• France Backs India's UNSC Claim
• India Wins Commonwealth Panel Chief Post
• Indian Embassy Inaugurates Two Projects in Nepal
• India Offers 5 Million Dollar as Token Hekp to US

• Havard Law School Open to Tie-ups in India
• EU Backs India's Entry Into Select N-Fusion, Tech Club
• Chennai to Host 8th World Spice Congress

France on Monday came out strongly in support of India's bid for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council, saying its aspiration was 'legitimate' and hoped it would be realised. Welcoming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the Elysee Palace, President Jacques Chirac also expressed his determination to move forward for cooperation in the field of nuclear energy. Emphasising that for France, India was a 'major partner' of the world today, he said, "and this is the reason why France has always supported India's positions, in particular her legitimate aspiration for a seat at the UN Security Council as a permanent member". "France supports this aspiration and hopes that it will be fulfilled," he said. On cooperation in the field of energy, particularly in nuclear energy, within the framework of the rules governing non-proliferation, he said, "we have some progress to make in this domain and the will and determination to progress together with respect to international rules". Chirac said Indo-French relations and interactions dealt with the major international issues, the preparation of the UN meeting which is to take place in a few days, the problems related to terrorism and development, and all the crisis which existed in the world. He said the two sides would also have the occasion to underline their determination to considerably develop their exchanges in all the political sectors within a truly 'consultative and cooperative framework'.

Courtesy: The Indian Express, September 13, 2005

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The Harvard Law School, which runs the world's first inter-disciplinary Programme on Negotiation (PON), is open to the idea of collaboration with acknowledged centres of excellence in India, provided such an institution is found by the US institution as a perfect fit. Replying to queries by Business Line at an interactive session recently on PON and other programmes for senior business executives, Mr James Kerwin, Assistant Director of PON at Harvard Law School, said such programmes were written for a global business audience, and any tie-up with other international institutions was a good idea, provided one succeeds in coming up with a perfect fit. PON, founded and based at Harvard Law School, is open to both lawyers and non-lawyers, and is drawn from numerous fields of study, including law, business, government, psychology, economics, anthropology and education. It is an inter-university "consortium involving faculty, graduate students, and administrative staff from a range of disciplines and professional schools at Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Tufts University. Giving an overview of the programme, labelled as an applied research centre committed to improving the theory and practice of negotiation and dispute resolution, Mr Kerwin said besides encouraging new thinking in negotiation theory and increasing public awareness of successful conflict resolution processes, PON also provided training and prepared graduates to assume a leadership role in the world community. Describing PON as being among the world's pre-eminent executive negotiation training institutions, he said a large number of professionals had learnt to be better negotiators through PON's 2-3 days Executive Education Seminars at HLS.

Courtesy: The Hindu Business Line: September 12, 2005

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India's candidate, Hashim Abdul Halim, was on Friday elected chairman of the Executive Committee of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) at its ongoing 51st conference at Nadi in Fiji. Mr. Halim, West Bengal Speaker for over 24 years, trounced his only rival, Geoffrey Henry, a parliamentarian from the Cook Islands, polling 188 out of 261 votes. Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee was elected vice-president of the Association, and it was decided that India would host the 53rd CPA conference in 2007. Mr. Halim's tally of 72 per cent of the votes polled, with no abstention, is rated as a resounding triumph, especially considering the fact that Balram Jhakar, the previous Indian to secure this post, had won by a single vote in 1984. The contest this time, too, had become very intense, and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee piloted a unifying campaign for over six months on behalf of the Indian candidate, according to Commonwealth sources. It is understood that Mr. Halim drew support from across the spectrum of African, Asian, Caribbean, Canadian and the United Kingdom regions. The Australia-Pacific region seemed to have preferred the other candidate. Pakistan and Bangladesh, among other South Asian countries, appeared to have voted for Mr. Halim.

Courtesy: The Hindu, September 10, 2005

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Chances of India joining the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project brightened today with the European Union (EU) backing India's bid. It also opened the doors for Indian participation in the EU-led Galileo project, Europe's own global navigation satellite system. Before European Council president and British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh addressed the India-EU summit, Benita Ferrero Waldner, EU Commissioner for External Affairs, said that these steps were being taken in recognition of India's proven scientific capabilities in these areas. She, however, made it clear that EU supports the Non-Proliferation Treaty and would like all countries to become a part of it. The two sides have also agreed to cooperate on combating terrorism. Waldner was of the view that the progress of the dialogue between India and Pakistan will contribute to peace in the region. Though neither side had expressed such desire, she said EU was ready to assist in any manner to take the dialogue process forward.

Courtesy: The Indian Express, September 08, 2005

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Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy here today inaugurated two projects in infrastructure and education in Eastern Nepal. These projects include construction of school building of Pakali Madhyamik Vidayalaya, Pakali Bazar, Tharuhat, Sunsari which is to be constructed with Indian assistance. Another project is the handing over of scientific instruments to the engineering department of Purbanchal University. "This project through joint cooperation efforts is slowly becoming a Mecca for basic and higher education with top academic institutions specialising in medical, engineering and other subjects," the embassy said in a press release. "The Government of India through such projects reiterates to the people of Nepal the good wishes of the people of India in continuing economic cooperation." the release added.

Courtesy: www.uniindia.com, September 06, 2005

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Chennai will host the 8th World Spice Congress in January 2006. The three-day event starting from January 27 will deliberate on the theme of 'Food safety in spices -challenges and opportunities'. Organised by the Spices Board and All India Spices Exporters' Forum, the congress will have participants from over 40 countries. There will be three business sessions. They will deal with 'crops and market', 'food safety and initiatives' and 'spices flavours and beyond'. According to the board, through a well-designed exhibition, the congress will showcase the spice products on offer and the level of processing technology. India grows over 50 different varieties of spices. Total production is around 27 lakh tonne. About 8-10% of this is exported to over 150 countries. The spice export basket comprises pepper (7%), chilli (33%), turmeric (14%), seed spices (22%), spice oils and oleoresins (7%). The US is the major importer of Indian spices followed by the European Union, Japan, Sri Lanka, and West Asia. India has about 45-50% share in the world trade in spices in terms of volume. In value terms the country commands a 25% share. India meets almost 70% of the world demand for spice oils and oleoresins. The demand for organic spices is growing all over the world. India now exports around 50 tonnes of different varieties of organic spices. The board expects that exports would get a boost in the coming years as more and more farmers are switching over to organic farm practices.

Courtesy: www.financialexpress.com, September 06, 2005

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India has offered 5 million dollar to the American Red Cross as relief assistance to the United States in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina as a token of support to the people of the United States. In addition to this India has promised water purification system, essential medicines, army medical unit, naval divers and salvage experts. Aircraft to transport them is in readiness. All that is awaited are the necessary clearances, said a press release issued by the Indian Embassy here today. India has the largest number of pharmaceutical companies recognized by the US Food and Drug Administration in any country outside the United States. A self-supporting medical team from the Indian Army Medical Corps, including a surgeon, an anesthetist, doctors, nurses and para-medics who have had first hand experience in handling such situations, are ready to fly into the affected region in an Indian Air Force aircraft immediately, subject to U.S. clearance. The team will have its own medical equipment and stores. It is aimed to complement the efforts of US organisations, will not require any additional logistic support and will not in any manner strain existing resources. A Naval unit comprising of 8 divers and 12 salvage experts are also ready to proceed to the US as soon as required.

Courtesy: www.uniindia.com, September 06, 2005

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