Annual Report 2008-2009
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Annual Report 2008-2009 Ministry of External Affairs Cover Photo: Model of Jawahar Lal Nehru Bhawan, the Headquarters of the Ministry of External Affairs, under construction on Janpath, 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 Designed and printed by: Cyberart Informations Pvt. Ltd. 1517 Hemkunt Chambers, 89 Nehru Place, New Delhi 110019 Website: www.cyberart.co.in Telefax: 0120-4231617 Contents Introduction and Synopsis i-xvi 1 India’s Neighbours 1 2 South East Asia and the Pacific 17 3 East Asia 30 4 Eurasia 34 5 The Gulf, West Asia and North Africa 41 6 Africa (South of Sahara) 54 7 Europe 79 8 The Americas 93 9 United Nations and International Organizations 108 10 Multilateral Economic Relations 125 11 Technical & Economic Cooperation and Development Partnership 132 12 Investment and Technology Promotion 135 13 Policy Planning and Research 136 14 Protocol 139 15 Consular, Passport and Visa Services 145 16 Administration and Establishment 149 17 Coordination 153 18 External Publicity 155 19 Public Diplomacy Division 157 20 Foreign Service Institute 161 21 Indian Council for Cultural Relations 163 22 Indian Council of World Affairs 168 23 Research and Information System for Developing Countries 170 24 Library 175 Appendices Appendix I: Cadre strength at Headquarters and Missions abroad during 2008-09 (including Posts budgeted by Ministry of Commerce and those ex-cadred etc.) 179 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 2008 to November 2008 180 Appendix III: Number of IFS Officers with Proficiency in various languages 181 Appendix IV: Statement showing the number of passport applications received and passports issued including under Tatkaal Scheme, miscellaneous applications received and services rendered as well as Revenue (including revenue under Tatkaal Scheme) and Expenditure figures of the Passport Offices from 1 January - 31 December 2008. 182 Appendix V: Finances of the Ministry of External Affairs in 2008-2009 183 Appendix VI: The Major Sectoral Allocations in the 2008-2009 Budget (Revised Estimate) (Revenue & Capital) 184 Appendix VII: Principal Destinations of India’s Aid & Loan Programmes 185 Appendix VIII: Extracts from C&AG's Report on Ministry of External Affairs 186 Appendix IX: Treaties/Conventions/Agreements Concluded or Renewed by India with other countries in the year 2008 187 Appendix X: Instruments of Full Powers Issued during the period 1 January 2008 to December 2008 198 Appendix XI: Instruments of Ratification/Accession issued during the period 1 January 2008 to December 2008 200 Appendix XII: Conference/ Seminars/ Study projects organized/ undertaken by Institutions/ NGOs, which were funded, partially or wholly, by Policy Planning & Research Division till January 2008 202 Appendix XIII: List of ITEC/SCAAP partner countries 204 Appendix XIV: List of ITEC Training Institutes in India (2008-09) 206 Appendix XV: Lectures/Seminars/Conferences/Bilateral Dialogues/Book Releases organised by ICWA 207 Appendix XVI: Seminars Organized by RIS 209 Abbreviations 211 Introduction and Synopsis ndia’s foreign policy seeks to safeguard the country’s Defence cooperation between the two countries has Ienlightened self-interest. The primary objective of contributed to enhancement of mutual trust. China India’s foreign policy is to promote and maintain a peaceful opened a new Consulate in Kolkata in September and and stable external environment in which the domestic earlier in June India had opened its Consulate in tasks of inclusive economic development and poverty Guangzhou. alleviation can progress rapidly and without obstacles. Given the high priority attached by the Government of India’s partnerships with the major powers became deeper India to socio-economic development, India has a vital and stronger as we expanded the scope and depth of stake in a supportive external environment both in our economic and strategic interaction with different region and globally. India, therefore, seeks a peaceful countries, groups and regions including the USA, Russia, periphery and works for good neighbourly relations in its China, Japan, EU, South-East Asia, Central Asia, IBSA, extended neighbourhood. India’s foreign policy also ASEAN and many others with whom India has developed recognizes that the issues that are crucial to India’s a fruitful and active dialogue. transformation are global and require global cooperative A major development was the signing of the India-US solutions – issues such as climate change and energy and Civil Nuclear Agreement in October 2008. Along with food security. the September 6 2008 decision of the Nuclear Supplier The year 2008-09 was marked by several positive Group enabling its members to engage in civil nuclear developments, some significant successes, and by emerging trade and cooperation with India, the agreement marked challenges to India’s foreign policy. the end of thirty years of technology denial in the nuclear field. Following the signing of this bilateral agreement, India is committed to close and good neighbourly relations agreements for civil nuclear cooperation have been signed with all the countries in the Indian sub-continent, with France, Russia and Kazakhstan. The India-US cooperating with them in a wide range of sectors on the strategic partnership was further consolidated by PM Dr. basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect. India shares Manmohan Singh’s visits to the US in September 2008, a common destiny with its neighbours. Relations with when he had a bilateral meeting with the US President Bhutan developed further in the year of His Majesty’s George W. Bush in Washington, and in November for the coronation and the introduction of democracy in Bhutan. G-20 Summit. The US remained India’s largest trading India has strongly supported Nepal’s transition to a partner and source of technology and relations expanded democratic polity, and the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh which is reflected in recent high-level bilateral in every field. visits with these two countries. India has contributed to India’s traditional friendship and strategic links with Russia the reconstruction and development of Afghanistan. were consolidated during the period. The president of Apart from maintaining friendly and close bilateral the Russian Federation Mr. Dmitry Medvedev paid a state relations with its neighbours, India has also worked for visit to India in December 2008 for the annual bilateral the evolution of SAARC into a result oriented Summit. The year 2008 was observed in India as the ‘Year organization that effectively promotes regional integration. of Russia’ in which almost 140 events were organized Bilateral relations with China were further consolidated throughout India. The year 2009 is being observed in during 2008 with PM Dr. Manmohan Singh’s official visit Russia as the ‘Year of India’. India is committed to further to China in January and External Affairs Minister Shri carry forward its strategic relations with Russia. We intend Pranab Mukherji’s visit in June 2008. The situation along to build on our strong historical and cultural links with the India-China border remained peaceful while the the Central Asian countries, and to engage more closely boundary question continued to be addressed by the with this region by ensuring that our cooperation with Special Representatives. The Expert Level Mechanism Central Asia receives greater substance and on trans-boundary rivers continued to expand its work. diversification. i Annual Report 2008-2009 India has maintained and intensified its engagement with institutions better reflect the new realities of the world the EU, a strategic partner, as well as individual countries order, taking into account the legitimate aspirations of in Europe in diverse fields such as defence and security, developing countries and emerging powers. nuclear and space, trade and investment, energy, climate Simultaneously with these positive developments, India’s change, science and technology, culture and education. foreign policy in 2008-09 faced major fresh challenges The EU is today India’s largest trading partner and one of including the unsettled security situation in India’s our major sources of investment. immediate periphery and cross-border terrorism. New India continued to attach importance to its traditionally threats to India’s security also emerged. friendly and cooperative relations with African countries. The composite dialogue process with Pakistan entered its A landmark event was the first ever India-Africa Forum fifth round in 2008-09. The dialogue was premised on Summit in April 2008 which adopted the Delhi Pakistan’s stated commitment that it would not permit Declaration and India-Africa Framework for Cooperation. territory under its control to be used to support terrorism Both documents together define the future roadmap for against India in any manner. The dialogue process did cooperation between India and African countries. achieve some progress during the year in opening cross- Government of India’s prestigious pan-African e-Network LoC trade and liberalizing travel, and in discussing Project was inaugurated in New Delhi on 26th February, sensitive and divisive bilateral issues. However, Pakistan’s 2009 by EAM Shri Pranab Mukherjee. inability to implement