Central Asia

Section 1

Both bonds of history and geo-strategic location of the Central Asian States (CAS) in an extended neighbourhood make India's relations with them a matter of priority. The region has profound strategic and economic importance for us. Since independence of these countries seven years ago, conscious efforts have been made to strengthen and diversify relations and to bring a contemporary focus to our age-old ties.

India and the CAS share common values of democracy, secularism and opposition to fundamentalism and terrorism. There is also the mutual recognition that national security concerns of Central Asia and India are closely inter-linked. Bilateral political relations with these countries are marked by close understanding.

In the economic sphere, abundant natural resources of Central Asia and India’s technological and scientific capabilities provide the rationale for collaboration, notwithstanding the current problems of transitional economies in these states. Efforts are being made to overcome these temporary difficulties.

Cultural and people-to-people relations are excellent and consciously nurtured by us.

Section 2

Azerbaijan

Initiatives to develop all round bilateral relations with Azerbaijan were continued. Smt Vasundhara Raje, Minister of State of External Affairs visited Baku in June 1998 which coincided with an exclusive Indian trade exhibition organised by ITPO - HINDEXOPO 98. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri V K Ramamurthy visited in June 1998 to attend the Baku International Oil and Gas Conference. It has been decided to open a resident mission in Baku which is likely to start functioning in March 1999.

Kazakhstan

Indo-Kazakh relations progressed smoothly during the year under report. Foreign Minister Tokaev met Minister of State for External Affairs Smt. Vasundhara Raje in September, 1998 at the UNGA. The second session of the Indo-Kazakh Joint Science and Technology Committee was held in Almaty in October 1998. A Kazakh parliamentary delegation is likely to visit in the first quarter of 1999. Indian Airlines and Air Kazakhstan signed a code sharing agreement in September 1998 and the latter is in the process of starting their flights to India in the near future. India participated in the 7th Asia Pacific International Trade Fair (ASPAT ‘98) in Almaty in October 1998 under the aegis of India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO). Punjab National Bank opened its representative office in Almaty in October, 1998.

The next meeting of Indo-Kazakh Joint Commission is likely to be held in the second half of March 1999 and Dr. Umirzak Sultangazin, Director Space Research Institute of Kazakhstan and Co-chairman of Indo-Kazakh Joint Committee on Science and Technology is likely to visit India in March 1999 for a series of lectures.

Kyrgyzstan

Traditional relations with Kyrgyzstan progressed well. Foreign Office consultations were held in July 1998 when Deputy Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan H.E. Mr Erian Abdildayav visited New Delhi. Our Minister of State for Tourism Shri Omak Apang visited Kyrgyzstan in October 1998. We gifted a ‘mini dairy plant’ to Kyrgyzstan under the ITEC programme. Mr B T Shamshiev, Director of State Agency for Tourism and Sport, visited India along with a delegation of tour operators in December 1998.

H.E. Mr Bolot T Shamshiev, Chairman of the State Agency for Tourism and Sports (Ministerial status) visited from 14-18 December, 1998 on the invitation of Shri Omank Apang, Minister of State for Tourism.

Days of Kyrgyz Culture in India are scheduled to be held from 6-14 March, 1999. Kyrgyz Defence Minister visited India from 20-27 February, 1999 on the invitation of the Raksha Mantri, Shri George Fernandes.

Tajikistan

Official level consultations with Tajikistan on bilateral matters as well as situation in Afghanistan were held in Dushanbe in August 1998. Two consignments of humanitarian assistance were sent. Tajikistan participated in short term training courses under the ITEC programme. Smt Vasundhara Raje, MOS for External Affairs met Tajik Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Nazarov in September 1998 at UNGA.

Tajik President Mr Emamali Rakhmonov paid a working visit to New Delhi on 22 January, 1999 and had a luncheon meeting with PM. Both the sides agreed to step up economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries.

 Turkey

India-Turkey relations witnessed significant forward movement with high level political exchanges and important initiatives in the commercial, economic and cultural fields. The high point of the year was the state visit of President Shri K R Narayanan in September 1998, followed by the visit of Vice-President Shri Krishan Kant in October 1998 to participate in the 75th Anniversary of founding of the Turkish Republic. During President’s visit, Agreements on Prevention of Traffic in Narcotic Drugs, and Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection, besides an MoU on scientific and technological cooperation and a Protocol on exchange of trade information were signed. Foreign Office consultations were held in Ankara in April 1998 for which Secretary (East) Shri Nareshwar Dayal visited Turkey. Shri G M C Balayogi, Speaker of Lok Sabha, along with a Parliamentary delegation visited Turkey in July 1998. India participated in the Izmir International Trade Fair in August 1998 as ‘Guest Country’. The third meeting of the Indo-Turkish Joint Business Council was held on that occasion. A defence industry delegation from India visited Turkey in May 1998 and a team from National Defence College (NDC) in June 1998. On the cultural and educational front, an Indian food festival was organised in Izmir in August, 1998 when an ICCR sponsored cultural troupe also visited. A delegation of University Grants Commission (UGC) headed by its Chairman visited in May 1998. Turkish Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Ahmet Denizonlgun visited India to participate in the Management Policy Seminar of Transport Ministers. During the visit, he called on Minister of Railways Shri Nitish Kumar, Minister of State of Communications Shri Kabindra Purkayastha and Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Ananth Kumar.

Turkmenistan

An Indian scientific delegation representing Central Electronics Ltd.(CEL) and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR) visited Turkmenistan in June 1998 to study the possibilities of cooperation in the solar energy sector. A delegation from Indian Oil Corporation(IOC) visited Turkmenistan and had useful discussions with the Deputy Minister of Oil and Gas Industry of Turkmenistan. A three-member delegation from Punjab Agri-Export Corporation visited Turkmenistan in November, 1998 with a proposal to set up joint commercial farming for which a Protocol of Intent was signed. The Indo-Turkmen joint venture –‘Ajanta Pharma Turkmenderman’ was inaugurated by President Mr Niyazov in Ashgabat on 11th December, 1998 in the presence of Shri Som Pal, Minister of State for Agriculture.

Uzbekistan

Relations with Uzbekistan remained active. Shri V K Ramamurthy, Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, at the head of a delegation, visited Uzbekistan in October 1998. A delegation of science and technology experts from Ministry of Science and Technology visited Uzbekistan in May 1998 with a view to exploring further possibilities of cooperation in S&T. Shri Jasjit Singh, Director, Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis visited Uzbekistan in June 1998 to establish institutional linkages between IDSA and the Institute of Strategic and Regional Research of Uzbekistan. Two rounds of Foreign Office consultations were held in May 1998 when Secretary(East) Shri Nareshwar Dayal visited Tashkent and in December 1998 when Mr I Ergashev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs visited Delhi. In the economic and commercial sphere, a delegation of manufacturers of auto components and another of consultancy firms visited Uzbekistan in May and June 1998 respectively. The fourth session of Indo-Uzbek Joint Commission is likely to be held in the first quarter of 1999.

Mr I Ergashev, Deputy Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan visited India from 9-12 December, 1998 for Foreign Office Consultations.

The 4th Session of the Indo-Uzbek Joint Commission was held in New Delhi from 17-20 February, 1999. The Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister, Mr M Z Usmanov visited New Delhi for the purpose.