Foreign Policy Annual, 2004 (In 2 Parts)

Foreign Policy Annual is the first publication of its type that provides a reliable chronicle of events in contemporary Indian foreign policy one a day-to-day basis. It covers India’s participation in the deliberations of international organizations and relations with her neighbours, regional and super powers; also contains chronicle of world events in which India reacted in defence of its national interests. The events deal with India’s political, economic and strategic relations as well as unofficial opinion on world affairs. The second part of the Annual contains documents on Indian foreign policy during the year. During all these eventful years as an independent nation, there has been phenomenal growth in our foreign contacts so much so that diplomatic relations have been established with almost all countries of the world. Besides as a member of hundreds of international organizations, India had to participate in their periodic deliberations. The exchange of VIP visits and those numerous other groups had become a common occurrence of the day. Hardly any country had the opportunity to extend hospitality in one single year to so many distinguished visitors form abroad. Such visits are not merely acts of diplomatic courtesy. Each is undertaken only when some political ends are sought to be met and international implications are likely to be favourable to both the parties. Then the growth of the political consciousness among our people, interests in world developments had assumed a new dimension. Our countrymen have grown critical of our government’s international activities than of its doings on the home front. The vigilant press kept watchful eye on every initiative that government took or the way it reacted to different issues that arose from time to time. All this underlines the fact that in view of India’s growing importance in world politics, its increasing activities in the international sphere need to be viewed and chronicled periodically.