Editor's Note
Welcome to the September-October edition of the magazine. As usual, we have an array of articles touching on global diplomacy and bilateral relations. The outcome of the G20 summit in Pittsburgh was reassuring so far as it talked sense and agreed to play by certain rules that the club members will enforce among themselves. By accepting the mandate for peer review and taking a flexible stand on allowing greater representation to developing countries or emerging economies like China and India, G20 proved its sincerity in not allowing further economic disasters   Read the Note.  
 

G-20 SUMMIT IN PITTSBURGH: Consensus on Friendly Regulation of Economies
Developing countries promised more representation in IMF and World Bank
The G-20 also agreed to phase out, over the medium term, inefficient subsidies on fossil fuels. India argued for a phased reduction in order to protect the interests of the poor. Also the commitment to bring the most powerful nations for a regular, ongoing scrutiny for checking conformity in policy framework was reiterated.   Read the Article.  
 

India-ASEAN FTA: A Step in the Right Direction  
In any case, India-ASEAN FTA is neither exclusive nor irreversible. India is also engaged in similar exercises with EU, US, Japan, ROK, GCC and China. In today’s highly competitive and rapidly changing economic scene, India has to seize every option, short and long term, and maximize its opportunities and secure its interests.   Read the Article. 
   

India-ASEAN FTA: Of Domestic Concerns and High Expectations   
The FTA points to the enlargement of India’s ‘Look East Policy’ (LEP) for engaging multilaterally with ASEAN nations. In a sense, this has finally been achieved with the FTA  Read the Article.  
 

UN Climate Change Summit: In Search of a Deal at Copenhagen   
Nearly 100 world leaders attended the Summit whose mission was to achieve political will and strengthen momentum for a fair, effective, and ambitious climate deal in Copenhagen where representatives from 193 Parties to the Climate Convention will gather in December to negotiate a Climate Agreement for the post-2012 period. Read the Article.
  

Merkel Wins Again; To Turn Right
Liberal policies in economy and foreign policy in cards
German Chancellor Angela Merkel was elected for a second term in a resounding victory in the 27 September elections that also saw her erstwhile coalition partner socialist Social Democratic Party (SDP) facing a serious defeat. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) retained its position as Germany’s largest party with 33.5 percent and its right wing ally Free Democrats jumped to 15 percent. The result also dealt a big blow to Germany’s venerable Social Democratic Party (SDP) which could muster only 22.5 percent of the popular vote.  Read the Article.      
     

NATO, Russia should Focus on Unity: Business as Usual
The new Secretary General of NATO warms up to Russia
It is no wonder that the NATO-Russia relationship has remained a difficult one. Yes, we found great language for our partnership aims in the NATO-Russia Founding Act and the Rome Declaration – but we have not been able to translate them into reality  Read the Article.  
 

Nepal PM’s India Visit: 
Trade, Power and Water Resources Dominate Talks  
The two Prime Ministers agreed on the need to reinvigorate bilateral relations in all areas and directed that all the established institutional bilateral mechanisms should function effectively, in time bound manner and lead to concrete outcomes for the benefit of both countries.  Read the Article.
  

AFGHANISTAN ELECTIONS: Verdict Caught in Allegations of Fraud
Will Karzai face a re-poll or agree to a coalition?  Read the Article.  
     

BILATERAL NOTES
Thailand for Increased bilateral trade with India
India Promotes Tourism Attractions in Russia
EU-India civil society workshop in New Delhi 
Trade Ministers Meet in New Delhi to Revive Doha Round
   Read the Notes.
   

Malawi President Speaks Out in Support of Developing Nations at The UN General Assembly
At the national level Malawi is responding to the challenge of climate change through intensive irrigation farming and moving away from heavy dependence on rain fed agricultural system    Read the Article.  
   

JAPAN ELECTIONS: Good Bye to Right Wing Policies
Mr. Hatoyama’s agenda spells massive overhaul of Japanese policies 
Hatoyama’s party has vowed to move Japan away from a corporate-centered economic model to an agenda that focuses on helping the common man.   Read the Article.  
 

EXIM POLICY 2009-14: India’s Trade Growth to Depend on Infrastructure Upgradation  
“Recession is actually a drastic reduction in demand, the world over, especially in the major consumer countries of the world, viz. the US and the European nations”  Read the Article.
 

INDIA-BANGLADESH RELATIONS: Gains in Connectivity
In principle nod for transit to Nepal and Bhutan through India
Dr. Manmohan Singh, who mentioned India’s highest regard to its relations with Bangladesh. Dr. Singh hoped that a new chapter of Bangladesh-India relations would be written with the forthcoming visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India soon  Read the Article.
 

JAISALMER, RAJASTHAN: A Destination for History Buffs, Admirers of Exquisite Architecture and the Adventurous Alike
Jaisalmer, nicknamed ‘The Golden City’, stands on a ridge of yellowish sandstone, crowned by a fort containing a palace and several Jain temples. Many of the houses and temples are finely sculptured from sandstone. Situated in the heart of the Thar Desert, Jaisalmer has a population of about 78 thousand and is named after its founder Rao Jaisal. The name ‘Jaisalmer’ literally means ‘the Hill Fort of Jaisal’.  Read the Article.