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Published by the Press, Information & Culture Wing, Embassy of India |
In this Issue Opinion Feature: Christianity in India
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INDIA, ISRAEL TO COOPERATE IN India and Israel today agreed to explore avenues for further enhancing bilateral cooperation in key areas like agriculture, science and technology, software and electronics. This was decided at the fourth round of Indo-Israel dialogue with both the sides expressing satisfaction that the bilateral ties had progressed and diversified satisfactorily. While the Indian delegation was led by Nareshwar Dayal, secretary (east) in the external affairs ministry, the Israeli side was headed by Itzhak Shelef, deputy director-general for Asia and the Pacific. The Israeli delegation held parleys with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh on regional and international issues including the recent developments in West Asia and South Asia. The multilateral issues and trade relations also figured during the discussions. A joint statement issued at the end of the talks said since the establishment in 1992, there had been rapid growth in bilateral trade, and cultural ties were becoming stronger. It said contacts have been expanded in the sphere of education by promoting exchanges between academic and research centres and in other functional areas. The statement said people-to-people contacts have grown and contributed to mutual understanding. US TO
FOCUS ON EVOLVING The United States will focus on evolving a new partnership with India while simultaneously seeking to harmonise India's security needs with global non-proliferation goals, a top US official has said. "We will continue to remain engaged and optimistic that we will, over time be able to reach an understanding on non-proliferation issues... and build upon the extraordinary but little known record of cooperative science," the assistance secretary of state for South Asia Karl F Inderfurth said. Underlining the India's importance in South Asia, he said "It is no accident that much of our time, attention and focus is on India. The US recognises India is the largest, strongest and indeed the dominant player in the subcontinent, and as such it commands a corresponding level of thought and care." "I do not mean to suggest that we deal with India to the exclusion or at the expense of the other countries in the region, but that we simply recognise the reality - India's size and influence on the global scene, in international fora, as a leader and spokesman of the developing world, and as an emerging market," he said in a speech carefully crafted to avoid ruffling Pakistan's feathers. "The horizons (before India and US) are boundless. We can realistically target increases in trade and investment over the next 10-20 years to reach levels that we enjoy with China... We should pursue a full agenda of collaborative research, especially in life threating diseases such as AIDS, plant biotechnology, civilian space applications, and advanced information technology," Mr Inderfurth said. Significantly, the US, which blacklisted a number of Indian firms after the May nuclear tests, has denied Indian government access to sensitive American high technology, specially nuclear technology and supercomputers, ever since India's first tests in 1974. Joint Press
Statement on the visit of New Delhi At the invitation of the Defence Minister of France Mr. Alain Richard, the Defence Minister of India, Shri George Fernandes visited France from January 11-14, 1999. The two Ministers held wide ranging discussions on bilateral relations between India and France, particularly in the vital defence and security area as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest. Shri George Fernandes also had meetings with Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, Minister of Transport and Housing Mr. Jean Claude Gayaset, President of Defence commission of the National Assembly Mr. Paul Quiles, Co-president of the Indo-French Forum, President of the Economic Commission of the Senate Mr. Jean-Francois Foncet and senior defence officials. He visited the Orange air base, Hyeren naval base and the headquarters of the National Gendaren for Security & Intervention at Satory. He also received briefings on different aspects of ongoing and potential cooperation in defence production and research by the relevant organisations. Shri George Fernandes was particularly gratified to visit the memorial to Indian soldiers at Neuve Chapelle who sacrificed their lives in the French theatre during World War I and to have this opportunity to honour their memory.Shri George Fernandes and Mr. Alain Richard exchanged views on several issues including the security environment and trends in their respective regions, ways to impart even greater dynamism to bilateral defence cooperation and restructuring of the armed forces to adapt them to meet contemporary challenges and priorities. Shri Fernandes was briefed by the Chief of the Joint Staff of the French armed forces on the organisation of the French joint command structure. During the discussions both sides underscored the fact that mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in defence is a vital element of the overall bilateral relationship of the two countries and all efforts will be made to entrance and deepen this cooperation. This cooperation is seen by both sides in a long term perspective, covering strategic dialogue, defence research and production and relations between the armed forces of the two sides. Indo-French defence cooperation is part of the overall Indo-French relationship and is based on understanding and appreciation of each other's security interests, priorities and aspirations. The ongoing dialogue on defence, politico-military and security issues between the Ministries of Defence of India and France would be continued in a systematic and regular manner through the Indo-French High Committee on Defence Cooperation. The second meeting of this committee will be held in New Delhi during 1999.It was agreed that cooperation between the armed forces of the two sides would be encouraged to include bilateral exchanges, joint exercises and training.The two ministers were very satisfied with the quality and warmth of their exchanges. Mr. Alain Richard accepted with pleasure the invitation extended to him by Shri George Fernandes to visit India. It was agreed to schedule this visit during 1999. |
