Annual Report 1992-93
| India's External Relations : An overview 1 |
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| S.NO. CHAPTERS
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1992
India's External Relations An Overview
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The functioning of the Minis" of External Affairs during the year
1992-93 should be evaluated in the context of the additional dimensions
of changes and uncertainties which characterised international relations
during this period, as well as certain trends of domestic turmoil and
tension. India's foreign policy, therefore, had to acquire the necessary
flexibility and responsiveness to meet the situation. The year under
review shows that the Ministry under the guidance of the higher
leadership in the Government has been able to meet this objective to a
satisfactory extent despite external pressures and internal constraints.
Basic considerations which governed the structuring of our foreign
policy and its implementation are: preservation of India's national
identity as a plural, democratic and secular society, India's
territorial integrity, and well-being of our people. This last objective
involved the refashioning of our domestic economic arrangements and its
appropriate projection abroad so that the necessary external inputs
could be ensured for sustaining developmental activities and
modernisation of our economy. These factors governing our foreign policy
were subject to pressures generated by external trends and forces
characterising the international situation. While there were growing
trends of democracy in the international community and a greater demand
for economic fairplay and respect for human rights, there was also an
upsurge of centrifugal ethno-religious forces, secessionist movements,
assertion of subnational identities threatening composite pluralistic
societies. Our foreign policy had to and has to cope with these
challenges while ensuring our abiding interests in maintaining our
national identity and ensuring our economic development.
India adjusted to the rapidly changing external scenario with dynamism
and a practical approach. Though in the aftermath of the cold war the
world
was perceived as unipolar with the United States becoming the most
influential politico-military power, India perceived that the
international situation cannot be defined in uni-dimensional terms.
There were and there are other emerging centres of influence which would
have long term influence on and implications for international
relations. An economically resurgent China, - technologically and
economically dominant Japan and Germany, a politically assertive Europe
integrating itself in socio-economic terms were and are to be
acknowledged as potent influences in the conduct of 'foreign relations.
The emergence of regional cooperation arrangements in the ASEAN and Asia
Pacific region and in South and North America were other factors to be
reckoned with. The emerging world, therefore, is multipolar and Indian
foreign policy aimed at establishing equations with these emerging
centres of influence in international relations. The balance held by the
two superpowers is gone. The multiplicity of new nations and the role of
Russia in the changed context requires bilateral exchanges and the
forging of new associations with emerging nations.
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India's relations with its immediate neighbours in South Asia are
naturally a matter of highest priority. India made a conscious and
purposive effort to improve bilateral relations and multilateral
cooperation with its neighbours. Prime Minister, Shri Narasimha Rao, met
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of Pakistan five times at different
international conferences. Foreign Secretary level talks were held as
scheduled throughout the period under review. Additional Confidence
Building Measures are being put in place gradually. Attempts continued
for establishing a working good-neighbourly relationship with Pakistan.
In overall terms, however, there has been a distinct negative trend in
Pakistan's attitude towards improving Indo-Pak relations. Unless there
is a change in Pakistan's behaviour, an adversarial and tense
interaction could be the prospect in the foreseeable future. The reason,
in India's perception, is Pakistan's continuing domestic political
compulsions to interfere in Kashmir and Punjab, Pakistan's perceptions
about India's vulnerabilities of which it attempts to take advantage and
Pakistan's own internal crisis of identity which necessitates the power
structure of Pakistan nurturing an antagonistic relationship with India
on the basis of communal and extremist religious arguments. While
acknowledging these prospects realistically, India's endeavour remains
to prevent the tense relationship
from crossing thresholds which could drift towards military
confrontation. India's long term interest is in having a good-
neighbourly and normal relationship with Pakistan.
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Relations with Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Maldives have steadily
improved and the content of bilateral relations has increased. There is
a qualitative and positive change in our relations with Nepal, which
acquired economic substance due to the discussions held between the
Prime Minister of Nepal and Prime Minister, Shri Narasimha Rao, at Delhi
and Kathmandu. Our commitment to deepening our close links with Bhutan
was expressed through decisions on cooperation in Bhutan's Seventh Five
Year Plan (1992-97) and during the King of Bhutan's State visit to India
in January 1993. With Nepal, an ambitious agenda of cooperation in
developing water resources and in strengthening our many bonds was
agreed during Prime Minister Shri Narasimha Rao's visit to Nepal in
October 1992. Discussions held by our Prime Minister Shri Rao with
President Premadasa in Colombo in late 1991 and during Mr Premadasa's
visit to India in January 1993 marked a constructive orientation in
relations with Sri Lanka. There have been high level visits between
these countries and India which contributed substantially to this
process. Discussions between Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and President
Gayoom also structured bilateral relations between India and Maldives on
positive lines.
Relations with Bangladesh showed improvement, the highlight of the year
was Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's visit to India in May, 1992. The
long standing problem related to the Tin Bigha corridor was resolved
with India handing over Tin Bigha to Bangladesh and satisfactory
arrangements being made for Bangladesh's access to the Tin Bigha area
through a leased corridor. Issues relating to the sharing of water
resources, the return of the Chakma refugees were the subject matter of
detailed discussions. Though they remain unresolved, a willingness to
reason together on these issues instead of taking rigid political
stances characterised exchanges between the two countries.
The demolition of the disputed structure in Ayodhya and its aftermath
has affected bilateral relations with India on the one hand and Pakistan
and Bangladesh on the other. The assertively intrusive pronouncements
made
by the leaders of these two countries and the resolutions passed in the
National Legislatures of these two countries on developments in India
have certainly generated additional tensions. Establishing a pattern of
durable friendly relations and creating an atmosphere of peace and
stability in the South Asian region, therefore, remains a difficult task
but working for the objectives of friendship, peace and stability with
patience remains a commitment of the Government of India not only
because this is desirable but also because it is necessary and
imperative for stability and progress of the South Asian region.
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India's relations with the United States have become closer and more
substantial. Beginning with the meeting between Prime Minister Narasimha
Rao and President George Bush in New York in January 1992 during the
Security Council Summit, a series of high level contacts continued
throughout the period under review. These contacts covered political,
strategic, economic and cultural activities in consequence of which
Indo-US cooperation in these spheres have increased in range and
content.
India has restructured its relations with all the countries which
constituted the former Soviet Union. High level exchanges took place
between India and the Russian Federation culminating in President
Yeltsin's visit to India in January 1993 during which ten bilateral
agreements for cooperation were signed covering the entire spectrum of
political, economic, technological and defence relations. The visit,
while underlining the continuity in IndoRussian relations, also
signified India establishing a new pattern of relations with the Russian
Federation, the latter emphasising that the relationship is with a new
political entity and not merely a continuum from the relationship with
the former Soviet Union.
The year was characterised by exchange of visits between the top
political leaders of various Republics which constituted the former
Soviet Union. A series of bilateral agreements of cooperation in
different fields have been put in place with several of these Republics.
India has established direct diplomatic relations with all the Central
Asian Republics and European Republics which formerly were in the Soviet
Union. Foundations have been laid for long term and substantive
relations with all these Republics keeping in mind mutual requirements
and complimentarities. Conscious of the special
cultural and historical linkages with the Central Asian region, India
has opened Embassies in Alma Ata in Kazhakhstan and Tashkent in
Uzbekistan. The Ministry has also decided to open a Mission in Dushanbe
in Tajikistan. These Missions have concurrent accreditations to cover
other countries in Central Asia. The majority of leaders, who came to
India from areas formerly of the Soviet Union, were from the Central
Asian Republics and a number of leaders of the Government of India also
visited these Republics.
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The politico-economic integration of Europe despite the difficulties
being encountered in the process required India to incorporate the
factor in its relationship with West European countries. High level
contacts were maintained with these countries with Prime Ministerial
level exchanges having taken place with UK, Germany, France, Portugal
and Spain. Both political and economic relations were strengthened and
their long term orientation are being defined in agreements with the
European Community collectively and with several European countries
individually.
India's relations with China showed steady improvement and were
characterised by an increasing number of high level visits and
discussions. Prime Minister Li Peng visited India during the period
under review; former President R Venkataraman visited China and had
extensive discussions with the entire leadership of China. Apart from
these, Legislators, Ministers, cultural and technological delegations
exchanged visits. Consulates were reopened in Shanghai and Bombay. The
Joint Working Group dealing with
the boundary question increased the ' frequency of its meetings and
tangible progress has been made in implementing mutual confidence
building measures and towards reaching an agreement on maintaining peace
and tranquillity on the Line of Actual Control. While the resolution of
the boundary question will take time, the objective of both sides has
been to steadily strengthen bilateral relations and evolving a political
atmosphere of mutual trust which would contribute to the solution of the
boundary issue. Instead of the annual one round of the bilateral
meetings of the Joint Working Group, two rounds (fourth and fifth) of
the JWG have already been held during the year and the next round
(sixth) will take place during 1993.
Prime Minister Narasimha Rao's visit to Japan in June 1992 and the visit
of Prince and Princess Akishino from Japan to India in November 1992,
commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic
relations between India and Japan were the highlights of Indo-japanese
relations during 1992-93. Indo-japanese political, cultural, economic
and technological cooperation showed growth. High level exchanges
between Governmental and economic leaders of the two countries gave an
impetus to this process. These exchanges with Japan reflected the
importance that India attaches to Indo-japanese relations in the context
of Japan's significance and influence in regional and international
affairs.
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Success of the ASEAN as a regional grouping of countries naturally
attracted India's attention, given India's own economic reforms. India
desired improved relations with individual countries in the ASEAN region
and with ASEAN as a collective entity. ASEAN agreed to have sectoral
dialogue with India and associated India with the ASEAN in a sectoral
framework. This implies India's being able to interact with the ASEAN
countries in specific areas of economic and technological activities.
Bilateral relations with important ASEAN countries have also increased
with possibilities of greater economic interaction between them and
India. Beginnings have also been made for cooperation in the fields of
defence supplies and consultations on security matters with the
initiation of high level visits by our Defence Minister and senior
officials of the Ministry and Service Chiefs to the area.
India has shown interest in associating itself with new economic
cooperation arrangements which are on the anvil in the Asia Pacific
region including countries like Australia, South Korea and Japan. But as
these arrangements are still embryonic, final scope for further
cooperation with this area is yet to crystallise into future groupings.
India's relations with countries of the Gulf, West Asia and North Africa
were maintained on an even keel. An important development was that the
misunderstandings about India's policies in some countries towards the
Gulf crisis of 1990-91 were removed. Relations were stabilised and
upgraded. India's economic relations and the status and well-being of
the people of Indian origin functioning in the Gulf countries, West Asia
and North Africa stabilised and improved.
India's establishing direct diplomatic relations with Israel was in
conformity with the emerging trend in international relations of more
and more countries
including Arab countries having contacts with Israel. The Chairman of
the PLO Mr Yasser Arafat also acknowledged the political realism of the
step taken by India. India was invited to become a participant in the
Middle East Peace Process and was invited to become a member of all the
five working groups discussing different aspects of structuring new
agreements on the Middle East-Palestine question. India has been a
participant in these proceedings since their inception.
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Developments in South Africa, particularly the ongoing discussions
between the African National Congress and the regime in Pretoria were a
matter Of particular interest and attention to India. India has sent
observers to monitor proceedings and discussions for the restoration of
democracy and a majority government in South Africa. Indian political
figures and officials have been in close touch with the Commonwealth
Secretariat and with the African National Congress in furthering the
process for the installation of a truly democratic Government in South
Africa. Expectation is that such a Government will come into being by
the end of 1993. India proposes to gradually increase its cultural,
commercial and consular presence in South Africa in tandem with progress
being made towards the installation of a democratic Government in that
country. India expects to establish full diplomatic relations when a
democratic Government comes into power in South Africa.
India maintained its close relationship with African countries and with
their leaders. Programmes of economic and technical cooperation have
been sustained. However, due to political violence, uncertainties and
considerations of economy, the Ministry decided to close down its
Missions in Zaire, Somalia and Malawi.
India's bilateral relations with countries of Caribbean and South
America were maintained at optimum levels despite limitations of
distance and economic factors. India's cooperation with South American
countries were particularly significant in the multilateral context as
during the period under report the Global Summit Conference on
Environment and the various meetings of the G-15 were held in that
region.
India was active in various multilateral fora sharing the concern of the
international community on important issues and also for ensuring its
own
national interests which can be affected by the deliberations and
decisions of such organisations. Prime Minister Narasimha Rao
participated in the Security Council Summit at the end of January 1992.
He also participated in the International Economic Conference at Davos
and the Non-Aligned Summit at Jakarta. India remained active in the
United Nations particularly as a member of the Security Council till the
end of 1992, relinquishing the seat on the 1st of January 1993, at the
end of India's two-year tenure. Indian forces are participating in UN
peace keeping operations in Yugoslavia, Somalia, Cambodia and
Mozambique.
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The Indian delegation led by Prime Minister Narasimha Rao took part in
the crucial 10th Non-Aligned Summit held in Jakarta in September 1992.
This Summit was crucial because it was the first Summit of the NAM after
the disintegration of the Soviet Union, the end of the cold war, and the
emergence of new equations between different power centres in the world.
The relevance of the NAM and countries in the non-aligned movement was
being questioned. Prime Minister Shri Narasimha Rao's speech gave the
necessary orientation to the NAM emphasising that if the NAM was
relevant in a bipolar world, it is even more relevant as a movement to
protect the interests of the developing countries in a unipolar or
economically multipolar world. Our Prime Minister's realistic and
practical analysis of the prospect and role of the NAM was appreciated
and was acknowledged as an important factor contributing to the movement
adjusting to changing realities with the required orientations and
directions.
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Activities of the G-15 continued to be a matter of attention on the part
of India. India participated in the preparatory meetings for the G-15 in
Caracas, New York, Geneva and Dakar, ultimately leading to the
participation of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao in the G-15 Summit in
Dakar in November 1992. India alongwith Senegal and Malaysia contributed
substantially to the programmes and projects being undertaken by the G-
15. India is to host the next summit of the G-15 in Delhi later in 1993.
India remains fully committed to the ideals and objectives of the SAARC
Charter. Indian participation was active and sustained in various
programmes, projects and workshops organised by SAARC. India took a
particularly positive attitude on various new suggestions and projects
for
regional cooperation brought up with the SAARC during the period under
review. India was supportive in finalising recommendations for poverty
alleviation programme and for the establishment of a SAARC preferential
trade area. It was India's expectation that high level policy decisions
would be finalised during the SAARC Summit to be held in Dhaka in
December and later in January. Unfortunately this Summit could not take
place because of the political tensions and violence occurring in
Bangladesh and Pakistan and the views expressed on bilateral and
regional cooperation by leading governmental and political circles in
these two countries which gave negative signals to a meaningful
dialogue. The Government of India felt that holding of the Summit in a
surcharged and tense atmosphere would be counterproductive. India hopes
that an atmosphere of calm and peace would be restored so that the SAARC
Summit could be held. India's request for a postponement of the
scheduled Summit in no way erodes India's abiding commitments to
cooperation with its South Asian neighbours within the framework of the
SAARC. This last message was specially conveyed by the Prime Minister of
India to the Heads of Governments of member countries of SAARC.
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In the deliberations at the LIN during the period covered by this
report, India strongly advocated the democratisation of the LIN and for
making the Security Council and other organs of the LIN more
representative of the increased membership of the UN. While welcoming
the increasingly effective role that the UN is playing in peace keeping
and peace building operations, India urged that decisions regarding UN
initiatives in these matters should always be based on a consensus in
the General Assembly that such action should reflect the will of the
international community rather than just five permanent members of the
Security Council and that such activity should always be strictly within
the framework of the UN Char-ter and carried out under the command of
the LIN. India also noted that the five permanent members of the
Security Council are not in favour of revising the Charter or expanding
the Security Council though there have been suggestions that Germany and
Japan could be given permanent seats. India would continue its advocacy
for the democratisation of the UN to make it more effective.
Issues of international concerns like human rights, environment, non-
proliferation and the transfer of advanced technologies in their foreign
policy dimensions engaged the attention of the Ministry. India has
consistently maintained that while it is committed to universal norms of
human rights, these should not be used unilaterally as an argument to
pressurise developing countries. On non-proliferation, India remains
committed to a principled stand, viz India is completely committed to
nonproliferation. However, India will not be party to any discriminatory
arrangement regarding non-proliferation as envisaged in the NPT. India
is willing to work bilaterally and multilaterally to achieve the
objective of global and complete disarmament, particularly nuclear
disarmament within a definite timeframe on a non-discriminatory basis.
India has agreed to have bilateral discussions with a number of
important countries to meet this objective. That these countries which
are committed to non-proliferation treaty are agreeable to have
bilateral discussions with India indicates that in some measure they
accept the logic and relevance of the Indian stand on non-proliferation
though they may not completely agree with our approach. The NPT is
coming up for renewal in 1995 preparatory work for this commencing later
in 1993. India is of the view that this occasion should be utilised to
review the contents of the NPT to make it non-discriminatory and
universally applicable.
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India participated in the Global Summit on Environment in Rio de Janeiro
in June 1992 at the Prime Minister's level. India's advocacy in favour
of protecting global environment without juxtaposing this objective with
the need for sustained development found a responsive echo among many of
the participants.
India has voiced opposition to restrictive or discriminatory regimes
being put in place against the transfer of modern and sophisticated
technologies from the advanced to the developing countries. These
technologies relate to space, generation of nuclear energy,
communications, informatics and so on. India is hoping to work with
like-minded countries in ensuring the formulation and implementation of
international rules and procedures in this regard in a fair and just
manner.
In step with our liberalised economic policies and the growing
importance of increasing trade, investment and technology flows, the
Ministry worked through its Missions and Posts to promote and safeguard
India's economic
and commercial interests. It paid special attention to the requirement
of external economic publicity in the context of the need to effectively
project India and its economic reform programme to the international
business community. In addition to preparing state of the art
promotional material for use by its Missions abroad, the Ministry
successfully organised several investment promotion events in target
countries in coordination with concerned Ministries and with the
participation of their senior Ministers and officials. For visiting
delegations of top rank industrialists such as those that accompanied
the British Prime Minister in January and the German Chancellor in
February 1993, the Ministry organised high level panel discussions
between the visiting industrialists and several Secretaries to key
Ministries of Government of India such as Finance, Commerce, Industry,
Power and Telecommunications. These Roundtables were widely appreciated
both by the foreign Governments and businessmen concerned as having
provided the opportunity for useful interactions with GOI on investment
and trade related issues. In addition, the Ministry was active in
keeping Missions informed on an immediate basis on the changes in
economic policies and in obtaining regular feedback on reactions to
India's economic liberalisation programme among industrialised
countries. On the basis of this feedback, the Ministry sent periodic
reports to concerned Ministries and organisations on ongoing investment
promotion efforts and further measures that needed to be taken on
increasing inflows of foreign investment. It also organised economic
orientation programmes for its Heads of Missions from target countries;
these programmes served to underline the growing importance of the
economic aspects of Indian diplomacy and by promoting first hand
interactions with key economic Ministries, assisted the Missions in the
efficient discharge of their economic and commercial responsibilities.
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The Missions, especially in economically important countries, were
active in reaching out to foreign business communities and Governments
and keeping them informed of the new business opportunities available in
India. Investment promotion seminars and industrial delegations were
organised, business queries promptly responded to in coordination with
concerned Ministries and methodical follow-up undertaken thereafter to
maintain close contact with potential foreign investors.
In recognition of the important role being played by it in India's
investment
and trade promotion efforts, the Ministry has been asked to participate
on the Foreign Investment Promotion Board and the Steering Committee Of
Secretaries on economic reforms.
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The period under review was also characterised by certain internal steps
taken within the Ministry to improve its functioning and efficiency.
New Embassies were set up in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Israel and
Consulates General in Shanghai, St. Petersberg and Vladivostok. In
addition, the Consulate in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan, has been
upgraded to an Embassy. The personnel requirement of those new Missions
was met in the short run by swift diversion from other Missions.
In accordance with the Government's directive on strict economy, certain
Missions were identified for closure after weighing all relevant
factors. The Missions slated for closure are those in Malawi, Zaire and
Colombia. Ministry is taking measures to ensure that our bilateral
relations with these countries are not affected by the closure of these
resident Missions.
There has been a major reorganisation and streamlining of the work at
Headquarters so that the Ministry can respond more effectively to the
changed and changing international situation. Some territorial divisions
have been merged to ensure better coordination of policies in the
concerned area and some new Divisions have been created to enable the
Ministry to focus more closely on developments within those regions. To
handle work of specialised nature, separate Units have been, set up
where required. For example, a Central Asia Division was established to
look after the newly created CIS states in Asia; separate Asia Pacific
and ASEAN Divisions have been carved out, an International Security and
Disarmament Division has been set up to look after this specialised
work. Further, wherever economy as well as rationalisation could be
achieved through merger of Divisions, this exercise was undertaken. For
example, the Conference Cell was made a part of Protocol Division; SAARC
Division was merged with Economic Division.
To optimise the utilisation of manpower, a time schedule has been drawn
up for regular meetings of the various Boards to recommend postings and
transfers of officials which is being strictly observed. As a result it
has become possible to plan the movement of personnel well ahead of time
resulting in greater efficiency.
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The Departmental Promotion Committees to consider promotions to various
grades in IFS as well as IFS (B) are being convened more regularly. This
contributed to service morale.
Greater transparency has been introduced in the posting procedure. For
the first time, a system has been introduced for circulating information
well in advance about the posts available at all levels to the concerned
officers at Headquarters and abroad.
During the year under report, four important construction projects at
New York, Kuwait, Dubai and Kuala Lumpur were completed. These buildings
are symbolic of our cultural heritage and reflect the image of a modern
and dynamic India. As a result of these efforts, Ministry will save
considerable expenditure on the rentals of offices and residences of
officials in these expensive cities. With the same objective in view,
the Ministry purchased five apartments for residences of the officials
of the Indian Embassy, Washington.
The Ministry also began several new projects for construction of
Chanceries and residences for officials at Beijing, Islamabad (Phase
II), Tashkent and a well equipped Campus for the Foreign Service
Institute at New Delhi. A modern and spacious office is being built up
for Regional Passport Office, New Delhi with improved facilities for the
public.
The Indian Council for Cultural Relations continued its activities
imaginatively and effectively under the guidance of then Vice President
of India, Dr Shanker Dayal Sharma. Apart from organising cultural
festivals, the ICCR significantly diversified its activities to
encourage academic exchanges, research projects and publication of
material of contemporary socio-cultural importance.
Publicity activities of the Ministry of External Affairs assumed
critical importance in face of the adverse publicity and propaganda
generated by some countries against India on issues of Kashmir, Punjab,
violation of human rights, etc. The reports and assessments on human
rights issues in India circulated by human rights organisations like
Amnesty International and Asia Watch also necessitated a gearing up of
Government of India's external publicity efforts to put matters in
perspective, to set the record
straight and, more important, to project the problems faced by India and
the remedial action being taken by India in a manner which would prevent
adverse fallout. India's external publicity efforts covered the entire
spectrum of media activities, audio-visual, personal interaction with
Press representatives, organisation of seminars and discussions with
participation from abroad, the commissioning of articles, monographs and
dissemination of substantive as well as descriptive information on
matters of interest and matters deserving attention.
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The Ministry initiated an exercise to review the entire system of
passport services with the objective of streamlining procedures in order
to reduce delays, improve infrastructure and provide the public with
prompt passport services, while simultaneously deterring passport fraud.
As part of this exercise the Ministry introduced a number of measures
including the sale of forms through Post Offices, issuance of passports
on a first-come-first-served basis with a set time-limit for the police
verification report, decentralisation of powers for the priority issue
of passports to specified categories of applicants, streamlined
procedures for the issue of duplicate passports and availability of most
miscellaneous services at any Passport Office. On the operational front,
the Ministry concentrated on improving productivity. As a result, in
1992 there was a 40% increase in the output of fresh passports over the
previous year.
1992 has been an eventful year for international relations. There were
historic at times cataclysmic, changes in the international geo-
political environment. Indian Foreign Policy had to respond not only to
these external changes but also to the winds of change sweeping the
internal economy. Thus, internal measures and requirements of austerity
had to be balanced against the need of meeting our national interests in
terms of external relations effectively. The performance of the Ministry
during 1992-93 has to be evaluated against this complex and challenging
backdrop.
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1992
1 India's Neighbours
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| Top |
INDIA CONTINUED TO PURSUE THE GOALS OF PEACE, FRIENDSHIP AND
COOPERATION in relations with her neighbours in South Asia. To achieve
these goals India, Inter alia, maintained high level contacts with the
countries of the region.
During the year under review, traditionally close and cordial relations
between India and Nepal were further deepened and strengthened including
through exchange of a number of official visits.
Prime Minister paid an official goodwill visit to Nepal from 19 to 21
October 1992 at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Nepal. Prime
Minister was accompanied by Minister of State for External Affairs Shri
R L Bhatia and senior officials of the Government of India. The Indian
and Nepalese delegations led by the two Prime Ministers held detailed
discussions on issues of common interest. During the course of these
meetings, as also the earlier discussions at the official level that
preceded the visit of Prime Minister, a number of decisions were taken
and steps finalised with a view to further strengthening and expanding
bilateral cooperation.
A Joint Communique was signed during the visit enlisting various areas
of cooperation between the two countries. In the trade sector in
particular, substantial improvements have been made and transit of
Nepalese goods has been further facilitated. India has agreed to enhance
the revolving stand-by credit facility extended to Nepal from the level
of Indian Rs 35 crores to Rs 50 crores. A timeframe for investigations,
preparation of project reports and other works for water resources
cooperation on the Karnali-Pancheshwar, Rapti Koshi, Budhi Gandaki,
Kamala and Bagmati projects were agreed upon. The B P Koirala Nepal-
India Foundation was jointly inaugurated by the two Prime Ministers
during the visit. The Foundation would provide an institutional
framework for promoting academic, cultural and technical exchanges
between India and Nepal. An Indo-Nepal high level task force has been
set up to monitor and review the implementation of Indian aided projects
in Nepal. The King of Nepal has accepted an invitation from Prime
Minister to visit India at a mutually convenient date. The Prime
Minister of Nepal has also accepted the invitation to visit India.
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A 6-member Parliamentary delegation led by Shri Shivraj Patil, Speaker
of Lok Sabha, visited Nepal from 15 to 19 November 1992 to participate
in the SAARC Speakers' Conference. Shri Patil extended an invitation to
Members of Parliament from Nepal to attend training camps organized by
India's Bureau of Parliamentary Studies.
The traditionally close and friendly relations between India and Bhutan
were further strengthened. His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck visited
India in January 1993 and held discussions with President, Prime
Minister 'and other senior Ministers of the Government of India on
issues of mutual interest. There were other high-level visits also from
Bhutan including the visit of the Bhutanese Planning Minister, Minister
for Trade and Industry and Finance Minister. The Foreign Secretary and
Secretary (Water Resources) also visited Bhutan. These visits helped in
further consolidating the close relations between India and Bhutan.
India's bilateral cooperation with Bhutan has been steadily increasing
right from 1961, when India fully funded Bhutan's First Five Year Plan.
This close economic cooperation has been further intensified during
Bhutan's Seventh Five Year Plan (1992-97) which was launched in July
1992. The total Indian assistance for Bhutan's Seventh Plan would be Rs
750 crores. Several major projects are expected to be taken up by India
in Bhutan during this plan period including a large cement plant at
Nganglam, an Airport Terminal building at Paro, Kurichu Hydel Project in
Eastern Bhutan, hospitals, roads and bridges, transmission lines and
sub-stations, etc.
The long association of India in the development of Bhutan's power
sector was further strengthened in November 1992 with the signing of a
Memorandum of Understanding between India and Bhutan for taking up the
detailed project report for Bunakha Hydel Project in Bhutan. Bunakha
Hydel Project would have an installed capacity of 120 MW and would
contribute to the welfare and economic development of Bhutan.
India continued to offer Bhutanese students opportunity for secondary as
well as higher education and training in various fields. Cooperation in
educational and cultural fields continued to be close.
The year 1992 began with a positive note in the Indo-Bangladesh
relations with both Governments focussing attention on devising
modalities for leasing Tin Bigha Corridor. An understanding on this
question in March 1992 paved the way for the visit of Begum Khaleda Zia,
Prime Minister of Bangladesh, to India in May. The level of interaction
with the democratic
government in Dhaka continued to remain relatively high, despite
differences of opinion on some important bilateral issues.
-16>
The visit of democratically elected Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Begum
Khaleda Zia, to India from 26 to 28 May 1992 was the first State visit
to a SAARC country since her assumption of power in 1991. During the
visit, fruitful discussions took place on regional and several key
bilateral issues. In addition, the following three accords were signed:
(a) Memorandum of Understanding on Exchange of Plots for the
Construction of Chancery and Residential building;
(b) A Cultural and Academic Exchange Agreement;
(c) Exchange of Instruments of Ratification for the Agreement on the
Avoidance of Double Taxation.
Less than a month later, the Tin Bigha issue was satisfactorily
resolved. The Corridor was finally leased to Bangladesh and opened for
use by Bangladeshi passengers and vehicular traffic on 26 June.
The goodwill thus generated was further enhanced by the subsequent
visits to Delhi by Bangladesh Ministers for Finance from 1 to 3
September and Foreign Affairs from 12 to 14 November, and the visits to
Dhaka by Minister for Water Resources from 25 to 27 August and Foreign
Secretary from 21 to 23 August.
Unfortunately, after September there were some setbacks following the
controversy with regard to the steps to push back illegal Bangladeshi
migrants and the resistance by Bangladesh not to accept them.
Bilateral relations came under further strains due to violent reactions
in Bangladesh to the Ayodhya incident. In widespread violence, the
Indian diplomatic premises in Dhaka came under attack; the High
Commission Library and the Indian Airlines office were set on fire.
Scores of places of worship, commercial establishments and houses of the
minority community in Bangladesh were damaged and burnt. India expressed
her concern in this regard to the Government of Bangladesh as also the
hope that the countries of South Asia would join together in opposing
communal forces and would not allow these forces to retard the process
of bilateral and regional cooperation.
Despite setbacks, India and Bangladesh continued to hold discussions to
resolve other outstanding bilateral matters such as the equitable
sharing of the waters of the major rivers and the repatriation of Chakma
refugees to Bangladesh.
-17>
The first Secretary-level Joint Committee of Experts (JCE) met in New
Delhi on 19 and 20 November to devise a long-term settlement including
an interim arrangement of the flows of Ganga and Tista during the dry
season. So far as the repatriation of Chakma refugees is concerned, a
Political Level Committee was set up by the Government of Bangladesh in
July as stipulated in the Indo-Bangladesh Joint Communique of May 1992
to encourage Chakma refugees to return to Bangladesh and for finding out
a political solution to the Chakma problem. Negotiations were underway
between the Committee and the Chakma representatives.
The trade review talks were held in New Delhi in August to place a
special focus on increasing and diversifying trade and economic
cooperation between India and Bangladesh.
India's exports to Bangladesh in 1991-92 were valued at Rs 810 crores
whereas imports from Bangladesh were Rs 14 crores.
Despite some tentative steps taken by the Myanmar Government recently
towards addressing the issue, Myanmar's suppression of the democratic
movement continued to be a factor in India's relations with that
country. India continued to press for the early restoration of democracy
in Myanmar. In early December 1992 India extended support to a UN
Resolution on Myanmar, calling for an early restoration of democracy and
human rights and the immediate and unconditional release of all
political prisoners including Ms Aung San Suu Kyi.
India watched with close attention the changes introduced by Gen Than
Shwe, the Chairman of the state law and order restoration council,
including the decision to convene a National Convention on 9 January
1993 to formulate a new Constitution for Myanmar.
With a view to a better management of a working relationship with the
Myanmar Government, India received a Myanmar delegation led by the
Director General of the Myanmar Foreign Office in August 1992.
Discussions held during the visit identified concrete areas for
bilateral cooperation including border trade, prevention of narco-
trafficking and contacts between the civilian and military authorities
in the border regions of the two countries to prevent illegal
activities, etc. Agreements for cooperation in the areas identified thus
far are expected to be signed shortly.
-18>
President of Sri Lanka, Mr Ranasinghe Premadasa, came to India from 1 to
3 October 1992 in his capacity as Chairman of the Sixth SAARC Summit.
The visit also served as a State visit in view of the fact that this was
his first visit to India as President of Sri Lanka. The President of Sri
Lanka and the Prime Minister confirmed the validity of SAARC as a forum
for enhancing interaction among countries of the region. Issues of
common interest to SAARC countries, discussed during the visit, included
poverty alleviation, SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA),
cooperation to combat terrorism, etc. The two sides also undertook a
review of bilateral matters such as repatriation of Sri Lankan refugees,
practical problems faced by fishermen from both countries and economic
cooperation. The two sides expressed satisfaction over the on-going
return of Sri Lankan refugees to their country and agreed to continue
the cooperation to ensure an early return of these refugees from India.
From 21 January 1992 till 2 October 1992, over 29,000 Sri Lankan
refugees had returned to their country. The process has been temporarily
suspended and is expected to be resumed shortly. Regarding problems
faced by fishermen from both the countries straying into each others
waters, the two sides agreed to deal with such cases in a spirit of
mutual accommodation and understanding and to initiate discussions on
the subject at the level of senior officials.
On the ethnic question in Sri Lanka, India reiterated her considered and
consistent view that the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil Community
should be fulfilled within the framework of a united Sri Lanka through
negotiations involving all parties which have eschewed violence. The Sri
Lankan side briefed the Indian side about the present position and
future prospects as seen by them.
The year 1992 saw expanding cooperation in various areas between India
and Sri Lanka. The second meeting of the Sub-Commission on Trade,
Finance and Investment was held in New Delhi in September 1992. Meetings
of the other two Sub-Commissions on Social, Cultural and Educational
matters, and on Science and Technology are also due to be convened
shortly. During President Premadasa's visit, the two sides expressed
satisfaction over the progress with regard to various proposals under
the auspices of the Joint Commission. During the year, there were
increasing contacts between the business communities of the two
countries., as illustrated by the convening of the Indo-Sri Lanka joint
Business Council in Delhi in March 1992, after a lapse of 11 years, and
the participation of over 100 business delegates from India in the
EXPO'92 held in Colombo in November 1992. The visit of the Sri Lankan
Minister for Industry, Science and
Technology to India in March 1992 also provided an opportunity for an
useful exchange of views.
-19>
In the wake of Ayodhya incident, it was heartening to receive the
message sent by President Premadasa to Prime Minister on 8 December 1992
appreciating the principled stand of Prime Minister and the Government
of India. on the Ayodhya developments. The restraint and maturity shown
by the Government and people of Sri Lanka in reacting to the Ayodhya
developments is worthy of commendation.
Existing close and friendly relations with Maldives were further
consolidated and reinforced by regular consultation and meetings which
resulted in close understanding at the highest level. Prime Minister met
President Gayoom in Rio during the Earth Summit in June 1992 and again
in Jakarta in September 1992 during the 10th NAM Summit. These high
level contacts provided an opportunity to assess the on-going multi-
dimensional cooperation programmes which encompass infrastructure
development, health and welfare, civil aviation, communication and
manpower resource development of Maldives.
The Second Session of Indo-Maldives joint Commission for Economic and
Technical Cooperation was held at New Delhi on 2 and 3 March 1992. The
joint Commission looked into every aspect of non-military bilateral
relations between the two countries.
Maldivian Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Mr Abdul Rasheed
Hussain, led a 6-member delegation to New Delhi to attend a conference
organized jointly by UNICEF and Department of Women and Child
Development from 3 to 5 June 1992.
Maldivian Minister of State and Head of Customs, Mr Hussain Manikfann,
visited India for two weeks from 10 to 24 October 1992 to familiarise
himself with the Customs Regulations in India.
Defence Secretary, Shri N N Vohra, visited Maldives from 19 to 21
December 1992 to discuss various matters connected with Indo-Maldives
defence cooperation. During his stay in Male, Shri Vohra met President
Gayoom, Foreign Minister Fathulla Jameel and Director General of
National Security Service (NSS), Mr Abdul Sattar Anbaree.
Relations with Pakistan, however, continued to be under strain on
account of Pakistan's negative approach. Pakistan's interference in
India's internal affairs and support to subversion and terrorism
directed against India not
only continued in the States of Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir but assumed
new dimensions. There is, however, growing international realization and
concern at Pakistan's involvement with terrorism directed against India.
In line with its proclivity to interfere in India's internal affairs,
the Pakistani leadership sought to make statements and agitate public
opinion in that country on matters such as developments in Ayodhya which
were purely the internal affair of India.
-20>
India has, in the interest of peace and security of the region and in
accordance with the Simla Agreement, pursued the path of bilateral
dialogue with Pakistan in an attempt to create an atmosphere of mutual
trust and confidence. In April 1992, some proposals on Military
Confidence Building Measures were forwarded to Pakistan. The sixth round
of Foreign Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan which were
scheduled from 1 to 3 June 1992 had to be postponed as Pakistan vitiated
the atmosphere by the abduction and brutal torture of a senior Indian
diplomat in Islamabad in violation of all accepted norms on the
treatment of diplomatic personnel. The dialogue got back on track after
the Prime Ministers of the two countries met at Rio on 14 June 1992 when
they agreed that bilateral talks should be resumed. Consequently, a
meeting was held from 6 to 9 August 1992 on the Tulbal Navigation
Project. All legal and technical aspects were discussed. Pakistan's
clearance on the joint draft (worked out in October 1991) is awaited.
This was followed by the sixth round of Foreign Secretary level talks
from 16 to 19 August 1992, when the two sides:
(i) Exchanged the Instruments of Ratification on the Agreement on
Prevention of Air Space Violations by military aircraft and the
Agreement on Advance Notice of Military Exercises, Manoeuvres and Troop
Movements;
(ii) Signed the Code of Conduct on the treatment of
Diplomatic/Consular personnel;
(iii) Issued the Joint Declaration on complete prohibition of chemical
weapons;
(iv) Agreed to discuss a joint declaration on biological weapons
along the lines of the joint declaration on chemical weapons;
(v) Reaffirmed the agreement, in principle, to convene the Sub-
Commissions of the India-Pakistan joint Commission at an appropriate
time. It was agreed that, in the meanwhile, senior officials of
concerned Ministries (Commerce, Education & Culture and Home) could
meet;
-21>
(vi) Extended a formal invitation to the Pakistan's COAS to visit,
India; and
(vii) Agreed on a series of meetings at the official level: on Siachen
at the Defence Secretary level (October/November 1992); on Sir Creek
(September 1992); on technical discussions on the issue of missing
defence personnel (September/October 1992); and on India-Pak Committee
on Drug Trafficking and Smuggling.
The sixth round of talks on the Siachen issue between the Defence
Secretaries of India and Pakistan were held in New Delhi from 2 to 4
November 1992. These talks were resumed after a gap of three years.
Proposals to carry forward the dialogue from the fifth round of talks
(June 1989) aimed at a comprehensive resolution of the Siachen issue
were discussed.
The fifth round of India-Pakistan talks on the Sir Creek issue were held
in New Delhi on 5 and 6 November 1992. The two sides had a detailed and
useful exchange of views on the various issues involved. They agreed
that the discussions would be continued on a mutually convenient date.
The Pakistan Foreign Secretary during his meeting with the Prime
Minister on 17 August 1992 handed over a letter from the Prime Minister
of Pakistan proposing bilateral discussions on Jammu & Kashmir under
Article 6 of the Simla Agreement. It has been conveyed to Pakistan that
the Simla Agreement provides the necessary framework for resolving the
entire range of different issues affecting bilateral relations.
Negotiations within the framework of Simla Agreement cannot be
compartmentalized or fragmented under one specific article of the
Agreement removed from the context. It is ironical that Pakistan so soon
after suggesting bilateral talks under Article 6 of the Simla Agreement
preferred to raise Kashmir in violation of the Simla Agreement at the
international fora including at the 10th NAM Summit at Jakarta and UN
General Assembly (UNGA) plenary session. Pakistan has yet to demonstrate
its sincerity about seriously pursuing meaningful bilateral discussions.
This can take place only in an atmosphere of mutual trust and
confidence. For this, Pakistan must stop its support to terrorism and
cease interference in India's internal affairs. Unfortunately, within
days of Foreign Secretary level talks, Pakistan National Assembly passed
a Resolution on the Babri Masjid issue (28 August).
On 15 October 1992, two Pakistani nationals alongwith terrorist
Talwinder Singh Parmar were killed in an encounter near jullundar.
Pakistan's allegation that these two Pakistani nationals were killed in
cold blood is
unfounded and was only to detract Attention from the fact that these two
Pakistani nationals were without valid visas and in the company of
terrorists with arms and ammunition.
-22>
An attempt was made to cross the LOC on 24 October 1992. Earlier,
attempts had been made on 11 February 1992 and 30 March 1992.
In an effort to curtail people-to-people contacts, Pakistan issued an
Advisory to its citizens on 2 December 1992 not to travel to India and
suggesting that those in India should curtail their stay and return
home.
Following developments in Ayodhya, the Government of Pakistan took a
series of steps which can only be viewed by India as an attempt to
interfere in her internal affairs. Vituperative statements by leaders of
Pakistan including at the highest level, resolutions passed by Pakistan
National Assembly and Pakistan Senate on the demolition of Babri Masjid
and the decision of Government of Pakistan to officially call for
nationwide strike on 8 December 1992 to mark a "day of mourning" were
highly regrettable and unacceptable. Pakistan, or for that matter, no
other country has any locus standi on the developments in Ayodhya.
The situation was further aggravated when the Indian diplomatic premises
in Islamabad and Karachi were targets of mob fury on 8 December. Mobs
ransacked and burnt the residence of the Indian Consul General in
Karachi. This was in violation of not only the international norms on
the inviolability of diplomatic premises but of the recently signed Code
of Conduct between the two countries, under which the receiving
Government is to extend protection to diplomatic/consular property and
personnel. In the prevailing circumstances, Government were forced to
evacuate the families of officials in Karachi.
Through a unilateral decision Pakistan (on 29 December 1992) asked India
to reduce by 31 January 1993 the strength of the Consulate General in
Karachi to 20 (4 diplomats and 16 staff members). Government have
conveyed to Pakistan that parity of the representation between Indian
High Commission in Islamabad and the Pakistan High Commission in New
Delhi should be maintained at 110. Pakistan was asked to withdraw its
excess staff from India by 10 February 1993. It has been conveyed to
Pakistan that henceforth it would not be allowed to operate temporary
visa offices in India. Pakistan has also been informed that it has not
been found possible to accede to its request for use of 'Jinnah House'
for its Consulate General in Bombay or as official residence for its
Consul General.
-23>
The downward trend in India-Pakistan bilateral relations has been caused
by Pakistan's propensity to interfere in India's internal affairs and
its continued support to subversion and terrorism directed against
India. Government are of the firm view that while there could be no
compromise on the unity and integrity of the nation, attempts should be
made to resolve differences with Pakistan bilaterally and peacefully on
the basis of the Simla Agreement and in the interest of peace and
stability in the region. Government have urged the Government of
Pakistan to abandon its negative approach and join in sincere efforts to
have a meaningful dialogue. For this, Pakistan's support to terrorism
must stop. Government hope that Pakistan will reciprocate the desire for
peace and not persist with its present policies which are a negation of
the accepted fundamental principles of inter-state conduct and the Simla
Agreement.
India's relations with Afghanistan are based on traditional ties of
common history and culture. The past year also saw some high level
exchanges. President of Afghanistan, Prof Burhanuddin Rabbani, made a
stop-over in New Delhi on 30 August 1992. The Afghan Minister of State
for Foreign Affairs, Mr Najibullah Laffraei, visited Delhi during
November 1992. India maintained useful exchanges with the new leadership
in Afghanistan.
India has always stood for a sovereign, independent, non-aligned and
united Afghanistan. Government believe that a political settlement
taking into account the legitimate interests of all concerned should be
arrived at by the Afghans themselves without any form of external
interference. India offered Rs 5 crores worth of assistance through the
Office of UN Coordinators for Afghan Refugee Rehabilitation and an equal
amount bilaterally during 1992. India supplied relief items worth Rs 1.5
crores to Afghanistan through UNCOA. As a part of India's bilateral
commitment, Indian relief supplies worth Rs 4.7 crores of essential
items as well as medicines and medical equipments have also been
completed during 1992.
The transitionary phase in Afghanistan has been greatly complicated. A
conflict situation has arisen involving various Afghan groups. Intense
fighting has erupted around Kabul forcing the closure of several
diplomatic missions, including India's. The absence of any political
process, leading to a settlement acceptable to all sections of the
Afghan people, has accentuated sectarian and ethnic tensions which could
seriously undermine Afghanistan's unified character as a nation state. A
renewed international peace initiative, possibly under UN auspices, is
urgently called for.
-24>
India continued to play an important and crucial role in the South Asian
Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Recommendations of the 6th
SAARC Summit were jointly implemented by India and other member
countries, and she contributed to their success in the best possible way
in the light of her resources and capabilities. In pursuance with the
Colombo Summit directive, India held the SAARC Ministerial meeting on
environmental issues in Delhi in April 1992. The meeting adopted a joint
Communique reflecting the consensus of views of SAARC countries on
environment and development which was presented to UN Conference on
Environment and Development (UNCED) at Rio in June 1992. Another SAARC
Ministerial Conference on Children in South Asia was held in Colombo in
September 1992. It adopted a Resolution in which 'illustrative regional
goals' based on National Plan of Action of the Member States in
education, maternal health, nutrition, access to drinking water, etc, to
promote the welfare of children were identified.
One of the notable achievements of SAARC during the period under review
was the drawing up of a draft framework agreement on establishment of
SAARC Preferential Trading Arrangement (SAPTA) by the Secretary-level
Committee on Economic Cooperation (CEC) in November 1992 in pursuance of
a mandate received from & 6th SAARC Summit. The framework agreement
envisages trade liberalisation through a product by product approach to
reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade among SAARC
countries to be established within three years of the signing of the
Agreement by the SAARC Council of Ministers.
Another related development in the area of economic cooperation was the
establishment of a SAARC fund for identification and development of
regional Projects of $ 5 million through proportionate contributions
from the member States. A Regional Council of Development Financing
Institutions (RCDFI) has been established to manage this fund.
In accordance with a decision of the 6th SAARC Summit, an independent
South Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation, consisting of eminent
persons from all member States, was constituted to conduct an in-depth
study on diverse experiences of the seven countries on poverty
alleviation. The Commission has already completed its work and its
recommendations will be placed before the 7th SAARC Summit.
Under the aegis of the SAARC, so far approximately 44 activities have
been held in 1992. These include special training courses, seminars,
meetings, workshops, joint research projects, technical studies, etc.
Almost one third
of the total activities were held in India. The trend in the SAARC is to
shift towards concrete development-oriented discussions in core areas,
such as, in economic cooperation, environment, poverty alleviation, etc.
-25>
The year 1993 was announced as the SAARC Year of Disabled Persons by the
5th Summit held in Male. A Plan of action has been drawn up to observe
this year appropriately. The Plan envisages programmes at both national
and regional levels.
Since India is committed to collective self-reliance among the SAARC
Countries, it has always advocated in SAARC fora, the utilisation of
resources available within the region for its programmes or activities.
However, lately India has, in due deference to the demands of the member
States for international assistance, agreed. to a proposed SAARC-Japan
Special Fund of $ 5 million to be used partly for SAARC programmes and
partly to provide intellectual exchange between Japan and the SAARC
member States. SAARC has also authorised the Chairman of the Council of
Ministers to carry out informal consultations with the EEC and the ASEAN
in order to identify mutual beneficial areas of cooperation with them.
India continued to play an active role in the SAARC with the hope that
it can develop into an effective vehicle for promoting the economic,
social, technical, scientific and cultural development of the countries
of the region, as it is required to do under its Charter.
The 7th SAARC Summit originally scheduled to be held on 12 and 13
December 1992 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, was postponed by a month to 13 and
14 January 1993 in the wake of post-Ayodhya developments. India had
agreed to these new dates in the hope that the situation in and around
India would have stabilised and the political tensions in the region
would have abated by then.
Unfortunately, the Summit had to be postponed for the second time, at
India's behest, because of continued vitiated political atmosphere and
actions in some member States amounting to interference in the internal
affairs of India. It was felt that the political direction needed at
that stage to provide greater content and substance to regional
cooperation in South Asia could not be achieved under circumstances then
prevailing.
The new dates of the Summit are to be decided through diplomatic
channels.
-26>
|
1992
2 South-East Asia and the Pacific |
| Top |
INDIA'S TRADITIONALLY CLOSE AND FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH THE MEMBER
COUNTRIES of Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and with
the countries in Indo-China were maintained and broadened by numerous
high level contacts during 1992-93. India decided to give a special
policy thrust to its relations with the ASEAN.
Bilateral relations with Malaysia were enhanced with the two countries
having regular exchange of views at different levels. The Malaysian
Defence Minister Dato Seri Najib visited India in March 1992 and had
meetings with Prime Minister and Raksha Mantri.
The two countries signalled upgradation of economic and trade ties by
raising the joint Trade Committee to a full-fledged joint Commission.
The first session of the Indo-Malaysian Joint Commission was held in
Kuala Lumpur on 2 and 3 November 1992, co-chaired by the Malaysian
Foreign Minister and the then Minister of State for External Affairs,
Shri Eduardo Faleiro. The Joint Commission has provided the necessary
impetus to the existing trade and economic exchanges between the two
countries.
The bilateral content of India's relationship with Malaysia comprises
joint ventures, project exports and trade in commodities, particularly
palm oil, petroleum crude, rubber and tin from Malaysia. As per agreed
minutes signed by the Malaysian Minister for Primary Industries and the
Minister of State for Commerce in August 1992, India is to import
atleast 3,00,000 tons of palm oil annually for two years. In
consideration of this, the Malaysian Government has expressed
willingness to use the Evidence Account Mechanism for providing the
necessary fillip to the arrangement.
The momentum of these exchanges was kept up with Prime Minister meeting
the Malaysian Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir, during the NAM Summit in
Jakarta in September 1992.
Foreign Secretary visited Malaysia from 29 to 31 January 1993, to have
bilateral consultations with Mr Tan Sri Ahmad Kamil, Secretary-General
of
the Malaysian Foreign Office. Discussions focussed, inter alia, on
preparations for the impending visit of the Defence Minister to
Malaysia, certain bilateral issues such as the new visa regulation
introduced by Malaysia, delay in Indian import of palm oil and import of
petroleum and petroleum products. There were also exchange of views on
the G-15 Summit as well as on the security environment in South-East
Asia in the context of evolving perceptions in ASEAN region about China
and Japan.
-27>
Raksha Mantri, Shri Sharad Pawar, visited Malaysia from 1 to 7 February
1993 at the invitation of the Malaysian Defence Minister Datuk Najib.
During the visit, the Defence Minister signed a Memorandum of
Understanding for cooperation in the defence field. The MOU provides for
logistical support by India for the MIG-29 aircrafts which Malaysia is
negotiating to purchase from Russia. Besides, the MOU will focus on
defence infrastructure build-up, modernisation and training of ground
forces, regular exchange of personnel, and limited joint production
ventures in Air and Naval armament.
India's relations with Singapore have been marked by the readiness
stressed by both sides to embark on a new phase of understanding and
cooperation for mutual benefit. Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Trade and Industry, Brig Gen Lee Hsien Loong, accompanied by
a high-powered delegation, was on an official visit to India from 22 to
27 March 1992. Brig Gen Lee had meetings with the Prime Minister,
Finance Minister, Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism, and Minister
of State for Commerce. In his discussions with Prime Minister, Brig Gen
Lee expressed interest in a series of exhibitions from India to be held
in Singapore with the cooperation of the Government of India. Emphasis
was placed on future trade and investment ties between India and
Singapore. A proposal for an India-Singapore Industrial Corridor in the
State of Tamil Nadu also came up for examination.
Prime Minister's meeting with Prime Minister of Singapore, Mr Goh Chok
Tong, during the Non-Aligned Summit in Jakarta in September 1992
provided a further fillip to the multi-sided relationship. The Prime
Minister of Singapore evinced keen interest in getting skilled personnel
from India for projects in third countries. He also proposed the setting
up of a permanent exhibition of Indian culture in the Singapore Museum
to highlight the different cultural streams represented in Singapore.
Prime Minister Goh identified trade and investment as another important
area of cooperation. He mentioned the need for India to hold trade fairs
in Singapore and participate in fairs as a means of increasing her
exports. Prime Minister offered full cooperation for sending cultural
exhibits from India and welcomed the prospect for defence cooperation.
-28>
Mr B G George Yeo, Singapore's Minister for Information and the Arts and
Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, visited India from 4 to 15 February
1993 at the invitation of Minister for Human Resource Development, Shri
Arjun Singh. The Minister led a high level delegation which included the
Senior Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Lim Boon Heng, senior
officials from the field of art and culture, trade and industry and
businessmen. The visit symbolised the desire of both countries to
significantly upgrade existing relations. The visiting Minister called
on the Prime Minister and handed over a letter from the Prime Minister
of Singapore.
He also signed a Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in the
Arts, Archives and Heritage with Minister for Human Resource
Development. The other Ministers with whom he had exchange of views
included Finance Minister, Commerce Minister and Minister of State for
External Affairs, Shri Salman Khurshid. Besides Delhi, the delegation
visited Agra, Jaipur, Bombay, Bangalore and Madras.
India's friendly relations with the Philippines continued. India warmly
congratulated and assured full cooperation to the new leadership in the
Philippines under President Ramos after the General Elections held in
May 1992. Volcanic eruptions of Mount Pinatubo in August 1992 caused
massive destruction in the Philippines. India sent a token relief
assistance of essential medicines worth Rs 5 lakhs for the quake
victims.
India continued to work closely with Indonesia both bilaterally as well
as in the Non-Aligned forum and contributed to the success of the NAM
Summit in Jakarta under Indonesia's chairmanship.
The then Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Eduardo Faleiro,
visited Indonesia for the Non-Aligned Ministerial Meeting in Bali in May
1992. Mr Ali Alatas, the Foreign Minister of Indonesia, visited New
Delhi in July 1992 as Special Envoy of President Soeharto, to hold
consultations and to invite the Prime Minister to attend the Non-Aligned
Summit in Jakarta in September 1992. During the NAM Summit, the Prime
Minister had full exchange of views in his meeting with President
Soeharto on NAM as well as bilateral issues of mutual interest. Shri
Eduardo Faleiro and Shri R L Bhatia, Minister of State for External
Affairs, also attended the NAM Summit. The momentum of regular
consultations was kept up with the Prime Minister meeting President
Soeharto again in Dakar during the G-15 Summit in November 1992.
The Indonesian Minister of Industry, Mr Hartarto, accompanied by a large
delegation comprising of senior officials and business and industrial
representatives visited India in March 1992. Mr Hartarto had meetings
with Prime Minister, Minister of State for Industry and Minister of
State for Commerce. During the visit, an Agreement was signed between
M/s Ballarpur Industries and an Indonesian company for setting up of a
rayon pulp joint venture in Sumatra, Indonesia.
-29>
India's traditional and historical ties with Thailand registered an
important step with the State Visit of His Royal Highness Maha
Vajiralongkorn, the Crown Prince of Thailand, in April 1992. During the
visit, the Crown Prince had meetings with the President, the Vice
President and the Prime Minister. This was the first ever visit to India
by the Crown Prince of Thailand.
Foreign Secretary visited Thailand on 1 and 2 February 1993 for detailed
discussions with his counterpart, Thai Permanent Secretary, Dr Pracha
Guna-Kasem, on all aspects of bilateral relations and regional and
multilateral issues. The two Foreign Secretaries expressed the desire to
increase bilateral cooperation in diverse fields encompassing trade and
commerce, technology, defence and culture. Human rights and
environmental issues were also discussed.
India's relations with Brunei Darussalam were given a boost by the State
visit to India of the Sultan of Brunei in September 1992. This was the
first ever State visit paid by the Sultan of Brunei to India. During the
visit, the Sultan had meetings with the President, the Vice President
and the Prime Minister. The President hosted a banquet in his honour and
the Prime Minister had a luncheon where the Sultan met eminent Indians
from all walks of life. Following discussions, a decision was taken for
both countries to set up Resident High Commissions in each other's
capitals and to exchange delegations to identify areas of cooperation.
Brunei Darussalam had already set up a Resident Mission in Delhi in
August 1992, headed by an Acting High Commissioner.
Relations with Cambodia continued to be close and friendly. India
remained committed to the implementation of the Paris Accord and in
response to requests from the United Nations, contributed about 1800
military and civilian personnel for the operations of the UN
Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).
Shri Eduardo Faleiro, the then Minister of State for External Affairs,
represented India at a Ministerial Conference on the Rehabilitation and
Reconstruction of Cambodia held in Tokyo in June 1992. Shri Faleiro laid
stress on the urgency of international support for implementation of the
UN peace plan as per the
-30>
Paris Accords by the active cooperation of all the Cambodian parties. He
also announced the readiness of India to continue with approximately $
1.2 million worth of assistance to Cambodia despite her constraints.
There was general appreciation at the conference about the role India
has played in Cambodia throughout the two decades preceding the Paris
Accords, during the phase of negotiations for the Accords and
subsequently. Shri Faleiro also made it known that expertise,
appropriate technology and pertinent experience are available in India
for use in Cambodia under the appropriate auspices, be it the UNTAC or
UNDP or through third country or multilateral aid givers.
-30>
|
Apart from grant of food aid consisting of 2000 tons of rice, medicines
worth approximately US $ 600,000 have been sent to Cambodia.
Arrangements are also being made to hold artificial limb fitment camps
in Cambodia. India continued to provide scholarships to Cambodian
nominees for technical training in India and Indian doctors were already
on deputation to work at a Cambodian hospital. India also continued to
carry out the project on restoration work at the famous Angkor Vat
temple in Cambodia.
The Prime Minister met Prince Sihanouk in Jakarta in September 1992.
During the meeting, Prince Sihanouk expressed great appreciation for
India's help and participation in the peace process and also in
Cambodia's reconstruction.
India's traditional relations with Vietnam were further strengthened by
exchange of high level visits with special emphasis laid on enhancing
bilateral economic, scientific and technical cooperation. The Foreign
Minister of Vietnam, Mr Nguyen Manh Cam, paid an official visit to India
from 21 to 27 March 1992. He met the President, the Vice President, the
Prime Minister and the then Minister of External Affairs and exchanged
views on regional and bilateral issues. Broad identity of views emerged
and it was agreed that strengthened bilateral relations between India
and Vietnam would endure in the emerging international situation. The
fifth session of the Indo-Vietnam Joint Commission was held on 24 and 25
March 1992. Discussions focussed on enhancement of cooperation in
existing areas, especially in the field of trade and commerce, as well
as identification of new areas of cooperation. The Cultural Exchange
Programme for 1992-94 was also signed.
The Prime Minister had a meeting with President Vo Chi Cong of Vietnam
in Jakarta during the Non-Aligned Summit in September 1992.
The General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Mr Do Muoi, led
a high level delegation to India from 8 to 13 September 1992. This was
Mr Do Muoi's first visit to India and his first visit outside the
Socialist States.
-31>
He had meetings with the President, the Vice President, the Prime
Minister and the Finance Minister. The Prime Minister led the Indian
delegation for the official talks. General Secretary Do Muoi stressed
the need to give enhanced economic content to the excellent relations
with India. New areas were identified for bilateral trade in commodities
with a view to expanding the trade turnover. The visit of Mr Do Muoi
constituted a new landmark in IndoVietnam relations and opened up broad
prospects for cementing the bonds of traditional friendship and multi-
faceted cooperation between the two countries.
India's friendly relations and economic cooperation with Laos were
maintained. Laotian trainees continued to visit India for training in
diverse fields under the India Technical and Economic Cooperation
Programme (ITEC). In July 1992, India sent a gift of items of stationery
for Lao school children.
Bilateral relations with Australia continued to progress with economic
and commercial cooperation assuming enhanced importance. The visit of
Australian Minister for Trade and Overseas Development, Mr John Kerin,
to India from 25 to 29 February 1992, leading a Government trade
delegation, to participate in the Joint Ministerial Commission, was
ample testimony of the importance India placed in her economic and
commercial relations with Australia. The Indian side was led by the then
Minister of State for Commerce, Shri Chidambaram. The meeting enabled
the visiting Australian Minister to witness at first hand, India's
strong commitment to economic reforms and liberalisation.
Trade between India and Australia hovered in the region of US $ 1
billion. In the first six months of the year, though the balance of
trade was in Australia's favour, trade figures stood at US $ 465 million
with Indian exports at US $ 90 million and imports at US $ 375 million.
The Sixth joint Business Council Meeting was held in Sydney from 23 to
25 March 1992 with the Australians showing keen interest in India's
economic reforms. The India-Australia Joint Business Council (JBC) met
in Delhi on 16 and 17 February 1993.
A high-level parliamentary delegation from India led by the Speaker,
Shri Shivraj Patil, visited Australia from 21 to 30 June 1992. The visit
afforded the delegation an occasion to study parliamentary practices and
procedures being followed in Australia and was the first visit of an
Indian Parliamentary delegation since 1984.
Exchanges with Australia at the unofficial level on strategic matters
continued. A Workshop on Maritime Security jointly organized by the
Institute of
Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA) and the Indian Ocean Centre for
Peace Studies (IOCPS), Perth, was held in New Delhi from 19 to 21
November 1992 with eminent personalities and specialists from both India
and Australia taking part.
-32>
Bilateral relations with New Zealand received a fillip with the visit of
Mr Don McKinnon, Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of New
Zealand, in June 1992 on the occasion of the inauguration of the newly
built premises of the New Zealand High Commission in New Delhi. Besides
attending the meetings of the Joint Trade Committee and the Joint
Business Council, Mr McKinnon also had meetings with the then Minister
of State for External Affairs, Shri Eduardo Faleiro.
The situation in Fiji continued to receive close attention. After
parliamentary elections in May 1992, Mr Rabuka was installed as Prime
Minister. Except for setting up a Joint Parliamentary Committee in
connection with the review of the Constitution of 1990, the Rabuka
Government failed to do anything tangible for improving the lot of the
Fijians of Indian origin.
Despite press reports suggesting willingness on the part of Mr Rabuka
and other members of his Government for normalisation of relations with
India, no official communication or confirmation in, this regard was
received.
India continued to highlight the institutionalised. racial
discrimination being perpetuated in Fiji at appropriate international
fora and during bilateral meetings.
The Ban on commercial and technical cooperation with Fiji continued to
remain in force. Scholarships were given to deserving Fijian students.
-33>
|
1992
3 East Asia |
| Top |
THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW SAW THE CONSOLIDATION AND STRENGTHENING OF
friendly relations between India and China which started with the of the
then Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi to China in December 1988 and
gained momentum with the visit of Premier Li Peng to India in December
1991. The highlight of the year was the State visit by former President,
Shri R Venkataraman, to China from 18 to 23 May 1992, the first such
visit to China by an Indian Head of State since the establishment of
diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1950.
Another important landmark was the visit of Raksha Mantri to China in
July, establishing formal links between the defence establishments of
the two countries.
The former President's discussions with Chinese leaders such as
President Yang Shangkun, General Secretary Jiang Zemin and Premier Li
Peng, confirmed the commitment of both the countries to the development
of a positive momentum in India-China relations and the desire of both
the countries to further strengthen their friendly, good neighbourly and
mutually beneficial relations.
The visit of the Raksha Mantri can be seen as part of the confidence-
building effort of both the countries in order to enhance mutual
understanding and trust and establish a tension-free border, a necessary
step to peacefully settle the pending issues between India and China,
including the boundary question.
momentum of high-level exchanges was maintained by a number of
Chinese Ministers visiting India in early 1992, such as their Auditor
General, Mr Lu Peijian, in January, the State Councillor and Chairman,
State Education Commission, Mr Li Tieying, in February/March and the
Minister of Civil Affairs, Mr Cui Naifu, in April. Chinese Party leaders
also attended the annual conclaves of the CPI (M) and the CPI in the
early part of the year. From India, besides Raksha Mantri, Minister of
Welfare, Shri Sitaram Kesri, and Minister of Human Resource Development,
Shri Arjun Singh, also visited China in October. The first Chinese
National People's Congress
(NPC) delegation led by its Vice Chairman, Mr Liao Hansheng, visited
India in December. High-level party delegations from the CPI(M),
AICC(l), CPI and the Telegu Desam also visited China during the course
of the year. The Chinese Communist Party sent a delegation headed by Mr
Wu Bangguo, Shanghai Municipal Party Secretary (who was subsequently
inducted as Politburo member at the Party's 14th Congress), which
visited India at the invitation of the AICC W in September.
-34>
Another significant event in the year was the holding of the Festival of
China in India. As agreed during Prime Minister Shri P V Narasimha Rao's
talks with Premier Li Peng in Delhi in December 1991, the Festival of
China in India was inaugurated by the Vice President, Shri K R
Narayanan, and the Vice Chairman of the Chinese National People's
Congress, Mr Liao Hansheng, on 2 December 1992 at a glittering ceremony
at the Siri Fort Auditorium in New Delhi. The Festival was received with
tremendous enthusiasm in 11 cities across India. Over a hundred artistes
and artisans from China participated in the events. A Festival of India
in China is to be held in the near future.
The Agreement on re-opening of Consulates-General of India and China in
Shanghai and Bombay respectively, arrived at during the Chinese
Premier's visit to India in 1991, was implemented and both Consulates-
General are now functional. The Chinese Consulate General in Bombay was
formally inaugurated by Mr Liao Hansheng on 7 December 1992.
Discussion on the boundary question continued within the Joint Working
Group (JWG) set up for this purpose. Significantly, the JWG met twice
for the first time during the same calendar year: in February and
October. The year also saw mutual defence representation on the JWG for
the first time. Agreement was reached on holding of meetings of border
personnel of the two countries and the establishment of direct telephone
links between such personnel on the boundary. These agreements are being
implemented. Further confidence-building measures to ensure the
maintenance of peace and tranquillity along the line of actual control
are being discussed in the JWG.
A major move was the resumption of border trade between Gunji
(Pithoragarh District of UP) and Pulan in the Tibet Autonomous Region of
China in the June to September trading season in 1992. The smooth flow
of such commercial traffic has encouraged the two countries to agree in
principle to open further points on the border to such trade.
-35>
Trade and economic cooperation and exchanges between the two countries
continued to grow during the year under review. Bilateral trade for the
first nine calendar months of 1992 was at about the same level as last
year. An Orissa-based company and a Chinese steel manufacturer have
entered into an agreement to set up a joint venture plant. India's
trade, commercial and investment ties with Hong Kong and Taiwan are also
growing and their prospects for the future look bright.
The Cultural Exchange Programme is being implemented as are the various
agreements on exchanges and cooperation in the fields of education,
science and technology, agriculture, audit, civil services and personnel
training, etc.
During the high-level dialogue with Chinese leaders, India's concerns
about Chinese arms supplies to Pakistan and Myanmar were conveyed. China
has expressed her desire to see peace and stability in South Asia and do
not wish to see an escalation of the arms race in the region. The
discussions also covered the changing international environment and the
mutual desire of both the countries to see the establishment of an
international order based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence
and an equitable and mutually beneficial economic order in which the
concerns of the developing countries will be addressed.
Official Chinese reaction to the demolition of the mosque at Ayodhya and
the resulting communal violence was muted. The Foreign Office spokesman
described it as India's internal affair, though as India's neighbouring
country, China hoped the problem could be settled peacefully.
India's relations with China have therefore shown the resilience and
maturity that is necessary for two such large and important neighbours
in Asia, which will have a bearing on peace and stability of the region
and of the world.
The thrust and momentum generated in recent years in India's relations
with Japan continued in 1992-93. The 40th anniversary of the
establishment of diplomatic relations and the signing of the Peace
Treaty between India and Japan in 1992 added another dimension to her
steadily burgeoning relations with Japan which were marked by a spirit
of friendship and cooperation in the political, economic and cultural
fields. The period under review also marked renewed Japanese interest in
India in view of the new economic policies introduced by India.
Prime Minister, Shri P V Narasimha Rao, visited Japan from 22 to 26 June
1992 at the invitation of Prime Minister Kiichi Miyazawa. Discussions on
various issues with the Japanese Government on both bilateral and
multilateral matters were fruitful with new areas for cooperation and
consultations being identified. The Prime Minister also met the Japanese
Ministers of International Trade and Industry (MITI) and Finance and
leaders of the five major economic organizations of Japan as well as of
Japanese business and industry having special interest/ties with India.
It was also decided to hold, for the first time, bilateral consultations
on disarmament and nuclear issues between the two countries at the
official level. It is hoped that these talks will result in enhanced
mutual understanding relating to their respective security concerns and
the emerging international order, particularly in the Asia Pacific
region.
-36>
Prince Akishino, second son of Emperor Akihito, accompanied by Princess
Akishino, visited India from 12 to 20 November 1992 at the invitation of
the Vice President. The Speaker of the House of Representatives of
Japan, Mr Yoshio Sakurauchi, visited India in August 1992 to commemorate
the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations
between India and Japan and the 90th anniversary of the Indo-Japanese
Association. Agriculture Minister, Shri Balram Jakhar, visited Tokyo
from 26 to 29 October 1992 to attend the 30th Congress of the
International Cooperation Alliance. Minister of State for Environment,
Shri Kamal Nath, visited Japan from 22 to 25 March 1992 to exchange
views with his Japanese counterpart prior to the Earth Summit in Rio. A
return visit was paid by Mr Shozaburo Nakamura, the Director General of
the Japanese Environment Agency (Cabinet Minister), in September 1992 to
India for discussions with Minister of State for Environment.
In the economic sphere, the Japanese demonstrated strong interest in
India's policy initiatives on economic liberalisation and the opening up
of the Indian economy. Japan retained the top slot in the list of
India's ODA donors. At the Aid India Consortium meeting in Paris in June
1992, Japan pledged a total of Yen 111.91 billion for 1992-93, a 5%
increase over the previous year.
Japanese investment in India registered a sharp increase during the
year. From Rs 50 million in 1990, investment from Japan rose to Rs 527.1
million in 1991. Total Japanese investment commitment in India had risen
to Rs 4,684.40 million upto October 1992, making Japan the third largest
investor in India after the United States and Switzerland.
Positive interaction was also maintained with Japan at the official
level in diverse areas. The India-Japan Foreign Office Consultative
Talks were held
in Tokyo on 13 and 14 April 1992. The Ninth India-Japan Trade Talks were
held in Delhi in September-October 1992. A Memorandum of Understanding
was signed between the Department of Industrial Development and Japan
International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to examine the feasibility of
establishing an Industrial Model Town (IMT) in India as a pilot project
to attract private foreign investment to India. The detailed indepth
pre-feasibility report is expected to be ready by the end of 1993. The
Indo-Japan Working Group on Railways met in New Delhi from 30 November
to 4 December 1992 for wide-ranging discussions and follow up of
Japanese aid projects and for Japanese assistance in the upgradation of
technology in the Indian Railways.
-37>
At the non-governmental level too, contacts and interaction were
sustained at a high level. The India-Japan Study Committee (IJSC) met in
Bangalore in May 1992. They examined in particular ways of strengthening
the bilateral linkages with stress on specific areas such as science and
technology. It was also decided to make the meetings bi-annual in view
of the intensification and broadening of areas of cooperation.
Subsequently the 22nd Joint Meeting of the IJSC was held on 4 and 5
February 1993 in New Delhi where it was agreed, inter alia, to undertake
joint studies in areas of mutual interest. The India-Japan Joint
Business Council timed its annual meeting this time in Tokyo in June to
coincide with Prime Minister Narasimha Rao's visit. An Investment
Promotion Seminar was organized in Japan by FICCI and the Confederation
of Indian Industry in September. A delegation of the Japanese
Parliamentary Association on Population and Development visited India in
October 1992.
In the cultural field, a series of special events were organized both in
India and Japan in commemoration of the 40th anniversary of India-Japan
diplomatic ties. Japan is also in the process of assisting India in the
efforts to preserve her cultural heritage, The Government of Japan sent
a high level Cultural Mission to India from 28 to 31 January 1993 for
exploring and suggesting ways to increase cultural exchanges between the
two countries.
A steady intensification of exchanges and interaction marked India's
bilateral relations with the Republic of Korea. President and the Prime
Minister congratulated Mr Kim Young Sam, the new President of the
Republic of Korea, who assumed office on 25 February 1993. Shri
Madhavsinh Solanki, the then Minister for External Affairs, visited the
Republic of Korea from 15 to 18 March 1992 at the invitation of Foreign
Minister Lee Sang Ock
with whom he had useful exchange of views on matters of mutual interest.
An Agreement on Civil Aviation was also signed during the visit which
will enable the Korean Airlines to fly to Bombay and Delhi and Air India
to fly to Seoul and Pusan. The visit was also utilised to apprise the
Government and business community in South Korea about India's new trade
and economic reforms and the investment opportunities here. Bilateral
consultations at the official level were institutionalised with the
first consultations being held in Seoul during the visit.
-38>
Other visits from India included the visit of the then Minister of State
for Industry, Prof P J Kurien, on 24 and 25 April 1992 to attend the
Sixth Session of the World Assembly of Small and Medium Enterprises
(WASME) and the visit of the then Minister of State for Tourism, Shri M
0 H Farook, accompanied by high-level officials in June 1992 for
discussions with his counterpart on promotion of tourism between the two
countries.
Economic and trade relations showed an upward trend. Bilateral trade
between the two countries touched Rs 1376 crores recording a trade
surplus of Rs 152 crores in India's favour for the first time. The EXIM
Bank of Korea extended credit exceeding US $ 500 million for financing
important ONGC projects and for purchase of Korean ships by the Shipping
Corporation of India.
The visit of Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen S F Rodrigues, to the
Republic of Korea from 9 to 13 November 1992 was the first ever visit by
Chief of Army Staff of India to South Korea and signified the growing
interaction between India and the Republic of Korea. Gen Rodrigues had
meetings with his counterpart, Gen Kim Jin Yon, and other senior ROK
defence officials.
The year also marked increased exchange of delegations of businessmen
and industrialists between the two countries. The Indo-Korea joint
Business Council (JBC) was held in New Delhi in November 1992. A high-
level business delegation sponsored by Indian Merchants Chamber &
Association visited the Republic of Korea in October 1992.
At the academic level and person to person level, contacts with the
Republic of Korea expanded during the year. The Fourth Indo-Korean
Conference was held in New Delhi in November 1992 where scholars from
Yonsei University participated with academics from India. A group of
prominent citizens from Pusan also visited India while the Academy of
Korean Studies undertook its first field trip to India.
-39>
India's traditionally cordial relations with the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea were maintained. At the invitation of Vice President
Li Jong Ok, the then Vice President, Dr Shanker Dayal Sharma, paid a
return visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea from 14 to 17
April 1992. The visit also coincided with the 80th birthday celebration
of President Kim Il Sung. The visit was utilised to broaden exchanges,
in the political, economic and cultural spheres. Dr Girija Vyas, the
then Union Deputy Minister for Information and Broadcasting, visited
Democratic People's Republic of Korea on 12 September 1992 to attend the
3rd Pyongyang Film Festival of the Non-Aligned and other developing
countries. She also used the opportunity to meet the top DPRK leaders
and discuss various aspects of bilateral relations. The cultural
exchanges between the two countries continued. A two-member Nalanda
Dance Troupe from India participated in the 10th Spring Friendship Art
Festival of the DPRK.
The friendly and cordial ties between India and Mongolia were further
strengthened during the year under review.
In what was the highest level delegation from India since the State
visit of President of India in July 1988, the Vice President of India
paid an official goodwill visit to Mongolia from 17 to 20 April 1992.
The highlight of this visit was the signing of an agreement on economic
and technical cooperation which provides for scholarships to Mongolian
Government nominees in various fields, setting up of an Indian Technical
Centre in Mongolia and a centre for promotion of small-scale industries
in that country. The President of Mongolia has accepted an invitation to
visit India.
Efforts were made to expand bilateral cooperation in the economic and
trade fields. Government of India decided in principle to make available
to Mongolia a line of credit upto an amount of Rs 5 crores.
-40>
|
1992
4 Central Asia |
| Top |
PRESIDENT ASKAR AKAEV OF KYRGHYZSTAN VISITED INDIA FROM 17 TO 19 MARCH
1992. During the visit, six agreements were signed between India and
Kyrghyzstan, including Declaration on Principles and Directions of
Cooperation; Protocols on Establishment of Diplomatic and Consular
Relations; Framework agreements on Cultural Cooperation and
Trade/Economic and Technological Cooperation, and an Agreement on
Economic and Technical Cooperation.
President S Niazov of Turkmenistan paid an official visit to India
between 18 and 20 April 1992. During the visit, India and Turkmenistan
signed six agreements, which included Declaration on Principles and
Directions of Cooperation; Protocols on Establishment of Diplomatic and
Consular Relations; Framework agreements on Cultural Cooperation and
Trade/Economic and Technical Cooperation.
The visit of the Presidents of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan and
Turkmenistan to India during 1991-1992 had given an impetus to the
bilateral relations with these countries and these were further
consolidated during the current year. Ambassadors of India were
accredited at the newly-opened Embassies in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and
Alma Ata (Kazakhstan). A decision was taken to open an Embassy in
Dushanbe (Tajikistan) but could not be implemented on account of the
outbreak of disturbances.
An Uzbek Parliamentary delegation led by Mr S M Yuldashev, Chairman of
the Supreme Soviet of Uzbekistan, visited India in August 1992.
Shri R L Bhatia, Minister of State for External Affairs, visited
Uzbekistan from 8 to 13 October, Kyrghyzstan on 13 and 14 October and
Kazakhstan from 14 to 16 October 1992. He met Prime Minister Mutalov of
Uzbekistan, President Akaev of Kyrghyzstan and President Nazarbaev of
Kazakhstan. During Minister of State's visit, both sides agreed to work
for the further development of bilateral relations in all spheres. The
leaderships of all the three countries expressed their support for
India's position that Kashmir issue should be resolved through direct
bilateral Indo-Pak negotiations. Agreements establishing Joint
Commissions, and Cultural Exchange Programmes were signed with the three
countries. Agreements on technical and economic
cooperation were signed with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.
-41>
Shri Salman Khursheed, the then Deputy Minister of Commerce, visited
Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrghyzstan and Uzbekistan from 27 October to
10 November 1992. He led a multi-disciplinary delegation including
businessmen. The delegation had wide-ranging discussions on expanding
trade and economic cooperation with these countries. Preliminary
discussions were held on establishing joint ventures including joint
venture banks. The Indian side also announced credits of US $ 10 million
each to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan and US $ 5 million each to Kyrghyzstan
and Turkmenistan.
The Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan, Mr Boris Shikhmuradov,
visited India from I to 9 December 1992. Besides having official
discussions, he also met members of the Indian business community.
Medicines worth Rupees one crore were sent to Turkmenistan as
humanitarian assistance and medical supplies worth Rs 50 lakhs were sent
to Kyrghyzstan for the relief of earthquake victims there.
20 MT of sugar, 10 MT each of basmati rice and tea were sent to
Azerbaijan as token gift.
Tajikistan has been in a state of civil war since August 1992. India had
been in touch with the countries of the region and offered to
participate in any effort to find a solution.
Prime Minister, Shri Narasimha Rao, offered condolences for the victims
of the Erzincan earthquake in Turkey in March 1992. Relief supplies
worth Rs 75 Lakhs were sent as assistance to the victims of the
earthquake. Indian participation at the 61 st Izmir International Trade
Fair was a success with only 7 companies contracting business worth US $
6.5 million as compared to 22 companies who had bagged orders worth US $
3 million the previous year. The Lord Mayor of Ankara, Mr Murat
Karayalcin, visited Delhi from 8 to 10 December 1992 under ICCR's
distinguished visitor's programme.
-42>
|
1992
5 West Asia and North Africa |
| Top |
DURING THE PERIOD UNDER REVIEW, INDIA'S RELATIONS WITH THE COUNTRIES
OF West Asia and North Africa continued to be marked by friendship and
cooperation. Besides bilateral interaction, India coordinated positions
with some countries in the region in the world fora including UN, NAM
and G-15 on the international issues of common concern. India noted with
appreciation the understanding and confidence shown by several Arab
countries of WANA region at Government's handling of the Ayodhya issue.
India together with several countries in the region found common cause
in combating terrorism and religious extremism. Exchange of visits and
foreign office consultations helped in consolidating ties during this
period.
Following the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and
Israel, India is looking forward to developing relations with Israel in
mutually beneficial fields while continuing to advocate its support for
the ongoing peace process which it is hoped will lead to a settlement
acceptable to all the concerned parties, and taking into account the
legitimate rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people both within
and outside the occupied territories.
India was invited to participate in the multilateral phase of the Middle
East Peace Process comprising five Working Groups set up to discuss
regional issues of common concern viz Arms Control and Regional
Security, Environment, Economic Cooperation and Development, Water
Resources and Refugees. India, China and Japan are so far the only non-
regional Asian countries participating in the Middle East Peace Process.
Two meetings each of the Working Groups were held between May and
November 1992 and India participated in all of them. India made
presentations in respect of its experience in the related areas. These
were well received and it is hoped that some of these may prove to be
relevant enough to be taken up for greater consideration subsequently.
There were continued high level contacts between India and Algeria. The
Algerian Minister of Transport visited India from 28 April to 2 May 1992
and was received by Prime Minister. Discussions inter alia focussed on
the need for greater cooperation in the railway sector, especially in
Algeria's development programmes. Prime Minister and Mr Radhe Malek,
member of
the High Committee of State of Algeria shared common perceptions on the
challenges of religious extremism faced by both the countries when they
met on 21 November at Dakar during the G-15 Summit. In August 1992,
Secretary level discussions between two foreign offices took place in
Algiers focussing mainly on pending bilateral issues including the
convening of the next meeting of the Joint Commission and issues
relating to the NAM Summit.
-43>
An Exim Bank Line of Credit of US $ 50 million for Algeria has been
extended upto May 1993, for the purpose of providing Algeria the means
to surpass previous levels of imports from India.
A delegation led by Deputy Minister of Commerce visited Egypt on 17 and
18 May 1992 to re-emphasise necessity of boosting bilateral trade
between the two countries. Foreign office consultations at Secretary
level took place in Cairo in August. The Egyptian Foreign Minister
agreed to assist in satisfactorily resolving the issue of outstanding
payments from Egypt of over Rs 80 million pending since the termination
of Rupee trade agreement. Meanwhile, ECGC credits amounting to Rs 105.21
million have been recovered.
Prime Minister met President Hosni Mubarak at G-15 Summit at Dakar in
November. He reiterated the outstanding invitation to President Mubarak
to visit India, and President Mubarak assured Prime Minister that he
would schedule a visit shortly. Both leaders while sharing views on the
progress of Middle East Peace Process felt that continuing of the
dialogue between the Arabs and Israel was a necessary pre-condition for
peace in the region. Both India and Egypt being founding members of NAM
agreed to devise means for strengthening the movement so that it could
adapt to newer challenges.
India's first Ambassador to Israel presented his credentials on 28
October 1992 and the Israeli Ambassador to India on 26 November 1992.
Following the establishment of diplomatic relations, a number of visits
at the official level have been exchanged between Israel and India with
a view to exploring possibilities of bilateral cooperation. Some broad
areas of mutually beneficial cooperation have been identified, which
include agriculture, civil aviation, tourism, culture, science and
technology, and solar energy.
The fifth session of the Indo-Jordan Trade and Economic Committee was
held in Amman from 20 to 23 April 1992 during which status of trade and
economic relations between the two countries was reviewed. Both sides
were satisfied with the results of the efforts made by each side to
increase the volume of trade between the two countries. It was also
agreed that further markets would be explored by conducting surveys and
that Jordan would advise government
-44>
departments to buy scientific equipments from India. India agreed to
maintain import of rock phosphate at the 1991-92 level, the import of
which has been decanalised. Jordan showed its eagerness to import from
India wheat, rice, barley and corn. A review of the ITEC programme was
also made.
-44>
The then Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Eduardo Faleiro,
visited Jordan on 23 and 24 August 1992. The Jordanians suggested
founding of an Indo-Arab thought forum and a commission of wise men for
Asian Ethos. An invitation to Crown Prince Hassan Bin Talal to visit
India was extended by the Minister.
India supports the full implementation of the Taif Accord in letter and
spirit, and welcomed the first Parliamentary elections which took place
in Lebanon after a gap of 20 years. India supports the Lebanese people
and Government in their commitment to national reconciliation, unity and
sovereignty, and the expansion of the authority of the Lebanese
Government and the Lebanese Armed Forces throughout the country in
accordance with the provisions of the Taif Agreement.
The major issue with Libya during the year was the attempt to recover
Indian blocked funds owed to Indian companies. Some progress was
achieved. An amount of about Rs 1350 million has been paid back to the
Indian companies through oil payments in 1992, and further discussions
are in progress. Libyan Minister of Economic Planning, Mr Omer Mustafa
Muntassar, visited India as Col Gaddafi's special envoy on 13 August
1992 and called on the Prime Minister. He briefed about steps taken by
Libya to comply with UN Security Council Resolutions, and sought India's
understanding in finding an amicable solution to the problems arising
out of the Lockerbie air crash case. UN sanctions against Libya
continued till the end of the year.
For logistical reasons, concurrent accreditation to Mauritania was
changed from Indian Embassy in Dakar (Senegal) to Indian Embassy in
Algiers (Algeria).
Moroccan Foreign Minister, Mr Abdul Latif Filali, visited India from 18
to 23 February 1992. During his meetings with the Prime Minister and
other leaders, discussions focussed on the Moroccan proposal to upgrade
the Indo-Moroccan joint Committee, the Middle East Peace Process and
developments relating to the Arab Maghreb Union.
India's sympathy and support to the Palestinian people were reiterated
by Prime Minister when he met President Yasser Arafat during his one day
stopover in Tunis on 20 November 1992 on his way to Dakar to attend the
G-15 Summit. President Yasser Arafat briefed Prime Minister on progress
in the Middle East Peace Process, especially in the Israel-Palestinian
dialogue. Solidarity with the Palestinian people was expressed at a
function organized by the ICCR to commemorate the International Day of
Solidarity. The then Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri
Eduardo Faleiro, who was the Chief Guest, reiterated India's consistent
and unequivocal support to the Palestinian cause. India regretted the
expulsion by Israel of more than 400 Palestinians from the occupied
territories and urged Israel to rescind the expulsion order. India as
President of the Security Council was instrumental in having UN Security
Council Resolution No 799 of 18 December passed, which inter alia
condemned Israel for the expulsions.
-45>
The then Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Eduardo Faleiro,
visited Somalia on 16 November and handed over relief supplies worth Rs
20 lakhs in the form of medicines and baby food for the affected people
of Somalia. A cheque for US $ 250,000 from the AFRICA Fund was also
handed over. The Minister of State availed of the opportunity to obtain
a first hand view of the prevailing chaotic situation in Somalia. He
held discussions with Mr Ali Mahdi and Gen Aidid including the prospects
of convening of a National Reconciliation Conference at a future date.
India supported the UN Security Council Resolution 794 inviting member
countries to contribute forces for the peace-keeping operations for
bringing about relief to millions of starving Somalis. In pursuance of
this Resolution, India also agreed to participate in the UN Peace
Keeping Operation in Somalia with one Corvette and one LST and
approximately with a brigade, including Paramedical units, from the
Indian Navy and Army respectively.
During the current year, the Sudanese have shown a positive inclination
to further boost the bilateral relations and to cooperate in the
international domain with India. A very muted Sudanese reaction on the
events in Ayodhya was expressed. Discussions took place to recover
blocked funds amounting to Rs 62.58 crores though no significant
progress has yet been noted.
The then Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Eduardo Faleiro,
visited Syria from 20 to 23 August 1992 with a view to rejuvenate
political contacts and to, impart greater economic thrust to bilateral
relations. He was accompanied by a business delegation. An exchange of
views took place on local and regional issues including the Middle East
Peace Process and the NAM Summit. He called on President Assad and Dr
Yassin, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, who expressed a
desire to visit India at the
head of a business delegation. Syria showed keenness in developing
bilateral economic ties and assured the Minister of State that Syria
would welcome the participation by Indian companies especially in the
supply of machines, plants, equipments as well as infrastructure turn-
key projects.
-46>
The second session of the Indo-Syrian Joint Trade Committee was held in
Delhi from 20 to 22 May. The Syrian delegation was led by Dr Abdul Rahim
Subeih, Deputy Minister for Planning. Discussions on ways and means to
develop diversified trade relations including barter were held.
Cooperation in the field of irrigation and agriculture, possibilities of
setting up industrial projects, further Indian participation in
transport, communication and power sectors were discussed. The Syrians
expressed desire to enhance scientific and technical cooperation.
A 9-member Syrian Parliamentary delegation, headed by the Speaker of the
Syrian People's Council, visited India from 8 to 17 February 1993. The
members of the delegation called on the President, the Vice President,
the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, the External Affairs
Minister and the Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Salman
Khursheed during their stay. Wide ranging discussions on bilateral and
international matters took place. The Syrian side expressed its desire
to further strengthen the already existing friendly relations, India
reiterated her stand on the Palestinian question and hoped for an early
resumption of the Peace Talks. India also expressed dismay at the
deportation of 400 Palestinians by Israel.
Tunisian Foreign Minister, Mr Habib Ben Yahia, visited India from 26 to
28 August 1992. He called on the President and the Prime Minister and
held talks with the objective of continuing regular political
consultations between the two countries. Discussions focussed on the
Middle East Peace Process and the NAM Summit at Jakarta.
The fifth meeting of the Indo-Tunisian joint Committee was held in New
Delhi from 26 to 28 October 1992. It was agreed to organize a multi-
sector exhibition of Indian products in Tunisia in 1993, explore
possibilities of maritime cooperation, joint ventures in industry and
tourism and the setting up of a Joint Chamber of Commerce.
On his way to Dakar to attend G-15 Summit, the Prime Minister stopped in
Tunis on 20 November. Tunisian Prime Minister, Mr Hamid Karoui, briefed
Prime Minister on developments in the region with special reference to
Libya, Western Sahara, and Middle East Peace Process. The potential of
further expansion of commercial and economic cooperation was underlined
during
the discussions in view of the process of liberalisation underway in
both the countries.
-47>
India's ties with the countries of the Gulf Region are as old as the
recorded history, and she has close relations with the countries of the
Region in almost every field. The presence of more than 1.5 million
Indian citizens working in the Gulf countries has added a major new
dimension to the bilateral relationship. Before the Gulf war, the annual
remittances from Indian nationals in the region were estimated to be Rs
3,500 crores. Since the end of the Gulf war, 1,09,000 Indian nationals
have already returned to Kuwait and more are expected to follow. The
remittances are expected to register growth.
India has signed term contracts for import of 10 million tonnes of oil
from Gulf Cooperation Council Countries for the year 1992-93. In
addition, substantial purchases of crude oil from this region were also
made through the spot market. The Gulf countries account for
approximately two-thirds of India's oil import.
India's total trade with the Gulf Region during the year 1991-92 was
approximately Rs 11,546 crores, of which about Rs 3,218 crores was the
value of her exports. The trade would increase even further when the
economic sanctions against Iraq are lifted.
The security, stability and peace in this area of strategic importance
is of vital interest to India and she has high stakes in their promotion
in this region. It has, therefore, been India's constant endeavour to
further strengthen her ties with all the countries of this area.
As a part of these efforts, the Minister for External Affairs
accompanied by a high level official and a business delegation, visited
Kuwait in February 1992. A bilateral co-operation agreement providing
for establishment of an Indo-Kuwait joint Commission was signed during
the visit. India also had the opportunity of welcoming the Kuwaiti
Ministers of Communication and Information who visited India in February
and July 1992 respectively. A Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral
cooperation in the field of information was signed during the visit of
the Information Minister. These visits and intensified bilateral
contacts have enabled the return of more than 1,09,000 Indians to Kuwait
upto the end of November 1992.
The UAE President, Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahayan, paid a State
visit to India in April 1992 and held detailed discussions on matters of
mutual interest with the Prime Minister. Both sides agreed to expand the
scope of the
bilateral relationship. An agreement on the avoidance of double taxation
was signed during the visit. As a result of the visit the UAE has shown
increased interest in investments in India. As follow up measures, a UAE
delegation visited India to explore possibilities of setting up a
hospital and discussions have also taken place in UAE for investments in
the oil, petrochemicals and other sectors. Further discussions on these
subjects are to take place.
-48>
|
After lying dormant for nearly two decades, the issue of sovereignty
over Abu Musa Island in the Southern Gulf was revived afresh between the
United Arab Emirates and Iran. Although the two sides have held
discussions on this issue, the dispute has defied resolution. In a
statement issued on 16 September 1992, India expressed the hope that the
existing differences would be resolved through friendly' bilateral
dialogue between the countries concerned in accordance with the
agreements. India, consistent with basic principles governing her
foreign policy, reiterated her respect for the sovereignty and
territorial integrity of all States in the Gulf region. India attached
importance to the maintenance of peace, stability and security in the
region.
The then Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Eduardo Faleiro,
visited Baharain, Oman and Qatar in May-June 1992. During his visit,
Shri Faleiro held extensive discussions with the leaders of these
countries with a view to explore the possibilities of further expanding
the scope of bilateral relationship. The Secretary General of the GCC,
Mr Abdullah Bishara, visited India and held discussions with the Indian
leadership aimed at forging stronger and political ties with all the GCC
States. It has been decided to hold regular dialogue with the GCC
Secretariat. He also interacted with a broad strata of Indian academic
and media personalities. The six GCC States are Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE,
Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait.
The Under Secretary for Political Affairs of Oman, Sayyid Haitham Bin
Tariq Al Said, visited India in September 1992 for discussions with the
officials of the Ministry of External Affairs. It was agreed to conclude
a new agreement on economic and technical cooperation with a view to
expand economic and commercial ties. Oman also expressed interest in
cooperation in the field of agriculture. In order to achieve these
objectives, India extended an invitation to the Omani Minister of
Commerce while Oman welcomed the visit by Indian Minister of
Agriculture. A delegation led by the President of Oman Oil Company
visited India in November 1992 to explore possibilities of cooperation
in the oil and petrochemicals sectors and several discussions have been
initiated on this subject.
-49>
The then Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Defence, Shri
Krishna Kumar, visited UAE in October 1992. He called on the President
of the UAE and had detailed discussions with his UAE counterpart. He
also met a wide cross-section of the Indian community there.
The Deputy Minister for Information of Saudi Arabia visited India in
February 1992 at the invitation of the Government of India, and
Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs visited Saudi
Arabia and the UAE in October 1992. Secretary (West) held official level
talks with his counterpart in the Foreign Ministry at Jeddah.
India, through her pragmatic approach, contributed to the development of
consensus and endorsement of international law & legitimacy in the UN
Security Council in 1992 on various resolutions pertaining to the Gulf
Region. India continued her efforts to get compensation for Indian
citizens and commercial establishements which suffered losses as a
result of the Gulf war.
A Special Kuwait Cell was established in 1991 to deal with the
compensation claims of Indian nationals, including Indian companies, who
sustained losses during the Gulf crisis following Iraq's invasion and
occupation of Kuwait in August 1990. More than sixty thousand claims for
about US $ 733.8 million (about Rs 1,935 crores) have already been
forwarded (as on 16 February 1993) to the United Nations Compensation
Commission, Geneva.
The UN Security Council vide its Resolution No 687 (1991) dated 3 April
1991 reaffirmed that Iraq, without prejudice to the debts and
obligations of Iraq arising prior to 2 August 1990, which will be
addressed through the normal mechanisms, is liable under international
law for any direct loss, damage, including environmental damage, and the
depletion of natural resources or injury to foreign governments,
nationals or corporations, as a result of Iraq's unlawful invasion and
occupation of Kuwait. The Security Council, under the same Resolution,
set up a fund to pay compensation for claims that fall within the above
parameters and also established a UN Compensation Commission (UNCC) to
administer the fund.
There were about 1,72,000 Indian nationals in Kuwait before Iraq's
invasion. Even before the UNCC prescribed guidelines and formats for
presenting the claims, Government of India considered it desirable to
collect information on compensation claims from Indian nationals and
business houses, in a suitable format which was widely circulated as
early as in June 1991. The Special Kuwait Cell received about 95,000
claims which were registered and computerised. But this exercise became
infructuous as later the UNCC devised its own formats for claim
applications.
-50>
In June 1992, the UNCC circulated rules/procedures for filing
compensation claims, Six types of forms for submission of claims,
namely, 'A', 'B', 'C', 'D', 'E' & 'F' have been prescribed by the UNCC.
These forms were given publicity, through news media, State and Union
Territory Governments, etc and fresh claim applications were invited as
per UNCC requirements. The first four categories pertain to claims by
individuals which are required to be forwarded to the UNCC by 30 June
1993. The claims for business losses are to be subimitted on form 'E'
and government claims on form 'F'. The last date for submission of 'E' &
'F' claims is 31 December 1993.
The total amount of compensation claimed by Indian nationals/companies
has not yet been finally compiled as claims are still being received,
but it is estimated that the total claim amount will be about US $ 2,000
million.
The details of the Claim Forms are as follows:
Form 'A': Damages arising out of departure from Iraq or Kuwait by
affected individuals/families for fixed amounts between US $ 2,500 to US
$ 8,000
Form 'B': Damages for serious personal injury or death
Form 'C': Individual claims for damages up to US $ 100,000
Form 'D': Individual claims for damages above US $ 100,000
Form 'E': Claims of Corporations and other entities
Form 'F': Claims of governments and international organizations.
So far 1,52,000 'A' claims have been registered with the Special Kuwait
Cell. Of these about 20% claimants appear to have made more than one
application. After eliminating such duplicate claims, there will be
about 1,20,000 genuine
claims. All these claims are being computerised by the National
Informatics Centre and are under various stages of processing. Upto 16
February 1993, 66,121 claims of 'A' category for a total amount of US $
259,921,000 have been
sent to the Permanent Mission of India, Geneva, for onward transmission
to the UNCC. It is proposed to send all remaining 'A' claims to Geneva,
for onward transmission to the UNCC by April 1993.
A total of 325 claims tinder category 'B' have been ed, registered and
scrutinised. Of these only 37 claims for US $ 92,500 have been found to
conform to the UNCC requirements and have been forwarded to the PMI,
Geneva. Letters have been issued to the rest of the claimants requesting
them
to remove the deficiencies. It is hoped that their replies will be
received by the middle of March 1993 and thereafter, the remaining 'B'
forms will be forwarded to the UNCC.
-51>
Claims under Category 'C' are expected to be around 20,000. Majority of
these claim forms have not been filled in correctly. The claim forms are
being scrutinized and the claimants will bp notified to remove the
deficiencies.
The total number of claims received and registered under Category 'D' so
far is 326. Scrutiny of these claims has been completed and letters have
been issued to the claimants to remove deficiencies as per the UNCC
requirements and resubmit the claims by March 1993.
So far, 118 claims from the Companies, Corporations, etc have been
received. Very few claims have been submitted in the UNCC form 'E'. Even
these have not been correctly filled in and supported with documentary
evidence. Letters are being sent to the concerned to meet the UNCC
requirements. Even though the last date of submission of claims in form
'E' is 31 December 1993, it is proposed to forward the forms to Geneva
in the first half of 1993. One 'E' claim for US $ 472.8 million has
alredy been lodged with the UNCC.
As regards government claims to be submitted in form 7, the concerned
authorities have been advised to submit their claims in time.
The tensions between Iraq and coalition partners resurfaced during
December 1992- January 1993. The two sides were at variance with respect
to a number of issues, including border demarcation between Iraq and
Kuwait, 'no fly zones' and access to the search teams from UN Special
Commission. These differences resulted in a series of military actions
by USA, UK and France against Iraqi targets. On 14 January 1993 a
statement by India hoped that dangerous escalations would be avoided by
strict adherence to the terms of the ceasefire after the Gulf war and by
full recognition and observance of the sovereignty, integrity and
international legitimacy of all States in the Gulf region.
The Ministry assisted in arrangements for Haj Pilgrimage and 24,000
Hajis performed the Haj in June 1992 under the auspices of the Haj
Committee. 4,700 travelled by sea and 19,300 by air. A twelve member Haj
Goodwill Delegation led by Shri Khurshid Alam Khan, Governor of
Karnataka, visited Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage and carried a letter
from Prime Minister to King Fahd of Saudi Arabia.
-52>
The unfortunate incident that took place in Ayodhya on 6 December had
its repercussions in the countries of the Gulf region. Most of the Gulf
countries and inter-regional groupings such as Gulf Cooperation Council
and the Organization of Islamic Conference issued critical statements
condemning the incident and the communal riots that took place in the
wake of the destruction of Babri Masjid at Ayodhya. The Government made
every effort to explain developments in the correct perspective to the
friendly countries. The Ambassadors of GCC countries as well as OIC were
briefed by the Minister of State as well as the Secretaries in the
Ministry of External Affairs. Indian Envoys in the Arab capitals also
made efforts to explain the developments. It is assessed that as a
result of these efforts, the countries by and large appreciate India's
commitment to secular ideals and the sincerity with which the Government
is trying to find appropriate solutions to this intensely complex
problem.
India has traditionally attached importance to the relations with Iran.
Iran has assumed special significance for India against the backdrop of
the situation in the Gulf, developments in Central Asia and Afghanistan
and in the region as a whole. Iran's large reserves of oil and gas, its
status as a major power in the region and its impulses on issues of
growth and development are factors conducive to cooperation of great
mutual benefit and advantage.
Iran too pays substantial attention to relations with India. Frequent
high level exchanges have characterised the bilateral relations. Iranian
Foreign Minister, Dr Velayati, visited India for the Sixth Session of
the Indo-Iranian Joint Commission on 10 and 11 November 1992. During the
Joint Commission Session, Iran conveyed firm signals of its readiness to
upgrade political, economic and commercial realtions with India. Apart
from three existing committees dealing with trade, industry, cultural
and consular matters, etc, two new committees were set up in the Joint
Commission to handle new thrust areas of agriculture and transportation.
There was progress in specific areas of cooperation. Indian proposals
for participation in projects in Iran are also in various stages of
finalisation.
-53>
|
1992
6 Africa (South of the Sahara) |
| Top |
THE DEMOCRATIC WAVE ACROSS THE VAST AFRICAN CONTINENT HAS RESULTED IN
profound changes. Some countries made progress towards multi-party
democracy, in other countries the transformation has been slow, and in
some there has actually been regression. The reform process in South
Africa received a setback due to continuing violence specially after the
initial optimism over the successful meeting of the Convention for a
Democratic South Africa (CODESA-I). It is hoped that the political
deadlock at CODESA-II over the formation of a representative government
was only temporary.
India has welcomed the growing acceptance of multi-party democracy in
Africa. There was a smooth transition in Zambia to multi-party
democracy. Kenya and Tanzania have carried out the necessary
constitutional amendments for registration of various political parties.
The first multi-party election in 26 years was held in Kenya on 29
December 1992. Two distinguished Indians were part of the Commonwealth
Observers Team in Kenya. Seychelles elected a Constitution Commission in
July 1992. However, as the draft Constitution submitted for referendum
in November 1992 could not muster the requisite minimum percentage of
votes (60%), the Constitution Commission is being reconvened in January
1993 to draw up a fresh constitution. In Madagascar, the new
constitution was approved in a referendum held in August. In Guinea and
Mali multi-party elections were completed and new Governments came into
power during the course of the year, In Gambia President Jawara was re-
elected. In Zaire a transitional government was elected in August 1992
and has been charged with a mandate to organize multi-party elections
within a period of 2 years. In Ghana Presidential elections were
completed in November 1992. Ft Lt J J Rawlings was elected as the
civilian President and installed on 7 January 1993. Parliamentary
elections took place on 29 December 1992 with the opposition parties
boycotting them. In Nigeria the democratic process received a setback
due to widespread complaints of irregularities. The Presidential
elections originally scheduled to take place in December 1992 have been
postponed to June 1993. Mozambique, after signing a General Peace
Agreement on 4 October 1992, is moving towards establishment of a multi-
party system. Angola conducted
elections in September 1992. The ruling MPLA party won the elections but
there will be a run-off between President Dos Santos and UNITA leader Mr
Jonas Savimbi as neither got the required percentage. Thus significant
changes are being effected in sub-Sahara Africa.
-54>
Economically the continent continues to suffer, its problems being
compounded by a severe drought in Southern Africa. Most of the countries
have accepted the structural adjustment programme of the IMF as a major
means of their economic recovery even though the conditionalities
involve a lot of sacrifices. There was a trend towards greater regional
cooperation. Therefore, economic groupings like Economic Community of
West African States (ECOWAS) in West Africa, Southern African
Development Community (SADC) in Southern Africa, Preferential Trade Area
(PTA) covering Eastern, Central and Southern African countries or the
Indian Ocean Commission are expected to play a greater role. Then, there
is the African Economic Community which is the ultimate aim of the OAU.
India has always attached special importance to its relations with
Africa. With the political independence of all African countries and the
prospect of reform within South Africa, the struggle against colonialism
and institutionalised racialism is moving towards a successful
conclusion. In the future, new relationships based on concrete economic,
technological and educational cooperation will assume enhanced
significance. It is increasingly being realised that in several areas
Indian technology is more relevant to the needs of Africa than that
provided by the developed countries. India has initiated economic
collaboration arrangements with several countries of Africa. The focus
of Indian cooperation would now shift more to consultancy services,
projects, joint ventures and investments in various fields besides
promoting India's exports to Africa. Despite constraints of resources on
both sides, Indian efforts would be to embark on mutually beneficial
projects. The countries of Africa seek Indian assistance for their human
resource development. In this sphere India is in a position to assist; a
large number of Indian scientists and technical experts are already
working in Africa.
While expressing regret at the continuing violence in South Africa,
India worked assiduously in various international fora to promote the
restoration of the process of negotiations for bringing about a non-
racial, democratic and undivided South Africa. She has welcomed the
resumption of negotiations between the African National Congress (ANC)
and the South African Government. The next multi-party constitutional
negotiations are likely to be resumed in February 1993.
-55>
In view of the positive developments towards the formation of an interim
Government of national unity, India announced the decision to set up a
Cultural Centre in South Africa at a suitable location to promote
"people to people" contacts, with power to discharge necessary visa
functions. This is in consonance with the decision taken at the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) held at Harare in 1991.
India also decided to commence direct air links with South Africa. In
accordance with the CHOGM time-table, diplomatic relations with South
Africa will need to await the establishment of an interim Government.
India continued to give moral and material support to the ANC to end
apartheid in South Africa. Sixteen ANC diplomats are being trained in
the Foreign Service Training Institute. Other proposals for human
resource development are also in the pipeline.
The highlight of India's relations with Mauritius was the visit by Prime
Minister, Shri P V Narasimha Rao, in March 1992 as Chief Guest for the
celebrations declaring Mauritius a Republic. This was followed by the
visit of Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo, First President and former Governor
General of Mauritius, in May-June. The Mauritian Foreign Minister, Mr
Paul Raymond Berenger, also visited India from 5 to 12 August 1992.
These and other high level visits resulted in a further consolidation of
the existing close ties between the two countries.
In the elections held in Angola on 30 September and 1 October 1992 the
ruling Popular Movement for the liberation of Angola (MPLA) was declared
the winner having polled 53.74% votes while National Union for the Total
Independence of Angola (UNITA) could muster only 34.1%.
A second round of presidential polls is to take place as neither
candidate could obtain more than 50% of the votes. The UN continue to
make efforts to bring about a political dialogue between the two sides.
India hopes that agreement is reached and peace prevails in Angola.
A General Peace Accord was signed on 4 October 1992 between the
President of Mozambique, Mr Chissano, and the RENAMO leader, Mr Afonso
Dhlakama, in Rome. The two leaders expressed their interest and
willingness to make every effort for a lasting peace in Mozambique. A
United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) has been established.
The UN Force is to act in conformity with the Peace Accord in ensuring
peace, ceasefire and holding of elections. India has been requested to
provide logistic companies for ONUMOZ. The Mozambican Foreign Minister,
Dr Pascoal Manuel Mocumbi, paid an
official visit to India from 25 to 27 August 1992. Mozambique would like
India to play an active role in the reconstruction of its economy,
particularly in the field of agriculture, transport, communication,
mines and industry.
-56>
India and Uganda have longstanding relations except for the aberration
during Idi Amin's regime from 1972-76. President of Uganda, Mr Yoweri
Kaguta Museveni, paid a State visit to India from 12 to 14 October 1992.
The visit provided a fillip to the bilateral relations and the two
countries can now move forward to forging a constructive relationship
based on mutual benefit. Uganda is seeking India's assistance in various
fields for the reconstruction of its economy. Some areas of cooperation
have been identified like setting up food processing industry, wood
products, manufacture of bicycles, edible oils and fertiliser. A
Framework Agreement was also signed to sort out the problem of blocked
funds in Uganda.
The then Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Eduardo Faleiro,
paid a visit to Ethiopia from 9 to 17 November 1992. This was the first
Ministerial visit to Ethiopia in 15 years. The Transitional Government
of Ethiopia, since it assumed power in May 1991, has been undertaking
major political, economic and social changes in the country. India's
assistance to Ethiopia's economic development was appreciated. The
Ethiopian leadership, has expressed the hope that India would assist
them further in their economic development. The Foreign Minister of
Ethiopia led a high-level economic delegation to India from 14 to 16
December 1992. They have sought Indian cooperation in rural technology
particularly agro-industries, small scale industries and technical
assistance, specially in higher education. They are also seeking Indian
investment.
Sierra Leone witnessed a coup d'etat in April 1992. The President, Mr
Joseph Momoh, fled the country. Captain Valentine Strasser took over as
President at the head of a military ruling council. Another coup attempt
on 28 December 1992 failed.
In Ghana, the Parliamentary elections for 200 constituencies were held
on 29 December 1992. With many opposition parties boycotting the
elections, the National Democratic Congress Party of President Rawlings
won the elections securing 189 seats.
The civil war in Liberia continued, bringing untold misery to the
people. Intermittent fighting continued throughout the year,
intensifying in the latter half of the year. At least 3,000 casualties
were reported. The West African Peace Keeping Force, ECOMOG, continued
its efforts to bring the fighting to
an end. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Summit
held in Abuja in November 1992 decided to impose economic sanctions on
warring factions not complying with the Yamoussoukro-IV agreement. The
UN Security Council passed a resolution to impose arms embargo on
Liberia, excepting ECOMOG. The UN Secretary General appointed a Special
Representative to evaluate the situation and report to the Security
Council. All necessary efforts were made to assist Indians in Liberia.
-57>
President Eyadema of Togo dissolved the Government led by Prime Minister
Joseph Koffigoh on 13 January 1993 for "failing to organize elections on
schedule" thereby 11 putting the continuity of the state in peril". He
stated that a new Prime Minister would be appointed to head a government
of national unity which would be charged with the task of organizing in
the shortest possible period, free democratic and fair elections.
Mr James A Michel, Chief of Staff of the Seychelles Peoples Defence
Forces and Minister of Finance and Information of the Republic of
Secychelles visited India from 12 to 17 October 1992 at the invitation
of Minister of State for Defence and discussed matters relating to
bilateral defence cooperation.
The Government of India was deeply concerned over the adverse effects of
the unprecedented drought prevailing in Southern Africa and the
consequent distress among the people of the region. Despite her severe
economic constraints, India sent relief assistance comprising medicines,
baby food and water purification tablets to some of the more severely
affected countries like Botswana, Madagascar, Mozambique, Namibia,
Zambia and Zimbabwe as well as some countries further. up north like
Ghana, Kenya and Ethiopia. While this was a modest contribution, it was
symbolic of the concern that the people of India felt for the people of
the countries of Africa.
During the year under review, India continued to play a significant role
as Chairman of the Action For Resisting Invasion, Colonialism and
Apartheid (AFRICA) Fund which was set up by the 8th NAM Summit in Harare
in September 1986 as an expression of the Movement's support and
solidarity with the Frontline States. The mandate of the AFRICA Fund was
renewed by the 9th NAM Summit in Belgrade in 1989 till the 10th NAM
Summit. The 10th meeting of the Senior Officials of the AFRICA Fund
Committee in Cairo in May 1992 reviewed the outcome of all the various
initiatives taken by the Fund. The Prime Minister as Chairman of the
AFRICA Fund Committee made a statement on the AFRICA Fund to the 10th
NAM Summit in Jakarta in September 1992. In his presentation, the Prime
Minister endorsed the recommendations of the AFRICA Fund Committee that
while the mandate of
the Fund ends at the 10th Summit, the member states of the Movement
would continue to support the liberation movements in South Africa till
the objective of bringing about a non-racial unified and democratic
South Africa is achieved. The 10th NAM Summit commended the role played
by India as Chairman, and the Committee member countries and expressed
its appreciation and gratitude to all donor countries for their generous
contributions. The Summit also accepted the proposal of the Chairman,
Prime Minister of India, to provide US $ 250,000 for the humanitarian
relief in Somalia and the remaining balance to the Southern Africa
Development Community (SADC) for drought relief in Southern Africa,
human resource development in South Africa and voter education there
before the elections. The Summit further recommended that while the
mandate of the Fund ends at the Summit, member countries of the Movement
should Continue to strengthen the liberation movements in South Africa
with fresh expressions of political and material support.
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India on her part, as a contributor to the Fund, continued to make
efforts for full utilisation of its contribution of Rs 50 crores in kind
and of the contribution of Rs 2.56 crores by individuals, private and
public organizations in India. Further, in accordance with the decision
of the 10th NAM Summit, a cheque for US $ 250,000 was given to the UN
Special Representative in Somalia by the then Minister of State for
External Affairs, Shri Eduardo Faleiro, in Mogadishu in November 1992.
Shri Eduardo Faleiro in January 1993 presented another cheque for US $
290,000 to SADC for utilisation in accordance with NAM's decision.
The activities of the AFRICA Fund have been greatly appreciated- by the
Frontline States and the liberation movements and have earned all round
recognition. Its experience has set an example in South-South
cooperation and collective solidarity. It was India's privilege to be
associated with this effort both as a contributor to the Fund and its
Chairman.
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|
1992
7 Europe
Eastern Europe
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A. OVERALL TRENDS
THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS IN 1991-92 HAD
indicated the sweeping changes that had affected the erstwhile USSR and
continued to take place in the countries of Eastern Europe. The changes
that have taken place and are continuing in Eastern Europe and the
former Soviet Union are expected to have a major impact on international
relations. The process of reformulation of international relations and
the building of new international structures has begun. Developments in
the countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union will have a
very important bearing on the evolution of this new order.
The changes taking place in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union
are not only of a political dimension but also embrace far-reaching
economic reforms with the objective of closer integration into the
international economic system and efforts to firmly establish a
pluralist form of democracy although the pace and content in respect of
these activities varies from country to country. These processes, taking
place simultaneously, have given rise to a plethora of problems within
these countries and also those which have an external dimension
including, inter alia, the rise of ethnic nationalism, migration of
populations, a re-orientation of the Trans-Atlantic and European
security structures, multiplicity of political parties and movements and
self-doubt about several aspects of the change including the likelihood
of substantial economic recovery in an acceptably reasonable time-frame.
India has welcomed the advent of democracy and a pluralist form of
Government in the East European countries. India has also welcomed the
efforts being made by these countries to re-model their economic
structures to integrate them into the international economic system
based on market principles. At the same time, it is India's belief that
the political and economic changes in these countries provide the
framework for even closer, mutually beneficial political, economic,
commercial, scientific and other forms of cooperation. The changes in
these countries have brought them ideologically
more in line with India's own non-ideological orientation and democratic
beliefs. They also provide opportunities for India, particularly in
economic terms.
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Several steps were taken to consolidate India's traditionally friendly,
cooperative and mutually beneficial relations with the independent
Republics that emerged from the former Soviet Union. These included high
level political interchanges. Diplomatic relations have been established
with all the Republics that emerged from the former Soviet Union.
India's diplomatic presence has been expanded. Indian Embassies are now
functioning in Kiev and Minsk and Consulates General in Vladivostok and
St. Petersburg. India's relations with these countries are being
reconstructed on new lines. The expectation, however, is that India's
relations with all the successor States would stabilise. India had very
good relations with the former Soviet Union and it is the intention that
these relations will endure with the successor Republics.
Efforts are being made and would be pursued to maintain the close
political relations that India had previously enjoyed with the East
European countries. The economic dimension of the relationship has
necessarily to take into account the changes not only in these countries
but also the on-going changes in India.
Following the dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of
Yugoslavia, India had on 11 May 1992 extended recognition to the
Republics of Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina and the Indian
Embassy in Belgrade continued to be accredited to the newly formed
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. In respect of Macedonia, taking all
relevant factors into account, India has not accorded recognition.
The on-going crisis in the former Yugoslavia is a matter of serious
concern and anxiety. India is grieved at the loss of innocent lives and
the economic and social distress that has resulted from the crisis.
India's approach to the crisis has from the very inception been based on
principle. She welcomes all efforts to bring about an immediate peaceful
settlement and stress the need for an early political resolution without
resort to any form of force or violence.
As a gesture of solidarity, India has decided to contribute humanitarian
relief amounting to Rs 1 million for the former Yugoslavia. The amount
is to be used to purchase medicines, etc, through the Indian Red Cross
for use by the ICRC.
The year also saw the peaceful and constitutional division of the Czech
and Slovak Federal Republic with effect from 1 January 1993. India has
recognised
both the new Republics that have emerged, viz the Czech Republic and the
Slovak Republic. Diplomatic relations continue, without break, with both
these countries. India's Ambassador in Prague has been appointed as the
first resident Ambassador to the Czech Republic and the first non-
resident Ambassador to the Slovak Republic. The Embassy of the CSFR in
New Delhi has been divided into two portions. Both countries have
diplomatic representation in India on a continuing basis.
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B. DESCRIPTIVE PART
The emergence of Russia as an independent State, together with the
process of democratisation and economic reforms entailed certain
adjustments in bilateral relations on both sides. While the process
involved some transitional difficulties mainly in economic interaction,
both countries are aware of the continued convergence of interests and
the new opportunities that have opened up for the further development of
mutually beneficial cooperation in the new context.
High level political and official contacts with Russia underlined the
importance both countries attach to the bilateral relationship. Prime
Minister, Shri P V Narasimha Rao, and President Yeltsin have since their
January 1992 meeting kept in touch including through exchange of letters
and President Yeltsin paid an official visit to India in late January
1993. President and Prime Minister have been invited to visit Russia.
Former State Secretary, Mr Gennady Burbulis, visited India in May 1992
at the invitation of Finance Minister. He was accompanied by Ministers
of Foreign Economic Relations, Economy, and Fuel and Energy and State
Counsellor for Conversion of Defence Industry. He called on the
President, Vice President and Prime Minister and held discussions with
Raksha Mantri and Ministers of State for External Affairs, Commerce and
Power. An agreement establishing an Indo-Russian joint Commission and
another agreement on trade and economic cooperation were signed during
the visit.
The high point of Parliamentary contacts between Russia and India was
the visit of a Russian Parliamentary delegation led by the Supreme
Soviet Chairman, Mr Ruslan Khasbulatov, to India in August 1992. Apart
from discussions with the Honourable Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Deputy
Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and Members of Parliament, Speaker
Khasbulatov also called on the President and the Prime Minister. He
spoke warmly of the historical legacy of Indo-Russian relations and the
need to sustain and deepen them.
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Raksha Mantri, Shri Sharad Pawar, paid an official visit to Moscow in
September 1992. Substantive discussions were held with acting Prime
Minister, Mr Gaidar, and Defence Minister, Gen Grachev, apart from other
Russian dignitaries. Raksha Mantri discussed with his host bilateral and
international security issues and continuing military-technical
cooperation between India and Russia. The Chiefs of the Air and Naval
Staff of the Indian Armed Forces also paid goodwill visits to Russia in
October and November 1992 respectively.
President Yeltsin visited India from 27 to 29 January 1993. He was
accompanied by the first Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Mr
Shumeiko, Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Minister of Security and
Minister of External Economic Relations, among others. President Yeltsin
had meetings with the President and Prime Minister. The Ministers
accompanying him had separate bilateral discussions.
During the visit of President Yeltsin, a treaty of friendship and
cooperation and agreements on Rupee-Rouble exchange rate, on defence
cooperation, on Indo-Russian consultations, on cultural and scientific
cooperation, on information, on combating illicit traffic in narcotics
and on cooperation between the Ministry of Home Affairs of India and the
Russian Security Ministry, and an MOU on science and technology were
signed. Four letters were also exchanged on trade and related matters.
The visit laid a durable foundation for future friendship and close
interaction between India and the Russian Federation. President Yeltsin
indicated Russia's desire to build a dynamic growth-oriented multi-
faceted relationship with India and stated that a friendly and stable
relationship between two big Asian powers like Russia and India will
contribute to the cause of regional stability and peace. The convergence
of views on issues of mutual interest and common concern would enable
fruitful and purposeful cooperation between the two countries both
bilaterally and in the multilateral context. In effect, following
President Yeltsin's visit a new chapter has opened in Indo-Russian
relations - a chapter that takes into account the changed global context
as also the changes that have taken place in both the countries.
India and Russia have cooperated fruitfully in international
organizations including the UN. India supported the UN General Assembly
resolution (based on the joint Russo-Afghan Declaration of 14 May 1992)
appealing to the Governments of Afghanistan and Russia to start talks on
the humanitarian question of the return and accounting of POWs and MIAs.
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The first meeting of the Indo-Russian joint Commission is expected to be
held in the near future.
Three important issues merit mention in relations with the Ukraine. The
most important is the rapid development of bilateral relations, starting
with the visit in January 1992 of a team of Secretaries, including
Foreign Secretary, which laid the foundation for further high-level
contacts and establishment of diplomatic relations. Foreign Secretary
was received by President Kravchuk, who expressed his keenness to
continue the close relations that existed between the former USSR and
India.
President Kravchuk subsequently visited India in March 1992 during which
four important agreements were signed. Prime Minister and President
Kravchuk signed the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation on 27 March
1992 which was subsequently ratified and Instruments of Ratification
were exchanged in November 1992 in Kiev. The other agreements were : (i)
Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation; (ii) Agreement on
cooperation in fields of Science and Technology; and (iii) Agreement on
Cooperation in the spheres of Culture, Arts, Education, Tourism, Sports
and Mass Media.
In October 1992, Raksha Mantri, Shri Sharad Pawar, visited Kiev, during
which he had meetings with President Kravchuk, Defence Minister Morozov,
Foreign Minister Zlenko and Minister for Heavy Industry and Conversion
Antonov. This visit served to continue the high-level dialogue between
the two countries and determined the method of payments settlements to
be used in selected sectors of trade between the two countries.
The Indian Embassy was opened in Kiev on 7 May 1992, the first among the
new CIS Republics. Since then, the Ambassador has joined and more
officials are expected to join shortly. The Ukrainian Embassy in Delhi
is due to open shortly and their Ambassador has been chosen.
A number of draft agreements were exchanged and official level visits
have also taken place, aimed principally at working out the details of
the agreements and understandings reached at the political level. A
number of public sector and private business persons have visited Kiev
and other important cities. In this connection, the Indian Exhibition
organized by Indian Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) in Kiev in
September 1992 gave Ukrainian officials and the emerging private sector
a comprehensive idea of the potential of India as a trade partner.
Earlier, in August, the Indo-CIS Chamber of Commerce had organized a
successful exhibition in Kiev.
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After recognizing the sovereignty and independence of the Republic of
Belarus in December 1991, Protocols establishing diplomatic and consular
relations at Resident Mission level were signed on 17 April 1992 at
Minsk. A new Embassy of India in Minsk was opened on 14 May 1992 and is
functional since then. Prime Minister has invited Chairman of the
Supreme Soviet of Belarus and Chairman of the Council of Ministers to
visit India and the timing of these visits is under discussion. To
maintain and expand traditional bonds of friendship and cooperation with
Belarus a number of agreements on political, economic, commercial,
cultural, science and technology cooperation, etc are at various stages
of negotiation.
Prime Minister met the Presidents of all the three Baltic Republics at
Rio de Janeiro on 13 June 1992. He recalled that India had established
diplomatic relations with all the three Republics and, in due course,
would open Missions in their capitals.
The process of interchange, in particular in the commercial and cultural
sectors, has been initiated. Proposals of technical assistance under the
ITEC programme are also under consideration.
with Armenia, Georgia and Moldova in the commercial and
cultural sectors as also in the matter of technical assistance under
ITEC have been initiated. The President of Moldova is expected to visit
India during 1993.
Relations with Hungary continued to develop with a series of working
level visits. Official consultations on foreign policy were held in
Budapest in October during the visit of Secretary (West), Shri K
Srinivasan. The Science and Technical Cooperation Agreement was renewed
for a further period of five years in December 1992 when the Hungarian
Minister without portfolio, Prof Erno Pungor visited India. A bilateral
agreement on tourism was signed earlier in October between Secretary
(Tourism) and the visiting Hungarian Chairman of the Tourism Board, Mr
Kazmir Kardos. On the cultural side, the State Secretary for Culture, Mr
Elemer Biszterszky visited India in February 1992 and following his
discussions with Secretary (Culture), the two sides agreed on an
implementation plan for the Cultural Exchange Programme which had been
renewed the previous year.
The trade picture during the year reflected both the opportunities and
challenges resulting from the changes in the economic and commercial
field in the two countries. Keeping in mind the growing importance of
consumer goods in India's exports to Hungary, India was selected as the
Chief Guest
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for the Budapest International Autumn Trade Fair. The Indian
participation at the Europa'92 Telecommunication Exhibition in Budapest
was also in high profile. In the field of joint ventures and
collaborations, efforts were underway on both sides to take advantage of
economic liberalisation programmes in India.
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Important Indian visitors to Hungary during the year were the Chairman
of Atomic Energy Commission, the Chairman of the Indian Trade Promotion
Organization, Chairman of the Telecommunications Commission, the
Maharashtra Minister of Industries and a delegation from the Ministry of
Industry to study the labour situation in Hungary.
1992 was also an active year for cultural activities. The 100th death
anniversary of the famous Hungarian Indologist Alexander Choma de Korosi
was commemorated by a series of events both in India and Hungary. Among
them was the dedication of a stupa by His Holiness Dalai Lama during his
visit to Budapest. Noted artistes like sitarist Shahid Parvez Khan and
the Kathak group led by Rohini Bhate visited Hungary and the Hungarian
Choral Quintet performed in several cities in India.
At the political level, preparations are underway for a meeting of the
Indo-Hungarian Joint Commission. A Parliamentary delegation from Hungary
led by the Speaker is expected to visit India in the summer of 1993. The
State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mr Janos Martonyi, is also expected
in India to continue the practice of regular bilateral official
consultations. High level state visits to and from Hungary are also
under consideration for 1993.
Poland continued its march towards marketisation of its industry, trade,
commerce and economic structures in spite of certain hardships in
transition and maintained the on-going process of integration with
European institutions.
Following the privatisation of foreign trade in Poland and the changes
in economic policies in both countries, the process of direct contact
between Indian and newly emerging Polish businessmen accelerated during
the year.
Consultations at the level of Foreign Ministries of both countries were
held in Warsaw in October 1992. Secretary (West) and Under Secretary of
State of Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs led their teams. It was
found that a basis for further strengthening of Indo-Polish relations
continues to exist.
A Polish Parliamentary delegation led by the Chairman of the Sejm
visited India in December 1992 at the invitation of the Indian
Parliament. The visit permitted an extensive and frank exchange of views
between Indian
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parliamentarians and freely elected Polish parliamentarians. The
delegation also called on the President and the Vice President.
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It is anticipated that President Walesa will pay a visit to India in
1993. It is expected that in early 1993 an agreement on cooperation in
the field of science and technology, a programme of cooperation for
1993-94 in the field of science and technology and a cultural exchange
programme between India and Poland would be signed.
India's relations with the Czech & Slovak Federal Republic continue to
be close and friendly despite its preoccupation since June 1992 with the
impending break-up into two independent States, Czech Republic and
Slovakia on 31 December 1992.
The 45th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between
India and CSFR was marked by exchange of messages in November 1992 at
the Foreign Minister/Minister of State level. The death in November 1992
of Alexander Dubcek, the hero of the 1968 'Prague Spring' movement was
condoled. Prime Minister sent a special message of condolence.
The six day visit of the Slovak Minister for International Relations to
India in April 1992 preceded by two weeks President Havel's transit
through New Delhi. During his visit to Prague in October 1992, Shri K
Srinivasan, Secretary (West), had bilateral talks with the Federal First
Deputy Foreign Minister.
A reference has already been made above to India's recognition of the
two new States that have emerged from the division of the CSFR. Prime
Minister sent messages of congratulations to both the Prime Ministers of
the Czech and Slovak Republics in which he recalled, inter alia, the
tradition of friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation in the
commercial, economic, scientific, defence, cultural and other spheres.
He also conveyed that Government of India would endeavour to strengthen
this tradition with both the Czech and Slovak Republics for mutual
benefit. Trade Agreements with both the new Republics, providing for
commerce in convertible currency, are being negotiated.
|
Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri R L Bhatia, paid an
official visit to Poland on 9 and 10 February, Slovak Republic from 11
to 13 February, Czech Republic from 14 to 16 February and Hungary on 17
and 18 February 1993. Besides meeting with the Foreign Ministers in
these countries and discussing bilateral matters and issues of common
concern, he called on the Heads of State or Government. The purpose of
the visit was to maintain the close
political, economic and defence relations that India enjoys with these
countries and to study ways for developing new relationships in the
light of far-reaching changes taking place in these countries.
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The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia officially passed into
history on 27 April 1992 with the adoption by the SFRY Parliament of the
Constitution of the new Federal Republic of Yugoslavia comprising Serbia
and Montenegro. Elections to the new FRY Parliament were held on 31 May
1992. The Parliament approved Dr Dobrica Cosic as the first President of
the FRY and Milan Panic as its first Prime Minister. Subsequently, a
further round of elections were held on 20 December 1992 in the FRY for
various posts. In the meanwhile, the UN had adopted comprehensive
mandatory sanctions against Yugoslavia on 30 May 1992. These sanctions
were further intensified in November 1992. The sanctions were imposed
for alleged involvement of Serbia in the continuing war in Bosnia-
Herzegovina and for non-cooperation by Serbs in Bosnia-Herzegovina and
in UNPAs. The situation in Kosovo in the Republic of Serbia continued to
be tense with total non-cooperation by the ethnic Albanians with the
Federal and Serbian authorities. Long term CSCE Missions were sent to
Serbian provinces of Kosovo, Vojvodina and Sandzak.
After recognition by the EC and a large number of countries, after 15
January, Croatia was admitted as a UN member in May 1992. Elections were
held in Croatia on 2 August. President Franjo Tudjman was re-elected and
the ruling Croatian Democratic Union Party was once again elected to
power. Barring the situation in the UNPAs and the Pink Zones, the
situation in Croatia returned rapidly to normal.
Slovenia was admitted to the UN in May 1992. It had also been recognized
by a large number of countries after 15 January 1992. Elections were
held in Slovenia on 6 December 1992. President Milan Kucan was re-
elected and the Liberal Democratic Party emerged as the single largest
party in Parliament. The situation in Slovenia was stable throughout the
year.
Following Greek protests over the use of the name Macedonia, the EC and
most other nations in the region withheld their recognition. Macedonia
was recognized only by nine countries. To overcome the problem of
recognition, Macedonia decided to seek admission into the UN. A decision
by the UN is awaited. Due to the growth of tension in Macedonia, the
Security Council approved the deployment of UNPKF along Macedonia's
borders with both Serbia and Albania as a preventive measure.
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The situation in Bosnia-Herzegovina continued to pre-occupy the
attention of the international community throughout the year. The
recognition of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Government by the EC and a large
section of the international community saw civil war break out in the
Republic due to the objection to international recognition by the Serbs
in that Republic. The cost of this civil war has been considerable in
terms of damage to men and material and loss of human lives. The UN
Protection Force was deployed in Bosnia-Herzegovina in August 1992 and a
large number of UN Resolutions adopted related to the situation in this
Republic, especially with the humanitarian aspects of peace-keeping and
on no-fly zone.
The EC Conference on Yugoslavia was transformed into a larger
International Conference on Former Yugoslavia (ICFY), with the active
involvement of the UN, based in Geneva, with two British and American
Co-Chairmen representing the UN Secretary General.
The Security Council passed twenty Resolutions on the former Yugoslavia
from April to December 1992. These were in addition to the six
Resolutions adopted in 1991-92. The Resolutions, inter alia, related to
deployment of UNPROFOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia and Macedonia;
sanctions against Yugoslavia; the situation in UNPAs and Pink Zones in
Croatia; conveying humanitarian assistance to Bosnia-Herzegovina;
monitoring of airports and declaration of no-fly zone over Bosnia-
Herzegovina; detention camps in Bosnia-Herzegovina; violation of human
rights; war crimes and also that relating to Yugoslavia's membership in
the UN. The General Assembly passed two Resolutions on the situation in
Bosnia-Herzegovina and one on Yugoslavia's membership.
India abstained on 3 Resolutions of the Security Council and 2
Resolutions of the General Assembly. The overall Force Commander of UN
Forces in former Yugoslavia is a serving Indian Army officer, Lt Gen
Satish Nambiar.
Besides the UN and EC, other international organizations which debated
the situation on Yugoslavia, included the CSCE, the G-7, the OIC, NATO,
WEU and NAM. Yugoslavia's membership of several organizations, including
the UN, NAM and G-15 was placed in suspense.
Yugoslavia was Chairman of NAM during the conflict with in it. The NCB
Meeting in Bali and the NAM Summit in Jakarta devoted sometime over the
situation in Yugoslavia. Yugoslavia handed over the Chairmanship of NAM
to Indonesia on the eve of the Summit through a letter at the
Ministerial Meeting. Croatia was admitted as an Observer in NAM and
Bosnia-Herzegovina and Slovenia as Guests. Macedonia showed an interest
to join the movement.
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India and Bulgaria continued to maintain traditionally close and
friendly relations in the political and cultural fields. In the cultural
field, several Indian Professors visited Bulgaria and a Kathak dance
troupe led by Rohini Bhate participated in the Bourgas International
Dance Festival and gave performances in Sofia and Veliko Turnovo.
Secretary (Culture), Ministry of Human Resource Development, visited
Bulgaria at the invitation of the Minister of Culture of Bulgaria to
review Indo-Bulgarian cultural relations.
Bulgaria's first post-1945 non-communist Government led by Prime
Minister Filip Dimitrov's Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) having 110
seats of 240 lost the confidence of the National Assembly in November
1992 when the 24-member ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms
(MRF) withdrew its support. After the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP)
was unable to select an acceptable candidate for Prime Minister, the MRF
nominated, Prof Lyuben Berov, Economic Adviser to the President, who
with the support of BSP received on 30 December the Assembly's approval
for a new non-party Cabinet.
Indo-Romanian ties continued to develop. The holding of elections in
Romania in October 1992 contributed to the growth of pluralist democracy
in that country.
Secretary (West) visited Bucharest in August 1992 for Foreign Office
consultations and it is expected that a Parliamentary delegation from
India will visit Romania during 1993.
A draft Cultural Exchange Programme is presently under discussions and
once signed would lead to closer people to people contact.
The Rupee clearing arrangement which was to end on 31 December 1992 has
been extended till 31 March 1993 after which it is expected that all
commercial transactions would be in freely convertible currencies. An
Indo-Romanian Chamber of Commerce was set up in India in October and the
Romanian side. have indicated that they will set up a similar body soon
in Romania.
A Civil Aviation Agreement was signed with Romania in August 1992 in New
Delhi which allows for three Romanian Airlines flights per week to India
and vice versa.
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Western Europe
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During the year, India's initiatives on forging closer relations with
countries in Western Europe were given sharper focus. Government took
into account impending changes across the European continent in light of
the Maastricht Treaty which aims at economic, monetary and political
union of the EC member countries, as well as the entering into effect of
a Single European Market by January 1993.
The Annual Indo-EC Troika-level talks were held in Delhi in March 1992.
The Foreign Ministers of Portugal, UK and the Netherlands visited India
for the talks. The Troika Foreign Ministers reassured India that the
current preoccupations of the European Community with developments in
Central and Eastern Europe and the Republics of the former Soviet Union
should not be seen as a disinclination of their interest in the
developing world, especially India. A new framework cooperation
agreement between India and the EC was initialled in December 1992,
which recognizes India as a major partner and paves the way for
expansion and diversification of Indo-EC cooperation in the fields of
trade, investment, technological and scientific exchanges, and cultural
cooperation.
Substantial progress was made during the year in intensifying the
already close relations with the UK. The groundwork was laid during the
visit of the British Foreign Secretary in January 1992, when it was
agreed that a regular bilateral dialogue would be maintained at various
levels and would also be institutionalised between the two Foreign
Offices. Pursuant to this decision, a number of high-level visits were
exchanged during the year. The visit of the Prince of Wales to India in
February 1992 was yet another milestone in the growing friendly
relations between India and the UK.
On 22 September 1992, India and the UK signed an Extradition Treaty and
an Agreement concerning the Investigation and Prosecution of Crime and
the Tracing, Restraint and Confiscation of the Proceeds and Instruments
of Crime (including crime involving currency transfers) and Terrorist
Funds. These two agreements were of historic and pathbreaking importance
and strengthened the commitment of both countries to work together in
combating terrorism. The Agreements are expected to become effective in
early 1993 after completion of ratification procedures.
British Prime Minister, Mr John Major, visited India from 23 to 28
January 1993. He was the first British Prime Minister to be invited
since Independence to be Chief Guest on the Republic Day. His visit
marked the culmination of a
process of high level exchanges initiated in January 1992 and symbolised
the maturity of Indo-British relations which now stand firmly placed in
a modern, forward-looking context. Mr Major was accompanied by a high
level business delegation. The British Prime Minister reaffirmed the
UK's commitment to close cooperation with India in combating terrorism.
He also expressed support for India's secular and democratic traditions
as well as economic reforms. The visit of Mr Major provided a strong
impetus to bilateral trade as well as investment and joint ventures,
availing of the opportunities opened up by India's economic
liberalisation programme.
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India has traditionally enjoyed close relations with France, to which we
attach importance in both the European and the global contexts. Prime
Minister's official visit to France from 28 to 30 September 1992 served
to consolidate these relations. Both sides confirmed their desire to
impart new dimensions and depth to bilateral relations, in particular in
the areas of investment, technology and trade. In order to build on the
impetus provided by Prime Minister's visit, a number of Ministerial
visits were exchanged with France and a regular dialogue at the level of
Foreign Secretaries was also institutionalised.
The Festival of India in Germany, which concluded in July 1992, was
widely acknowledged as a great success and played an important role in
bringing the peoples of India and Germany closer together. The first
meeting of the Indo-German Consultative Group, set up by the Prime
Minister and the German Chancellor, was held in Bonn on 16 September
1992. This Group recommended a number of measures for strengthening
bilateral cooperation in various fields. Actions were initiated to
implement these recommendations. German Chancellor, Mr Helmut Kohl,
visited India from 18 to 22 February 1993. The Jawaharlal Nehru Award
for International Understanding was conferred upon him on 19 February
1993. This Award symbolised not only the high esteem in which the
Chancellor is held in India for his personal contributions to the cause
of world peace and development, but also the cordiality and closeness of
bilateral relations to which both countries attach great importance.
Germany is already India's leading partner in Western Europe in terms of
trade, investment and technology transfer, aid and S & T cooperation.
The German Chancellor's visit provided an opportunity to further
consolidate these relations. During the year, a number of Ministerial
visits were also exchanged between India and Germany and a dialogue at
the level of Foreign Secretaries was initiated.
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The State visit of the President of Portugal to India from 26 January to
4 February 1992 marked a high point in Indo-Portuguese relations. Prime
Minister also paid a transit visit to Lisbon on 15 June 1992. Government
approved a Portuguese proposal for the setting up of a Consulate General
of Portugal in Goa.
Prime Minister paid a transit visit to Madrid on 10 June 1992. The
Spanish Prime Minister paid an official visit to India from 7 to 10
February 1993 during which a number of important bilateral agreements
were concluded. Relations with Spain, particularly in the areas of trade
and economic relations, continued 'to expand.
India's trade and economic relations with Italy also continued to grow.
The Bologna University in Italy organized a major Symposium on India
from 17 to 20 September 1992 to which a large number of scholars,
scientists and historians were invited. Government were represented at
the Symposium by Shri Madhavrao Scindia, the then Minister of Civil
Aviation and Tourism.
The Austrian Minister for Economy, Mr Walter Schussel, visited India
from 13 to 18 October 1992. His visit coincided with that of an Austrian
business delegation, indicating the growing interest on both sides in
establishing joint ventures and collaborations taking advantage of the
favourable investment climate resulting from India's economic reforms.
During the year, Foreign Secretary/Secretary level consultations between
Foreign Offices were also held with Greece, Italy, Spain and Sweden.
In addition to making concerted efforts to expand relations with West
European countries in the fields of trade, investment and technology
transfer, Indian Missions faced the challenging task of responding to
public concerns in Europe on areas ranging from human rights to the
environment. There was a growing tendency among certain countries of
Western Europe to lay emphasis on human rights issues and establish
linkages to developmental assistance. The projection of India's
commitment to democracy, human rights and the rule of law was vigorously
undertaken by Indian Missions, generally with a considerable measure of
success.
As a result of India's active diplomacy, Governmental reactions on the
Ayodhya incident in most of the West European countries tended to be
favourable. Official Statements by the British Government and the EC
showed an understanding and support for Government's action to restore
calm and emphasise the continuity of the secular and democratic
traditions of India.
-73>
The European Parliament also passed a supportive and balanced resolution
on Ayodhya. Indian Missions continued to be engaged in the task of
ensuring that there were no setbacks as a result of the Ayodhya incident
to the growing relations between India and Western Europe in the
economic arena.
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|
1992
8 The Americas |
| Top |
North America
INDIA HAS ALWAYS PURSUED FRIENDLY RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES,
BASED
on shared democratic values and traditions. The changes in the
international environment brought about by the end of the Cold War have
provided both the countries with an opportunity to re-evaluate bilateral
relations. The past year has been marked by increased diversification of
India's bilateral ties, an intensification in the pace of exchanges
between the two countries and greater political appreciation of each
other's perspectives on various issues, important differences in the
positions of the two countries on these issues notwithstanding.
Important American personalities who visited India during the year
included Senators David Boren, Claiborne Pell, Carl Levin, Howard
Metzenbaum, Paul Simon, Daniel P Moynihan, Representative Jim McDermott
and Mr Kurt Schmoke, Mayor of Baltimore. From Indian side, Minister of
State for Commerce visited Chicago to participate in the COMDEX Spring
'92 Exhibition and Raksha Mantri undertook an official visit to the US.
At the official level, there were visits by Ambassador Peter Burleigh,
Counter Terrorism Coordinator, Mr Melvyn Levitsky, Assistant Secretary
of State for International Narcotics Matters, Mr James Lilley, Assistant
Secretary of Defence, Ms Teresita Schaffer, Deputy Assistant Secretary
for Near East and South Asia, Mr Sichan Siv, Deputy Assistant Secretary
for South Asia, Mr R Grant Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary for
International Narcotics Matters and Mr Vincent Decain, Assistant
Director of the US Arms Control & Disarmament Agency. Important visits
at the official level from India to the US included those by Foreign
Secretary and Defence Secretary.
The election of Mr Bill Clinton as the 42nd President of the United
States, and the induction of the Democratic Administration has opened
new vistas for enhancing relations with the United States. Although
President Clinton has not articulated his Administration's policies
towards India in any detail, he made several positive references to
India during the campaign.
-75>
An MEA delegation which attended the second round of Indo-US bilateral
talks in Washington in November 1992 also visited the Democratic
campaign headquarters in Little Rock, Arkansas, to meet members of
President Clinton's Transition Team. This initiative, the first by any
foreign country since Mr Clinton's election, was designed to establish
initial contact with the new Administration. It is Government's
expectation that interaction with the new Administration will not only
consolidate the basic continuity, in Indo-US relations but help in
building a more meaningful and mature relationship based on mutual
understanding and trust.
The US remained India's largest trading partner as well as the biggest
foreign investor in India. Total trade turnover during 1991-1992 was
around US $ 4.91 billion. India had a favourable balance of trade with
the US, with imports amounting to US $ 1.99 billion and exports US $
2.92 billion.
The US has welcomed the recent economic liberalisation measures taken by
India, has encouraged this process and supported India's request for
loans in multilateral financial institutions. US companies accounted for
nearly 30 per cent of all Indian joint ventures with foreign companies.
Investment from the US increased from Rs 344.8 million in 1990 to Rs
1858 million in 1991 and by 31 October 1992 had touched Rs 10073
million.
The US-India Business Council and the Indo-US joint Business Council met
in a joint session on 7 and 8 December 1992 at the US Chamber of
Commerce in Washington. The JBC meeting discussed issues relating to
intellectual property rights, technology transfer, trade and environment
and financial services.
After some initial difficulties, subsidies under the US's Export
Enhancement Programme were also extended to India and India contracted
the purchase of 1.5 million metric tonnes of wheat from the US.
The issue of protection of Intellectual Property Rights continued to
remain a major trade-related irritant in bilateral ties. High level
consultations have narrowed the gap on copyrights, trademarks and access
to US motion pictures, but differences continue to persist on patents,
especially in relation to food, pharmaceuticals and chemicals. On 29
April 1992, the US withdrew GSP concessions on specified imports of
drugs and chemicals from India as a retaliatory measure. India has also
been redesignated a "priority foreign country" under the Special 301
provisions. India has expressed her disappointment and regret on this
unilateral move since these issues are under discussion at the Uruguay
Round of the GATT multilateral trade negotiations.
-76>
High technology transfers from the US had emerged as an important facet
of bilateral interaction. The Cray XMP-14 Supercomputer at the National
Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting in New Delhi was upgraded to
a Cray XMP-216 under a bilateral agreement. However, due to increased
proliferation concerns heightened by the Gulf War, the US has of late
been more stringent in releasing dual-use high-technology items,
including spare-parts. Negotiations for a second Supercomputer for the
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, did not fructify because of US
insistence on intrusive and restrictive security and end-use conditions.
The US attitude has adversely affected a number of Indian programmes,
particularly in the Department of Space. On 11 May 1992, the US
annuounced the imposition of a two year ban on American trade and
technology transfers with and to ISRO and Glavkosmos of Russia over a
deal for the supply of cryogenic rocket engines which the US regards as
being violative of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR).
On 16 June 1992, the US Department of Commerce amended Export
Administration Regulations by notifying a list of countries to which no
American Company can export any product without licence if it has reason
to believe that the product will be used for missile design,
development, production and use. The list includes India and
specifically mentions the Agni and Prithvi projects and the SLV, ASLV,
PSLV and GSLV programmes. India has conveyed her concern to the US to
name her civilian space programme in the notification as it has no
connection with her missile programme. The US policy of linking
technology transfers to nonproliferation objectives is a negative trend
in the bilateral ties.
To enable a better appreciation of each other's perspectives, India has
initiated a bilateral dialogue with the US on disarmament, non-
proliferation and regional security issues. Two rounds of discussions
have been held so far, covering the entire range of global arms control
trends, regional security issues and initiatives, designed to promote
stability and confidence building. These talks have facilitated a better
understanding of each other's position.
Human rights has become a priority issue for both the US Administration
and Congress. Pakistan-supported Kashmiri groups and proponents of
"Khalistan" have joined hands and have employed professional lobbyists
to intensify their propaganda compaign against India in the US. As a
result of this lobbying and the one-sided reports by international human
rights organizations, some US congressmen were influenced to introduce
anti-India bills relating to human rights. Attempts were also made to
cut the
meagre US developmental aid to India over alleged human rights
violations in Punjab and Kashmir, though eventually no bills or
amendments specifically targetting India were adopted. The US
Administration has also expressed concern, from time to time, about the
human rights situation in Kashmir and Punjab. At the same time the
Administration has showed an understanding of the extraordinary
situation in these two states created on account of cross-border
terrorism. The US Government has implicitly acknowledged Pakistan's
involvement in training and arming of terrorists in Kashmir and Punjab.
US officials have indicated to Indian officials that they have taken
this up strongly with Pakistan. The provisions of US law require a
determination to be made about countries sponsoring terrorism. This is
reported to be under consideration with respect to Pakistan.
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Bilateral defence cooperation has been proceeding satisfactorily in a
structured manner, aided by frequent exchanges of high level visits. A
number of senior US military officers have visited India including
Admiral Kelso, US Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Larson, CINCPAC,
Gen Sullivan, Chief of Staff, US Army, Lt General Corns, USARPAC, Vice
Admiral Arthur, former Commander of the Seventh Fleet, and his
successor, Vice Admiral Timothy Wright.
Raksha Mantri visited the USA from 5 to 9 April 1992 at the invitation
of US Defence Secretary. The Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff
also visited the US during 1992. Despite intensified defence
cooperation, procurement of defence items from the US is limited to
commercial purchases in small amounts.
For the first time Indo-US Joint Naval exercises were held off the
Western seaboard on 29, May 1992. Four warships, two from each side,
participated in the 24 hour exercises. These exercises were held in the
wider context of India's desire to strengthen professional contacts
between the Indian Navy and navies of other friendly countries. The
Indian Army co-hosted the XVII Pacific Armies Management Seminar in
Delhi jointly with the US Army Pacific (USARPAC) in January 1993 within
the framework of Indo-US Army-to-Army cooperation.
Under the aegis of the Indo-US Joint Commission, specific projects in
the agriculture and health sciences are underway. An important on-going
project is the Indo-US Vaccine Action Programme. Funding problems in the
future are anticipated because of the depletion in the corpus of the
United States India Rupee Fund (USIF-the PL-480 Funds) which will run
out by 1997.
-78>
The budgetary situation in the US has led to a decline in dollar funding
of bilateral exchanges and projects. In science and technology
collaborative projects, the US has introduced issue of intellectual
property rights thereby hindering further intensification of cooperation
in an area long considered to be of mutual benefit. This has led to
projects being restricted to basic research rather than applied R & D
which would involve sharing of IPR.
A major aid package for population control in Uttar Pradesh has been
worked out for which around US $ 225 million will be made available by
USAID over a period of 10 years.
India and the US have been cooperating fruitfully in the area of
narcotics control.
Under an agreement signed on 25 September 1992, the US will provide $
45,000 to the Narcotics Control Bureau for buying equipment which will
help in narcotics control at Bombay airport.
Government accord high priority to the strengthening of Indo-US
relations within the framework of shared interests through a process of
dialogue. India's endeavour is to narrow differences where they exist
and expand cooperation in a substantive manner in areas of mutual
benefit. The overall ambience of Indo-US relations has improved
qualitatively although certain irritants in bilateral relations remain.
Founded on historical and shared ties of the Commonwealth, Indo-Canadian
relations have been traditionally friendly.
Canada has welcomed India's new economic policies. There are at present
70 joint ventures and technical collaborations between India and Canada
in areas such as telecommunications, mining equipment and surface and
air transportation. More than half of these were finalised since the
initiation of the economic reforms programme.
Canada has been supportive of India in multilateral financial
institutions. Canadian aid to India during 1992 amounted to
approximately C $ 100 million. Total bilateral trade for the year 1991-
92 was of the order of Rs 1070 crores. India's adverse balance of trade
with Canada was reduced from Rs 278 crores in 1990-91 to Rs 62 crores in
1991-92. Canadian exports to India in 1992-93 have registered a
substantial increase because of the purchase of wheat by India.
The on-going operational cooperation between India and Canada to combat
terrorism and other criminal activities has been fruitful.
-79>
The Vice President of India delivered the inaugural Lal Bahadur Shastri
Memorial Lecture to launch the silver jubilee celebrations of the
Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI) which has been instrumental in
promoting educational exchanges.
A Canadian Parliamentary delegation, led by the Speaker of the House of
Commons, Mr John Fraser, visited India in January, 1993. The Rt Hon
Charles Joseph Clark, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada
and Minister Responsible for Constitutional Affairs, visited India in
March, 1993 for high-level bilateral consultations.
Central and South America and the Caribbean |
| Top |
During the period under review, India's relations with the Latin
American countries and the Caribbean witnessed a definite improvement.
Interactions at the highest political levels, conclusion of a number of
important bilateral agreements and a stream of visitors to India towards
the latter half of the year, were some indications of the renewed
intensity in India's relations with this important region of the world.
The Prime Minister attended the UN Convention on Environment and
Development (UNCED), popularly called the 'Earth Summit' at Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil, from 3 to 14 June 1992. He was accompanied, amongst
others, by the Ministers of State for External Affairs and Environment &
Forests. He had bilateral meetings with President F Collor of Brazil and
President Salinas of Mexico.
During the NAM Summit from 1 to 6 September 1992 in Jakarta, Prime
Minister had a meeting with the Foreign Minister of Venezuela. Minister
of State for External Affairs, Shri R L Bhatia, had a meeting with the
Foreign Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, and the then Minister of State
for External Affairs, Shri Eduardo Faleiro, informally met the Foreign
Minister of Suriname, which holds an observer's status in the NAM.
Shri Eduardo Falerio undertook a tour of three important Caribbean
countries, namely, Suriname from 19 to 22 September, Trinidad from 1 to
4 October and Jamaica from 5 to 7 October. This was the first bilateral
visit to the region since Vice President's visit in 1988. The tour
provided an opportunity to further strengthen and consolidate the
already strong historical and traditional links with these countries. A
genuine effort was made to harness the vast trade potential flowing from
a growing appreciation in these countries of India's achievements in
science and technology and other related fields. Besides having a
fruitful exchange of
views on various matters of mutual interest with the Governments of the
three countries, the visit enabled both the sides to identify areas for
mutual cooperation in trade, investment, culture, technical and economic
exchanges. It was decided to establish a Joint Commission between India
and Suriname.
-80>
A delegation, led by former. President of the Federation of Indian
Export Organization (FIEO), undertook a trade promotion tour of Chile,
Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela from 5 to 18 July. This visit was a
follow up of the visit of a FIEO delegation which accompanied Prime
Minister to Caracas in November 1991 to participate in the parallel
meeting of Businessmen 'from the G-15 countries. This visit closely
followed on the heels of a visit by another high-level delegation from
the Associated Chambers of Commerce (ASSOCHAM) to Argentina, Brazil,
Chile and Mexico in May 1992. Both the delegations had the opportunity
to study the structural reforms and the new macro-economic policies
being followed by these countries in order to learn from their
experiences.
The Cuban Government deeply appreciated India's decision to sell 10,000
tonnes of rice to them on credit. The decision was taken keeping in view
the policy of expanding trade with friendly countries in the region.
India also voted in favour of the resolution moved by Cuba in the UN
General Assembly on the US economic embargo against Cuba.
In order to meet the cultural needs of the people of Indian origin which
constitute a major percentage of the total population in the Caribbean,
India decided to establish Cultural Centre in a permanent building in
Suriname. For this a plot of land has been given. The Cultural Centre
has been running since 1981. Cultural agreements were also signed with
the Governments of Suriname and Jamaica.
Mr Maxmilliano Cox, a senior official in the Chilean Agricultural
Ministry, visited New Delhi on 7 and 8 October. In his meeting with the
Minister of State for Agriculture, promotion of exchanges in the fields
of agriculture and forestry between the two countries was discussed.
Mr Harold Pollack, Minister of Natural Resources of Suriname, visited
India from 20 to 22 October. He held meetings with Minister of State for
External Affairs and Minister of state for Mines. Possibilities of
cooperation in the mining sector and of India assisting Suriname in
exploiting its water resources were discussed.
To mark the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Columbus in America, the
Diplomatic Missions from the Latin American countries organized an
-81>
exhibition-cum-seminar at the Centre of Spanish Studies, Jawaharlal
Nehru University.
-81>
The Adviser to President Dr Cheddi Jagan of Guyana, Mr Vikrarn Oditt,
called on the then Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri Eduardo
Faleiro, and handed over a written message from his President addressed
to Prime Minister. The Adviser was in New Delhi also to attend a UNIDO-
sponsored Conference held in November 1992. During the visit, several
broad areas were identified for mutual cooperation.
At the third G-15 Summit in Dakar, Senegal, held in November 1992, Prime
Minister had an opportunity again to interact with the leaders from the
Latin American and the Caribbean Countries who are members of the Group.
As part of economy drive, after much deliberation, it was decided to
close down Indian Missions in Kingston and Bogota. Efforts would be made
to see that bilateral relations with these countries are not affected.
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|
1992
9 United Nations and International Conferences
|
| Top |
THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW MARKED A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE IN THE ACTIVITIES
OF the UN. A reinvigorating UN with a more sharply focussed agenda was
increasingly perceived as having moved to centrestage and as having
assumed an increasingly significant role in directly or indirectly
shaping events the world over. These ranged from the situation in
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia/Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Middle East Peace
Process, the humanitarian crisis in Somalia to the United Nations
Transitional Authority on Cambodia (UNTAC) supervised settlement in
Cambodia, etc. In addition, the UN continued to medicate on issues
ranging from Central America and Cyprus to Mozambique and issues
relating to Commonwealth of Independent States.
The UN also focussed on issues such as environment, human rights,
economic issues, drug abuse control, emergency humanitarian assistance
and the restructuring and revitalisation of the UN including the
question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership
of the Security Council.
India's traditional commitment to multilateralism, as also her important
role in international affairs, were highlighted by her membership of the
Security Council, where India played an innovative, moderating and
pragmatic role on a whole range of issues. India's two-year term in the
Security Council came to an end on 31 December 1992. India held the
Presidency of the Council in December.
POLITICAL ISSUES |
| Top |
The Security Council continued to monitor the follow up on decisions on
the destruction of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, compensation for
individuals and organizations which had suffered losses as a result of
the invasion of Kuwait and the demarcation of the Iraq-Kuwait boundary.
The Iraq-Kuwait Boundary Demarcation Commission completed its work this
year. India joined other members of the Council in endorsing its work.
India maintained her consistent position that while Iraq would have to
comply with the mandatory resolutions of the Security Council, the
Council
should give serious consideration to the possibility of relaxing the
sanctions regime in view of the humanitarian crisis. India also
supported Security Council Resolution 778 which permitted certain
categories of frozen Iraqi assets to be released to the UN for
humanitarian and compensation purposes.
-83>
The question of Palestine remained a major issue in 1992. India joined
two historic consensus resolutions adopted by the Security Council on
the forced deportation of Palestinians from the Occupied Territories.
India maintained its consistent support for the peace process in West
Asia. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Shri C R Gharekhan was
appointed by the Secretary General as his Special Representative for
West Asia beginning 1993. This appointment has been welcomed by all the
States in the Middle East Peace Process.
In 1992, the situation in the former Yugoslavia was the focus of
attention in the Security Council and the General Assembly. India co-
sponsored the Resolution in the UN for the admission of Slovenia,
Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina as members of the UN and joined in
Security Council Resolutions imposing sanctions on FRY in an attempt to
ensure that FRY adopted a more supportive role in bringing peace to
Bosnia-Herzegovina.
India fully supported the Security Council Resolutions aimed at
resolving the conflicts in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. However,
India abstained on Resolutions permitting the use of force for
protection of humanitarian convoys on the grounds that this was contrary
to her principled position that all use of force sanctioned by the UN
must remain under full UN command and control. India also abstained on
the Resolution denying FRY's right to participate in the General
Assembly.
The efforts of UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR), the UN operations in
former Yugoslavia under the command of an Indian national, Lt General
Satish Nambiar, received universal appreciation.
India joined other members of the Security Council in approving the
deployment of a UN battalion in Macedonia, which though still
unrecognised as a member State of the UN, had requested for a UN
presence on its territory in view of the perceived threat from its
neighbours.
The tragic situation in Somalia was the focus of Security Council's
attention, particularly in the second half of 1992. India supported the
UN action in rushing humanitarian assistance to Somalia and has
participated in this
operation. In addition, the remaining assets from the AFRICA Fund, after
it had been wound up, as mandated by the Tenth NAM Summit in Jakarta in
September 1992, were released for relief efforts in Somalia.
-84>
UNTAC, the UN operation in Cambodia, initiated measures to organize
elections to a Constituent Assembly in Cambodia by May 1993. India has
welcomed the progress achieved so far by UNTAC and has contributed
civilian-and military personnel to these UN operations.
UN operations in other parts of the world met with success and setbacks
during 1992. The successful completion of the UN operation in El
Salvador was welcomed by India. Similarly, UN operations in Angola were
successful in organizing Presidential and Legislative elections in
Angola in late September. India participated in both the operations.
India maintained her traditional support for the efforts to resolve the
long-standing problem of Cyprus, with a view to endorsing the latter's
sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. India also supported the
establishment of a new major UN operation in Mozambique to oversee the
implementation of the peace accords signed between the Government and
RENAMO. India also supported Security Council action in sending UN
observers to South Africa to monitor developments after the Boipatong
massacre and to assist in the resumption of negotiations on political
reform. Several issues relating to the Commonwealth of Independent
States were also the subject of deliberations in the Security Council
including the situation in Nagorno Karabakh. India welcomed the
applications for UN membership of new States that had emerged following
the break-up of the Soviet Union and fully supported the. efforts to
bring peace to the region.
A major Indian initiative in 1992 was the tabling of a Resolution at the
47th General Assembly on the question of equitable representation and
increase in membership of the Security Council. The Resolution was
tabled after extensive consultations with a representative cross-section
of countries and was adopted by consensus. In its statement India
emphasised the need to apply the principle of democracy within the UN
itself and underlined that if the Security Council was to represent the
collective will of the international community and ensure its moral
sanction, the members of the UN must have a wider representation on the
Security Council.
In response to a call made at the Security Council Summit held in 1992,
the UN Secretary General had put forward a report entitled "An Agenda
for Peace" on preventive diplomacy and peace-making and peace-keeping.
This was the subject of extensive consultations and deliberations during
the year both in the Security Council and the General Assembly. India
played an important role in ensuring that respect for the principles of
sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations was maintained. She
also played a critical role in ensuring that when sanctions are imposed
by the Security Council the special economic problems faced by other
countries are sympathetically considered.
-85>
India also participated actively in the high-level group under the aegis
of NAM on the restructuring of the UN. India's active involvement at
every stage ensured that NAM proposals took into account her
sensitivities.
The Special Committee of the UN on Peace Keeping Operations held two
meetings in 1992 to prepare a comprehensive report on UN peace-keeping
operations and to consider the Secretary General's report - An Agenda
for Peace. India played an active role in ensuring that the report
incorporated the principle of consent of the host nation and approval of
all concerned parties before such peace-keeping operations could be
undertaken. She also took a principled stand on the need for the member
States to pay their dues and put peace-keeping operations on a durable
and stable financial footing.
As rapporteur of the Special Committee Against Apartheid, India played
an important role in drafting of the Resolutions on South Africa and the
preparation of the annual report of this Committee.
India played its- traditionally active moderating role in the UN
Decolonisation Committee, particularly on the issue of UN-supervised
referendum on self-determination in Western Sahara.
The 47th General Assembly adopted after a vote a resolution on
"Implementation of the Declaration of the Indian Ocean as a Zone of
Peace", with India voting in favour. The Ad Hoc Committee on the Indian
Ocean is to hold a ten day session in 1993 and would submit
recommendations for consideration by the 48th General Assembly. As early
as possible thereafter, the Conference on the Indian Ocean is to be
convened at Colombo with the participation of the permanent members of
the Security Council and the major maritime users of the Indian Ocean.
During 1992, a series of meetings under the aegis of the Antarctica
Treaty System were held including the first meeting of experts on
Antarctic Environment which was held in Buenos Aires in June 1992 and
the XVII Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting held in Venice in
November 1992. India participated actively to ensure that her concerns
were fully reflected
-86>
in the deliberations and outcome of these meetings. In the General
Assembly, in a departure from previous practice, the two traditional
resolutions on Antarctica were amalgamated. As a result, India joined
other members of the Antarctica Treaty Consultative Parties in the non-
participation in the vote on the Resolution but made an explanation of
the position on the question of South African participation in the
Antarctica Treaty.
-86>
DISARMAMENT ISSUES |
| Top |
Through 1992, India continued to play its traditionally 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 New York.
India's approach to disarmament has continued to be guided by the basic
philosophy that in the nuclear age, disarmament measures, specially
nuclear disarmament, should be undertaken in a time bound manner to
ensure the survival of mankind. India continues to maintain that the
priorities for disarmament which are postulated in the consensus final
document of the First Special Session of the UN General Assembly devoted
to Disarmament are relevant. India's approach to general and complete
disarmament has been best elaborated in the Action Plan for a Nuclear
Weapon Free and Non-Violent World Order tabled at the Third Special
Session of the UN General Assembly devoted to disarmament in 1988.
In the Conference on Disarmament (CD), which is the sole multilateral
negotiating body, India played a leading role in the group of neutral
and non-aligned countries, otherwise known as G-21. The G-21 worked
closely with delegations from other member countries to unanimously
conclude a historic draft text on a Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
The CWC is comprehensive, non-discriminatory and has universal
application. It seeks to eliminate an entire class of weapons of mass
destruction. The CWC takes into account the concerns, of developing
countries in regard to their economic and technological development.
India has also ensured for itself a seat on the Executive Council based
on industrial criteria.
The Indian delegation was appointed as Special Coordinator to seek
agreement on an organizational arrangement for a crucial agenda item
"Nuclear Test Ban" for which an ad-hoc group is sought to be set up in
1993. India continued to highlight the urgent need for commencing
negotiations for a Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, stressing that its scope
should be consistent with the preamble of the Partial Test Ban Treaty of
1963 that
seeks to achieve a total ban on all tests of nuclear weapons in all
environments and for all time. India also took part in the meeting of
the ad-hoc Group of Governmental Experts on Verification, established by
a decision of the Third Review Conference of the Parties to the BW
Convention.
-87>
At the UN Disarmament Commission, consideration of the agenda item
"objective information on military matters" was completed. The
Commission also adopted by consensus the draft resoultion on the "Report
of the Disarmament Commission".
The outstanding achievement at the 47th session of the UN General
Assembly was the unanimous commendation by member States of the CWC for
signature and ratification. The CWC is the first multilaterally
negotiated, comprehensive and verifiable disarmament agreement, which
India hopes would become a model for other disarmament agreements. India
played a leading role in the formal establishment of the UN Register of
Conventional Arms. India had also participated in the Panel of
Governmental Experts that worked out the details of the Register. On the
issue of the 1995 Conference on the NPT, India called for a
reconsideration and amendment of the Treaty's provisions to make it into
a universal and non-discriminatory regime for non-proliferation. India
introduced two resolutions entitled "Scientific and Technological
Developments and their Impact on International Security" which received
128 votes in support and the "Convention of Prohibition of the Use of
Nuclear Weapons" which was passed with an overwhelming majority.
Bilateral discussions with the USA on regional security and non-
proliferation issues continued in 1992. The Foreign Secretary visited
Washington from 9 to 11 March 1992, where he held wide ranging
discussions with a number of US officials. India's position on signing
the NPT was reaffirmed. India also highlighted its position that
regional security cannot be confined to an artificially demarcated zone.
In June, a US delegation led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Ms
Teresita. Schaffer, held discussions in New Delhi on issues concerning
non-proliferation and disarmament. India's security concerns in the
context of the changing global environment were explained and it was
emphasized that a regional security paradigm must encompass the security
concerns of all states of the region. As a follow up to the visit of the
US delegation, another round of bilateral talks were held in Washington
on 12 and 13 November 1992. Global security issues including US-Russian
arms reduction agreements, the Chemical Weapons Convention and
developments in the West Asia were discussed. Bilateral discussions
on disarmament and non-proliferation issues were held with the United
Kingdom during the year.
-88>
Outside the three main multilateral disarmament fora, India continued to
provide support to disarmament initiatives taken by non-governmental
organizations and actively participated in meetings organized by them.
ECONOMIC ISSUES |
| Top |
In 1992, the major economic issues considered by the General Assembly
were environment and sustainable development, the triennial review of
operational activities and the restructuring of the UN in economic and
social spheres. While the deliberations in the UN on environment and
development flowed from the outcome of the UN Conference on Environment
and Development (UNCED) held in Rio de Janeiro in June, the issues of
restructuring of the UN and the triennial review of operational
activities assumed a high profile, overshadowing the more traditional
resolutions on issues such as debt, net transfer of resources, AIDS,
privatisation and poverty.
The UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro
in June 1992 marked a major milestone in the evolution of an
international consensus on development and environment related issues.
At this Summit, a detailed programme of action - Agenda 21 and a
Statement of Principles on Forests was adopted. Two important-
Conventions were opened for signatures at UNCED - a Framework Convention
on Climate Change and Convention on Bio-diversity- both of which were
signed by India at Rio. The Indian delegation to the UNCED Summit was
led by the Prime Minister who was the first to address its Summit level
segment. Prime Minister emphasised that we cannot have conservation of
the environment without the promise of development even as we cannot
have sustained development without the preservation of the environment.
India played an active role in the preparatory process for and at the
UNCED Summit, emphasising the close interlinkage between economic
development issues and protection of the environment.
During the 47th General Assembly, several Resolutions were adopted as a
follow-up of the decision taken at UNCED. These included a Resolution
launching negotiations on a Convention to control Drought and
Desertification, a Resolution to prepare for a Conference on small
island developing states, a Conference on highly migratory fish stocks
and a Resolution on the establishment of a high-level Commission on
Sustainable Development (CSD). The CSD will be a 53-member functional
Commission
of ECOSOC and will monitor and review the implementation of Agenda 21.
During the 47th General Assembly too India played an active role in
emphasising the linkage between environment and development and in
ensuring that the focus on the CSD included a provision of new and
additional resources for developing countries as well as the promotion
and monitoring of transfer of technologies to developing countries on
concessional and preferential terms.
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At the 47th General Assembly, it was also decided that the second UN
Conference on Human Settlement would be held in Turkey in 1997. India
played a major role in the establishment of the preparatory process for
this meeting. On other traditional economic issues such as trade,
finance, investment and technology, India continued to play an important
role in galvanising the opinion of like-minded developing countries.
In 1992, a triennial review of operational activities of the UN was
undertaken. India played a major role in formulation of the draft
Resolution and in ensuring that coordination and execution of
operational activities would remain the national responsibility and in
ensuring that the Resident Coordinator's mandate is confined to
development activities.
As a follow-up of Resolution 46/182 which was adopted at the last
General Assembly in 1992, the General Assembly considered the question
of emergency humanitarian assistance. India played an active role in
ensuring that the principle that it is the primary responsibility of the
concerned State to provide for such assistance and that whenever and
wherever UN undertakes coordination of humanitarian assistance, it is
done with full involvement of the recipient Government at all stages.
The Summit Level Group on South-South Consultation and Cooperation (G-
15) is an important global institution for furthering measures aimed at
developing concrete programmes of South-South cooperation and
indentifying and articulating global economic issues of common concern
to the developing countries with a view to initiating a North-South
dialogue thereon. India has made important contributions to the G-15
process and in 1992, these activities were further strengthened.
Under the programme of South-South cooperation, further progress was
made with regard to the specific projects identified at the First and
Second Summits of the G-15 which were held in Kuala Lumpur and Caracas
in 1990 and in 1991 respectively. It may be recalled that the G-15 Heads
of State/Government had mandated India to develop projects on the
establishment of Gene Banks for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants and also
on Solar Energy Applications.
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Under the project for the establishment of Gene Banks for Medicinal and
Aromatic Plants, the first meeting of the Regional Coordinators and the
Scientific Advisory Committee was held in New Delhi from 24 to 26 June
1992. Likewise, the meeting of G-15 experts on Solar Energy Application
was convened in New Delhi from 2 to 5 September 1992. The Expert
Committees, during these meetings, drew up a concrete plan of action in
order to identify priorities and implement the agreed measures.
The Third Summit meeting of the G-15 was held in Dakar, Senegal, from 21
to 23 November 1992. India was represented at the Summit meeting by
Prime Minister, Shri P V Narasimha Rao. The Third Summit was noteworthy
in respect of the many new cooperation projects which were tabled and
approved for further action. India's contribution in respect of Solar
Energy Applications and Gene Banks was appreciated. India, furthermore,
offered additional projects, viz Vocational Training Centre to be
established in Africa and Computer Training Centre in New Delhi. These
new Indian offers were warmly received in the Summit meeting and
approved for implementation.
|
The Third G-15 Summit meeting emphasised the need to foster South-South
contacts at the level of business leaders, technical experts and
institutions dealing with trade, technology, banking and industry in the
countries of the South. The Summit also felt that a constructive North-
South dialogue, free from rhetoric and ideological rigidities of the
past, would enable better management of the interdependent global
economy and mutual benefits to the countries of the North as well as the
South.
With the conclusion of the Dakar Summit, the chairmanship of G-15
devolves of India as she would be hosting the Fourth Summit which
tentatively is scheduled to be held in New Delhi in the latter half of
November 1993.
The Summit meeting of the Association of South-East Asian Nations
(ASEAN), met on 27 and 28 January 1992, approved India as a Sectoral
Dialogue Partner. The sectoral dialogue will concentrate on trade,
technology, tourism and human resource development. The sectoral
dialogue would facilitate development of braod-based ties between India
and the ASEAN countries.
On global economic issues, the major focus remained on the future of the
Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations. The future of the
Uruguay Round had been cast into doubt following the inability of some
of the major industrialised countries to agree on a package of reforms
in the agriculture sector. Apart from the impasse over agriculture, in
many of the so-called new areas, viz, trade related intellectual
property rights (TRIPs) and world trade in services, a consensus proved
elusive. There are apprehensions that any further delay in concluding
the Uruguay Round would. lead to a breakdown of genuinely multilateral
world trading system into regional groupings and an increasing resort to
unilateral and bilateral measures. Towards the end of the year, however,
with a resolution of the vexed agriculture issue in sight, the hopes of
early completion of the Round were revived.
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SOCIAL AND HUMANITARIAN ISSUES |
| Top |
India continued to play an active role in the consideration by UN bodies
such as the General Assembly, ECOSOC and the Commission on Human Rights,
of social and humanitarian issues. India's stand on such issues was
based on its principled stand on matters pertaining to human rights and
social justice and its deep and abiding Commitment to the protection and
promotion of human rights. India participated in the deliberations of
the UN Sub-Commission on the Prevention of Discrimination and Protection
of Minorities held in August 1992. India has repeatedly emphasised that
human rights are indivisible and that while democracy was the best
guarantor of human rights, there would be no realisation of human rights
without economic development or enjoyment of human rights. India also
highlighted the threat to human rights posed by the phenomenon of extra-
territorially sponsored terrorism.
India was also active in the preparatory meetings for the World
Conference on Human Rights which is to be held in June 1993. India is
the Vice Chairman of the Asian group in the Bureau of the Preparatory
Committee.
Human rights continued to be the primary focus of the Third Committee of
the General Assembly at which other issues including self-determination,
narcotic drugs, social development, etc were also debated.
India effectively rebutted Pakistani allegations of human rights
violations by India. The incidents at Ayodhya were also raised by
Pakistan and certain other countries in the Third Committee under the
cluster of items on human rights. While effectively rebutting Pakistani
allegations, India's response highlighted the prompt and comprehensive
action taken by the Government of India in connection with the Ayodhya
incident.
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BUDGETARY AND ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES |
| Top |
The Indian delegation continued to play an active role in the
deliberations of the Fifth Committee. A major issue this year was the
establishment of a Peace-keeping Reserve Fund of US $ 150 million for
the financing of peace-keeping operations. India was supportive of this
proposal.
ELECTIONS/APPOINTMENTS |
| Top |
India was elected to the Council of International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) and to the UN Board of Auditors. India was also re-
elected to the UN Human Rights Commission and to the Advisory Committee
on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) for a three-year term.
India's Permanent Representative to the UN was appointed as Secretary
General's Special Representative to the multilateral track of the Middle
East Peace Process with the rank of Under Secretary General. Similarly,
Shri Nitin Desai was appointed as Head of the Department for Policy
Coordination and Sustainable Development, with the rank of Under
Secretary General of the UN.
ACTIVITIES OF THE NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT |
| Top |
In the run up to the Tenth NAM Summit, a series of meetings were held
during the year. Prime Minister led the Indian delegation to the Tenth
NAM Summit. His speech at the inaugural session set the tone of the
deliberations. The Tenth NAM Summit reaffirmed the relevance of the
Movement and prioritised its agenda for the future which would include
issues such as development, disarmament, decolonisation, environment,
human rights and restructuring of the UN.
the UN, India consulted closely with other Non-Aligned members of the
NAM caucus in the Security Council and played an active role in the Non-
Aligned Coordinating Bureau. India is a member of the high level NAM
Working Group on Restructuring of the UN and the NAM Task Force on
Somalia. Throughout the year, India was instrumental in forging common
Non-Aligned positions on a range of issues under consideration in the
UN.
COMMONWEALTH |
| Top |
India participated actively in the Commonwealth meetings held during the
year including the Meeting of the Working Group of Senior Officials of
the
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Commonwealth High-level Appraisal, Group, held in September, and the
Commonwealth Senior Officials Meeting held in Kampuchea in November
1992. These meetings reviewed the follow up action flowing from the
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting held in Harare in October 1991.
India also participated in the Commonwealth Observer Group constituted
to monitor the violence in South Africa.
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CONFERENCES |
| Top |
Conference Division is entrusted with the responsibility of providing
the logistical support and managerial assistance in the organisation of
international conferences convened by the Ministry of External Affairs
and other Ministries/ Departments of Government of India. During 1992,
22 International Conferences/Meetings were successfully organized by
this Division, prominent amongst which were:
(i) SAARC Environment Ministers' Conference: This Conference was held in
New Delhi from 8 to 10 April, 1992, and was attended by Environment
Ministers of all SAARC countries.
(ii) The Second Meeting of Independent South Asian Commission on
Poverty Alleviation: The Commission held its second meeting under the
Chairmanship of the former Prime Minister of Nepal, HE Mr K P Bhattarai,
in New Delhi from 27 to 29 May 1992. Delegates from SAARC countries and
the SAARC Secretary General participated in the meeting. The Prime
Minister's Office was also associated with the Conference.
(iii) The Meeting of Scientific Advisory Committee and Regional
Coordinators of G-15 Countries on Gene Banks for Medicinal and Aromatic
Plants: This meeting was held from 24 to 26 June, 1992 in New Delhi. The
meeting, attended by experts from India and other G-15 countries, was
convened to finalise the report for presentation at the G-15 Summit on
the subject.
(iv) SAARC Meeting of Experts on Joint Promotion of SAARC Countries as a
Tourist Destination: This meeting was held in Goa from 18 to 20 August,
1992, to evolve ways and means to promote SAARC region as a tourist
destination jointly.
(v) Meeting of Experts of G-15 Countries on Solar Energy Projects: This
meeting was held in New Delhi from 2 to 5 September 1992 to finalise its
report for presentation at the G-15 Summit.
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(vi) SAARC Cultural Festival: This was held from 9 to 24 October 1992.
The Cultural/Education Ministers of all the SAARC Countries who came to
attend this Festival, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister in New
Delhi, were taken to different cities in India, where they were Chief
Guests and inaugurated various functions connected with this Festival.
(vii) Third Meeting of SAARC Committee on Economic Cooperation: This
meeting was held in New Delhi on 2 and 3 November, 1992, to evolve
methodology for economic cooperation amongst SAARC countries.
(viii) Meeting of Steering Group of ESCAP Committee on Regional Economic
Cooperation: The Meeting was held in New Delhi from 24 to 27 November
1992.
This Division continued to render advice to other Ministries/Departments
and autonomous organizations.
An illustrative list of the Conferences/functions arranged by this
Division is given in Appendix VI.
INTERNATIONAL LAW: DEVELOPMENTS AND ACTIVITIES |
| Top |
At its 47th Session, the Sixth Committee (Legal Committee) of the United
Nations General Assembly considered 14 Agenda items during its
deliberations from 18 September to 25 November 1992. The major Agenda
items among these related to the work of the International Law
Commission (ILC), the United Nations Commission on International Trade
Law (UNCITRAL), the United Nations Special Committee on the Charter and
the strengthening of the role of the Organization, protection of the
environment in times of armed conflict, draft convention on
jurisdictional immunites of states and their property and the United
Nations Decade of International Law. The Indian delegation commented on
the progress made by the ILC at its 44th Session in the areas of draft
Code of Crimes against the peace and security of mankind, particularly
the question of establishment of an international criminal court, state
responsibility and the international liability for injurious
consequences arising out of acts not prohibited under international law.
The Indian delegation participated actively in the Committee's
deliberations on other items, including its consultations on several
matters. At this Session, the General Assembly also decided to include
on its agenda for the 48th Session a new item regarding seeking of an
advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on abductions
abroad.
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The UNCITRAL held its 25th Session in May 1992 in New York. During the
Session, the draft Model Law on International Credit Transfers was
finalised and submitted to General Assembly for its recommendations.
During the Annual Session, the Commission held the Congress on
International Trade Law in the context of its successful completion of
25th year. Several delegates from different countries participated in
the Congress and appreciated the work done by UNCITRAL in the field of
international trade law.
The Legal Sub-Committee of the UN Commitee on Peaceful Uses of Outer
Space held its 31st Session in Geneva from 23 March to 10 April 1992.
The substantive issues discussed during the Session related to draft
principles of nuclear power sources in Outer Space, definition and
delimitation of Outer Space, character and utilisation of the
geostationary orbit, and legal aspects related to the Outer Space
benefits taking into account the needs of the developing countries. The
Sub-Committee registered substantial progress on the draft principles
concerning the nuclear power sources and the agreed principles were
approved by the UN General Assembly at its regular 47th Session in
December 1992. On other matters the discussions held have yet to achieve
agreement.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) held the second technical
conference on the establishment of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, at
Rome in July 1992. The aim of the draft convention prepared by the FAO
and negotiated by the member states of the FAO during the conference was
to achieve optimum utilisation of highly migratory fish, particularly
tuna, in the Indian Ocean. The conference concluded its work
successfully by adopting the draft convention and recommending it for
its final adoption by the Governing Council of the FAO.
The 8th Session of the Governing Council of the UN Compensation
Commission (UNCC) was held in Geneva from 14 to 18 December 1992. India
is a member of the Governing Council by virtue of its membership of the
Security Council. It is the function of the UNCC to implement the
Security Council's Resolution 687 in respect of compensation for the
claims arising out of the Iraqi war. Some of the issues discussed were
business losses including claims based on deferred payment agreements
with Iraq, establishment of criteria for priority for payments for the
individual category claims, contribution of Iraq to the Compensation
Fund and the establishment of a Budgetary Committee of the Governing
Council.
The 31st Annual Session of the Asian African Legal Consultative
Committee
(AALCC) was held in Islamabad from 25 January to 1 February 1992. The
Session provided a forum for the legal experts of countries from Asia
and Africa to come together for an exchange of views on several
contemporary international legal issues such as environment and
development, the UN Decade of International Law, status and treatment of
refugees, Law of the Sea, definition of terrorism and distinguishing it
from struggles for national liberation, and the Geneva Conventions on
Law of War and deportation of the Palestinians. Views were also
exchanged on legal issues concerning International Trade Law being
discussed in the UNCITRAL and other fora.
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As in the past years, the Ministry undertook negotiations, and processed
for signature and ratification/accession of several multilateral and
bilateral treaties involving India. The bilateral treaties which India
entered into with other countries includes the Extradition Treaty and
Agreement on Confiscation of the Proceeds and Instruments of Crime, etc
with the United Kingdom.
The Extradition Treaty provides for extradition of persons, disallowing
the plea of political offence in case of specified serious crimes,
assumption of jurisdiction in respect of certain of these offences even
when they were committed outside the territory of the state, possibility
of extradition of a person situated within one state but guilty of
committing crimes through others in the affected states. The
Confiscation Agreement provides for tracing, restraint and confiscation
of proceeds and instruments of crime both in case of drugs trafficking
and terrorism, mutual judicial assistance for search and seizure of
documents and material including the recording of evidence.
India became a party to the multilateral conventions on the rights of
the child, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone
Layer and the Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movement
of hazardous waste and the disposal including the convention on
biological diversity and convention on climate change. A list of
treaties entered into by India during the year is placed at Appendix II.
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|
1992
10 Foreign Economic Relations
| | Top |
DURING THE YEAR, THE ECONOMIC DIVISION PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE
furtherance of India's economic and commercial interests abroad. Steps
were undertaken to reorient the functioning of Indian Missions so that
they could play more active role in promotion of India's exports both in
terms of commodities and projects. Special emphasis has been given on
promoting exports in extreme focus areas. Regular and close liaison was
maintained with the trade and industry organizations to make the
Economic Division's functioning more responsive to the country's
economic needs. All Missions were asked to prepare comprehensive
economic and commercial notes on countries of their accreditation, which
were passed on to the trade and industry associations for dissemination
among the business community. Commercial queries and information on
tenders and projects were also conveyed to concerned parties and trade
promotion bodies in India.
Action has been initiated to create a comprehensive data bank on
bilateral economic relations with India's important trading partners so
that useful input could be provided for economic policy decisions. To
assist the commercial representatives in Indian Missions, the Economic
Division brought out the third edition of the Trade Directory containing
useful information on export promotion bodies, commodity boards,
important public sector organizations, trade and industry bodies,
institutions dealing with credit and finance besides references of
Government officials dealing with trade promotion and investment issues.
The Division also initiated an action programme for update of
directories published by trade promotion bodies and trade and industry
bodies and even by private commercial firms so that these could be made
available to the Indian commercial representatives abroad for wider
dissemination of commercial information.
The Economic Division also assisted in mobilising foreign participants
and visitors to trade fairs in India. Trade and industry delegations
visiting abroad were extended all possible assistance to make their
visits productive and useful. The Division was also instrumental in
activating the joint Business Councils and promoting them as forums for
furthering India's
economic interests through participation of private entrepreneurs and
business and industry organizations.
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In close cooperation with the Inter-Ministerial Committee on joint
Ventures abroad, Indian Missions have been asked by the Economic
Division to monitor the performance of Indian Joint Ventures abroad. An
appropriate mechanism for such monitoring is presently under
finalisation.
The Economic Division also oversees the operation of the Indian
Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme and the Special
Commonwealth African Assistance Programme (SCAAP). The Programmes have
been suitably reoriented to meet the requirements of South-South
cooperation as well as for supporting Indian economic and commercial
interest abroad. The Programmes have also been extended to cover
countries in Eastern Europe and Latin America.
Human resource development forms a basic element of the Programmes.
During the year, over 900 foreign ' nominees were imparted specialised
training in India. New courses in frontier technologies such as computer
hardware and software were introduced. Special training modules in
diplomacy, banking, foreign trade, entrepreneurship, etc, were organized
for nominees from Central Asian countries.
During the year an average of 40 experts were on deputation under the
ITEC programme in various countries. Indian experts for the first time
were deputed to the Central Asian countries. The major beneficiaries
have been Afghanistan, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Mauritius,
Namibia, Seychelles, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia.
Nearly 500 military personnel from about 30 countries attended
Army/Navy/Air Force courses of instructions in India. A large number of
the trainees came from South Asian and African countries. Considerable
interest exists among their countries in availing of training facilities
in Indian military institutions.
Emergency relief assistance has been extended to Afghanistan, Botswana,
Ethiopia, Kenya, Kyrghyzstan, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mongolia, Namibia,
Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Zambia and Zimbabwe. These countries
have suffered from natural disasters. Assistance provided to them
included baby food, milk powder, blankets, medicines, etc.
The major projects undertaken during the year under ITEC assistance
included the Indira Gandhi International Child Hospital (IGICH)
Expansion
Project in Afghanistan, the 7th phase of the Angkor Vat Restoration
Project in Cambodia, the Hand Tool Manufacturing and Demonstration
Centre in the Philippines, and the Court House Project in Mauritius. In
addition, a number of feasibility studies and pilot projects have been
undertaken or initiated under the programme. Some of these are to be
undertaken in the Central Asian countries.
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The visit of a delegation from Cambodia comprising two Senior
Archaeologists took place under the ITEC Programme in September 1992 for
archaeological study and conservation of monuments.
A study visit from Mexico took place in November 1992. The visitors were
exposed to a vast range of Indian industry. They also visited the India
International Trade Fair (IITF) in New Delhi. Cooperation in the Small
Scale Sectors was identified for future collaboration. Like in the
previous year, 15 September was celebrated as the 'ITEC Day' by select
Missions abroad. The occasion was utilised to maintain and strengthen
contact with former ITEC alumni and was also utilised for forming ITEC
alumni associations. A documentary produced by XP Division entitled
'Building Bridges' on the ITEC Programme was also arranged to be
telecast locally by the Indian Missions.
In the context of India's liberalised economic policies and the
consequent emphasis on expanding trade, investment and technology flows,
Ministry of External Affairs has worked through its Missions and Posts
abroad in giving priority to India's economic and commercial interests.
In the period under review, the activities of the Economic Coordination
Unit (ECU) have reflected the growing focus on economic and commercial
issues.
ECU has given special attention to the requirement of external economic
publicity in the context of the need to effectively disseminate
information about the economic reform programme to the international
business community. The composite media package aimed at projecting
India as an attractive investment destination that was prepared by ECU
was comprehensively updated in April 1992 and further revisions are
underway. The floppy diskette entitled 'Doing Business with India' which
was introduced last year as an innovative way of disseminating
information about policies and procedures for investors has been
regularly updated during the current year.
Apart from preparing this promotional material which was intended
primarily for use by Indian Missions abroad but has also been in demand
from the major economic Ministries when they have sent delegations
abroad or when foreign business delegations have come to India, ECU has
also been playing a more direct role in the country's efforts to attract
investment. It has been directly involved in arranging programmes for
visiting business delegations, facilitating their interaction with
concerned Ministries and business entities and organizing investment
promotion events in target countries. Two of the important events
coordinated by ECU were investment promotion seminars organized in Los
Angeles and the West Coast of the USA in April 1992, and in Taiwan in
October 1992. It also helped with the Business International Round Table
in Delhi in May 1992. In addition, ECU has also provided back-up support
to the promotional events organized by a number of Indian Missions
including those in Bonn, Brussels, The Hague, Singapore, etc.
Recognising the importance of following up on the leads established at
these various investment promotion events, it has been specially active
in ensuring timely and close coordination between potential investors
and the concerned Ministries and organizations in India.
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Another important aspect of ECU's investment promotion efforts has been
its interactions with the economic Ministries with the purpose of
keeping Indian Missions, especially those in target countries informed
on a regular and immediate basis of the on-going changes in India's
economic policies. It has also instituted a system of obtaining regular
feedback from Missions on responses/reactions to India's economic reform
programme among the industrialised countries in general and the
international business community in particular. This feedback has formed
the basis of periodic reports that this Ministry has sent to the Foreign
Investment Promotion Board on on-going investment promotion efforts and
on the bottlenecks that still remain to be removed to facilitate
significant inflows of foreign capital.
Finally, as a natural corollary to these activities, ECU has liaised
closely with apex industry organizations, business houses, concerned
Ministries and State Governments on ways and means of facilitating
investment procedures and improving the overall quality of investment
promotion efforts. The attempt here has been to focus on specific
projects and specific issues. One of the results of such interaction was
the preparation of a shelf of projects that could be offered for equity
participation to potential investors from Gulf region. This initiative
was taken by way of specific follow-up action to the interest expressed
by the UAE President in obtaining specific project profiles for
investment during the course of his visit to India in April and it
culminated in the visit of a business delegation to Abu Dhabi in
November with the objective of discussing investment proposals in areas
in which UAE had expressed a preliminary interest.
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|
1992
11 Policy Planning And Research |
| Top |
THE POLICY PLANNING WING WAS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN PREPARING BRIEFS AND
background notes on issues concerning India's foreign policy in the
rapidly evolving international situation.
It is also the nodal point for interaction with joint Intelligence
Committee, the University Grants Commission and its affiliated Area
Study Centres attached to various Universities. These activities were
strengthened during the year.
It has also given financial assistance for Seminars and Conferences on
international issues. The Wing has also financed study and research
projects undertaken by scholars and academic organizations on subjects
relevant to Ministry of External Affairs.
The Research Wing rendered all possible help to the Territorial
Divisions as well as Indian Missions abroad on India's international
boundary problems or whenever any specific information or documents on
international relations were required.
The Research Wing examined the incorrect depiction of India's
international boundaries in maps printed in foreign publications, both
official and private. The matter of incorrect maps was then taken up
with the concerned Government or the publishers through Indian Missions
abroad for necessary corrective measures. It coordinated the accord of
approval to new Survey of India maps depicting international boundaries
of India. It also coordinated with the Survey of India and the Ministry
of Defence the supply of mapsheets to various Government and semi-
Government agencies for use in their official work.
The Research Wing dealt with the requests from research scholars in
consultation with the concerned Territorial Division for access to the
records of the Ministry relating to the restricted areas or the closed
period as laid down in the Access Rules. It also scrutinised the
excerpts of the closed period records submitted by the research scholars
for clearance in consultation with the concerned Territorial Divisions.
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An important task of the Wing is to edit and supervise printing of the
Annual Report of the Ministry on the basis of the material prepared by
the various Divisions.
The Printing of Old Records (POR) Unit of the Research Wing edited and
printed selected old policy files of the Ministry. The POR Unit also
undertook the review/weeding of old files in the Record Management
Section of the Ministry and also advised the Missions abroad in the same
work. Similarly, the Unit reviewed old records of the Ministry which
were transferred to the National Archives of India in the past.
The Research Section of the Wing coordinated the distribution of
periodical reports received from Indian Missions abroad.
To support the research efforts, a library equipped with modern
facilities and large resource material is maintained with over one
hundred thousand books and documents in its collection. During last
year, 1255 books, 32 maps, 450 pamphlets, and 36 reels of microfilm were
added. The Library subscribes to 600 periodical titles.
The Library is equipped with in-house computer system with 9 terminals,
two of which support data entry and retrieval in Indian languages, a
microfilm/fiche reader printer and a plain paper photocopier.
Documentation/Bibliographic Services as well as other library operations
and services were computerised using an integrated software package
developed in India. ' Information about books and selected periodical
articles received in Library since 1986 is available on-line through
each terminal. All new documents received in Library-books, maps,
microfilms, selected articles from periodicals, etc-are being fed into
the in-house computer system to create Database on Foreign Affairs.
Using this Database, the Library provides Current Awareness Service and
Bibliographical Services. In addition, the Library regularly issued a
monthly Chronicle of Events, a Foreign Affairs Documentation Bulletin
and an annotated monthly list of recent additions to the Library.
Library users including research scholars can access on-line computer-
based information held in Library in different databases through Foreign
Affairs Information Retrieval System (FAIRS). Photocopying and computer
print-out facilities are also available to all Library users including
research scholars.
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|
1992
12 External Publicity |
| Top |
DURING THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW, THE EXTERNAL PUBLICITY DIVISION WAS
actively engaged in discharging its responsibility of projecting India's
position on various issues and developments in India as well as
countering propaganda directed against India. Simultaneously, due,
emphasis was given to dissemination of credible information relating to
the positive aspects of India's economic, scientific and technological
progress and underlining the sustained march of Indian democracy.
A thrust was given to the wide publicity on the new policy initiative
undertaken by the present Government, particularly, the drive for
economic liberalisation including the country's concerted efforts to
attract foreign investment. This was done through the publication of a
number of booklets, including the "New Economic Policies"; in various
languages. Over 6,000 copies of a package, consisting of a diskette and
four brochures on "Doing Business with India", were distributed world-
wide.
The External Publicity Division continued to assist Indian
Missions/Posts abroad with publicity material in different languages for
distribution to local dignitaries, prominent persons, opinion-makers and
academic institutions, etc. The important new publications included
"India-A Democracy on the Move", "Muslims in India", and a set of media
kits and tourist literature. These publications depict India's
achievements in the fields of foreign policy, science and technology,
agriculture and rural development, education and poverty alleviation as
well as our social and cultural norms and values and the secular and
democratic set-up of the country. These publications have been
especially designed with the objective of acquainting foreign audiences
with the multi-faceted nature of the Indian polity and the sustained
progress of independent India.
"India Perspectives", which is now being published in 10 languages with
the launch of the German edition in October 1992 has emerged as a major
component in publicity efforts. The magazine widened the scope of its
readers and feedback from Indian Missions was encouraging. However,
while the total requirement of the Missions for "India Perspectives"
works out to be more than 56,000 copies per month, only 51,000 copies
were printed because of paucity of funds.
-104>
The Division continued to regularly brief the foreign and Indian Press
about India's policy on various issues. Government's swift response on
the Ayodhya issue and all steps taken to counter communal forces were
disseminated to all the Missions abroad in order to enable them to
present India's point of view to foreign officials, foreign governments
as well as Media, opinion makers and others. During the period under
review almost daily press briefings were held for the media and press
releases issued. In all, more than 596 Official Spokesman's
statements/press releases were issued. The policy of offering
hospitality to select mediamen from abroad and rendering assistance in
their travel within the country to enable them to meet a cross section
of the Indian people was also continued. The Indian Missions abroad,
too, kept in regular touch with the foreign media to brief them about
the current developments in India and provide them with factual material
on matters of current interest. This was facilitated by transmission of
twice-daily bulletins to 71 Missions abroad. Besides, 40 Missions
received bi-weekly bulletins while 32 Missions, identified as "Core-
Missions", received clippings from the Indian Press/Press Summary on a
daily basis.
A special emphasis has been placed on the circulation of audio-visual
material to Indian Missions abroad which have been equipped with TV sets
and VCRs. The Missions are regularly supplied with video news cassettes,
capsules of "India Magazine" as well as documentaries on diverse
subjects relating to India. Various sources including Doordarshan, Films
Division and private producers have been tapped in this regard. A number
of Missions have also been authorised to install dish antennae to enable
them keep in touch with the latest developments and to tune into
programmes of Doordarshan, wherever possible.
The anti-India campaign, launched by Pakistan, is being countered on all
fronts. The XP Division countered this through briefings to foreign
Journalists and supply of material giving facts of the situation to
Indian Missions abroad. Publicity material on the activities of the
militants and Pakistan's clandestine support to the terrorists was
widely distributed to foreign governments as well as opinion-makers,
officials, media persons and others. This multi-pronged approach led to
an understanding of India's point of view in many circles. Countering
malicious and mischievous anti-India campaign by Pakistan is an on-going
process in the Division. Important news items, relating to Punjab and
Kashmir, are regularly sent to Indian Missions abroad for further
dissemination. Fact sheets, made available by the Ministry of Home
Affairs, relating to alleged human-rights violations
in India, are sent to some of the Missions to enable them counter these
allegations.
-105>
The XP Division continued to make available feature articles from Indian
News Agencies to the Indian Missions abroad. Special articles were also
commissioned on the occasion of Republic Day and the Independence Day
for highlighting India's multi-dimensional achievements in diverse
fields. This facilitated efforts of the Missions to bring out special
supplements in foreign newspapers on these two occasions. Two feature
articles titled "India and NAM" and "NAM Summit in Jakarta" were
commissioned on a special basis and distributed to Indian Mission in
Jakarta on the eve of the 10th NAM Summit. Several feature articles were
commissioned by PTI and sent to all the Missions abroad for use as
special supplement on the occasion of the Republic Day in 1993.
The audio-visual arm of the Division completed/produced several films
during the period including "Axis-Mundi" (on restoration work at Angkor
Vat), "Continuity in Change" (on the life, culture, history and essence
of India) and "Building, Bridges" (on the ITEC Programme). These have
been distributed to all Missions after duplication and conversion into
various colour systems/schemes. Some of these have also been telecast at
various places abroad on suitable occasions. Meanwhile, a documentary on
contemporary Indian art, featuring two Indian painters, has recently
been completed. Several other films are in advance stages of production.
A number of retrospectives of the late Shri Satyajit Ray have been held
in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Singapore, Muscat, Canada, UK,
Phillipines, Chile, Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago and other places and
are scheduled in several others. Telecasts of Indian films abroad either
on a commercial or non-commercial basis have also been arranged by the
Division and Indian Missions abroad. A major Indian participation in the
Tashkent Film Festival was organized and a Raj Kapoor package, which
later travelled to other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
cities, was also arranged in coordination with the Directorate of Film
Festivals (DFF). Offers to coordinate and promote, commercially and
culturally, Indian films abroad are being made in conjunction with NFDC,
Doordarshan, Films Division and DFF.
The Division hosted 7 journalists from abroad during the period and
committed itself to visits of 9 more foreign journalists. So far
mediamen from China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Israel, Turkey, Malaysia
and Austria have visited India under this programme. Pursuant to Prime
Minister's
directive of inviting economic journalists to enable them have first-
hand information about the economic changes in India, core Missions in
selected countries were asked to extend invitations to prominent
economic journalists. Feedback received by the Division suggests that
such visits have succeeded in generating goodwill and promoting the
cause of favourable projection of India's views and concerns on
international issues.
-106>
XP Division looked after logistics/media arrangements for VVIP visits
abroad. During the period under review, the Division has handled media
arrangements and logistics for journalists accompanying the Vice
President to North Korea and Mongolia, the President to China and the
Prime Minister to Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, Lisbon, Jakarta, Paris,
Kathmandu, Tunis and Dakar.
The Division facilitated media arrangements for the foreign journalists
accompanying the VVIPs on their visits to India. Liaison Officers from
XPR Section was attached with each visiting delegation. The following
VVIPs visited India during the period:
The Thai Crown Prince, the UN Secretary General, the President of
Turkmenistan, the President of UAE, the Russian State Secretary, the
Prime Minister of Bangladesh, the President of Mauritius, the General
Secretary of Vietnam, the Sultan of Brunei, the President of Sri Lanka,
the President of Uganda, the Prince & Princess of Japan and the Aga
Khan.
XPR Section also arranged the media coverage for the incoming visits of
12 Foreign Ministers from different countries and 4 other VIP and
Parliamentary delegations.
-107>
|
1992
13 Protocol |
| Top |
DURING THE YEAR 1992-93, HEADS OF MISSION OF THE FOLLOWING EIGHTEEN
countries left India on completion of their terms:
1 Bangladesh
2 Zambia
3 Trinidad & Tobago
4 Bulgaria
5 USA
6 Pakistan
7 Iraq
8 Hungary
9 Indonesia
10 Sudan
11 Singapore
12 Venezuela
13 Malaysia
14 Iran
15 Laos
16 New Zealand
17 Portugal
18 Lebanon
-108>
During the same period, Heads of Mission of the following seventeen
countries presented their Credentials to the President of India:
1 Jordan
2 Myanmar
3 Thailand
4 Tanzania
5 Panama
6 Ethiopia
7 Bangladesh
8 Zambia
9 USA
10 Algeria
11 Hungary
12 Pakistan
13 Peru
14 Angola
15 Israel
16 Sudan
17 Iran
Israel, Brunei Darussalam and Angola opened their first Resident
Missions in India. The Consulate General of Pakistan started functioning
in Bombay.
A list containing names of foreign dignitaries who visited India during
the year, alongwith dates of such visits, as also a list containing
information about visits by Indian dignitaries to foreign countries, are
at Appendices XVI & XVII.
-109>
|
1992
14 Passport and Consular Services and Indians Overseas |
| Top |
THE PRESSURE OF HEAVY DEMAND FOR PASSPORT AND MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES
at the Passport Offices in India continued in 1992 with the receipt of
24,72,428 applications for fresh passports.
The output of the Passport Offices went up considerably with the issue
of 22,68,425 fresh passports representing an increase of 40.4%. Detailed
input and output figures regarding fresh passport and miscellaneous
services are at Appendix VII.
The main areas of focus during the past financial year were the further
improvement and simplification of passport services for which purpose
the following measures were introduced:
(a) With effect from 1 November 1992, passport application forms started
being sold by select head and sub-post offices throughout India. A total
of almost 2000 new outlets for passport application forms were thereby
created. In view of this, as required by the Department of Posts, the
acceptance of passport application forms printed by travel agents was
discontinued from 31 March 1993 after an overlap period of five months
to enable them to use up their stocks.
(b) A major difficulty faced by Indian nationals related to issue of
duplicate passports in lieu of lost or damaged passports. The entire
system has been rationalised and simplified so that an Indian who has
genuinely lost or damaged his passport is not deprived of a passport for
urgent travel, while necessary investigations and clearances are
obtained. Some exceptions to this facility have, however, been made in
certain cases in order to prevent
abuse of this facility.
(c) Specified miscellaneous services, such as addition/deletion of
children's names, extra visa pages, etc can be granted by any Passport
Office.
-110>
In the case of renewal of passports, issue of police clearance
certificates and change of address, name or date of birth, the
applicant, if in India, should normally approach the original Passport
Issuing Authority (PIA). In an emergency, these services can be granted
by any Passport Office, after obtaining clearance from the original PIA.
A Mission abroad can grant these services after checking with the
original PIA.
(d) With effect from July 1992, the system of recognising Travel Agents
for dealing with Passport Offices was dispensed with. Now all Travel
Agents are free to deal with Passport Offices without having to go
through any formality of recognition or payment of fee and the public
accordingly has a much greater choice instead of the limited number of
Travel Agents who had hitherto been recognised.
(e) It was found that several passport applications were being received
in the name of non-existent persons at non-existent addresses, or
persons already outside India. In order to prevent passports from
falling into the hands of unauthorised people, w.e.f. July 1992,
passports in the case of first time applicants,- started being delivered
to the applicants themselves or posted to them. For all other cases,
such as renewal of passports, issue of passports after the expiry of the
full validity of the 10-year old passport and miscellaneous services,
any authorised person including any Travel Agent may deal with the
Passport Offices on behalf of the applicants and receive the completed
passport on the basis of a letter of authority from the applicant.
(f) The Consular, Passport and Visa (CPV) Division has a computerised
system of monitoring complaints received from the public both with
regard to delays in the issue of passports as well as complaints against
officials. The Divisions monitors the complaints and its intervention
has helped in the resolution of several cases. At the same time,
wherever a complaint gives reason to suspect malafide behaviour on the
part of any passport official or staff member, the CPV Division
undertakes investigation of the concerned case and action against the
erring official is taken, based on the investigation. Nine officials
were placed under suspension on various charges, sanction for
prosecution issued in respect of three and Departmental action taken
against twelve.
(g)Passports are normally to be issued on a first-come-first-
served basis with reference to the date of application. All Passport
Offices have been instructed that when the applicant's turn comes up, if
the police report has not been received and a period of four weeks has
elapsed,
the passport should be issued if the application is otherwise in order.
Notwithstanding the above, in genuine cases of emergency supported by
satisfactory documentation to establish the urgency, passports are
issued on a priority basis. Such cases cover exporters and businessmen
with firm commitments, persons requiring to go abroad urgently for
medical treatment, people with valid employment offers from other
countries, officials and private individuals required to go abroad to
attend seminars and conferences, etc as well as students with admission
abroad in recognised universities or those appearing for entrance
examinations of foreign universities. Valid supporting documentation is
a must to ensure that this facility is not misused as it has been found
that a single passport issued out of turn delays several other cases.
-111>
Several administrative measures were also taken to increase the output
of the Passport Offices. These were particularly critical as a major
backlog got generated in 1991 with the unexpectedly high receipt of
24.03 lakh applications for fresh passports whereas issues were 16.15
lakhs with a supply of 16.43 lakh blank passport booklets used for both
fresh passports and miscellaneous services. These measures were:
(a) Urgent steps were taken to work out a schedule of enhanced
deliveries with the India Security Press (ISP), Nasik which prints the
booklets. For 1993-94, ISP has committed itself to a supply of 40 lakh
booklets which should ensure that there is no shortfall vis-a-vis the
anticipated demand for passports. The Ministry has also welcomed a
Finance Ministry proposal for the establishment of a second passport
printing facility.
(b) The cadre strength of Central Passport Organization existing in
1991-92 was sanctioned in 1980 based on an inflow of about 13 lakh
applications for fresh passports received in 1979 in the then 18
Passport Offices. Since then the number of Passport Offices has
increased with no additional sanctioned strength and work has grown
tremendously. The cadre strength was clearly inadequate to handle the
increasing number of applications. In order to remedy this situation,
Government have sanctioned 400 additional posts in the Central Passport
Organization. The necessary formalities to fill these posts are in the
process of being completed.
(c) Delhi Passport Office has been partially computerised: details
of all passport applications received in the past two years are on a
computerised database. The computerisation of CPV Division is underway
and a number of software programmes relating to countrywide data on
passport receipts and issues, miscellaneous services granted by the
Passport Offices, cases of lost and damaged passports, complaints and
grievances and data on Indians arrested abroad or who have died abroad
as well as foreigners arrested in India or who have died in India, are
available on the database. The necessary sanctions for computerisation
of the Regional Passport Office, Bombay and for the extension of
computerisation in CPV Division have been issued. The work has thus far
been entrusted to the National Informatics Centre (NIC) which is in the
process of acquiring the necessary hardware.
-112>
The experience of computerisation thus far has been limited but
extremely useful, since it has established that mere computerisation,
without a review and streamlining of procedures for passport issue,
would not result in meeting the objective of reducing delays in the
issue of passports. Accordingly, the' Government has initiated an
exercise to examine the entire system of issue of passports with a view
to tightening procedures and reducing delays without sacrificing
security considerations.
(d) Passport fraud continues to be a problem. An inter-Ministerial group
is examining methods to make the passport booklet more secure and
resistant to tampering besides working out the plans for making the
passport booklets compatible with agreed international standards for
machine readability.
To facilitate travel of Members of Parliament, Supreme Court Judges,
Heads of National Academic Institutions, their spouses and dependent
children under 18 years within the SAARC countries, SAARC stickers
enabling visa-free entry into all SAARC member countries were introduced
with effect from I March 1992. implementation of this scheme is handled
by the PV II Section of the CPV Division.
A Bill to amend the Passports Act, 1967 has been passed by Parliament it
was passed by the Lok Sabha in December 1992 and by the Rajya Sabha
during the Budget Session, 1993. The Bill inter alia aims to allow the
Government to fix the fees for passport services commensurate with the
cost of such services and to increase the penalties for violations of
the Act.
The CPV Division did 1,60,401 attestations in 1992. The matter of
charging a fee for attestation is under active consideration.
-113>
During 1992, several consular cases were handled with reference to
problem of Indian nationals abroad. Figures regarding various categories
of cases may be seen at Appendix IX
There are at present nine active extradition requests from foreign
countries and ten requests by India being handled by the Division.
The responsibilities of the Division were expanded from facilitating
travel abroad by Indian nationals through the issue of passports and
providing consular assistance wherever necessary to coordinating other
aspects of dealings with Indians overseas. It is estimated that at
present there are about 10 million persons of Indian origin residing in
different parts of the world. This figure includes those who continue to
hold Indian citizenship and are the responsibility of the Government of
India.
Overseas Indians are increasingly being recognised as a valuable asset
for India and as a useful bridge between India and the country of their
domicile. It is the policy of the Government of India that persons of
Indian origin who have taken foreign nationality should identify
themselves with and integrate into the mainstream of life in their
country of adoption. The Government, however, remains alive to their
general welfare and, in particular, to their cultural and economic
interest in India.
Indian Missions abroad maintain close contacts with overseas Indians in
a wide variety of fields and render them all possible assistance with
the CPV & OI Division acting as a nodal point in India.
-114>
|
1992
15 Administration and Organization |
| Top |
SHRI DINESH SINGH ASSUMED CHARGE AS MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS ON 17
January 1993. Earlier, Shri Madhavsinh Solanki demitted charge on 31
March 1992, In the intervening period, Prime Minister, Shri P V
Narasimha Rao, held charge of the Ministry of External Affairs. Shri R L
Bhatia joined as Minister of State for External Affairs on 2 July 1992.
Shri Eduardo Faleiro, who took over as Minister of State for External
Affairs on 24 June 1991, demitted charge on 17 January 1993. Shri Salman
Khursheed took over as Minister of State in this Ministry on the same
date.
Following Government's directive on economy, it was decided that Indian
Embassies in Malawi, Zaire and Colombia may be closed down. This would
also help offset part of the expenditure incurred on the new Missions
established in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus and Israel and the new
Consulates in Shanghai in China and St. Petersberg and Vladivostok in
Russia. In addition, the Consulate in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan,
has been upgraded to an Embassy.
The Ministry, therefore, now has 144 Resident Missions/Posts aborad
including the three slated for closure.
There has been a major reorganization and streamlining of the work at
Headquarters to reflect the changes in the global scenario. Some
Territorial Divisions have been merged to ensure better coordination of
policies in the concerned area. New Divisions have also been created to
enable the Ministry to focus more closely on developments within the
region. For work of specialised nature, separate Units have been set up
where required. The list of Divisions is given at Appendix XVIII.
A regular time schedule is being adhered to for holding the meetings of
the various Boards which recommend postings and transfers of officials
at all levels. Greater transparency has been introduced in the posting
procedures and the available posts are circulated well in advance to all
concerned officials at headquarters and abroad.
-115>
The Departmental Promotion Committees to consider promotion to various
grades are being convened with minimum possible delay.
The meetings of the Joint Consultative Machinery for redressal of staff
grievances are also being held regularly.
55 vacancies of Heads of Missions which arose from time to time have
been filled since July 1991 and periods for which Missions functioned
without a Head was kept to the absolute minimum.
The total strength of IFS and IFS(B) at Headquarters and Indian Missions
and Posts abroad is 3396. This includes certain posts borne on the
budget of Ministry of Commerce but excludes ex-cadred posts and those
held in abeyance. In addition, 9 posts are held by ex-cadre HOMs. The
cadre-wise strength is at Appendix X. The list of officers qualified in
various foreign languages is at Appendix XII.
The Ministry continued its efforts for acquisition of properties and
construction of buildings for Indian Missions abroad particularly in
those cities where real estate market was favourable. Purchase of five
apartments in Washington for Indian Embassy officers was finalised.
The Regional Passport Office, Delhi, is to move to Bhikaji Cama Place,
on acquisition of space in that building complex.
Construction work in the Chancery-cum-Residence projects at Dubai and
Kuwait was completed during the year. Construction work in the
Chancerycum-Residence projects at Kuala Lumpur and New York would also
be completed during the year.
Tenders for construction of Chancery-cum-Residence projects at Riyadh
have been floated and the tender documents for Indira Gandhi Centre for
Indian Culture at Port Louis are being finalised. Pre-construction
planning for projects at Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Islamabad Phase II,
Kathmandu, Kiev, Moscow, Muscat and Tashkent is on hand.
Administrative inspections of Indian Missions in Dhaka, Canberra,
Sydney, Wellington, Bangkok, Cairo and Nairobi were carried out by the
Foreign Service Inspectors (FSIs) with the objective of reviewing and
improving the functioning of these Missions. Soon after the
establishment of formal diplomatic relations with Israel, the FSIs
visited Tel Aviv to set up the new Indian Mission.
Computers have been supplied to several more Divisions in the Ministry
and in Missions abroad with a view to increasing efficiency.
-116>
|
1992
16 Foreign Service Training Institute. |
| Top |
THE FOREIGN SERVICE TRAINING INSTITUTE INTRODUCED CHANGES IN EMPHASIS
which included the re-modelling of programmes to acquaint participants
with the new economic policies, and the introduction of language courses
in the Basic Professional Courses which are held several times every
year. It also gave a thrust to inter-institutional interaction, and held
special programmes for diplomats from friendly foreign countries
requesting for training here.
As a result, 13 diplomats from 6 newly independent Central Asian
countries attended the first such professional course from 30 September
to 30 November 1992. The programme for these diplomats included the
study of diplomatic practice and protocol, international law,
formulation and implementation of foreign policy, training in computer
skills, effective communication and representational skills. In their
efforts to set up their diplomatic services, these newly independent
countries had projected their requirements to the Institute or the
Government of India. The second professional course for diplomats
commenced on 18 January 1993 and had 15 diplomats from the ANC, and 11
others from Hungary, Romania, Kyrghyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan,
Vietnam and Zambia. The training was adjusted to meet the needs of these
countries, as appropriate.
Another feature was the holding of an orientation-cum-briefing programme
for Heads of Indian Missions and Posts. The first such programme took
place from 30 March to 10 April 1992. In this programme, emphasis was
given to the new economic policies of Government. Such programmes are
being planned for the future also.
In keeping with the idea of improving FSTI's contacts with similar
institutes abroad, the Dean visited Mexico from 23 to 25 September 1992
to attend the meeting of Association of Directors of Diplomatic
Academies & Institutes of International Relations (ADDAIIR). To further
this effort, delegations from Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and Malaysia
visited the Institute during the period. Efforts are being made to widen
inter-institutional interaction.
-117>
The language laboratory was set-up and made functional. It has been
widely used this year.
Under a UNDP Project, one Foreign Service Officer was sent for M A
Degree Course in international law, diplomacy and international
economics to Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, for
the academic year 1992-93 which commenced from September 1992.
Apart from these features, the basic functions of the FSTI continued
with the training of IFS Probationers and of members of staff posted
abroad, etc. There had been a special thrust in respect of the latter
towards area and language orientation, as also familiarity with
operating computers for word processing and Electronic Mail. A list of
programmes conducted is as follows:
(i) Professional Course in Diplomacy and International Relations for IFS
Probationers (1991 batch) (15 participants)*
(ii) Orientation-cum-Briefing Programme for HOM/HOPs (24
participants)
(iii) "Introduction to India"-Third Familiarisation Programme for
Diplomats (23 participants)
(iv) Sixth Orientation Programme for Spouses (13 participants)
(v) Professional Course for Diplomats from Central Asian countries (13
participants)
(vi) 31st, 32nd and 33rd Basic Professional Courses for IFS (B)
personnel being posted abroad (36, 49, and 49 participants respectively)
*In the initial part of this course, some trainees from friendly foreign
countries were also present.
-118>
|
1992
17 Implementation of Official Language Policy and Propagation of Hindi Abroad |
| Top |
UNLIKE OTHER MINISTRIES/DEPARTMENTS, THIS MINISTRY HAS MULTIPLE
responsibilities: implementation of Official Language Policy of the
Union of India at Headquarters, Regional Passport Offices located in
India and Indian Missions/Posts abroad, and propagation of Hindi abroad
through Indian Missions and Posts. The whole set of work is accomplished
by the Hindi Section of the Ministry. In addition, Hindi Section also
caters to the entire translation work from English to Hindi and vice-
versa of the Ministry, Passport Offices and Indian Missions/Posts
abroad.
To facilitate the use of Hindi in the Ministry, its Passport offices and
Indian Missions abroad and also to provide guidance, where necessary,
there is a Hindi Advisory Committee in the Ministry. The Official
Language Implementation Committee, headed by Joint Secretary (Admn), is
working to oversee the progressive use of Hindi in the official work.
The Ministry continued with various Hindi Schemes. Workshops were
organized for those having working knowledge in Hindi in order to remove
their hesitation in doing their official work in Hindi. A Hindi Module
for IFS probationers of 1991 batch was also organized. A phased
programme has also been chalked out to organize similar workshops in
various Passport Offices in, India!
During the year under review, Hindi Week was observed and various
Competitions were organized at the Headquarters, in some of the Indian
Missions abroad and also in some of the Passport Offices located in
India with a view to create an atmosphere conducive to use of Hindi in
these offices.
-119>
The Ministry has purchased 50 Devanagari Typewriters with a view to
achieving the target set in the annual programme regarding
implementation of the Official Language Policy of the Government for the
year 1992-93. Passport Office, Hyderabad, whereof 80% staff possesses
working knowledge of Hindi, has been notified under Rule 10(4) of the
Official Languages Rules 1976 thereby increasing the number of notified
Passport Offices under this Rule to 7. Computer Cell of the Ministry has
also chalked out a phased programme of introducing bilingual capacity in
the computers installed in the Ministry.
With a view to assessing the progress in implementation of Official
Language Policy of the Union in the Passport Offices, Officers from
Hindi Section have inspected Passport Offices located at Bhubaneshwar,
Patna, Calcutta, Cochin, Trivandrum, Bangalore, Madras, Calicut and
Tiruchirapalli. Committee of Parliament on Official Language also
inspected the Passport Offices in Hyderabad and Madras with the same
objective.
This year too, the Ministry continued with the Rajbhasha Running Shield
scheme for its Passport Offices located in India to encourage them to do
their maximum work in Hindi. As a result, Passport Offices at Ahmedabad,
Bhopal, Delhi and Lucknow gave good account of themselves in this field.
As regards propagation of Hindi abroad, sets of standard Hindi
literature were sent to Indian Missions abroad this year also. We
received demands for Hindi teaching material, Hindi books for research
scholars, Hindi magazines, typewriters, etc from a number of our
Missions abroad and requisite material was supplied to them.
Indian Embassy in Seoul assisted the Hangkuk University in organizing a
Hindi essay elocution competition in which Korean Students of Hindi
participated with great enthusiasm. The Ministry extended help in
sending gift items and books for the function. Similar function was
organized by Indian Embassy in Paramaribo (Suriname) for which gift
items were again sent by the Ministry. On the special demand of Indian
High Commission in Georgetown books worth over Rs 2 lakh were sent to it
for donation to local organizations engaged in teaching of Hindi.
The Ministry liaised between Indian Missions and the Department of
Education and Central Hindi Institute to ensure coordination and smooth
and timely execution of work related to the nomination, travel and
enrolments of foreign students coming to India on Government of India
scholarship to study Hindi at the Central Hindi Institute.
-120>
Classes for the children of the officials of the Missions and members of
staff of other offices of Central Government located abroad continued to
be held by Indian Missions for which all suitable help was accorded.
An encouraging picture is emerging as a result of the efforts of the
Ministry to propagate Hindi abroad and it is hoped that more will be
accomplished through sustained efforts in this direction.
-121>
|
1992
18 Cultural Relations |
| Top |
THE INDIAN COUNCIL FOR CULTURAL RELATIONS, FOUNDED IN 1950 WITH THE
objective of establishing and strengthening cultural relations and
mutual understanding between India and other countries of the world, has
been steadfastly working towards this direction.
One of the major highlights of this year was the organization of First
South Asian Festival of SAARC countries. The Festival was planned in the
spirit of SAARC, as a people-to-people event, aimed at enhancing the
interaction and affinities among the people of SAARC countries.
The Festival was inaugurated on 9 October 1992 at Teen Murti House Lawns
by Prime Minister, Shri P V Narasimha Rao, and continued till 24 October
1992. All the seven countries of the region participated. The delegation
from each country was led by a Minister. The closing event of. the
Festival was held in Trivandrum on 24 October 1992. Vice President, Shri
K R Narayanan, was the chief guest at the closing event.
The Festival had several components as detailed below:
1. Performing Arts
The best traditions of the performing arts from each of the seven SAARC
countries with the focus on the people, on folk music and dance were
presented. More than 300 artistes took part in various performances.
2. Exhibitions
(a) Masterpieces of Classical Art
Unique exhibits highlighting the 5000 years of civilization and heritage
of SAARC countries including the original pieces from Taxila,
Mohenjodaro, Harappa and the Gandhara period were shown.
(b) Masters of Contemporary Art
Consisted of works by Zainul Abedin (Bangladesh), Sanjay Dorji (Bhutan),
Satish Gujral (India), Ahmed Abbas (Maldives), MAR Chughtai (Pakistan)
and George Keyt (Sri Lanka).
-122>
(c) Young, Contemporary Artists from SAARC countries
(d) Crafts with Craftsmen in Action
(e) Exhibition of Children's Paintings
(f) Exhibition of Photographs on the Theme 'My Land My People'
3. Seminars
(a) Future Potential for Cultural and Educational Links and Interaction
among SAARC countries
(b) Contemporary Literary Scene: A Search for Roots ?
(c) SAARC Media Dialogue
4. SAARC Film Festival
Events of the Festival were held in the Union Territories of Delhi and
Chandigarh and in other 30 cities and towns in Andhra Pradesh, Assam,
Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab,
Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
To coordinate the various components of the Festival a National
Organizing Committee was constituted. Prime Minister, Shri P V Narasimha
Rao, was the Patron of the Organizing Committee. Shri Eduardo Faleiro
(the then Minister of State for External Affairs) and Shri R L Bhatia
(Minister of State for External Affairs) were its Co-Chairmen.
Another significant event of this year was the Festival of China in
India. The Festival of China in India was jointly announced in December
1991 by the Prime Minister, Shri P V Narasimha Rao, and the Chinese
Premier, Mr Li Peng, during the latter's visit to India. India was the
first country to which China sent a major cultural festival. The
festival consisted of exhibitions, seminars and talks, performing arts
events, TV films and film festival. It opened on 2 December 1992 at Siri
Fort Auditorium with a Performance by the Shandong Peking Opera. Over 80
performers visited India during the festival. Apart from the Opera, a
major presentation of Acrobatics was held in a number of cities in
India. The third major performing art event was the presentation by 15-
member Puppet Art Ensemble. The Painting Exhibition, displayed at the
National Gallery of Modem Art in Delhi, consisted of 60 oil paintings,
30 traditional style paintings and 21 works of calligraphy. The
exhibition also travelled to Bombay. Apart from this, two other
exhibitions namely that of photographs
entitled "'China in Prosperity" consisting of 150 photographs and of
Chinese handicrafts were also on view.
-123>
Other major performances organized by the Council were as follows:
1 4-member Musical Group 'Southern Crossings' (Australia).
2 8-member Philippe Genty Group (France).
3 6-member Musical Group 'Sextet' (Egypt).
4 15-member Theatre Group 'Tarnima' (Egypt).
5 El Cuarteto Musical Group (Venezuela).
6 12-member Kustbandet Jazz Group (Sweden).
7 5-member Johnson Mountain Boys Group (USA).
8 5-member Mimi Lorenzini Jazz Group (France).
9 6-member Clarian Fracture Zone Jazz Group (Australia).
10 3-member Brahm. Trio Salzburg Group (Austria).
11 21-member Century Theatre (UK).
12 22-member Philippines Ballet Group (Philippines).
13 Kanze School of NOH Theatre (Japan).
The 1991 Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Memorial Lecture was delivered by
former President of India, Shri R Venkataraman, on 7 May 1992 at
Parliament House Annexe. The theme of the lecture was "Maulana. Azad and
the Unity of India".
The 1991 Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding was
conferred on Smt Aruna Asaf Ali, the veteran freedom fighter and social
worker. The function was held on 14 November 1992 at Ashok Hall,
Rashtrapati Bhavan.
During the period under review, the Council sponsored 61 performing
cultural troupes to participate in important international festivals as
well as to give individual performances at the invitation of foreign
governments and institutions abroad. The artists and troupes sent abroad
included:
1 20-member Dance group of Dr (Mrs) Kanak Rele (visited North Korea and
Singapore).
2 Ms Naina. Devi (visited USA).
3 27-Member Chorus Repertory Theatre Group led by Shri Rattan Thiyam
(visited Japan).
4 9-member Bharatanatyam troupe led by Ms Saroja Vaidyanathan (visited
Nepal).
-124>
5 5-member Kathak dance troupe led by Ms Uma Sharma (visited Canada).
6 7-member Bharatanatyam troupe led by Dr Padma Subrahmanyam (visited
Indonesia).
7 8-member Odissi dance troupe led by Ms Sanjukta Panigrahi (visited
France and USA).
8 Shri T N Krishnan, Violinist (visited Sri Lanka).
9 Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Flutist and Mr M S Gopalakrishnan, Violinist
(visited South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique).
10 5-member Penaaz Masani group (visited Mauritius, Seychelles and
Kenya).
11 5-member Kathak dance troupe of Kumkum Dhar (visited Pakistan).
12 4-member Shovana Narayan troupe (visited Bangladesh).
13 11-member Malika Sarabhai troupe (visited Mexico and Peru).
14 Pt Jasraj with 5 accompanists (visited Pakistan).
15 Dagar Brothers with 4 accompanists (visited France and Hungary).
The Council also sponsored the visit of various scholars, intellectuals,
journalists abroad. The total number of such visits was 74 and some of
the prominent persons were:
1 Dr Raja Ramanna, former Minister (visited Mauritius).
2 Prof Andre Beteille, Professor of Sociology (visited USA).
3 Prof Upendra Baxi, Vice-Chancellor, University of Delhi (visited USA).
4 Shri Basu Bhattacharyya, Film Director (visited Canada).
5 Dr Karan Singh, former Minister (visited China, Mongolia and Hong
Kong).
6 Justice C Mohan, Supreme Court of India (visited Israel).
7 Shri Mulk Raj Anand, Writer (visited China).
8 Shri B R Nanda, former Director, Nehru Memorial Museum (visited
Mauritius).
Besides, a 13-member delegation headed by Dr Kapila Vatsyayan was
sponsored to Indonesia to participate in the 9th International Ramayana
Conference. Council also received 36 visitors from various countries of
the world.
-125>
During this period the Council sent 26 visiting professors of Indian
studies to the following countries:
1 Afghanistan (Sanskrit & Ancient Indian History, Culture and
Archaeology).
2 Bulgaria (Hindi).
3 Belgium (Hindi).
4 China (Hindi).
5 Cuba (Hindi).
6 Czech and Slovak Federal Republics (Sanskrit/Hindi).
7 Finland (Hindi).
8 Germany (Hindi).
9 Guyana (History, Hindi).
10 Hungary (Hindi).
11 Indonesia (Sanskrit, Tamil, History, Archaeology).
12 Iran (Sanskrit).
13 Korea-South (Hindi).
14 Laos (Asian Civilization).
15 Lebanon (Indian Philosophy & Comparative Religion,
Management Studies).
16 Mexico (Hindi, History, Sociology, Sanskrit).
17 Poland (Hindi, Tamil).
18 Romania (Hindi).
19 Senegal (Dravidian Linguistics).
20 Singapore (Indian Studies).
21 Suriname (Hindi).
22 Trinidad & Tobago (History, Sociology, Hindi).
23 Thailand (Sanskrit, Indian Philosophy).
24 Turkey (Hindi/Sanskrit).
25 Russia (Hindi).
26 Yugoslavia (Hindi).
-126>
Council is also responsible for the welfare of foreign students studying
in India. Council arranged admission of 550 students including 133 in
engineering, 10 in medical, 6 in Pharmacologic. During the year, Council
has also been entrusted with administering SAARC Scholarship/Fellowship
Scheme. A meeting of the Foreign Students Advisors was also held during
the year in which about 60 Advisors from various Indian Universities
including a few Vice-Chancellors were present. Important policy
decisions to streamline the placement of students, counselling and
accommodation were taken in this meeting.
Apart from publishing the six quarterly journals in English, Hindi,
French, Spanish and Arabic, the Council also published two volumes on
'Science: A Supra National Activity' by Andrew Huxley and the 'Maulana
Azad and the Unity of India' by Shri R Venkataraman.
The Council also participated in the 44th Frankfurt Book Fair through
National Book Trust.
A Joint Meeting of the Indo-US Sub-Commission on Education and Culture
was held in India in February 1992 to review the Sub-Commissions
activities over the last 18 years and to discuss the future programmes
in such a way which would further strengthen the points between the
world's two largest democracies. Under the auspices of the Indo-US Sub-
Commission, two workshops were organized, namely Indo-US Music Workshop
and Indo-US Writers' Workshop. The Music Workshop was held in Delhi,
Madras and Bombay. The Writers' Workshop was held in Delhi and Bombay.
So far as the Library of the Council is concerned valuable material of
Maulana Azad collection is being documented. The first phase of the
bibliography is nearing completion in which publications in English,
Hindi and Urdu are being covered. In the second phase of documentation,
books and manuscripts in Arabic and Persian will be undertaken. Besides
this, 150 books have been purchased during the year.
Presently the Council maintains 8 cultural centres in different parts of
the world, namely, Cairo (Egypt), Berlin (Germany), Georgetown (Guyana),
Jakarta (Indonesia), London (UK), Moscow (Russia), Port Louis
(Mauritius), Paramaribo (Suriname). The Council has 8 regional offices
located at Bangalore, Bombay, Calcutta, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Lucknow,
Madras and Trivandrum.
-127>
|
| 1 | Angola | 16 Gambia | 30 Nigeria
| | 2 | Benin | 17 Ghana | 31 Rwanda
| | 3 | Botswana | 18 Guinea | 32 Sao Tome &
| | | | | Principe
| | 4 | Burkina Faso | 19 Guinea Bissau |
| | 5 | Burundi | 20 Kenya | 33 Senegal
| | 6 | Cameroon | 21 Lesotho | 34 Seychelles
| | 7 | Cape Verde Islands | 22 Liberia | 35 Sierra Leone
| | 8 | Central African Republic | 23 Madagascar | 36 South Africa
| | 9 | Chad | 24 Malawi | 37 Swaziland
| | 10 | Comoros | 25 Mali | 38 Tanzania
| | 11 | Congo | 26 Mauritius | 39 Togo
| | 12 | Cote d'Ivoire | 27 Mozambique | 40 Uganda
| | 13 | Equatorial Guinea | 28 Namibia | 41 Zaire
| | 14 | Ethiopia | 29 Niger | 42 Zambia
| | 15 | Gabon | | 43 Zimbabwe
| |
| | | AMS DIVISION | |
| |
| | 1 | Canada | 2 United States of | 3 The Bahamas
| | | | America |
| |
| | | ASEAN DIVISION | |
| |
| | 1 | Brunei | 3 Malaysia | 5 Singapore
| | 2 | Indonesia | 4 Philippines | 6 Thailand
| | -131> | | |
| |
| | | ASIA PACIFIC DIVISION | |
| |
| | 1 | Australia | 7 Marshall Islands | 14 Society Islands
| | 2 | Cook Islands | 8 Nauru | 15 Tonga
| | 3 | Democratic People's | 9 New Zealand | 16 Tuvalu
| | | Republic of Korea | 10 New Caledonia | 17 UN Trust Territories in | | 4 | Fiji | 11 Papua New Guinea | South Pacific
| | 5 | Japan | 12 Republic of Korea | 18 Vanuatu
| | 6 | Kiribati | 13 Solomon Islands | 19 Western Samoa
| |
| | | BSM DIVISION | |
| |
| | 1 | Bangladesh | 3 Maldives | 5 Sri Lanka
| | 2 | Indian Ocean | 4 Myanmar |
| |
| | | CENTRAL ASIA DIVISION | |
| |
| | 1 | Azerbaijan | 4 Tajikistan | 6 Turkmenistan
| | 2 | Kazakhstan | 5 Turkey | 7 Uzbekistan
| | 3 | Kyrghyzstan | |
| |
| | | EE DIVISION | |
| |
| | 1 | Albania | 8 Estonia | 15 Romania
| | 2 | Armenia | 9 Georgia | 16 Russia
| | 3 | Belarus | 10 Hungary | 17 Slovak Republic
| | 4 | Bosnia-Herzegovina | 11 Latvia | 18 Slovenia
| | 5 | Bulgaria | 12 Lithuania | 19 Ukraine
| | 6 | Croatia | 13 Moldova | 20 Yugos1avia (FRY-
| | 7 | Czech Republic | 14 Poland | Serbia and Montenegro)
| |
| | EW DIVISION | |
| |
| | 1 | Austria | 2 Belgium | 3 Cyprus
| | -132> | | |
| |
| | 4 | Denmark | 12 Ireland | 20 Portugal
| | 5 | Finland | 13 Italy | 21 San Marino
| | 6 | France | 14 Liechtenstein | 22 Spain
| | 7 | Germany, Federal | 15 Luxembourg | 23 Sweden
| | | Republic of | | |
| | 8 | Gibraltar | 16 Malta | 24 Switzerland
| | 9 | Greece | 17 Monaco | 25 United Kingdom of
| | 10 | Holy See, The | 18 Netherlands | Great Britain and
| | 11 | Iceland | 19 Norway | Northern Ireland
| |
| | | GULF DIVISION | | |
| |
| | 1 | Bahrain | 4 Oman | 7 Saudi Arabia
| | 2 | Iraq | 5 Qatar | 8 United Arab Emirates
| | 3 | Kuwait | 6 Republic of Yemen |
| |
| | | IPA DIVISION | |
| |
| | 1 | Afghanistan | 2 Iran | 3 Pakistan
| |
| | | LAC DIVISION | |
| |
| | 1 | Antigua & Barbuda | 12 Dominican Rebublic | 23 Panama
| | 2 | Argentina | 13 Ecuador | 24 Paraguay
| | 3 | Barbados | 14 El Salvador | 25 Peru
| | 4 | Belize | 15 Grenada | 26 St Christopher
| | | | | and Nevis
| | 5 | Bolivia | 16 Guatemala | 27 St Lucia
| | 6 | Brazil | 17 Guyana | 28 St Vincent and
| | | | | the Grenadines
| | 7 | Chile | 18 Haiti |
| | 8 | Colombia | 19 Honduras | 29 Suriname
| | 9 | Costa Rica | 20 Jamaica | 30 Trinidad &
| | | | | Tobago
| | 10 | Cuba | 21 Mexico | 31 Uruguay
| | 11 | Commonwealth of | 22 Nicaragua | 32 Venezuela
| | | Dominica | |
| | -133> | | |
| |
| | | NORTH EAST DIVISION | |
| |
| | 1 | Bhutan | 3 Hong Kong | 5 Nepal
| | 2 | China | 4 Mongolia | 6 Taiwan
| |
| | | SOUTH EAST ASIA DIVISION | |
| |
| | 1 | Cambodia | 2 Laos | 3 Vietnam
| |
| | | WANA DIVISION | |
| |
| | 1 | Algeria | 8 Libya | 14 Sudan
| | 2 | Djibouti | 9 Mauritania | 15 Syria
| | 3 | Egypt | 10 Morocco | 16 Tunisia
| | 4 | Israel | 11 Palestine |
| | 5 | Jordan | 12 SADR (Sahrawi Arab |
| | | | Democratic Republic) |
| | 6 | League of Arab States | |
| | 7 | Lebanon | 13 Somalia |
| | -134> | | | |
|
1992
APPENDIX - II Treaties/Conventions/Agreements
|
| |
Treaties/Conventions/Agreements concluded or renewed by India with other
countries in 1992,
|
S NO TITLE OF CONVENTIONS/ DATE OF DATE OF DATE ON WHICH
TREATIES/AGREEMENTS ETC SIGNATURE/ RATIFICATION ENTERED INTO
MULTILATERAL ADOPTION ACCESSION OR FORCE
ACCEPTANCE
1 Protocol relating to an 25.10.1990 10.6.1992
amendment to Article 50
(a)of the Convention on
International Civil
Aviation
2 Protocol relating to an 6.10.1989 11.8.1992
amendment to Article 56
of the Convention on
International Civil
Aviation
3 Montreal Protocol on 16.9.1987 4.6.1992 1.1.1989
Substances that
Deplete the Ozone Layer
4 Extension of the 27.9.1991 17.8.1992 1.10.1992
International Coffee
Agreement, 1983, till 30
September 1993
5 Convention concerning 25.6.1985 20.2.1992 1.4.1993
Labour Statistics
(Convention 160)
6 Agreement on the Network 8.11.1988 9.4.1992
of Aquaculture Centres in
Asia and the Pacific
(NACA)
7 Basel Convention on the 15.3.1990 11.6.1992
Control of Trans-boundary
Movement of Hazardous
Wastes and their Disposal
8 Convention on the Rights 20.11.1989 2.12.1992 2.9.1990
of Child
BILATERAL
Australia
9 Agreement between the 31.7.1992 31.7.1992
Government of the Republic
of India and Export
Finance and Insurance
Corporation, Australia for
Aeromagnetic Survey as
-135>
part of an Integrated
Study for the Exploration
and Management of
Groundwater Resources in
Orissa
Bangladesh
10 Convention between 27.8.1991 25.5.1992
Government of the Rep-
ublic of India and the
Government of People's
Republic of Bangladesh
For the Avoidance of Do-
uble Taxation and Preve-
ntion of Fiscal Evasion
with respect to Taxes
and Income
11 Cultural and Academic 27.5.1992
Exchange Programme (CAEP)
between the Republic of
India and the People's
Republic of Bangladesh for
the years 1993, 1994 and
1995
China
12 Consular Convention 13.12.1991 15.1.1992 30.10.1992
between the Governments of
the Republic of India and
the People's Republic of
China
Great Britain
13 Extradition Treaty between 22.9.1992
the Government of the
Republic of India and the
Government of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland
14 Agreement between the 22.9.1992
Government of the Republic
of India and the
Government of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland
concerning the
Investigation and
Prosecution of Crimes and
Tracing, Restraint Ind
Confiscation of the
Proceeds an Instruments of
Crimes (including crimes
involving currency
transfers) and Terrorist
Funds
Jamaica
15 Cultural Agreement 5.10.1992
between the Government of
Jamaica and the Government
of the Republic of India
-136>
Japan
16 Exchange of Notes between 22.6.1992 22.6.1992
the Government of the
Republic of India and the
Government of Japan for
extension of the following
Japanese assistance to
India
(i) Grant Aid of 992
million Yen for import of
Simulators for Nautical
and Marine Engineering
Education in the Lal
Bahadur Shastri Nautical
and Engineering College
(ii) Debt Relief Grant Aid
of 315,567 million Yen for
the period (1.4.92 to
30.9.92)
(iii) Grant Aid of 600
million Yen for Increasing
Food Production (for
import of fertilisers)
17 Loan Agreement for 9.1.1992 9.1.1992
Afforestation Project in
Aravalli Hills between the
Overseas Economic
Cooperation Fund, Japan
and the President of India
18 Loan Agreement for Gandhar 9.1.1992 9.1.1992
Gas Based Combined Cycle
Power Project (II) between
the Overseas Economic
Cooperation Fund, Japan
and the President of India
19 Loan Agreement for 9.1.1992 9.1.1992
National Highway-2
Improvement Project
between the Overseas
Economic Cooperation Fund,
Japan and the President of
India
20 Loan Agreement for Urban 9.1.1992 9.1.1992
City Water Supply Project
between the Overseas
Economic Cooperation Fund,
Japan and the President of
India
21 Loan Agreement for 9.1.1992 9.1.1992
Ajanta-Ellora Conservation
and Tourism Development
Project between the
Overseas Economic
Cooperation Fund, Japan
and the President of India
22 Exchange of Notes between 27.10.1992 27.10.1992
the Government of the
Republic of India
-137>
and the Government of
Japan for the following
OECF assisted projects:
(i) Loan of 17,173 million
Yen for Yamuna Action Plan
(ii) Loan of 3,806 million
Yen for Srisailam Power
Transmission System
Project
(iii) Loan of 13,224
million Yen for Anpara B
Thermal Power Station
Construction Project (IV)
(iv) Loan of 19,538
million Yen for Gandhar
Gas Based Combined Cycle
Power Project (III)
(v) Loan of 24,428 million
Yen for Udyogmandal
Ammonia Plant Replacement
Project
23 Exchange of Notes between 3.12.1992 3.12.1992
the Government of the
Republic of India and
the Government of Japan
for extension of the
following Japanese
assistance to India:
(i) Grant of 1.005 million
Yen for exploitation of
Ground Water Stage-II
(ii) Grant of 947 million
Yen for supply of fishing
vessels for deep sea and
offshore fisheries
(iii) Debt Relief Grant
Aid of 289.015 million
Yen
Kazakhstan
24 Protocol between the 3.4.1992
Government of the Republic
of India and the
Government of the Republic
of Kazakhstan on Trade
Turnover and payments in
1992
Kuwait
25 Cooperation Agreement 15.2.1992
between the Government of
the Republic of India and
the Government of the
State of Kuwait
-138>
26 Memorandum of 19.2.1992
Understanding between the
Government of the Republic
of India and the
Government of State of
Kuwait on Cooperation in
the field of
Telecommunication
Malaysia
27 Agreement between the 2.11.1992 2.11.1992
Governments of the
Republic of India and the
Republic of Malaysia on
the Establishment of Joint
Commission for Bilateral
Cooperation
Malta
28 Agreement between the 14.1.1992
Government of the Republic
of India and the
Government of Malta on
Economic, Industrial,
Scientific and
Technological Cooperation
29 Cultural Agreement between 14.1.1992 27.7.1992
the Government of the
Republic of India and the
Government of Malta
Namibia
30 Memorandum of Understanding 17.8.1992
between the Government
of the Republic of India
and the Government of the
Republic of Namibia on
Technical Cooperation
between the Postal and
Telecommunication Agencies
Oman
31 Cultural and Educational 3.8.1991 20.2.1992 28.4.1992
Cooperation between the
Government of the Republic
of India and the
Government of Sultanate of
Oman
Pakistan
32 Agreement between India 6.4.1991 9.8.1991 19.8.1992
and Pakistan on Prevention
of Air Space Violations
and for permitting
overflights and landings
by Military Aircraft
33 Agreement between India 6.4.1991 9.8.1991 19.8.1992
and Pakistan on Advance No-
tice of Military Exercises,
Manoeuvres and Troop
Movements
-139>
34 Joint Declaration by the 19.8.1992 19.8.1992
Republic of India and the
Islamic Republic of
Pakistan on Complete
Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons
35 Code of Conduct for 19.8.1992 19.8.1992
Treatment of
Diplomatic/Consular
Personnel in India and
Pakistan
Peru
36 Accord on Cooperation in 2.2.1992 2.2.1992
the field of Peaceful Uses
of Nuclear Energy between
the Atomic Energy
Commission of India and
the Peruvian Institute of
Nuclear Energy.
Philippines
37 Agreement between the 29.4.1991 18.6.1992
Government of the Republic
of India and the
Government of the Republic
of Philippines for
Cooperation for the
Utilisation of Atomic
Energy for Peaceful
Purposes
Poland
38 Agreed minutes between 10.4.1992
the Government of the Rep-
ublic of India and the Re-
public of Poland on the
Liquidation of the
Non-Convertible Rupee
Balance
Russian Federation
39 Protocol between the 22.2.1992
Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of Russian Federation on
the Trade Turnover and
Payments in 1992
40 Agreement between the 4.5.1992 4.5.1992
Government of the Republic
of India and Government of
Russian Federation on the
Inter-Governmental
Commission on Trade,
Economic, Scientific and
Technological Cooperation
Suriname
41 Cultural Agreement between 22.9.1992
the Government of the
Republic of India and the
Government of the Republic
of Suriname
-140>
Syria
42 Agreement between the 29.7.1992 1.5.1992
Government of the Republic
of India and Government of
Syrian Arab Republic for
Cooperation for Utilisation
of Atomic Energy for
Peaceful Purposes
Turkey
43 Agreement on Mutual 18.7.1988 12.11,1992
Judicial Assistance in
Civil and Commercial
Matters between the
Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of the Republic of Turkey
44 Agreement on Mutual 18.7.1988 12.11.1992
Assistance in Criminal
Matters between the
Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of the Republic of Turkey
Turkmenistan
45 Agreement between the 20.4.1992
Government of the Republic
of India and the
Governments of Turkmenistan
on Trade and Economic
Cooperation
Ukraine
46 Treaty on Friendship and 27.3.1992 28.9.1992
Cooperation between the
Governments of the Republic
of India and Ukraine
47 Protocol on the 17.1.1992 17.1.1992
Establishment of Consular
Relations between the
Government of the Republic
of India and the Government
of Ukraine
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMME
48 Agreement between the 14.1.1992 14.1.1992
Government of the Republic
of India and the United
Nations Development
Programme regarding Project
No. IND/91/029/A/01/99 on
Application of Automative
Techniques in Remote Sensing
for Land Resource
Management
49 Agreement between the 17.1.1992 17.1.1992
Government of the Republic
of India and the United
-141>
Nations Development
Programme regarding Project
No. IND/91/103 on
Establishment of Technology
Base for Powerline
Aggregates
50 Agreement between the 17.1.1992 17.1.1992
Government of the Republic
of India and the United
Nations Development
Programme regarding Project
No. IND/91/093/A/01/87 on
Establishment of an
Experimental/Demonstration
unit for Manufacturing
Super Purity Aluminium and
Condenser Foil from
it-Feasibility Study
51 Agreement between the 13.2.1992 13.2.1992
Government of the Republic
of India and the United
Nations Development
Programme regarding Project
No. IND/91/011 on
Engineering of Structures
for Mitigating Damage due
to Cyclones
52 Agreement between the 10.6.1992 10.6.1992
Government of the Republic
of India and the United
Nations Development
Programme regarding Project
No. IND/92/033/A/01/89 on
jute Sector Programme
53 Agreement between the 28.5.1992 28.5.1992
Government of the Republic
of India and the United
Nations Development
Programme regarding Project
No. IND/92/007/A/01/99:
Strengthening Wildlife
Management and
Eco-development Planning
Capabilities
54 Agreement between India 4.9.1992 4.9.1992
and UNDP regarding Project
No. IND/92/038: Strengthe-
ning and Developing the
Indian Council of Forestry
Research and Education
(ICFRE)
55 Agreement between the 27.10.1992 16.11.1992
Government of the Republic
of India and United Nations
Development Programme
regarding Project No.
IND/91/015/A/91/99 on
Meteorological
Applications in
Agriculture
56 Agreement between the 9.1.1992 9.1.1992
Government of the Republic
of India and United Nations
Development Programme
regarding Project No.
IND/91/100 on Monitoring
and Analyses of Human
Development Judicators
-142>
APPENDIX-II A
Full Powers issued during 1992.
S NO CONVENTION/TREATY DATE OF FULL POWER
1 Full Powers in favour of Shri Kamaluddin
Ahmed, Minister for State for Civil Supplies,
Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution for
signing:
(i) The Protocol on the Establishment of 24.2.1992
Diplomatic Relations. between the Governments
of the Republic of India and the Republic of
Azerbaijan; and
(ii) The Protocol on the Establishment of
Consular Relations between the Governments of
the Republic of India and Azerbaijan
2 Full Powers in favour of Shri Abid Hussain, 28.4.1992
Ambassador of India to the United States of
America to sign the Protocol on Environmental
Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
3 Full Powers in favour of Dr Manmohan Singh to 28.4.1992
sign the Agreement between the Government of
the Republic of India and the Government of
United Arab Emirates for the Avoidance of
Double Taxation and the prevention of Fiscal
Evasion with respect to Taxes and Income and
on Capital
4 Full Powers in favour of Shri Kamal Nath, 28.5.1992
Minister of State for Environment and Forests,
to sign the convention on Biological
Diversity
5 Full Powers in favour of Shri Kamal Nath, 28.5.1992
Minister of State for Environment and
Forests, to sign Framework Convention on
Climate Change
6 Full Powers in favour of Shri Ravinder Gupta, 11.6.1992
Joint Secretary, Department of Civil Aviation
to sign the Agreement between the Government
of the Republic of India and the Government
of the People's Republic of Bulgaria relating
to Air Services
7 Full Powers in favour of Shri B K Goswami, 8.9.1992
Secretary, Department of Tourism to sign the
Agreement on Cooperation in the field of
Tourism between the Government of the Republic
of India and the Government of the Republic of
Hungary
8 Full Powers in favour of Shri Montek Singh 27.9.1992
Ahluwalia, Secretary, Ministry of Finance,
Department of Economic Affairs to sign the
Convention between the Government of the
Republic of India and the Government of
French Republic for the avoidance of Double
Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion
with respect to Taxes on Income and on
Capital
-143>
9 Full Powers in favour of Shri P K Banerji, 29.9.1992
Joint Secretary, Department of Civil Aviation
to sign the Agreement regarding amending of
the Air Services Agreement between the
Government of the Republic of India and the
Government of Saudi Arabia
-144>
| 1992
APPENDIX-III Major International Conferences/Meetings/Seminars
|
| |
Major International Conferences/Meetings/Seminars etc organized by
Inter-Governmental Organizations at which Government of India was
represented in 1992.
|
S NO TITLE OF CONFERENCE VENUE DATE
1 4th Prepcom of the United Nations New York 2 March to 3 April 1992
Conference on Environment and
Development
2 Informal Consultations of Bureau Paris 15 to 17 April 1992
Member of Inter-Governmental
Negotiating Committee for Framework
Convention on Climate Change
(INC/FCCC)
3 4th ILTP Joint Council Meeting Moscow 15 to 21 April 1992
4 Bureau Meeting and the 5th Revised New York 29 April to 9 May 1992
Session of the Inter-Governmental
Negotiating Committee for a Framework
Convention on Climate Change
5 Conference on "Shelter, Women and Michigan 7 to 9 may 1992
Child Development"
6 NAM Coordinating Bureau Meeting at Bali 12 to 15 May 1992
Ministerial Level
7 Nordic UN Project Meeting: UN Reform Helsinki 18 to 20 May 1992
Issues in the Economic and Social
Fields
8 ADB Regional Seminar on Project Mani1a 18 to 29 May 1992
Implementation Management
9 United Nations Conference on Rio de Janerio 1 to 14 June 1992
Environment & Development
10 Conference on Solar Energy Florida 13 to 18 June 1992
11 World Congress on Solar Cooking California 19 to 20 June 1992
12 11th Meeting of the SAARC Technical Colombo 19 to 20 June 1992
Committee on Transport
-145>
13 Workshop on the State of Urbanisation Chiang Mai 6 to 11 July 1992
in the Asia, Pacific Region
14 6th Meeting of UN Committee on Geneva 6 to 17 July 1992
Transport of Dangerous Goods
15 First Asian Regional Human Resource Azul Cavite 12 to 17 July 1992
Development meeting of the
UNDP/World Bank
16 International Seminar on Rural Tehran 28 July to 4 August 1992
Centre and Settlements Planning-ESCAP
17 Negotiations for ADBTA No. 1402 Manila 10 to 14 August 1992
regarding Pavement Management Study
and National Highways
18 Tenth Conference of Heads of State or Jakarta 1 to 6 September
Government of Non-Aligned Countries 1992
19 Legal issues in Water Supply Rome 14 to 16 September 1992
Management-WHO/FAO
20 World Renewable University of Readin19 to 23 September 1992
Energy Congress
21 Urban Environmental Workshop Bangkok 21 to 24 September 1992
on the Role of the City in Environmental
Management
22 Inter Regional Workshop on Bangkok 21 to 25 September 1992
Testing of Training Modules on Water Supply and
Sanitation-UNDESD
23 SAARC Course on Highway New Delhi 21 September to
and Bridge Engineering 7 October 1992
24 Meeting of Experts of G-15 New Delhi 23 to 25 September
Project on Solar Energy Applications 1992
25 Meeting of the Working Group of London 28 and 29 September
Senior Officials of the Commonwealth 1992
High Level Appraisal Group
26 Symposium on Development of Real Beijing 18 to 28 October
Estate Industry 1992
27 Meeting on Cooperation between The Hague 2 to 6 November
Governments and Non-Governmental 1992
Organizations (UNCHS and Government of
Netherlands)
-146>
28 Technical Advisory Group Meeting Paris 2 to 6 November 1992
29 Fifth International Conference on New Delhi 2 to 6 November 1992
30 Expert Group Meeting on Bio-Energy Bangalore 2 to 6 November 1992
Technologies
31 Senior Level Policy Seminar Colombo 10 to 14 November 1992
organized by UNCHS
32Commonwealth Senior Officials Meeting Kampala 16 to 18 November 1992
33 Third Summit Meeting of G-15 Dakar 21 to 23 November 1992
34 Technical Advisory Group Meeting Kuala Lumpur 23 to 27 November 1992
and Workshop on Small/Mini
Hydro-power Policy
35 International Workshop on Kandy 2 to 7 December 1992
Commercialisation of Woodstoves
36 Meeting of the Global Environment Abidjan 3 to 5 December 1992
Facility
37 6th Session of the Inter-Governmental Geneva 7 to 10 December 1992
Negotiating Committee for a Framework
Convention on Climate Change
38 Meeting of the Expert Panel to Nairobi 10 to 14 December 1992
follow up the Convention on
Biological Diversity
-147>
| 1992
APPENDIX-IV Major International Conferences/Meetings/
Seminars
|
| |
Major International Conferences/Meetings/Seminars organized by Non-
Governmental Organizations in which Indian Experts participated in their
personal capacity with Government assistance in 1992.
|
S NO TITLE OF CONFERENCE ETC VENUE DATE
1 14th Congress of International New Delhi 1 to 6 March 1992
Association for Bridge and
Structural Engineering
2 WEDC Conference on Water Environment Kathmandu 30 August to
and Management 3 September 1992
3 6th Indian Road Federation Phoenix,Arizona 8 to 20 November 1992
Conference
-148> |
1992
APPENDIX-V Miscellaneous Major International Conferences
|
| |
Miscellaneous Major International Conferences, etc in 1992 at which
Government of India was represented or in which Indian Experts
participated with Government of India's assistance in their personal
capacity.
|
S NO TITLE OF CONFERENCE ETC VENUE DATE
1 4th International Symposium on Stockholm 8 to 12 June 1992
Protection against Chemical Warfare
Agents
2 7th World Conference on Titanium San Diego, 29 June to 2 July 1992
California
3 13th International Conference on Rome 6 to 10 July 1992
Numerical Methods in Fluid Dynamics
4 International Symposium on Tritium, Surrey 19 to 21 July 1992
Synthesis, NMR and Applications
5 Workshop on BDO and BOT Projects Washington 20 to 31 July 1992
6 International Seminar on Flame Novosibirsk 18 to 22 August 1992
Structure
7 The IMACS/SICE International Kobe 16 to 20 September 1992
Symposium on Robotics, Mechatronics
and Manufacturing Systems
8 3rd International Conference on Calcutta 2 to 4 December 1992
Electromagnetic Interference and
Compatibility (INCEMIC)
9 International Convention of Surface Bangalore 9 to 11 December 1992
Engineering
10 17th International Conference on Los Angeles 14 to 18 December 1992
Infrared and Millimeter Wave
11 IEE Conference Tucson, 16 to 18 December 1992
Arizona
-149>
| 1992
APPENDIX-VI International Conferences/Meetings and Functions arranged
|
| |
International Conferences/Meetings and Functions arranged during the
year 1992 with the assistance of the Conference Division, Ministry of
External Affairs.
|
1 Press Conference by His Excellency Mr 21 January 1992
Yasser Arafat, President of the State
of Palestine
2 NAM Meeting of Experts on Standardisation, 20 to 23 January 1992
Measurement and Quality Control
3 21st FAO Regional Conference on Asia and the 10 to 14 February 1992
Pacific
4 VI International Photovoltaic Science and 10 to 14 February 1992
Engineering Conference
5 VIII Third World Insurance Congress 17 to 21 February 1992
6 Indo-EC Troika Meeting 4 and 5 March 1992
7 Indira Gandhi Memorial Lecture 14 March 1992
8 Conference of HOMs 30 March to 10 April 1992
9 SAARC Ministers Meeting on Environment 8 to 10 April 1992
10 Meeting of the Inter-Governmental 4 and 5 May 1992
Group on Trade Liberalisation (SAARC Countries)
11 2nd Meeting of Independent South 27 to 29 May 1992
Asian Commission on Poverty Alleviation
12 Meeting of Scientific Advisory Committee 24 to 26 June 1992
& Regional Co-ordination of G-15 Countrie
on Gene Banks for
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
13 Workshop on Tenth NAM Summit 11 and 12 July 1992
-150>
14 Inter-country Consultations on Trade 11 and 12 August 1992
15 SAARC Meeting of Experts on "Joint Promotion of 18 to 20 August 1992
SAARC Countries as a Tourist Destination"
16 Meeting of Experts of G-15 Countries on Solar 2 to 5 September 1992
Energy Projects (Department of Non-Conventional
Energy Sources)
17 Indo-German Consultative Group Meeting of India 8 September 1992
Chapter
18 Visit of SAARC Cultural Ministers to attend the 9 to 11 October 1992
inaugural function of SAARC Cultural Festival
19 Seminar on 'India and ASEAN' 20 October 1992
20 3rd Meeting of SAARC Committee on Economic Co- 2 and 3 November 1992
operation
21 ESCAP Meeting on Regional Economic Cooperation 24 to 27 November 1992
22 HOMs Conference 7 and 8 December 1992
-151>
| 1992
APPENDIX-VII Statement showing the number of Fresh and Miscellaneous applications
|
Statement showing the number of Fresh and Miscellaneous applications
received and services granted in each Passport Office during the year
1992.
|
| | | FRESH APPLICATIONS | | MISCELLANEOUS SERVICES |
| |
| | S NO | STATION | RECEIVED | GRANTED | RECEIVED | GRANTED
| |
| | 1 | AHMEDABAD | 133283 | 125321 | 60928 | 61149
| |
| | 2 | BANGALORE | 104871 | 123150 | 45363 | 43738
| |
| | 3 | BAREILLY | 75484 | 71685 | 21900 | 23740
| |
| | 4 | BHOPAL | 27713 | 27426 | 10786 | 10796
| |
| | 5 | BHUBANESHWAR | 12808 | 9894 | 2411 | 2419
| |
| | 6 | BOMBAY | 259374 | 280822 | 181697 | 182764
| |
| | 7 | CALCUTTA | 60319 | 47119 | 31971 | 31972
| |
| | 8 | CHANDIGARH | 100565 | 76463 | 35027 | 35653
| |
| | 9 | COCHIN | 179871 | 260359 | 59522 | 62808
| |
| | 10 | DELHI | 143812 | 113409 | 69348 | 68252
| |
| | 11 | GOA | 20137 | 20821 | 18104 | 18062
| |
| | 12 | GUWAHATI | 8175 | 6511 | 2065 | 2021
| |
| | 13 | HYDERABAD | 212635 | 264131 | 91357 | 91766
| |
| | 14 | JAIPUR | 109886 | 119876 | 31344 | 31680
| |
| | 15 | JALANDHAR | 112179 | 73891 | 28712 | 30295
| |
| | 16 | KOZHIKODE | 235223 | 168151 | 69699 | 70849
| |
| | 17 | LUCKNOW | 130861 | 111719 | 20260 | 21165
| |
| | 18 | MADRAS | 141194 | 118872 | 54586 | 53551
| |
| | 19 | NAGPUR | 13893 | 13731 | 2839 | 2824
| |
| | 20 | PATNA | 51614 | 36400 | 8372 | 8026
| |
| | 21 | TRICHY | 181215 | 127168 | 97127 | 96753
| |
| | 22 | TRIVANDRUM | 157316 | 71506 | 50662 | 50326
| |
| | | GRAND TOTAL | 2472428 | 2268425 | 994080 | 1000609
| | -152> | | | | |
| |
|
1992
APPENDIX-VIII Statement showing the Revenue earned and the Expenditure incurred by
|
| |
Statement showing the Revenue earned and the Expenditure incurred by
each Passport Office during the year 1992.
|
| S NO | STATION | REVENUE | EXPENDITURE
| |
| | 1 | AHMEDABAD | 11669654.85 | 4644795.00
| |
| | 2 | BANGALORE | 11951571.00 | 4725664.00
| |
| | 3 | BAREILLY | 8670598.00 | 3426146.00
| |
| | 4 | BHOPAL | 2931560.00 | 1154947.00
| |
| | 5 | BHUBANESHWAR | 1034772.00 | 623239.00
| |
| | 6 | BOMBAY | 26551815.00 | 10702296.00
| |
| | 7 | CALCUTTA | 6806556.00 | 2471174.00
| |
| | 8 | CHANDIGARH | 7163056.00 | 3998675.00
| |
| | 9 | COCHIN | 14536587.00 | 6998950.00
| |
| | 10 | DELHI | 13094345.00 | 6059219.00
| |
| | 11 | GOA | 1601091.00 | 929827.00
| |
| | 12 | GUWAHATI | 846738.00 | 778150.00
| |
| | 13 | HYDERABAD | 19151541.00 | 5482217.00
| |
| | 14 | JAIPUR | 5832088.50 | 2643780.00
| |
| | 15 | JALANDHAR | 9440637.00 | 3242183.00
| |
| | 16 | KOZHIKODE | 17753705.00 | 3409790.00
| |
| | 17 | LUCKNOW | 10720507.00 | 5128734.00
| |
| | 18 | MADRAS | 13600839.00 | 5119507.00
| |
| | 19 | NAGPUR | 1241978.00 | 858439.00
| |
| | 20 | PATNA | 4663707.00 | 2218619.00
| |
| | 21 | TRICHY | 17347714.00 | 3014492.00
| |
| | 22 | TRIVANDRUM | 12173785.00 | 3270720.00
| |
| | | TOTAL | 218784845.35 | 80901563.00
| | -153> | | | | |
|
1992
APPENDIX-IX Consular Data For 1992
|
| |
| | Consular Data For 1992. |
| |
| | 1 | Number of Attestations | 1,60,401
| |
| | 2 | Number of Indians repatriated at Government cost | 198
| |
| | 3 | Number of Indians arrested abroad | 3,576
| |
| | 4 | Number of Indians died abroad | 305
| |
| | 5 | Number of foreigners arrested in India | 1,065
| |
| | 6 | Number of foreigners died in India | 179
| |
| | 7 | (a) Extradition requests from Indian Government to |
| | | foreign Governments | 9
| |
| | | (b) Extradition requests to Indian Government from |
| | | foreign Governments | 10
| |
| | 8 | Number of lost and damaged passport cases received | 10,100*
| |
| | | (*) Figures provisional |
| | -154> | | |
|
1992
APPENDIX-X Cadre Strength at Headquarters and 144 Missions/Posts abroad
|
| |
Cadre Strength at Headquarters and 144 Missions/Posts abroad during
1992-93 (including posts budgeted by Ministry of Commerce and excluding
posts held in abeyance/ex-cadred).
|
| S NO | CADRE/POST | POSTS AT | POSTS AT | TOTAL
| | | IFS | HEADQUARTERS | MISSIONS ABROAD |
| | 1 | Grade I | 4 | 17 | 21
| | 2 | Grade II | 3 | 25 | 28
| | 3 | Grade III | 24 | 92 | 116
| | 4 | Grade IV | 25 | 82 | 107
| | 5 | junior Administrative | | |
| | | Cadre/Senior Scale | 52 | 182 | 234
| | 6 | junior Scale | 3 | 30 | 33
| | 7 | Training Reserve | | |
| | | (Prob) junior Scale | 27 | | 27
| | 8 | Training Reserve for | | |
| | | all Grades | 10 | | 10
| | 9 | Leave Reserve | 19 | | 19
| | 10 | Deputation Reserve | 20 | | 20
| |
| | | IFS (B) | | |
| |
| | 1 | Grade I | 25 | 100 | 125
| | 2 | Grade II/III | 171 | 153 | 324
| | 3 | Grade IV | 367 | 355 | 722
| | 4 | Grade V/VI | 459 | 134 | 593
| | 5 | Grade II of Cypher Sub | | |
| | | Cadre | 81 | 123 | 204
| | 6 | Principal Private | | |
| | | Secretary Grade of | | |
| | | Stenographer Cadre | 3 | 18 | 21
| | 7 | Grade I of Stenographer | | |
| | | Cadre (including the | | |
| | | erstwhile Selection | | |
| | | Grade) | 32 | 176 | 208
| | 8 | Grade II of | | |
| | | Stenographers Cadre | 212 | 177 | 389
| | 9 | Grade III of | | |
| | | Stenographers Cadre | 42 | 77 | 119
| | | Combined Research Cadre | 22 | 2 | 24
| | | Interpretes Cadre | 14 | 21 | 35
| | | L & T Cadre | 16 | 1 | 17
| | | TOTAL | 1631 | 1765 | 3396
| | -155> |
| |
|
1992
APPENDIX-XI Names of Ambassadors/High Commissioners of India abroad
|
| |
Names of Ambassadors/High Commissioners of India abroad who have taken
charge from 1.1.92 to 31.12.92.
1: EMBASSIES/HIGH COMMISSIONS
|
| S NO | COUNTRY | CAPITAL | AMBASSADOR/ | DATE OF
| | | | | HIGH COMMISSIONER | APPOINTMENT
| |
| | 1 | Lebanon | Beirut | S Sivaswami | 10.1.1992
| |
| | 2 | Pakistan | lslamabad | S K Lambah | 13.1.1992
| |
| | 3 | Seychelles | Mahe | C R Balachandra | 9.2.1992
| |
| | 4 | Iraq | Baghdad | R S Kalha | 4.3.1992
| |
| | 5 | Ghana | Accra | D S Pannun | 5.3.1992
| |
| | 6 | Bhutan | Thimphu | P Johari | 6.3.1992
| |
| | 7 | Denmark | Copenhagen | K M Lal | 21.3.1992
| |
| | 8 | Uganda | Kampala | K H Patel | 2.4.1992
| |
| | 9 | Norway | Oslo | S R Chaudhury | 13.4.1992
| |
| | 10 | Bangladesh | Dhaka | K Raghunath | 19.4.1992
| |
| | 11 | Kenya | Nairobi | K Doshi | 4.5.1992
| |
| | 12 | Malta | Valetta | P K Gupta (AHC) | 13.5.1992
| |
| | | (High Commissioner resident in Tripoli) | |
| |
| | 13 | Indonesia | Jakarta | Vinay Verma | 22.5.1992
| |
| | 14 | Germany | Bonn | K K S Rana | 25.5.1992
| |
| | 15 | Syria | Damascus | R M Abbyankar | 25.5.1992
| |
| | 16 | Netherlands | The Hague | I P Khosla | 8.6.1992
| |
| | 17 | Thailand | Bangkok | A N Ram | 26.6.1992
| |
| | 18 | Czech and | | |
| | | Slovak | | |
| | | Republics | Prague | D C Manners | 4.7.1992
| |
| | 19 | Korea | | |
| | | (South) | Seoul | B M Oza | 16.7.1992
| |
| | 20 | Jordan | Amman | A K Budhiraja | 17.7.1992
| |
| | 21 | Turkey | Ankara | K Gajendra Singh | 2.8.1992
| |
| | 22 | Hungary | Budapest | L T Pudaite | 5.8.1992
| | -156> | | | | |
| |
| | 23 | Argentina | Buenos Aires | M K Khisha | 7.8.1992
| |
| | 24 | Ukrain | Kiev | S T Devare | 12.8.1992
| |
| | 25 | Vietnam | Hanoi | S L Malik | 19.8.1992
| |
| | 26 | Egypt | Cairo | Kum A Ghosh | 23.8.1992
| |
| | 27 | Sweden | Stockholm | P S Sahai | 6.9.1992
| |
| | 28 | Kazhakhstan | Alma Ata | Kamalesh Sharma | 10.9.1992
| |
| | 29 | Tunisia | Tunis | Nigam Prakash | 28.9.1992
| |
| | 30 | Mexico | Mexico City | P A Nazareth | 30.9.1992
| |
| | 31 | Israel | Tel Aviv | P K Singh | 1.10.1992
| |
| | 32 | Greece | Athens | Aftab Seth | 5.10.1992
| |
| | 33 | Russia | Moscow | R Sen | 7.10.1992
| |
| | 34 | Japan | Tokyo | Prakash Shah | 28.10.1992
| |
| | 35 | United | | |
| | | States of | | |
| | | America | Washington | S S Ray | 29.10.1992
| |
| | 36 | Ireland | Dublin | S N Puri | 2.11.1992
| |
| | 37 | Canada | Ottawa | P K Budhwar | 4.11.1992
| |
| | 38 | Sudan | Khartoum | R K Rai | 5.11.1992
| |
| | 39 | Laos | Vientiane | Dr G S Rajhans | 10.11.1992
| |
| | 40 | Philippines | Manila | Smt S B Cowsik | 12.11.1992
| |
| | 41 | Myanmar | Yangon | G Parthasarthy | 12.11.1992
| |
| | 42 | Qatar | Doha | K P Fabian | 18.11.1992
| |
| | 43 | Venezuela | Caracas | P L Santoshi | 24.11.1992
| |
| | 44 | Yemen | Sana'a | M Venkataraman | 28.11.1992
| |
| | 45 | Guyana | Georgetown | P L Goyal | 29.11.1992
| |
| | 46 | Finland | Helsinki | P R Sood | 30.11.1992
| |
| | 47 | Panama | Panama | P Rath | 3.12.1992
| |
| | 48 | Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | Gurcharan Singh | 8.12.1992
| |
| | 49 | Mauritius | Port Louis | Shyam Saran | 9.12.1992
| |
| | 50 | Brazil | Brasilia | G S Bedi | 10.12.1992
| |
| | 51 | Uzbekistan | Tashkent | Dalip Mehta | 22.12.1992
| |
| | 52 | Afghanistan | Kabul | Arif Qamarain | 26.12.1992
| | -157> | | | |
| |
| | II: | SPECIAL MISSIONS | | |
| | PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES OF INDIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICES |
|
| | 53 | France | Paris (UNESCO) | Smt Nina Sibal | 9.10.1992
| |
| | 54 | Switzerland | Geneva | Satish Chandra | 17.10.1992
| | -158> | | | |
| |
|
1992
APPENDIX-XII Foreign Language Chart.
|
| |
Foreign Language Chart.
|
| S NO | COMPULSORY FOREIGN LANGUAGE | NO OF OFFICERS
| |
| | 1 | Arabic | 82
| |
| | 2 | Bahasa Indonesia | 9
| |
| | 3 | Bulgarian | 1
| |
| | 4 | Burmese | 1
| |
| | 5 | Chinese | 45
| |
| | 6 | Dutch | 1
| |
| | 7 | French | 83
| |
| | 8 | German | 42
| |
| | 9 | Gorkhali/Nepali | 5
| |
| | 10 | Hungarian | 1
| |
| | 11 | Italian | 5
| |
| | 12 | Japanese | 27
| |
| | 13 | Kishwahili | 10
| |
| | 14 | Laotian | -
| |
| | 15 | Malay | 1
| |
| | 16 | Persian | 18
| |
| | 17 | Polish | 1
| |
| | 18 | Portuguese | 14
| |
| | 19 | Russian | 68
| |
| | 20 | Serbo-Croatian | 3
| |
| | 21 | Sinhalese | 3
| |
| | 22 | Spanish | 49
| |
| | 23 | Swedish | 1
| |
| | 24 | Thai | 2
| |
| | 25 | Tibetan | 3
| |
| | 26 | Turkish | 2
| |
| | 27 | Vietnamese | 2
| |
| | | TOTAL | 479
| | -159> | |
| |
|
1992
APPENDIX-XIII Statement showing the number of app. (both by direct recruitment and promotion)
|
Statement showing the number of appointments (both by direct recruitm-
ent and promotion) made in various groups in the Ministry of External
Affairs and reserved vacancies filled by scheduled caste/scheduled tr-
ibes during the year 1992.
|
TOTAL NO NUMBER OF VACANCIES
OF VACANCIES DE-RESERVED DUE TO
NUMBER OF NUMBER OF NON-AVAILABILITY OF
GROUP FILLED VACANCIES RESERVED
RESERVED FOR CANDIDATES RESERVED CANDIDATES
APPOINTED
SC ST SC ST SC ST
Group 'A' 37 6 3 6 1
Group 'B' 152 42 32 43 17 1 3
Group 'C' 121 38 23 33 16
Group 'D' 39 8 5 14 5
(excluding
Sweepers)
-160
| 1992
APPENDIX-XIV Revenue Expenditure of the MEA
|
| |
Revenue Expenditure of the Ministry of External Affairs during the
Financial Year 1992-93.
|
REVISED ESTIMATES 1992-93
(IN CRORES OF RUPEES)
Headquarters 62.04
Missions/Posts abroad 262.51
OTHER ITEMS
Contribution to International Organizations (Including UN) 16.24
Central Passport Organization 29.13
Special Diplomatic Expenditure 108.30
Grants-in-Aid to ICCR 14.55
Other miscellaneous items 16.24
Payment to Indian Airlines for charter operations 1.36
between Madras-Port Blair
AID TO OTHER COUNTRIES
Aid to Bangladesh 6.55
Aid to Bhutan 65.00
Aid to Nepal 16.68
Aid to Sri Lanka 4.50
Aid to Maldives 10.24
Aid to Cambodia 2.80
Aid to other developing countries 33.63
Aid under AFRICA Fund 6.86
TOTAL REVENUE EXPENDITURE: 656.63
-161>
| 1992
APPENDIX-XV Expenditure on Indian Missions/Posts abroad and Headquarters
|
Expenditure on Indian Missions/Posts abroad and Headquarters of the
Ministry of External Affairs in 1992-93.
The estimated expenditure on the Headquarters Organization of the
Ministry during the Current Financial Year (1992-93) is expected to be
Rs 62.04 crores which is 9.45% of the total estimated revenue
expenditure of this Ministry. Out of this, Rs 10.78 crores will be on
Salaries and Wages, Rs 6.00 crores on Travel Expenses, Rs 36.93 crores
on Office Expenses, Rs 4.00 crores on Publicity and Rs 3.52 crores on
Rent and Maintenance.
The total estimated expenditure on Indian Missions/Posts abroad is
expected to be Rs 262.51 crores during the Current Financial year which
works out to 39.98% of the total estimated Revenue Expenditure of this
Ministry. Out of this, an amount of Rs 114.16 crores is for Salaries
(including Foreign Allowance), OTA and Wages, Rs 30.98 crores for Travel
Expenses (Transfer Passages/Home Leave Passages and Local Tours), Rs
53.25 crores for Office Expenses and Rs 64.12 crores for Rent, Rates and
Taxes as well as for Repairs and Maintenance of Government owned/rented
accommodation in Missions abroad. Average expenditure per Mission abroad
(including Publicity) works out to Rs 1.82 crores.
The remaining 50.57% of the Estimated Revenue Expenditure of the
Ministry is being incurred on various Aid Programmes for neighbouring
and other developing countries including ITEC Programmes, Aid under
AFRICA Fund, SAARC and SCAAP Programmes, contribution to United Nations
Organization and other international bodies, Passport Organization,
Hospitality, Grants-in-Aid to Indian Council for Cultural Relations and
other miscellaneous items.
-162>
|
1992
APPENDIX-XVI VVIPs Visits to India
|
VVIPs Visits to India during 1992.
|
S NO NAME OF VISITOR DATE
HEADS OF STATE, VICE PRESIDENTS,
HEADS OF GOVERNMENT
1 His Royal Highness Maha Vajiralongkorn to 21 April 1992
Crown Prince of Thailand
2 His Excellency Mr S A Niyazov President of 18 to 20 April 1992
Turkmenistan
3 His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan 28 to 30 April 1992
Al-Nahayan-President of United Arab Emirates
4 Her Excellency Begum Khaleda Zia 26 to 28 May 1992
Prime Minister of the People's Republic
of Bangladesh
5 His Excellency Sir Veerasamy 27 May to 5 June 1992
Ringadoo President
of the Republic of Mauritius and Lady Ringadoo
6 Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya Rajya 22 to 26 June 1992
Laxmi Devi Shah of Nepal [Private Visit]
7 Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya Rajya 13 to 22 July 1992
Laxmi Devi Shah of Nepal [Private Visit]
8 His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah 17 to 22 July 1992
of Nepal [Private Visit]
9 Transit Visit of Dr Burhanuddin Rabbani 30 August 1992
President of the Islamic State of Afghanistan
10 Transit visit of the Vice President of Syria 31 August 1992
11 Transit visit of the Vice President of Syria September 1992
12 Transit visit of Dr Burhanuddin Rabbani 5 September 1992
President of the Islamic State of Afghanistan
13 His Majesty Haji Hassanaj Bolkian Sultan 15 to 18 September 1992
and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam
and Her Royal Highness Penigran Isteri
Hajah Mariam Binti Haji Abdul Aziz
14 His Excellency Mr Ranasinghe Premadasa President 1 to 3 October 1992
Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and
Madam Premadasa
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15 His Excellency Mr Yoweri K Museveni 12 to 14 October 1992
President of the Republic of Uganda and
Mrs Janet Museveni
16 His Highness The Aga Khan 9 to 24 November 1992
17 Their Imperial Highnesses Prince 12 to 20 November 1992
and Princess Akishino of Japan
18 His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram 30 November to 7 December 1992
Shah of Nepal [Private Visit]
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTERS, FOREIGN MINISTERS AND OTHERS
1 His Excellency Mr Boutros Boutros Ghali 21 to 24 April 1992
Secretary General of the UN and
Mrs Boutros Ghali
2 His Excellency Dr G E Burboulis Secretary 3 to 6 May 1992
of State of the Russian Federation
3 His Excellency Dr Dimitrij Rupel 18 to 20 May 1992
Foreign Minister of Republic of Slovania
4 His Excellency Dr Ali Akbar Velayati Foreign 18 & 19 May 1992
Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran
5 Rt Hon Don McKinnon Deputy Prime Minister 5 to 9 June 1992
and Minister for Foreign Relations and Trade of
New Zealand
6 His Excellency Mr Ali Alatas Foreign 5 to 7 July 1992
Minister of Republic of Indonesia
7 The Hon'ble Paul Raymond Berenger 5 to 12 August 1992
Minister of External Affairs of Mauritius
and Mrs Arline Berenger
8 Mr Shaharyar M Khan Foreign Secretary 16 to 21 August 1992
of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Mrs Khan
9 His Excellency Mr Habib Ben Yahia Minister of 25 to 28 August 1992
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tunisia
10 His Excellency Dr Pascoal M Mocumbi 25 to 27 August 1992
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mozambique
11 His Excellency Mr Do Muoi General Secretary 8 to 13 September 1992
of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of
Vietnam
-164>
12 His Excellency Dr Ali Akbar Velayati 9 to 11 November 1992
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic
Republic of Iran
13 His Excellency Mr Seyoum Mesfin Minister 14 to 17 December 1992
of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia
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| 1992
APPENDIX-XVII Visits abroad of the President, VP and PM
|
Visits abroad of the President, Vice President and Prime Minister of
India during 1992.
1 Visit of the Vice President to the Democratic 13 to 21 April 1992
People's Republic of Korea and Mongolia
2 Visit of the President to People's Republic 17 to 23 May 1992
of China
3 Visit of the Prime Minister to Spain, 10 to 16 June 1992
Brazil and Portugal
4 Visit of the Prime Minister to Japan 22 to 26 June 1992
5 Visit of the Prime Minister to Indonesia to 31 August to 6
attend NAM Summit September 1992
6 Visit of the Prime Minister to France 28 September to
1 October 1992
7 Visit of the Prime Minister to Nepal 19 to 21 October 1992
8 Visit of the Prime Minister to Tunisia 20 to 22 November 1992
[Transit Visit] and to Senegal to attend G-15
Summit
-166> |
1992
APPENDIX-XVIII List of Divisions
|
Ministry of External Affairs-List of Divisions.
SPECIALIZED & SUPPORT DIVISIONS
1 Administration Division
2 Establishment Division
3 Bureau of Security
4 Coordination Division
5 Economic Division
6 External Publicity Division
7 Foreign Service Institute
8 Policy Planning and Research Division
9 Legal & Treaties Division
10 CPV & OI Division
11 Special Kuwait Cell
12 Protocol (including Conference Division)
13 International Organization Division
14 Disarmament and International Security Affairs Division
15 Economic Coordination Unit
TERRITORIAL DIVISION
1 Africa Division
2 AMS Division
3 Asia Pacific Division
4 ASEAN Division
5 BSM Division
6 Central Asia Division
7 Europe East Division
8 Europe West Division
9 Gulf Division
10 IPA Division
11 LAC Division
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12 North East Division
13 South East Asia Division
14 WANA Division
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|
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mea.gov.in