India's relations with the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean continued to be close and cordial during 1996-97. The thrust of India's policy was to strengthen and widen relations with the region and to put more economic content into it. A thrust is being maintained to project India and Indian culture in the region especially in the Caribbean where there is a substantial population of Indian origin.

The first ever Indian Trade Exhibition "Indian Products Fair" organized by India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) was inaugurated in Buenos Aires by the Acting President Dr. Carlos Ruckauf on 12 June 1996. Minister of State for Environment and Forests visited Buenos Aires to participate in the Third Meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

India's new Consulate General started functioning in Sao Paulo (Brazil) with effect from 12 April 1996. Minister of State for Commerce and the Secretary Depart-ment of Science and Technology visited Sao Paulo on the eve of the first ever-Indian Trade Fair held in Sao Paulo from 6-10 November 1996. More than 100 Indian companies had participated in this Trade Fair.

A Chile-India Chamber of Commerce was inaugurated in Santiago.

Foreign Minister of Costa Rica paid an official visit to India from 28 February-5 March 1997.

President of the People's National Assembly of Cuba visited India as a Special Emissary of the Government of the Republic of Cuba. Cuban vice Foreign Minister visited New Delhi from 18-22 October 1996 for bilateral consultations. The meeting of the Indo-Cuban joint Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, was held in New Delhi from 20-22 November 1996. A meeting of the Trade Revival Committee on 18 and 19 November 1996 preceded this. The meeting identified means to revive and strengthen economic, commercial and scientific cooperation.

A bust of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled and the Plaza de la India was inaugurated in San Salvador, capital of El Salvador, on 18 April 1996.

The thirty-six year old civil war in Guatemala ended with the signing of the final peace accord between the Government of Guatemala and the leftist guerrillas on 29 December 1996. The signing ceremony was attended by India's Ambassador accred-ited to Guatemala as Special Envoy of the President of India.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Minister of External Affairs with the Foreign Minister of Haiti during UNGA Session at New York in September 1996 for the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Haiti.

India viewed the taking of hostage by MRTA in Lima with concern and strongly condemned all acts of terrorism.

Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Basdeo Panday paid an official visit to India from 23 January4 February 1997. He was the Chief Guest at the Republic Day Celebrations on 26 January 1997. During his visit a number of bilateral arrangements and Memoranda of Understanding were signed. The 5th World Hindi Conference was held in Trinidad and Tobago from 4-8 April 1996.

Foreign Minister of Venezuela paid an official visit to India from 2-5 March 1997. During his visit an Agreement on Bilateral Annual Consultations between the Foreign Offices was signed.

The Minister of External Affairs held meetings with Foreign Ministers of the Rio Group and the Foreign Ministers of the Central American Group during the UN General Assembly (UNGA) session in September 1996. Relations with MERCOSUR were initiated with Minister of External Affair's meeting with the Foreign Ministers of MERCOSUR at the UNGA. The Association of Caribbean States (ACS) accepted India's request for observer status. An Indian delegation was present at the ACS Ministerial Council Meeting held in Havana in December 1996. The ANDEAN Com-munity and India agreed to set up an institutional relationship. Special Envoy of the Prime Minister visited Barbados in connection with the Summit of CARICOM Heads of States and Governments. Efforts continued towards establishing institutional rela-tions with CARICOM. An Indian Observer Delegation participated in the 26th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) held in Panama from 3-7 June 1996. Indian representatives also participated in some specialized regional meetings held under the auspices of the OAS. India was granted Observer Status by the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) during the 2nd Session of the ACS Foreign Ministers held in Havana from 9-13 December 1996.