Annual Report 2000-2001 Introduction and Synopsis uring the year 2000-01, several initiatives of the previous two Minister of Mauritius were telling examples of the global reach of Indias D years reached fruition and India consolidated further its diplomatic engagement. In furthering the objectives of the U.N. Charter, relationship with the major powers and other friends and partners India led the international communitys effort to restore democracy underscoring its position as a factor of peace, stability, security and and constitutionality in Fiji and contributed to U.N. peace-keeping balance not only in Asia but on a much wider canvas in the world. The efforts in Sierra Leone and the Horn of Africa. The global trend towards first ever Indo-EU Summit and the inauguration of the Ganga-Mekong democratisation drew sustenance from the success of democratic Cooperation Project launched new avenues of engagement with countries governance in a country of one billion people; at the same time, of these two regions whilst, at the same time, reflecting the level of democracys antithesis, international terrorism was decisively condemned maturity that had been reached in relations with them. The visit of and rejected by the international community. The strength and resilience President, Shri K.R. Narayanan, to China as well as the visits to India of of Indias economy and science & technology made it an attractive partner the Prime Minister of Nepal, the President of Sri Lanka as well as those in trade and investment and in international cooperation in knowledge- of the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples based and cutting edge industries. Indias cultural diversity and Congress of China and the Deputy Chairman of the State Peace and international programmes contributed to the enrichment of mankinds Development Council of Myanmar further strengthened Indias bilateral reservoir in this field. relations with neighbouring countries which are of historical, Certain essential priorities and objectives that inform Indias foreign civilisational and geopolitical significance. In addressing the Millennium policy can broadly be encapsulated as follows: Summit at the United Nations, Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpyaee, spelt out Indias vision of a new multi-polar order. His visit r To safeguard Indias territorial integrity and sovereignty, enhance to the United States reflected a hitherto unprecedented degree of Indias strategic space and preserve the autonomy of our decision- engagement between the worlds two great democracies, putting into making processes. practice the dialogue architecture drawn up by them. Fresh impetus r To strengthen further Indias role as a factor of peace, stability, was imparted to the traditional close and mutually-reinforcing strategic security and balance in Asia and in the world. ties with Russia with the Russian Presidents visit to India. Visits to r To win international understanding and support for Indias national India by the Prime Ministers of Australia and Japan, the King of Morocco, interests, priorities, aspirations and concerns and, wherever possible, the President of Algeria, the President of Colombia and the Prime to develop international synergies in furthering common objectives. 169i Introduction and Synopsis r To create such conditions in the Indian sub-continent and in our With Bangladesh, the high-level interaction included the areas of immediate neighbourhood as would enable India to devote its water resources, trade and defence. The 34th Joint Rivers Commission resources and attention to developmental and infrastructural met in January 2001 to review all areas of cooperation in sharing of activities. waters. Preparatory work for this meeting had taken place through r To strengthen peace and stability in the region and further enhance important bilateral visits from both sides. In December 2000, the Foreign friendship, cooperation and mutually beneficial inter-dependencies Office consultations led to agreement on expediting the introduction of with our neighbours. In enhancing the constituency of peace in the the Agartala-Dhaka bus service, review of measures to enhance Indian sub-continent, India would cooperate actively with like- commercial interaction, liberalisation of visa arrangements and a sharing minded countries to isolate and defeat negative phenomena of of concerns on the growth of terrorism in the region. The Agreement extremism, obscurantism and terrorism. concerning the Demarcation of the Land Boundary between India and r To strengthen the trends of cooperation, friendship and trust with Bangladesh and Related Matters was also discussed and two Working countries of Indias extended neighbourhood based on old Groups were set up to address the pending issues. Border Management civilisational and historical ties as well as strong contemporary and security issues were also taken up at the Home Secretary level and relevance. Countries of South-East Asia, the Gulf and the Indian through the interaction between the BSF and the Bangladesh Rifles. Ocean region have a common stake with India in promoting peace, Several agreements were reached to increase the communication links stability and development in this space. between the two countries both by road and rail, as evidenced in the r To work with the P-5 countries and other major powers to promote inauguration of a third broad gauge rail link for freight, in January 2001. bilateral relations and to work towards strengthening peace, stability Similarly, active cooperation characterised the areas of education and and multi-polarity in the world based on the new architecture of technical training, with many Bangladeshi students pursuing their studies dialogue and cooperation established with them. in India. r To promote the cause of democracy and individual freedom to India consistently reiterated its commitment to the unity, sovereignty unleash the creative genius of peoples in all countries and to promote and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, and to a peaceful, political process greater realisation that democratic governance and systems are as being the only means of achieving a lasting peace, through a negotiated essential ingredients of international peace and stability. settlement, which would meet the aspirations of all elements of Sri r To promote civilisational tolerance and interaction in the world Lankan society. The high-level contact between the two neighbours and to preserve the unique cultural heritage of mankind in all its continued with the President of Sri Lanka visiting India in February diversity and splendour through common action and international 2001. The broad-ranging talks with Indian leaders were reflective of the programmes. high priority attached by both countries to the maintenance of close r To work constructively with other countries in multilateral and friendly relations based on mutual trust and understanding. Earlier, institutions and international organisations such as the U.N., NAM, in June 2000, the External Affairs Minister had visited Sri Lanka to study ARF, IOR-ARC, etc. to generate international common approaches the evolving situation and had expressed Indias willingness to extend to to contemporary challenges. Sri Lanka a line of credit of US $ 100 million on mutually acceptable r To give greater focus and priority to economic diplomacy with the terms. The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister had also visited India in objective of promoting foreign trade and investments, ensuring December 2000. There were a series of initiatives to address the problems equitable transfer of technology and strengthening our general faced by fishermen from both the countries. There was also considerable economic and commercial links with the rest of the world. The size movement on publicizing the benefits from the India-Sri Lanka Free and positive trends of Indias economy give us the potential of playing Trade Agreement, which was operationalised on March 1, 2000. Cultural a leading role in shaping the international economic order and pace interaction flourished through the activities of the India Culture Centre of development. in Colombo and the India-Sri Lanka Foundation. 170ii Annual Report 2000-2001 The close, friendly and problem-free relations between India and the area of security was sought to be enhanced through the Home Maldives were given added warmth with exchanges of high-level visits, Secretary level talks in July 2000. There was an understanding that neither including the State visit of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of country would permit its territory to be used for activities prejudicial Maldives in August 2000. Earlier, in March 2000, the Foreign Minister to the other. A Joint Committee on Water Resources was constituted. of Maldives had attended the Fourth Session of the India-Maldives Joint As in past years, India continued to be involved in several development Commission in New Delhi. Raksha Mantri visited Maldives from projects in Nepal. January 9-12, 2001 and held detailed discussions. There was also Relations between India and Bhutan are characterised by mutual productive interaction and Joint Exercises between the two Coast Guards. trust, understanding and close friendship. Economic cooperation between Parliamentary and educational exchanges also remained active. the two countries has been steadily growing and continues to provide a Constructive engagement with Myanmar focused on broad-basing firm foundation to the expanding bilateral relationship. As part of the the