POLITICAL ISSUES

India continued to participate actively in the UN Peace Keeping Operations. During 1996-97, around 1,100 Indian troops, staff officers and military observers were stationed in Angola. Indian police observers were deputed to UN International Task Force (UNIPTF) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Indian peace-keepers are also deployed in the UN Special Mission in Haiti (UNSMIH). India actively contributed to the debate and decisions of the Special Committee on Peace Keeping Operations.

India called for expansion in both non-permanent and permanent members' categories and for objective criteria for the selection of new permanent members. India remains opposed to a selective expansion of the UN Security Council and believes that any piece-meal or temporary solution that does not provide for adequate representation of developing countries in both permanent and non-permanent members category may lead to a weakening of the UN itself.

India reiterated its call in support of an International Convention to Combat Terrorism. The resolution on Terrorism adopted in the 51st session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) includes the consideration of the elaboration such a Convention. Along with this Resolution, a new Declaration to supplement the 1994 Declaration on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism was also adopted. The new Declaration is aimed at governing the abuse of right to asylum of refugees turned terrorists.

DISARMAMENT AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

In 1996, India continued to play a leading role in various multilateral disarmament fora - the Conference on Disarmament (CD) at Geneva, the UN Disarmament Commis-sion (UNDC) and the First Committee of the UNGA. In the Conference on Disarmament, India followed its consistent and principled stand on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT).

India had visualized the CTBT as part of a step by step process of global nuclear disarmament, leading to the complete elimination of all nuclear weapons within a time bound framework. India also believed that the objective of CTBT was not merely to end test explosions but to end the qualitative development and refinement of nuclear weapons whether through explosive or other means. Concrete Indian textual proposals on amendments to CTBT were tabled on 26 January 1996. As the Indian proposals were not taken on board, India made a definitive statement on 20 June 1996 that it could not subscribe to the CTBT in its existing form as it was not conceived as a measure towards universal nuclear disarmament and was not in India's national security interest. Following the assessment of the Chairman of the Ad hoc committee that his draft was the best attainable text, India opposed the adoption of the draft Treaty by the Ad hoc Committee and its submission to the CD Plenary. Subsequently, India also opposed the transmission of the Special Report by the CD to the 50th UNGA, as there was no consensus on the draft treaty text. In the resumed session of the 50th UNGA, Australia moved a resolution seeking adoption of a draft treaty text identical to the non-consensus draft treaty negotiated in Geneva. In the voting on the Australian resolution on 10 September 1996, India, along with Bhutan and Libya voted against the resolution. In a suo moto statement made in Parliament on 11 September 1996, the Minister of External Affairs reiterated that India would maintain its opposition to the treaty and not sign it in its present form. He also stated that India would continue to take initiatives in the UN and other fora in keeping with India's consistent and principled policy of achieving progress towards the goal of a nuclear weapon free world which would enhance India's security as also global security.

On 3 September 1996, India deposited its instruments of ratification of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). India maintains that the CWC is a significant milestone in multilateral disarmament negotiations in both its negotiating process and its non-discriminatory character and provides a valid model for future disarmament agreements. India will now set up a National Authority and take steps towards enacting domestic legislation for implementation of the activities prescribed under CWC.

India, as a State Party to the Biological Weapon Convention (BWC), participated actively in the deliberations of the Ad hoc Group meetings of the State Parties. The Indian delegation continued to support strengthening of the Convention and the unimpeded transfer and exchange of biotechnology for peaceful purposes for creating a non-discriminatory and transparent regime.

As a State Party, India participated in the Review Conference of the Convention on prohibition or restrictions on the use of certain conventional weapons, which may be deemed to be excessively injurious or to have indiscriminate effects. India supports the move towards complete ban on anti-personnel land mines, which should be universal and non-discriminatory; and this needs to be carried out in a phased manner since many countries use mines as weapons of defense along long borders.

In the First Committee of the United Nations, the Indian Resolution on "Convention on Prohibition of Use of Nuclear Weapons" was adopted with 83 votes in favor, 27 against with 24 abstentions. Another Indian Resolution on "The Role of Science and Technology in the context of International Security and Disarmament" was adopted with 81 votes in favor, 38 against with 24 abstentions. Based on the NAM Cartagena Summit, India continued to co-sponsor the Resolution on "Nuclear Disarmament", which was adopted with 87 votes in favour, 39 against with 20 abstentions.

At various international fora, India continued its principle opposition to the various Ad hoc export control regimes and called for their conversion into universal, transparent, non-discriminatory treaties

ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND HUMANITARIAN ISSUES

India participated constructively in the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD IX) held in Midrand, South Africa, in April-May 1996.

The Indian delegation to the World Food Summit held in Rome, from 13-17 November 1996, was led by Prime Minister Shri H D Deve Gowda. The Conference adopted the Rome Declaration and Plan of Action. This included an international commitment to reduce by half the number of those malnourished by 2010. As a developing country, with a remarkable record of achieving food self-sufficiency, India was at the forefront of efforts to promote South-South cooperation in this area.

India made a significant contribution to the success of HABITAT II held in Istanbul in June 1996 which adopted an Istanbul Declaration and a Habitat Agenda to ensure adequate shelter for all and for sustainable human settlements development. As the spokesman of G-77 and China in the crucial Working Group on International Cooperation India effectively articulated the concerns of the developing countries and secured agreements on many key issues. India also participated in the First World Solar Summit held in Harare in September 1996.

India maintained its position in support of advancement and empowerment of women in the Commission on Status of Women and in the General Assembly. India played a significant role in the revitalization of the Commission on Social Develop-ment, in particular in ensuring that its meetings are held on a regular annual basis and expansion of its membership is undertaken for adequate and effective follow-up of the decisions reached at the World Summit on Social Development held in Copenhagen in March 1995. India supported the decision that a special session of the UNGA on the question of drugs would be held in June 1998. India participated actively in various conferences and discussions on environmental issues aimed at the implementation of the agreements reached at United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) and Agenda 21.

HUMAN RIGHTS

India participated actively in the deliberations of the 52nd session of the Commission on Human Rights held in Geneva from 18 March-26 April 1996. In pursuance of its policy of transparency in the promotion and protection of human rights, India hosted the visit of UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance from 1-15 December 1996. In addition to having high-level dialogue in New Delhi, the Special Rapporteur and his team visited Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, as part of their Mission.

NON-ALIGNED MOVEMENT

Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) commemorated its 35th anniversary during), 1996-97. India participated in the meeting of the NAM Methodology Committee and the meeting of Experts in Science and Technology of Non-Aligned countries held in Colombia in May 1996 and March 1997 respectively. The Ministerial Meeting of NAM held in New York on 25 September 1996 unanimously welcomed India's offer to host the next Conference of the Foreign Ministers of NAM in New Delhi from 4-8 April 1997.

COMMONWEALTH

India participated in the Commonwealth Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) held in London on 29 and 30 October 1996. India also participated in the Inter-governmental Group on Refugees and Displaced Persons, set up at CHOGM '95, which met in October 1996 and February 1997 and in the Inter-governmental Group on Criteria for Commonwealth Membership, which met in September 1996 and February 1997.