One Year of UPA Government : Major Decisions and Initiatives - External Affairs
The UPA Government
completes one year on May 21, 2005. During this
period, the Government has taken several important initiatives. Some of these
are being brought out in the series
‘Major Decisions and Initiatives’.
India today, enjoys a unique
profile in the international arena as a factor of stability, a model of plural
and secular democracy and economic powerhouse that is destined to play a
greater role in international affairs.
The UPA Government has adopted a foreign policy, which is purposeful,
result oriented and pro-active. India
has emerged as a compulsory destination in the itineraries of the world
leaders.
Amongst
the earliest crisis that the Government faced was the kidnapping of three
Indians for ransom in Iraq. The
successful and mature handling of this crisis set the stage for reorientation
of Indian Foreign Policy in the service of the nation in a rapidly transforming
and ever more challenging global environment.
High Priority to Relations with
Neighbours
Nepal
Considerable progress has been
made in India’s cooperation with Nepal in the area of border security and
management. New mechanisms have been established to strengthen cross-border
coordination and exchange of information. Texts of a new Extradition Treaty and
Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in criminal matters have been
finalised. Several infrastructure
projects have also been launched. These projects would facilitate bilateral
economic cooperation and also contribute towards strengthening security in
border areas.
There is a wide understanding and
deep appreciation amongst liberal and democratic forces and people at large of
India’s stance in the wake of February 1, 2005 Royal Proclamation leading to
assumption of executive authority by the King of Nepal.
Bhutan
His Majesty the King of Bhutan
paid a working visit to India in November 2004, which was followed by a State
Visit to India as Chief Guest for the Republic day. Three MoUs were signed with
Bhutan during the State Visit of the King. These relate to further expansion of
mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of hydro-power; the conduct of
feasibility studies for establishing broad-gauge rail links between bordering
towns of India and Bhutan and cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors.
The two countries have also
established a “Project Implementation Mechanism” to monitor the progress of
various projects being undertaken in Bhutan with India’s assistance.
Bangladesh
There were a number of bilateral
contacts between the two countries.
Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh met Bangladesh Prime Minister on July 31,
2004 in Bangkok and the External Affairs Minister, Shri K. Natwar Singh, met
Bangladesh Foreign Minister, in New York in October 2004. Both met again in Indonesia in April 2005.
India announced flood relief assistance of Rs.100 crore to Bangladesh in
October 2004 for supply of foodstuff, building material and medical supplies
from India.
Sri Lanka
Negotiations
with Sri Lanka to deepen and widen the Free Trade Agreement into a
Comprehensive Economic partnership Agreement are underway. A Memorandum of
Understanding on Fisheries is being negotiated and a Joint Working group on
Fisheries has been constituted, which met recently.
India
reacted swiftly and decisively to come to Sri Lanka’s assistance following the
Tsunami of December 26, 2004. Indian assistance was the first to arrive in Sri
Lanka, a fact that has been acknowledged by the President and Prime Minster of
Sri Lanka and other Sri Lankan leaders.
Maldives
The
Government of Maldives has opened its first resident High Commission in New
Delhi on November 30, 2004. Maldives
appreciated India’s timely relief assistance in aftermath of Tsunami
disaster. India has also been
assisting Maldives in developing its infrastructure facilities and by providing
training facilities and scholarships to its personnel.
A
Sustained and Comprehensive Dialogue With Pakistan
The opening
of Srinagar-Muzafarabad Bus Service on April 7, 2005 was a milestone initiative.
The
president of Pakistan, General Pervez Musharraf, visited India from April
16-18, 2005. He and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, reviewed positively the progress
in Pakistan-India relations and took inter-alia, the following decisions:
§
To pursue further measures to enhance interaction and
cooperation across the LoC including agreed meeting points for the divided
families, trade, pilgrimages and cultural interactions;
§
To increase the frequency of Srinagar-Muzafarabad bus
service and that trucks would be allowed to use this route to promote trade;
§
To operationalise additional routes including that between
Poonch and Rawalkot;
§
To start early bus service between Amritsar and Lahore and
to religious places such as Nankana Sahib;
§
To re-establish the Khokhrapar-Munnabao route by January 1,
2006;
§
To open the Consulates General of the two countries in
Mumbai and Karachi before the end of the current year;
§
To endorse the decision taken on the schedule of meetings
later in the year, the agreements to be worked upon through these meetings and
measures to be taken to alleviate the situation of prisoners;
§
To convene discussions on the issues of Sir Creek and
Siachen through the existing institutional mechanism immediately, with a view
to expeditiously finding acceptable solutions to both the issues;
§
The Ministers of Petroleum and Natural Gas would meet in May
2005 to explore cooperation in the sector including on the issue of pipeline;
§
To activate the Joint Commission as soon as possible; and
§
That the Joint Business Council should meet soon.
The Ceasefire, being observed
along the International Border, LoC, and the AGPL in Siachen, with exception of
a few incidents, has held since November 2004.
Afghanistan
India’s
political interaction with the Afghan Government has been regular and
intensive. India continued its assistance programmes/projects for the economic
reconstruction of Afghanistan. India’s present commitments add up to US $500
million, which is substantial for a non-traditional donor.
President
Karzai came on a “working visit” from February 23-25, 2005. He called on the
President and had talks with the Prime Minister. Two MoUs were signed during
the visit on cooperation in field of media and in the field of Civil Aviation.
A new surgical block of Indira
Gandhi Institute of Child Health was inaugurated by the Minister of External
Affairs, Shri K. Natwar Singh, on February 15, 2005 at Kabul.. India has also
offered to fund the construction of a new Parliament building in
Afghanistan. Besides, 300 vehicles have
been gifted to the Afghan National Army.
Relations
With China
During the recent visit of the
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to India from April 9-12, 2005, the two sides agreed
that India-China relations have acquired a global and strategic character. The
leaders of the two countries agreed to establish an India-China Strategic and
Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity. The visit resulted in substantive
outcomes and contributed to further strengthening of India-China bilateral
relations. The two Prime Ministers signed a Joint Statement. Eleven other
agreements were signed including agreement on political parameters and guiding
principles for the settlement of India-China Boundary question and the protocol
on Modalities for implementation of Confidence Building Measures in the
Military field in the India-China border Areas.
Broad
Range Of Discussions With US
In the last one-year, relations
between the two countries have acquired both maturity and dynamism. The meeting between Prime Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singh and the US President on
the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York on September 21,
2004, served to highlight the strategic dimension of India’s relationship and
underlined common interest in combating terrorism, WMD proliferation and
enhancing global peace and security.
Canada
The visit
of the Prime Minister of Canada, Rt. Hon'ble Paul Martin, to India on January
17-18, 2005 resulted in a Joint Statement highlighting many initiatives
including strengthening the India-Canada partnership in advancing collaboration in Science & Technology
and creation of Tsunami warning system
for Indian Ocean countries. As part of
the desire to enhance the architecture of the India-Canada partnership, Policy
Planning Dialogues, Strategic Dialogues and 7th Meeting of India- Canada Joint
Working Group on Counter-Terrorism were held in New Delhi after the visit of
Canadian Prime Minister to India. India and Canada also held Foreign Office
Consultations in Ottawa in December 2004.
Multi-Faceted Relationship With Russia.
President
Putin visited in December 2004 for the 5th annual summit meeting
with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh. Earlier, Russian Deputy Prime Minister
Alexander Zhukov visited India in November 2004 for the 10th session
of the Indo-Russian Inter-Governmental Commission on Trade, Economic,
Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation. Russian Defence Minister
Sergei Ivanov visted India in November – December 2004 for the 4th
Indo - Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Military- Technical Cooperation.
Russian Foreign Minister Segei Lavrov visited India in October 2004.
New banking links between the two
countries have been established; and IT and energy have been identified as
areas of focus. India is pursuing actively the possibility of investing in
another oil field in Russia. Steps are also being taken to facilitate business
travel and tourism both ways between Russia and India. Moreover, the possibility of trilateral
cooperation in the economic field between Russia, China and India is also being
discussed and explored.
EU – India An Indispensable Partner
There is growing recognition of
India as an indispensable partner of the European Union (EU), now consisting of
25 members, seeking strategic partnership with India. This was the theme of the
visit of Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, to The Hague on November 8, 2004.
The declaration on Strategic Partnership will now be followed by a Political
Declaration, an Action Plan to be adopted at the next India – EU Summit in
September 2005. This will provide a new focus and add substance to an already
wide-ranging relationship with EU.
Central
Asia – The Historic Relationship
India
enjoys longstanding, historic and cultural relations with the near-
neighbourhood of Central Asia. This
region possesses one of the largest newly discovered resources of oil and gas
in the world. Efforts are being made to develop energy relationship with the
region.
A New Dimension To ‘Look East Policy’
India’s “Look East policy” has now
been given a new dimension by the UPA Government. India is now looking towards
a partnership with the ASEAN countries, both within BIMSTEC and the India –
ASEAN Summit dialogue as integrally linked to economic and security interests,
particularly for India’s East and North east region. Prime Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singh flagged off the first India – ASEAN car rally from Guwahati that
drew enthusiastic support from within the ASEAN countries as also from the
North Eastern States. The adoption of document on “ India – ASEAN Partnership
for Peace, Progress and Prosperity” at the Indo- ASEAN Summit on November 30,
2004 symbolises that India now forms the inner core of the countries in ASEAN’s
political relationship with the rest of the world.
West Asia, Gulf & Arab World
The importance, which the Gulf
enjoys in terms of India’s interest, cannot be overemphasised. More than three
million Indian citizens live and work in this region. Recognizsng this, the
Government has intensified India’s relations with all key countries in the
region, as well as with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) with which India has
signed a Framework Agreement for Economic Cooperation. For the Indian citizens
in the region, the Government has established a 24-hour Helpline Centre in Saudi Arabia and will extend it to other
capitals. All Indian Missions and Posts in the Gulf observe an “Open House”
once a month to enable the India nationals to meet senior officials without
appointment to seek assistance.
Haj
Pilgrims
The
Government has taken a decision not only to increase the number of Haj pilgrims
from India but also restored the subsidy, which had been reduced by the previous
Government.
No Troops To Iraq
The Government has made a clear –
cut enunciation of its policy of not sending troops to Iraq, which has been
endorsed by Parliament. At the same time, the Government has maintained India’s
engagement with the friendly people of Iraq. This has taken the shape of
humanitarian and reconstruction aid and recent support for the election process
in Iraq.
To underline India’s policy to the
Arab world, a special Envoy to West Asia and Middle East Process, Shri C.R.
Gharekhan has been appointed.
Focus on
Africa
One of the key achievements of the
Government has been the ‘Focus Africa
Policy’. There has been greater exchanges of high level visits, greater
economic and technical cooperation, both bilateral as well as within the context
of the African Union and India’s contribution to peace – keeping operation in
several African countries.
Assistance
in the form of food grains, medicines were given to a number of African
countries. A number of lines of credits on bilateral basis were given to many
African countries. First India - Africa Business conference was held in March
2005, in which a large number of businessmen from Africa participated and
Cabinet Ministers led some of these delegations
Latin
America and Caribbean
Latin
America is emerging as a new market for India’s exports and business. India is
engaging the political leaders of Latin America for support on bilateral and
multilateral issues. The President of Venezuela visited India from March 4-7,
2005. Five MoUs and Agreements were signed which included cooperation in space,
hydrocarbon and biotechnology. The President of Chile came on the first ever State Visit to India from January
18-22, 2005. Agreements on Economic Cooperation and MoUs on agriculture were
signed. While the Foreign Ministers of Mexico, Venezuela, Surinam and Paraguay
came to India, Minister of State, Shri Rao Inderjit Singh visited Mexico,
Honduras, Panama, Columbia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Surinam. India
agreed to finance and construct a cricket stadium in Georgetown, Guyana to
enable it to host World Cup Cricket
tournament in 2007. India extended relief assistance to Jamaica worth
US$200,000 and US$ 50,000 each to Grenada and Bahamas following hurricane,
Ivan. Medicines worth US$ 50,000 each were donated to Dominican Republic and
Saint Vincent & Grenadines.
Shri Rao
Inderjit Singh led the delegation at the India-Caribbean (CARICOM) Political
Dialogue in February 2005, and addressed the conference. He also met the
Secretary General of Central American Integration System (SICA) in San
Salvador. The Preferential Trade Agreement(PTA) negotiation with (MERCOSUR)
regional group consisting of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay have
concluded and Annexure to the PTA containing rules of origin, list products,
etc. was signed in March 2005.
India and
the United Nations
India has been actively
pursuing its candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
There is growing momentum in the number of countries that have expressed
support for India’s candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security
Council. A significant development in this regard was the agreement reached in
September 2004 by what is now being termed as the “Group of Four Aspirants”
(G4) – Japan, Germany, Brazil and India – that these countries are legitimate
candidates for permanent membership of the Security Council and will support
each other’s candidature. They agreed that Africa must also be represented in
the permanent membership of the Security Council.
Foreign
Policy and Domestic Developments
Foreign Policy today cannot be divorced from domestic
developments. In order, therefore, to ensure a more consultative approach in
Indian foreign Policy, the Minister for External Affairs has initiated a mechanism
for coordination with other Ministries and agencies as well as with State
Governments, particularly those which border India’s neighbours. For example,
the Ministry of External Affairs is closely coordinating its diplomacy with the
Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas in respect of securing energy supplies
for India in different parts of the world. The Government is also engaged in a
major programme for up gradation of cross-border infrastructure working
together with the Ministry of Home and Surface Transport as also with the State
Governments.
Multidimensional
& Consultative Process based on National Consensus
The
Government has put in place a multidimensional and consultative process of
thought and action. Foreign policy today has clear focus, a sense of maturity
and a proactive character recognizing that the lines dividing domestic from
external, the political from the economic, are becoming increasingly blurred.
India’s foreign policy has
traditionally been based on national consensus. It is the Government’s
intention that the consensus should be maintained and strengthened. A foreign
policy Advisory Group has been set up to get inputs on important contemporary
issues from experts and academics outside the Government.
The Government is of the view that
the practice of diplomacy must respond to the needs of the times. Accordingly,
Indian Ambassadors abroad have not only become active in economic diplomacy but
have been reaching out to the Indian diaspora with a view to involving them in
the exciting task of building a new India. Indian Ambassadors are also mandated
to look after the interest and security of Indians abroad.
It has been the endeavour of the
Government to follow the basic principles of India’s Foreign Policy, which have
guided India since its Independence. It has reoriented and readjusted it
wherever necessary in response to new challenges that confront India. India would continue its journey towards a
destiny which was eloquently articulated by India’s first Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1947, a destiny in which India
“attains her rightful place in the world and makes her full and willing
contribution to the promotion of world peace and welfare of mankind”.
RK:LV
PIB SF-13 (10.5.2005)
(Release ID :9140)