INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS MAY 2009

INDIA & THE WORLD BILATERAL AFFAIRS MAY 2009

• India-U.S.-Japan Planned Malabar-2009 Naval Exercises
  Japan has joined India and the United States in trilateral naval exercises from April 26 to May 3. The exercise, named Malabar 2009, was conducted east of Okinawa islands.
  The professional objective was to “deepen mutual understanding and trust” among the navies of the three countries. The political aim was to “enhance friendly ties.”
• India-Poland pacts on healthcare and tourism
  India and the European country Poland signed two agreements: one on cooperation in healthcare and medicine, and the other on tourism. This bilateral trade is $1 billion.
• Iran and Pakistan signed an agreement for the construction of gas pipeline which will carry natural gas from Asalouyeh and stretch over 1100 kilometres through Iran. In Pakistan, it will pass through Baluchistan and Sind which stretches 1000km. In India it runs around 600km. 150 million Cubic meters natural gas would be transported through this pipeline per day.
• India became the first country in South Asia to own an AWACS, Airborne Early Warning and Control System, called 'an eye in the sky', with the Israeli-made Phalcon. It arrived at the Jamnagar airbase on the country's western coast.
  The Phalcons will be inducted into the Indian Air Force on May 28 by Defense Minister A K Antony at the Palam airbase in New Delhi.