Foreign News

A BI-WEEKLY NEWS DIGEST ON INDIA’S FOREIGN POLICY October 1st – October 15th, 2015 | VOLUME 2/16 Top Stories First visit by an Indian President to Israel, Palestine: Between trade and tradition The Indian Express | October 8th, 2015 India is Israel’s tenth largest trade partner overall, and Israel’s third largest trade partner in Asia after China and Hong Kong. In recent years, the bilateral trade has diversified into several sectors such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, IT and telecom and, homeland security. With Palestine, the relationship has been of aid and assistance at all levels. India had announced budgetary assistance to a tune of US$ 30 million to Palestine and have already transferred US$ 25 million so far. India had also announced project assistance to a tune of US$ 30 million. Our support for Palestine remains steadfast, says Pranab The Hindu | October 11th, 2015 India’s traditional support for the Palestinian cause remains “steadfast and unwavering,” and the country is ready to “work with all like-minded nations” for amicably solving the Israel-Palestinian conflict, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Sunday. Addressing students and academics at the Jordan University, on the second day of his six-day tri-nation tour to West Asia, President Mukherjee sought to ease concerns among the Arab nations about India’s growing ties with Israel. ​Sushma Swaraj to visit Russia next week PTI / The Times of India | October 12th, 2015 External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will leave for Moscow on October 19 on a three-day visit to participate in the annual India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission meeting in which both sides will deliberate on strategic issues besides energy and trade. The 21st round of inter-governmental meet, to be co- chaired by the External Affairs Minister and her Russian counterpart Dmitry Rogozin, will take stock of the entire gamut of ties between the two time-tested partners. The talks are likely to focus on ways to expand cooperation in trade and investment, particularly in the energy sector including nuclear power. President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to Jordan, Palestine and Israel Jordan Jordan backs India’s UNSC seat bid The Tribune | October 11th, 2015 Jordan strongly came out in support of India in its quest for a seat in the expanded United Nations Security Council (UNSC), a significant development considering that the West Asia was seen as part of the Consensus Group. King Abdullah of Jordan conveyed the stand to President Pranab Mukherjee, who arrived here on the first-leg of a three-nation historic visit to West Asia. President Mukherjee said he was happy that a first-ever visit by an Indian Head of the State to this country in 65 years was happening under his presidentship. Pranab hails ties with Jordan; urges increased bilateral investment  The Hindu | October 11th, 2015 President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday hailed India’s relationship with Jordan, and thanked the King Abdullah II for his “great humanitarian” policies as well as the help the Kingdom offered to India for evacuating its citizens from the conflict-hit countries in West Asia. Palestine India offers $5 mn budgetary support to Palestine The Hindu | October 13th, 2015 President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday held talks with his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah where he reiterated India’s economic and political support for the Palestinians, and announced projects for capacity building in Gaza and West Bank. The President has handed over a cheque of $5 million to the Palestinian government as a budgetary support, Anil Wadhwa, Secretary East at the External Affairs Ministry, told the accompanying media delegation after high-level talks. Road in Ramallah named after India as President Pranab Mukherjee visits Palestine PTI / IBN Live | October 12th, 2015 The Sharia-e-Al-hind (India road) and Midan-e-Al-hind (India roundabout) in Ramallah were named at a ceremony attended by Mukherjee and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and hundreds of Palestinians. The new road, which is close to the Mahatma Gandhi Road that houses the Indian mission, was unnamed so far and a Palestinian official said that it was given its name in honour of Mukherjee “whose visit reflects the strong bonding between the two people”. Palestinians protest Indo-Israel ties PTI / The Asian Age | October 14th, 2015 Angry Palestinian students on Tuesday protested against India’s growing friendship with Israel at a university campus here while President Pranab Mukherjee was visiting, forcing cancellation of one of his engagements. Hundreds of students shouted slogans and carried placards critical of India’s ties with the Jewish state while Mukherjee was being honoured by Al-Quds university at Abu Dis with an honorary degree and hailed as a “Knight of Peace”. Israel Pranab Mukherjee addresses Israel Parliament The Hindu | October 14th, 2015 President Pranab Mukherjee addressed the Israeli Parliament, Knesset. The President, who arrived in Jerusalem on Tuesday after visiting Jordan and Palestine, was accorded a ceremonial reception at the presidential palace. India concerned over escalation in Israel-Palestine violence IANS / Business Standard | October 14th, 2015 “We are disturbed at the recent violence. India condemns all forms of violence,” the president said during his meetings with the Israeli leadership. Ties with Israel on upswing: Pranab The Hindu | October 14th, 2015 “My visit to Israel is taking place at a time when relations between our two governments are taking a very positive trajectory,” said Mr. Mukherjee in the Israeli Parliament. He said Israel’s technological advances could help India increase its industrial production, and create jobs in both countries. ASIA PACIFIC India, US and Japan in joint Naval exercise PTI / Zee News | October 14th, 2015 The Navies of India, United States and Japan on Wednesday began the five-day ‘Malabar exercise’ on the Eastern coast, in which several warships, aircraft carriers and fast attack submarine would participate. Naval personnel of the three countries will participate in the event, termed as “complex”, “high-end warfighting” exercise, an official release said. “Malabar 2015 is a latest in the continuing series of exercises conducted to advance multi-national maritime relationships and mutual security issues,” it said. China China to Boost Defence Ties With India, Military Drills Start PTI / NDTV | October 13th, 2015 China today said it will continue to strengthen defence cooperation with India as the two nations’ armies kicked off the fifth round of annual anti-terror military drills in the Chinese city of Kunming aimed at enhancing mutual understanding, communication and cooperation. Addressing the troops, Indian Ambassador to China, Ashok K Kantha said the ‘Hand-in-Hand’ joint exercises this year are significant as they are truly “joint” in planning, command structure and in execution. India Needs to be Vigilant About Joining Anti-China Camp: Chinese Daily PTI / NDTV | October 14th, 2015 Asserting that the relationship with India is on a sound track, the Chinese media today asked New Delhi to be vigilant to efforts to rope it into an “anti-China camp” in the backdrop of Japan joining the ongoing Indo-US naval exercise ‘Malabar’. “The China-India relationship is on a sound track, and healthy ties are beneficial to both countries. India should be vigilant to any intentions of roping it into an anti-China camp,” an article in the state-run Global Times said today, highlighting a joint drill between the Indian and Chinese armies and the trilateral Malabar drills being held concurrently. Australia Australia “cautiously positive” on CECA with India by year-end PTI / India Today | October 13th, 2015 Australia today said it is “cautiously positive” that its free trade agreement with India will be concluded by the end of the year. The negotiations on the proposed free trade pact were very positive and constructive, Australian High Commissioner to India Patrick Suckling said. “Progress is definitely being made, we are positive but cautiously positive as there is still a lot of work to be done,” Suckling said at a session on trade and investment liberalisation organised by the Australian High Commission. SOUTH ASIA Nepal India concerned over anti-India sentiments in Nepal IANS / India TV News | October 8th, 2015 India on Thursday expressed concern over increasing “anti-India sentiments” in Nepal and called upon Kathmandu to “put its house in order” over protests by a section of the Himalayan nation’s population over the new constitution. External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup told reporters here that there was no official or unofficial blockade by India and all border points remain open. He said obstructions at entry points was only due to demonstrations on the Nepali territory. India-Nepal Relations May Suffer If Border Dispute Doesn’t End PTI / The Huffington Post | October 8th, 2015 Nepal will have to look beyond India if the blockade of its borders by anti-Constitution protesters which has hit essential supplies does not end and the obvious partner would be China, Nepalese Ambassador to New Delhi Deep Kumar Upadhyay said today. The envoy said the landlocked country is undergoing a “crisis” because of the disruption in cross-border traffic, which had badly impacted transportation of essential commodities, especially fuel. He insisted the agreement between Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) should not be “violated”. India relies on new Nepal PM to resolve crisis over Constitution The Times of India | October 14th, 2015 The newly elected deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar has promised that the new Constitution will be amended with revision on the federal structure in order to address the demands of agitating people in Tarai-Madhes. Maldives Will not tolerate foreign interference in domestic affairs, Maldives President tells Sushma Swaraj PTI / DNA | October 12th, 2015 Amid international pressure over imprisonment of opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed, Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen on Sunday bluntly told External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj that his government will not tolerate that ‘foreign parties’ interfere in domestic issues. The assertion was made by Yameen when Swaraj called on him on Sunday during her visit to the island nation during which the two nations restarted the Joint Commission talks after a hiatus of 15 years. Maldives President’s ‘Foreign Parties’ Remark for ‘Larger Audience’: India PTI / NDTV | October 13th, 2015 India today downplayed the Maldivian President’s remarks to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj that his government will not tolerate foreign interference in domestic issues, saying the message was for “larger audience and not for India only”. India, Maldives to step up cooperation in defence, security IANS / Hindustan Times | October 11th, 2015 India and the Maldives discussed cooperation in defence and security, trade and connectivity and health among other issues during the visit of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj for the 5th Joint Commission meeting. Sushma Swaraj was in the Maldives on October 10-11 to co-chair the 5th Meeting of the India-Maldives Joint Commission. She called on President Abdulla Yameen during which the talks “were reflective of the privileged” nature of the bilateral relationship. Pakistan Sushma Swaraj gives stern response to Nawaz Sharif: Give up terrorism and let’s talk The Indian Express | October 2nd, 2015 India responded on Thursday to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s “four-point peace initiative” with a proposal of its own: give up terrorism. “We do not need a four-point proposal. We need just one: give up terrorism and let us sit down and talk. This will resolve all the problems,” Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Manohar Parrikar Slams Pakistan Violations, Calls It ‘Terror Breeder’ PTI / NDTV | October 12th, 2015 Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that human rights violations by the Pakistani Army in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as well as Balochistan and Sindh need to be highlighted on the global stage. “It was about time that Pakistan’s role as a terror-breeder is brought out in the open on a global stage,” Mr Parrikar said, speaking at a fund-raising function held at Bambolim late last evening. EUROPE Germany Narendra Modi-Angela Merkel meet: 18 MoUs inked, fast tracking of German investments PTI / The Financial Express | October 6th, 2015 Co-chairing the third summit-level Inter-Governmental Consultations, Modi and Merkel in their three-hour-long talks resolved to expand ties in defence, security, intelligence, railways, trade and investment, clean energy, besides deciding to work closely to combat threat of terrorism. The two leaders also underlined the need for reviving the negotioations for the long-pending India-EU Free Trade pact with Modi asking Merkel to use her influence in the 28-member bloc to remove the impediments for resumption of the talks. India and Germany team up for mobility solutions, solar power Live Mint | October 6th, 2015 India and Germany on Monday signed agreements on hastening German investments into India. The European country, which leads in renewable energy, will invest €1 billion (around Rs.7,300 crore today) to help India’s green energy corridor project and another €1 billion to develop solar projects. These were part of 18 pacts signed between the two nations. Five agreements were signed between Indian and German companies on Tuesday on urban mobility solutions, solar power generation and skill development. NORTH AMERICA The United States India, US relations progressing in Modi’s leadership: official PTI / Business Standard | October 10th, 2015 The bilateral relationship between India and the US has grown enormously, especially on security and diplomatic fronts, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power and America is hopeful that this alliance will only become more productive, a top State Department official has said. “There’s been enormous progress in US-India relations, and certainly since Prime Minister Modi came into office,” said John Kirby, State Department Spokesman. ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE Paris climate deal should be pragmatic and practical: Prakash Javadekar PTI / Asian Age | October 7th, 2015 The Paris climate change agreement should be “progressive and pragmatic” and the accord should deliver “climate justice” to poorer sections and developing nations, India on Wednesday said ahead of the crucial summit in France’s capital. India also said the Paris agreement should provide carbon space to developing nations. Noting that the poorer sections of the globe and developing nations are the worst sufferers, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the present climate change has happened due to the historical responsibility of the developed world. Developed nations should deliver on Green Climate Fund: India PTI / The Economic Times | October 9th, 2015 “Green Climate Fund is only talked about (and) not materialised. (The) Developed world has committed itself USD 100 billion per year by 2020. It has to be paid by the developed world to developing nations,” Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar told. The Green Climate Fund was set up under the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2010 and developed countries had committed to raising USD 100 billion each year by 2020 to help developing countries deal with climate change. MISCELLANEOUS India dismayed at lack of transparency in UN peace operations PTI / India Today | October 13th, 2015 India has expressed its strong dismay at the lack of accountability and transparency in the framing of peacekeeping mandates by the UN Security Council, saying this “failing” by the world body is resulting in rising casualties among peacekeepers and civilians. “We are dismayed at the opaque manner in which the Security Council continues mandate peace operations, without any accountability or transparency,” India’s Permanent Representative to the UN Asoke Mukerji said at a debate in the UN General Assembly on peacekeeping operations. ***

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