Government of India Ministry of External Affairs Lok
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.597 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.04.2016 FOREIGN VISITS BY DIGNITARIES 597. SHRI ADHALRAO PATIL SHIVAJIRAO: SHRI SUSHIL KUMAR SINGH: SHRI DHARMENDRA YADAV: SHRI RAVINDRA KUMAR PANDEY: SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL: SHRIMATI V. SATHYA BAMA: SHRI NAGENDRA KUMAR PRADHAN: SHRI ARJUN MEGHWAL: ADV. NARENDRA KESHAV SAWAIKAR: SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM: DR. J. JAYAVARDHAN: SHRI ANANDRAO ADSUL: Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state: (a) the details of foreign trips undertaken by the President, Prime Minister of India and External Affairs Minister, country-wise along with the agreements signed, if any, areas identified for cooperation, discussions held and the expenditure incurred during the last three months and the status of implementation of these agreements; (b) the details of foreign dignitaries who visited India during the aforesaid period, country-wise along with the talks held, sectors decided for further cooperation and the treaties signed; (c) whether discussions have also been held on terrorism and other vital issues; and (d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of various countries in this regard? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)] (a), (c) & (d) Information has been compiled and placed at Annexure-A. (b), (c) & (d) Information has been compiled and placed at Annexure-B. ***** Annexure-A Foreign Visits by Dignitaries President’s Visits Country Visited Expenditure The details of foreign trips Agreements signed, Whether discussions If so, the details thereof and incurred undertaken by the President, if any have also been held on the reaction of various Prime Minister of India and terrorism and other countries in this regard? External Affairs Minister, vital issues country-wise, areas identified for cooperation, discussions held and the expenditure incurred during the last three months and the status of implementation of these agreements (a) (c) and (d) Visits of Hon’ble N I L President during the last three months Prime Minister’s Visits Belgium, 30th GOI Missions Prime Minister paid an official visit to Yes; The two Prime Ministers March,2016 abroad debit Belgium on 30 March 2016. The Prime at Brussels, expressed deep shock expenditure Minister held bilateral discussions with and anguish at the dastardly terrorist incurred to his counterpart on a wide range of areas attacks in Brussels and condemned relevant of mutual interest on regional and them in the strongest possible agencies global issues. Cooperation in terrorism terms. They reaffirmed their belief involved with was identified as one of the priority that no issue or cause can justify the visit. This areas for future cooperation in addition dreadful and indiscriminate acts of information is to areas like port and maritime sectors, violence against innocent people. being collected. information technology, science and They agreed to tackle the growing technology, renewable energy etc. menace of terrorism; its root causes and manifestations through united 2 efforts by the international community. Underlining that terror cannot defeat freedom and liberty, the leaders reiterated the resolve to fight against such inhuman acts of terror. th India-EU Summit, The 13 India-EU Summit took place in 7 outcome documents were Yes, discussions on terrorism were th Brussels on 30 Brussels on 30 March, 2016 between issued/signed including 6 held between the Leaders. A Joint March, 2016 the Prime Minister and the President of Political Declarations and 1 Declaration on Counter-terrorism the European Council, Mr. Donald Tusk Financial Contract was adopted by the Leaders which and the President of the European Agreement. The India-EU calls for action to be taken against Commission, Mr. Jean-Claude Juncker. Joint Statement was issued all entities including States that The India- EU Summit was held after a after the Summit outlining the sponsor or support terrorism and gap of four years since the last Summit shared perspectives on terrorist groups. Prime Minister was held in February, 2012. The leaders bilateral, regional and global underscored the need for a serious took stock of the bilateral cooperation issues. India – EU Agenda and comprehensive global strategy including political and security Action 2020, outlining the to counter the growing threat posed cooperation, trade and investment specific ways in which India by terrorism and countries including India-EU BTIA and sectoral and the EU commit to supporting terrorism and urged for cooperation in specific areas. They also strengthen cooperation in a conclusion of the long delayed discussed regional and global issues of wide range of areas in the next Comprehensive Convention of mutual interest. To intensify five years was endorsed by the International Terrorism in the UN parliamentary exchanges and have leadership. The major areas of and need for finalizing a definition structured institutional engagements cooperation include; early of ‘terrorism’. between the European and Indian finalization of the India- Parliaments the President of the EURATOM Civil Nuclear European Parliament expressed interest Cooperation Agreement; to visit India. information sharing between 3 EUROPOL and Indian agencies; setting up a EU investment desk under ‘Invest India’ to facilitate EU investments; EU’s partnership in ‘Make in India’ and other flagship development initiatives; creating synergies between ‘Digital India’ and EU’s ‘Digital Single Market’; cooperating on B2B issues in ICT, Start Ups, Internet Governance, Cyber Security and next generation 5G communications; and convening a high-level India- EU Skills Seminar, etc. A loan agreement for the first tranche of € 200 million out of total loan of € 450 million for Lucknow Metro Rail Project. Washington D.C. During the Summit, the Prime Minister (USA) underlined that Governments need to catch up with the tools, the technologies March 31 – and the methods being deployed by April 1, 2016 terrorists in contemporary times. He asked the gathering to reflect on post- 2014 terror-related developments and called for dropping the notion that terrorism is someone else’s problem. He 4 proposed a reflection to ensure that the NSS legacy on nuclear security endures in the years ahead. Overall, the Prime Minister summarized that it is the time to maintain vigil on nuclear terrorism, not to lower the guard. The continued priority India attaches to nuclear security domestically through measures such as strengthening the institutional framework, devoting resources for training people in nuclear security and reflecting international obligations in national actions, was emphasized. India’s recent national actions, such as setting up of a counter- nuclear smuggling team and development of technology for production of medical grade Mo-99 using LEU fuel, etc were also highlighted through the National Progress Report submitted to the NSS. The Prime Minister also announced India’s second contribution of US$ 1 million to the IAEA Nuclear Security Fund, starting of engagement with the IAEA on its International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS), hosting of a Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism (GICNT) in 2017 and joining a trilateral initiative (IAEA INFCIRC/869) of the past NSS Chairs on strengthening nuclear security implementation. India also joined 3 5 NSS ‘gift baskets’ related to Centres of Excellence, counter nuclear smuggling and NSS follow-up. Saudi Arabia Entire gamut of bilateral relations as Following Agreements/MoUs Yes 2-3 April, 2016 well as regional and multilateral issues concluded: of mutual interest were discussed. 1.Agreement on Labour Co- In the joint statement, issued at the operation between the conclusion of the visit, the two Ministry of External Affairs of sides agreed to enhance cooperation the Republic of India and the in counter-terrorism operations, Ministry of Labour of the intelligence sharing and capacity- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for building and to strengthen Recruitment of General cooperation in law enforcement, Category Workers anti-money laundering, drug- 2.MoU between Financial trafficking and other transnational Intelligence Unit - India and crimes. the Financial Intelligence Unit- Saudi Arabia 3.Technical Cooperation Program between the Bureau of Indian Standards and the Saudi Standards, Metrology and Quality Organization 4.Executive Program for Cooperation in the Field of Handicrafts 5.Framework for Investment Promotion Cooperation between Invest India and the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) 6 EAM’s Visits Palestine GOI Missions Palestinian assistance to secure early release of 17 January 2016 abroad debit 39 Indians in captivity in Mosul was discussed. expenditure EAM reiterated our commitment for development incurred to assistance to Palestine. Isreal relevant Areas identified for cooperation were Education, 17-18 January, agencies Cyber security, innovation, science and 2016 involved with technology to intensify bilateral cooperation. Bahrain the visit. This 1st India Arab League Ministerial Meeting Co- Agreement on Yes, Manama declaration was issued 23-24, January information is chaired by Hon’ble EAM with 15 Foreign transfer of sentenced which included reference to 2016 being Ministers of Arab countries. persons international terrorism. Sri Lanka collected. External Affairs Minister of India, Smt. Sushma During the Joint On the issue of counter terrorism, 5-6 February, 2016