Annual Report 2009-2010 Ministry of External Affairs New Delhi Published by: Policy Planning and Research Division, Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi This Annual Report can also be accessed at website: www.mea.gov.in Front Cover: Illustration of Central Secretariat buildings from water colour painting by Shri Kashi Nath Das Designed and printed by: Cyberart Informations Pvt. Ltd. 1517 Hemkunt Chambers, 89 Nehru Place, New Delhi 110 019 E mail: [email protected] Website: www.cyberart.co.in Telefax: 0120-4231676 Contents Introduction and Synopsis i-xix 1 India’s Neighbours 1 2 South East Asia and the Pacific 19 3 East Asia 28 4 Eurasia 35 5 The Gulf, West Asia and North Africa 42 6 Africa (South of Sahara) 52 7 Europe 70 8 The Americas 92 9 United Nations and International Organizations 109 10 Disarmament and International Security Affairs 127 11 Multilateral Economic Relation 132 12 SAARC Division 138 13 Technical & Economic Cooperation and Development Partnership 140 14 Investment and Technology Promotion 143 15 Energy Security 145 16 Policy Planning and Research 146 17 Protocol 149 18 Consular, Passport and Visa Services 157 19 Administration and Establishment 160 20 Coordination 164 21 External Publicity 165 22 Public Diplomacy 168 23 Foreign Service Institute 171 24 Implementation of Official Language Policy and Propagation of Hindi Abroad 173 25 Indian Council for Cultural Relations 176 26 Indian Council of World Affairs 180 27 Research and Information System for Developing Countries 183 28 Library 188 Appendices Appendix I: Cadre strength at Headquarters and Missions abroad during 2009-10 (including Posts budgeted by Ministry of Commerce and those ex-cadred etc.) 193 Appendix II: Data on recruitment through direct recruitment, departmental promotion and Ltd Departmental Examination made in the Ministry along with the reserved vacancies for April 2009 to November 2009 194 Appendix III: Number of IFS Officers with Proficiency in various languages 195 Appendix IV: Statement showing the number of passport applications received and passports issued, miscellaneous applications received and services rendered, No. of Passports issued as well as Revenue under Tatkaal Scheme and total Expenditure of Passport Offices from 1 January - 30 November 2009. 196 Appendix V: Finances of the Ministry of External Affairs in 2009-2010 197 Appendix VI: The Major Sectoral Allocations in the 2009-2010 Budget (Revised Estimate) (Revenue & Capital) 198 Appendix VII: Principal Destinations of India’s Aid & Loan Programmes 199 Appendix VIII: Extracts from C&AG's Report on Ministry of External Affairs 200 Appendix IX: Status of Action Taken Note (Financial Year 2003-2009) 201 Appendix X: Treaties/Conventions/Agreements Concluded or Renewed by India with other countries 2009 202 Appendix XI: Instruments of Full Powers Issued during the period 1 January 2009 to December 2009 209 Appendix XII: Instruments of Ratification/Accession issued during the period 1 January 2009 to December 2009 210 Appendix XIII: Conference/ Seminars/ Study projects organized/ undertaken by Institutions/ NGOs, which were funded, partially or wholly, by Policy Planning & Research Division during the period 211 Appendix XIV: List of ITEC partner countries 212 Appendix XV: List of ITEC Training Institutes in India 214 Appendix XVI: Seminars/Conferences/Lectures/Meetings: April 2009 - March 2010 215 Appendix XVII: Seminars Organized by RIS 218 Abbreviations 219 Introduction and Synopsis ndia’s foreign policy is closely integrated with the democracy in Bangladesh has had a positive impact in Icountry’s fundamental security and developmental many areas of cooperation with Bangladesh. Bilateral priorities. We seek a global order in which India’s interests relations were greatly strengthened with Prime Minister are assured; the autonomy of India’s decision-making is Sheikh Hasina’s visit to India in January 2010. India’s safeguarded; and which is conducive to achievement of pledge of a line of credit of US$ 1 billion for infrastructure the overriding goal of rapid, sustained and inclusive development in Bangaldesh and Prime Minister Hasina’s socio-economic development of the country. To this end, assurance that anti-India activity would not be allowed Indian foreign policy has combined firm commitment to from the soil of Bangladesh were some of the significant our core national values with dynamic adaptation to landmark outcomes from this historic visit. During change in the international environment. 2009-2010, India’s support and contribution to the reconstruction of Afghanistan was further consolidated. Central to our policy objectives is ensuring a peaceful and Relations with Sri Lanka saw further development with secure neighbourhood, cordial and balanced relations with India and Sri Lanka maintaining high-level interaction the major powers and mutually beneficial partnerships and with India’s offer of assistance of Rs. 500 crores for with developing countries. Indian foreign policy also has the relief, rehabilitation and resettlement of internally a strong multilateral aspect. Many of the key challenges displaced persons belonging to the Tamil minority and of our times – issues such as peace and security including long-term reconstruction of the war-ravaged regions of fight against international terrorism, reform of the country. international financial architecture and international organizations, food and energy security and climate Apart from maintaining close ties with the immediate change – have global dimensions and require cooperative neighbours, India continues to work with other SAARC global action to be addressed effectively. member countries to transform SAARC into an effective vehicle for regional integration. The year 2009-10 was witness to challenges in the foreign policy domain in the aftermath of the Mumbai terrorist India attaches high importance to its bilateral relations attacks of November 2008 and the global financial crisis. with China. Notwithstanding the complex nature of this Even as these challenges were effectively countered, there relationship, both countries continued their high-level were also significant achievements in other areas. political interaction. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh met the Chinese President Hu Jintao in Yekaterinburg India’s commitment to close and good neighbourly (June 2009) and Premier Wen Jiabao in Hua Hin relations with all our subcontinential neighbours is based (October 2009). The institutionalized dialogue on the fundamental principles of equality and mutual mechanisms between the two countries covering a host respect. India is committed to supporting Bhutan in the of issues have steadily progressed during the period. With consolidation of its newly established democracy. The visit a convergence of interests on issues such as Doha Round of His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the of WTO negotiations, climate change, global financial fifth King of Bhutan to India in December 2009 further crisis etc., both countries have continued to interact deepened and consolidated bilateral relations. India constructively on global issues. continued its strong support to Nepal’s transition to a stable, peaceful and prosperous democratic state. Prime India’s relations with the USA and Russia have not only Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal’s visit to India in August been strengthened but also transformed qualitatively with 2009 and the visit of President Ram Baran Yadav in new areas of strategic cooperation added. India’s February 2010 strengthened the close ties of friendly engagement with the US broadened in a number of areas cooperation and the unique and multifaceted relationship of mutual interest at the bilateral, regional and global level. we share with Nepal. The restoration of multi-party Both new Governments in India and the US reiterated i Annual Report 2009 - 2010 their strong commitment to strengthen the existing (December 2009), Malaysian Prime Minister political and economic partnership, and take it to a higher Mr. Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak level for mutual benefit. During the visit of US Secretary (January 2010) and the President of the Republic of Korea, of State Ms. Hillary Clinton in July 2009, both countries Mr. Lee Myung-bak (January 2010) to India. Relations jointly announced a new agenda for Indo-US relations. with countries in the West Asia and Gulf region were The Indo-USA strategic partnership, was further strengthened further in several areas. India’s annual consolidated with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s contribution to the United Nations Relief Agency for visit to the US in November 2009. During the visit, Prime Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was Minister Dr. Singh and President Obama decided to enhanced from US$ 20,000 to US$ 1 million. India has embark on a new phase in the global strategic partnership vital interests in the Gulf region where almost 4.5 million between India and the US. During the period, the Indians live and work. While increasing our imports of US remained India’s one of India’s largest trading partners. oil and gas, India is taking active steps to strengthen The total volume of Indo-US bilateral trade in goods and relationship with the individual Gulf countries. services stood at US$ 59.8 billion during the period India is strengthening its relations with Central Asian January-October 2009. countries on the basis of historical and cultural linkages. Indo-Russian relations continued to be strengthened with Relations have not