sharpeye

Recent visit of Nepalese Prime Minister Prachnada to India and his frank talks with Indian leaders on matters concerning bilateral, regional and global issues augur well for widening the scope of improvement of friendly relations between the two countries. For the past years, massive changes have taken place within Nepal and these changes impact upon Kathmandu’s relations with New Delhi in many ways. Transformation of Nepal from Monarchy to multi-party democracy with Maoists Party at the helm of affairs at present, growing anti-India activities in Nepal, political instability due to inter and intra-party politics, growing demand in Kathmandu for reviewing Indo-Nepal Treaty etc. are certain issues which worry the observers. Viewed in a broad spectrum, the structural and strategic transformation in relations between India and Nepal can be attributed to following three main factors. Firstly, the restoration of multi-party democracy in Nepal, instead of leading the ties between the two cou...

The Group of Eight or G-8 is a global forum for the governments of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The member states of the G-8 together account for about 65 per cent of the world economy.1 The group's activities include year-round conferences and policy research, culminating with an annual summit meeting attended by the heads of government of the member states. The European Commission is also represented at the meetings. Each year, member states of the G-8 take turns assuming the presidency of the group. The holder of the presidency sets the group's annual agenda and hosts the summit for that year. The presidency for 2007 belongs to Germany, which recently hosted the 33rd G-8 summit in Heiligendamm from 6 to 8 June 2007. Viewed in a broad perspective, the concept of a forum for the world's major industrialised democracies emerged following the 1973 Oil Crisis and subsequent global recession. In 1974, the Unit...

India’s relations with Australia have been governed by the Western pattern of relations vis-à-vis India. Australia is regarded as Western ‘outpost’ in Asia-Pacific and foreign policy of Australia has generally followed the pattern of the United States while forging its relations with countries of Asia-Pacific region. During the Cold War era, India’s close relations with Soviet Union had alienated the Western countries, including Australia. However, the tectonic changes that ensued in the aftermath of the disintegration of former Soviet Union and inaugurated an era of post-Cold War, many developing countries, including India, embarked on the path of economic reforms with an avowed objective of integrating their national economies with global economy. The decade of the 1990s witnessed India’s improved relations with the United States, European Union, France, and Germany etc. This period also afforded ample opportunities for Australia as well to explore new vistas of economic cooperation ...