Page 47 - Ministry Of External Affairs

Jaishankar signs defense cooperation agreement with Cyprus on visit

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met his Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kasoulides here and discussed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and issues of mutual and global interests like the Ukraine conflict, as the two sides signed three agreements, including an MOU on defence and military cooperation. Jaishankar arrived here earlier in the day on his first official visit to Cyprus as the two countries celebrate the 60 years of diplomatic relations. During his visit, Jaishankar met his Cypriot counterpart Kasoulides and signed an agreement on defence and military cooperation, another Letter of Intent on immigration and mobility, as well as the agreement on Cyprus joining the International Solar Alliance (ISA). The two leaders also shared their vision for world peace, freedom, and democracy. Kasoulides said India and Cyprus were driven by their partnership to diversify and deepen the people to people contact. Jaishankar and Kasoulides also took an opportunity to

EAM Jaishankar to visit Cyprus, Austria from Dec 29 to Jan 3: MEA

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit the Republic of Cyprus and Austria from December 29 to January 3, an official statement said on Wednesday. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in the statement, said the minister will be in Republic of Cyprus (RoC) from December 29 to December 31, 2022. This year marks 60 years of the diplomatic relations between India and Cyprus. During his visit, Jaishankar will meet Minister of Foreign Affairs of RoC, Ioannis Kasoulides and also call on President of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou. He will also address the business and investment community of that country, and interact with the Indian diaspora. In Austria, the external affairs minister (EAM) will meet Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Alexander Schallenberg, the statement said. This will be the first EAM-level visit from India to Austria in the last 27 years, and it takes place against the backdrop of 75 years of diplomatic ...

Amid soaring Chinese outreach, India needs to enhance development diplomacy

A parliamentary panel has recommended that India needs to review and enhance its developmental diplomacy in view of the increasing Chinese outreach and presence in its neighbourhood. This view of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs is part of the action taken report tabled by the government in Parliament earlier this week. The ministry report was on the panel's observations on the subject Demands for Grants' of the ministry for the year 2022-23. It also dealt with aid allocations to India's neighbouring countries, including Afghanistan and Nepal. "In view of the increasing Chinese outreach and presence in India's neighbourhood, the Committee feel that India needs to review and enhance their developmental diplomacy," the panel said. It further suggested that "a strategy/vision should be formulated to expand our developmental partnership, particularly capacity building and knowledge sharing, to effectively counter the presence of other regional powers in our ...

EAM Jaishankar holds talks on G20 presidency with UNGA chief in New York

External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met United Nations General Assembly President Csaba Korosi in New York and discussed India's G20 Presidency goals and the importance of multilateralism

Jaishankar meets UAE counterpart in Abu Dhabi, discusses regional issues

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with his United Arab Emirates counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi

183,741 Indians gave up citizenship in last five years: MoS tells Lok Sabha

The number of Indians renouncing citizenship has gone up significantly in the last few years

India in touch with Russia, Ukraine at various levels amid conflict: MEA

India has called on Russia and Ukraine to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue and end their ongoing conflict, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday. In reply to a question in Rajya Sabha, Minister of State in MEA V Muraleedharan also said that India has consistently called for immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to violence since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. "India has called upon both sides to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue, and also expressed its support for all diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. The government has been in touch with Russia and Ukraine at various levels," he said in his written reply. Muraleedharan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has spoken to the presidents of Russia and Ukraine on multiple occasions and urged for immediate cessation of hostilities and return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue for the resolution of the conflict. "The External Affairs Minister has been in regular touch with

India, Azerbaijan hold 5th round of Foreign Office Consultations: MEA

India and Azerbaijan held the fifth round of Foreign Office Consultations on November 28 and reviewed bilateral relations comprehensively including, political, trade, and economic matters, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday."The Fifth round of India-Azerbaijan Foreign Office Consultations was held in New Delhi on 28 November 2022. Indian delegation was led by Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West)," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Elnur Mammadov, led Azerbaijan's delegation. The 4th Foreign Office Consultations were held in Baku on 28 July 2016."The two sides reviewed India-Azerbaijan bilateral relations comprehensively including, political, trade & economic, consular, culture, and education matters. Views were also exchanged on regional issues and cooperation in the UN and other multilateral bodies," the MEA said.This year India and Azerbaijan mark the 30th anniversary of establishment of their ...

Making efforts to protect rights of baby in foster care in Germany: MEA

Government on Friday said it was making all efforts to ensure the well being and protection of the rights of a 22-month-old girl in foster care in Germany, amid reports about her parents staging protests in Gujarat demanding her immediate repatriation. Responding to questions on the issue, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said the government has been intervening and engaging with the German authorities on the matter for over a year, since September last year. The Embassy of India, Berlin has also been extending relevant consular assistance to the family. It is also engaging with the German authorities with an expectation of early conclusion of the court proceedings, he said. Bagchi said the case of the Indian baby currently in foster care in Germany was a sensitive and sub-judice matter. All efforts are being made to ensure the well being and protection of the rights of the child, he said. Bagchi said the ministry was conscious of privacy issues and the sensitive

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India, Iran agree on continued cooperation on Chabahar port terminal

India and Iran agreed on Thursday on continued cooperation for the development of the Shahid Behesti terminal of the Chabahar port. The issue came up for discussion during the Foreign Office Consultations between an Iranian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani and an Indian delegation led by Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra. "During the delegation-level talks, both sides discussed the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including political, economic, cultural and consular engagement," according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The statement said the two sides reiterated their commitment to continuing the cooperation for the development of the Shahid Behesti terminal of the Chabahar port. The two delegations led by Kani and Kwatra also exchanged views on regional and international issues, including Afghanistan. Kani also briefed the foreign secretary on issues related to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the .

Want visa system to be simple, swift: MEA on 1,000-day US visa wait

Amid reports that people in India seeking a tourist or business visa for the US may have to wait for three years to get one, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said it has not raised the matter with the country, but expects the visa system of a country to be predictable and less time taking. According to media reports, those planning to visit the United States on visitor visas - B1 (business) and B2 (tourist) - will have to wait for nearly three years and the waiting time for applicants in India is close to 1,000 days. Asked if the matter had been taken up with the US, MEA Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "We want that when people want to go somewhere, the visa system should be simple. This is our expectation." He said it had not been taken up formally because "we would not want someone commenting on our system." "But we would want the system to be predictable, simple and does not take much time. We have seen the (US) embassy here has said that they are taking steps to .

India, EU hopeful of timely conclusion of negotiations on trade

India and the European Union on Tuesday expressed hope that there is a timely conclusion of negotiations on their trade and investment agreements, and agreed on the need for greater ambition in the implementation of their connectivity partnership. The 9th India-EU Foreign Policy and Security Consultations were held here co-chaired by Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Sanjay Verma and Enrique Mora, Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs, European External Action Service. During the consultations, both sides were pleased to note the enhanced intensity and political momentum in the India-EU relationship, a start towards which was made during the 15th India-EU Summit held in July 2020 and which was further strengthened by the India-EU Leaders' Meeting in May 2021, a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs said. They took stock of key bilateral developments, including the India-EU Trade and Technology Council, announced by Prime Minister Modi and .

Are countries using visas as weapons to fight diplomatic battles?

While India does seem to be facing the rough end of visa diplomacy, barriers are going up globally

Delhi Police arrests MEA driver on charges of espionage: Report

Delhi Police's Crime Branch team has arrested a driver working in the Ministry of External Affairs on charges of espionage for allegedly leaking confidential details to a Pakistan-based person, sources said on Friday. According to a source, the arrest was made on Friday from the Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan here. The suspect allegedly used to pass confidential and sensitive information related to national security to a person based in Pakistan. The source said the driver was honey trapped by an ISI person who pretended to be a woman when he spoke with him. Police, however, refused to share any details of the case citing concerns over national security.

India's Presidency hopes to provide new direction to G20 talks: MEA

India's Presidency hopes to provide new strength to G20 discussions on subjects which include green development, lifestyle for environment, digital transformation, and greater voice for global south

Another lotus blooms

India prepares to take over the G20 presidency

EAM S Jaishankar to visit Russia on Nov 7; to hold talks with Sergey Lavrov

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay a two-day visit to Russia beginning November 7 during which he will hold wide-ranging talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced Jaishankar's visit on Thursday. During visit to Moscow, Jaishankar will hold talks with Lavrov focusing on bilateral, regional and international issues, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing. The visit is taking place amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. In the last few months, India has increased the import of discounted crude oil from Russia notwithstanding increasing disquiet over it by several Western powers. Jaishankar and Lavrov have already met four times after the Ukraine conflict began in February. The Russian foreign minister visited India in April during which he held extensive talks with Jaishankar and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India in December last year to attend the .

Efforts on for Hindi's inclusion in official languages at UN: S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday said efforts are on to get Hindi recognised as an official language at the United Nations and progress has been made in that direction but it will take some time. He made the remarks at an event in Delhi where it was announced that the next World Hindi Conference will be organised in Nadi, Fiji from February 15-17 next year. Asked about efforts to include Hindi among the official languages at the UN, Jaishankar said, "You would know Hindi is being used in UNESCO. As far as the use of Hindi in its headquarters is concerned, we have an MoU with them, they are using it in social media and newsletters. It will take some time in expanding this, it is not so easy that a language is introduced in the UN process." "Work is being done on it, progress has been made and it is our expectation that this will move forward," he said. The UN has six official languages English, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and French. Speaking at the event,

Peace and tranquillity at border essential, says EAM to Chinese envoy

Peace and tranquillity in the border areas are essential for normal ties between India and China, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed to outgoing Chinese Ambassador Sun Weidong on Wednesday. Jaishankar made the remarks when the envoy called on him. India and China are locked in a lingering border standoff in eastern Ladakh for over 29 months. The bilateral relationship came under severe strain following the deadly clash in Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh in June, 2020. "Received Ambassador Sun Weidong of China for a farewell call. Emphasized that the development of India-China relations is guided by the 3 Mutuals. Peace and tranquility in the border areas is essential," the external affairs minister tweeted. "The normalization of India-China relations is in the interest of both countries, of Asia and the world at large," he said. India has been asserting that the Sino-India ties must be based on three mutuals: mutual sensitivity, mutual respect and mutual interest. In