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Indo-Iran
Gas Link Deal in June
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Pakistan,
India and Iran are likely to sign their
$7 billion gas pipeline deal in June, in
defiance of US pressure, Pakistan's and
India's oil ministers said on Sunday. The
oil ministers of Iran and Pakistan had said
the three countries were very near final
agreement on the project to pump Iranian
gas through Pakistan to India. Iranian Oil
Minister Kazem Vaziri had said he expected
the signing to take place in Tehran in June,
but Indian and Pakistan had not given a
precise time scale. "Most probably it will
be signed in June," Amanullah Khan Jadoon
said on Sunday. Indian Oil Minister Murli
Deora also said on Sunday June signing was
likely and that he was impatient for progress
on the project first mooted more than a
decade ago. "These things have taken so
much time. We are all three parties sincerely
dedicated to this project," he said. Progress
has been slow because of hostility between
India and Pakistan and, more recently, US
opposition to Iran because of its nuclear
programme. When asked about US pressure,
Pakistan's energy minister said: "That's
the (Pakistan) president's problem. I'm
the energy minister. I must take care of
energy needs." The pipeline through Pakistan
would link Iran's abundant gas reserves,
the world's second biggest, to India's booming
economy and it would carry 150 million cubic
metres per day of gas for 25 years, Vaziri
said.
Courtesy:
Times of India, April 24,2006
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India-Bahrain
Ties Set to Take New Dimensions
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India's
strong relations with Bahrain are poised
to take "new dimensions," including in political,
economic and cultural fields, minister of
state for external affairs, E Ahamed has
said. Ahamed, who arrived on a two-day visit
to Bahrain last night, will be extending
an invitation from President A P J Abdul
Kalam to King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to
visit India. The minister will also hold
talks with Bahraini authorities on ways
to take forward the economic cooperation
and bilateral relations between the two
countries. "I will hand over a special message
from President A P J Abdul Kalam to His
Majesty King Hamad," said Ahamed. "We have
always enjoyed a strong relationship with
Bahrain, and it is now poised to take new
dimensions in all fields, including political,
economic and cultural areas," Ahamed was
quoted as saying by the 'Gulf Daily News'.
Politically, the Gulf region is a part of
India's extended neighbourhood, he said.
"During the recent GCC-India Industries
Conference held in Oman, the Muscat Declaration
was issued stressing the need to strengthen
India's relationship with each GCC (Gulf
Cooperation Council) state," he said. "The
Qatari Amir visited India last year and
the Saudi King in January this year. We
are now looking forward to the visit of
His Majesty. The Gulf region is going through
significant change and transformation and
there is also a welcome attitudinal change
towards India," the minister said.
Courtesy:
The Economic Times, April 23, 2006
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Cabinet
Approves Aviation Pact With US
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The
Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the Indo-US
aviation agreement, that provides for assistance
by American civil aviation bodies to their
Indian counterparts in modernising airports,
aviation infrastructure, technology, procedures
and training. The pact was initiated during
US transport secretary Norman Mineta's visit
to India last year. India already has a
similar arrangement with the European Union
in place. The Memorandum of Agreement provides
for assistance by the US Federal Aviation
Authority (FAA) in developing and modernising
civil aviation infrastructure in managerial,
operational and technical areas. Under this
umbrella accord, FAA would provide assistance
in developing, improving and operation of
aviation infrastructure, standards, procedures,
policies, training and equipment. Besides
training personnel, it would also provide
for inspection and calibration of Indian
aviation equipment and air navigation facilities
and assist in airport certification besides
helicopter operations and safety initiative.
The agreement, which would create enabling
provisions for seeking specific assistance
from the FAA, was an essential requirement
also for receiving assistance from the US
agency. The draft agreement was examined
by the Civil Aviation Ministry in consultation
with various organisations like DGCA, AAI,
Hindustan Aeronautics, National Aerospace
Lab and the ISRO.
Courtesy:
The Economic Times, April 19, 2006
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India,
Britain to Collaborate in "World-Class"
Research
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India
and the United Kingdom will collaborate
in ``world-class'' research under a new
major initiative launched here on Tuesday
to boost cooperation in higher education
between the two countries. The U.K-India
Education and Research Initiative, backed
by British Government funding, will link
centres of academic excellence in India
and the U.K. through 70 new research projects
over the next five years. It will also offer
fellowships to Indian students in partnership
with universities there. Prime Minister
Tony Blair, who first announced the initiative
during his visit to India last September,
said it would lay the ground for the two
countries to become ``each other's partners
of choice in education,'' and to collaborate
on ``world-class research.'' "Backed by
a £12 million of Government money, and nearly
£5 million in cash or kind from private
sector partners, the initiative will allow
split PhDs and research fellowships, and
increased academic exchanges,'' Mr. Blair
said. Writing in The Guardian ahead of the
launch, he said: ``No one who visits India
can fail to be impressed by the huge advances
the economy and education system are making,
and I returned determined that we needed
radically to improve our links with a country
that is producing hundreds of thousands
of graduates each year.'' Besides countries
such as China, Malaysia and Singapore which
traditionally sent students to Britain now
had their own ``bourgeoning'' higher education
sectors. Recently, Chris Patten, Chancellor
of Oxford University, visited India to tap
into the booming education market there.
There is concern that American universities
are overtaking their British counterparts
in attracting Indian students. There are
nearly 80,000 Indian students on American
campuses compared to 17,000 in Britain.
Courtesy:
The Hindu, April 19,2006
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Indian,
Chinese Companies Plan JVs Abroad
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A
section of the Indian business has hit upon
what it expects to be an effective formula
for bonding with Chinese industry. The move
involves Indian and Chinese firms setting
up JV projects in third countries. "Many
of our businesses have strong footholds
in foreign countries. They can join hands
with Chinese companies to set up projects
in third countries. It is a win-win strategy
for both sides, "Amit Mitra, secretary general
of the Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (FICCI). A beginning
has already been made with state-run Chinese
and Indian oil firms entering into JVs in
third nations. FICCI is trying to initiate
a new strategy to bring about such partnerships
in the private sector, he said. Mitra was
briefing reporters in the wake of a four-day
China tour by a 12-member delegation of
CEOs of major Indian companies, which began
on Sunday. The high-powered delegation represents
a wide ranged of Indian industry including
manufacturing, software, biotech, energy
and textiles. It is led by FICCI President
and chairman of Gillette India, Saroj Kumar
Poddar. The delegation will hold a meeting
with China Council for Promotion of International
Trade officials and will also visit Xian
and Shanghai. This is the first visit of
a CEO-level team in this year of India-China
friendship, Ambika Sharma, FICCI senior
director, said. FICCI is trying to negotiate
a deal to hold an exhibition for Indian
tourism industry in September or October
in order to draw Chinese tourists to India.
Buddhism related tourists sites and pilgrimages
in India should be an area of attraction
for Chinese tourists, Mitra said. Though
Chinese industry has grown at an impressive
rate with focus on supply-side management,
it is deficient in some areas where Indian
contribution could be useful, Atul Dalakoti,
director at Ficci's China office said.
Courtesy:
The Times of India, April 16,2006
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Indo-Pak
Talks an Opportunity to Resolve Kashmir:
Khan
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Asserting
that India-Pakistan ties have improved,
former Pakistani Foreign Secretary Mir Humayun
Khan has said the ongoing dialogue process
between the two countries was an opportunity
for resolving the Kashmir issue as per the
"wishes of people of undivided Jammu and
Kashmir". "People-to-people contact between
the two countries have improved the ties
between New Delhi and Islamabad and it is
an opportune time to find a solution to
the Kashmir issue as per the wishes of the
people of the undivided Jammu and Kashmir,"
he said while interacting with the activists
of J and K Forum for Regional Voices here
last evening. The Forum, which in collaboration
with Delhi-based Centre for Dialogue and
Reconciliation organised a two-day 'intra-Kashmir
dialogue' at Jammu on April 12-13, hosted
a reception for the Pakistani delegation
here last evening.However, no mainstream
politician or separatists barring a representative
of Democratic Freedom Party Mohammad Abdullah
Tari, were present at the reception.Khan,
who was part of the 12-member delegation
from Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir
that took part in the deleberations, said
"the ongoing peace process is a serious
and sincere effort." "This time there is
change of hearts in the public of both the
countries. Public opinion has changed in
both India and Pakistan and a realisation
has come that the main party to the Kashmir
issue, the Kashmiris, should be listened
to," Khan, who served as the Ambassador
of his country in India for five years,
observed.
Courtesy:
The Pioneer, April 16,2006
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India
Priority Country For Afghanistan
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India
is a priority country for attracting business
and investment into Afghanistan and the
presence of Indian industry will go a long
way in convincing other overseas investors
about the business-friendly policies being
adopted by Kabul, the leader of the Afghan
business delegation to India, Omar Zakhilwal,
told a meeting organised by FICCI here on
Tuesday. He expressed the delegation's desire
to have a series of road shows of Afghan
products in different parts of India.
Courtesy:
The Hindu, April 12, 2006
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India
to Back U.S. Entry Into SAARC as Observer
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India
is all set to back the entry of the United
States into the South Asian Association
for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) as an observer,
senior External Affairs Ministry officials
told The Hindu on Tuesday. The issue is
likely to figure at a two-day meeting of
Foreign Secretaries of the seven SAARC nations
that began in Dhaka on Tuesday. SAARC leaders
decided, in principle, at their 13th summit
meeting in Dhaka in November 2005, that
China and Japan be associated as observers.
"They [the SAARC leaders] also welcomed
and agreed in principle with the desire
of the People's Republic of China and Japan
to be associated as observers. The Council
of Ministers will decide the modalities
in this regard at their 27th meeting in
July 2006," the Dhaka Declaration of November
13, 2005, said. "They also acknowledged
the renewed interest of other regional and
international organisations, bodies and
entities to cooperate with SAARC in various
collaborative endeavours in accordance with
the objectives and priorities of SAARC,"
the Declaration added. With little prospect
of any opposition, it is likely that both
China and the U.S., along with Japan, will
be accepted as "observers" of the grouping
by the time India hosts the 14th SAARC summit
in 2007. It may be noted that India has
been given observer status in the Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation (SCO), a grouping
in which China and Russia are key players.
SAARC leaders also decided to admit Afghanistan
as a full member of the organisation (as
distinct from conferring observer status)
in Dhaka.
Courtesy:
The Hindu, April 11, 2006
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Security,
Trade Focus of Talks
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India
and Afghanistan today expressed their concern
at the rising number of terror incidents
in the landlocked nation, with security
and trade dominating the bilateral talks.
India also pledged an additional assistance
of $50 million for Afghanistan. The visiting
Afghan president, Mr Hamid Karzai, who is
on a four-day tour, today held one-on-one
and delegation level talks with the Prime
Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, at Hyderabad
House. Dr Singh in his opening remarks noted
that the "security situation" in Afghanistan
was part of the discussions, where both
sides "expressed concern at increased terrorist
activities in some parts of the country".
But the Afghan president was careful not
to get into a blame-game vis-à-vis Pakistan,
only asserting that "all of us in the region
should join hands to fight the menace of
terrorism". "The dividend of peace is for
the entire region," said Mr Karzai. He added
that the Afghan government talked regularly
to Pakistan on this topic, stating that
"more effective" action could be devised
by all in this region. The PM noted that
not just India and Afghanistan, even Pakistan
was "not immune to terrorism". He said that
India was all for "pooling our knowledge
and intelligence" to deal with this "menace".
Both countries today signed three memoranda
of understanding in the field of education,
rural development and standardisation. India
also announced its pledge of another $50
million, thereby taking the total assistance
to Afghanistan to $650 million. Out of that,
$200 million has already been spent on projects.
The issue of transit of Indian goods through
Pakistan to Afghanistan and beyond was raised
by the Indian side during talks, with Dr
Singh asking Mr Karzai to use his "good
offices" to persuade Pakistan. Dr Singh
said that he had "not lost hope" of Pakistan
relenting on the subject. "Interestingly,
he also said that in reciprocal, Pakistan
should also access Indian roads for transit
to East Asia."
Courtesy:
The Statesman, April 11, 2006
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Security,
Trade Focus of Talks
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India
and Afghanistan today expressed their concern
at the rising number of terror incidents
in the landlocked nation, with security
and trade dominating the bilateral talks.
India also pledged an additional assistance
of $50 million for Afghanistan. The visiting
Afghan president, Mr Hamid Karzai, who is
on a four-day tour, today held one-on-one
and delegation level talks with the Prime
Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, at Hyderabad
House. Dr Singh in his opening remarks noted
that the "security situation" in Afghanistan
was part of the discussions, where both
sides "expressed concern at increased terrorist
activities in some parts of the country".
But the Afghan president was careful not
to get into a blame-game vis-à-vis Pakistan,
only asserting that "all of us in the region
should join hands to fight the menace of
terrorism". "The dividend of peace is for
the entire region," said Mr Karzai. He added
that the Afghan government talked regularly
to Pakistan on this topic, stating that
"more effective" action could be devised
by all in this region. The PM noted that
not just India and Afghanistan, even Pakistan
was "not immune to terrorism". He said that
India was all for "pooling our knowledge
and intelligence" to deal with this "menace".
Both countries today signed three memoranda
of understanding in the field of education,
rural development and standardisation. India
also announced its pledge of another $50
million, thereby taking the total assistance
to Afghanistan to $650 million. Out of that,
$200 million has already been spent on projects.
The issue of transit of Indian goods through
Pakistan to Afghanistan and beyond was raised
by the Indian side during talks, with Dr
Singh asking Mr Karzai to use his "good
offices" to persuade Pakistan. Dr Singh
said that he had "not lost hope" of Pakistan
relenting on the subject. "Interestingly,
he also said that in reciprocal, Pakistan
should also access Indian roads for transit
to East Asia."
Courtesy
: The Statesman, April 11, 2006
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Cyprus
Welcomes Nuclear Agreement
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Cyprus,
a member of the Nuclear Suppliers' Group
(NSG), has welcomed the civilian nuclear
understanding reached between India and
the United States in March this year. In
an interview to The Hindu ahead of his visit
to India from Tuesday, Cyprus President
Tassos Papadopoulos said on Thursday, "Cyprus
welcomes the agreement between India and
the U.S. on full international cooperation
in civilian nuclear energy. "Both sides
[Cyprus and India] agree that such cooperation
would help in addressing concerns related
to global energy security and environmental
protection. Cyprus conveys its support for
India's efforts for the promotion of civilian
nuclear supply for the benefit of her economic
development and prosperity ... ," Mr. Papadopoulos
said. The 72-year-old President spoke warmly
of his country's relationship with India,
recalling that New Delhi had taken a principled
position on the Cyprus issue over the years.
"Throughout these years, India has always
been a friendly country, supporting the
principles [behind] a solution of the Cyprus
problem, the various resolutions of the
United Nations ... territorial integrity,
[and] sovereignty of Cyprus," he said. "Everybody
knows India is a country with a great culture
[and] history, and it plays a major role
in world affairs. Now, India is one of the
leading countries in the rate of growth,
especially in information technology," Mr.
Papadopoulos said.
Courtesy:
The Hindu, April 10, 2006
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Singapore,
India May Expand Economic Pact
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India
and Singapore "will look at how to expand
the scope and benefits of the CECA [Comprehensive
Economic Cooperation Agreement]" that they
had signed last year. The upbeat indication,
spelt out by Singapore's Trade and Industry
Minister Lim Hng Kiang after the CECA review
here on April 1, is expected to set the
stage for discussions at the "Connecting
India" summit on April 12 and 13. The "Asia
Pacific Business Summit" on this theme is
being organized by the Singapore Indian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI)
as an exclusive event under the "Celebrating
India" project of the Indian High Commission,
here. As India's first comprehensive economic
pact with any country, the CECA came into
effect last August after it was signed over
a month earlier. Indicating that the CECA
expansion would be considered over the next
six weeks from now, Mr. Kamal Nath said
the discussions would cover the inclusion
of more tariff lines for trade in goods
and some "amendments" of the existing provisions.
Asked whether the proposed CECA expansion
would specifically cover the possibility
of a Singapore's proactive role by Singapore
to promote a special economic zone in India,
Mr. Kamal Nath said "a mindset change has
to take place." Some Singapore entities
were already investing in India through
the Mauritius route for tax gains. So, New
Delhi was now "simulating some cases" to
enhance the comfort level of Singapore players
for making direct investments in India,
Mr. Kamal Nath indicated.
Courtesy:
The Hindu, April 09,2006
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US
Administration to Ensure Strong Congress
Support for N-deal
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The
United States has dismissed as "overplayed"
reports that Indo-US civil nuclear deal
was aimed at having India as a counterweight
to China. It also said that it was intensively
lobbying to answer all questions of Congress
on this "major initiative" and ensure strong
support for it. Reports talking of the Administration
wanting to have a democratic India as a
counterweight to China "might have been
overplayed a bit," Acting State Department
Spokesman Adam Ereli said on Monday. The
pact was more than "blocking" or being "defensive"
against other powers, he said. "It was really
more: How can we move India in the right
direction and bring India into... integrate
India more fully into the international
energy realm as opposed to sort of geo-strategic
manoeuvring?" Speaking ahead of Secretary
of State Condoleezza Rice's appearance on
Wednesday before Senate Foreign Relations
Committee and the House International Relations
Committee, Ereli said, "I think this intensive
lobbying, this intensive programme of briefing
and consultations, reflects first and foremost
a recognition that Congress has an important
and necessary role to play in this initiative."
He said Rice's testimony "is but the latest
in ... A fairly intensive effort to work
with the members of the Hill, respond to
their questions, answer their concerns and
explain why this is a good deal that's in
America's interests." He said Under Secretary
for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns, Under
Secretary of State for Arms Control Richard
Joseph, Assistant Secretary of State Stephen
G Rademaker, Assistant Secretary of State
for South Asia Richard Boucher and other
experts from the White House have been building
up consensus on the nuclear deal. They "have
been beating a well-worn path to Capitol
Hill over the last several months to explain
this deal, to address concerns and, frankly,
to build the level of consensus and understanding
that we hope will see this bold and positive
initiative through to fruition," Ereli remarked.
The driving force behind the deal, he said,
was "to bring a nuclear programme under
international safeguards and to help India
develop its energy sector in a way that
was consistent with both non-proliferation
concerns and contribute to international
stability and international investment,
and that's a good thing." It brings Indian
civilian facilities under IAEA safeguards.
And negotiations or talks with the IAEA
is a part of this deal," he said referring
to the UN nuclear watchdog International
Atomic Energy Agency.
Courtesy:
Hindustan Times, April 04, 2006
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India,
France Hold Naval Exercises off Goa Coast
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Adding
a new chapter in bilateral ties, aircraft
carriers, destroyers and submarines of India
and France, supported by their air forces,
on Sunday undertook week-long joint exercises
off the Goa coast to tone up inter-operability
and make them ready in the event of integrated
operations. As two Sea Harriers, having
the unique capability of vertical take-off
and landing, landed on Charles de Gaulle
after starting from Indian aircraft carrier
INS Viraat a few kilometres away, the French
ship became only the second foreign aircraft
carrier after the US one on which the Indian
fighters have landed. Another highlight
of the eighth joint exercise is that for
the first time, aircraft carriers of both
the countries are participating for the
first time.
Courtesy
:Hindustan Times, April 03, 2006
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