4. Foreign Relations: Others
Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Murasoli Maran told the 20th meeting of the foreign ministers of the G-15 countries that greater dialogue was needed between the G-8 and the G-15 nations to discuss the growing economic disequilibrium. He also said the WTO should be "restricted to trade and trade alone," and that developing countries must "put an end to this trend of protectionism through the back door" in multilateral trade.
"India urges for talks between G-15 and G-8"
"India urges G-15 to fight protectionism"
Australian Prime Minister John Howard will visit India beginning July 10. Relations between India and Australia have improved since the post-nuclear test lows, driven by consultations over Fiji
"Australian PM to visit India"
Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee Behari Vajpayee will make the first official visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Portugal. Portugal holds the rotating presidency of the EU.
"Portugal prime mover behind EU-India summit"
Indian Home Minister LK Advani was in Paris to meet with French official Jean Pierre Chevenement to discuss ways to tackle international terrorism. He stated, "The biggest threat to India's internal security has been Pakistan's proxy war in which the principle ingredients have been infiltration, subversion and terrorism."
"India seeks French support to combat terrorism"
Italy is looking forward to the visit by Indian Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee. In order to raise its profile in India and build on growing trade, Italy will offer "green cards" for 6,000-7,000 Indian IT experts. Italy will be the next chair of the G-8 and may seek India's support for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, but will also likely push India on signing the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and curbing attacks on Christians.
"PM's visit may strengthen ties with Italy"
The Indian Navy is planning a fleet review by the President and the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces in celebration of the half-century mark of the Indian Republic. Under the motto "Bridges of Friendship," the review will include Indian and foreign warships. The annual review at Port Blair has in the past included ships and senior officers from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. This effort is one of many to develop ties with potential strategic partners in the Middle East and Southeast Asia, and India would like these partners to make use of under-used India ship-building capacities.
"Building bridges in the seas"
The Purulia arms-drop case, in which five Russian pilots were sentenced to life in a Calcutta prison, is criticized by Russian officials which accuse Indian security forces of charging the pilots to cover up for their failure to arrest those behind the arms-smuggling operation. The issue will overshadow External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh's upcoming visit to Russia.
"Purulia may sour Jaswant's Moscow trip"
Sino-Indian ties are on a rebound, and President KR Narayanan's recent visit to the PRC demonstrated the same compartmentalized approach to resolving the PRC's call to de-weaponize South Asia, as the approach is working in resolving Sino-Indian border disputes. The PRC did not raise the issue of nuclear tests.
"India-China ties"