“Israel strongly condemns the horrendous terrorist attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul, which killed so many innocent civilians, including staff members of the embassy”, stated D-G Abramovitch.

“There is not now, nor can there ever be, any justification for this reprehensible act of terror. As a country that has suffered from fundamentalist Islamic terror for a long period of time, Israel fully understands the necessity of coordinated international efforts against the organizations that carry out these murderous operations and the countries that support them”.

Director General Abramovich extended his sincere condolences to the families of those murdered in the attack, and best wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured.

“President Bush’s presence at the Beijing Olympics is a propaganda coup for the Communist regime,” says Mosher. “His smiling face will be all over the state-run press, used to convince the Chinese people that the U.S. cares more about ping pong matches and gymnastic competitions than about
religious freedom or human rights.”

Mosher is the author of the newly published Population Control–Real Costs, Illusory Benefits, which documents the undeclared war that the Chinese government has carried out on its own population. He cites rampant human rights abuses and destructive domestic and foreign policy as reasons for the United States to boycott the Beijing Olympic games.

“Human rights are nonnegotiable, or they are not rights at all,” Mosher says. “Abuses of basic rights, such as the right to bear children, cannot be expunged by reference to any calculus of costs versus benefits.” Bush’s attitude toward Beijing Olympics, he says, implicitly condones the state of affairs and should be challenged by all those concerned about human rights.

The Plan allocation for textiles was increased by 66.21% in 2007-08 (Rs.2,275 crore), and by 11.45% in 2008-09(Rs.2,500 crore). The textiles exports which were on a downward trajectory due to rupee appreciation are on the upswing due to timely remedial measures. The textiles exports were US $ 20.5 billion in 2007-08, and are expected to increase by 20 per cent during this fiscal year.

The Minister informed that thirty Integrated Textiles Parks had been sanctioned under the Scheme for Integrated Textiles Park (SITP), and these Parks on operationalisation will attract an investment of Rs.17, 000 crore, will create employment for 5.75 lakh worker and would produce textiles product worth Rs. 27,400 crore annually. All these parks will start operations by the end of 2008-09. He said that ten additional Parks will be set up by 2012 under SITP. He said that five Integrated Textiles Park are coming up at Mahboob Nagar, Ananthpur, Pochampally, Vishakapatnam and Nellore in Andhra Pradesh will be completed by March 2009.

The minister also claimed that the country is witnessing a record production of cotton and the Government is considering the demand of the Cotton Textiles Industry to cut import duty on the cotton. However, before any decision is taken the interest of the farmers will kept in mind.

The Minister said that the Government had imparted a new momentum to the implementation of the Technology Up-gradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) and, on the persistent demand of the industry, the Scheme has been extended up to the end of the XIth Five-Year Plan. He said imported second hand machinery is ineligible for assistance under the TUFS, except automatic shuttleless looms, with a value cap of Rs. 8 lakh and of 10 years vintage and with residual life of 10 years. The efforts of the Government have borne results and the TUFS has attracted 17,043 applications, involving an investment of Rs.1,21,396 crore.

The Minister said that Rs. 60 crore has been provided for the Scheme for setting up of Jute Parks under the Mini-Mission IV of the Jute Technology Mission (JTM). The Scheme will provide entrepreneurs with facilities similar to those available in the Export Processing Zones. During the XIth Five Year Plan Period, six Jute Parks will be set up in non-special category States and four Parks will be set up in the North Eastern States. Four Parks in non- special category States are proposed to be set up at Rezinagar, Murshidabad; Chackchaka, Cooch Behar and Shaktigarh, Burdhaman all in West Bengal, and Shrinagar in Rajasthan.

The Textiles Minister informed that three centers of National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) will be set up shortly at Patna, Bhopal and Shillong. Recently two centres of NIIFT opened at Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh and at Kannur, Kerala.

The Minister said that the Technology Mission on Technical Textiles will be implemented during the XIth Five Year Plan to build capacity, upgrade skills, create domestic and export market and standardize product development. Besides, India may implement Development and Growth of Technical Textiles” Scheme during the XIth Five Year Plan at an estimated cost of Rs. 44 crore. Four Centres of Excellence (COE) for Meditech, Geotech, Agritech and Buildtech group of technical textiles will be setup under the scheme.

The status of Megha Topiques, an Indo-French collaborative satellite project scheduled for launch during 2009 for tropical weather monitoring was presented during the meeting. Megha Tropiques carries four payloads – a Microwave Radiometer, a humidity sounder, a radiation measuring instrument and a Radio occultation sounder for atmospheric studies. During the meeting, an Agreement between ISRO and CNES on the Data Policy for distribution of data received from Megha Tropiques was also signed.

This policy enables the global scientific community to have free access to Megha Tropiques data after calibration and evaluation of the payloads by scientists from both the agencies for weather and climate change studies. This data is expected to enhance a better understanding of the tropical weather phenomena including the monsoons.

The meeting also reviewed the status of SARAL, a small satellite mission with payloads from CNES for the study of ocean parameters towards enhancing the understanding of the ocean state conditions which are otherwise not covered by the in-situ measurements. The satellite carries a Ka band altimeter and a payload for reception of ARGO floats deployed all over the world oceans. The altimeter data will provide support in coastal environment studies, estuarine, bathymetry and preparedness towards Tsunami disaster. The periodic data collection over the oceans permits climate assimilations for improved weather forecast.

While reviewing the future collaborative projects, the teams emphasised the need for space-based observations for climate, environment and disaster management. Scientists from ISRO and CNES exchanged ideas for cooperation in conceiving space based systems and methodologies, which lead to a better understanding of tropical weather and climate. The cooperation between the two agencies will also enhance interaction between scientists outside space agencies in India and France and among the global scientific community. It was re-emphasised that technical and scientific strengths of ISRO and CNES would lead to evolving and establishing innovative operational space systems in addressing issues related to the tropical weather and climate. Both the agencies concluded that these efforts should facilitate achieving leadership position in understanding the tropical climate.

The IAF would be participating in the exercise with eight SU-30 MK-I aircraft, two IL-78 air to air refuellers and one IL-76 transport aircraft. The contingent would comprise 156 personnel below officers rank and 91 officers (inclusive of 10 members of ‘Garud’ IAF Special Force team). The contingent is being led by Gp Capt D Chaudhury and Exercise Coordinator would be Gp Capt Ajay Rathore.

Exercise Red Flag is a multinational air exercise that is held thrice a year at Nellis Air Force base, USA. The IAF would be participating in the Exercise alongside South Korean Air Force with F-15K and the French Air Force with their latest Rafale aircraft, apart from the USAF. Red Flag was originally conceived in 1975 by USAF with an advanced aerial combat training format - the purpose being to ensure that pilots are trained well enough to survive in air combat and win air battles. The exercise holds tremendous learning opportunity for all the participating Air Forces.

Prior to the main Exercise Red Flag 08 at Nellis, the IAF’s contingent would be working up at Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho, US from 17 Jul 08 till 07 Aug 08. At Mountain Home, the IAF contingent would be flying with the F-16s & F-15s of USAF. The purpose of the work up phase is to streamline the procedures and have a clear understanding of the new flying environment.

The IAF contingent with its aircraft are scheduled to depart from Pune on 07 Jul 08 and transit via Doha (Qatar), Chorlu (Turkey), Mont de Marsan (France) and Lages (Portugal) before reaching land main USA and Mountain Home airbase on 17 Jul 08.

This is the first of the new series of Three OPVs being built at Goa Shipyard for Indian Coast Guard. The 93.89 meters vessel is well equipped with State-of- the-art Navigation and Communication equipment automated by an Integrated Bridge System (IBS), thus making the ship a versatile platform.

Propelled by two MTU engines, the new OPV is capable of operating Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH). The vessel with an extended range of 4500 NM at a cruising speed of 12 -14 knots is also capable of pollution control against oil spillage and external fire fighting.

The vessel has been equipped with one no. 30 mm CRN-91 Gun and HM / LM guns for policing maritime zones. The machinery controls fitted in the vessel are on one network system with multi-function work stations ensuring quick response with minimum number of personnel to man the ship.

The vessel is primarily designed for rendering yeoman service in patrolling and policing maritime zones, search and rescue operation, maritime surveillance and anti-smuggling operation. The vessel is capable of high speeds required for interdiction of pirates, poachers and smugglers.

The Automatic power management system onboard ensures that normal and standby generators are switched on and off automatically depending on the load without human intervention.

GSL, the youngest of the Defence Shipyards in the country has come a log way by diversifying and enhancing the productivity. The launching of “New series OPV ” is yet another milestone in the journey of the company.

Following PETA’s complaints, even the oil companies have issued letters to the controller of rationing through the Maharashtra state level coordinator, Shri R.K. Panda of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., asking for bullock-pulled oil carts to be discontinued. And now, Justice C S Dharmadhikari (Retd. Judge of the Bombay High Court), the chairman of the Committee to Monitor Animal Welfare Laws in Maharashtra, has asked the controller what action he plans to take.

The following are just some of the abuses that PETA’s investigation documented:

· The bullocks are stationed on the main street opposite the Sewree Railway Station. They stand for hours without shelter, and they’re exposed to burning sun and all other weather extremes. They are not provided with adequate food or water.

· Injured and sick bullocks receive no veterinary care, even though they are forced to continue pulling heavy kerosene tankers.

· The bullocks are kept in miserable, unhygienic conditions. They’re tethered on heaps of dung, urine and muck.

· The bullocks – and the filth they are forced to live in – encroach on an area of the street which is supposed to be used by the public.

“Forcing these neglected and abused bullocks to pull oil tankers through city streets is outdated and cruel”, says PETA India’s Chief Functionary Anuradha Sawhney. “Along with our many celebrity friends and the oil companies themselves, we’re calling on the controller of rationing to stop such blatant abuse at once.”

While highlighting the impressive economic growth in India, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry informed the Kuwaiti Minister to utilize this opportunity to witness some of the significant steps taken by Government of India towards its economic progress. Both sides noted that non-oil trade between two sides has enhanced considerably i.e., US $ 958.41 million in 2007-08 and hoped to multiply this in the coming years. Both sides discussed about the potential items of import and exports viz., IT, leather goods, precision instruments, drugs & pharmaceuticals, steel & steel products, tourism etc.

India’s exports to Kuwait during the period April 2007-February 2008 amounted to US $ 589.78 million. The top 5 items of exports from India were: rice (basmati), machinery & instrument, meat & preparations, manufactures of metals and primary & semi-finished iron & steel. The top 5 items of imports by India were: petroleum & crude products, organic chemicals, metaliferrous ores & metal scrap, sulpher and unroasted iron pyrites and fertilizers manufactured.

The total cumulative FDI inflows to India during August 1991 to March 2008 are US $ 79.2 billion, inflows from Kuwait are US $ 9.02 million.

The Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) System is being developed by the Bangalore based CABS for the Indian Air Force. Under the deal, Brazil’s Embraer aircraft manufacturer will modify its regional jet aircraft, EMB-145 to carry the Active Array Antenna Unit (AAAU), developed by the DRDO, on the aircraft’s fuselage. Three modified EMB-145 aircraft will be developed under this agreement; the first one to be delivered in three years.

The various sub-systems of the AEW&C Mission system will be integrated into the ‘modified green’ aircraft by DRDO and the full-fledged EMB-145 based AEW&C will be flight tested for Mission system in India by DRDO along with IAF from 2012. The AEW&C system comprises many sub-systems like Radar and communication links that are being designed and developed by DRDO.

A few EMB-145 based AEW&C/AWACS versions are already in operation with Air Forces of Brazil, Mexico and Greece.

Among the main issues raised by Amar Singh were:

(i) Whether by entering into this deal, the sovereignty of decision-making in regard to India’s foreign policy would be compromised. It was clarified to Amar Singh that the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement did not and would not affect the autonomy of decision-making in regard to foreign affairs in any manner. India had always followed an independent foreign policy. Under no circumstances, would this position undergo a change, the least of all in the context of the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. India has always regarded its strategic autonomy in these matters as sacrosanct.

Related to this was the question raised by Amar Singh whether the nuclear deal would impinge on our relations with Iran. It was clarified that our relations with Iran were time-honoured and civilisational in nature and no outside influence or pressure could force India to deviate from this path. India and Iran have recently taken several initiatives, including one relating to the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline. The pipeline epitomizes the nature and importance of the relationship, something that was strongly re-inforced during the visit of President Ahmadinejad to Delhi in April. There have been other meetings between our Ministers and officials and their Iranian counterparts. The National Security Adviser has just returned after a very productive meeting with Iranian leadership, and also had a meeting with President Ahmedinejad, at which apart from economic issues like the IPI pipeline, certain other and related matters were discussed. India is not under any pressure, nor can it be pressurized to follow a course of action that is not dictated by our enlightened self-interest.

(ii) Another important issue that was raised by the SP leaders was whether the nuclear deal would undermine our nuclear sovereignty, specially with regard to our strategic nuclear programme. It was clarified, and the Prime Minister has reiterated this on many previous occasions, that the deal would not in any way impinge on our strategic programme. This is an agreement for Civil Nuclear Cooperation. The purpose of the Agreement is to enable full civil nuclear energy cooperation between Parties and concerns nuclear reactors and all aspects of the associated nuclear fuel cycle. It caters for the development of a strategic reservoir of nuclear fuel to guard against disruption of supplies over the lifetime of India’s reactors, and for advanced R&D in Nuclear Sciences.

The 123 Agreement with the United States contains a specific mention that the Agreement would not affect un-safeguarded nuclear activities, i.e. activities involving our strategic programme which are not under safeguards. It also underscores that the Agreement would be implemented in a manner that does not hinder or otherwise interfere with any activities involving the use of nuclear material, information or technology and military nuclear facilities produced, acquired or developed by them independent of the Agreement for their own purposes.

(iii) A question was also raised about the Hyde Act passed by the US Congress and its impact on the 123 Agreement arrived at between India and the United States. A careful reading of the provisions of the 123 Agreement would make it clear that substantive rights and obligations under the Agreement are not affected by the national laws of the parties. It is the 123 Agreement and its provisions that indicate the obligations of both sides. The 123 Agreement clearly over-rides the Hyde Act and this position would be clear to anyone who goes through the provisions.

(iv) Other clarifications were sought on the right to re-process and the right to test and the provisions under which the United States would determine its cooperation with India. Great care was taken while finalizing the 123 Agreement to arrive at provisions which are satisfactory from India’s point of view. The Agreement, hence, specifically grants consent to re-process or otherwise alter in form or content nuclear material transferred pursuant to the Agreement. India has agreed to establish a new national re-processing facility dedicated for re-processing nuclear material under IAEA Safeguards.

There is nothing in the Agreement which places an embargo on India’s right to carry out a nuclear test if it thinks this is necessary in India’s supreme national interest. To meet the contingency (raised by the Hyde Act) that the United States might terminate its cooperation with India if it carried out a nuclear test, a very elaborate consultation process has been included in the 123 Agreement. The consultations would go into the relevant circumstances; take into account the specific requirements leading to a test; whether there had been a change in the security environment which required this; and/or whether this was a response to similar actions by other States which could impact on India’s national security. Furthermore, it is stated in the Agreement that the two parties recognized that exercising the right of return would have profound implications for their relations and that both parties should take into account the potential negative consequences of such termination of on-going contracts and projects.

(v) A reference was again made to the Agreement between India and the International Atomic Energy Agency for the application of Safeguards to Civilian Nuclear facilities. The salient features of the Draft Agreement (which are yet to be finalized), reflect the key understandings relating to fuel supply assurances, strategic fuel reserves and corrective measures. Provisions have been included that make it clear that India is offering its civilian nuclear facilities voluntarily for safeguards and keeping in view these assurances. Most importantly, the Agreement provides for the filing of a declaration, based on its sovereign decision, and only when India determines that all conditions conducive to the objectives of the Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement and concomitant arrangements have been fulfilled. This ensures that India would retain the right till the very end before putting any of its reactors under safeguards.

(vi) A major principle underlined in the Agreement with the IAEA is that the IAEA shall implement safeguards in a manner that do not hinder or otherwise interfere with any activity involving the use by India of nuclear material or technology developed by India independent of this Agreement for its own purposes.