Annual Report 2012-2013 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 The front cover depicts South Block, seat of Ministry of External Affairs since 1947. The inside of front cover shows Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan, Ministry of External Affairs’ new building since June 2011. The inside of back cover shows displays at Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan Designed and printed by: Graphic Point Pvt. Ltd. 4th Floor, Harwans Bhawan II Nangal Rai, Commercial Complex New Delhi 110 046 Ph. 011-28523517 E-Mail. [email protected] Content Introduction and Synopsis i-xvii 1. India's Neighbours 1 2. South-East Asia and the Pacific 16 3. East Asia 28 4. Eurasia 33 5. The Gulf and West Asia 41 6. Africa 48 7. Europe and European Union 63 8. The Americas 80 9. United Nations and International Organizations 94 10. Disarmament and International Security Affairs 108 11. Multilateral Economic Relations 112 12. South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation 119 13. Development Cooperation 121 14. Investment and Technology Promotion 127 15. Energy Security 128 16. Counter Terrorism and Policy Planning 130 17. Protocol 132 18. Consular, Passport and Visa Services 139 19. Administration and Establishment 146 20. Right to Information and Chief Public Information Office 149 21. e-Governance and Information Technology 150 22. Coordination Division 151 23. External Publicity 152 24. Public Diplomacy 155 25. Foreign Service Institute 159 26. Implementation of Official Language Policy and Propagation of Hindi Abroad 161 27. Indian Council for Cultural Relations 162 28. Indian Council of World Affairs 166 29. Research and Information System for Developing Countries 168 30. Library 171 31. Finance and Budget 172 Appendices Appendix I:Treaties/Convention/Agreements Concluded or Renewed by India with other 175 countries in 2012 Appendix II: Instruments of Full Powers issued during the period January 2012 to December 2012 191 Appendix III: Instruments of Ratification/Accession issued during the period January 2012 to 193 December 2012 Appendix IV: List of ITEC and SCAAP countries 195 Appendix V: List of ITEC/SCAAP empanelled institutions 198 Appendix VI : Conferences/Seminars/Study Projects organized/undertaken by Universities/ 200 Institutions which were funded partially or wholly by the Policy Planning and Research Division during 2012-13 Appendix VII : Statement showing the total number of passport applications received and 201 passports issued, total miscellaneous applications received and services rendered; No. of passports issued as well as revenue under tatkaal scheme; and total revenue and expenditure of passport offices during January to December 2012 Appendix VIII: Cadre strength of the Central Passport Organisation as o n 31.12.2012 203 Appendix IX: Cadre strength at Headquarters and Missions/Post abroad as on 10.12.2012 204 (including posts budgeted by Ministry of Commerce and those of ex-cadre etc.) Appendix X: Data on recruitment through direct recruitment, departmental promotion and limited 205 departmental examination made in the Ministry along with reserved vacancies for April 2012 to December 2012 Appendix XI: Number of IFS Officers with Proficiency in various languages 206 Appendix XII: Research and Information System for Developing Countries - Publications 207 Appendix XIII: Finances of the Ministry of External Affairs in 2012-13 208 Appendix XIV: Major sectoral allocation in 2012-13 Budget (Revised Estimates) 209 Appendix XV: Principal destination of India's Technical Cooperation Programme 210 Appendix XVI: Status of pending C & AG Audit paras 211 Abbreviations 212 Introduction and Synopsis India's foreign policy, rooted in the national ethos, supports transition process as the country works for democracy and the processes of national development and transformation stability. High level political interaction was maintained with through the furtherance of the country's national interests. the visit of President Dr Ram Baran Yadav to India in December Ensuring India's security, promoting it's socio-economic 2012. India's relations with Myanmar were taken forward with development, maintaining the country's strategic autonomy the visit of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to Myanmar and working towards a more just global order, are integral to in May 2012. India and Maldives remained engaged, with the policy. India aspires for a peaceful and secure periphery, President Waheed and leaders of major political parties visiting expanding ties with its extended neighbourhood, cordial and India during the year. Relations with Pakistan witnessed some balanced relations with major powers and mutually beneficial progress in the areas of trade and a liberalised visa regime and partnerships with developing countries. India's foreign policy maintenance of dialogue, but the incident on the LoC in January also has a strong multilateral dimension with the country 2013 cast a shadow on the process. Pakistan has to fulfil its working closely with partners in international bodies and fora stated commitment to stop all forms of terrorism emanating to tackle global challenges of today such as terrorism, climate from its soil, and bring the perpetrators of the Mumbai terrorist change, sustainable development, energy and food security and attacks to justice. India continued its proactive approach at cyber and space security. India seeks reform of international SAARC, which it believes could be an effective instrument of institutions to reflect the global reality of the present day world regional development and cooperation. and to ensure an appropriate role for India. Relations with China progressed well during the year with India desires close and good neighbourly relations with its interactions at the leadership level on the sidelines of multi- neighbours. Its policies are directed towards promoting peace lateral events. The meetings of the bilateral dialogue mechanism and stability and establishing networks of interconnectivity, in the areas of counter-terrorism, trans-border rivers, policy trade and investments so that benefits of development are planning and economy were held. Defence exchanges were shared in the neighbourhood. India's unique relations with strengthened with the visit of China's Defence Minister General Bhutan are underpinned by a strong commitment for Bhutan's Liang Guanglie to India in September 2012. Both countries socio-economic development. The relations were strengthened remained committed to resolving the boundary question with the visit of His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel through peaceful negotiations, in a fair, reasonable and mutually Wangchuck and Her Majesty Queen Jestun Pema Wangchuck acceptable manner, as a strategic objective. to India as the Chief Guest for the 64th Republic Day celebrations in 2013. India's enduring support to Afghanistan India continued to expand and deepen its relations with its as it undergoes a phase of transition, and thereafter, was reflected extended neighbourhood - East and South East Asia, Gulf in the launch of several initiatives during the year. The visit of and the Central Asia. The year marked the 20th anniversary of President Karzai to India in November 2012 highlighted our the ASEAN-India dialogue partnership and the 10th mutual commitment to the strategic partnership. India's close anniversary of ASEAN-India Summit-level interactions. India relations with Bangladesh were further consolidated with the hosted the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit in New two countries working for the implementation of the Delhi on 20-21 December 2012 during which ASEAN-India understandings reached during the high-level visits in 2010 relations were raised to the level of a Strategic Partnership. and 2011. India and Bangladesh also engaged closely to Economic relations received an impetus with the conclusion strengthen their common bonds of culture and heritage. of negotiations on ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement in Relations with Sri Lanka saw close interaction at the highest Services and Investment. Vice President Shri Hamid Ansari political level. India's developmental projects in Sri Lanka visited Vietnam in January 2013. India participated in the including those for internally displaced persons saw good ASEAN-India Summit and the East Asia Summit at Phnom progress. India continued to extend support to Nepal's Penh, Cambodia on 19-20 November 2012. i Annual Report 2012-13 India-Japan relations moved on an upward trajectory. Prime and on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Minister Dr Manmohan Singh met Japanese Prime Minister Cooperation were held in New Delhi in October 2012. The Yoshihiko Noda in November 2012 in Phnom Penh on the two countries continued their engagement to deepen relations sidelines of the East Asia Summit. New dialogues were in defence, counter-terrorism, science & technology, space, civil launched including on cross-cutting economic issues led at the nuclear energy and hydrocarbons. level of Foreign Ministers and on maritime affairs and cyber India values its relations with the European Union which security. India and Japan signed agreements in the areas of remains one of India's major trading partners. The relations social security and rare earths industry. India continued to be have gradually diversified into political and security areas the largest recipient of Japanese overseas development particularly since