POLITICAL ISSUES
ISRAEL
1. No cut and paste of farm technology; want to help India adapt: Israel
New Delhi, Monday, 8 May 2017
Keen to expand bilateral ties with India during the upcoming visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israel said that it does not want to “cut and paste” its innovative farm technologies in India but help the latter “cut and adapt” them to suit local conditions.
Source: The Indian Express, New Delhi
LEBANON
2. India’s football friendly against Lebanon cancelled
New Delhi, Tuesday, 16 May 2017
Indian football team’s international friendly against Lebanon would be played in Mumbai on 7 June has been cancelled after the latter pulled out, citing problems in obtaining visas for its player
PALESTINE
3. Mahmoud Abbas visit: India reiterates support to Palestinian cause
New Delhi, Saturday, 13 May 2017
On the time of the visit of President Mahmoud Abbas, India reiterated its “political support” to the Palestinian cause and said it continued to assist developmental projects there.
4. Palestinian President Abbas arrives on four-day India visit
New Delhi, Sunday, 14 May 2017
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in India on a four-day visit during which he hold extensive talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on several bilateral, regional and international issues, including the Middle East peace process.
5. India can play important role in Palestine issue, says Palestinian President
New Delhi, Monday, 15 May 2017
India can play ‘a very important role” in resolving the dispute between Palestine and Israel, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said, on the eve of his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
SAUDI ARABIA
6. Indian success stories abound in Saudi Arabia
New Delhi, Tuesday, 2 May 2017
The relationship between India and Saudi Arabia is getting strong through economic, cultural and human bonds.
TURKEY
7. India, Turkey sign three agreements
New Delhi, Monday, 1 May 2017
India and Turkey signed three agreements following delegation-level talks headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. These three agreements are in the field of ICT, training and culture.
8. India, Turkey to hold bilateral talks today
New Delhi, Monday, 1 May 2017
With the arrival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New Delhi, economic ties, cooperation in the fight against terrorism and Turkey’s support to India in its bid to become a member of Nuclear Supplier’s Group, expected to dominate the bilateral talks.
9. Kashmir a bilateral issue with Pakistan, India tells Turkish President Erdogan
New Delhi, Monday, 1 May 2017
India informed visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that a solution to the Kashmir issue can be found only through bilateral talks with Pakistan, tacitly rejecting his suggestion for multilateral dialogue.
10. On India visit, Recep Tayyip Erdogan says ‘come to Turkey for your honeymoon’
New Delhi, Monday, 1 May 2017
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan who is in India, turned into his country’s chief-promoter-of-tourism while addressing corporate leaders present at the India-Turkey Business Summit asked Indians to come to Turkey for their honeymoon.
11. India draws red line on Kashmir to Erdogan: Bilateral, about terror
New Delhi, Tuesday, 2 May 2017
A day after Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan advocated a “multilateral dialogue” to settle the Jammu and Kashmir question, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that both sides have agreed to work together to strengthen cooperation “bilaterally” and “multilaterally” to effectively counter terrorism.
UAE
12. Government to review UAE bilateral deals
New Delhi, Tuesday, 2 May 2017
The government is examining one of the most controversial decisions of UPA—treating the member emirates of UAE like Dubai and Abu Dhabi—as separate entities for the purpose of granting flying rights to India.
13. UAE ready for air traffic pact
New Delhi, Tuesday, 30 May 2017
The UAE is in favour of India’s proposal for a unified bilateral air traffic pact, provided the Gulf nation gets more access to Indian airports.
CULTURAL ISSUE
EGYPT
14. Two Indian warships visit Egyptian port city
New Delhi, Monday, 8 May 2017
Two Indian warships have engaged in professional and social interactions with the Egyptian navy during their port call to Alexandria as part of Indian Navy’s overseas deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and the west coast of Africa.
ECONOMIC ISSUES
BAHRAIN
15. Bahrain takes its investment story to India Inc
New Delhi, Tuesday, 9 May 2017
Pitching Bahrain’s tax-free credentials, a key delegation of the Middle East sought to impress upon the Indian business the importance of investing in the country.
EGYPT
16. Egypt has contracted to import 20,000 tonnes of Indian rice
Cairo, Wednesday, 3 May 2017
A cabinet’s statement came into light that Egypt, traditionally a rice exporter, has contracted to purchase 20,000 tonnes of Indian rice.
TURKEY
17. Erdogan exhorts India Inc to invest in Turkey
New Delhi, Monday, 1 May 2017
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan complained to the Indian industry that they were not investing enough in his country, even as he batted for a bilateral free trade agreement.
18. Need time to consider Turkey’s call for FTA, says New Delhi
New Delhi, Tuesday, 2 May 2017
India is open to considering Turkey’s proposal to negotiate a bilateral free trade agreement in goods, services and investments despite the politically volatile situation in Ankara, but needs time to weigh the potential gains for its industry.
MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES
ISRAEL/PALESTINE
19. Narendra Modi urges Israel, Palestine to find ‘Comprehensive resolution’
New Delhi, Tuesday, 1 May 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged Israel and Palestine to find comprehensive resolution to the long-standing territorial dispute between them.
20. India’s ties with Israel should not be at cost of Palestinian cause: President Mahmoud Abbas’ aide
New Delhi, Tuesday, 9 May 2017
India has the right to build relations with Israel but it should not come at the “expense” of New Delhi’s firm support for the Palestinian cause, a close aide of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said.
21. Prime Minister Modi offers unwavering support to Palestine, but hopes peace between Palestinian and Israeli sides
New Delhi, Tuesday, 16 May 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered India’s unwavering support to the Palestinian cause. After holding dialogue with visiting Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas, he hoped to see a sovereign, independent, united and viable Palestine, co-existing peacefully with Israel.
22. Before Modi’s Israel visit, India reiterates support to Palestine
New Delhi, Wednesday, 17 May 2017
A month and a half before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to Israel on 5-6 July, India announced the visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to New Delhi on 15-16 May and reiterated its “political support” to the Palestinian cause.
23. Hope to see sovereign Palestine coexisting with Israel, says PM Modi
New Delhi, Wednesday, 17 May 2017
Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured Palestine President Mahmoud Abbas of India’s “unwavering support” to the Palestinian cause, saying it hoped to see a sovereign, united and an independent Palestine, coexisting peacefully with Israel.
COMPILED BY SUNIL KUMAR
Sunil Kumar is a doctoral candidate in School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Email
As part of its editorial policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spelling and date formats to make the text uniformly accessible and stylistically consistent. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views/positions of the MEI@ND. Editor, MEI@ND: P R Kumaraswamy
