MAY - JULY 2010

VOL. 1, NO. 2
` 150

Burundi
China
Czech
Georgia
face to face

Portugal
Rwanda
Slovenia
Sudan
UAE

IN THIS ISSUE
NEWS & VIEWS
From Diplomatic Missions
of African, Asian and European
countries
Look inside for a
ringside view of the Poems / Poemas

Kuwaiti society, the Nuno Judice

´
&
people, their ambitions Luis Filipe Castro Mendes

and their expectations

from India.
The official and non-
official point of view.
We are interested in sourcing
lubricants and petroleum based products
for markets in India and other
South Asian countries.
Volume I, Number 2

FORM IV declaration
face to face
Place of publication: New Delhi
8 Burundi Zéphyrin Maniratanga The value of peace
Periodicity of its publication: Quarterly
3 China Zhang Yan Trust, the basis of genuine relationship
Printer’s Name: Arunava Dasgupta
20 Georgia Katchkatchishvili Zurab Waiting for India to open mission in Georgia Nationality: Indian
Address: I/1677 Chittaranjan Park
28 Portugal Luis Filipe Castro Mendes Enjoy a historical relation with India New Delhi 110019
10 Rwanda Eugene Ngoga There are forces who ignite genocide Publisher’s Name: Arunava Dasgupta
Nationality: Indian
26 Slovenia Janez Premoze On Slovenia’s potential for trade and tourism
Address: I/1677 Chittaranjan Park
14 Sudan Khidir Haroun Ahmed Commerce must be supported politically New Delhi 110019
6 UAE M S Abdalla Al Owais What makes India trading partner No.1 Editor’s Name: Arpita Dasgupta
Nationality: Indian
32 Czech Lubos Vanek Technology partnership
Address: I/1677 Chittaranjan Park
events New Delhi 110019
Names and addresses of individuals
2 Egypt Ambassador bids farewell 13 Light and Hope
who own the newspaper and partners
31 Japan Celebrating BUNKASAI or shareholders holding more than
24 UAE A special gesture to support children one per cent of the total capital.

voices 33 Cover story

KUWAIT VISITED
Arunava Dasgupta
I/1677 Chittaranjan Park
New Delhi 110019
I, Arunava Dasgupta,
37 Rasha Al Sabah Role as a regional financial centre hereby declare that the particulars
given above are true to the best of
38 Ahmad R Al Haroun Kuwait offers a competitive business environment
my knowledge and belief.
38 Ibrahim A Alnouh At Kuwait, people freely practice what they want Date May 01, 2010

40 Ajai Malhotra Setting high standards in diplomacy

Signature of Publisher
43 Khaled H D Al-Razni We invite people to come and view our society
Women’s
44 Cultural & Social Society We are In favour of ‘Activism’ not ‘Feminism’

45 Ya’qub Al Hijji India has been like a mother to us

47 Barges H Al Barges What happened in Mumbai (26/11) is unacceptable

17 Eyjafjallajökull FAQ
Barnali Ghosh on
18 ‘Managing Geohazards’
48 T3 takes off

FAREWELL
Ambassador Higazy
Dr Mohamed Higazy with wife Madam Hoda Hafez and sons Karim and Sherif
My assignment in India after four years is
now about to finish and I will go back to
Cairo in September. I am happy that my President Nasser and Prime Minister Nehru nology and Bio-Technology in addition to
tenure has witnessed a quantum jump in the continues to flourish in every sphere.
multi-dimensional Egypt–India relations to
reach a status of strategic partnership.
My affinity to India is manifolds. On a
personal note, my wife was born at Kolkata in
At a recently convened press conference at
the Egyptian Embassy, Dr Mohamed
Higazy, Ambassador of Egypt announced
that with the completion of his tenure at
Delhi, he would soon be returning to Cairo. historically been peace loving countries, non-
We bid Ambassador Higazy, a true friend of partisan proven by the fact that we along
India, along with his family, a warm farewell with Marshal Tito founded NAM during the
and hope to see him in India in the future
the sixties when her father worked at the
Egyptian consulate in that city. During the
thirty years that I have known her, I have
heard a lot about India. This actually brought
both of us closer to India and when I received
my nomination for the present assignment, it
was among the best moments of my life. The
love we brought from Egypt to India helped
us add value to this relation between the two
most ancient civilisations, who have together
shaped the history of humanity.
During these four years, there were 25
ministerial visits, a larger number of scientific
and business contacts, a healthy bilateral
trade at USD 3.5 billion in 2008 and intending
to reach USD 5 billion in 2012, a USD 2
billion investment by Indian companies in
EGYPT
“The love we brought from Egypt
to India helped us add value to
this relation between the world’s
two most ancient civilisations”
multi-farious fields Egypt and India which were always excellent
like textiles, petro- from the days of the Pharaoh continue to
chemicals, oil explo- become even better. It is natural because we
ration, IT and many share a natural affinity and love for art –
other industries that expression through colours, music, cinema,
have found Egypt to sculpture and so on. Tourism to Egypt is
be an ideal for increasing and last year there were 110,000
transacting business visitors. The 'Indo-Egypt Cultural Week', a
in North Africa, the listed activity between India and Egypt has
COMESA countries become a great success. Egypt held its cultural
and the Arab League week in India during 2007 and 2009 and the
countries. Add to way our artistes were acclaimed and
this, a large number appreciated shows a commonality in our
of Indian projects cultures. Similarly, India showcased its
which are in the cultural week in 2008 and will do so during
pipeline. September 2010 at Cairo. Egypt being the
The success of cultural hub of the Arab world will be happy
Egypt–India bilateral to receive the Indians.
relations which is India has attained marvellous achieve-
ancient and redis- ments in the field of three technologies, parti-
covered and given modern expression by cularly Space Science, Information Tech-
other modern technologies. The achieve-
I am indeed very happy that President ments of India brings ‘Hope’ to the third
Hosny Mubarak's historical visit to India gave world countries and inspires them to move
our bilateral relations an impetus and a new forward. I hope that the new generation of
expression—Strategic Partnership—a force- diplomats, politicians and scientists will build
multiplier if I may call, that will help India upon the foundations of Indo–Egypt relations
and Egypt to expand their economic and by integrating knowledge into their mutual
social influence in South Asia, West Asia and relations.
North Africa for the benefit of the people
who inhabit these regions. Our nations have
days of a bi-polarised world.
It also gives me great pleasure to inform
that I shall continue to work for Egypt–India
relations and my first task will be to table the
6th Round of Joint Commission which shall
be attended by the Foreign Ministers of both
countries. We expect to sign four important
agreements concerning Double Taxation, Self portrait in Arabic calligraphy by
Maritime Transportation, Education and Excellency’s younger son, Sherif
Scientific Cooperation (2010–12) and Tour-
ism. In addition, numerous Memorandums of I leave India with a lot of love for the
Indians which I shall carry back to Egypt. My
Understanding are expected to be signed on
wife and sons are good painters and I hope
renewable energy, social development, insu-
rance, cooperation for environment pro-they shall continue capturing their fond
memories of India on the canvas for posterity
tection, technology and science, agriculture,
to see and appreciate. I also hope that I shall
historical research and archives, antiquity
be successful in reopening the Egyptian
and cultural heritage, information services
and so on. Consulate at Kolkata and maybe at another
The relations between the people of one in southern part of India.
(See page 30)
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
2

Without
TRUST
there can be no genuine relations
H.E. Mr Zhang Yan, Ambassador, Peoples’ Republic of China
This year marks the 60th anniversary of
the establishment of diplomatic relations
between China and India. On this aus-
picious occasion, it is indeed a great pleasure
for me, through the magazine Diplomatic
Square, to express my sincere gratitude to
Indian friends from all walks of life who
have worked tirelessly for the development
of China–India relations.
In more than 2000 years of history,
good-neighbourliness and friendly inter-
actions have always been the main feature of
China–India relations. The liberation and
independence of China and India in the
middle of last century not only changed the
destinies of two countries, but also the
political landscape of the world. The
establishment of diplomatic ties between
China and India on April 1, 1950 ushered in
a new era for the development of bilateral
relations. Since then the two countries have
enjoyed mutual understanding and support
in their respective endeavour of safe-
guarding sovereignty and independence, as
well as, nation building. The catch phrase of
Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai has been deeply
rooted in the hearts of the two peoples. The
famous Panchsheel, the Five Principles of
Peaceful Coexistence initiated by China and
India during 1950s remain to be one of the
guiding principles of international relations.
In spite of the temporary ups and downs,
China–India relations on the whole have
been progressing positively, thanks to the
leadership of generations of leaders of the
two countries. Today, China and India have
emerged as two fast growing economies and
their relationship has gone beyond the
bilateral dimension and assumed global and
strategic significance.
Looking into the future, despite of all
kinds of positive and negative hypotheses, I
am optimistic about China–India relations
for the following reasons:
FIRST, the leaders of two countries have
taken long-term strategic perspectives
60
about our relationship which
provides a clear guidance and
solid political basis for the
sustained development of our
relations.
SECOND, China–India rela-
tions have acquired new dimen-
sions. The two countries have
established the Strategic and Co-
operative Partnership for Peace All these platforms have played a very useful
and Prosperity in 2005, formulated a Ten- role in addressing relevant issues and
Pronged Strategy in 2006, and signed A maintaining stable relations between the
Shared Vision for 21st Century in 2008. All two countries.
these have provided guidelines and road
The past 60 years have proved that when
maps for the development of strategic part-
China and India live in amity and
nership.
understand and support each other, the two
T HIRD , China–India relations are countries grow faster and people benefit.
expanding and deepening in all round When China and India join hands, they can
manner. Today China–India relations have make positive impact on world peace and
extended into almost all human endeavours. prosperity. It has also proved that
The cooperation in all fields have yielded cooperation, communication, consultation
tangible benefits to the people of two and dialogue are the best means to handle
countries. our relations. There are no fundamental
differences and conflicts between China and
FOURTH, China and India enjoy growing
India. Let alone China and India are rivalries
shared interests. As two emerging economic
or threat to each other, the two countries are
powers, China and India have become
partners for development. We have more
important trade partners. The two countries
common interests than differences. As
also share similar views on many important
Chinese President Hu Jintao underlines, the
global and regional issues, and closely
good-neighbourly friendship and coopera-
coordinate and cooperate with each other
tion between China and India and their
within the frameworks of BRICs, BASIC,
common development not only benefit our
G20 and other fora and on issues like
two peoples, but also serve the peace and
financial crisis, climate change and
development of Asia and the entire world.
international trade negotiations. Both are
Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh
committed to the promotion of building a
said time and again that there is enough
harmonious world of peace and common
room in the world for India and China to
prosperity.
prosper together.
F IFTH , China–India relations are
In order to move the China–India
growing in maturity. While striving to seek
relations forward, I am of the view that
mutually acceptable solutions to boundary
efforts should be made in the following
issue and other differences, both sides agree
areas:
not to let those differences stand in the way
of our cooperation. Furthermore, two FIRST, further enhance mutual trust.
countries have set up relevant mechanisms, I share the view that China and India need to
such as Special Representative Talks on urgently enhance their mutual trust which
border issue, strategic dialogues and so on. is vital to a sound and stable relationship
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
3
 CHINA
Without trust there can be no genuine
relations. Without trust, there can be no
sustained and meaningful cooperation. The
two countries should maintain the momen-
tum of high-level interaction—expand
exchanges and cooperation at all levels and
in all fields. The forthcoming visit by Indian
President to China this year will surely
greatly enhance mutual trust and coopera-
tion of two countries.
SECOND, upgrade the level of economic
cooperation. As two fast growing econo-
mies, China and India still hold great
potential in their economic, trade and
investment cooperation. The two sides
should expand the scope of trade, improve
trade configuration and strive to reduce the
trade imbalance. At the same time, the two
countries should endeavour to reach a
regional trade arrangement and take
effective measures to remove trade and
investment barriers so as to foster an
environment conducive to sustainable
development of bilateral economic coopera-
tion and achieve a win-win outcome.
T HIRD , expand people-to-people
exchanges to cement public support for our
relations. The two countries should enhance
exchanges and cooperation in culture,
education, tourism, religion, science and
technology, and increase interactions
between the academic communities and
Glimpses of China
4DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
media sectors of two side. Exchanges
between youth should be further expanded.
The China Festival in India and Indian
Festival in China which have recently
commenced will surely serve as an
invaluable platform for promoting mutual
understanding and friendship.
FOURTH, further strengthen cooperation
in multilateral forum. China and India shall
remain important partners in regional and
global affairs, strengthen coordination and
cooperation and continue to play an active
role in promoting multi-polarisation and account for 40 per cent of the world's total.
democratisation in international relations The meaningful cooperation between China
while safeguarding the common interests of and India will not only benefit the two
developing countries.
FIFTH, properly address each other's
concerns. The two countries should respect
and accommodate each other's interests and
concerns and appropriately manage the
outstanding issues through consultations on
an equal footing and in a spirit of mutual
understanding. The two sides shall follow
the political parameters and principles both
(mutually) agreed, including the Five
Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, and one daughter.
strive to seek a fair and reasonable solution
acceptable to both sides. Pending a final
resolution, we shall not allow the differences
to affect our cooperation.
SIXTH, properly handle public opinion.
Public opinion is vitally important to the
PHOTOS: Panu Pazo
development of our relations. The two
countries should provide correct guidance to
the public opinions and avoid war of words.
Efforts should be made on both sides in order
to create an objective, friendly and mutually
trusting environment. A good and conducive
public environment will not only provide a
necessary condition for the stable deve-
lopment of our relations, but also create
conditions conducive to the settlement of
historical issues and other differences.
The populations of China and India
countries and peoples, but also the peace and
prosperity of Asia and the world as a whole.
At the beginning of a new cycle of 60 years,
China–India relations are faced with new
and rare opportunities. The two countries
should join their efforts to take our relations
to a new height.
Ambassador Zhang Yan was born in
Zhejiang Province, the People's Republic of
China (P.R.C.). He is an university graduate.
Ambassador Zhang Yan is married with
Diplomatic Assignments
1978–1983: Staff, Attache, Embassy of
the P.R.C. in the Republic of Liberia;
1983–1990: Attache, Deputy Director,
Director, Department of International
Organisations and Conferences, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the P.R.C.;
1990–1992: First Secretary, Permanent
Mission of the P.R.C. to the United Nations
Office in Geneva and other International
Organisation in Switzerland.
1992–1995: First Secretary, Counselor,
permanent Mission of the P.R.C. to the
United Nations;
1995–1996: Counselor, Department of
International Organisations and
Conferences, MFA of the P.R.C.
1996–1998: Director General, Foreign
Affairs Office of the People's Government of
Yunnan Province, P.R.C.;
1998–2001: Senior official of the P.R.C. to
the APEC (Ambassador Title);
2001–2005: Permanent Representative
and Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni-
potentiary of the P.R.C. to the United Nations
and other International Organisation in
Vienna, Permanent Representative of the
P.R.C. to the IAEA and UNIDO;
2005–2007: Director General,
Department of Disarmament and Arms
Control, MFA of the P.R.C.;
From December 2007, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the
Peoples Republic of China to the Republic
of India.
 Centuries of warm
relations has made UAE,
India’s trading partner
Number One, today
H.E. Mr Mohamed Sultan Abdalla Al Owais, Ambassador, UAE
UAE enjoys excellent relations with connectivity with India, over 475 flights per
India; it did not start today but long time week and 64 per cent of these flights are
ago. We have a close relation with India. being operated by UAE national airlines like
Arabs used to come by sea to the west and Etihad, Emirates and Air Arabia. This is
south India in their dhows for trade and that necessary, not just for trade and commerce,
is why it is called the Arabian Sea. Many but due to the fact that a very large number
communities from the gulf came and lived of Indians reside in UAE.
in South India. If we talk about modern We are happy that UAE is the most
relations, my father and my grandfather did favoured destination of Indians searching
business with India since the 1930s and 40s. for opportunities abroad–today, we have
My uncle used to live in Bombay and they about 1.7 million Indians living in UAE. Business and economy are extremely
used to have their community there and Indians constitute 42.5 per cent of the labour important in international relations because
even their own school. During these force in the Emirates. In 2008, despite the they deliver a win–win result to all parties
decades, we had a large community from global downturn, UAE remained the single —the Government and then ultimately the
UAE, particularly from Dubai, who used to most important destination for Indian People. I think economic cooperation and
live in Bombay and do their business. That is workers, followed by other countries in the commercial relations are very important.
why we find it very easy to do business with region. The total remittances to India from This is my fifth international diplomatic
India—we know India. Business goes very expatriates in UAE during 2008–09 was assignment. I have been here for a little over
smooth and easy when you have an Indian recorded at USD 10–12 billion 15 months and prior to that I was
partner. This relation exists today and that ambassador in Saudi Arabia and Germany
We have standing cooperation with
is why UAE is the leading 'Trading Partner' and before that Charge d'Affaires in Oman
India on many issues. We are now focusing
on knowledge based industries and with and a diplomat in Tokyo. I find India a very
India emerging as world leaders in space, challenging destination as it offers plenty of
agriculture, pharmaceuticals and bio- opportunities.
technology; there is considerable scope for I have many hobbies and I like sports.
cooperation in technology transfer, R&D I practice yoga. When I was offered the
and for joint ventures. Defence cooperation ambassadorship to India, I started preparing
reached a new high with the first ever Indiamyself to understand the culture of this
–UAE air exercise and the second India– great country in all its diversities. I started
UAE Joint Defence Cooperation Committee going through many books and other
meeting. India got firm support of the UAE literature and as a result picked up Yoga
side on the issue of terrorism. which I practice regularly now. I like to
We attach a lot of emphasis on environ- travel to different destinations within India
ment and renewable energies and thanks to and generally utilise the weekend for this.
our excellent diplomatic interaction with I live here with my wife and my
other countries, we succeeded in making children, who are in different levels at
of India. To emphasis this point, let me Abu Dhabi the international headquarters university and high-school. They visit us
inform that UAE is India's 'Trading Partner for IRENA (International Renewable during holidays or extended weekends. At
Number One', and we are ahead of US and Energy Agency). We are also cooperating times, we also visit Dubai because the travel
China, with a total trade of over USD 48.3 with India and we appreciate India for time is hardly much from India.
billion. That a small country like ours could choosing our country to be the headquarters
attain this status is a proof of the tremendous of such an important body.
mutual trust and confidence between theWe are developing a new carbon-
people of India and the United Arabneutral city named MASDAR near Abu
Emirates. We are also one of the major
Dhabi with international technology and
investors in India, possibly the ninth largest
manpower support. We have already made
investing country in India. We have many
huge financial allocations for this new city.
important Indian companies with business
We are also in touch with many Indian
stations in UAE. companies for joint ventures and collabora-
Today, we have an excellent air tion for this project.
6DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
 United Arab Emirates
MASDAR
A new city for
The
Seven
Four-fifths of the
UAE is desert but
it has contrasting
sustainable living
Emirates landscapes—from “as many times as possible," with this grey-water being used
the towering red for crop irrigation and other purposes The city will also
dunes of the Liwa attempt to reduce waste to zero. Biological waste will be used
Abu Dhabi to the rich palm-
Dubai to create nutrient-rich soil and fertiliser, and some may also
filled oases of Al
Sharjah Ain, from the be utilised through waste incineration as an additional power
Umm Al-Qaiwain precipitous Hajar source. Industrial waste, such as plastics and metals, will be
Fujairah Mountains to the recycled or re-purposed for other uses.
Ajman more fertile
Ra's al-Khaimah stretches of its Some key targets of the project include: 100 per cent of
coastal plains. energy supplied by renewable energy— solar power, wind,
waste to energy and other technologies to create a zero-
The MASDAR project is headed by the Abu Dhabi Future carbon environment; 99
Energy Company (ADFEC). Initiated in 2006, the project is per cent diversion of waste
projected to cost US$ 22 billion and take some eight years to from landfill (includes
build, with the first phase scheduled to be complete and
waste reduction measures,
habitable in 2009. The city is planned to cover six square
re-use of waste wherever
kilometres (2.3 sq. mi.) and will be home to 45,000 to 50,000
possible, recycling and
people and 1,500 businesses, primarily commercial and
composting waste to
manufacturing facilities specialising in environmentally
energy) in the hope of
friendly products, and more than 60,000 workers are
expected to commute to the city daily. It will also be the producing zero waste;
location of a university, the Masdar Institute of Science and zero carbon emissions
Technology (MIST), which will be assisted by the from transport within the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Automobiles city and mea-
will be banned within the city; travel will be accomplished sures to reduce
via public mass transit and personal rapid transit systems, the carbon cost
with existing road and railways connecting to other locations of journeys to the
outside the city. The absence of motor vehicles coupled with city; using re-
Masdar's perimeter wall, designed to keep out the hot desert cycled materials
winds, allows for narrow and shaded streets that help funnel for building;
cooler breezes across the city. using 50 per cent
Masdar City will be the latest of a small number of highly less water than
planned, specialised, research and technology-intensive other cities.
municipalities that incorporate a living environment, similar
to Novosibirsk, Russia or Tsukuba Science City, Japan.
Masdar will employ a variety of renewable power
resources. Among the first construction projects will be a 40
to 60 megawatt solar power plant, built by the German firm
Conergy, which will supply power for all other construction
activity. This will later be followed by a larger facility and
additional photovoltaic modules will be placed on rooftops
to provide supplemental solar energy totalling 130
megawatts. Wind farms will be established outside the city's
perimeter capable of producing up to 20 megawatts and the
city intends to utilise geothermal power as well. In addition,
Masdar plans to host the world's largest hydrogen power
plant.
Water management has been planned in an
environmentally sound manner as well. A solar-powered
desalination plant will be used to provide the city's water
needs, which is stated to be 60 per cent lower than similarly
sized communities. Approximately, 80 per cent of the water
used will be recycled and waste water will be reused
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
7
 EMBASSY SPEAK

At times, people do not

realise the value of peace
till they lose it
Muyinga
Cibitoke
Ngozi
Bubanza

BUJUMBURA
Gitega
Heha
Mr Zéphyrin Maniratanga, Chargé d'Affaires a.i, BURUNDI
Bururi

and the creation of hydro power generation If Mr Zéphyrin Maniratanga did not
stations would be a very big help to our chose diplomacy as a career, he may have
country. We would like the Government of been in South Africa playing football which
I am really very happy to meet you today. India to help and support us in this area. is his favourite sport.
I am very happy that Diplomatic Square Like the good relations that our Apart from his love of soccer, he is an
has given me an opportunity to express my governments enjoy, our people to people avid reader and an acquirer of knowledge.
views. relations are also excellent with a lot of At present, he is pursuing Masters on Inter-
cooperation; there is a lot of movement these national Environment Law, University of
The Embassy of Burundi was opened in
days. You may be aware that there is a big Limoges, France. He is DEA on Human
August last year at New Delhi and it is a result
population of Indians in Burundi and they Rights from University of Nantes, France, a
of the excellent relations that Burundi enjoys
are a famous community because they are History Graduate (Yaounde University) and
with India. So you see, I am here since about
doing good business and are prosperous. Masters in International Relations (Came-
nine months or so.
The biggest private bank in Burundi is an roon).
We are a small country in Africa and we
Indian bank. In Bujumbura, the capital city A career diplomat, he joined the
are committed to peace. We have seen war,
of Burundi, there is a huge colony, about 5 Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has worked
we have been in a state of civil war for more
km by 5 km, which belongs to Indians. We in different capacities including a tenure as
than 10 years—1992 to 2005—and are a
also have an important road named Indian Deputy Chief of Protocol (Head of State
witness to the horror and grief of war. I often
Avenue and it is a business avenue with the Office) and later on as Chief of Protocol
say that sometimes people do not realise the
houses belonging to Indians. So Indians in (National Assembly). He has served in South
importance of peace until they lose it. Having
Burundi are prospering and adding value to Africa and Canada and in India, designated
known what is war, we understand the value
the national economy there. as the Charge d'Affaires, a.i. till the arrival of
of peace. We have been helped by the
Similarly, we have students from an ambassador.
international community in our efforts, we
have gone through a process of national Burundi coming to India for studies. Some He has authored many publications and
reconciliation, and have now recovered come with the support and scholarships academic documents and is well versed in
peace. That is why we are committed to offered by the Indian government while English and French.
support other countries who are facing others come on their own. India offers many
situations that if I can say, a state of 'unpeace'. opportunities in education and the facilities The Republic of Burundi is situated in
here are among the best in the world. the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa
For this reason, we like India are bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania
Likewise, we have seen a growth in medical
committed to fight terrorism. Burundi in to the east and south, and the Democratic
tourism from Burundi to India. The Indian
particular, is very committed in Somalia to Republic of Congo to the west. Its size is
medical infrastructure is among the best in
fight against Islamist terrorism. Our country 27,834 km² with an estimated population of
the world and Indian medical and para-
is doing its best.
medical professionals are well known in the almost 8,700,000. Burundi is landlocked
We have very good relations with India. world for their professional excellence. and its capital is Bujumbura. The country is
We share common perceptions on important divided into 16 provinces, 117 communes
In conclusion, I can say that Burundi and 2,638 hills.
matters and particularly when it concerns
enjoys extremely good relations with India:
peace, security and terrorism. We are Burundi is bordered on the west by Lake
diplomatic, political, economic and social
committed to these issues internationally Tanganyika, guarded by crocodiles and
relations. But there is scope for much higher
and particularly in Africa. hippopotamus. This land is known for its
growth and we look to the support of the drums that announce the planting of
India is a big country and it can do a lot of Indian government in certain areas so that
sorghum. It is a country that is famed for its
things to establish peace in the world. It is we can improve the quality of life in my skilled farmers.
mainly for this reason that my country has home country.
decided to support India's candidature as a Burundi is one of the smallest countries
If you ask me about India, I can say I find in Africa that is located south of Rwanda,
non-permanent member in the Security
it beautiful. I have visited Goa and Gujarat the sister country of a thousand hills.
Council of the United Nations.
and I would like to visit Mumbai, Kerala and Burundi has an equatorial climate with a
Similarly on the economic front, we have other places. India is a very big country and long rainy season from September to May
very good relations with India and we look when you step outside the city you can see a and a short dry season summer. The humid
forward to India's support to Burundi for whole country in motion—everywhere climate (1500 mm rain) allows continuous
setting up Hydro-Electric projects in our there is developmental activity going on. crop farming.
country. We are an energy-deficient country
8 DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
 An Eden in the Heart of Africa
Burundi is in the heart of Africa and its
beautiful landscapes make the country a true
paradise—that’s why Burundi is often called
"The Switzerland of Africa". Burundi’s gentle
climate and its diverse natural beauty makes
it a favourite destination for a relaxed
holiday as well as adventure. A visitor to
Burundi would really enjoy his stay in the
country if he can travel through the length
and breath of the country, experience the
many thrills that it offers and enjoy the
traditional hospitality of the Burundi people.
If he is lucky, he may discover the "Eden
Garden" like the explorers of the last century
did.
It is necessary to know the kind of
harmonious patchwork which is made by the
climate as it varies from one region to
another. While the area of the peak Congo
Nile which is covered with the big Kibira
forest has got a pleasant height and the
climate is excellent, an exotic tropical forest
is found within the region of the Central
plateau and the thousands of hills that
surround it. There are depressions in the
eastern and north-eastern part of Burundi.
Bujumbura - The Capital City
The foundation of Bujumbura is dated
back to 1876. Initially, Bujumbura was only a
port on the shore of the lake Tanganika but, it
soon developed into an important business
city and finally became the capital of
Burundi.
All along the year, the lake Tanganika
remains attractive: water skiing, sailing,
fishing or a simple stroll along the lake side and the micro-climatic variation within the
are among the many activities that one can
enjoy. Private swimming pools in some hotels
or at the "Entente Sportive Restaurant"; there through ombrophilous mountain forest,
are many beautiful places along the lake
which are convenient for swimming,
especially the public beach of Kajaga, near thetype of animals—antilopes, hares, buffaloes,
Hotel "Club du Lac Tanganika".
Besides water-sports, Bujumbura offers can sometimes be seen form the shore.
you—golf, tennis, volley-ball, horse riding,
bowling and even a flying-club.
In addition to sports activities, Bujumbura
may be considered as a select place for the
gastronomy. In fact, because of the large
number of restaurants (Entente Sportive,
Monastère, Cercle Hellenique, Cremaillère),
the restaurants of Bujumbura are fiercely
competitive to offer the best palate and
service to the customer. They compete
among each other to offer the best fare to
their customers and that is a great advantage.
Most of the hotels have international class
restaurants.
Bujumbura has plenty to offer by way of
entertainment. The tourist can dine beside
the lake Tanganika perhaps savouring a
delicious local fish called the “Sangala” and plantations and the big factory of Teza which
then spend the evening in a night club, is located at an altitude of 2,666 metres.
relaxing in a friendly atmosphere.
The lake Tanganika, full of fish, is the provinces.
deepest in the world just after Lake Baikal in
the Russia. Its length–800 km, width–50km, Ngozi, is a fantastic place because of its
and altitude–771 m.
Beautiful Landscapes
From the top to the mountains, you have
a beautiful view of the central plains and
Gitega which is the second town of Burundi.
The city of Gitega ia a peaceful place of
unique beauty and exquisite charm.
The route Bujumbura–Gitega goes via
Muramvya (50 km from Bujumbura)
through wonderful green landscapes. At 12
km from Gitega, the road reaches Giheta, an
artistic centre for different works in leather,
ceramic, ivory, wood-carvings. This is the
opportunity to memorise the trip in the area
by purchasing some artistic works at the
centre.
The geographical structure of Burundi
country generates a plethora of vegetation.
Thus, from the savanna to the steppers,
Burundi is a delightful blooming country.
The fauna is rich and comprises of different
cynocephalus. There are crocodiles and
hippopotamus in Lake Tanganika where they
Tourist Trips
Burundi has preciously protected all the
historical traces of explorers of the last
century who stopped over its territory.
The historic place where Henry Morton
Stanley first met Dr Livingtone and uttered
the famous words, ‘Dr Livingstone I presume’
still exists because of a giant rock which it
appears was placed by God so that posterity
could see the place that changed the course of
Africa’s history.
It is also true for the "German Falls". All
this make Burundi a rather thrilling place to
visit. The suggested travel route by tourist
operators: Bujumbura–Bugarama–Teza– Ka-
yanza–Ngozi–Kirundo–Gitega– Bujumbura .
Attractive Locations
From Bujumbura to Bugarama, the road is
going up a steep hillside before one reaches
the peak of the Congo–Nile. If you happen to
look behind, you can see about 10 kilometres
stretching from Bujumbura, lake Tanganika
(it is a like a mirror where the image of the
sky can be seen) and the vast plains of Imbo
that borders the Democratic Republic of
Congo.
Beyond Bugarama there are important tea
Coffee is grown in Kayanza and Ngozi
Kirundo, which is an adjacent province to
pristine lakes Cohoha and Rweru and
especially the lake Rwihinda which is fondly
called the "Birds Lake". There are plenty of
migratory birds that fly to these lakes during
their season of travel. In the northern city of
Gitega, the traditional drummers perform
before visitors dancing to the percussions of
the famed African drums. Gitega is a centre
for important cultural and scientific
Institutes—the National Museum, and the
School of Arts. On your return to Bujumbura,
you will stop at Muranvya where the Kings of
yesteryears used to live.
Photo and Text sourced from
http://www.burundi-embassy-berlin.com/Index.htm
http://burundi-delhi.com
Photographs downloaded from internet
with due acknowledgment and gratitude
to the unknown photographers
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
9
 EMBASSY SPEAK
GENOCIDE
We want the world to recognise the signs of genocide .
We want everyone to be a stakeholder in preventing genocide
because there are forces who ignite genocide in the world.
Mr Eugene Ngoga, Charge d'Affaire a.i., RWANDA
In the pre-colonial days, Rwanda was a From 1959 onwards, the Batutsi In 1959, three years before independence from
highly centralised kingdom presided over by population was systematically targeted Belgium, the majority ethnic group, the
Tutsi kings who hailed from one ruling clan. causing hundreds of thousands of deaths and a Hutus, overthrew the ruling Tutsi king. Over
The King ruled through three categories of refugee population of almost two million the next several years, thousands of Tutsis were
chiefs—cattle chiefs, land chiefs and military people. Thereafter, almost in a regular killed, and some 150,000 driven into exile in
chiefs. neighboring countries. The children of these
manner, killings of the Batutsi became a
exiles later formed a rebel group, the Rwandan
In 1899, Rwanda became a German common practice. In the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s Patriotic Front (RPF) and began a civil war in
colony and after the defeat of the Germans in and early 1990s massacres of Batutsi were 1990. The war, along with several political and
World War I, Rwanda became a mandate common. The First Republic under President economic upheavals, exacerbated ethnic
territory of the League of Nations under the Gregoire Kayibanda, institutionalised discri- tensions, culminating in April 1994 in the
administration of the Belgians. Belgium mination against Batutsi and periodically used genocide of roughly 800,000 Tutsis and
Hutus. The Tutsi rebels defeated the Hutu
administered Rwanda through a system of massacres against this targeted population as a
regime and ended the killing in July 1994, but
indirect rule. means of maintaining the status quo. approximately two million Hutu refugees—
Since the ruling class was from the Tutsies, On October 1, 1990, the war of liberation many fearing Tutsi retribution—fled to
the Belgians favoured them for political and began against the military dictatorship in neighbouring Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda and
Zaire. Since then, most of the refugees have
practical reasons. For instance, any person in Kigali, since all efforts for a peaceful and returned to Rwanda, but several thousand
Banyarwanda* with ten or more cows was democratic change by the Rwanda Patriotic remained in the neighboring Democratic
registered as Batutsi whereas those with less Front (RPF) had proved futile. Republic of the Congo (DRC; the former
were registered as Bahutu. Thus families got Zaire) and formed an extremist insurgency
divided with the richer brother becoming a bent on retaking Rwanda, much as the RPF
Tutsi and the other one, a Hutu. Over the tried in 1990. Rwanda held its first local
years and through this process, the Tutsies elections in 1999 and its first post-genocide
presidential and legislative elections in 2003.
developed a complex and somehow started
Rwanda in 2009, staged a joint military
believing themselves to be superior. operation with the Congolese Army in DRC to
(*Kingdom of Rwanda) rout out the Hutu extremist insurgency there
During this colonial era, a cash crop and Kigali and Kinshasa restored diplomatic
economy was introduced in Rwanda and this relations. Rwanda also joined the Common-
was administered through harsh methods wealth in late 2009.
(Source: CIA – The World Factbook)
that further alienated the King and his chiefs
from the rest of the population. In 1935, the
Between April 6 and mid-July 1994, over Due to high rates of illiteracy at the time
Belgian colonial administration introduced a
one million Rwandese people (nearly 20 per of the genocide, radio was an important way
discriminatory national identification on the
cent of the population), mainly Batutsi and for the government to deliver messages to
basis of ethnicity.
some Bahutu opposition were killed by the the public. The news media played a crucial
However, when the demand for indepen- role in the genocide—local print and radio
genocidal regime. Many people were in-
dence began, mainly by the political party— media fueled the killings, while the
volved in the killings.
Union Nationale Rwandaise (UNAR)—the
Those who planned and organised the international media either ignored or ser-
Tutsies made a demand for independence.
genocide include the late President, Major iously misconstrued events on the ground.
The Belgians then discarded the Tutsies and
General Juvenal Habyarimana and his top The print media in Rwanda started hate
began a policy of favouring the Hutus. They
hastily nurtured another party called Parme- government officials. Tutsis essentially, and speeches against Tutsis which was later
hutu that was based on sectarian ethnic those Hutu who were political moderates at continued by radio stations. According to
ideology. Under the Belgian supervision, the that time, fell victims. This genocide, lasting commentators, anti-Tutsi hate speech "be-
first massacre of Batutsi took place at the 100 days, resulting in nearly a million deaths, came so systemic as to seem the norm".
hands of Parmehutu in 1959 and monarchy was carried out primarily by two Hutu The state-owned newspaper Kangura had
was abolished amidst widespread violence. militias associated with the political parties, a central role, starting an anti-Tutsi and anti-
Three years later, Belgium granted formal Interahamwe and the Impuzamugambi and RPF campaign in October 1990. Although
political independence to Rwanda. they were armed with machetes. The meaning to end the war, the Tutsi RPF re-
Post Independence and Genocide genocide was directed by a Hutu power core started their offensive, eventually defeating
family known as the Akazu. the army and seizing control of the country.
10DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
 The Hutu government had put these Ten
Hutu commandments. They were told that if
they were good Christians, then they have to
follow these commandments.
When people refer to the Rwandan
Genocide as an ethnic clash, it is wrong. The
people of Rwanda were very simple people—
for centuries they lived in peace and faith
alongside each other. We speak the same
language, we have the same culture, we come
from the same source and in fact, we had
always worshipped the same God. It was
never a situation that the Tutsi and the Hutus
did not have the same roots or had different
languages, cultural habits, religion and so on.
This division of society was the gift of
colonialism to Rwanda. They pursued a
policy of 'Divide and Rule' and what was
once a very cohesive society was devastated
by them. The whole country was seized with
insanity with sons killing father, brothers
killing brothers, neighbours killing neigh-
bours. It was, and remains unimaginable.
When you asked who were the colonisers, let
me tell you, they were the Europeans –
Belgians, French and Germans.
Let me repeat, we speak the same
language, we have the same culture, we come
from the same source. We have the same
origin, the same God. When people do not
have the same culture and god, then we talk
about ethnic clashes, but we have the same
roots.
In Africa, we have something called a
pledge of blood—two friends will make an
incision on their, say, forearm and gently rub
each other with their bleeding area. This
becomes a contract of blood which means
they are committed for a lifetime to each
other. Even, such people killed each other.
The discriminatory and divisive policies
split the society completely. You could be a
Rwandan, but you are either a Tutsi or you
are a Hutu. Your mother would have been
my aunt, your grand father is my grand father
too, but today you are a Tutsi and I am Hutu.
Such was the division created in society.
Role of Religion
The Roman Catholic Church affirms that completely depleted.
genocide took place but argues that those
who took part in it did so without the a national reconciliation to ‘forget and for-
permission of the Church. The authorities at give’ and infuse ‘Hope’ among the new gene-
the Church contributed to the spread of racist ration. However, after every Genocide, the
theories mainly through the schools and world sits up and says, 'Never Again', but
seminaries over which they exercised Genocides appear on the surface of this earth
control.
The elite who ruled the country after
independence trained in these schools.
According to Church historian Paul
Rutayisire, the stereotypes used by the Hutu-
dominated Rwandan government to de-
humanize Tutsis, were also spread by some
influential clergymen, bishops and priests,
before and after the genocide. The Catholic
Church and colonial powers worked to-
gether in organizing racist political groups
like the Party for the Emancipation of the
Hutu (Parmehutu). Within the Catholic
Church, this discriminatory policy had long
been in the seminaries. According to Fr. Jean
Ndolimana, the enrolment of Tutsis in the
Nyundo diocese was limited to four per cent.
On the school card, every seminarian had to
indicate his father's ethnic group.
Resulting Effects of Genocide
Approximately two million Hutus,
participants in the genocide and the by-
standers, with anticipation of Tutsi reta-
liation, fled from Rwanda to Burundi,
Tanzania, Uganda and for the most part
Zaire. Thousands of them died in epidemics
and diseases common to the squalor of
refugee camps such as cholera and dysentery.
The United States staged the Operation
Support Hope airlift from July to September
1994 to stabilize the situation in the camps.
Rape Victims
The long-term effects for the victims of
war rape in Rwanda include social isolation
(social stigma attached to rape meant some
husbands left wives who had become victims
of war rape, or that the victims were ren-
dered unsuitable for marriage), unwanted
pregnancies and babies (some women
resorted to self-induced abortions), sexually
transmitted diseases, including syphilis,
gonorrhoea and HIV–AIDS. The other social
impacts were:
Thousands of orphans and even more
children living on the streets, an universal
sense of trauma; a complete distrust of each
other and social suspicion making efforts to
provide justice and bring about recon-
ciliation most difficult and challenging.
There were large numbers of prisoners
and people arrested on charges of commit-
ting genocide. The national economy was
totally shattered and human resources
Following the settlement, there has been
again and again. Genocides are not natural.
They are induced. Genocides are ignited. I
hope, like I said before, that everyone in this
world becomes a stakeholder in preventing
Genocide.
THE HUTU
TEN COMMANDMENTS
I. Every Hutu should know that a Tutsi
woman, whoever she is, works for the
interest of her Tutsi ethnic group. As a
result, we shall consider a traitor any Hutu
who marries a Tutsi woman befriends a
Tutsi woman employs a Tutsi woman as a
secretary or a concubine.
II. Every Hutu should know that our
Hutu daughters are more suitable and
conscientious in their role as woman, wife
and mother of the family. Are they not
beautiful, good secretaries and more
honest?
III. Hutu women, be vigilant and try to
bring your husbands, brothers and sons
back to reason.
IV. Every Hutu should know that every
Tutsi is dishonest in business. His only aim
is the supremacy of his ethnic group. As a
result, any Hutu who does the following is
a traitor: makes a partnership with Tutsi in
business; invests his money or the
government's money in a Tutsi enterprise;
lends or borrows money from a Tutsi; gives
favours to a Tutsi in business (obtaining
import licenses, bank loans, construction
sites, public markets, etc.).
V. All strategic positions, political,
administrative, economic, and military and
security should be entrusted only to Hutu.
VI. The education sector (school
pupils, students, and teachers) must be
majority Hutu.
VII. The Rwandan Armed Forces
should be exclusively Hutu. The
experience of the October 1990 war has
taught us a lesson. No member of the
military shall marry a Tutsi.
VIII. The Hutu should stop having
mercy on the Tutsi.
IX. The Hutu, wherever they are, must
have unity and solidarity and be concerned
with the fate of their Hutu brothers. The
Hutu inside and outside Rwanda must
constantly look for friends and allies for
the Hutu cause, starting with their Hutu
brothers. They must constantly counteract
Tutsi propaganda. The Hutu must be firm
and vigilant against their common Tutsi
enemy.
X. The Social Revolution of 1959, the
Referendum of 1961, and the Hutu
Ideology, must be taught to every Hutu at
every level. Every Hutu must spread this
ideology widely. Any Hutu who persecutes
his brother Hutu for having read, spread,
and taught this ideology is a traitor.
This article is based on an interview
with Mr Eugene Ngoga,
Charge d'Affaire a.i.,
Rwanda High Commission, Delhi.
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
11
 Celebrating Kwita Izina
Gorilla Naming Day
“RWANDA is enthusiastic and honour-
ed to host the World Environment Day
(WED) which is commemorated every year
on 5th June. The WED was established by
the United Nations General Assembly in
1972. The UN dedicated this day to
appreciate and celebrate the benefits,
roles and resources that come with raising
global awareness of the environment.”
It is the foremost vehicle through
celebration of WED and the 17th comme-
moration of the National Environment
Week.
Kwita Izina, the uniquely Rwandan
event, was introduced in 2005 with the aim
of creating awareness for the conservation
of the endangered mountain Gorillas,
which is line with this year's theme of
WED “Many Species, One Planet, One

HORROR & which world-wide awareness of the

environment is stimulated. Celebration of
this day is an opportunity to generate
Future”
The Kwita Izina gorilla naming
ceremony has received thousands of

Hope political, economic and social attention and

prompt action.
“In line with celebration to mark the
international, regional and local visitors to
its Virunga mountain ranges to visit the
endangered mountain gorillas. For decades,
WED, Rwanda is privileged to host inter- inter-national conservation organisations,
nationally WED in conjunction with the donors and concerned individuals have
celebration of the annual Kwita Izina made substantial resources available to the
Ceremony (which means giving names to gorilla conservation cause and continue to
baby gorillas) under the theme 'Many do so. Each year the new born gorillas are
Species, One Planet, One Future'.” celebrated in an exciting event at the foot of
The World Environment Day (WED) is the Virunga Mountains.
designed to give a human face to Rwanda is home to about one third of
environmental issues, empower people to the 750 mountain gorillas left in the wild.
become active agents of sustainable and The remaining population of mountain
equitable development, promote an gorillas has only survived thanks to the
understanding that communities are renewed efforts of national conservation
pivotal to changing attitudes towards authorities and the local populations and
environmental issues; and advocate the support they have received from the
partnership which will ensure that all international community. In 2005, the
nations and people enjoy a safer and more inaugural Gorilla Naming Ceremony was
prosperous future. launched and since then 103 baby gorillas
Rwanda has for the last consecutive 16 have been named. This year's event was
years, dedicated a National Environmental held on June 5 2010–the World Environ-
Week, which is generally held between ment Day.
May 31 and June 5. The week starts with Editorial and photo inputs from
community work, Umuganda. The year Mr Eugene Ngora, CDA and official website:
2010 marked the 38th year Rwanda http://www.kwitizina.org/
http://www.kwitizina.org/

12DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
 T HEEMBASSY OF EGYPT, in association with
the Indian Council of Cultural Relations,
organised an evening of classical music at
Delhi performed by NourWal Amal Association, a
famous band of girls who are visually challenged.
This Music Institute Orchestra began as a group of
15 girls, and over the years developed into a Chamber
Orchestra of 34 girls, with all four sections: strings,
woodwind, brass and percussion.
During the last 20 years, the orchestra was trained
and conducted by late Maestro Ahmed Abul Eid, who
had succeeded in developing special techniques and

LIGHT AND HOPE

methods to enable the girls to perform as an orchestra
without the need to read the notes while performing
and without the very essential dependence on the
famous ‘batin’ of the conductor. The orchestra is
composed of girls with different levels of music
education. The girls learn to play their musical parts
separately and they train twice a week as an orchestra.
This orchestra is unique in the world as it is the only
one of its kind comprising entirely visually impaired
artistes who play western classical music as well as
oriental music. It has performed for a variety of
audience—in schools, universities, embassies, theatres,
concert halls, at conferences at the Cairo Opera House
and for important guests to Egypt, including Queens,
wives of Presidents and Heads of State. Performances
include works by Mozart, Beethoven, Bizet,
Mendelssohn, Ravel, Purcell, Katchaturian, Weber,
Tchaikovsky, Abu-Bakr Khairat, Gamal Abdel Rehim,
El Sonbaty and other composers, both foreign and
Egyptian.
Photos: Egyptian Embassy

DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
13
 The initiatives to
expand commerce must
be supported politically
H.E. Mr Khidir Haroun Ahmed, Ambassador, SUDAN
I would say that if I have to rate Indo- I would like to say to Indian
Sudanese relation, I would call it 'good' now, investors to please visit Sudan and
but I think there is enough room to make it see things for themselves. They will
'excellent' because we have a very firm base find that they can do very good
and a history of strategic relation with India
business there. Khartoum is
which existed even before Christ. We have
been instructed by our government also to
among the most peaceful place on
grasp every opportunity to foster better
the earth.
understanding.
Sudan has huge natural resources—200
Q. Trade between India and Sudan has million acres of fertile land and we are
remained more or less at a plateau. There utilising only 20 per cent of it. Sudan luckily
hasn't been any significant gain recorded by
is very rich with fresh water resources in
either side. Don't you think this goes against
the business potential that exists between addition to the Nile, we have two major
Q. India and Sudan have relations that date India and Sudan ? tributaries, the Blue Nile and the White Nile
back to Niloctic and Indus Valley Civilisations. and we have very good ground water
In the 1930s, Mahatma Gandhi as well as I will not quarrel with you in describing
resources. Sudan is strategically located–it
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru visited Sudan and in the Indo-Sudanese trade as a plateau. India is
1953, Sudan's first parliamentary election was our third partner (preceded by China and can be a major supplier of food to the entire
conducted by Sukumar Sen, Chief Election Malaysia) when it comes to the oil industry Middle East and Europe. So Indian business-
Commissioner of India. Considering this and we appreciate that very much and now men are invited to Sudan for doing business
historic backdrop, how do you view Indo- in Sudan for exporting food.
we have more than 100 Indian companies
Sudan relations?
doing business with Sudan. Some Indian Sudan is an exporter of meat nowadays,
With regards to your question regarding companies are doing major business in but we look forward to collaboration with
the historical relations between the two Sudan: there is an Indian company engaged India in this regard. India is the world leader
countries, I would like to add something in the building of the Kosti Thermal Project. in the production of milk and dairy products
else—the fact is that the movement that led The plant is located 400 km down south of and so look forward to Indian technology to
to our independence was named after the Khartoum and will produce 500 MW of help us tap this vast potential. On many
Indian Congress Party. It was called the electricity by this year end. occasions, I have said this earlier, I have met
Graduates General Congress. The Sudan many investors who are willing to go to
Monthly Intelligence summary (a British BHEL has been involved in the
Sudan, but it requires some kind of political
Colonial rule entity) said the following in its construction of the Kosti Thermal Project
clout, some kind of political encourage-
report of 1931. for the National Electricity Corporation of
ment. Sudan as you know has been under
Sudan, for which a USD 350 million line of
“There is no doubt that especially the credit has been given by the Indian unrest since the last two decades, but
younger elements of the intelligentsia have government. The largest power project in Khartoum itself is one of the safest places on
a great admiration and sympathy for Gandhi Sudan–it is expected to be commissioned the surface of this earth–but many people
and that when the movement in India was at sometime in 2010. are reluctant to go there [to Sudan] due to
its height, they followed the news with keen security concern. I would thus like to say
interest. In private assemblies they dis- But again, I would say that the room is through your magazine to potential Indian
cussed the efficacy of the boycott and agreed much wider, much more spacious for investors to please visit Sudan and see with
that Gandhi had discovered in it the only Indo–Sudan business. I also hope to see some their own eyes how good this place this.
weapon which the poor and ignorant East more exchange of visits between senior high They will find that they can do very good
could employ effectively against im- officials from both countries to back the business there.
perialism. The influence of Gandhi and trade and commerce initiatives. This kind of
Indian politics can unmistakably be seen in political weight is important.
the Gordon College strike (1931) and I attended recently the celebration of
attempted boycott of sugar by pupils”. Africa Day at Mumbai which was sponsored
by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry
If I rate Indo-Sudanese relations, and numerous delegations had come from
I would call it ‘good’ but there Africa, including ministers as well as
is enough room to make it business persons. We realised that India is in
‘excellent’ a position to offer many things to the
African continent and particularly Sudan.
14DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
SUDAN United Arab Emirates
Q. Sudan has been beset with internal
conflicts and particularly in its western and
southern regions of the country. What is the
current status?
In regard to the issue of conflict, I would
like to elaborate on this. With regards to the
issue of the South, you would be aware that
during January 2005, we signed a Compre-
hensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between issue in the East. We have couple of Sudan was referred to as the
the North and the South on the basis of ministers, cabinet members in our national 'bread basket' of the middle-east.
wealth sharing, power sharing and security government and also regional governments We would like to benefit from the
arrangements between the two parties. from people who used to be rebels. experiences of countries like India
The South has been complaining of The only factions that are reluctant to
marginalisation due to many factors. Sudan resort to armed struggle to improve their
join the peace process— and we are working
as you know, had during the days of colonial quality of their lives.
hard to bring them to the table— Justice and
rule, notorious laws which made districts Equality Movement (JEM) chaired by Dr We are also developing the natural gas
closed. People from the North could not Khalil Ibrahim and the Sudan Liberation resources as well as off shore oil in the Red
travel to the South without permit from the Movement headed by Mr Abdul Wahid Nur Sea, but the government is attaching greater
colonial rulers and vice versa. So there are who is currently living at Paris. emphasis to use the revenue to develop
many factors. sectors which are more diverse and stable
We had a very good turn out at the
like agriculture and animal husbandry.
Rights and Obligations of all elections in the entire region of Darfur
which refuted the claim that the govern- Q. How do you view the impending events
citizens shall remain same regard- ment is against them. We are very hopeful
of 2011?
less of their religion, language, that with this democratisation process, This is about the referendum. Well,
ethnicity or anything like that. Sudan will now have a healthy state of when both parties signed the Compre-
democracy. We have an elected President; hensive Peace Agreement, that the South
But we resolved this largely through we have an elected national parliament with will be give the right to self determination,
power and wealth sharing. The signatories to 25 different states electing their governors, they also stipulated clearly that priority
this Agreement between the North and the as well, as their legislative bodies. Earlier, we should be given to keep Sudan intact. We
South stipulated clearly that this could be a used to follow the Westminster form of feel we are working hard but of course
model to show to other areas who consider parliamentary democracy whereby we did technically the chance is 50–50. The two
themselves marginalised including Darfur not elect the Governors, but appointed them. parties, the SPLM in the South and National
and I am sure you have Darfur in mind. But now, the governor himself is elected by Congress in the North pledged after the
There is a remedy for these issues of the people and I think the situation is elections that they would work hand in hand
marginalisation. It is stipulated quite clearly marching on the right direction. to maintain unity. We do not want to end up
in the agreement that the rights and as different countries. Sudan being a land
Q. With an estimated reserve of
obligations of all citizens shall remain same 5,000,000,000 bbl oil, Sudan is among the top locked country, has other problems. The
regardless of their religion, language, 25 oil producing countries of the world. How country is so wide, so vast and so rich that
ethnicity or anything like that. We can say is this wealth being translated into peoples' every citizen can live like a first-class citizen
that we have now resolved the issue between welfare? and this is our hope. But the Southerners
North and the South and there is no war With respect to the oil industry, we are have a right to decide either ways.
currently. Even now, a week ago, the trying our best to use the oil revenue in order Q. Would you like to comment on the
President of South Sudan government was to upgrade our other potentialities, specially Human Rights charges that have been leveled
appointed as the first Vice President for agriculture. Sudan, as you would know, was against the Sudanese leadership?
President Al Bashir and the partnership designated in the 1970s along with Australia Sudan has been suffering from a civil war
between the two major parties in the South and Canada to feed the entire world. Sudan between the North and the South. War itself
and the North, the National Congress Party was referred to as the 'bread basket' of the
in the North and the SPLM, in the South is middle-east. We would like to benefit from Sudan is such a vast and rich
still holding. the experiences of other countries like India country that everyone can live
We have tried to resolve the issue in in agricultural production and thus shift our like a first class citizen and this is
Darfur in the same way and one of the total dependency on oil revenues. our hope.
faction leaders, Suliman Arcua Minawi We are now integrated with the Horn of
joined the peace process and is now the Africa and we have highways that link Sudan
Senior Assistant to the President of the with Egypt, Ethiopia and Eritrea. Also, we
Republic. We tried the same principles of have rail links between Ethiopia and Sudan.
justice and equality there. The negotiations The development of the agricultural sector
shall soon start at Doha, Qatar. in Sudan will benefit the people in the entire
The components of resolution are there, region and bring to an end the famine cycle,
i.e., power sharing and wealth sharing. as well as, mitigate the conflicts in the region
Other than that, we have totally resolved the and encourage people to work rather than
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
15
 SUDAN United Arab Emirates
EMBASSY PRESS RELEASE
International Criminal Court
decision to add charges of
affects human rights because war, at times,
takes away the opponents' right to live. I do The Sudanese
GENOCIDE
not think there was anything deliberate to Embassy at Delhi against Sudanese President
violate human rights. Sudanese are very issued a press release severely condemned
receptive and friendly people. During the war on July 21, 2010 efforts of the government to resolve the Darfur
there were about five million people living in strongly protesting issue. He stated that this decision like the
the South of whom nearly four million people “and vehemently con- former ones, was aimed at aborting the joint
migrated to the North! Khartoum used to be a demning the decision mediation of the African Union and the Arab
of the so-called Inter- League for the solution of the Darfur issue”.
home for about two million people from the
national Criminal
South. The same thing happened in Darfur Court recently, to add The African Union has condemned this
when people affected by the strife came to a charge of genocide decision terming the timing as wrong because
government shelters for security. There was against the H.E. Mr Omar Hassan al-Bashir, “it would hamper the peace efforts in Darfur
no deliberate attempt to violate human rights. President of the Republic of Sudan aimed at and harm the Sudanese nation as well as the
destroying the opportunities of peace in African nations” and also at a time when the
The issue of Human Rights has been
Sudan and to create an atmosphere conducive “government is going all out for the implemen-
politicised for some time. And despite all this to split Sudan”. tation of the Comprehensive Peace Agree-
talk about genocide in Darfur, no organisation ment and preparing itself for a referendum of
It further said that “the government of
or agency has been able to substantiate these Sudan will pay no heed to this court and will self-determination in the South”.
allegations by unearthing any mass grave or respond to it positively with more accom- Both the Gulf Cooperation Council and
things like that. By nature, Sudanese are very plishments and realising its goals without the Arab League have disagreed with ICC’s
egalitarian, we are an egalitarian society. We paying any heed to mal-intentioned circles to decision. Sudan's permanent envoy to the
have never been ruled by any King or Emperor create instability and thus hamper deve- United Nations, H.E. Dr Abdal Mahmood
Abdul Halim has described “this move as
and people have always had a right to speak lopment process. The Minister of Information despicable and a desperate attempt to
out their mind. and the spokesperson of the government, Dr
Kamal Obeid calls this decision as politically blackmail and to put political pressure, with
Thus, when you compare us, please do not motivated and a reflection of the timing it the sole intention to destroy the opportunities
compare us with societies who have had chooses to issue decisions against Sudan, and of peace in Sudan and to create an atmosphere
democracy since centuries. You should be fair its decisions were intended to hamper all the that will foster splitting of Sudan'.
enough to judge us in right context.
If you know Africa, the borders created by Sudan is very rich in tourism and it is very
the Colonial Rulers were haphazardly done. rich in history in terms of civilization. It has
They divided the tribes, sometimes among artifacts, temples, pyramids and it has the
three different countries. The people do not confluence of the two tributaries of the
appreciate the border—this is artificial to Nile–the Blue Nile and the White Nile. Sudan
them. But fortunately now, we have stabilised has different climate and topography, it has
our relations with all our nine neighbouring an amazing range of flora and fauna. Sudan
countries and also Saudi Arabia. enjoys a pristine environment and we would
We have improved our relation with Chad wish that more and more Indians would visit
simply because the rebels came from the same Sudan, both for business as well as tourism.
tribe. About five months ago, the two Khartoum Today
countries sat together and resolved the issue. His Excellency, Mr Khidir Haroun
There is a joint force monitoring the borders Ahmed Abdulrazig was a Ph.D candidate at
between Chad and Sudan to prevent rebels the School of Political Science, the
from each side to cross the borders. We have University of Reading, United Kingdom.
He has published many research
Sudanese are very egalitarian. We documents related to sociological, reli-
have never been ruled by any king gious, cultural and other aspects of
or emperor...Be fair and judge us Sudanese life. He has also authored a few
in the right context. books including novels and short stories.
He begun his career as a translator
resolved our problem with Chad, a 100 per before joining the foreign services in 1991
cent. We have sound relations with Central Old castle in Marawi province
and served in Algeria prior to being
Republic of Africa and we have good relations appointed as the Director of American
with others. Affairs in 1996. Later in 1999, he was
People do not know much about Sudan appointed as Ambassador to Japan, 1999
—that we have pyramids, we have the Nile, –2001. He functioned as the Chief of Sudan
we have wild life. Our people are very fond of Mission in the United States of America
Hindi films and music. Indian musicians and from April 2001 to October 2006 during
performers are most welcome to visit Sudan. which time he used to Represent the
We have people of India origin living in Sudan Government of Sudan to Brazil. He is
and they are very peaceful and productive married with six children.
people. Khartoum University
16DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
 Eyjafjallajökull

T he 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull are a

sequence of volcanic events at Eyjafjöll in
Iceland which, although relatively small
for volcanic eruptions, caused enormous disruption to
air travel across western and northern Europe over an
initial period of six days in April 2010. Additional
FAQ
localised disruption continued into May 2010.
IS the volcanic eruption a result of climate change or is it due to other
Seismic activity started at the end of 2009 and causes?
gradually increased in intensity until on March 20, Volcanic eruptions are not caused by climate change. Iceland is formed
2010, a small eruption started that was rated as a ONE by volcanism and there has probably been continuous volcanic activity
on the Volcanic Explosivity Index. there for more than 20 million years. Volcanic eruptions take place
Beginning on April 14, 2010, the eruption entered somewhere in Iceland, on the average every 3–4 years.
a second phase and created an ash cloud that led to the CAN any prognosis be made on how the volcano will behave in the
closure of most of Europe's IFR airspace from April 15 coming days. Will the eruptions remain at a plateau, or decline or
until April 20, 2010. Consequently, a very high register a sharp increase?
proportion of flights within, to, and from Europe were The eruptive activity is currently at a low level. It may calm down, but
cancelled, creating the highest level of air travel the activity could also resume in the next weeks or months.
disruption since the Second World War. DOES the eruption of one volcano have any impact or relation with
The second phase of the eruption started on April other dormant volcanoes in the region. Are there any fears of other
volcanoes erupting?
14, 2010 and resulted in an estimated 250 million
cubic metres (330,000,000 cu yd) of ejected tephra. There is not much evidence for interaction between different volcanoes.
The ash plume rose to a height of approximately nine It is likely however that there will be an eruption somewhere else in
kilometres (30,000 ft), which rates the explosive Iceland, within the next 5 years.
power of the eruption as a FOUR on the Volcanic APART from causing disruption to air traffic, does the volcanic ash
Explosivity Index. (and its contents) have any harmful effect on human beings and other
flora and fauna?
By May 21, 2010, the second eruption phase had
Flourine is often associated with volcanic ash; it can harm livestock.
subsided to the point that no further lava or ash was
Heavy ash-fall can harm vegetation, possibly trigger soil erosion.
being produced.
IS their any benefit, direct or indirect, from this eruption?
By the morning of May24, 2010, the view from the
Volcanic ash tends to improve the fertility of soil, in the long term.
web camera installed on Þórólfsfell showed only a
plume of water vapour surrounded by a blueish haze H OW long do suspended particles from the volcanic ash remain in the
caused by the emission of sulphurous gases. atmosphere. Will it change the pattern of rainfall or snowfall in any
region of the world?
By the evening of June 6, 2010, a small, new crater Most of the volcanic ash will fall down within a few weeks. Eruptions of
had opened up on the west side of the main crater from the size of the one in Eyjafjallajökull probably do not have detectable
which explosive activity was observed with the effects on weather or climate, except very near the volcano.
emission of small quantities of ash.
Seismic data showed that the frequency and Diplomatic Square gratefully acknowledges the support of His Excellency,
intensity of earth tremors still exceeds the levels MR GUDMUNDUR EIRIKSSON, AMBASSADOR OF ICELAND TO INDIA in obtaining
the responses to our question from relevant experts in Iceland.
observed before the eruption, therefore scientists at
the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO) and the
Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Iceland (IES)
continue to monitor the volcano closely.
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
17
 Managing
Geohazards
The Need For
Global Cooperation
Dr Barnali Ghosh
It is often commented that it is not
earthquakes but buildings that kill people. In
the recent Haiti earthquake, 220,000 people
were killed and the financial implications are
huge. The redevelopment following the
earthquake throws important questions
about the issues of sustainability and
resilience in building stock. Whenever there
is an earthquake-related disaster in the news
with pictures of collapsed buildings and
other structures strewn all over the place,
one probably thinks that earthquake-
resistant design (EQRD) of structures is still
in the dark ages. Of course, the objective of
professionals engaged in the area of EQRD is
to create various cost-effective design
solutions to make structures less vulnerable
to earthquakes, even large earthquakes—
which is quite challenging.
It is also a reality that most of the
infrastructure development is happening in
the developing world, some of which are
vulnerable to earthquakes and other geo-
hazards. It is estimated that roughly 20 per
cent of the world's population is living in
seismic areas of the world. In some studies it
has been estimated that:
San Francisco has 70 ± 10 per cent chance
of a 6.7Mw earthquake within the next 30
years (USGS)
Tokyo has 30 ± 20 per cent chance of a
7.3Mw earthquake within the next 30 years
(Stein et al., 2006)
However these countries are already
known to be vulnerable and have adequate
regulatory frameworks and are prepared. In
this article, I will explore the effects of
development on developing countries where
such accurate predictions are not available
and the challenges of an emerging economy
demand rapid construction.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES –
INDIA, MEXICO, TURKEY
The Indian government has ambitious
infrastructure plans and has highlighted over
£350 billion in the next few years to sustain
India's growth at around eight per cent
annually. A few highlights of the programme
include:
? Development of integrated town-
ships and SEZs totalling over 30,000
18DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
hectares HOW TO MAKE IT MORE SUSTAINABLE AS WELL
Additional 50,000 km of roads at an AS EARTHQUAKE RESISTANT?
?
expenditure of £40 billion by 2015 In this section, I will illustrate this with
? Creation of 35 new airports several examples although the conflicting
? Augmentation of power supply by an issue is that we would like the building,
additional 90,000 MW bridge, port to be safe and prevent collapse
during the event. It is always going to be a
? Dedicated freight corridors totalling
conflict in trying to match the different
11,500 km
demands of stakeholders, environment and
? Additional port capacity to handle economics in propagating sustainable
port traffic of 900 MT by 2011–12 earthquake resistance construction.
? Urban metro rail projects in major 1. USE OF TECHNICALLY SOUND AND
cities
ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE CODE
The challenge that is present is how these Most developing countries have a seismic
developments can be made more sustainable code–except Haiti–which guarantees that if
without compromising the needs of
the design is done according to that code at
development for the developing countries.
least life safety is ensured. However, some of
Knowledge and action are the best
the codes are very conservative–example Abu
prevention when you face an earthquake. In
Dhabi Municipality requires that all building
this context, it is worth remembering that in
be designed according to Uniform Building
many of these countries, the demand for
Code (UBC zone 2A) which implies that it is a
infrastructure overrides many other factors.
moderate zone of seismicity. Latest studies
PRINCIPLES OF EARTHQUAKE RESISTANCE DESIGN have shown that the seismicity in Middle East
The major principle of earthquake design is more dispersed and it is not really a
is to introduce resilience in the building and requirement to design it to a higher code.
design the foundation in such a way that
Thus advanced studies like Probabilistic
damage happens in the superstructure before
Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA) and
the substructure. In addition to this, the
performance of the building needs to be other probabilistic studies should be
managed with certain specified predefined performed to determine the hazard level
criteria. This is where the principles of correctly. This has implication in reducing
sustainability are very important. Sustain- the cost of the earthquake resistance
ability means meeting the demands of today construction. Methods of analysis should be
without compromising the needs of future advanced to develop a leaner design.
generations. In the context of engineering The Indian Seismic zoning map (IS 1893)
construction it would imply constructing was presented without any sort of PSHA
new infra-structure projects using materials studies and thus the division is onerous for
which can be recycled and cause less waste some places like Kolkata. In many of my
and less pollution. However this is difficult to projects in India I have used additional
put in practice and even more difficult to clauses from other codes to develop a robust
make others understand. design. Thus, it is essential to undertake a
Geohazards have significant societal and comprehensive risk assessment before a
economic impact and thus should be project begins. Engineers also need to do
considered in the context of sustainability. more than just comply with legislation and
The plan is to manage geohazard risk. In my codes.
job, I increasingly promote the use of 2. MATERIAL SPECIFICATION
technically sound and economically feasible
It is known that concrete on its own is a
code and develop simple force or displace-
very brittle material and can cause sudden
ment based procedures and better seismic
detailing like splicing and develop compre- collapse. Thus, steel is added to make the
hensive emergency mitigation plans. behaviour more ductile. This introduces
alternative load paths in the load transfer
mechanism. The behaviour of steel struc-
tures is better in some cases (particularly tall
structures) and thus it maybe suitable to
advocate the use of steel where possible. In
addition we should ensure that we specify
locally sourced materials and be certain about
its behaviour. Adobe brick works (cheaper
alternative) should be used after complete
risk assessment of the structure and its
performance. Material and waste reduction
should be important criteria.
3. DESIGN EFFICIENTLY–MORE RESEARCH
Foundation design is often dealing with
uncertainties and applying suitable factor of
safety to design for most unlikely conditions.
However this puts unnecessary strain on
resources which effect the future generation.
Thus, more research is needed to understand
the dynamic soil structure interaction
behaviour during earthquakes and ensure
that we do not use very high factors of safety
because of ignorance. Continued efforts to
understand and document the work through
publications would ensure that people get
value for seismic design.
4. RETROFIT NOT REBUILD
The cost of rebuilding after earthquake
collapse is about 20 times the cost of retro-
fitting the building. Thus to make it more
sustainable, ensure retrofitting is done in
existing buildings to make sure that they per-
form better in the next earthquake.
5. ROLE OF CONSTRUCTION
The key construction issues are the
availability of local contractors, skilled
carpenters and standardisation of details and
construction methods. Educating the local
contractors and doing it right is the key factor CONCLUSION
for ensuring sustainable construction. This is
very important and perhaps the most tunities for engineers to promote change
significant factor which contributes to through sharing experience and good
For all your
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manageable performance of the building.
After the Bhuj earthquake a group of
engineers produced a document where the
key methods which safeguard buildings were
explained in non technical terms. This
guideline was given to all local residents and
empowering people with the knowledge
meant that they could take interest in the
reconstruction of the buildings.
6. ROLE OF REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
In Chile, the seismic risks were clearly
identified and the regulatory framework was
robust. In Mexico too, the framework is also
very robust. However in China and India, the
framework is not good enough and there are
some constructions which do not follow the
basic guidelines. This can only be improved
by education—by engineers clearly com-
municating the risks to the clients and
campaigning for the regulatory framework to
be more efficient. This needs international
pressures and collaborations of all
professionals working in this field. After the
Bhuj earthquake in India, public and
professional pressure (from similar bodies
like ICE) made it mandatory for all building
to incorporate seismic design.
7. ENVIRONMENT ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS
Sustainable Project Appraisal Routine
(SPeAR®) tools for evaluating sustainability
performance measures should be introduced
to projects based in these countries. SPeAR®
is based on a four-quadrant model that
structures the issues of sustainability into the
key elements of environmental protection,
social equity, economic viability and efficient
use of natural resources. Such tools should be
used during design.
Globalisation brings important oppor-
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
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practice. The leadership and influencing role
of engineers in achieving sustainability
should not be underestimated. Increasingly
this will be as part of multi-disciplinary teams
that include non-engineers and through
work that crosses national boundaries.
However, it is quite clear that delivering
infrastructure in developing countries with
limited regulatory framework will not be an
easy experience. Engineers will need to
minimise carbon footprint of their designed
buildings, think about issues dealing with
climate while delivering safe infrastructure.
I would like to conclude by saying that
engineering needs to enhance local capacity
and leave a legacy that is more than just
bricks and mortars for future generations.
Dr Barnali Ghosh is a Chartered Civil
Engineer (CEng MICE) with extensive
experience of designing safe foundations
in seismic areas all over the world. Her
experience includes identifying seismic
hazards and seismic design of found-
ations for buildings, offshore platforms,
retaining walls, ports etc. She works in the
Seismic Design Team in London for
ARUP as senior engineer.
Dr Ghosh has published her work
extensively in different International
Journals and text books. She has also
worked as an adviser in POST
(Parliamentary Office of Science &
Technology) in UK influencing major
policy decisions within the government.
She maintains close research links
with Cambridge, Bristol, UCL and
Dundee University. Her interests include
enhancing sustainability in earthquake
design through education and research.
Contact Details
barnali.ghosh@arup.com
Exclusive
offers for
Diplomats
and
Diplomatic
Missions
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
19
 W
ell first of all, I am really would like it to continue because a
happy and honoured to be huge country like India should also
the first Georgian ambas- be strong economically. I think
sador to India. We consider India is on the right path as it conti- world. Then there are the issues of human
India as one of the biggest, not in the sense nues to surprise the whole world by its rights and the fight against terrorism on
of physical area or population but in terms achievements. And of course through this, which we are definitely in agreement.
of its immense history, traditions which we also have our personal interests. We
hope that India would pay attention to a Bilateral relations can only help and
have definitely influenced many, many
very small country in the Caucasus like develop this relation and it would help to
countries and among them, of course,
Georgia and maybe get interested to invest discover, to define and identify other issues
Georgia. We should not forget that Georgia
in Georgia. on which we need to cooperate. We hope to
is situated on the trails of the silk route and
accelerate our relations with Georgia
contacts between Georgian and Indian Georgia is a small country. It is 70,000 having an embassy here and hoping India to
people date back to very ancient times. square kilometers on the surface and with a open an embassy in Tbilisi.
Finally, we have managed to open this population of approximately five million
embassy and now the next step hopefully people. But it is a country with very ancient You should also know that Georgia has
would be an Indian embassy in Georgia history and traditions and as I already already expressed its support to the non-
because as you probably know there is one mentioned they are criss-crossing with permanent seat going to India at the
in Azerbaijan and another one in Armenia. India very often. Classical Indian literature Security Council of the United Nations and
Both are our neighbouring countries and is no secret for Georgians for it is not only this mutual support on different positions
the Georgian nation would understand its the sophisticated people but ordinary would make our relations more conducive.
rights if India opens an Embassy in Georgia Georgians who are aware of Indian We have started earlier this year with
soon enough. literature. The epics, the legends, the political consultations and the first round
romantic novels and the writings of many was held here in Delhi and we hope that this
What do we need embassies for? Today,
Indian authors have been translated in tradition would be continued and would
with modern technologies you can very
Georgian language. Likewise, Indian help both parties to work more closely and
easily do things without going to another
movies are also quite popular in our country develop common positions and common
country but I think direct human contacts
are very important. This is of course one of which allows us to know more about this stands.
the main reasons why we decided to open an country. India has such a variety of places to Now, coming to business issues, you
embassy. Human contacts are important, visit that coming here once or twice to may ask what would Georgia be interested
because no books can replace what your would not be sufficient to discover India. from Indian businessmen?.
eyes and ears experience when you are in a Now we mentioned the global issues on The economy in Georgia today after
different country. which we are totally in line with the Rose-Revolution of 2003 is becoming one
position of India, (like) the issues of Mother of the most attractive—investment-wise,
We hope India would Nature—the global warming, pollution and because of its very liberal policy. Today
pay attention to a small other events that can negatively affect the
country like Georgia
What are the expectations of Georgia?
First of all, of course we would like to
develop and expand our relationship in a
general manner. We would like to foster the
exchange between the people because it is
people who get countries closer, not the
presidents and prime ministers and only
when people want to be closer can
governments act accordingly. And of course
the whole world is looking at India as a very
rapidly growing economy in the world and
Georgia is not an exception. We wish all the
good possible to this development. We
20DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010

to open a limited responsibility company, you business in India and with Indian companies.
might need five or ten minutes. This is a really
big achievement of the authorities of Georgia.
We have almost entirely defeated corruption
and we are proud to say that today Georgia is
almost free of any corruption, be it on the
lower level or higher level. We have a very
highly qualified human resource pool which is
something that is very often a point for
decision making. As you would know, during
the Soviet Union, we managed to have a very
qualified and diversified human resources. So Indian businessmen present at this event.
these are just some of the few reasons why Last year something similar was held at
investing today in Georgia can be interesting. Georgia, more like a fair of various Indian
And by the way, some of the Indian products and it was very popular with the
businessmen did not wait for the Embassy to visitors. It was a fair presenting different
open or some other signals from the spheres of the Indian industry. It is exchanges
The Georgian Spectacle
authorities. We have significant investments
but we would of course be hoping for more in
very different sectors like energy and
agriculture. We would also seek investments
in the sector of cultures—Georgia has always
been known as a country of highly developed
cultural traditions and also for its movie
industry and dances. Georgian dances and
theatres are world famous and we hope to
bring them to India soon enough. Finally
Georgia is also a country of tourism. In such a
small country you have snow, you have winter
resorts, sea sides and also architectural
monuments and I think this will also interest
people of India. What else can we say about
our expectations? Of course the achievements
of the Indian economy are prodigious and the
level of science
and industry in
India is quite
attractive for
Georgian buy-
ers. In a small
country like
ours, the trade
exchanges simp-
ly starts with
people shutt-
ling to India and
making spot
purchases of
goods. This has
to move to another stage now and it will also
be one of the priorities of our embassy to help
and support Georgian businessmen to do
There will be a big forum to be organised
in Mumbai by the end of the current year and
hopefully the Georgian Prime Minister, Mr
Lado Gurgenidze would be able to attend this
event and lead it too. There will be a
presentation about the current situation of
Georgian economy and the opportunities for
investment. This forum would be called
INVEST IN GEORGIA. This would benefit the
like this that would benefit the development
and economic ties between our countries.
Sometimes when I think of Georgia in
comparison to India, I feel kind of lost,
because we are only five million which is a
small part of even Delhi's population, but
believe me that the capacities of Georgian
people are surprising and I am confident that
this cooperation would benefit both
countries.
As to the mutual visits of officials, this
year the Deputy Foreign Minister of Georgia
was in New Delhi and signed three
agreements which would pave the way for
economic development, cultural exchanges
and cooperation between our two countries.
And also an agreement was signed on the
creation of an inter-governmental commis-
sion which would follow up development of
relationship and would also be a guiding
body of both countries. But we hope that
high Indian officials would soon be visiting
Georgia because such visits are a signal also. It
is a signal to the population, to the investors
and we have no doubt that soon enough India
will be among the closest friends and partners
of Georgia and vice versa.
This is my first ambassadorial post.
Earlier I was representing the Secretary
General of Council of Europe in Kosovo
which was full of contradictions. The
Council of Europe dealing mainly with
human rights and rule of law. It was also
supervising and training local people
because there is no democracy without
respect of human lives and protection of
property. This is essential in any
democracy and India knows it better than
anyone else because it is one of the oldest
democracies. So my diplomatic career was
much more in the sphere of multilateral
relation, especially in particular to Council
of Europe and one more reason why I am
so happy to be the first to establish the
official links between our countries and
work hard to develop them.
India has been a country of my interest
from my very young years. It started with
Indian philosophy, Indian religion and a
lot of people in my country, even though
they are not followers of Indian philo-
sophy (religion), are very deeply interes-
ted in it. This is of course another possible
way of getting our people close. But I
should also say that I have always been
surprised by the developments and success
of India because I know how difficult it is
to run such a big country. India has
managed to not only to keep together but
to delegate maximum power to the states
and this is also a signal or a demonstration
of the Indian people. There is democracy
inside themselves and we will hopefully
learn a lot from the history of Indian
democracy because as you know our
statehood has been established only
twenty years ago and we still have a long
way to go before we build a solid
democracy based on rule of law.
I have to mention here that it is our
aspiration to become—I do not like this
word though, a western style civilisation or
state. The expression western does not
mean anything—it denotes a geographical
area and each democracy is specific to the
country.
It is my belief that there are values that
we share with Europe and many other
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
21
 GEORGIA
countries. However, this inspiration also
had a negative side to it because our big
neighbour, the Russian federation did not see
it from the same position. It is my belief that
this was also one reason why Russia took
twenty years to recognise our independence
and sovereignty and at the same time tried
very hard to keep Georgia in the—what they
call— their sphere of strategic interest. But
hopefully the era of influence zone is
finished. Every sovereign nation has the
right to choose which coalition it stands with
and we would only be happy to have the best
neighbourly relations with Russia, as it has
been during the history of our two counties.
We share the same religion and that should
in a way get us closer. It is our two people
who have to be friendly and close. I think A career diplomat, His Excellency, Mr
Katchkatchishvili Zurab was enlisted in the foreign
that good sense would prevail soon and we Reminiscence services in 1978 after completion of his post-
would be able to delete the traces of the war graduation in inter- national relations from Moscow
that took place in 2008. Diplomatic High School.
He has served in various capacities, formerly
with the Soviet Union and later with the Georgian
government. He has represented Georgia in the
Council of Europe which appointed him in 2004 as
the Head of Council of Europe in Kosovo and also
as the representative of the Secretary General.
Prior to his arrival at Delhi, he was an Ambassador
at large, as Head of the Political Department,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He is well versed in many languages including
English, French, Serbian, Georgian and Russian.
Photographs: Courtesy Embassy of Georgia

le Partner
eliab
R
in
Your

INDIA
1977
Since

India

22 DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
 Draft Corporate Bill
Minister Salman Khurshid clarifies the government position
The European Business Group along
with the British Business Group and
Amcham jointly organised an interactive
session on the “Draft Corporate Bill” for
its members at New Delhi. The Chief
Guest was Mr Salman Khurshid, Minis-
ter for Corporate and Minority Affairs
who addressed a large audience seeking
insights into the complex bill. Other
eminent speakers included Mr Richard
Rekhy of KPMG and Mr RDS Bawa of
Network 18.
The session began with the Minister
mentioning that government is in the
process of finalizing a bill which will
ensure that the Wakf boards present
across India will function in a
streamlined fashion. He further hoped
that the bill will be introduced during
Parliament’s winter session.
Minister of State for Corporate
Affairs, Salman Khurshid addressing the
audience stated that high corporate
salaries are neither ‘dogmatic’ nor
ideological and should be left with the
shareholders. “We do believe in essential
freedom in a democracy. The ultimate
decision on managerial remuneration
should rest with the shareholders,” said
the Minister.
Talking about the status of the Seen below, Mr Richard Rekhy, KPMG,
Satyam case, the minister said the Mr David Hudson, President, EBG,
AMCHAM
AMCHAM
BRITISH BUSINESS GROUP
I N D I A
government was putting in place an
‘early warning system’ to prevent similar
frauds in future.
“Presently we detect such frauds on
the basis of anonymous complaints. The
process has not been institutionalized so
far. But this advanced model would help
us to detect any Satyam–like incident
before it happens,” he said, adding that
the Securities and Exchange Board of
India (SEBI) is helping the ministry to
formulate the system.
“The government is aware that
hiring top minds to run a company will CIRCULATION
come at a price, but that should be To over hundred overseas
objectively and not subjectively arrived
diplomatic missions at Delhi
and Indian missions overseas
at”.
To institutes, organizations, think tanks and
“Even so, if some limits have to be universities where international relations
and diplomacy is a part of the
placed, it is you (the corporate sector) agenda/curricula in India mainly and a few in
who would have to tell us how”. US, Canada, Singapore and Romania
He mentioned that India has ‘to go To members of the Overseas Business Groups
beyond affirmative action’ with respect To large corporate houses in Indial
(increases in every issue)
to social responsibility.
Individuals and professionals who are
“These issues need to be debated associated with diplomacy and international
threadbare for their possible incorpo- relations.
ration in the Companies Bill 2009, which
has been tabled in the Lok Sabha and is
ADVERTISING
.
now being vetted by the Standing Com- OPPORTUNITY
mittee of Parliament,” he added.
Mr RDS Bawa and others.
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
23
 UAE Embassy Sponsors a Major
Event For Underprivileged Children
A Charity Dinner, sponsored by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, was held at Hotel Maurya
Sheraton, Delhi to introduce Sshrishti, a NGO dedicated to the upliftment of poor children, and for
auctioning photographs clicked by children from the economically weaker section.
The evening started with a welcome address by H.E. Mr Mohamed Sultan Al Owais, UAE Ambassador
who said, “UAE has always believed in supporting individuals as well as organizations that touch and
enlighten the lives of under privileged children. It is indeed a pleasure for us to be a part of this noble event
and we hope that with our small contribution, we may touch the lives and create a better tomorrow for these
under privileged children who are our future”. The evening was attended by diplomats, dignitaries and
eminent social workers.
Ms Madhumita Biswas mesmerised the guests by her songs and it was followed by an wonderful dance
performance by Ms Kavita Dwibedi and her troupe in a splendid display of innovative confluence of Kathak,
Odissi and Mohini Atyam. The Charity Dinner was followed by an extraordinary range of photographs put up
for auction. These photographs were clicked by the Children of Sshrishti under the tutelage of internationally
acclaimed photographer, Samar Jodha.
His Excellency, Mr Mohamed Sultan Al Owais concluded by saying, “I love everything about India. The
dance by Ms Kavita Dwibedi and her troupe was fantastic and so was the wonderful biryani prepared by the
hotel chef”.

Photos: Courtesy - UAE Embassy

24 25
 From the Alps to
the Mediterranean
we are offering a lot
Bilateral trade USD 170 million
and increasing every year
Slovenia is a young European country. underwent a change—the unification of
We established the embassy at Delhi in the Germany, the separation of the Czech and
year 2002, but at that time it was at the level Slovakian Republics and changing defini-
of Charge d'Affaires. The Indian government tions in other East European countries.
opened its embassy in Ljubljana in 2008 and Slovenia became a member of the
appointed an Ambassador to Slovenia. At that European Union in 2004, the Eurozone, the
time, our government took a decision to Schengen area, the Organization for
upgrade its mission to the level of ambas- Security and Co-operation in Europe, the
sador–and so here I am at Delhi since Council of Europe, NATO, UNESCO, WTO,
September 2009. OECD and UN. Per capita, it is the richest H.E. Mr Janez Premoze, Ambassador of Slovenia with
The Indian Minister of State for External Slavic nation-state, and is 85.5 per cent of President, Smt Pratibha Devisingh Patil at Rashtrapati
Affairs visited Slovenia from August 30-31, the EU 27 average GDP (PPP) per capita. Bhavan after presenting credentials–Sep 24, 2009
2009 to participate in the “Bled Strategic Slovenia's currency is the Euro.
Forum” meeting. The Seventh Session of Slovenia has a developed manufac- The Republic of Slovenia is located in
Indo–Slovenia Joint Committee for Trade turing base. Today, our export basket to India Central Europe touching the Alps and
and Economic Cooperation was held in comprises pharmaceuticals and materials bordering the Mediterranean. Slovenia
Ljubljana in September 2009. related to pharmaceutical products. There are borders Italy on the west, the Adriatic
Slovene President Dr Danilo Tuerk some steel products like steel sheets, steel for Sea on the southwest, Croatia on the
visited India in February 2010 to participate tools, products related to paint, paper for south and east, Hungary on the northeast
and Austria on the north. The capital and
in the Delhi Sustainable Development bank notes and so on. In the earlier years, we
largest city of Slovenia is Ljubljana.
Summit. On the sidelines of the Summit, he used to buy from India a lot of coffee, tea,
had a meeting with Prime Minister Dr Man spices and other agricultural produce. This Slovenia covers an area of 20,273
square kilometres and has a population
Mohan Singh. too has changed as India's economy has
of 2.06 million. Around 40 per cent of
As a diplomatic mission, we work on changed. We import automobile components Slovenia's land mass is elevated land—
several issues–political dialogue and as you and after certain value additions, supply it to mostly in the form of mountains and
have mentioned, diplomacy is relevant to European manufacturers. There is a plateaus—which is located in the inte-
many aspects today, commerce, tourism and convergence between India and Slovenia. rior regions of the country. The highest
so on. We do many jobs for the betterment of If you look at the map of Slovenia, you point of Slovenia is the 2,864 metre
commerce and a healthy Indo–Slovenia will realize its location makes it an ideal (9,396 ft) high Mount Triglav. The
economic relationship. gateway to Central and Eastern Europe. The majority of the population speak
Slovene, which is also the country's
The bilateral trade is increasing and both strategically located Slovenian port of Koper official language. Other local official
countries are notching up higher export in the northern Adriatic has recently been languages are Hungarian and Italian.
figures. Presently, the value of trade between developed into an important trading port,
Slovenia and India stands at USD 170 million. even outpacing its principal rival Trieste. It is
We import more things from India than we The Mediterranean
export.
India and the former Yugoslavia have
enjoyed decades of trade and a healthy
commercial relationship but at time the
basket was entirely different. Yugoslavia
was exporting electric lamps and manufac-
turing equipment, pumping stations for
irrigation, shipping and a lot of hardware.
Now, it has changed. After the break up of
former Yugoslavia when Slovenia was
looking for a community to become a part
of, we focused all our efforts on the
European Union. After independence,
Slovenia being a small nation, had to seek
the benefits of becoming a part of a larger
community. The dynamics of Europe

26DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
SLOVENIA connected to the sea. So we cover all aspects
of Alpine beauty. We are a small Switzerland.
It is more convenient for Indian visitors to
come to Slovenia and enjoy all aspects of the
natural Alpine beauty from Slovenia—the
high mountains and the warm Mediterranean
sea. Vienna or Venice are just a few hours
drive away from my country. So you can
enjoy Europe in different directions from
Slovenia. By driving a hundred kilometres in
different directions from Slovenia, you can
see different landscapes, different architec-
tures, different food and taste different kinds
of wine—and this is what we would like to
introduce to India.
In January this year, we had a Tourism
Fair in New Delhi when we introduced about
15 tour operators from Slovenia and after the
event they were all happy with the contracts
they had signed with Indian tour operators.
now Austria's (as well as for some other But tourism is a long shot and it takes time.
countries) most important trading port with
Slovenia is slightly less expensive than
30 per cent of Austria's overseas trade being
Austria. Coming to Slovenia is like stepping
handled by this port. Koper is regarded as the
into a small boutique where you will find a
fastest connection between Central Europe
and the Far East—between seven and ten days number of high value items. From the Alps to
the Mediterranean, we are offering a lot.
faster than the alternative route via Gibraltar.
Specifically, the Port Koper offers consider- I am an economist by profession. I have
able potential for promoting movement of spent many years in Japan and when Slovenia
cargo from India to EU. We are also interested attained independence, I joined the Foreign
in your views on global issues like environ- Ministry and opened the Embassy of Slovenia
ment and we are interested in renewable at Japan. I have spent many years as an
energy and alternative energy. We are also economist and a diplomat in Japan. When I
seeing, according to statistics, that more and went back to the Ministry in 2000, I had quite
more Indian visitors are coming to our part of a few interesting assignments. I became the
Europe. Traditionally, they preferred Switzer- National Coordinator for the Western
land, but as you are aware that Slovenia is on Balkans.
the sunny side of the Alps and we are
Lake Bled Karavanke Alps Slovenia
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS
Slovenian company ISKRAEMCO has a
joint venture manufacturing electric meters
in Trichurapalli. It is understood that there
has recently been a change in the Indian
partner for this unit and that the Regent
group from Kolkata is the new partner.
KRKA, a leading pharmaceutical com-
pany from Slovenia has a procurement
office in Bangalore which sources raw
materials and intermediates from India for
their plants worldwide.
RADICE PAPIR, is printing security
paper for certain uses by the Indian
Government.
LIFE CLASS HOTELS AND RESORTS,
a Slovene hotel and resort group, has
recruited some therapists from India for
providing Ayurvedic treatment in their spas.
It has also signed a MoU with the
Government Ayurvedic College, Thiruva-
nanthapuram (Kerala).
PETRA MACHINES LTD signed a JV
Agreement with Delta Hydrotech for
manufacturing Band Saw machines in
India.
DHIMAHI, a Slovenian computer
company, having rich experience and
knowledge in the field of software
development has entered into cooperation
with a Geodesic, an Indian IT Company.
Geodesic has its headquarter in Mumbai.
Dhimahi has recently launched project for
the electronic sale of tickets through
websites.
MOSER BAER Photo Voltaic, a
subsidiary of Moser Baer of India, has
acquired a 40 per cent stake sometimes
back in Solar Vahee d.d. in Slovenia for
production of silicon wafers.
An economics graduate from the
University of Maribor, Mr Janez Premoze
began his career in 1981 by joining
Intertrad, a foreign trade corporation in
Ljubljana. After two years, he joined the
Hitotsubhashi University, Tokyo. He was
appointed as the Chief Representative of
the Ljubljanska Banka in Tokyo in 1986.
After Slovenia attained independence, he
was appointed as Ambassador to Japan
and Republic of Korea while being
stationed at Tokyo. In 2001, he was
appointed as Under Secretary of State,
Head of Department for Multilateral
Relations, and then National Coordi-
nator of the Stability Pact for South East-
ern Europe (SPSEE) and SECI, Co-Chair-
person of the Working Table on Security
Issues, SPSEE and Acting Chairman,
Third Working Table, SPSEE and
Chairman, WT III Sub-Table for Defense
and Security.
Among foreign languages, he is well
conversant in English, French and
Japanese.
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
Feb-April, 2010
27
 PORTUGAL
T
he political relation between
India and Portugal has been
extremely good whether on a
bilateral or a multilateral fora. We support
India's candidature as a permanent member
of the Security Council in a restructured
United Nations. We strongly support
reforms in the international and multilateral
institutions to make them more inclusive so
as to give voice to the emerging powers and
the bigger nations of the world—we support
more consultations with all regional groups
and a greater focus on subjects that are vital
for today's world like global warming,
climate change and all such issues.
Portugal's initiative in advocating a
strong Indo-EU relationship resulted in the
Indo-EU annual summit. During Portugal's
Presidency of the EU in 2007, this was
further reinforced. As a matter of fact, 2007,
was a landmark year for Portugal-India
bilateral relations. The visits of the President,
Prof. Cavaco Silva and the Prime Minister,
Mr. José Socrates acknowledge the unique
place of Portugal in India's external relations
and the Portuguese engagement in rein-
forcing political links and creating the
conditions for stronger economic and
commercial ties.
In the beginning of 2007 we had the visit
of the President Prof. Cavaco Silva; in the
second semester of 2007, when we had the
chair of European Union, we promoted
relations between India and the European
Union and finally at the end of 2007, we had
the bilateral summit between our Prime
Minister, Mr. José Socrates and the Indian
Prime Dr. Man Mohan Singh. Next year, we
had the visit of Foreign Minister to
consolidate the relation.
Our relationship is now developing at an
unprecedented pace. On one side, we have
India, an unbound giant, growing impress-
ively and developing the most advanced
scientific and technological skills, while its
major companies conquer the world's
markets. On the other side, we have
Portugal, an ancestral European country
which, over the last thirty years, has been
witnessing rapid socio-economic change. It
is now stepping into the global limelight as
hub of scientific and technologic excellence
28DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
and as a strategic platform between
Europe, America, Africa and Asia.
Portugal enjoys a historical
relation which was initiated by
Vasco de Gama when he sailed to
this country. We had a small part of
H.E. Mr Luis Filipe Castro Mendes
India–Goa, that has been colonised
Born at Idanha- a-Nova, Excellency,
by the Portuguese during the earlier
Mr Luis Filipe Castro Mendes graduated
centuries which is, ofcourse, now a part of in law from the University of Lisbon
India. Goa has strong Portuguese cultural (1974) and was appointed as a Deputy in
influence as can be evidenced from the the Cabinet of Ministers without a
architecture, the prevalence of the language portfolio from Sep 1974. Thereafter, he
and an overall cultural heritage. Truly, Goa was posted in various countries and
has a very rich heritage from Portuguese and served in different diplomatic capacities
south European origin and it has been including Angola, Spain, France, Brazil
preserved by the Indian people. and Hungary. He was appointed as
Ambassador of Portugal to India in 2007.
Today, a set of diplomatic instruments
aiming to enhance our economic, and trade A career diplomat, he is a poet and
relations has been established over the years. novelist having made his debut in 1983
The Trade and Industrial Cooperation with a collection of poems Scraps. It is said
Agreement was signed in 1977 and that two characteristics mark his poetry :
reinforced in 2000 and a Cooperation the intertextuality (with references to
writers like Emily Dickinson, Rilke,
Agreement on Tourism sector was signed in
Nietzsche, Borges, Rimbaud, among
1991. Along with these substantial treaties
others) and processing of traditional
other regulatory agreements have also been poetic forms like the sonnet.
adopted. A convention avoiding double
taxation, fiscal fraud was set in 1998 and a When I was ushered to Excellency’s
office in the presence of Mr Filipe de
Protocol on mutual promotion and invest-
Moraes Sarmento Honrado, Counsellor,
ment protection was signed in 2000.
Economic Affairs and Trade and Mr Luis
The Portuguese Development Agency- Reis Lourenco, Counsellor, my first
AICEP has also started operations in India impression was that I had entered a
from January 1, 2008. It is an initiative to library or a professor’s study. Evidently,
boost the economic ties between Portugal Excellency has a great passion for books as
and India. he is a poet and fiction writer of repute. He
is also a highly decorated citizen of
ECONOMY Portugal.
Economic relations, as already men-
tioned, has maintained a very healthy
growth except for the global economic crisis
that overtook the world. To give you an idea
about the growth of bilateral trade from 2005
to 2008 — Portuguese exports have grown by
about 25% and Indian exports by about 29%.
However the trend has been generally good
and Indian companies have started investing
in Portugal. We have also Portuguese com-
panies investing in India.
Portugal, one of the world's most
developed countries, can become India's
next big business partner. As the business cli-
mate in India gains pace, trade with
European countries is likely to grow in areas
such as IT, biotechnology, manufacturing,
pharmaceuticals, communications sectors,
banking and new technology areas.
Portugal may appear a small market
compared to other European countries but its
economic power is impressive because of
high standard of living and high purchasing
power of the Portuguese consumer. Besides,
Portugal acts as a gateway for India to gain
entry into a market of 500 million of the
European Union countries as well as huge
emerging markets like Brazil and Africa. As
you would be aware, Portugal continues to
play the important role of an intercontinental
broker, mediating, translating and facili-
tating. This is a great asset to India's emerging
aspirations in Africa and Latin America,
where millions of people speak Portuguese
and hundreds of Portugal's finest companies
and businessmen have set strong roots.
Portugal is also the world's seventh-
largest wine producer and known for its port
wine. It is the world's foremost exporter of
cork and accounts for more than half of
world's cork production.
CULTURE
Indians are mostly multi-lingual and fond
of learning new languages. At present, the
Instituto Camões–Portuguese Cultural
Centre in New Delhi, besides its role of
The Portuguese Development Agency
in India is positioned to provide assistance
to the Indian companies interested in
setting up base in Portugal for forging new
and stronger relationships.
The private sector of Portugal and
India has been working together for years.
However, this interaction was limited by
distance and at times, a lack of awareness
of the complementary opportunities. Over
the years, Portuguese Embassy has
provided all possible assistance for a broad
based interaction between the two
economies. This practice will receive a
strong fillip from the new facilities
provided by the AICEP.
The agency is designed to facilitate a
free flow of information about the exciting
possibilities that exist for the entre-
preneurs in Portugal and India. It provides
expert services to Indian companies
seeking to use the synergetic advantages of
Portuguese partner. It also provides access
to a strong network of Small and Medium
Enterprises in India. It also brings in
Portuguese companies exploring the
benefits of collaborating with a booming
Indian private sector

The Centre also collaborates with various

university departments offering Portuguese
language courses, namely University of
Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University, the
Jamia Millia Islamia, Jadavpur University
(Kolkata) and Goa University.
Moreover, the Centre has also been
holding events encompassing cultural fields
such as cinema, literature, Indo-Portuguese
history, music and plastic arts. It has been
organising activities on its own and also in
collaboration with Indian cultural and
academic institutions—international semi-
nars on Indo-Portuguese history, culture and
literature; exhibitions of paintings, photo-
graphs, cartoons, ceramics, bibliography and
cartography of the Portuguese navigations
and on common Indo-Portuguese heritage.
Portugal has also been represented in
international film festivals held in India and
film weeks have been held regularly in a
number of cities in the Indian sub-continent.
spreading knowledge about Portuguese We are also happy to say that the Hindi
language and culture through its activities language is taught in one of the universities in
and officially representing the Instituto Portugal.
Camões in New Delhi, offers part-time There are many people of Indian origin
courses of Portuguese Language and Culture residing in Portugal. There is a segment of
at basic, intermediate and advanced levels. Indians who had opted to settle in Portugal
when Goa integrated with the Republic of
India. Then there were others who have
been, over the years, coming to Portugal, for
work or for business, and recently for
studying. Thus, there are plenty of Indians in
Portugal who belong to different strata of the
society.
TOURISM
We expect a substantial growth in the
tourism sector but this is impeded by the fact
that there is no direct flight connection
between India and Portugal. The present,
unfortunately, is not very good for airlines to
add new sectors in their flight but we are
hopeful that direct flights will soon become
commercially viable. However, the recent
years have witnessed a greater flow of Indian
tourists to Portugal.
Overleaf: A few photographs of Lisbon (Lisboa)
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
29
 Paintings from
Egyptian Embassy
The Egyptian love
for colours by
Ms Hoda Hafez,
wife of the Egyptian
Ambassador
and a self-portrait by
his 18 year old son
Serif
Bunkasai, known as Japanese Cultural Festival or
in Japanese world as an annual event held by most
schools in Japan when students display their every
day achievements. Many people usually visit the
cultural festival just for fun. Food is served, and
dances and plays are performed by individual
volunteers or clubs. Besides, Bunkasai is intended
to enrich people’s lives by increasing social inter-
action. It is also the opportunity for students to see
what life is like in other schools/universities.

celebrated
The students of the Centre for Japanese,
Korean and North East Asian Studies,
Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
celebrated Bunkasai KIZUNA 2010, the
Japanese Cultural Festival with support
from the Embassy of Japan.

DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
31

T he Czech Republic participated
in the India Technology Days
celebrations by organizing the
Czech–India Technology Partnership Days
in Delhi during May, 2010. The Czech
delegation was led by Mr Lubos Vanek,
Deputy Minister of Industry & Trade
comprising 15 Czech companies (mainly
small and medium enterprises–SMEs) and
delegates from the academic sector.
The conclave aimed on scientific re-
search and development as well as business
cooperation specifically between MSMEs.
(Micro and SMEs). It is pertinent to mention
that following globalisation, business all
over the world has become extremely com-
petitive necessitating the need to adopt
innovative and cutting-edge technologies.
Czech–Indian trade has been flourishing
since several years. Despite the global finan-
cial crisis in 2009, the Czech–India trade
exchange crossed the USD 1 billion mark. It
should not be forgotten, that mutual trade
had been significantly supported by the ‘big
players’ (automobiles–Skoda Auto, nuclear
energy cooperation–Vitkovice company,
thermal energy–Skoda Power). The Czech
SMEs are now expected to play a greater role.
The target sectors of the Czech–Indian
SMEs trade are biotechnology, chemical and
pharmaceutical industry, green technologies
(energy, water management), robotics, AI
(artificial intelligence), nano-technologies
and food technology. The target priorities in
the research are molecular biology and
biotechnology, energy resources and mate-
rial research. The Czech companies are open
32DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
to different kind of cooperation including
the technology transfers.
Czech is becoming an increasingly
favourable business destination for Indian
companies. Many Indian investors have
already established their business there:
Mittal Steel, Ashok Leyland, Tetley Tea,
Alok Industries, Lloyd Group, to name a
few. The Czech Republic is a popular
investment destination due to its various
encouraging factors like investment–
incentives, a highly skilled labour force and
well developed infrastructure.
At a reception hosted by the Czech
Embassy in honour of the Minister and the
participants, Mr.Lubos Vanek remarked,
“I think cooperation between the People
will bring benefits to both parties and at
times, for third parties too. This gives people
an opportunity to work together, understand
each others' needs and results in better eco-
nomic cooperation. I think trading is also an
important activity because it involves indivi-
duals who become active agents for interna-
tional understanding and promotions.
In addition to business, our countries
have many clever scientists and many top-
class institutes and it will be a wonderful
thing if they can cooperate in the areas of
science and technology with special appli-
cation to industry.
Agreements have been signed in this
conclave and a Joint Commission is being set
up. The Joint Commission is expected to
meet every year and it will deal with all
issues that will lead to increased economic
and scientific cooperation between Czech
and India. The Joint Commission would be
the right body to talk about mutually
beneficial projects and discuss on funding
them. We would like to invest in India and at
the same time I think leading businessmen
from India may like to invest in Czech.
We welcome Indian tourists to the Czech
Republic although I am not the right person
to talk about this subject. I hope that direct
flights between India and Czech would be
established by the national carriers of our
countries”.
Mr Lubos Vanek's visit was followed by
the visit of two Vice-Ministers of Commerce
and Foreign Affairs.
Recycling
Waste Water
According to
a C I I S t u d y,
India is facing
severe shortage
of fresh water.
The country has
16 per cent of the
world's popula-
tion and about 4
per cent of the
world's water
resources. With
decreasing fresh
water availability
and increasing water pollution and demand it
has become essential to consider alternatives
like recycling waste water.
The Czech participant at the conclave
presented a new industrially proven waste
water treatment technology based on the
aerobic super-activation (extra low sludge
loading) in integrated USBF bioreactors with
fluidized bed filtration, which in com-
bination with tertiary treatment using
advanced oxidation process (hydroxyl free
radicals oxidation) provides potable water
quality. The USBF reactor for chemical and
biological treatment of water, are available
from the small domestic treatment plants to
large ones for municipal and industrial
purposes.
The USBF technology is well suited for
upgrading of existing water treatment plants
that can be reconstructed to adapt USBF
technology. The implementation of such a
complex new concept of water supply and
sewerage system at the all national level would
need cooperation and coordination covering
Research Institutes, Academia, Industry and
Policy makers. The Czech companies offered
to cooperate with Indian partners at any
appropriate level.
We welcome your response at
diplomaticsquare@yahoo.in
 When I met H.E. Mr Sami M Al-Sulaiman, Ambassador of the
State of Kuwait at his office during May, he had only one thing to say:
“Go to Kuwait, go wherever you want, meet whoever you want, we will
try to facilitate, see for yourself and then come back and write about
us…write what you have actually seen and what you have really felt.”
I arrived at Kuwait International airport on a hot Wednesday forenoon after a
comfortable flight aboard Kuwait Airways. A car was waiting outside and after a
pleasant drive at 120 kmph on the signal-free King Faisal motor-way, I reached Hotel
Crowne Plaza where rooms were booked for me and my colleagues from other
publications.
At the hotel lobby, we were greeted by a smartly dressed young Kuwaiti gentleman
with a pronounced Texan accent, who introduced himself as Ahmad Dashti from the
Information Office. Mr Dashti whom I would always call as Ahmad Sahab is a wonderful
person who left no stones unturned to showcase Kuwait to us at its shimmering best.
During the week-long stay, I had the pleasure, and also the privilege, to meet many
senior Kuwaiti officials as well as expatriate Indians. If I may sum up, all the Kuwaitis that
I met referred to 'Kuwait’s centuries of friendship' with India and now look forward to
taking Kuwaiti–Indian relations to a new high and newer dimension. As regards the
Indian community, they all looked happy to be in Kuwait for the opportunities, comforts
and security that the country offers, but like most Orientals miss home in abundant
measure.
Our first stop was at the Ministry of Information where we meet Ms Kholud Al
Kazemi, Supervisor Foreign Press and her colleagues including Mr Vijayan Nair who has
been in the services of the Kuwaiti government for over two decades. It was at Ms Al
Kazemi's office that I learnt that one of the fine practices at most Kuwaiti offices is to keep
a huge bowl of chocolates on the table for the benefit of guests. My colleague could hardly
conceal her delight, “Oh chocolates, I just love it!”

With due acknowledgment to unknown photographer

DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
33
 offered by his wealthy passengers. The Hijji, Consultant at the Centre for Research
strength of the Kuwaiti Dinar holds good and Studies on Kuwait, who gave a most
equally for the poor and the rich alike. If incisive account of Kuwaiti history, from
the days of dhows and pearl diving till the
bata fish costs so less, so does a meal at a Five
Star hotel. A good fare with a starter, a main discovery of oil which has completely
course and a dessert would cost KD 12 at our changed the fabric of country. “Our
hotel and the portions were so large and forefathers were extremely hard-working
bountiful that an average Indian couple and simple people. They had to struggle for
would be compelled to waste food on their existence. Today's generation has every-
plate. thing on a platter and they fail to understand
Kuwait is liquor free, but its absence is the importance of hard work.” Possibly a
compensated by the indigenous pubs that generation gap or is it the truth?
serve coffee and tea along with a well lit Concluding his chat with us on an
Hukkah. (Clay pipe) emotional note, he said “India was like a
Kuwait offers you a right to choose your mother to us, everything came from India:
Kuwait is a country that is steeped in
lifestyle and articulate your views on most the rice we ate, the coffee we drank, the
tradition, but alive to the demands of
matters freely. There are no social per- clothes we wore, everything came from
contemporary time with an eye for the
secution groups to impede your way of life. India. We need India.” It was the same
future. Kuwait means business today.
The Kuwaiti press, by Indian standards, is when we met Dr Barges Humoud Al Barges,
Kuwait is a country where contra- quite well developed—there are many President, Red Crescent (former Minister of
dictions mingle and co-exist without English and Arabic and a few Malayalam Health and a reputed expert on inter-
apparent frictions. Unlike a few other newspapers, magazines, television and radio national affairs) who recounted historical
places, women are free to work, drive, move channels to choose from. facts, “You would be aware that during
around unfettered and exercise their 1954, the Central Treaty Organisation
I have always believed that unless you
political and democratic rights. (CENTO) was established by the western
walk, take a bus or a metro, visit a roadside
Cars are huge and plenty and under- eatery, you can never feel the true pulse of a powers and Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Pakistan
standably so with the price of petrol being town or a country. Kuwaiti public transport joined it. However, the rest of the Arab
really inexpensive and roads being silken comprises of taxis and public buses. The countries went with Nasser and were thus
smooth. The markets are flooded with goods drivers are mostly immigrants—largely closer to India than Pakistan. Nehru was
and hold your breath, many Indian products Indians, a few Bangladeshis, Sri Lankan, particularly close to our hearts”.
are cheaper there than they are here at Egyptians and Pakistanis. It was an equal pleasure to visit the
home! Women Cultural and Social Society and
On one such trip on route number 16,
Kuwait boasts of some of the most I struck a conversation with Mohd Ali who meet Ms Lulwa Al-Mulla, Secretary Gen-
magnificent skyscrapers in the world which came to Kuwait on a work visa some five eral, Dr Lubna A. Alkazi (College of Social
look more mesmerising when they are lit up years ago from Bellary in South India where Sciences, Kuwait) and other ladies for a first
during nights. There are beautiful beaches, he used to drive trucks. In our 45 minutes of hand account of the role of Kuwaiti women
manicured verdure patches and many companionship, Ali gave me a wonderful as a complementary force in national deve-
shopping malls that would be any shoppers overview of Kuwait and million dollar tips lopment. Kuwaiti women can vote and they
delight—but what I did like more was the on how to navigate in this country. are members of parliament too—a funda-
old market squares of the city which have mental right women like Ms Lulwa and
A similar experience was with 'Zahid
areas segregated product wise, the perfume other activists extracted on May16, 2005
Bhai' who came from Mangalore about 12
market with traditional ittar or contem- after a prolonged struggle. “I felt victorious
years back and has, since then, worked in a
porary parfum with the fragrance of Oud that I had played a part in this historic
cloth shop. When at Salmiya, I had enquired
simmering in charcoal embers, the gold moment. Use whatever words you need to
the direction to Marina Mall, he took the
souk, the Friday souk, the Irani market, the explain that joy”, she had said on that day.
trouble of walking a considerable distance
cloth market—you name anything and it is Ahmad Sahab took great pains to ensure
till I was at the main entrance of this dream
there. The fish market was personally very
shopping arcade. Such is the power of that we gathered a comprehensive and
attractive for me and more so because most
distance—it lends charm. holistic view of Kuwait. He took us to the
of the sellers were Bangladeshis with whom
National Assembly during session hours to
I could freely converse in East Bengali He, like many Indians, lives in a shared
witness an intense debate on rising prices.
dialect. And now comes the element of accommodation, but is happy that he earns
We visited the Kuwaiti Stock Exchanges
surprise – a common fish variety named bata enough to repatriate money home and thus
during trading hours. Mr Hamed Baksh
which sells at Rs 160 a kilo in Delhi sells at ensure good education for his children.
from the Public Relations Division hoped
one Kuwaiti Dinar (KD) (roughly Rs 160) Marina Mall encapsulates the attitude of that I would come back again to Kuwait
for three kilos! the young Kuwaiti's. Brands, brands and along with some Indian investors and he
The point is that prices are either well more brands—from garments and apparels hoped that Mr Sunil Mittal would one day
controlled or free market economy is really to i-phones and i-pods, game stations, invest in his country’s telecom sector.
at play in Kuwait. The strength of the local cosmetics, toiletries, restaurants; it is
On other days we met H.E. Mr Ahmad
currency is immense and my driver Amin bustling with the young crowd dressed from
Rashad Al Haroun, the Kuwaiti Minister of
told me that the KD 300 which he earns noodle straps to the abaya. As I said, Kuwait
Commerce & Industry, Mr Ibrahim Abdul-
monthly is remitted fully to his family. accepts contrasting lifestyles with grace.
muhsin Alnouh, Kuwaiti Assistant Under
What does he survive on—healthy tips I recall my meeting with Dr Ya'qub Secretary for Administration and Finance,
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
34
 The Kuwaiti Kaleidoscope

Ahmad Sahab

Stock Exchange

Radio station

Kuwait Towers

Friday Souk

Fish market

Friday Souk

Radio artiste and announcer Near the beach

Kuwait by night Entertainment

DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
35
 making it about two-thirds of the total Indian tourists, but I understand that getting a
repatriation made by Non-Resident Indians. visa to Kuwait is intensely difficult. I made
So what makes the Kuwaiti environ- this point to the Kuwaiti Ambassador during
the farewell lunch he had hosted for us at
ment so special in the gulf region for 600,000
Hotel Lenotre. I am sure Excellency,
Indians? Apart from good money, security
considering his intense desire to take Indo
and reasonable proximity to home, “Indians
–Kuwait relations to never-before heights,
live here, work here and many of them die
will take up this issue in all earnestness.
here. They spend their whole lives here and
freely practice what they want to, especially Another pleasant factor was that most of
their religion—there is a Church in Kuwait the Indians that I met in Kuwait were
too”, reflected Mr Ibrahim Abdulmuhsin appreciative of the role being played by the
Alnouh, Asst. Undersecretary. Maybe, the Indian embassy. I could understand why
liberality in the Kuwaiti hearts will provide because the day I reached Kuwait, the next
space for temples of other faiths too . day itself, my colleagues and myself were
pleasantly surprised to receive an invitation
But the State of Kuwait is competitive to a reception at the Indian Embassy to meet
and Mr Ahmad Rashad Al Haroun, the and chat with Indian journalists working at
Minister of Commerce & Industry, put it Kuwait and a few Kuwaiti journalists who
across in a business like manner, “Indians had returned from a trip to India, a few
will have to compete here with international business-persons and the ilk. It was a most
players to sell more in Kuwait as well as thoughtful initiative by the Indian Ambas-
attract more investment to India”. So sador, Mr Ajai Malhotra, because it gave me
whatever be the Indo–Kuwait historical and my colleagues an opportunity to meet so
bonds, whatever the 'trust factor', there will many people at one place.
not be an inch given or taken when it comes
As he put it that evening, “Indo–Kuwait
to trade or commerce. Indians intending to
relations set a very high standard for others to
enter the Kuwaiti market should brace
emulate”. I realised later that Mr Malhotra is
themselves for this commercial challenge.
an immensely pro-active person and a
The expectations from Indo–Kuwait popular figure with the local media as news
relations appear to be very high at this point about him and the Indian embassy appears
of time and quoting Director of Asian Studies every day in some newspaper or the other and
in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Rashed for many good reasons.
Al-Hajri, “India is a very important country
Kuwait's neighbours Saudi Arabia, Iraq
today. We want India to take care of the and Iran are all big countries and together
Palestinian issue on a positive note from our with Kuwait, this region accounts for
point view, particularly the inhuman approximately 606,300,000,000 barrels of oil
treatment being meted out [to Palestinians]; reserves or roughly 45 per cent of the planet's
Photos: Courtesy KOC however, this is what we want and it is for reserve. (Kuwait's reserves account for
Ministry of Information and Dr Khaled India to decide its position. We cannot and 96,500,000,000 barrels). Thus, till such times
H.D. Al-Razni, Director, Media Information we do not want to impose”. the global economy is dependant on oil,
Department and many others.
Thus, when Dr Khaled Razni emphasized Kuwait will remain important, rather most
Dr Al Razni whom I had met in 1996 that the Kuwaiti image in India is distorted at crucial, to all. Kuwait is also aware that the
when he was posted at Delhi, naturally took times over the “maids' issue” he, certainly, region is among the most turbulent ones—
upon himself the right to exclaim, “You bring had a point. “The issue is unfortunate and we thus, Kuwait needs to expand itself beyond
back old memories of the days when I was in are addressing it very seriously in consul- the gulf region and as a force beyond
India. Is Connaught Place still the same?” tation with the Indian government but then petroleum. As succinctly put by Prof
Effusive with his praises on India, he please bear in mind that there are nearly Dr Rasha Al Sabah, Advisor to the Diwan of
continued, “India is the only civilization that 600,000 Indians living in Kuwait and barring the Ruler, the Prime Minister, “Kuwait is
invited muslims to come to India and set up a few unfortunate individual instances, most seeking to re-establish its former role as a
their mosque—the People of Kerala had of them are happy”. These acts of violation regional financial centre attracting business
invited the Arabs to settle there for trade and “are individual acts and do not reflect the and investment from all parts of the world”.
build a mosque which also served as their attitude and spirit of the Kuwaiti people and The national emblem of Kuwait is the
diplomatic mission. This just shows how Kuwaiti government”. The integration dhow—Kuwait has truly been trying hard to
much the Indian society believes about between India and Kuwait is very high today position itself as a modern, progressive civil
democracy”. and rough patches, wherever or whenever, society with the Rulers of the State
Continuing he said, “There are 600,000 will have to resolved, and cannot be allowed encouraging people to embrace modern
Indians in Kuwait. This environment may to become impediments. education, skills and social disciplines while
not entirely match the expectations of not severing its intrinsic ties with the
Every Kuwaiti I met during the week
Indians but it must be suiting them for they shared a common thought, ‘‘We are proud of umbilical cord. The approach looks perfect
stay back here a lifetime”. To quote Kuwaiti the Indian community and acknowledge for should there be a flood again, Kuwait's
officials, Indian expatriates in the gulf their role in the development of Kuwait”. dhow would not sink but keep afloat till better
times arrive in the future.
repatriate about USD 7 billion annually
Kuwait would be a perfect destination for Arunava Dasgupta
36DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
 Kuwait is seeking
to re-establish its
former role as a
regional financial
centre
Kuwait appears to be a nation that is coming years.
firmly rooted in its traditional past, but ready
Kuwait offers greater choice of life-style
to adapt itself to contemporary times and
and freedom of expression. Does this bring
with an eye to secure its future. Your
about intra-societal conflict, particularly
comments, please.
among the younger and earlier generation?
Since the independence of our Kuwait takes great pride in occupying
country in 1961, it has always been a a leading position in the area of freedom
great concern for Kuwait, government of expression and personal liberties in the
and people alike, to keep abreast of Arab region, as recognised and witnessed
contemporary needs and conditions by international and neutral organi-
without losing our strong attachment to sations concerned with such issues.
our well-established norms of life and With families tending to become more
traditions. For this reason, Kuwait has nuclear these days, what provision is the
succeeded in becoming a truly modern Kuwaiti government making to take care of
state in terms of its national institutions, its senior citizens.
its progressive position as a nation The government of Kuwait has
fostering civil society organisations, its always championed and supported the
innovative architecture and its commit- welfare of its elderly citizens and there
ment to keep apace with the vast and are foster homes for the care of the
rapid advancements of modern tech- elderly where all their needs are
nology, all for the welfare of its people. provided for.
GCC countries are trying to carve out a Your Excellency has always championed
distinct identity for themselves: as trading the cause of education. What impact has
and/or tourism hub, industrial hub and so on. your activities spanning over three decades
What distinct identity does Kuwait want to brought about in the Kuwaiti society?
project apart from being a major provider of
energy to the world? Education is the essential passport to
any meaningful development of any
In addition to its distinct position as a nation. For this reason, it has been my
major provider of energy, Kuwait is privilege and pleasure to work in this
seeking to re-establish its former role as a field and to play a modest role in the
regional financial centre attracting progress and development of my nation
business and investment from all parts of by advocating and stressing the
the world. This is a prime objective of the importance of education as the most vital
ambitious five-year plan, submitted by means towards the advancement of our
the government and ratified by parlia- nation.
ment, which will be a major driving force The Kuwaiti Towers possibly symbolise
for the development of the nation in the a Nation’s aspiration to reach out to the sky

DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
37
May-July, 2010
 Carving out a niche
for a relation that is
over centuries old
T he relations between Kuwait and India go back to our
forefathers who went as merchants to India. Today, we
have formalised relations which are excellent.
We have nearly 600,000 Indians working in Kuwait, mostly in
the private sector from construction industry to ship building to
broadcasting, in shops and stores and other places. The Indians in
Kuwait work in different capacities—from ordinary labour to top-
notch professionals. We have Indians from different regions of
India and we think Indians are especially good because they do not
create problems. They are competent, honest and sincere workers
and we do not have problems with them as compared to immigrants
from few other Asian countries.
Indians live here, work here and many of them die here. They
spend their whole lives here and freely practice what they want to,
especially their religion; there is a Church in Kuwait too.
H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Abdulmuhsin Alnouh

I can term the Indo–Kuwait relations as something historic.

India has been a major trade partner of Kuwait not just since
the last 10 or 50 years, but it is a relationship that is more than a
century old. However, there exists immense potential to take this
Assistant Undersecretary for
Administration & Financial Affairs

relation forward to greater heights.

Kuwait is the second largest supplier of oil to India and in turn
imports an extremely wide range of goods—rice, spice, tea, coffee,
fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy products, engineering goods,
machinery and so on.
However, Kuwait is a free economy and Indians will have to
compete here with international players to sell more in Kuwait, as
well as, attract more Kuwaiti investment to India. We wish that
Indian companies would come here with more offers.
With over 600,000 Indians living and working in this country,
their financial repatriation back home also constitutes a very large
investment to India.

W
India is an important country. e have excellent relations between Kuwait AGREEMENTS SIGNED
We want India to take care of the BETWEEN INDIA & KUWAIT
and India, as well as, GCC and India.
IN THE YEAR 2006
Palestinian issue in a positive way
from our point of view—however, India is a friendly country and although our formal
this is what we want. relations began in the early 1960s when formal diplomatic
We cannot impose. relations were established and our embassy was opened at
Delhi, but prior to that, our people had excellent relations
with India since many centuries.
When H.H. Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber, the Amir
visited India during 2006, we signed four extremely
important agreements concerning double taxation, drugs
and narcotics trafficking, culture and civil aviation.
India is a very important country today. We want India
to take care of the Palestinian issue on a positive way from
our point view, particularly the inhuman treatment being
meted out—however, this is what we want and it is for India
to decide its position. We cannot and we do not want to
impose.
We wish for peace in the region and hope that the issues
between India and Pakistan are sorted out.
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
39
 “Indo-Kuwait relations set a
very high standard for others
to reach up to”
In discussion with Mr Ajai Malhotra,
Indian Ambassador to the State of Kuwait.
Kuwait appears to be a nation that is promoting tourism, es-
firmly rooted in its traditional past, but pecially health tourism,
ready to adapt itself to contemporary times from Kuwait to India.
and with an eye to secure its future. What Over the past year we
has been the source of these past linkages have sent nearly a dozen
between Kuwait and India? journalists to India and
India and Kuwait are a part of each their coverage on return
others extended neighbourhood. Our has had a very positive
peoples and civilisations have intermingled resonance.
through the centuries and our friendly Mr Ajai Malhotra, Indian Ambassador to Kuwait with
Turning to culture, Mr Abdallah Zaid Al-Khalidi, Director-Foreign Media (centre)
relations have stood the test of time.
we arranged a widely and Mr Sami M. Al Sulaiman, Kuwaiti Ambassador to India.
Till the discovery of oil, Kuwait's appreciated “Festival of
economy revolved around three maritime- India in Kuwait” in in brief
linked activities: building of dhows, using November 2009, in which 130 Indian ambassador speak
teak and other timber brought from India; artistes participated, including Pandit Hari
pearl diving, fishing and voyages to India on Prasad Chaurasia, Pandit Rajendra “ O UR RELATIONS are
already exemplary setting very high standards
dhows carrying pearls and dates that were Prasanna, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma,
for others to emulate. As years and decades
traded for wood, rope, rice, tiles, cloth and Rimpa Siva and Ranjana Gauhar, besides progress, you can be fairly certain we will take
spices. During the nineteenth and early several Indian folk dance troupes. this relation to a qualitatively higher level.”
twentieth centuries, Kuwait's impressive Exhibitions of Arabic calligraphy, woven
dhows trading fleet regularly visited ports on textiles, traditional dolls and photographs
our western coast and its pearls and dates of Mumbai through the ages, textile “OUR RELATIONS are very
were valued across India. weaving, folk art and henna application well rooted in the past and there is great
As a result of such interaction, many demonstrations were also arranged. In optimism and expectation from this relation in
the future. With the big support of the Indian
Kuwaiti families have traditional linkages April 2010, the Embassy organised a week-
government and the wide vision of the Kuwaiti
with India. At Diwaniya meetings in long ‘Indian Food Festival’ at the landmark
Kuwait Towers Restaurant. government, we can look forward to an
Kuwait, they often recall positive memories excellent, excellent relationship.”
of this people-to-people friendship. There is Inter-governmental Working Groups
a huge reservoir of goodwill for India and on Hydrocarbon and Labour, Employment India–Kuwait trade has grown from
Indians in Kuwait. and Manpower Development were con- USD 6.6 billion in 2006–07 to USD 8.4
How have our bilateral ties expanded in vened in Kuwait in December 2009 and billion in 2007–08 to USD 10.4 billion in
more recent times? What are the fields in January 2010 respectively, setting the stage 2008–09. It is dominated by export of oil and
which our cooperation is progressing? In for the Joint Ministerial Commission for oil products from Kuwait to India and we
what areas do we have differences? Trade, Economic, Scientific and Techno- are one of the top buyers of Kuwaiti crude.
India has long been an important logical Cooperation to meet in Kuwait this In fact, Kuwait is an important partner in
partner in Kuwait's economic development autumn. India's quest for energy security, annually
and we seek to even further strengthen our The visit to Kuwait from February 3 to 4 providing 10–11per cent of India's crude oil
close bilateral ties. The visit of His Highness, 2010 by External Affairs Minister Mr S.M. imports.
The Amir to India in June 2006 was a Krishna, accompanied by Secretary Latha Two-way non-oil trade has recently
landmark event for India–Kuwait relations.
Reddy, has further boosted our relations. It expanded at a healthy pace, reaching USD
In turn, the successful, three-day visit by
was the Minister's first visit to the Gulf since 1.4 billion in 2008–09. Even if we look only
our Vice President Hon'ble M Hamid taking charge of External Affairs and it was a at non-oil trade, India has consistently been
Ansari to Kuwait in April 2009, effectively
stand-alone one to Kuwait. It reaffirmed among the top handful of Kuwait's trading
consolidated our ties. Agreements on that our ties are exemplary, characterised by partners. Our exports to Kuwait include
science and technology, education and cul-
warmth, mutual respect and under- rice, iron and steel products, meat, tea and
ture were signed during that visit. standing. No political differences separate coffee, fresh fruits and vegetables, engi-
Our Minister of State for Tourism, us. neering goods, machinery and vehicles.
Mr Sultan Ahmed and the Kerala Minister You touched upon trade and invest- Kuwaitis’ love our flavoured long-grain
of Health, Mrs P K Sreemathy Teacher, ment cooperation between Kuwait and basmati rice and our delicious mangoes.
visited Kuwait in October 2009 for India? Can you provide some specifics? Biryani, kabab, samosa and jalebi, for
example, are as popular in Kuwait as they
40DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
INDIA
are in India and these similarities in our food Constructions Co., Kuwait, bagged the all working days and can be met without
habits also positively influence our foodstuff contract for constructing part of the prior appointment to discuss any consular
exports. Hyderabad Outer Ring Road. matter.
Indian companies have recently won During 2009–10, the Embassy signifi-
contracts in the petroleum and power sectors cantly expanded and re-grouped its wel-
of Kuwait. L&T is involved in refinery fare facilities as an “Indian Workers Wel-
upgradation, while several Indian companies fare Centre”. It includes a labour com-
are fulfilling construction and engineering plaints desk, accommodation and facili-
related contracts. Kalpataru Power Trans- ties for domestic workers in distress, a free
mission is establishing a 200 km electricity legal advice clinic with Kuwaiti and
network in Kuwait. MAN Industries is Indian lawyers that is open on all working
executing a major supply order for pipes to days, a time-bound work contract
Kuwait. Shalimar Valves has recently attestation system, a toll-free 24x7 help-
established a joint venture here as the sole line for domestic workers and a help-desk
manufacturer of industrial valves in Kuwait. to guide Indians on immigration, employ-
TCIL maintains much of Kuwait's telecom ment and other issues. While we do have
industry. Apollo and Fortis hospitals have concerns, we now also have the where-
franchise operations here. New India withal in place to tackle them.
Assurance, Oriental Insurance, LIC and LIC
The toll-free helpline inaugurated last
Housing Finance have long been in Kuwait. Ambassador Ajai Malhotra with guests
August has systematised and enhanced
Wipro, Infotech and Satyam too have a at the Media Reception—India House
our availability to an Indian domestic
growing presence here. Many Indian banks
worker in distress. It functions round the
also have agreements with exchange houses Indians in Kuwait appear to be a happy clock through a multiple line call-centre
in Kuwait to facilitate remittances into India. lot. They are also quite appreciative of the
and provides us with a computerised
What about Kuwaiti investments into role played by the Indian embassy. This is a print-out of incoming calls that can be
India? response that may be a termed as an
exception rather than a rule among Indians traced to their source. Its staffers know
Investment from Kuwait into India has residing overseas. How did you bring about Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Arabic
been largely through international invest- or sustain this change of perception? and English. The helpline number is
ment companies or indirectly through the front-paged on job contracts so that new
The 600,000 strong Indian community
Mauritius route and as a result is not reflected domestic workers know, prior to their
in Kuwait is one of the largest concen-
in official statistics. arrival here, that someone is constantly
trations of Indians outside India and the
An example of successful investment in largest expatriate community in Kuwait. available to them.
India is by Alghanim Group in Kirby Hard working, disciplined, talented and We have also strengthened our
Building Systems India Ltd, for manufacture law-abiding, its members earn a livelihood grievance redressal system last year, that
of pre-engineered steel buildings. Kuwait in Kuwait for themselves and their families, promptly and effectively addresses
Housing and Construction Company, Kuwait grievances of Indian workers in Kuwait.
while contributing to the host country's
Finance House and Global Investment House Since early 2009, Indian domestic
development and prosperity. The goodwill
have also made significant investments into workers in distress are being accommo-
they have earned for India over many
India. Other investments include the Pulsar dated by the Embassy under a new
decades has made my task here much more
Knowledge Centre at Gurgaon by KIPCO arrangement, while their grievances are
pleasant.
group, an auto spare parts manufacturing unit being addressed. On arrival, they are
in NOIDA by the KAPICO group and luxury It is heartening that Indians in Kuwait given a kit containing new clothes,
hotels in Kerala by the KGA group. are appreciative of the Embassy's role on toiletries and other essentials. They are
community issues of concern. Their also provided with bunk beds with full
The Kuwait Investment Authority makes
growing numbers have made it imperative bedding, regular nutritious meals and all
portfolio investments in the Indian stock
market through leading international that there be a strong and effective response other basic amenities while they are with
financial managers. Its total investment in from us. Over the past year, high priority has us. The common areas have a TV, with
India may be around a billion and a half US been given to enhancing our consular, access to Indian cable channels, as well as,
dollars. More than ten India-related funds labour and welfare services. a music system with Indian CDs. In case of
have also been launched in Kuwait. Last July, In this context, we opened two new repatriation of a domestic worker, an air
the UTI Asset Management Company set up a passport and visa service centres in Kuwait ticket from Kuwait to the nearest Indian
USD 500 million India Infrastructure Deve- in May 2009, with convenient timings and airport, plus sufficient cash to travel home
lopment Fund, in association with Noor locations. We have maintained a turn- from there and pay for incidentals en-
Financial Investment Company of Kuwait around delivery time of 3–4 working days route, is also routinely being provided by
and others. after a service application is made. Our the Embassy.
Kuwaiti companies are making a mark in attestation service at the Embassy envisages Since mid February 2009, sponsors
services and construction in India. National return delivery within 45 minutes of recruiting Indian nationals for jobs in
Aviation Services Company of Kuwait is submission of a document. Last October, we Kuwait in the domestic sector are also
providing passenger and ramp handling started a Consular Open House procedure compulsorily required to take a two year
services to air companies at 15 Indian by which a senior consular official is insurance policy in the name of the
airports. In March 2010, United Gulf available in the Embassy Consular Room on worker. Where the rights of any Indian
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
41
 INDIAN voices
worker is violated , the Embassy debars the
erring individual/company from under-
taking further hires from India besides taking
other strict measures relevant to each case.
If the mortal remains of an Indian in
Kuwait have to be sent back to India, then we
bear full air transportation costs and all
associated incidental expenditures in all
needy cases.
The strengths of various segments of the
community are also being used to help those
in need. Thus, Indian doctors in Kuwait
conduct regular, free health screening and
awareness camps for Indian workers here.
They also run health programs in Indian
schools in Kuwait. Moreover, anyone with an
unresolved health query can use the ‘Ask a
Doctor’ facility through the Embassy web-
site and get a free opinion from an Indian
medical specialist. A similar effort by Indian
lawyers in Kuwait to support the larger
community has also been started.
Hobbies and interests
“I have my own interests and hobbies. I
like painting on glass and certain collecting
interest. I am a keen philatelist. I have a
very personalised collection of old post
cards of the Indian army during first world
war. It interests me that our armed forces
had gone out in 1914 and fought all over
Europe and I like to see it through pictures.
It is easy to carry and they are not a value to
anyone but to me. I have been collecting
these for 10 years. Last July when there was
big parade in France and the Indian army
was marching there and everyone said that
it is the first time the Indian army was
marching in France, I knew that we have
marched before in Paris in 1915 and 1919.
My wife is interested in textiles and
ceramics and she is a keen potter. She is
very enthusiastic about that.”
A post graduate in economics from the
Delhi School of Economics, University of
Delhi, Mr Ajai Malhotra joined the foreign
services in 1977. He has served in various
capacities and destinations including
Geneva, Russia and USA. During 2005–09,
he was the Ambassador and Deputy
Permanent Representative of India to the
United Nations, New York, followed by
another tenure as India’s Ambassador to
Romania, Albania and Moldova before
assuming his present assignment. He has
published articles on topics such as
environment and sustainable develop-
ment, biological diversity, climate change,
the rights of future generation and
international law. In 2004, he was
awarded a Doctorate [Honoris Causa] by
the Vasile Goldis Western University of
Arad, Romania.
42DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
I came to Kuwait in 1967 from Howrah,
West Bengal nearly 43 year ago. At that
time, Kuwait was a like a bud just about to
blossom. The big-boom in Kuwait started
sometime around the late 1970s.
In certain respects, Kuwait was
different before the (Iraqi) invasion. The
locals are by nature very helpful to others.
They are very fond of Indians and we have
mutual respect and goodwill for each other.
I understand that Kuwait has stopped visas
to many countries in the Indian sub-
continent but visas for Indians have never been
stopped.
After the liberation, Kuwait has opened
up to the international community with the
result that the pure Kuwaiti culture has
been diluted. I have over four decades
experience in contracting business and thus,
I interact with expatriates from all over the
world. I am yet to meet anyone who wants to
FIMA
Siddeeque Vallyakath, President, FIMA
The Federation of Indian Muslims Asso-
ciation (FIMA) comprises of 14 leading Indian
associations from different states of India—
from Kerala to Kanyakumari. These organi-
sations are engaged in social work—some
focus on education matters, others on sports or
religious activities, training and development
of the downtrodden and so on.
A few of our organisations provide
scholarships to deserving but poor students
and one particular organisation provides a
Social Security Scheme If a member dies
untimely, money is collected from all
members and provided to the deceased's
family. We also help our community members
if they are in trouble and our efforts are fully
supported by the Indian embassy.
Unlike our name, our activities are not
restricted to muslims only but extended to all.
There are presently 600,000 plus expatriates in
Kuwait— some are at very senior levels, some
are professionals, many work in offices and
business establishment, but the largest group
comprises unskilled labourers. This majority
can be categorised as poor and it is this segment
Muzammil Mullick at the Indian Embassy reception
leave Kuwait.
I have tried to bring people from
different parts of India and settle them in
Kuwait with gainful employment. It pleases
me immensely that I could do this. Like
others, I earn well here and I donate 2.5
percent towards charity as per the Law
(Zakaat) of the Almighty. I invest my money
in India and although it may be a drop in the
ocean, it still gives me great satisfaction. I
have been able to support my family, my
relatives, friends, neighbours and
countrymen—this satisfies me greatly.
which is at times denied their dues or rights. It
is this segment that requires the support of our
embassy.
In this context, I want to talk about the
domestic servants category for whom no local
labour law apply. At times, these people may
have to work for as much as 16 to 18 hours and
they may be treated shabbily. They are ill-
treated because domestic servants do not
qualify under any category for securing
protection under local laws. Last year, an
agreement was reached between the Indian
and Kuwait governments, whereby the
employer will now need to sign an agreement
and it is thereafter only that domestics can
come to Kuwait for work. The Indian Embassy
has complete information about each worker,
the terms and condition of employment and so
on. There has been much improvement after
this step.
It's also important to know that this
agreement is for domestics who come to
Kuwait legally. Hence, I would strongly advise
that domestics from India should refrain from
trying to stay or reach Kuwait illegally. Also,
the abuse of domestics are individual cases and
do not reflect the personality of the Kuwait
government or the Kuwaiti people who are
greatly fond of India and Indians.
I understand that discussions are going on
for enacting a firm law on this subject. The
Indian government is aware of the situation
and the Indian embassy is working very hard –
sometime back they established a 24 hour
helpline in different languages for helping
domestics and also set up an official shelter
for the victims.
 Dr. Khaled H.D. Al-Razni
Director, Media Information Department

I
ndia played a major role by history when muslim troops fought with the
providing means to establish this Indians but I refer to the times when the
Kuwaiti society where are living Kerala people invited the muslim merchants
today. India is a multi-cultural, to build a mosque which also served as their
multi-lingual and liberal society–it really diplomatic mission. This just shows how
suits me to say things that you so much much the Indian society believes in
deserve. At the same time, there are many democracy.
things that we need to strengthen to match When we established our civilisation
our mutual ambitions and expectations. three centuries ago, India helped us train our
Right now, India can be compared with people in trade, commercials, industry and be with India. There is nothing to block
many super powers. There are many factors other aspects. Then we had all goods coming Indians to Indians from coming to Kuwait for
that lock your position as a real emerging from India. Then there are many Kuwaitis business.
power but at the same time, there is no doubt who went to India and stayed back and made Earlier, there were some negative image
that you have suffered from wars just like we it their homeland. Today, the single largest in the Indian media about Kuwait but that's
had during the regime of Saddam Hussein. community of expatriates in Kuwait is from not your responsibility. We are responsible.
Indians have and continue to participate India. When you look at the repatriations That's why we started giving the Indian
in the evolution of so many civilisations in made by Indians, you will find that nearly media a chance to visit Kuwait and carry back
this world. There are millions of Indians two-thirds of it is coming from the gulf. The their own impressions. Then we opened the
spread all over the world, in different others are not transferring their money. Information Office and we found its
capacities, different positions and different There are 22 million Indians outside their working. We invited people to see our social
countries. There are nearly 600,000 Indians country and 7 billion dollars are coming to life and report it back in India. This has
residing in Kuwait—they are at various India from the gulf through repatriation helped significantly in improving our
strata. Indians hold big positions here. being made by the expatriates. relations with India.
The medical department is being run We welcome Indians to come here and When I read some of the Indian
mostly by Indians. Similarly, there are do business and in many ways we have been newspapers and magazines reporting on
numerous highly placed Indians in the trying to facilitate the process by establishing Kuwait, I am amazed. I recall when one of the
Kuwaiti oil companies. Recently I was at the Kuwait-Indo Chambers of Commerce Indian scholars was referring to American
Geneva to attend a Forum and among the and such organisations with the purpose of and British documents to describe about
delegation was an Indian representing helping Indian merchants to come here. Kuwait's history. I told him that why are you
Kuwait. The Kuwaiti media is being run There is no doubt that Indian companies using these sources when you have such rich
mostly by Indians. They are not working dominate a lot in Kuwait and particularly in and authentic sources in your National
there as labourers but as professionals. The the foods segment, but still, now with Archives—you do not need third country
English newspapers in particular and others privatisation and globalisation, we need reports to describe Indo-Kuwaiti relation-
too have reporters, designers, photographers more and more offers from your side—be it ships. There is just a sea that divides us .
—you name it, they from Indians. food processing, horticulture, floriculture or That is why I feel it is important for the
But one mistake, or one flaw, and the others . Indian media to come and see for themselves,
media at times picks it up and amplifies it so The other thing is to secure the relations Kuwait in all its aspects. I welcome an
much that it makes it look that Indians in in a modern way. Regulations here and there impartial assessment by the media, even if it
Kuwait are 'maids' only. No, they are not. need to be modernised. I would not like to is negative, please do not depend on third
They are colleagues. There is Nair (see page 46) take names but in certain places it just takes country sources to describe our society or our
working at our office for decades. There are an hour to establish a company but here it bilateral relations. It is also important to
many friends who are here from India and I takes time. We need to modernise in some understand that Indians in Kuwait are not
request the Indian media to take an objective respects to match your ambitions. maids only and when such unfortunate
look at us and our society and report. incidents happen, it is the doing of a few
Most of the companies who helped us in
individuals only and not the Kuwaiti
The Kuwaiti environment may not reconstruction after the war were Indians
government and the Kuwaiti people.
match entirely with the expectations of and particularly in the construction business.
Indians but it is reasonably suitable for them Of late, Indians are trying to understand in Kuwaiti students are going to India in
and that's why you see so many Indians in greater measure about what’s happening large numbers for studying in Indian colleges
Kuwait. You can see the multi-cultural here, what is the demand here, what are the and universities. It is absolutely incorrect to
aspects of the Indian society very much in potentials in Kuwait that can match with say that the Kuwaiti government does not
Kuwait. We have Keralites, we have Indian capabilities. In the defence sector, we recognise degrees in higher education
Tamilians, we have people from all parts of have started with some collaboration and obtained from Indian universities. The
India here. some Indian naval ships have been coming reference is to unrecognised or deemed
India is the only civilisation that invited here to engage in practice. Regarding nuclear institutions which have mushroomed, not
muslims to come to India and set up their cooperation we have something with the just in India, but all over the world–which
mosques. I am not referring to the later French now, but in the future we hope it will can be referred as teaching shops.
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010
43
 voices

T
he Kuwaiti women have many good reasons to be proud
of. They have succeeded in areas where their ‘sisters in
arms’ from many countries in Asia and Africa have
failed. Succinctly put, they have extracted from society
dignity, equality and other rightful dues in most walks of life.
Kuwaiti women have a choice—they can choose to work or not
work. They can dress in formal western wear or in the traditional
abaya. There are no dress codes and there are no social enforcement
groups. They can study upto any level and in any discipline.
Women have the freedom to work in nearly every profession, can
drive and move around unescorted. They can vote, participate in
business or politics. It is only where it concerns religious issues,
“We do not question. We accept everything,” clarified Lulwa Al-
Mulla, Secretary General, Women’s Cultural and Social Society,
that was established in February 1963. Possibly the first of its kind
in the entire gulf religion, WCSS has spear headed many agitations
but moderation is their mantra.
“We are for better rights for women in matters of education,
work, business and social status. We do not want to compete with
men, we want to complement them in their efforts to build a better
society in Kuwait”. Added Dr Lubna Al-Kazi, sociologist, “We are
not for feminism, we are for activism”. WCSS works for
evolutionary changes and not revolutionary changes.
A defining moment for the Kuwaiti women was their entry into the earlier generation. servants and live on her own. She may also
Parliament. For the first time, four ladies won elections and thus In many instances, the decide to move to her elder son because it is
became the country’s legislators. This was the culmination of nearly old man has passed seen religiously correct for a widow to stay
four decades of social struggle by the women of Kuwait in which away, but the widows with her eldest son. However, under cir-
the WCSS played an important role under the leadership of Lulwa stay together. cumstances when a widow has no one to turn
Al-Mulla, Secretary General of WCSS. Divorce to, she can apply for a Social Allowance from
“I felt victorious that I had played a part in this historic moment. Divorces are in- the government. It is considered as a last
Use whatever words you need to explain that joy”, she said on that day. creasing since the last resort to put a woman in an old age home.
Excerpts from the conversation with the members of WCSS 20 years. Most of the Family Size
with a group of visiting Indian journalists follow: break-ups take place The average family size has dwindled but
within the first two again there is a difference. The tribal
We work for the benefit of the society years of marriage. Thus, it is the young who is communities like the Bedouins tend to have
and for the country. This society is open to getting divorced. The greatest problem is larger family. If you sample an urban middle
non-Kuwaiti women also, but they cannot be incompatibility, independence and possibly, class family today, the average is four
board members. We deal with all issues that lack of communication. It is also important to children. It used to be six in the 1970s.
concern the rights and dignity of women at point out that divorces are longer looked
Kuwait is a pro-natalist society and does
home, at work, in business or in society at down upon—it is not accepted but it is
not encourage family planning. The
large. tolerated. It is also easier than before for government pays 50 dinars per child to the
Financial Help: Education and Medicare divorced women to get married and since
family and at times, people from the low
We extend financial help to the needy, most young women are financially indepen- income group tend to treat this as an income.
irrespective of whether they are Kuwaitis or dent today, they do not fear that they will Maternity care, health care and education
non-Kuwaitis, muslims or non-muslims. We become a burden on their family. Joint is free in Kuwait, but in government run
help such families with school fees. We help families are no longer the norm. establishments only. For facilities in the
in the treatment of cancer—particularly for Husbands cannot stop their spouses from private sector, one has to pay. The younger
chemotherapy and other expensive treat- approaching the Court of Justice. The Court generation prefers the private sector today.
ments. We also have volunteers who visit has a section where the women can go for Mixed Marriages
psychiatric wards and spend quality time counselling or help or for a complaint, incase
Society is more tolerant to mixed
with patients who have been deserted by she is not receiving the allowance, the man is
marriages and it is not uncommon to find a
their families. Such humanitarian help is supposed to pay. She has a legal option and
Sunni–Shia marriage. Now with free inter-
offered without consideration of nationality, there are legal officers to support her.
mingling at universities, work places and
race or religion. Widows elsewhere, traditional barriers are coming
Polygamy After the demise of the husband, the down. Certain tribes do not marry into
Polygamists are a minority, possibly 10 widow inherits. Many times, she decides to certain other tribes but in such instances, it is
per cent and that too most of them belong to stay on in her own house, have her own for the boy to break the barrier.
44May-July,
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
2010

the population, they are peaceful people just
like us. Now, the Mullahs in Teheran, I do
not know who is supporting them, and top of
that the laziness of our governments
also—we are not approaching the Iranian
population telling them that we should not
be enemies. No, we are leaving it to the
media to manipulate people, create enmity
all over and we are sitting like sheep.
Our media is a free media but this is
unlike certain other Arab countries. We are a
small nation of one million people. Our one
million people are not in a position to
produce all the talent and skill required to
administer a modern society and hence we
have to be dependant on other parts of the
world.
Kuwait has an education system that is
reasonably good but you cannot compare it
with the advanced higher education system
of India. The Kuwaiti government spends a
lot of money on this sector.
Kuwait is a country of immigrants where
centuries ago people from the Eastern Coast
of Saudi Arabia came and settled here. Then
there were Iraqi's, Iranians and others. Even
a few Indians have also come here and settled
as much as a few Kuwaiti's who have gone to
India
The Western Indian Ocean Civilisation
To be fair, we are proud to be a part of the
western Indian civilisation and we want this
relation to prosper. And please do not make a
mistake—we do not prefer Pakistan to India
at all. We think Pakistan is an offshoot of
India and I personally feel that Pakistan
should have come to India and said, 'please
we are a part of one nation and forget about
two countries'. This would have saved a lot of
problems.
India is a promise of the future. Our Amir
went to India recently to emphasis the
continuity in our relations. India under the
British Raj was good for us, India is presently
good for us, and India will be in the future
good for us. We are steadfast in relations
despite the changing alliances
I have to make myself clear. I am talking
about relations between the Indian nation
46May-July,
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
2010
W
omen in Kuwait are working
almost in every field. Those
who want to work can work
and those who do not want to
and the Arab nations—not Indian govern- work do not work. They have a choice.
ment with Arab governments. The Indian Kuwaiti women have their rights, not just
government is prone to western influence from today but since way back in the past.
today. America controls the whole gulf area When I joined the ministry some ten years
because of oil. When it comes to using force ago, my Director was a lady, my supervisor
they will use force. and my Secretary were ladies. In fact, we have
The alliances of India are also changing. lot of women working in the media. We
a
To be frank with you, your alliance with have Kuwaiti women occupying posts and we
Israel whom we consider as our enemy, is have had a Kuwait women as an ambassador.
becoming strong and to the extent that some
Indian writers who live in America are
contributing articles in Newsweek which are
pro-Israel. This is strange to me because
India has never meddled in the Palestinian
issue. Now, it is not a pleasure for me to see
the relation between India and Israel flou-
rishing at our expense. But that does not
mean we are favouring Pakistan to India.
You see, India is the main thing.
We may like this, we may not like that,
but our relations with India will keep on
continuing forever. What our governments
do is something else. That is why when we
see Iran or India flexing their muscles, our
weakness becomes so evident. Then, if Kholud Al-Kazemi Supervisor
America does not accept us, where do we go? Foreign Press & Media, Ministry of Information
And another thing, when oil becomes Every Kuwaiti woman who graduates,
unimportant tomorrow, how will we her first ambition is to search out a job.
manage? India was like a mother to us, Sometimes in our marriage contract, it is
everything came from India : the rice we ate, clearly written that the husband will not
the coffee we drank, the clothes we wore, prohibit his wife from working after
everything came from India. We need India.” marriage. It is not only women who want to
work but today, it is the menfolk who want
women to work. Why? It is an economic
decision. With prices rising everyday it is
much more practical to have two earning
members in a family.We have spinsters in the
city who work and live by themselves alone.
Emphasis on education is very strong
here. The Kuwaiti standard of education is
also very good and it matches international
standards. I am a French graduate and I have
also studied in Kuwait, so I can say this from
experience. I started my career as a French
V.R.VIJAYAN NAIR INTL.MEDIA SECTORS
In Kuwait for over three decades translator.
 voices
“I would say that Kuwait and India are
brothers. We have a relation that is
centuries old and we have been depen-
dant on India for everything. All things
that we are using, the linen, the food, the
sugar, the spice and the rice, everything
comes from India. We have been import-
ing wood from India to carve out ships
with which we have been sailing the high
seas for trade. In short, we know India
very well and we keenly follow the
developments there.
When I was the Minister of Health partition.
earlier, my ministry had invited a special-
ist from the United States to determine
the cause of an allergy. When the
gentleman was trying to find out the cause
of allergy in Kuwait, I had jokingly told
him that he should go to India to find the
source because everything that is here in
Kuwait has come from India.
I think India is an amazing country. Jews into the sea!
You can find everything there–be it goods
or services. Kuwaiti’s yesterday and
Kuwaiti’s today, travel to India frequently
and specially along the western coast,
namely Mumbai, Goa, Kochi and so on.
Although our relation with India is (Obviously, his reference was to the Uni-
historic, the foundation of modern ted States of America.) And who controls
Kuwait–India bilateral relations was laid the American politics, media and finance?
down during the golden decade of However, it must be clear that we are not
1955–65 when President Abdel Nasser against the Jews, we are against Zionism.
along with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru,
President Soekarno and Marshal Tito
established and nurtured the Non Aligned
Block.
You would be aware that in1954, the USA must be aware where Bin Laden is.
Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO) But why they do not act, I really cannot
was established by the western powers say.
and Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Pakistan had
joined it. However, the rest of the Arab
countries preferred to go along with
Nasser and were thus closer to India than
Pakistan. Nehru was particularly close to
our hearts.
About terrorism, I think, and this is
my personal view, that the root cause is
India's problem with Pakistan, Kashmir to
be precise. I had once told President Zia ul
Haque that he must resolve the
Kashmir issue—he asked me how? I
suggested that instead of holding on to
Kashmir, he should allow the people of
Kashmir to decide for themselves. I do
not think that people in this region are
against India or they support
What happened
in Mumbai is
simply
unacceptable
terrorism. What happened in Mumbai
(26/11) is simply unacceptable. The
problem between India and Pakistan
needs to be sorted out.
Gandhi was correct when he asked
Jinnah not to insist on partition and let
India remain as one entity. Religion
cannot be the basis of a country—it is
unimportant whether you are a Muslim, a
Hindu, a Christian. What is important is
that you belong to the land. Even though
Pakistan was created on the basis of
religion, it could not save itself from a Barges Humoud Al Barges
I do not think the western powers
really care for the welfare of people in this
region, they care for the oil. I recall a
Kuwaiti
conference that was held in Cairo in the Red Crescent
early 1960s to discuss the Palestine issue.
It was attended very well and some of the Society
delegates got emotional, even suggesting
The movement is an international society
that the only solution lay by throwing the
where the affiliates enjoy the same rights and they
cooperate with each other.
I recall the late Krishna Menon who
Based on certain noble values, principles, and
stood up and remarked to the effect:
keenness to assist needy people during times of
“Why are you discussing all this. The issue
crises, 18 prominent and experienced Kuwaitis
will not be resolved by us but by the new
spear-headed the idea of establishing the Kuwait
empire on whom the sun now never sets”.
Red Crescent Society (KRCS) . The first meeting
was held in December 1965 in which they
endorsed the basic organisational structure for its
foundation.
The Kuwaiti government approved the
Now, look at what is happening in the foundation of KRCS and it was officially pro-
entire region–Afghanistan, Iraq and claimed as a non governmental organisation-
elsewhere. Everyday there are killings. I (NGO) on January 10, 1966. The government's
think, and again this is my personal view, approval also facilitated the procedures for the
KRCS to join the International Federation of Red
Cross and Red Cross Societies.
Kuwait Red Crescent Society is a voluntary
Afghanistan is a chronic case and no humanitarian society that provides assistance to
one really knows what’s happening there. the most vulnerable people affected by social
However good the Afghan warriors may conflicts, wars or natural disasters without discri-
be, can they stand the might of American
mination against any human being regardless of
force or NATO?
nationality, gender, colour, race, religions or
At this moment it is western power political beliefs.
who control this entire region but some
KRCS is a voluntary society that enjoys an
people say that one day, the Indians will
independent status and has a separate legal entity
control this region.”
while working as a complementary organisation
to the official authorities in the country in the
humanitarian field. Its scope of work covers all the
governorates of Kuwait with the right to open
branches in any of them. The KRCS provides
assistance and humanitarian aid to all countries
and needy people.
DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
Feb-April, 2010
47
 T3
The New International
Terminal At Delhi Airport
Breaking Records Ansgar Sickert
Managing Director
Fraport India

F raport is used to running airports

around the globe. With invest-
ments and management con-
tracts in far flung places from South
American Lima in Peru to Asia's Xi'an in
internationally conducted Airport Service
Quality (ASQ) survey ranked Delhi airport
as one of the world's worst. As the
construction of Terminal 3 was underway
and the third runway, with 4,430m, one of
China, the owner and operator of Frank- Asia's longest and designed to take the
furt's international airport, has over the A380, neared completion, DIAL had
years, gained enormous experience in additionally undertaken to build a new
running airports of all types and sizes and in domestic terminal.
the most diverse and challenging environ- The old domestic terminal, 1B, was a
ments. pre-World War II building that could no
Together with its partners GMR, the longer take the strain of ever increasing
Airports Authority of India and Malaysia passenger numbers and mushrooming
Airport Berhard, the Fraport consortium airlines. Little wonder that with the
won a thirty year concession (plus a further opening of Terminal 1D and a much im-
30 year option) to run Delhi's Indira Gandhi proved international Terminal 2, passenger
International Airport in May 2006. From survey results went through the roof. At the
the beginning, the project was driven by annual ASQ awards IGI Airport was
the deadline of the Commonwealth Games recognised as the “most improved airport”
which will be hosted by India's capital in in the Asia Pacific region. If that was not
October, later this year. Hence, speed was recognition enough, it also ranked as the
the essence from the outset. Building one of world's fourth best in the category of
the world's largest airport terminals in a airports handling between 15 and 25
record 37 months when comparable million passengers per annum. With the
structures have taken no less than 50 opening of Terminal 3 which has a capacity
months, was always going to be a challenge. of handling 34 million passengers and has a
To complicate matters further, on taking high capacity baggage handling system that
over the airport on May 3, 2006, the can process 12,800 bags per hour, passenger
consortium had only limited physical access volumes will surely continue to expand
to the airport. A project office was first set exponentially in Delhi.
up in Gurgaon which meant much time was As the airport's designated operator
spent shuttling between the office and the Fraport, was able to leverage its global
airport. expertise in airport systems and technology,
A few months later an old 1940s barrack operational processes and issues such as
building had been patched up as provisional quality of service. Naturally, Delhi has high
offices allowing DIAL's operations and aspirations of developing into a major
airport development teams to work at the aviation hub. Given the importance of
airport. But lack of adequate office space Delhi for business, tourism and politics, it is
was perhaps only a minor challenge indeed a natural magnet for travel. Fraport
compared with running and upgrading which operates Frankfurt International
terminal buildings that were not just old but Airport, one of the world's aviation largest
operated well beyond their original design hubs, will continue to transfer its know-
capacity. It was therefore little wonder that how and expertise to ensure IGI Airport
in 2007–08 when passenger growth rates lives up to its potential. They made it possible
reached levels of 30 per cent per annum the

[left to right] Gita Ray (Fraport Secondee to DIAL)

Head of Terminal Operations
Andrew Harrison, DIAL's Chief Operating Officer, Terminal 3
John Ryan (Fraport Secondee to DIAL), IT Integration
Alexander Zinell, Fraport's Executive, VP Global Investments
Ansgar Sickert, MD, Fraport India
48DIPLOMATIC SQUARE
May-July, 2010