohan Exports, MECON, HSCC and NSIC. Agreements on the execution of Indian AFRICA Fund projects have been signed with Botswana, Tanzania, Angola, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Agreement with Namibia is being worked out.

Several other donor countries also have already initiated a number of project s. Some projects have already been completed. New projects being taken up include assistance in transport sector, human resource development covering diverse sec tor -- agro-industry, agricultural sector, supply of foodstuff, medicines and other essential commodities.

As Chairman of the Fund, India has been in touch with anti-Apartheid Movements of UK, the Continent and Japan. These organisations have expressed keen interest to cooperate with the AFRICA Fund in mobilising public opinion and raising funds. Support for AFRICA Fund has also been specially sought in pamphlets distributed in UK by the anti-Apartheid Movement in UK. Efforts are underway to strengthen the existing ties and develop new ties with institutions and prominent individuals in the coming phase of the Fund. A film has been made on the AFRICA Fund which has been released in Europe and United States and it would be used as an instrument for mobilisation of public opinion and financial resources for the Fund in the future.

Five meetings have been held at the level of senior officials of the AFRICA Fund Committee. At these meetings, the Committee reviewed the progress achieved till the time of that meeting and chalked out its work for the ensuing period. At the Fifth Meeting in New Delhi in August 1989, the Committee finalised a comprehensive report since the inception of the Fund. This report was presented at the IXth Summit of the Nonaligned countries at Belgrade in September 1989. Till then 90% of the contributions pledged to the Fund had bee n earmarked and committed against identified projects and programmes, and benefit s had reached the recipients of the Fund to the tune of nearly 40% of the contributions pledged. Out of the cash contributions following disbursements w ere made:

CHAPTER VI EUROPE SOVIET UNION A number of high level Indo-Soviet exchanges took place in this period, underlining the close interaction and growing cooperation between India and the Soviet Union on a wide range of issues.

The then Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, visited Moscow at President Gorbachev's invitation in July 1989. During the talks, views were exchanged on all major aspects of the current international Situation and bilateral relations we re reviewed. After the installation of the new Government, Soviet First Deputy Foreign Minister Yuli Vorontsov, visited India its Special Envoy of President Gorbachev. The Foreign Secretary visited the Soviet Union in the last week of January 1990, for annual bilateral consultations. Both countries have reiterat ed their commitment to continue and strengthen the traditional friendship and cooperation. Special emphasis is being laid on economic cooperation, particula rly in new forms such as joint ventures and cooperation in high technology. It has also been agreed that regular political interaction between the leaders of the two countries would be maintained.

There were frequent contacts at the Ministerial level too in this period. Th ese included the visits of former Commerce Minister, Shri Dinesh Singh and the former Finance Minister, Shri S B Chavan to USSR, and the visits to India of Soviet Deputy Prime Ministers Alexandra Biryukova and V M Kamentsev. The 12th Session of the Indo-Soviet Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, held in Delhi from 7 to Mar 09, 1989 reviewed the implementation of ongoing projects and bilateral economic cooperation and identified new areas and forms of future Cooperation. The Joint Commission decided to set up two new Working Groups under its aegis in the field of Civil Aviation and for promotion of New Forms of Economic Cooperation, as well as a Sub Group on Transportation under the existing Working Group on Trade. In September 1989, two Credit Agreements worth 990 million Roubles for three Thermal power projects-Kayamkulam, Mangalore and Maithon and associated transmission lines for Vindhayachal Thermal Power Project were signe d. The Soviet credit includes 170 million Roubles as assistance for local costs in India for the thermal power projects.

The importance of Indo-Soviet cooperation for the development of the economies of the two countries by taking advantage of mutual complementarities is steadily increasing. Positive results were achieved in the realisation of th e Integrated Long Term Programme of Scientific and Technical Cooperation and other bilateral agreements.

Indo-Soviet trade continued to grow and diversify steadily. A high level Sov iet delegation that visited India during October 1989 purchased large quantities of detergents, cosmetics, medicines and other consumer goods over and above the Trade Plan provisions to alleviate the shortages in Soviet market. The Indo-So viet Trade Plan for 1990 envisages a trade turn-over of over Rs 8800 crores as again st the 1989 Trade Plan provision of Rs 7000 crores.

EASTERN EUROPE India's multi-faceted tics with the countries of Eastern Europe developed satisfactorily. During the year, radical changes have taken place all over Eas tern Europe. The Government of India warmly welcomed these trends in the direction of democratisation, political pluralism and the evolution of more representativ e systems and institutions reflecting popular aspirations. In keeping with India 's traditionally close and friendly relations with the people of these countries, the excellent ties of friendship, cooperation and understanding between India and these countries are bound to be strengthened and expanded in the future. Bilateral cooperation with Bulgaria developed satisfactorily in all fields. India organised exclusive Indian exhibitions of electronics and apparel in Sofia, and exploratory talks were held in Delhi in December 1989 for cooperation in the fi eld of civil aviation.

Relations with Czechoslovakia were marked by continuing warmth and friendship. The former General Secretary of Communist Party, Milos jakes, made a transit halt at Calcutta on 10 April 1989. Indo-Czechoslovak cultural coopera tion received a boost with the holding of "Days of Indian Culture" in Czechoslovakia in April 1989, inaugurated by the then Minister of State for Human Resource Development. Shri L P Sahi. A reciprocal "Days of Czechoslovak Culture" in India was held in November 1989 for which the former Czechoslovak Deputy Prime Minister Dr Matej Lucan visited India.

India's friendly relations with the German Democratic Republic were strengthened in all fields. The then Minister of State for External Affairs, S hri K Natwar Singh, visited GDR from 15 to 18 June 1989. A new dimension was added to Indo-GDR economic relations with the signing of the agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation in New Delhi on 27 July 1989. The Indo-GDR Bilateral Committee on Shipping also met in 1989 to review bilateral shipping arrangement s. The GDR Deputy Foreign Minister E Moldt visited India in January 1990. The "Third Days of GDR Culture" were celebrated in India form 2 to 12 February. The traditionally friendly relations with Hungary received a valuable impetus with exchange of high level visits during the year. The then Minister of State , Shri K Natwar Singh, visited Hungary in June 1989. The Hungarian Minister of Defence visited India in September 1989 and the Hungarian Minister for Justic e Kalman Kulscar visited India in October 1989 to attend the Nehru Memorial Seminar. Indo-Hungarian trade and economic cooperation saw further expansion and diversification during the year.

Relations between India and Poland continued to develop. The former Polish Vice President and President of the Polish-Indian Friendship Society Dr. Tadeus z Szelachowski visited India in April 1989. The then Minister of State. Shri K Natwar singh, visited Poland in June 1989. An agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation between India and Poland was signed during the visit.

Indo-Romanian trade and economic cooperation were satisfactory during the year under review. Following the revolution in Romania in December 1989, the Government extended to the new Romanian Government, its support and cooperation, as also some urgently needed medical and humanitarian relif assistance.

Indo-Yugoslav bilateral contacts were intensive during the year. The former Prime Minister. Shri Rajiv Gandhi, visited Yugoslavia from 3 to 8 September 1989 for the 9th NAM Summit. From the Yugoslav side, Foreign Minister Budimir Loncar visited Delhi in May 1989. and the Yugoslav Minister for Foreign Trade Franc Hot-vat visited India from 29 October to 3 November to explore prospects of buying substantial quantities of consumer goods from India. During this visit, a bilateral Air Agreement was also concluded.

WESTERN EUROPE
During the year under review, India's close relations with West European countries were further strengthened. A wide network of political, economic, commercial, scientific, technological and cultural contacts exists between Indi a and the countries of this region. in the areas of Joint ventures, investments and transfer of technology, the West European presence in India continues to increase. An important part of bilateral assistance as well as assistance thro ugh multilateral organisations is channelled through contacts and negotiations with major countries in this region. Several high level visits were exchanged durin g the period under review.

The President, Shri R Venkataraman visited the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in September 1989-the first such visit by an Indian President to that country. The visit was marked by discussions between the President and his counterpart, President Weizsacker, and meetings with the leaders of all major political parties. The President also had the opportunity of visiting various industrial and scientific establishments. The establishment of rapport at the highest level between the two countries, the decision to maintain a political dialogue on a regular basis and stimulating the interest of the Germa n business community in India were some of the positive results of the visit. Th e FRG now takes first place in the field of joint ventures with India apart from being the largest donor country and a leading trade partner in the EEC.

The Nehru Centenary Celebrations were held in several West European countries. Seminars, colloquia and public functions were held in several countries of the region. The Vice President, Shri Shankar Dayal Sharma, participated in the closing ceremony of the celebrations in London in November 1989. He also held discussions with the Prime Minister of the UK and other political leaders.

The former Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi, visited Paris in July 1989 to participate in the Bicentenary celebrations of the French Revolution and made use of the opportunity to exchange views with several Heads of Government including the Chancellor of FRG. Prime Minister of the UK. President and the Prime Minister of France and other world leaders. Together With the Presidents of Senegal and Venezuela, he called for the resumption of the North-South dialogue.

India has traditional ties of friendship and understanding with Cyprus. These were further strengthened during the visit of President Vassiliou to India in A pril 1989. He was accompanied by it large official and business delegation. The discussions were marked by close identity of views on international and regiona l issues. In a bid to create a framework for increased economic and commercial relations, an agreement on trade, economic, scientific and technological cooperation was signed by the Ministers of Commerce of the two countries.

The French Prime Minister, Mr Michel Rocard, paid an official visit to India on 18 and 19 January 1990. He was accompanied by Mme Rocard. The French delegation included the Minister of Agriculture and Forests; Minister of Equipment, Housing, Transport and Sea Affairs Minister Delegate for Foreign Affairs and senior officials. Though the primary purpose of the visit was to participate in the closing ceremony of the Year of France in India, the two Pri me Ministers exchanged views on various matters of mutual interest. A protocol fo r cooperation in the field of agriculture and rural development was signed.

Within the West European region, India's relations with the Economic Community have special importance. The Community is India's largest trading partner and India's interest in expanding exports is with a view to achieving among other things a better balance of trade. The Community's progress towards greater integration and the establishment of a single market in 1992 is a subje ct of considerable interest to India. India is seeking to ensure that this integr ation does not lead to protectionist tendencies or create other problems for India in diverse areas including anti-Indian terrorist activity from European soil. Ind ia is also keen to improve the scope of the political dialogue with the emerging European entity. Towards this end, the annual TROIKA meeting at the Ministerial level was held in India in March 1989. India is one of the few individual countries with which the Community has arrangements for TROIKA meetings and it is recognised that the importance of this dialogue will increas e as political cooperation within the Community grows.

There were Ministerial level visits and Joint Commission meetings with EEC, FRG and Turkey. Close contacts with Parliamentarians of several West European countries were maintained. The former Speaker of Lok Sabha led a delegation of Indian Parliamentarians to the FRG.

1989
The Americas

CHAPTER VII THE AMERICAS NORTH AMERICA THE positive trends in Indo-US relations that had become evident in recent years were. consolidated during this first year of the Bush Administration. There were a large number of exchanges in all spheres-political, economic, commercial, cultural, scientific and defence-related.

From India, the most important visit wits that of the then Defence Minister, Shri K C Pant, in June-July. This visit came after two US Defence Secretaries-Casper Weinberger and Frank Carlucci-had visited India in 1987 and 1988 respectively. The Minister was accompanied by a high level delegation of civil and armed services officials. The delegation visited several key US defence establishments and had discussions with the Defence Secretary, Mr Cheney and other high officials of the US Government on bilateral issues of mutual interes t.

During the year, there were visits by the US Congressman Stephen Solarz, Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Asian and Pacific Affairs of the House of Representatives Foreign Relations Committee; Representatives Theodore Weiss, Chester Atkins and Tony Hall: and Senators Daniel P Moynihan (former US Ambassador to India) and Dave Durenberger. All of them met the then Prime Minister, Shri Rajiv Gandhi and high officials of the Government of India.

There were some disturbing developments in the US Congress such as legislation affecting India proposed by Congressman Wally Herger on grounds of alleged violations of human rights in Punjab and India's refusal to permit organisations like Amnesty International to visit Punjab. In June 1989, the Ho use of Representatives voted narrowly (212 against - 204 for) to defeat an Amendment by Representative Wally Herger to the US Foreign Aid Authorisation Bill seeking to deny bilateral assistance to India on these grounds.

The Foreign Secretary, Shri S K Singh, visited USA for annual consultations in November. He discussed with his counterpart, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Mr Robert Kimmitt, a wide range of issues concerning political developments globally and in South Asia; Indo-US exchanges in the field of defence; economic and trade exchanges; transfer of technology and narcotics. He extended an invitation to Mr Kimmitt to visit India in January 1990, which was accepted. Mr Kimmitt was in New Delhi on Jan 19, 1990. The bilateral issues which had figured in the Foreign Secretary's discussions with him in November were further discussed. The Foreign Secretary paid yet another visit to USA in January-February 1990, he met several leaders. In addition to the discussions on Indo-US bilateral matters, he also apprised the US leaders on the Kashmir situation. One of the most positive features of the relationship was the progress in the field of transfer of technology. The Annual Review meeting in January 1989 under the Indo-US Memorandum of Understanding on technology transfer helped in further streamlining procedures for import of high technology "controlled" equipment from USA. The next review meeting is scheduled for February 1990. Discussions were also held in the course of the year on arrangements for import of certain dual-use technologies and equipment which have missile-related applications. However, India's testing of the Agni missile in May 1989 resulted in strong reactions in the US Congress and moves were initiated to deny transfer of certain missile-related equipment to India.

Discussions continued during the year on a pending application for a Supercomputer for the Indian Institute of Science (IIS), Bangalore, and other hi-tech equipment subject to special safeguards. Operations were completed successfully for the installation and operation of the first Supercomputer at the India Meteorological Department.

Indo-US trade in 1989 surpassed the record of US $ 5.7 billion in 1988 and is expected to have exceeded US $ 6 billion in 1989, again with a positive balance in India's favour.

The US Government on 25 May listed India along with Japan and Brazil under Section Super 301 of the US Trade Act 1988 for restrictive practices relating to investment and insurance, and put India on a priority watchlist along with seven other countries for allegedly inadequate and ineffective protection of Intellectual Property Rights. India continues to be on this priority watchlist along with four other countries. India's position has been that these issues are best discussed under the Uruguay Round and that India did not intend to enter into bilateral negotiations with the US under threat of punitiv e action.

An agreement on avoidance of double taxation between the two countries which had been under negotiation for three decades was finally signed in September. Earlier in the year, an agreement was signed-for avoidance of taxat ion on enterprises operating ships and aircraft. These agreements await ratificati on by the US Senate.

Bilateral discussions were also held in the course of the year on cooperation in illicit narcotics trafficking and a draft agreement in this regard is being fin alised. Even in the absence of the agreement, cooperation in this field between the two Governments has been excellent.

Billateral talks on civil aviation were also held during the year which resul ted in agreements on security-related matters and procedures for notification in ca se of increase of traffic by airlines of both countries.

In May, a Memorandum of Understanding was concluded for the protection and tourism enhancement of major Indian heritage sites, including Taj Mahal, Sarnath and Bodhgaya, between the US National Park Service and the Indian Department of Tourism.

A meeting of the Indo-US Sub-Commission on Education and Culture was held in June 1989 in Washington which further expanded educational and cultural exchanges and proposed a Festival of USA in India in 1992.

During the period under review, bilateral relations between India and Canada continued to grow, particularly in the field of economic cooperation. While some new areas of collaboration progressed satisfactorily (eg, in the coal sector), one setback was the Canadian decision to withdraw its offer of funding for the Yamuna Nagar thermal power project because of budgetary constraints.

The Punjab issue continued to attract a great deal of attention in the Canadi an media. In particular, the publication of a book "Soft Target" in mid-1989 generated a great deal of publicity and speculation on the Kanishka air crash. The book made wholly unwarranted and false allegations that Indian officials had conspired to blow up the Kanishka flight in order to discredit the Sikh communi ty in Canada.

India and Canada continued to work closely in international fora, particularl y in the Commonwealth.
CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

During the period under review, India's traditionally friendly relations with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean continued to develop satisfactoril y. India interacted with the countries in the region through common membership of the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement. Venezuela's entry into NAM as a full member was supported by India and this raised the number of NAM states in the region to 17.

Contacts and consultations were maintained with top leaders of this region. During the French bicentenary celebrations in Paris in July 1989, Prime Ministe r Rajiv Gandhi met President Sarney of Brazil, President Carlos Andres Perez of Venezuela and President Carlos Salinas of Mexico. During the NAM Summit in Belgrade in September 1989, the Prime Minister met President Carlos Menem of Argentina, President Ortega of Nicaragua, President Garcia of Peru and other leaders from the region. The Prime Minister used both the occasions to discuss Latin American leaders means of enhancing cooperation at bilateral and multilateral levels.

The then External Affairs Minister, Shri Narasimha Rao attended the G-77 special ministerial meeting in Caracus in June 1989 where he was received by th e President of Venezuela. He visited Cuba immediately thereafter to convey India 's willingness to set up an Indo-Cuban Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation. This visit was preceded by the visit of the Cuban Minister for Economic Cooperation to India in March 1989.

Shri Eduardo Faleiro, then Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, attended President Menem's inauguration on 8 July in Buenos Aires as a Special Envoy of the Prime Minister. The following week, Shri Faleiro represented th e Government of India at the Tenth Anniversary Celebrations of the Nicaraguan Revolution. He handed over to President Ortega, a special message from the Prime Minister.

The prospects of bilateral cooperation in defence with Argentina were explored during the visit to that country in April 1989 of Admiral Nadkarni, Chief of Naval Staff. This was the first-ever visit to Argentina by any of the Service Chiefs. In October 1989, the Chairman of the Argentine Senate Defence Committee visited India, and called on Admiral Nadkarni and other senior officials in the Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Defence.

Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, visited Brazil and Cuba in June 1989 to identify areas of bilateral cooperation. Director General of Tourism and Chairman of ITDC visited Cuba in September-October 1989 in response to an invitation from Cuban authorities to discuss India's assistance to develop their tourist industry. Secretary, Department of Electronics, visited Brazil in July 1989 and signed a protocol for cooperation in "informatics" and a MOU between CMC and its Brazilian counterpart.

Nicaragua's Minister for Economic Cooperation visited New Delhi in September 1989 for talks with External Affairs Minister Shri Narasimha Rao. A three-member official delegation from the Department of Irrigation and Water Resources visited Brazil in June 1989 and identified projects for possibl e cooperation in agriculture and irrigation.

As a follow up of the first meeting of the Indo-Guyanese Joint Commission in January 1989, officials of the two sides met in Delhi in September 1989 to sign a credit agreement. Jamaica imported buses from India for the first time under an EXIM Bank credit.

Cultural links with the people of Indian origin in the Caribbean were sustained, especially through the two Indian Cultural Centres in Guyana and Suriname. A token financial assistance was extended to four hurricane-struck islands in Eastern Caribbean.

With the countries of Latin America, there was a continuous flow of activitie s under the cultural exchange programmes. ICCR sponsored dance troupes performed to appreciative audiences in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru and Colombia (October and November 1989).

Jawaharlal Nehru's Birth Centenary was celebrated in many Latin American/ Caribbean capitals. Top leaders of some countries participated in these celebrations. Articles on Nehru were published in the local press and photo an d book exhibitions were held and seminars organised. Special messages were received by the President and the Prime Minister, Prof. Perez Esquivel, the No bel Peace Laureate from Argentina, participated in the Nehru Seminar held in New Delhi in October 1989.

India watched with concern the unrest in Panama following the annulment of the elections in May 1989. On the US intervention in Panama in December 1989, the Minister for External Affairs, Shri I K Gujral, stated that India deplored the US action. While the 2500 strong Indian community in Panama did not suffer any casualty, many of their shops in the capital were looted.

As a member of the Nine Member Committee on Central America, India has consistently called for a negotiated, durable and peaceful settlement of the problems in the region. India welcomed the Tela Accord of August 1989 reached by the five Central American presidents and supported the efforts made by the OAS (the Latin American Group of 8) and particularly those of the UN to bring peace in the region.

Latin America and the Caribbean were represented in the 'South Commission' Meeting in New Delhi (11 to 14 November 1989) by the Vice President of Cuba, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Foreign Minister of Venezuela and the Mexica n Ambassador in Beijing.

Secretary for Economic Relations in this Ministry visited Brazil in November 1989 as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy and he was received by President Sarney. Brazil and Mexico have expressed their concurrence to membership of th e newly formed Group of 15 for South-South Cooperation and Consultation. A MOU with Brazil which provides for regular high level contacts is expected to b e signed in Brasilia during the first quarter of 1990.

1989

United Nations and International Conferences

CHAPTER VIII UNITED NATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES THE year 1989 saw the growing importance of the United Nations in international affairs. This enhanced role of the UN, was also owing to the UN Secretary General's continuing efforts at resolving problems regarding Afghanis tan, the Iran-Iraq problem, Western Sahara and Cyprus. The UN's increasing peace- keeping or supervisory efforts in areas like Namibia and Central America testif y to the growing reliance being placed on the Organisation's role in the maintenance of international peace and security.

"Consensus" was the key word during the 44th Session of the General Assembly. In all the seven main Committees including in the First Committee dealing with security and disarmament issues, an overwhelming number of resolutions was adopted by consensus. The entire session was marked by total absence of confrontation and cold war rhetoric. For the first time ever, the U SA and the Soviet Union cosponsored a resolution on strengthening international security.

In his address to the 44th Session of the UN General Assembly on Oct 05, 1989 , the then External Affairs Minister welcomed the renewed confidence in the UN on the part of major powers. As a staunch supporter of the UN ideals, India played its customarily active, at times key role, in the consideration of impor tant issues and in the formulation of their solutions. The contribution of the Indi an delegation was widely appreciated in all the UN General Assembly Committees.

Political Issues The General Assembly adopted a resolution on Afghanistan by consensus. India welcomed this spirit of compromise and pledged its support in finding a political solution to the problem of Afghanistan through full implementation of the Geneva Agreements, both in letter and in spirit.

The question of Palestine continued to occupy the attention of the international community. India continues to maintain that a UN-sponsored Peace Conference on the Middle-East remains the most appropriate framework to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict. Such a conference should address the fundamental is sues namely, self-determination for the Palestine people, and the right of all State s in the region including the States of Palestine and Israel to live in peace and se curity within internationally recognised borders.

However, at the 44th Session, A PLO-Arab draft resolution intending to clarify that the designation "Palestine," recognised under resolution 41/177, w ould henceforth apply to the State of Palestine, did not succeed due to US oppositio n. India consistently maintained its principled position on the question of the recognition of the State of Palestine.

India continued to play an active role in seeking a solution to the problem o f Cambodia. It was one of 19 participants in the International Conference on Cambodia held in Paris from 30 July to 30 August 1989. India was nominated Co-Chairman of the First Committee dealing with the important question of International Control Mechanism. While the Conference did not come up with a comprehensive political settlement, it did achieve progress in identifying and elaborating possible elements for a settlement.

India welcomed the withdrawal of the Vietnamese forces from Cambodia. It is for this reason that, while being appreciative of the efforts of the ASEAN at t he UN General Assembly, India continued to abstain on the draft resolution on this question since it felt that the resolution did not fully reflect the changes in the situation brought about by the withdrawal of Vietnamese forces from Cambodia. The draft also did not explicitly condemn the genocidal policies of the Khmer Rouge.

India continued to support the 1971 Declaration on the Indian Ocean as a Zone of Peace and the early convening of a Conference to implement the Declaration. It worked actively in the UN Ad hoc committee on the Indian Oce an. and subsequently, in the Geneva Assembly, in line with its own position and tha t of the Belgrade NAM Declaration. It continued to attach importance to the holding of such a Conference with the participation of all the major maritime u sers and inclusive of all major powers with military presence in the Indian Ocean. As in previous years, negotiations between Treaty parties and non-Treaty members failed to produce a consensus text for a draft resolution on Antarctica . Consistent with its anti-apartheid policy India voted in favour of a draft reso lution calling for the exclusion of South Africa from all the meetings of the Treaty parties. India did not participate in the voting on the substantive draft reso lution on Antarctica since it did not consider the text to be sufficiently balanced. India remains committed to broaden and universalise the Antarctic Treaty . It supports all proposals relating to the protection of the fragile Antarctic environment and related ecosystems and favours bringing the results of scientif ic research in Antarctica increasingly to the attention of developing countries to their benefit.

During the discussion on the Law of the Sea in the General Assembly Session and in other fora India supported the efforts of the signatories to the Convent ion on the Law of the Sea to explore possibilities to secure universal participatio n in the Convention. The Indian approach was also directed towards defeating attemp ts at undermining the Convention or its unified character.

Disarmament Issues During 1989 India played a leading role in the three main multilateral disarmament fora, viz, the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, the UN Disarmament Commission, and the First Committee of the UN General Assembly. In addition, India also made a significant contribution at the Paris Conference on Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the International Government-Industry Conference against Chemical Weapons held in Canberra and the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of the Emplacement o f Nuclear Weapons and Other Weapons of Mass Destruction on the Sea-Bed and the Ocean Floor and in the Subsoil Thereof (Sea-Bed Treaty).

The Indian approach to disarmament continued to be based on the principle that in the nuclear age, disarmament is necessary for the survival of mankind. The 'Action Plan for a Nuclear Weapon-Free and Non-Violent World Order' tabled at SSOD-III, by India in 1988 was a continuation of India's well-known policy oil disarmament. In the Conference on Disarmament, the sole multilateral negotiati ng body, India played a leading role in the Group of Neutral and Non-Aligned Countries (G-21). The Indian delegation coordinated G-21's positions on the crucial issues of "Cessation of the Nuclear Arms Race and Nuclear Disarmament" and "Prevention of Nuclear War and Other Related Matters." On both the items, India highlighted the urgent need for commencing multilateral negotiations. In the Ad hoc Committee on Chemical Weapons, India played an active role in seeking the early conclusion of a Chemical Weapons Convention. India also chaired one of the Working Groups of the Ad hoc Committee. Indian experts participated in the meeting of the Ad hoc Group of Scientific Experts working towards elaboration of a global seismic monitoring system to monitor a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and in the Chemical Weapons negotiations. The then Minister of State for Exter nal Affairs addressed the Conference on Disarmament and urged it to consider India' s Action Plan as a comprehensive basis for multilateral negotiations. He emphasi sed the need for the elimination of nuclear weapons within a time-bound framework.

In the First Committee of the 44th Session of the UN General Assembly, India introduced three resolutions. The resolution "Conventions on the Prohibi tion of the Use of Nuclear Weapons" highlights the task of preventing a nuclear war. The resolution received widespread support and 113 countries voted in favour. The resolution "Nuclear arms freeze" calls upon all nuclear weapon States to agree to a comprehensive freeze that would prohibit testing, manufacture, development and deployment of nuclear weapons as also production of fissionable material for weapon purposes. This resolution received the support of 115 countries. The th ird resolution "Scientific and technological developments and their impact on international security" was a continuation of the initiative taken in 1988. On e hundred and thirteen countries voted in favour. It calls for an assessment of scientific and technological trends and an evaluation of their impact on the international security environment with a view to ensuring that scientific and technological developments are used solely for peaceful purposes and for the common good of mankind. The assessment report by the UN Secretary General is expected to be tabled in 1990. Indian experts are contributing to this assessm ent as also to the UN study on Verification.

The Indian delegation to the Paris Conference on Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was led by the former Minister of State for External Affairs. India's views on the urgency of concluding a comprehensive, global and non-discriminatory Chemical Weapons Convention are fully reflected in the Final Declaration of the Paris Conference. Both in Paris and at the International Government-Industry Conference against Chemical Weapons at Canberra, India was able to ensure that the focus of both the Conferences remained on the need for early conclusion of the Geneva negotiations on the Chemical Weapons Convention. India was able to effectively mobilise the nonaligned and developing countries to prevent discriminatory measures of non-proliferation from being adopted at the Conferences.

Economic Issues Environment and Development held centre stage at the 44th Session of the General Assembly with a clear division between those who believe that the imperative need to address environmental problems should not be sidetracked by developmental preoccupations and those who stress that without developmental needs being met, particularly in the field of environmental protection, any action in respect of the latter could face failure. Despite this cleavage the Session came up with a landmark resolution on a UN Conference on Environment and Development to be held in Brazil in 1992. India played a leading role in the intense deliberations within the Group of 77 and in the Second committee in drafting the resolution on the subject. India's concerns relating to transfer of technology, new and addition al financial resources for developing countries in the environmental field. the inter-relationship between environment and development, and the need to have a special international fund in this area were reflected in the resolution adopted.

Other noteworthy decisions recorded by the Second Committee included the adoption of an outline for the International Development Strategy for the Fourth UN Development Decade (1991-2000); the acceptance of a linkage between the preparatory process for the 1992 Environment and Development Conference and the follow up to the report of the World Commission on Environment and the Environmental Perspective to the year 2000 and beyond; further impetus to work on protecting the global climate, keeping in view the needs of developing countries as well as the work leading upto the 1992 Environment Conference; a consensus on a step by step reduction and eventual cessation of large scale pelagic driftnet fishing; and a resolution on the UN's operational activities that incorporates ideas of greater UN dependence on the capabilities of the recipient country concerned.

Two other areas of interest related to the debt crisis and the landlocked countries. In respect of the former, India was keen to protect the interests o f developing countries which, despite heavy repayment burdens are making consistent efforts to manage their debt service. The resolution eventually ado pted refers to the need to forestall the proliferation of debt and prevent its furth er aggravation. In addition, India attempted to balance the resolution by elimina ting from it, too detailed a categorisation of debt-affected countries that could ha ve the result of fragmenting international consideration of the problem (eg, speci al attention to "middle-income countries").

On landlocked countries, the draft resolution proposed by Nepal and other cosponsors, while taking into account several concerns of transit developing countries like India, came up with certain new concepts that India found diffic ult to accept in toto. As a result, the draft in its final form did not have the b alance that India would have liked to see in it. In particular, an important referenc e to an article from the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea safeguarding the interests of transit countries was omitted from the draft which obliged India t o abstain on the resolution as a whole.

The resolution on the report of the Trade and Development Board was adopted by consensus. The Indian delegation had sought-certain modifications i n the original draft in order to ensure that while welcoming the contributions of UNCTAD, the resolution of the Trade and Dvelopment Board on Debt adopted in October 1989 did not receive unqualified endorsement since that resolution contained certain references to special treatment to middle income countries which the Indian delegation could not support. The need for commensurate attention to all areas of negotiation in the Uruguay Round has been stressed in this resolution.

India was a member of the Economic and Social Council during 1989 and as the first Vice President, chaired the First (Economic) Committee. India played an active role in the second regular session. Some of the resolutions tabled by t he Group of 77 in the area of environment, on the 1992 conference on environment and development and on additional financial resources to developing countries, were initiated by India. The role played by it in facilitating agreements on resolutions on regional cooperation, operational activities for development and environment earned wide appreciation. The North-South dialogue has, for many years remained at a standstill in international fora. During this period, rapid changes have taken place in the political, economic and scientific fields as well as in the structure and the functioning of the international economic system. To revitalise the North-Sout h dialogue so that the emerging problems of an increasingly inter-dependent world economy can be dealt with in an equitable way, it was felt essential to propose Summit Level consultations. With this end in view, the then Indian Prime Minis ter, along with the Presidents of Egypt, Senegal and Venezuela met in Paris in July 1989, and called for initiating a proposal for Summit Level consultations betwe en the leaders of the North and the South. The initiative has been welcomed by th e Non-Aligned Movement and has evoked a positive response from most of the major industrialised countries.

The establishment of the South Commission, an independent body comprising 28 eminent individuals from the developing world, was seen as an important endeavour by developing countries to reshape their strategies in the develop ment dialogue with the North and to give impetus to promoting cooperation among themselves. The South Commission held an important meeting in Delhi in November 1989. It is hoped that the South Commission's report would be an important input in the work of the Non-Aligned Summit Level Group and would also clarify ideas for the revival of the North-South dialogue.
Administrative and Budgetary Matters

India played an active role in the UNDP Governing Council Meeting to ensure that supplementary increases in the Indicative Planning Figures of developing countries during the fourth cycle are fully delivered and not withhe ld by UNDP because of fears about rise in the value of the Dollar against European currencies.

The UN Secretary General's proposed budget for 1990-91 was approved by the Fifth Committee, without vote. All other resolutions in the Fifth Committee we re also adopted by consensus. India played an important role in the process towar ds this consensus.

The question of outstanding payments to certain member States including India, who had contributed troops to two earlier UN Peace Keeping operations namely, UN Emergency Forces I and UN Operations in Congo, was revived at the initiative of India.

The Fifth Committee adopted a resolution requesting the UN Secretary General to approach member States for expeditious payment in full of all outstanding assessed contributions to peace keeping operations. India, along w ith other developing countries, made efforts to improve the methodology for determination of the scale of ad hoc assessments particularly, the distribution of ad hoc relief. This will now be applied in a uniform manner based on objective, rational and transparent criteria. With regard to the recruitment of women in the UN Secretariat, the developing countries including India, were able to have a paragraph included in the resolution requesting the Secretary General to increa se the representation of women from the developing countries in the UN Secretariat .

Social and Humanitarian Issues
India continued to play an important role in the UN bodies such as UN General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights concerning social and humanitarian issues. India's profile in this regard was based on its principle d position on matters relating to human rights and social justice. At the 44th Session of the UN General Assembly, India continued to play an important role in the deliberations of the Third Committee. India supported th e adoption by the Third Committee and later by the General Assembly, of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Among the resolutions cosponsored by India was the resolution for convening in February 1990, of a Special Session o f the General Assembly to discuss measures to control illicit trafficking in drug s.

The Indian delegation had participated actively in the 45th Session of the Commission on Human Rights which was held in Geneva from 30 January to 10 March 1989 and the 41st Session of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities which was held in Geneva from 7 August to 1 September 1989. At the session of the Commission on Human Rights, India made several statements on agenda items such as apartheid in South Africa , continued colonisation of Namibia, and illegal occupation by Israel of Arab territories including Palestine. India played an important role in giving a fi nal shape to the Draft Convention on the Rights of the Child. It also continued to contribute positively to the ongoing exercise of the drafting of a Convention o n the Rights of Migrant Workers and their Families and to the discussion for implementing the Declaration on the Right to Development adopted by the 41st UN General Assembly Session.

As in previous years, the violence in Sri Lanka came up for discussion during the 45th Session of the Commission on Human Rights. The Indian delegation stressed that the most durable guarantee of the human rights of the people of t he northern and the eastern provinces of Sri Lanka lies in the fullest restoration of the democratic process. The Indian delegation expressed the hope that groups which have kept out of the process will give up terrorism and join the democratic pro cess without further delay. In this regard, the Indian delegation also highlighted the fact that the Indo-Sri Lanka Agreement of July 1987, has as its aim, the establishme nt of peace and normalcy in Sri Lanka. It was further pointed out that India has firmly and consistently supported the peace processes in Sri Lanka.

Apartheid The situation in South Africa continued to remain grim, despite welcome developments in Namibia. Under the renewed state of emergency, the Pretoria regime continued its repressive measures and what its enforcement machinery could not achieve was sought to be accomplished through covert means including the use of "vigilante" activities. A disconcerting recent development was the increasing use of the judiciary to eliminate opponents through the invocation o f the common purpose doctrine and tendentious criminalisation of peaceful dissent.

Some cosmetic steps towards "dismantling" of apartheid were taken by the Pretoria regime which included release of a few political prisioners, desegrega tion of some public beaches and limited permission for peaceful demonstrations. The se measures were designed to give an impression that apartheid was being reformed and progress was being made towards change. They were in no way indicative of any genuine desire on the part of the Pretoria regime for a real change and wer e made necessary to ease the economic burden on South Africa due to global sanctions.

A consensus declaration was adopted by the Special Session of the UN General Assembly on Apartheid, held from 12 to 14 December 1989; the first instance of the international community adopting a common position on apartheid by consensus. It laid down necessary conditions for the creation of a climate conducive to negotiations and also contained an outline of the manner in which the negotiations- should proceed and the basic principles which the future politica l system in South Africa should be based upon.

India continued to actively espouse the cause of the struggle against apart heid in various international fora, including the United Nations and the Commonwealt h.

Decolonisation India continued to play an important role in United Nations bodies relating to Decolonisation, in particular, the Special Committee of 24 on Decolonisation an d the United Nations Council for Namibia. India's Permanent Representative was re-elected Vice President of the Council for Namibia and India also participate d actively in its associated subsidiary committees.

Significant developments took place during the year in Southern Africa, particularly those leading to the decolonisation of Namibia, where elections fo r a Constituent Assembly were held in November 1989 as the first step towards full independence. In keeping with India's unwavering support for the cause of the Namibian people it continued to play an important role at the United Nations in furthering the goal of an independent Namibia. Major General (Retd.) Prem Chand continued to head the military component of the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) in Namibia. As part of participation in this major peace keeping exercise, India contributed 20 military observers and 90 police monitors to be United Nations Force in Namibia. India also deputed 20 electora l supervisors to assist UNTAG in ensuring that the Namibian elections were conducted in a free and fair manner.

India participated in various observer missions despatched to Namibia by the Non-Aligned Movement and the Commonwealth, to evaluate the situation prevailing there. A Permanent Observer Mission was also set up in Windhoek. India provided 20 observers to the United Nations Mission in Angola to verify the withdrawal of Cuban forces from that country.

Elections to UN Bodies and other International Organisations

India's prestige and role in the United Nations was reflected in the results of elections to important bodies with India securing the highest number of votes among candidates from the Asian Group or being unanimously elected in a number of instances. Among the elections successfully contested by India were those to the International Court of Justice, Executive Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, Council of the International Maritime Organisation, Executive Council of the World Tourism Organisation, UNESCO Executive Board, UNIDO Programme and Budget Committee, UNIDO Industrial Development Board, FAO Executive Council, UNDP Governing Council, Administrative Council of the International Telecommunications Union, International Narcotics Control Board, Committee on Food Aid Policies and Programmes of the World Food Programme, Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, and the UPU Consultative Council for Postal Studies.

Activities of the Non-Aligned Movement The year 1989 saw a number of major NAM activities starting with the Ministerial Meeting on Reforms and Methodology of NAM held in Cyprus in January 1989, followed by the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau in Harare in May 1989, to prepare for the summit, and culminating in the 9th Conference of Heads of State or Government of the Movement of Non- Aligned countries, held at Belgrade, from 4 to 7 September 1989.

The Non-Aligned Movement worked towards reduction and relaxation of tensions globally, and the promotion of dialogue and cooperation in the international community. The Coordinating Bureau of the Movement met regularly in New York to deal with urgent matters on which the Movement focused its concern such as the developments in Southern Africa, promotion of economic and social growth among the developing countries, the Middle East and Palestine, decolonisation issues and strengthening the role and effectiveness of the Unite d Nations.

A Group of 18 NAM countries including India was mandated by the Coordinating Bureau to monitor developments in Namibia. This arrangement was endorsed by the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau in Harare in May 1989. The Group of 18 played an active role in bringing NAM concerns about Namibia to the attention of the UN Secretary General.

The Nicosia Ministerial Conference of 1988 had decided that an Extraordina ry Ministerial Conference of NAM on Peace mid International Law would be held at The Hague from 26 to 29 June 1989, to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the First World Conference on Peace. At this Conference members and observers from countries and groups from outside the Movement were also invited. It adopted T he Hague Declaration on Peace and the Rule of Law in International Affairs, which called upon the UN General Assembly to declare the decade 1990-1999 as a decade of International Law. It also called for the establishment of a commiss ion comprising distinguished jurists to organise the activities of the decade and t o prepare for a Third Peace Conference. The Working Group on the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes, of which India is a member, participated actively in th e preparations for The Hague Meeting.

After the Nicosia Meeting on Reforms and Methodology of NAM, the Coordinating Bureau held several meetings to workout a document which was subsequently submitted to the Summit on the question of enhancing the effectiveness and work procedures of the Movement. In March 1989 and again in August 1989, India hosted meetings of the Governing Council of the Centre for Science and Technology of nonaligned and other developing countries. As a result of these meetings, the Centre is being set up in New Delhi and is expected to become operational shortly. In its early ye ars the Centre will have to be supported largely by the Government of India, but it is hoped that gradually it will become an important instrument in the scientific a nd technological development of developing countries and in promoting cooperation among them in this important area. Several nonaligned countries have pledged financial support to the Centre.

The 13th meeting of the coordinators of NAM countries in the field of heal th met in March 1989. The 5th meeting of experts on health also met in Havana in March 1989, to explore ways of achieving the goal of "health for all" by. the y ear 2000.

The Institutional Committee for Research and Information systems met in New Delhi in March 1989. Progress made by the respective institutions in diffe rent areas of research and networking were reported by the delegates during the meeting.

The 10th meeting of the Inter-governmental Council for Coordination of Information and Communication of NAM countries was held in Harare from 31 July to 2 August 1989. It was attended by India at the Ministerial level. It reviewed recent developments and made preparations for COMINAC III. Reports by the Chairman of NANAP and BONAC were also adopted at this meeting. The meeting urged media organisations of all NAM countries to give prominence to th e NAM Summit in Belgrade.

The Indian delegation to the 9th NAM Summit was headed by the former Prime Minister. Addressing the plenary, he proposed three important initiative s namely, the establishment of a Planet Protection Fund, interaction among expert s to pool resources of the developing countries for South-South Cooperation, and establishing a Summit Level Group of 15 developing countries for South-South consultations and cooperation. India played an important role as the Chairman of the Economic Committee. The Summit also decided that India should continue as Chairman of the AFRICA Fund.

The proposal about the Planet Protection Fund was intended to bring about a greater balance in international environment discussions and to highlight the m ajor difficulties of the developing countries relating to access to technology on reasonable terms and the need for additionality of resources in meeting environmental threats. The proposal was also considered at the Commonwealth Summit in Kualalumpur in October 1989, which supported the development of such an international funding mechanism. It is now being pursued in the UN for a.

The decision to establish a Summit Level Group on South-South Consultation and Cooperation was one of the most significant outcomes of the Belgrade Summit. Fifteen important developing countries are participating in this Group . These are Argentina, Brazil, Jamaica, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela (Latin America), Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and Zimbabwe (from Africa), India, Indonesia, Malaysia (from Asia) and Yugoslavia. The Summit is expected to hold its first meeting in April-May 1990. It is hoped that the Group will be able to give an impetus to South-South Cooperation.

The Summit issued a Declaration summarising the perspective and role of the Movement in the context of the global political and economic situation. It emphasised the importance of six priority areas for NAM, viz, disarmament and international security, environment, development, human rights, decolonisation, and strengthening of multilateralism and the role of the UN.

Commonwealth The Indian delegation to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held at Kualalumpur, from 18 to 24 October 1989, was led by the former External Affairs Minister, as the then Prime Minister was unable to attend. The Summit adopted important measures on Southern Africa and the Environment. Other important issues discussed by the meeting related to Drugs and Illicit Traffick ing, the world economic situation, and the question of the Commonwealth's contribution to the strengthening of democratic institutions in member countrie s, as enshrined in the Singapore Declaration of the Commonwealth Principles in 1971. The then External Affairs Minister's statements both on Southern Africa and on the Environment were greatly appreciated. The British Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher's separate statement on South Africa was, however, criticised by sever al Heads of Government. India welcomed Pakistan's re-entry into the Commonwealth. Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto led the Pakistani delegation to th e Summit Meeting.

As the present Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Mr Ramphal is due to retire in June 1990, the Heads of Delegations held a secret closed meeting to decide on his successor. Of the two candidates namely, Mr Fraser, the former Australian Prime Minister and Chief Emeka Anyaoku of Nigeria, the ballot went in favour of Chief Anyaoku.

Conferences / Seminars During the year under review, the Conference Cell provided logistical support and managerial assistance for all the international conferences convened by the Ministry of External Affairs. It also arranged various functions concerning the visits to India of foreign dignitaries. Noteworthy among these events, was the successful Organisation of the conference on "Humanism, International Politics and Nehru's Thought" held in New Delhi from 2 to 4 October 1989.

The Conference was held to commemorate the Birth Centenary of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. The delegates to the Conference included Nobel Laureates, Gandhian philosophers, former Heads of Government, Heads of international agencies and Indian intellectuals, academicians, etc. Yet another important meeting which the Conference Cell helped to organise was the Sixth Meeting of the South Commission held in New Delhi from 11 to 14 November 1989.

The Meeting was attended by Dr Julius K Nyerere, former President of Tanzania and presently Chairman of the South Commission, Mr Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, Vice President of Cuba, Mr Michael Norman Manley, Prime Minister, of Jamaica, Mr Shridath Ramphal, Commonwealth Secretary General, Dr Reinaldo Figueredo Planchart, Foreign Minister of Venezuela and several former Ministers of the respective Governments in their capacity as Members of the South Commission.

The Conference Cell shared its expertise with other departments of the Government in the organisation of their conferences. The available equipment was loaned, free of cost, to various Government organisations from time to time. All these measures resulted in considerable savings in expenditure to the Government, including foreign exchange. All illustrative list of conferences/functions organised during the year is given in Appendix XIII.

International Law: Development and Activities The 41st Session of the International Law Commission was held at Geneva from 2 May to 21 July 1989. It considered several matters of importance includ ing legal problems concerning the use of international rivers for non-navigational purposes, the development of a draft code of crimes against the peace and secur ity of mankind, the legal principles concerning liability for injurious consequence s for acts of States not prohibited under international law, drafting of an internati onal convention on the privileges and immunities of diplomatic bag and diplomatic courier and legal principles concerning jurisdictional immunities of States for various acts.

This Session of the Commission succeeded in finalising draft articles on th e diplomatic bag and diplomatic courier and recommended to the General Assembly that these may be adopted in the form of an international convention. The Commission also began its second reading of the draft articles on jurisdictiona l immunities of States and their property and dealt with 12 articles out of a tot al of 33 articles in this regard. Further, the Commission was able to make progress on the subject of the use of international rivers and finalised about 23 articles so far and completed nearly two/third of its work.

On the question of the development of a draft code of crimes, the Commissi on was able to move forward despite differences of opinion and considered definiti on of war crimes and crimes against humanity. It has so far finalised about 15 ar ticles with commentaries and forwarded them to the General Assembly for consideration. The Commission was also concerned with rationalization of the procedures of its work and it established a planning group under the Chairmansh ip of Dr P S Rao, the Indian Member, and made several recommendations in this regard for the consideration of the Commission. In response to several incidents involving illegal traffic of hazardous wa stes between developed and developing countries and their dumping in developing countries, particularly in Africa, under the UN Environment Programme, a global convention on the control of transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal was concluded at Basel (Switzerland) on 22 March 1989. The Convention covers 47 categories of wastes. However, it excludes nuclear wastes from its scope and did not also deal directly with dumping of wastes at high se as. The Convention provides for the export of hazardous wastes under controlled conditions to countries which have not otherwise decided to prohibit import of such wastes. Export of wastes under the Convention could only be done after receiving the consent of the importing country in writing to the specific impor t. The Convention also deals with movement of hazardous wastes through a transit country and territory or areas under its jurisdiction. The transit countries a re entitled to receive copies of notification of the transboundary movement of was tes through the UNEP Secretariat to be established under the Convention. Export of hazardous wastes to Antartica is totally prohibited under the Convention. Th e question of liability and compensation for damage resulting from transboundary movements and disposal of hazardous wastes was left under the Convention to be dealt with by the Parties to the convention at a later date with a view to adop ting a Protocol on this subject.

Despite the reservations expressed by several African countries, the Convention is hailed as the best that could be achieved under the present conditions and is regarded as filling up a vacuum which otherwise existed witho ut any regulation of dumping of hazardous wastes. Under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency a Working Group has been established to examine various legal problems concerning liabili ty for nuclear damage. The second session of the Working Group was held at Vienna from 30 October to 3 November 1989. The Paris Convention on Third Party Liability for Nuclear Damage, 1960, the Brussels Supplementary Convention of 1963 (Supplementary to the Paris Convention), the Vienna Convention on Liabilit y for Nuclear Damage, 1963 and the Joint Protocol relating to the application of the Vienna Convention and the Paris Convention, 1988 presently deal with the existi ng civil liability for nuclear damage. While the Paris Convention and the Brussel s Supplementary Convention is applicable among only the European countries parties to it, the Vienna convention is open for universal subscription. Howev er, the Vienna Convention hits not come into force so far. Under both the Conventions, the limits of liability conceived for the operator, the financial limits for State intervention are considered to be not satisfactory given the contempo rary conditions and nature of claims in case of a massive nuclear incident like the Chernobyl accident. The Working Group is considering various ways and means in which the existing civil liability regime could be revised and supplemented by other concepts of liability like State liability, State responsibility or State inter vention. While it is agreed that innocent victims of nuclear damage should be compensate d as fully as possible, there have been several proposals on the financial limits of operator's liability and the mode and modalities of State intervention and the need to cover principles like State liability and State responsibility in this conne ction. Several countries, particularly from the Western developed countries and USA an d Japan opposed strongly any idea of imposing liability on States and much less t o bring in a regime of State responsibility in case of nuclear damage. These iss ues are likely to be further discussed.

The Legal Sub-Committee of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outerspace (COPUOS) held its 28th Session in New York from 20 March to 7 April 1989. The Sub-Committee discussions during the Session pertained to the use of Nuclear Power Sources (NPS) in outerspace; definition and delimitation of outerspace and matters related to the Geostationary Orbit (GSO); and a new agenda item on the sharing of benefits of outerspace taking into particular acc ount the needs of the developing countries. The Working Group of the Sub-Committee on NPS discussed all the outstanding principles of the Canadian draft which constituted the basis of its deliberations. However, consensus would be record ed on only two principles dealing with consultations and settlement of disputes. Under the overall item on definition and delimitation of outerspace and matters relat ed to the GSO, the discussions focused on GSO and a working non-paper presented by some developing countries was taken as a starting point containing some ideas t hat could be discussed. A major development at the 28th Session of the Legal Sub- Committee is on the new agenda item concerning the sharing of benefits of outerspace particularly taking into account the needs of the developing countri es. In deference to the assertions of the developing countries for the establishmen t of a Working Group on this item during the present session and in view of the opposition to it by certain developed States, a compromise formula was accepted which recommended that a Working Group to deal with this item would be set up not later than at the Thirtieth Session of the Legal Sub-Committe in 1991.

India actively participated in the Session and played a significant role i n the promotion of the new agenda item on sharing of outerspace benefits particularly by the developing countries. While underscoring the Indian policy that outerspace is meant only for peaceful uses as opposed to military purposes, India stressed on the need for speedy resolution of the question related to evolution of appropriate guidelines and criteria for safe use of NPS in outerspace as well as on the establishment of a clear-cut definition and delimitation of outerspace. It was emphasised that GSO is a part of outerspace and that it lies within the mandate of sub-committee to discuss it.

India held talks in Bangkok in October 1989 with Thailand and Myanmar for the establishment of the trijunction point between India, Myanmar and Thailand in continuation of the 1978 Agreement with Thailand and the 1986 Agreement with Myanmar. Talks were held between India and Thailand to extend the maritime boundary between the two countries from the terminal point of Indo-Thailand boundary as delimited in accordance with the 1978 Agreement to the trijunction point. The Agreemments were finalised and initialled at the technical levels on 6 October 1989 at Bangkok.

India participated in the Conference convened by the FAO at Rome from 3 to 7 April 1989. The Conference was convened with a view to adopting a Draft Agreement for the Establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission. Delegations maintained differing views on several of the provisions of the draf t as well as on the need to establish such a Commission. The Conference could not adopt any clauses of the Agreement and the basic question of the establishment of the commission was left open. India emphasised, among other things, the sovere ign rights of the coastal states for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conse rving and managing the natural resources of the superjacent waters of the EEZ, and th at any such commission should protect and safeguard the interests of the developin g coastal states and no financial burden should be placed on these states in the process.

There were 11 items on the agenda for consideration by the Sixth Committee of the UN dealing with legal matters. The Committee approved one decision and 12 resolutions. Eight resolutions and decisions were adopted by consensus. In dia cosponsored three resolutions, viz, on Peaceful Settlement of Disputes between States; the Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its 44th Session; and the Draft Articles on the Status of the Diplomatic Courier and the Diplomatic Bag not accompanied by Diplomatic Courier.

The Committee's approval of the Draft Convention against Mercenaries was among the Session's major achievements and an important contribution to the development of International Law. The adoption of a Draft Decision on the Peaceful Settlement of Disputes was similarly important and incorporated resort to a Commisssion of Good Offices, Mediation or Conciliation within the United Nations.

The Draft resolution on the Report of the International Law Commission's Fortyfirst Session includes Draft Articles on the Status of the Diplomatic Cour ier and two Draft Optional Protocols attached thereon, and provides for informal consultations on the subject during the General Assembly's 45th Session in 1990 . The Assembly would take note, in the Preamble of the Draft, of the Committee's recommendations for Convening an International Conference of Plenipotentiaries to conclude a Convention on the subject.

The resolution on the Report of the 22nd Session of UNCITRAL contains a recommendation to convene an International Conference of Plenipotentiaries at Vienna from 8 to 25 April 1991, to consider a Draft Convention prepared by UNCITRAL on the Liability of Operators of Transport Terminals in International Trade.

The Report of the Sixth Committee was considered by the General Assembly in 72nd Plenary Meeting on 4 December 1989. The General Assembly adopted the following:
(i) Progressive Development of the Principles and Norms of Internation al Law relating to the New International Economic Order;
(ii) Peaceful Settlement of Disputes between States;
(iii) Draft Code of Crimes against the Peace and Security of Mankind. Resolutions on items relating to: United Nations Programme of Assistance in the Teaching, Study, Dissemination and Wider Appreciation of International Law, Measures to Prevent International Terrorism which endangers or takes innocent human lives or jeopardises fundamental freedoms and Study of the Underlying Causes of those forms of Terrorism and acts of violence; Report of the ad hoc Committee on the Drafting of an International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries; Report of the International Law Commission on the work of its Fortyfirst Session, Report of t he Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organisation; Report of the Committee on Relations with Host Country; International Criminal Responsibility of Individuals and Entities enga ged in Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs across national frontiers and other Transnational Criminal activities; Establishment of an International Criminal C ourt with jurisdiction over such crimes; and a Decision to Resort to a Commission of Good Offices, Mediation or Conciliation within the United Nations, were also adopted.

The 22nd Annual Session of the UNCITRAL was held in Vienna from 16 May to 2 June 1989. It discussed the Draft Convention on Liability of Operators of Transport Terminals in International Trade. This Draft Convention was prepar ed by the UNCITRAL Working Group on International Contract practices. With the completion of the work on this Draft Convention, UNCITRAL has accomplished the task of drafting International Legislative Instruments intended to establis h a unified regime in the field of International Maritime Transport. India took ac tive part in the work of this Working Group because of its vast and major maritime interests in the developing world.

Under the Plan of Action for the SAARC Year for Combating Drug Abuse and Drug Trafficking, a meeting of legal experts was held in New Delhi from 20 to 22 December 1989, for making a comparative study of existing laws with a view t o harmonising drug laws in the region. The meeting made a number of recommendations regarding the area in which the national legislations of the member countries needed to be harmonised. These included the question of drugs and substances to be controlled, the illegal activities to be established as of fences, the quantum of punishment to be prescribed for the various offences, extraditio n laws and mutual legal assistance.

Jan 01, 1989 CHAPTER IX FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS Bilateral Cooperation through ITEC THE Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme administered by the Ministry of External Affairs is the main instrument through which India makes available technical and economic assistance to other developing countries. The programme which was first launched in 1964, has expanded rapidly both in terms of the number of countries as well as range of activities covered. Under this programme, India has made available project aid , technical experts, training facilities both civilian and defence to over 70 dev eloping countries. A number of techno-economic surveys have also been carried out in selected countries to identify projects relevant to the needs and conditions of those countries.

In addition to ITEC, the Ministry, has also strengthened India's economic cooperation with regional bodies such as the Economic Commission for Africa and the Southern African Development Cooperation Council.

In April 1988, the Special Commonwealth African Assistance Programme (SCAAP) was transferred to this Ministry from the Ministry of Finance. During the past one year the number of trainees covered under this programme has expanded significantly.

Brief description of activities covered under these programmes during 1989- 90 is as follows: Project Assistance As in the past, a significant proportion of the ITEC budget was devoted to the supply of equipment from India for various projects in recipient countries. Du ring the year under review, some of the major projects completed were the Common Facility Centre and Pilot Weaving Centre in Ethiopia, Rice Research Centre and the Buffalo Fodder Research Centre in Vietnam, the Industrial Estate Project an d the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in Kabul and the Textile Technology School and the Sir Sewasagar Ramgoolam Centre in Mauritius.

The Fifth meeting of the Indo-Mauritius Joint Commission was held in March 1989 and identified more than a dozen new projects for technical assistance to that country. Action on several of the projects has already been initiated. As part of the revival of India's cooperation programmes with Afghanistan, a feasibility report on a 300-bed maternity hospital in Kabul is being prepared b y the Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation. The CPWD is now engaged in the construction of 10 additional industrial sheds at the Indian aided Industrial E state Project in Kabul.

Feasibility Study During the year under review, several feasibility studies were commissioned in a number of developing countries. These included studies on multi-purpose smal l industrial services centre in Vietnam, a soap manufacturing unit in Angola and a "tea efficiency study" in Mauritius.

Training A large number of nominees of developing countries were accepted for training in Indian institutions covering a wide variety of disciplines includin g agriculture, rural development, health, education, developing of water resource s, industry, legal metrology and standardisation. These training courses varied f rom a period of 6 weeks to 18 months. Till the end of November 1989, two hundred and seventyfive nominees were admitted to these training programmes in addition to 52 trainees admitted in the previous year but who continued their training during the year under review.

Experts During the year, over 100 proposals for deputation of ITEC experts were taken up with Foreign Assignment Section (FAS), Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms, and selection of 40 experts was finalized. The main beneficiary countries were Mauritius, Zambia, People's Democratic Republic of Yemen, Yemen Arab Republic, Vietnam, Ethiopia and Afghanistan. Short term experts were also deputed to Nicaragua, Vietnam and Mauritius. The work of ITEC experts in developing countries, covering virtually every aspect of development, has won much appreciation from recipient governments.

Visits Three visits of high level officials, one each from Malaysia, Zambia and Madagascar took place during the year. The visits were in the form of study to urs aimed at familiarising senior officials of friendly developing countries with I ndia's capabilities in the field of science and technology. Such visits have already led to requests for increased cooperation in several fields, in particular, agricultur e and small industry.

SCAAP In the current year, about 400 nominees from African Commonwealth countries are expected to receive training in India at the cost of about Rs 2 c rores. This is a record achievement when compared with 300 trainees received during th e previous year and only about 70 nominees received during 1987-88, when the scheme was with the Ministry of Finance. The areas in which training was impar ted included agriculture, mass communications, audit of receipts, police, cooperati ve management, maintenance engineering, development banking, life insurance, financial management, standardisation, legal metrology, textiles, mill manageme nt and curriculum design. A police advisor was also deputed to Seychelles. Other Assistance In response to requests for urgent relief, India supplied medicines worth Rs 5 lakhs to Vietnam and some modest food aid to Angola. Medical equipment and supplies were also gifted to the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen. Some 5 0 looms are being sent as a gift to Burkina Faso. These gestures have generated considerable goodwill for India among the countries concerned.

INDIA CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC USA ETHIOPIA VIETNAM AFGHANISTAN MAURITIUS ANGOLA RUSSIA ZAMBIA YEMEN NICARAGUA MALAYSIA MADAGASCAR SEYCHELLES BURKINA FASO

Jan 01, 1989
CHAPTER X POLICY PLANNING AND RESEARCH DURING the year under review, the Policy Planning Division interacted with other Ministries in the Government and the officials participated on a regular basis in inter-ministerial and inter-departmental meetings, in particular, the Joint Intelligence Committee.

The Division continued to maintain active contacts amongst academic circle s and the University Grants Commission and Area Study Centres of various Universities specialising in international affairs. The Division also interacted with various non-governmental organisations i n organising conferences and seminars on international issues.

The Historical Division, which is the Research Wing of the Ministry of External Affairs, prepared a number of research papers and backgrounders on various issues relating to international developments. The Division interacts with Territorial Divisions of the Ministry as well as with other Ministries. The Di vision rendered all necessary help to various Departments of the Government of India a s well as to Indian Missions abroad whenever they needed any information or documents on international developments.

The Historical Division coordinates with other Divisions of the Ministry a nd deals with requests of research scholars to consult old records of the Governme nt of India. The Division also scrutinises the excerpts of records on restricted areas submitted by the research scholars in the National Archives of India for final approval and release. A close coordination is maintained from time to time wit h the National Archives of India in relation to framing of the rules of access to the records of the Government of India.

The Historical Division carries out scrutiny of maps of India to examine whether the external boundaries of India are accurately depicted. Inaccuracies in foreign publications are taken up for necessary corrective measures.

The Division studies active assistance on various boundary problems with India's neighbours. To support the research efforts, a well stocked Library is maintained with over one hundred thousand books and documents in its collection. During 1989 alone, 2100 books, 100 maps, 600 pamphlets and 36 reels of microfilm were added. The Library subscribes to 570 periodicals (451 foreign and 119 Indian) besides 36 d aily newspapers (23 foreign and 13 Indian).

From April 1986, the Library has initiated computerisation of Documentation / Bibliographic Services. All new documents, books, periodicals, articles etc. a re being fed into in-house micro-computers to create Database on Foreign Affairs. Using this Database, the Library provides Current Awareness Service and Bibliographical Services. In addition, the Library regularly issues a monthly Chronicle of Events, a Foreign Affairs Documentation Bulletin and an annotated monthly list of books added to the Library.

From January 1990, all databases and library operations are being gradually integrated as computer-based Foreign Affairs Information Retrieval System (FAIRS). Library users including Research Scholars will shortly be allowed on- line access to computer-based information held in Library.

CHAPTER XI EXTERNAL PUBLICITY DURING the year under review the External Publicity Division was actively engaged in pursuing the objective of projecting the rationale of India's foreig n policy while countering adverse publicity and giving due emphasis to the posit ive aspects of India's economic, industrial and technological advances. In striving for the above, the Division continued to regularly brief the fo reign and Indian media about India's policy on various issues. A marked emphasis was laid on giving wider coverage to important international events, especially in the neighbouring countries-Sri Lanka, Nepal, Pakistan and Afghanistan and India's policy towards them. Detailed backgrounders for briefing the local media in fo reign countries were supplied to Indian Missions on subjects such as Indian Defence a nd Defence Exports, Communal situation in India, Urban Development, General Elections etc. Separate background notes were also supplied to the Missions on Indo-Nepal and Indo-Sri Lanka relations. Efforts were made to give adequate publicity to the Ninth General Elections in India.

The Division made suitable arrangements for press and media coverage as wel l as special briefing during VVIP Visits. From April to December 1989 over 20 VVIP Visits were covered. Interviews and Press Conferences were also arranged for v isiting VIPs such as the Hungarian Justice Minister, Prof. Kulcsar and Maulana Kausar Niazi, Urdu Poet and ex-Minister of Pakistan.

The Division, while keeping abreast of the latest developments in Punjab, f ed the Indian Missions abroad on a continuous basis with accurate information with a v iew to correcting misconceptions and possible distortions. Similarly, the activitie s of pro- Khalistan elements in certain countries were closely monitored for devising eff ective measures to counter adverse publicity emanating from such sources.

Close liaison and coordination was maintained with the countries/agencies f or work relating to the expansion of the activities of the Nonaligned News Agency

Pool as well as cooperation in the formation of a new International Information and Communication order.

Quality literature depicting different facets of India's national life were printed and published in the English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Arabic languages. The magazine India Perspectives, brought out in English, French and Spanish drew acclaim from foreign readers for excellent production and comprehensive content. The Division also publishes the monthly 'Foreign Affair s Record' apart from bringing out publications covering Prime Minister's statemen t on foreign policy and his visits abroad as also on various summits, conferences etc. in which India participated. The main publications brought out during the curr ent year are 'India-Democracy on the Move,' 'India and Disarmament-An Anthology' and an attractive brochure, 'India Goes to the Polls.' The Division continued to offer hospitality to select media men from all ove r the world and assist visiting foreign media men in their travel within the coun try to enable them to meet a cross section of the Indian people. It also continued to process cases of foreign journalists for the grant of regular/temporary accreditation. The Division also took various press parties consisting of Indi an as well as foreign journalists to Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives to apprise them of the latest developments there.

The External Publicity Division continued to process requests by foreign fil m makers wanting to make documentary films in India. In some. cases hospitality was also accorded to these film makers. The Division continued to process requests from foreign and Indian organisations to interview important dignitaries such a s the President, the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Governors etc.

A major task before the External Publicity. Division was to provide the necessary logistical and infrastructural support to enable the world media in v ery large numbers to adequately cover the Ninth General Elections. For the year long birth centenary celebrations of Jawaharlal Nehru, the External Publicity Division contributed the following: (a) A photographic exhibition on Nehru's life and times and his contrib ution to the making of a modern and dynamic India was commissioned and supplied to 70 Indian Missions abroad. This exhibition was attended in these countries by large number of visit ors;
(b) A 30-minute documentary, 'Jawaharlal Nehru,' was supplied to all Indian Missions abroad. The documentary was telecast in many countries by local television stations;
(c) A large number of photographs and portraits of Jawaharlal Nehru w ere sent to all Indian Missions abroad;
(d) A 16 mm documentary on Jawaharlal Nehru was supplied to a large number of Missions; and
(e) A large number of articles on Jawaharlal Nehru was supplied to Ind ian Missions abroad for use by newspapers and journals in those countr ies. The audio visual medium is becoming more and more important as a medium of publicity worldwide. The External Publicity Division is now supplying audio visual equipment to those Missions which so far do not have it. The Missions abroad have been provided with video libraries on various aspects of Indian lif e. The External Publicity Division intends to carry out a comprehensive review of Missions' video libraries and supply them material covering latest developments . The structure of India magazine capsule is being altered. In place of the curr ent style of India magazine capsule, thematic cassettes will be prepared. The them atic capsules are likely to be more popular and convenient for the cultural organisations, educational institutions and individuals abroad interested in In dia.

The External Publicity Division has begun a phased programme of installing satellite antennae at Missions abroad. Initially the Missions in neighbouring countries have been given satellite antenna to enable them to watch Doordarshan programmes via INSAT satellite. The installation of satellite TV antenna at In dian Missions in Eastern Europe is underway. The satellite antenna in these countri es will enable the Missions to receive TV news from all parts of the world.

To meet the increasing demand for Indian films across the world, the Extern al Publicity Division circulated a large number of Indian films subtitled in Engli sh, Arabic, French and Spanish for screening by Missions abroad. The Division is a lso assisting in the production of two documentaries on Contemporary Indian Culture . The first documentary is on contemporary Indian painters and the second is on contemporary Indian dance. The Division has also sponsored production of two documentaries namely, Investment Opportunities in India and India-Continuity in Change.

As part of the general election publicity, the External Publicity Division produced a documentary 'Indian General Election-A Scene Setter.' The documentary was telecast by 30 television stations in various countries. The Division is also supplying documentaries to 35 countries for telecast on their TV stations on Jan 26, 1990. The Division is supplying; with the help of Doordarshan, material for telecast to television stations of many countries und er the cultural exchange programmes.

The photo libraries of Missions abroad containing photographic slides on different aspects of development of India are being continuously strengthened. The Division is also meeting the special requirement of photographs of the Missions as and when they need the photographs for their own publications or for the local media.

The External Publicity Division has endeavoured to fulfil its objectives of building and sustaining an accurate image of India. As a pivotal publicity org an of the Ministry, it will continue to further coordinate efforts in disseminating w ell packaged and timely information.

INDIA USA AFGHANISTAN NEPAL PAKISTAN SRI LANKA MALDIVES CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

1989

Indians Overseas

INDIA
USA MAURITIUS

1989
Protocol

Jan 01, 1989

CHAPTER XIII PROTOCOL DURING the year under review, the Heads of Missions of the following 24 countries left India on completion of their tenure:

Pakistan, Yugoslavia, United States of America, Cyprus, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Afghanistan, Newzealand, Algeria, Myanmar, Syria, Mongolia, Sweden, Somalia, Poland, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea (non-resident), Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Greece, Kenya, Qatar, Indonesia and Ireland. During the same period, the Heads of Missions of the following 30 countrie s presented their credentials to the President of India:

Lesotho (non-resident), Malta (nonresident), Ghana, Democratic Peopl e's Republic of Korea, Singapore, Greece, Poland, Benin (non-reside nt), Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Iran, Ethiopia, Switzerland, Alg eria, Mongolia, Newzealand, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Sweden, Afghanistan, Zambia, Cyprus, Myanmar, Cote d' Ivoire (non-resident), Yugo- slavia, United States of America, Pakistan, Guinea and Ireland.

A list of Heads of State, Vice Presidents, Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers and others who visited India during 1989-90 is at Appendix XIV.

Jan 01, 1989
CHAPTER XIV PASSPORT AND CONSULAR SERVICES WITH the opening of an office in Nagpur in October 1989, the number of Passport Offices in the country has risen to 22. In addition, there are two Liaison Offices in Shimla and Trivandrum respectively.

During the year 1,562,837 new passports were issued. Appendix VI details the input-output figures in respect of passports and miscellaneous services. Appendix VIII gives the revenue-expenditure figures (April to October 1989). T he proportion of expenditure to income is roughly 1/3.

Periodic inspections were made of the Passport Offices with a view to streamlining their procedures and increasing their output. By the end of the year, new passports were issued within 5 working days of the receipt of satisfactory verification reports. Passport Adalats in the Offi ces concerned were organised. The Passport Offices also held out-of-station camps. Computerisation of Passport Offices proceeded apace. As an experimental measure, reports. on present status of applications have been computerised in t he Passport Office, Delhi in cooperation with the National Informatics Centre and an "On Line Status Enquiry System" has been installed. Computerisation of references in the case of lost passports has also been introduced partially.

Visits by Indian nationals to South Africa have been partly liberalised. The Passport Offices in India and Indian Representatives abroad have been authorise d to endorse such passports for South Africa when the object of the visit is to v isit relatives in emergencies like serious illness, death of a close relative, etc.

The Complaints & Grievances Cell of the Division handled approximately 900 complaints regarding delay in the issue of new passports or renewal of old passports. Around 500 complaints were resolved while in the remaining cases th e complainants were informed of progress made. Around 200 cases of forgery of or tempering with passports were reported and are being enquired into. It is prop osed to introduce a More Secured Passport (MSP) shortly.

Twelve cases of appeal against the impounding of passports/denial of passp ort facilities by the Passport Offices Were received. Orders on 7 of these cases w ere passed either allowing or rejecting the appeal.

As part of a preventive measure, the Government of India have introduced the requirement of compulsory medical examination of foreigners other than exempted categories who intend to stay in India for a period of more than one year, for AIDS.

The Visa Manual Which was last issued in 1981 has been updated. In 1989 a total number of 989 diplomatic and 5604 official passports were issued. In addition, 8209 miscellaneous services were rendered. During 1988, seven hundred and three cases of deportation of Indian nation als by foreign Governments were brought to notice. Indian Missions and Posts abroa d repatriated 155 Indian nationals who were in distress abroad and financial assistance was extended to deserving cases. During the year, 4128 Indian natio nals were arrested in foreign countries. All possible consular assistance was rende red to them and in some cases their release and return to India was facilitated. Four hundred and fortysix cases of death of foreign nationals in India wer e also handled. Around 865 cases of death compensation in respect of Indian nationals dying abroad were processed. Ninetyfive thousand eight hundred and thirtytwo documents received from the public for submission to foreign authorit ies were attested/authenticated by the Division.

CHAPTER XV ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANISATION SHRI Inder Kumar Gujral assumed charge as Minister for External Affairs on Dec 05, 1989. Earlier, Shri P V Narasimha Rao demitted charge as Minister for External Affairs on 1 December 1989. Shri K Natwar Singh, Minister of Sta te for External Affairs, also demitted charge on 1 December 1989.

The sanctioned strength of the IFS and IFS(B) both at Headquarters and Missions abroad is 3710. This includes 28 posts of the combined Research cadre and 30 posts of the Interpreters cadre. The grade-wise strength is given at Appendix IX.

A list showing the number of Officers of this Ministry who have qualified in foreign languages is given at Appendix X.

Presently there are 1830 posts of locally recruited staff in Indian Missio ns/ Posts abroad. Of these, foreign nationals are 1192 and Indian nationals 638. A new Consulate General of India was established in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam). The Ministry now has 140 resident Missions/Posts abroad manned by India-based officials. Proposal for opening an Indian Mission in Malta is unde r consideration.

During the year, the Ministry stepped up its policy of purchasing properti es both built up office accommodation and plots for construction of chancery building, embassy residence and staff residences. Some of the construction pro jects have already commenced.

Administrative inspection of Indian Missions/Posts in New York, Washington, Karachi, Islamabad, Warsaw, Georgetown, Kualalumpur, Singapore and Rangoon was undertaken. During the year, the Computer Cell of the Ministry developed some more application software packages for use of various divisions. The Cell also participated in organising training programmes for MEA officials in Xenix/Lyrix . The total number of MEA personnel trained by the year end by Computer Cell under auspices of FSTI was 170.

Jan 01, 1989
CHAPTER XVI FOREIGN SERVICE TRAINING INSTITUTE DURING 1989-90, the Foreign Service Training Institute (FSTI) achieved significant further progress over the previous year in its training and other related activities. It not only incorporated changes to improve on the scope, range, quality and content of existing training courses, but also introduced a number of new courses and diversified its activities in other areas by initiating a publi cation programme, introducing language orientation in its professional course for IFS Probationers, and establishing contacts with comparable institutes in India and abroad.

In 1989-90, FSTI organised the following training courses:

(i) Professional Course in Diplomacy and International Relations for IFS Probationers - 1 course:
(ii) Orientation Programme for Spouses - 2 courses;
(iii) Mid-career Refresher Course for Commercial Officers in Missions abroad - 1 course;
(iv) Orientation Programme for Union Territory/State Government Protocol Officials - 1 course;
(v) Programme on Crisis Management for Mid-career Officials - 1 course;
(vi) Induction Course for newly recruited Assistants/UDCs/LDCs/ PAs - 5 courses;
(vii) Administration/Accounts Workshop - 4 courses;
(viii) Basic Professional Course for IFS(B) Personnel due for postings abroad - 6 courses;
(ix) Refresher Course for Section Officers and Dealing Hands on arriva l at New Delhi - 1 course;
(x) Joint ASCI-FSTI Training Course for Senior Commonwealth Diplomats - 1 course;
(xi) Programme on Effective Communication - 1 course; and
(xii) Familiarisation Programme for Foreign Diplomats resident in India - 1 course. The total number of trainees covered in 1989-90 was 640, as compared to 612 in 1988-89. They included nominees from other Ministries like Defence, I & B a nd Tourism, Public Sector Undertakings, Nationalised Banks and Union Territory/ State Governments. Two young diplomats from Mauritius attended selected modules of the IFS Probationers Programme in 1989. A total of 4 diplomats, 2 from Bhutan and 2 from Zambia attended modules of the same programme in 1990.

The activities of FSTI were coordinated by a full time Dean of the rank of Secretary to the Government of India. He was assisted by a directing staff consisting of live IFS officers. FSTI also drew upon an extensive guest facult y from the government, academia, business, media, public affairs etc. The pedagogy included lecture discussions, simulation exercises, case studies, role play, tu torials, syndicate studies and examinations. FSTI also provided the participants of eac h course with a list of reading materials useful and relevant to participants' wo rk.

In 1989, FSTI brought out, as a part of its publication programme, a wri tten symposium entitled "Role of the Junior Diplomats in Missions Abroad." The symposium was well received by the trainees and by various institutions in Indi a and abroad. On receipt of a written request, copies of this publication were a lso supplied to the Director, Foreign Service Programme, Oxford University (UK) for distribution to its trainees.

During 1989-90, FSTI continued to maintain close contacts with other train ing institutes in India like LBSNAA, Mussoorie; ASCI, Hyderabad; IIPA, New Delhi; SIS, JNU, New Delhi; Central University, Pondicherry; NDC, New Delhi and IIFT, New Delhi. FSTI also established contacts with comparable institutes abr oad. In April 1989, a 3 member FSTI team visited the Diplomatic Academy and the Institute of International Relations in Moscow; the Ecole Nationale d' Administration (ENA) and the Institute International d' Administration Publique (IIPA) in Paris; the FCO Training Department in London, and the Oxford University; Instituto Rio Branco in Brasilia; and the Foreign Service Institute , the Maryland University, the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, and the Johns Hopkins University (SAIS) in Washington. The visit enabled the team on return to re-model some of its training programmes by incorporating newer ideas and techniques in the field of training. Separately, the Dean attended t he Annual Conference. of Association of Directors of Diplomatic Academies and Institute of International Relations (ADDAIIR) in Washington in September 1989. During this period, FSTI was also able to identify and locate 23 suitable short and long term courses abroad for placement of MEA officials.

During the year under review, FSTI was also able to purchase most of its training related equipment, class room furniture and other infrastructural fitt ings with newly delegated financial powers, and to convert four halls in its present premises in Akbar Bhavan into functional class rooms. Besides, a Library was s et up which became fully operational after the joining of the Librarian in Decembe r 1989. The total number of books and periodicals in the Library in January 1990 stood at 3500 out of which more than 1000 books and periodicals had been procured in 1989. With the acquisition of a modem photocopying machine and a binder, FSTI became fully self-reliant in providing printed and bound training materials to the trainees.

FSTI also continued its search for independent permanent premises and a plo t of land for their construction during 1989-90.

Jan 01, 1989
CHAPTER XVII USE OF HINDI IN OFFICIAL WORK USE of Hindi in this Ministry has two aspects-implementation of the Offici al Language Policy of the Government of India and propagation of Hindi in foreign countries through Indian Missions abroad.

During the year under review, the Ministry continued its efforts to impleme nt Official Language Policy at Headquarters, in its Missions abroad and also in it s passport offices at home. This year, too, the incentive scheme carrying cash p rizes for officials who do their maximum official work in Hindi was continued. An incentive scheme carrying cash prizes for officers who give dictation in Hindi was also introduced during the year under report. The competition scheme in respec t of Regional Passport Offices continued this year too, with the winning RPO receivi ng the shield.

As in the previous year, in the period under report, a Hindi module for IFS probationers was organised in collaboration with the Foreign Service Training Institute. Hindi workshops were also conducted for officials of the Ministry. In pursuance of the directions of the Department of Official Language, a Hindi Week was organised in the Ministry. Various Hindi competitions were held to encourage the officials to use Hindi in their official work. The successful candidates were presented awards. The Officers and Sections at Headquarters an d Regional Passport Officers were also provided with standard kits of Hindi aid material.

The Ministry continued its efforts to fulfil its responsibility towards propagation of Hindi abroad. Missions were supplied with presentation books, text-books, Hindi aid material etc. for presentation.

As in the past, during the year, the Embassy of India, Seoul, organised a Hindi speech contest in Hongkuk University, Hongkuk, South Korea with the objective of popularising Hindi in that country. Other Missions have also been advised to organise such events in the countries of their accreditation to give fillip to the objective of propagating Hindi abroad. Hindi teaching scheme for childr en in Missions abroad continued satisfactorily and more classes were added.

During the year under review, Passport offices at Jaipur, Bombay, Goa, Bhubaneshwar, Calcutta, Guwahati, Bangalore, Kozhikode, Cochin and Trivandrum were inspected with a view to assessing the progress of Hindi in the se offices. As a result of these inspections, the pace of progress of Hindi in of ficial work in these offices has accelerated.

In pursuance of the decision of the Hindi Advisory Committee of the Minist ry of External Affairs, OSD (Hindi) was deputed to PMI, New York on temporary duty to assist the members of the Indian delegation to the UN, should any one o f them wished to speak in Hindi in the UN General Assembly. The then Minister for External Affairs, Shri P V Narasimha Rao addressed the UN General Assembly in Hindi.

CHAPTER XVIII
Cultural Relations

THE Indian Council for Cultural Relations, established in 1950 with a view to developing and strengthening cultural relations with other countries, worked steadily during 1989-90 to further expand and consolidate its activities. With Headquarters in New Delhi, the Council has a network of six Cultural Centres abroad and seven Regional Offices in India, for looking after the welfare of fo reign students in India and for coordination of foreign visits by performing artistes and by eminent individuals. The Cultural Centres are located at Port Louis, Georgetown, Suva, Jakarta, Paramaribo and Moscow and the Regional Offices in India are at Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Bangalore and Trivandrum.

The highlights of the year under review were the special activities planned in connection with the centenary celebrations of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, the founder-President of the ICCR. An Indo-Soviet seminar on the "Future of Humanity : Nehru's Vision" was organised in October 1989, in collaboration with the Nehru Memorial Museum Library. The main participants were Soviet recipients of the Nehru Award for Indo-Soviet Friendship and Indian recipients of the Sovietland Nehru Award. In August 1989, Chairman Yasser Arafat's name was announced for the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding for the year 1988. Special present a- tion items consisting of books on and by Pandit Nehru, and commemorative coins were distributed to our Missions abroad for presentation to libraries, institut ions and individuals.

An international seminar on "Tradition and Modernity" was organised as part of the Maulana Azad Centenary celebrations from 14 to 16 February 1990 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The Vice President of India and President of the ICCR, Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma delivered the inaugural address for the Seminar.

The inaugural session of the seminar was addressed by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Vishwanath Pratap Singh, the Minister for External Affairs, Shri I K Gujra l, and Dr Najma Heptulla, Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha and the Chairperson of the Organising Committee for the Seminar. Eminent academicians, scholars and journalists from over 15 countries presented papers and participated actively i n the discussions.

The Centenary Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Memorial Lecture was delivered in New Delhi by Smt Aruna Asaf Ali on 3 November 1989 on the theme "Science, Socialism and Humanism." To mark the centenary celebrations, the Council brought out a special four-tome set of Commemorative Volumes on Maulana Azad (in English, Hindi and Urdu), and published the Centenary Azad Memorial Lecture as a book.

The Festival of France in India, which was inaugurated in November 1989 in Bombay formally concluded in New Delhi on 18 January 1990. The highlights of Festival of France were the performances given by the renowned Mime Maestro Marcel Marceau, by a modern dance group: L' Esquisse, by the Puppet group Compagnie Philippe Genty, by a group of Jugglers by the Rock music group Cyclope, and finally, as part of the concluding events, by the National Theatre Group from Strasbourg and the 167-member Choeur de L' Orchestre de Paris and Orchestre Francais des Jeunes.

Equally successful were the smaller yet intensive series of cultural events held, such as the "Days of Indian Culture" in Czechoslovakia in April 1989; "Days of Czechoslovak Culture" (in India) held in November 1989 and the "Days of GDR Culture" (in India) in February 1990. There was a marked shift in the regional emphasis of activities towards developing countries. Thus, of the 62 incoming visitors received by ICCR under the distinguished Visitors' Programme, close to 65% were from Asia, Africa and Latin America. Similarly, of the 83 performing delegations sent abroad during 1989-90, about 20% were sent to neighbouring countries and almost 25% to countries of West Asia and Africa. Overall, about 60% of the Council's outgoin g performing delegations visited developing countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The Council sponsored visits abroad of 82 cultural troupes covering 64 countries.

Incoming and Outgoing Visitors under ICCR's Distinguished Visitors Programme During the year, there was more or less a parity between the numbers of incoming and outgoing visitors under ICCR's Distinguished Visitors Programme. There were 62 visitors from 23 countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Mauritius, Madagascar, Argentina, Costa Rica, Syria and Turkey. The visitors included Nobel Prize winners, eminent indologists, writers, artistes a nd creative individuals.

The Council sent abroad 68 visitors to 40 countries. These included visito rs under Cultural Exchange Programmes for participation in international conferenc es and visits for creative interaction by Indian dancers, artistes, critics, emine nt writers and academicians.

Exhibitions The Council organised 9 exhibitions in India during the year. These includ ed exhibitions by renowned artist Guljee from Pakistan, exhibitions from Turkey, South Korea and Japan, and an exhibition of African art owned by private collectors in Delhi. The Council organised a prestigious exhibition under the Indo- US Sub-Commission on Education and Culture, 'A Collectors' Eye,' from the Olga Hirshhorn collection of fine arts. Most of these exhibitions were also held in different cities in India including Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Bombay and Calcutta. During the year, two seperate such exhibitions of Madhubani painting s were successfully displayed in Nicosia, Ankara, Istanbul and Belgrade. Seminars/Conferences Seminars and Conferences were organised on various subjects, including a seminar on Indian theatre in September 1989, to coincide with the Sangeet Nata k Akademi's Nehru Centenary-Theatre Festival. ICCR coordinated arrangements for the visit of Peter Brook (of 'Mahabharata' fame) with his group of actors/actre sses, the script-writer, producer and others for theatre workshops in five cities. T his was in addition to the three Indian seminars organised in commemoration respectivel y of the Jawaharlal Nehru and Maulana Azad Centenary Celebrations.

The Council, as the Indian Secretariat for the Indo-US Sub-Commission on Education and Culture, continued to arrange meetings of the Sub-Commission and its Sub-Committees, and to coordinate with other organisations on the implementation of various programmes agreed upon at these meetings. The Sub-Commission met in Washington in June 1989. The two Sub-Committees, namely, the Joint Media Committee and the Sub-Committee for cultural heritage and endeavour also held meetings in Washington in January 1990. Students Welfare The Council is responsible for the welfare of foreign students in India. A number of programmes in this connection were undertaken during the year. These consisted of study tours and summer camps, orientation courses for newly arrive d foreign students, social gatherings and celebrations of various events includin g international and national festivals. Cultural scholarship in the field of fin e arts were given in to 18 foreign students from 13 countries. In order to improve th e infrastructural facilities and the quality of assistance being given to foreign students, an All India Foreign Students Advisors' meeting was held in December 1989 involving 38 Foreign Students Advisors from different universities/institu tions and 12 officials from various departments of the Government of India. The Fore ign Students Associations and the International Students Club have been assisted in organising various functions. Both the Delhi office and the Regional offices o f the ICCR have been active in providing infrastructural and personal assistance to foreign students in India. It is estimated that there may be as many as 20,000 foreign students in India scattered all over the country in various universitie s.

Foreign Cultural Centres in India The Council supervises the work of Foreign Cultural centres in India, especially those operating in places where there is no official representation of thecountry concerned. Thus, the Council supervises the operations of nine British Council Libraries in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Lucknow, Patna, Ranchi, Trivandrum and Hyderabad; the Alliance Francaise in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bombay, Calcutta, Chandigarh, Goa, Hyderabad, Madras, Pondicherry, Pune, Trivandrum and Delhi; the Max Mueller Bhavan in Bangalore, Bombay, Hyderabad, Pune, Madras, Calcutta and Delhi and the House of Soviet Culture in Trivandrum. The Council provides administrative support to these foreign centres and also collaborates with them whenever possible in organising cultura l programmes.

Presentation Cell The Council runs a Presentation Cell which maintains a regular stock of presentation items including books, handicrafts, musical instruments and art objects. These items are regularly despatched to Missions abroad for presentat ion to institutions/universities. The Council also supplies items to be utilised a s prizes for competitions organised by the Missions abroad.

The Council Library continued to offer its services to readers and specially to research scholars. The library, now has 75,000 volumes and has had more than 4500 visitors this year. Several prominent research scholars have utilised the library services and have acknowledged the Library's contribution. Exhibitions of book s were organised by the Library on the occasion of "Africa Day" in June 1989 and during the "Days of Bhutan" in March 1989. The library is in charge of the computer section and all efforts are being made to bring about full computerisa tion of all information services in the Council including accounts and other adminis tra- tive branches.

Publications Division The Publications Division of the Council continued to publish six quarterl y journals: 'Indian Horizons' and 'Africa Quarterly' in English, 'Gagananchal' in Hindi, 'Thaqafat-ul-Hind' in Arabic, 'Rencontre avec 1' Inde' in French and 'Papeles de la India' in Spanish.

In addition the Council processed for publications, the following works:
(1) Commemorative volumes on Maulana Abul Kalam Azad (4 volume boxed set);
(2) Science, Humanism and Socialism (Azad Memorial Lecture by Smt Aruna Asaf Ali);
(3) Shakuntala and Kannagi (Illustrated classics for children in Spanish and French);
(4) The First two Decades (1966 to 1985);
(5) Indian Music (Re-print);
(6) Panchatantra in Swahili (Illustrated classic for children);
(7) Buddhism and National Culture: Seminar Proceedings;
(8) International Symposium on India and World Literature;
(9) Tradition: A Continual Renewal (Seminar Proceedings);
(10) Directory of Cultural Organisations in India (revised edition). The Council participated with the National Book Trust, in the Frankfurt Bo ok Fair, the Moscow International Book Fair, the Singapore and Malaysia Book fairs .

Audio Visual Reference Section As part of the efforts to streamline the work of the Council, a special ef fort was made to improve the Audio Visual Reference Section. In this connection, th e Council organised a series of programmes of Indian dance and music and recorded these programmes to strengthen the reference section. During the year, over 47 programmes featuring many well-known as well as younger musicians and dancers were presented in Azad Bhavan and other venues in Delhi. The Advisory Panel for Music and Dance met in November 1989 to review the reference panels and selection process of the Council.

Indian Cultural Centres Abroad For promoting greater awareness and appreciation of India's cultural herita ge abroad, the Council has established Indian Cultural Centres in Suva (Fiji), Georgetown (Guyana), Jakarta (Indonesia), Port Louis (Mauritius), Moscow (USSR) and Paramaribo (Suriname). Indian music and dance as well as Indian languages are taught at the Centres by Indian teachers deputed by the Council. The Centre at Moscow also Conducts courses on Yoga with the help of teachers deputed from India. These Centres maintain libraries and reading rooms, organi se lectures, symposia, exhibitions, essay competitions, performances of dance and music, staging of plays, screening of films and publication of news bulletins. The Centres are expected to develop and maintain contacts with a wide cross section of local. citizens including students, teachers, scholars and cultural personaliti es.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Indian Cultural Centre in Jakarta was formally inaugurated on Jun 09, 1989. Chairs of Indian Studies Abroad Under various schemes, the Council also sends abroad Visiting Professors for teaching indology, Indian languages and allied subjects. During the period und er report, 16 academics were in position in Universities in China, Indonesia, Thai land, Republic of Korea, Turkey, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana and Suriname.

Regional Offices within India Within India, the Regional offices located at Bombay, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Calcutta, Lucknow, Madras and Trivandrum have also been active in promoting the Council's work in Centres other than Delhi. The Council has taken up several projects for acquiring land and buildings so that these regional offices can fu nction more effectively. The Calcutta Cultural Complex cum Regional office project sh ould be going into the construction phase shortly.

Jan 01, 1989

APPENDIX I