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INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. 16TH INDIA-EU LEADER’S SUMMIT
2. 17TH BIMSTEC MINISTERIAL MEETING
3. LEADER’S SUMMIT ON CLIMATE
4. PM MODI’S VISIT TO BANGLADESH
5. SIGNIFICANCE OF SEYCHELLES FOR INDIA
6. KYRGYZSTAN & TAJIKISTAN BORDER TENSION
7. PUTIN TO STAY IN POWER
8. BIDEN LETS H-1B VISA BAN EXPIRES
9. POLITICAL CRISI IN JORDAN
10. UKRAINE URGES TO JOIN NATO
11. THE SAUDI GRREN INITIATIVE
12. WTO TRIPS AGREEMENT
13. US RECOGNIZED ARMENIAN GENOCIDE

#16TH INDIA-EU LEADER’S SUMMIT

• The 16thIndia-European Union (EU) Leaders’ Summit that was scheduled to be held in Porto, Portugal will now be held virtually on May 08, 2021, due to an unprecedented surge in corona virus cases across the world. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not be going to Porto, Portugal.

• As per the statement by Arindam Bagchi, official Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, "In view of the COVID-19 situation, it has been decided, in consultation with the EU and Portuguese leadership, to hold the India-EU Leaders’ Meeting in a virtual format on 8 May 2021.”

• Bagchi said that the India-EU Leaders’ Meeting in the EU+27 format being held for the first time reflects the shared ambition of both countries to further strengthen the ‘strategic partnership’.

• The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union will be a key focus during the 16th India-EU Leaders’ Summit.The FTA between both countries was launched in 2007 and suspended in 2012.

• The 15th India-EU Leaders’ Summit was also conducted virtually on July 15, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

India-EU Relations:

• India was amongst the first countries to develop diplomatic relations with the European Union (EU) back in the 1960s. Both the countries signed a cooperation agreement in 1994 and in 2004, India and EU became ‘strategic partners’.

• India and the EU adopted a Joint Action Plan in 2005 to further strengthen the political and economic ties, expand trade and investments channels, and forge friendly relations between people and cultures of both countries.

• The first India-EU Summit was held in June 2000 in Lisbon. The EU is the largest trading partner of India. The EU is also the second-largest sources of Foreign Direct Investment inflow for India. India is the 10th largest trading partner of the European Union (EU).

#17TH BIMSTEC MINESTRIAL MEETING

Recently, the External Affairs Minister of India participated in the 17th Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Ministerial Meeting.
• The meeting, chaired by Sri Lanka, was held in virtual mode.

India’s Stand at the Meeting:

 India’s Commitment: To further build the momentum of regional cooperation under the BIMSTEC framework and make the organization stronger, vibrant, more effective and result-oriented.
 Progress:Highlighted progress achieved in sectors where India is the Lead Country viz Counter Terrorism & Trans-national Crime, Transport & Communication, Tourism, and Environmental & Disaster management and other activities.
 Importance of Connectivity:Robust connectivity is an essential prerequisite for economic integration of the region with smooth cross-border movement of people and goods.
 Outcome of the Meeting: The meeting endorsed the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity for adoption at the next BIMSTEC Summit, which will be held in Sri Lanka.
 India’s northeastern states form a key part of the master plan, with several road and river links passing through the region.
 Called for early adoption of the BIMSTEC Charter.
 The meeting also endorsed three MoUs/agreements relating to convention on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal matters, cooperation between diplomatic and training academies and establishment of BIMSTEC Technology Transfer Facility in Colombo (Sri Lanka).
 Took note that the BIMSTEC Centre for Weather and Climate, being hosted in India, is fully functional with state of the art facilities to provide Disaster Early Warnings.

Concerns related to it

 Cohesion among the members has been difficult to achieve mainly because of the Rohingya refugee crisis which created bitterness between Myanmar and Bangladesh.
 This affected the working of the organisation to some extent as it could not develop a common charter.

Objectives of BIMSTEC

 Creating an enabling environment for the rapid economic development of the sub-region.
 Encouraging the spirit of equality and partnership.
 Promoting active collaboration and mutual assistance in the areas of common interests of the member countries.
 Accelerating support for each other in the fields of education, science, and technology, etc.

#LEADER’S SUMMIT ON CLIMATE 2021

Recently, the Leaders' Summit on Climate was convened by the US President virtually.

 40 world leaders, including the Prime Minister of India, were invited to the event to underscore the urgency of stronger climate action.
 This summit is seen as a key milestone on the road to the United Nations Climate Change Conference, Conference of the Parties 26 (COP 26) in November 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland.

India-US Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership:

 About: It is a joint climate and clean energy initiative of India with the US. It will demonstrate how the world can align swift climate action with inclusive and resilient economic development, taking into account national circumstances and sustainable development priorities.

 Objective:Mobilise investments, demonstrate clean technologies and enable green collaborations in India that could also create templates of sustainable development for other developing countries.

 Two Main Tracks of the Initiative: The Strategic Clean Energy Partnership, The Climate Action and Finance Mobilization Dialogue.
US’ Stand:

 Pledged: To cut the US’s GreenHouse Gas (GHG) in half by the year 2030 and called upon other nations to “set higher climate ambitions” that will create jobs at home, advance innovative technologies and help countries vulnerable to the impact of climate change.
 To double its public climate financing to developing countries and triple public financing for climate adaptation in developing countries by 2024.
 NDC: It submitted a new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) target that aims to reduce its GHG emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels.
 The US has rejoined the Paris Agreement.
 Applauded India for stepping up its climate change commitment including the partnership with the US to deploy 450 gigawatts of renewable power to meet the ambitious 2030 target for climate action and clean energy.

China’s Stand:

 Carbon Neutrality: Its carbon emissions will peak before 2030 and the country will achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.
 Promoted its green Belt and Road Initiative and announced efforts to “strictly control coal-fired power generation projects” and phase down coal consumption.
 Common but Differentiated Responsibilities: It also emphasised on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, which argues for long-time polluters such as developed countries to do more to fight the climate crisis.

India's Stand :

 Emissions: India was already doing its part and that the country’s per capita carbon emissions are 60% lower than the global average.
 Commitment: India’s ambitious renewable energy target of 450 GW by 2030. Despite its development challenges, India has taken many bold steps on clean energy, energy efficiency, afforestation and biodiversity. India is among few countries whose NDCs are 2°C compatible.
 Emphasis: Emphasised its encouragement of global initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure.
 Some Indian Initiatives to Fight Climate Change:
 National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)
 Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) emission norms
 UJALA scheme
 National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)

#PM MODI’S VISIT TO BANGLADESH

The Prime Minister of India paid a State Visit to Bangladesh to join the celebrations of the Golden Jubilee of the Independence of Bangladesh, the Birth Centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and 50 years of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Bangladesh.

Joint Celebrations of Historical Links:

 Bangladesh thanked India for conferring Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2020 on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
 Jointly inaugurated the Bangabandhu - Bapu Digital Exhibition in Dhaka. To mark the 50th anniversary of India-Bangladesh friendship:
 Both sides released respective commemorative postage stamps. Decided to commemorate 6th December as MaitriDiwas, the day when India recognized Bangladesh in the year 1971.
 India announced the establishment of the Bangabandhu Chair at the University of Delhi.
 Bangladesh thanked India for naming the historic road from Mujib Nagar to Nadia on the Bangladesh-India border as "ShadhinotaShorok” commemorating the historic significance of the road during Bangladesh’s Liberation War.

Water Resources Cooperation:

 Bangladesh reiterated its long-pending request for concluding the interim agreement on the sharing of the waters of the Teesta River.
 The draft agreement has already been agreed upon by both Governments in January 2011.
 India also requested for early finalization of the draft of the interim agreement for sharing of water of Feni River, pending with the Bangladesh side which had been agreed upon by both sides in 2011.
 Also, requested working towards an early conclusion of the Framework of Interim Agreement on sharing of waters of six common rivers, namely, Manu, Muhuri, Khowai, Gumti, Dharla and Dudhkumar.
 Directed the Joint Technical Committee to expeditiously commence the feasibility study of the Ganges-Padma barrage for optimum utilization of the Ganges waters received by Bangladesh as per the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, 1996.

Trade for Growth:

 Stressed the need for predictability of trade policies, regulations and procedures and the need for removal of non-tariff barriers.
 Stressed the urgent need for up-gradation of infrastructure and facilities of the Land Customs Stations (LCSs)/Land Ports in a coordinated manner to facilitate trade between the two countries.
 Reiterated the importance of harmonization of standards and mutual recognition of agreements and certificates for enhancing bilateral trade.
 Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institute (BSTI) and the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) would collaborate for the capacity building and development of testing and Lab facilities.
 India congratulated Bangladesh on its upcoming graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
 Emphasized on expeditious conclusion of the ongoing joint study on the prospects of entering into a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
 Bangladesh invited Indian investment in the jute mills of Bangladesh to revitalize and modernize the jute sector.
 India requested early finalization of modalities for implementation of the Katihar – Parbotipur – Bornagar cross border electricity interconnection.
 Took stock of progress in the implementation of the India Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline and unit-1 of the Maitree Super Thermal Power Project.

Connectivity for Prosperity:

 India expressed gratitude for Bangladesh’s initiative of revitalizing the pre-1965 rail connectivity.

 Bangladesh reiterated its eagerness to partner in the ongoing initiative of the India – Myanmar - Thailand trilateral highway project.

 Also agreed to an early operationalization of the BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement through expeditious signing of the Enabling MoU for Bangladesh, India, and Nepal to commence the movement of goods and passengers, with provision for Bhutan to join at a later date.

 India urged for early operationalization of the trans-shipment Agreement on the use of Chattogram and Mongla Ports for the Movement of Goods to and from India (Kolkata to Agartala via Chattogram).

 India also requested for trans-shipment arrangement in Munshiganj and Pangaon as part of the Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade.

 Recently, MaitreeSetu (between India and Bangladesh) over River Feni in South Tripura has been inaugurated.

 Bangladesh offered the use of Chattogram and Sylhet International Airport, by the people of North East India, especially of Tripura.

Cooperation in Public Health:

 Bangladesh thanked the Government of India for giving 3.2 million doses of Oxford Astra Zeneca Covishield vaccine made in India.
 Border Management and Security Cooperation: Bangladesh reiterated the request for 1.3 km Innocent Passage through river route along with River Padma, on humanitarian grounds.
 India requested for completion of border fencing at all pending sectors at the international border at the earliest, beginning from the Tripura (India) - Bangladesh sector.
 Defence Cooperation: Emphasized on the frequent exchange of programs and enhancing cooperation in training and capacity building.
 India has offered a USD 500 million line of credit for defence imports from India into Bangladesh and thus requested for early operationalization of this defense Line of Credit.
 Welcomed the signing of an MoU on Disaster Management, Resilience and Mitigation.

New Areas of Cooperation:

 Acknowledged the potential of new and emerging areas of cooperation in cutting edge areas of science, artificial intelligence, peaceful uses of nuclear technology, big data and technology enabled services in health and education.
 50 young entrepreneurs from Bangladesh were invited to visit India and present their ideas to venture capitalists.

Partners in the Region and the World:

 Agreed to continue working together for common objectives in the United Nations and other multilateral fora.
 Emphasized that the regional organizations, such as SAARC and BIMSTEC have an important role to play, particularly in the post-Covid-19 situation.
 Bangladesh thanked India for convening the SAARC leaders Video Conference in March 2020 and for proposing creation of the SAARC Emergency Response Fund to counter effects of the global pandemic in the South Asian region.
 Bangladesh highlighted that the country would assume chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for the first time in October 2021 and requested the support of India for working towards greater maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean region.
 India welcomed the decision of Bangladesh to join the New Development Bank (NDB).
 The two Prime Ministers also announced/ unveiled the following:
 Foundation stone laying ceremony for a memorial in the honour of the Martyrs of the Indian Armed Forces who sacrificed their lives during Liberation War of 1971 at Ashuganj, Brahmanbaria.
 Foundation stone for five packages out of total eight packages of Rooppur Power Evacuation Project.
 Inauguration of 3 border haats, Nalikata (India) - Saydabad (Bangladesh), Ryngku (India) - Bagan Bari (Bangladesh) and Bholagunj (India) – Bholagunj (Bangladesh).
 Border Haats aim at promoting the wellbeing of the people dwelling in remote areas across the borders of two countries, by establishing a traditional system of marketing the local produce through local markets.
 Inauguration of ‘Mitali Express’ - passenger train connecting Dhaka on Bangladesh side and New Jalpaiguri on the Indian.

#SIGNIFICANCE OF SEYCHELLES FOR INDIA

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Seychelles President WavelRamkalawan will be jointly inaugurating a range of Indian projects in Seychelles during a high-level virtual meeting today, on April 8, 2021.

• This includes the inauguration of a new Magistrates’ Court Building, one MW solar power plant, 10 High Impact Community Development Projects (HICDPs) and handing over of a new Fast Patrol Vessel to Seychelles Coast Guard. These projects are a part of India's Indo-Pacific vision.

• This will be the first interaction between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Seychelles President WavelRamkalawan after the latter came to power following a landmark victory in October 2020 elections.

Indian Projects in Seychelles

• Magistrates’ Court Building: The new Magistrates’ Court Building is a landmark project that will be inaugurated in the capital city of Seychelles, Victoria. It is India’s first major civil infrastructure project in Seychelles built with grant assistance.

• Situation next to the Supreme Court of Seychelles that was built by Chinese assistance in 2013, the new Magistrates’ Court Building will help bring magistrate courts spread over different locations in Mahe into a single building.

• The state-of-the-art building will substantially enhance the capacity of the Seychelles judicial system and aid in better delivery of judicial services.

• Fast Patrol Vessel: The Fast Patrol Vessel, named as 'PS Zoroaster', is the fourth ship to be gifted by India to Seychelles to strengthen its maritime surveillance capabilities.

• The 48.9-metre vessel is a modern and fully equipped naval ship, which has been built in India by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineering Ltd. (GRSE) at a cost of Rs 100 crore.

• The naval ship will be used by the Seychelles Coast Guard for multi-purpose operations such as patrolling, search and rescue operations and anti-smuggling and anti-poaching operations.

• The Indian Navy delivered the vessel to Seychelles on March 16, 2021. The other ships gifted to Seychelles by India include PS Topaz in 2005, PS Constant in 2014 and Patrol Boat Hermes in 2016.

• Solar Power Plant: The one MW solar Plant will be handed over to the Seychelles government by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the virtual event.

• The project is in addition to the installation of solar systems at 146 Seychelles government building rooftops and domestic, households which has already been completed and commissioned.

High Impact Community Development Projects

• The 10 High Impact Community Development Projects aim to implement small people-oriented projects that contribute significantly towards the socio-economic development in Seychelles and the improvement of the local communities there.

• So far, twenty-nine projects have been taken up for execution under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two nations.

India's special relations with Seychelles: Significance

• Seychelles occupies a central position in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of ‘Sagar-Security and Growth for All in the Region’.

• Hence, the inauguration of these projects aims to demonstrate India's role as a reliable partner of Seychelles for meeting its infrastructural, developmental and security requirements.

• The projects are also a testimony to the deep and friendly ties shared by the people of the two nations. Seychelles was the first destination during PM Modi's tour of Indian Ocean countries in 2015. The visit was the first one by an Indian Prime Minister after 33 years.

• PM Modi had pronounced India's vision of 'SAGAR- Security and Growth for All in the region' during the tour. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was the first foreign minister to visit Seychelles after the assumption of office by President Ramkalawan.

• Seychelles was also one of the first beneficiaries of India's COVID-19 assistance, as the nation received over four tonnes of life-saving medicines including 50,000 HCQ tablets under Mission 'SAGAR' in May 2020.

• Seychelles was also the first African country to receive 50,000 doses of Covishield vaccine from India on January 22, 2021 under India's Vaccine Maitri initiative.

Seychelles' Indian-origin President

• Seychelles has another special connection with India, as its current President WavelRamkalawan is of Indian origin. His ancestral roots trace back to a district called Gopalganj in the Indian state of Bihar.

• He had visited India in January 2018 as a part of the PIO Parliamentarian's Conference and had also visited his native village 'Parsauni'.

#KYRGYZSTAN AND TAJIKISTAN BORDER TENSIONS

Recently, a ceasefire on the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan appeared to be holding after a day of intense fighting between the two countries that has killed about 40 people and wounded about 175.

 Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan belong to the central asia region. Other countries of the region are Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

Background:

 Both nations have claimed the area around the water supply facility in Kok-Tash, a dispute dating back decades to when they were both part of the Soviet Union.
 The current configuration of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border is the product of Soviet mapmakers drawing the dividing lines for Soviet republics, after the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) collapsed in late 1991.
 The meandering boundary between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan is particularly tense as over a third of its 1,000-km length is disputed. Restrictions on access to land and water that communities regard as theirs have often led to deadly clashes in the past.

International Response:

 Russia and European Union (EU) welcomed the ceasefire deal and emphasised the need for a lasting and peaceful solution.

Importance of Central Asia for India:

 Political: India has a very wide array of interests in Central Asia covering security, energy, economic opportunities etc.
 Security, stability and prosperity of Central Asia is imperative for peace and economic development of India.
 Central Asia serves as a land bridge between Asia and Europe, making it geopolitically axial for India.

 Both India and Central Asian Republics (CARs) share many commonalities and perceptions on various regional and world issues and can play a crucial role in providing regional stability.

 Economic: The region is rich in natural resources such as petroleum, natural gas, antimony, aluminum, gold, silver, coal and uranium which can be best utilized by Indian energy requirements.
 Central Asia has huge cultivable areas lying barren and without being put to any productive use, offering enormous opportunity for cultivation of pulses.
 CARs are fast getting linked to the global market for production, supplies of raw materials and services. They are also increasingly getting integrated into the East-West Trans-Eurasian transit economic corridors.

Indian Initiatives:

 India intends expansion of International North South Transport Corridor (INSTC) to Afghanistan and Uzbekistan.
 It will act as a vital gateway to access Eurasian markets and optimally operationalize its use, requiring a Central Asian state joining the project as a direct stakeholder.

India-Central Asia Dialogue:

 India has proposed setting up of ‘India-Central Asia Development Group’ to take forward development partnership between India & Central Asian countries.
 This group will help India to expand its footprints in the resource-rich region amid China’s massive inroads and to fight terror effectively, including in Afghanistan.

India-Kyrgyzstan Relations

 Political: India has enjoyed strong bilateral ties with Kyrgyzstan since 1991. India was one of the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with Kyrgyzstan in 1992.
 Culture & Economic:Since 1992, the two countries have many agreements, including on Culture, Trade and Economic Cooperation, Civil Aviation, Investment Promotion and Protection, Avoidance of Double Taxation, Consular Convention etc.
 Military: In 2011, the joint ‘Khanjar’ series of exercises was started.
 Indian Diaspora: In Kyrgyzstan, about 9,000 Indian students are studying medicine in various medical institutions in the country. Also, there are many businessmen living in Kyrgyzstan who are involved in trade and several other services there.
 Strategic: The Kyrgyz leaderships have been largely supportive of India’s stand on Kashmir.
 They also support India’s bid for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).

India-Tajikistan Relations

 Political: India and Tajikistan elevated bilateral relations to the level of a Strategic Partnership in 2012. Tajikistan supported India’s membership to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and also permanent membership of an expanded UNSC.
 India supported Tajikistan's accession to the World Trade Organization in 2013.
 Culture & Economic: Trade between two sides is not to expectations despite efforts from both countries, due to more transit time and lack of readily accessible trade routes.
 Despite limitations, trade in food processing, mining, pharmaceuticals, textiles, skill development, science & technology, Information Technology, culture and tourism are continued between two countries.

India’s Assistance:

 India delivered major food assistance in 2001-02. To overcome a crisis caused by an unprecedented harsh winter in January-February 2008, India gave a grant of USD 2 million (USD 1 million as cash assistance and USD 1 million in kind, such as power cables, generators and pump sets).
 India provided 2 million doses of oral polio vaccine through the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in November 2010.
 In March 2018, India gifted 10 Russian-made ambulances to various regions of Tajikistan drawing substantial media coverage and appreciation from high offices.

Conclusion

 Geography has placed central asia at the nexus of crucial political and economic transformations for centuries. With the actualization of the Belt and Road Initiative, India’s Connect Central Asia policy, and the EU’s new Central Asia strategy, the 21st century could possibly be the most decisive period for the region.
 Stemming from its historic cultural and economic bonds, India is now well placed to take a more active role in the development of the region. India’s growing global visibility and key contributions to multilateral forums like the SCO have catapulted India from an observer into a critical stakeholder in the region.
 As India looks beyond its borders, Central Asia provides India with the right platform to leverage its political, economic and cultural connections to play a leading role in Eurasia.

PUTIN TO STAY IN POWER TILL 2036

• The President of Russia Vladimir Putin on April 5, 2021, gave his final approval to the legislation that allows him to hold office for two additional 6-year terms. It gives him the possibility to stay in power till 2036.

• According to a copy posted on the legal information portal, the 68-years old President, who has already been in power for more than two decades, signed off on the bill on April 5.

• Vladimir Putin had proposed the change as part of the constitutional reforms that were overwhelmingly backed by the Russians in a vote in July 2020. Lawmakers also approved the bill in March 2021.

• The opponents of the Kremlin have criticized the latest legislation that allows Putin to run for two more terms. They call it a pretext to allow Putin to become ‘President for Life'.

Outcome of a new law signed by Putin:

• Vladimir Putin has been currently serving his fourth Presidential Term, which is set to end in the year 2024.
• However, the legislation, passed by him, can allow him to serve for two more 6-year terms, in case he chooses to stand for and win the re-election both times.

What does the latest law signed by Putin state?

• A number of provisions of the law were developed on the basis of the amendments to the Constitution. One of the new amendments was the restriction on the number of Presidential terms for one person. It will be applied to the existing President regardless of the previous Presidential terms, allowing the current head of state to contest the Presidency twice.

• The law states that eligible for the Presidential office is any Russian citizen not younger than 35 years of age and who has been a resident in Russia’s territory for no less than 25 years. They must never have had the citizenship or the permanent residence permit of another country.

• The rule will not concern the Russians who earlier had the citizenship of another nation and eventually were admitted to the Russian Federation in accordance with Federal Constitutional Law.

• Vladimir Putin as Russia’s President: Background

• Vladimir Putin was first elected as the President of Russia in 2000 and had served for two consecutive four-year terms. In 2008, his ally Dmitry Medvedev took his place, which critics also saw as a way around Russia’s limit on the 2 consecutive terms for the country’s President.

• However, while in office, Dmitry Medvedev signed off the legislation that extended the terms to 6 years starting with the next President.

• Vladimir Putin returned to Kremlin in 2012 and served the extended 6-year terms. He won the re-election in 2018.

#US PRESIDENT BIDEN LETS H-1B VISA BAN EXPIRE

• The President of the United States of America on April 1, 2021, has let the ban on foreign workers visa, especially H-1B visas, lapsed as the notification issued by his predecessor Trump expired. The move is expected to benefit thousands of Indian IT professionals in the US.

• Donald Trump in June 2020, amid the national lockdown in the US and COVID-19 crisis, had issued a proclamation suspending the entry to the country of the applicants for non-immigrant or temporary visa categories, it included H-1B visa.

• However, US President Joe Biden did not issue a fresh proclamation for the ban on H-1B visa to continue after March 31, 2021. During the election campaign, he had promised to lift the suspension on visa stating that Trump’s immigration policies were cruel.

H-1B Visa:

• The H-1B Visa is a non-immigrant visa. It permits the companies in the United States to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations requiring technical or theoretical expertise. Tech companies, in particular, depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like China or India.

• The expiry of the proclamation issued by Donald Trump will now result in the issuing of H-1B visas by the American Diplomatic missions overseas. It will further result in bringing in talented technology professionals inside the country by the US Companies.

No new proclamation by President Biden:

• No new proclamation regarding the ban was issued by the US President till the mid-night of March 31, 2021. It resulted in an automatic end to the ban on issuing fresh H-1B visas to the eligible applicants.

• It was reported that the White House will not renew a ban on H-1B visa as well as on other work-based visas imposed in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic that is set to expire on March 31.

Republicans urge to continue the ban on H-1b Visa:

• A Republican Senator from Missouri had requested President Biden to issue a fresh proclamation in order to continue with the ban on H-1B visa.

• Senator Josh Hawley in a letter highlighted that millions of Americans are out of work and now is not the time to open gates to thousands of foreign workers who will be competing with the American workers for scarce resources and jobs.

Background:

• As the former President of the United States, Donald Trump had banned the foreign workers' visa; he had argued that these visas present a risk to the US labour market amid the economic recovery.

• On December 31, 2020, he further extended the order to March 31, 2021, and mentioned that the extension was warranted as the pandemic continued to disrupt American lives and the problem of job loss and unemployment still prevails.

#POLITICAL CRISIS IN JORDAN

• Jordan is a unitary state that is ruled under a Constitutional Monarchy. Unitary state is a state that is governed as a single entity where the central government is ultimately supreme. In a Constitutional monarchy, a monarch (ruler or king) exercises authority in accordance to a written or unwritten constitution.

What is Jordan Crisis?

• The former crown prince Hamzah was recently placed under de facto house arrest. He is the half-brother of the King Abdullah. Hamzah was accused of undermining national security.

• This was because he attended the meetings with tribal leaders that openly criticized the ruling monarch. According to Jordanian Government, there had been an attempt for a political coup to destabilize the country. The Government also says that foreign entities also attended the meeting.

What is the significance of stability in Jordan?

• Jordan was created after the First World War. It has remained stable for decades in a part of the world that is prone to conflict and political uncertainty. According to the Gulf and Western countries, Jordan is a strategic partner that can be relied upon for further political objectives in the region.

• The support of Jordanian intelligence is highly important to fight against terrorism in the region. The conflicts in the region include Syrian crisis, Israel-Palestine conflict, etc. Jordan has served as a good host to the refugees from the war prone zones. Today refugees make up half of population of Jordan.

• During 2003 US invasion of Iraq, Jordan had welcomed refugees from Iraq. It currently hosts 10 lakh refugees from Syria. Jordan is highly important for the future peace deals between Israel and Palestine.

How did Jordan get amidst regional powers?

• Initially Jordan maintained close relations with the US and also with the Sunni Muslim powers of UAE and Saudi Arabia. They together stand against the Shia of Iran.

• In 1994, Jordan signed a peace deal with Israel and since then the two countries maintain diplomatic relations. However, the friction began after the Saudi-UAE’s blockade of Qatar in 2017. Saudi and UAE moved to punish Qatar for its ties with extremist groups. Jordan too downgraded its relations with Qatar.

• However, it maintained cordial terms with Qatar. It even accepted financial assistance from Qatar. This created tensions between Jordan and Saudi Arabia and its allies in the region.

• Jordan also faced criticisms for maintaining strong ties with Turkey. Jordan disagreed to back Syrian crisis along with UAE and Saudi Arabia. Later Jordan ended up in trouble after being exposed for munitions support for Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar.

• After UAE normalized its relations with Israel, the role of Jordan as the Interlocutor of the region has diminished. Interlocutor is a person who takes part in a dialogue or conversation.

#UKRAINE URGES TO JOIN NATO ALLIANCE

Ukrainian President urged the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to speed up his country’s membership in the alliance.
 Ukraine hopes to be invited this year to join a NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP).

Reasons for Ukraine to Join NATO:

 Ukraine is of the opinion that joining NATO is the only way to end fighting with pro-Russia separatists.
 There is an increase in clashes and Russian military movements on the border raise fears of an escalation of the separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine.
 Ukraine accuses Russia of massing thousands of military personnel on its northern and eastern borders as well as on the Crimean peninsula (annexed by Russia in 2014).
 Ukraine’s Western allies have rushed to its defence, with a series of statements warning Russia against taking further action.
 India did not join the Western powers’ condemnation of Russia’s intervention in Crimea and kept a low profile on the issue.

Membership Action Plan

 It is a NATO programme of advice, assistance and practical support tailored to the individual needs of countries wishing to join the Alliance.
 Participation in the MAP does not prejudge any decision by the Alliance on future membership.
 Bosnia and Herzegovina is currently participating in MAP.

#THE SAUDI GREEN INIATIVE

Recently, Saudi Arabia launched Saudi Green Initiative and the Middle East Green Initiative to combat the threat of climate change.

Background and G20 Summit:

 One of the main pillars of the Saudi G20 presidency was to safeguard the planet.
 In 2020, G20 introduced initiatives like establishing a Global Coral Reef Research and Development Accelerator Platform and the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) Platform.
 Saudi Arabia reiterated that it is committed to lead regional efforts to address climate change and has been making steady progress in this direction. Saudi Arabia established the Environmental Special Forces in 2019.
Saudi Green Initiative:
 Aim: To raise the vegetation cover, reduce carbon emissions, combat pollution and land degradation, and preserve marine life.
 Features:10 billion trees will be planted in the Kingdom.
 To reduce carbon emissions by more than 4% of global contributions, through a renewable energy programme that will generate 50% of Saudi’s energy from renewables by 2030.
 Saudi Arabia is working towards raising the percentage of its protected areas to more than 30% of its total land area, exceeding the global target of 17%.
Middle East Green Initiative :
 Aim: To preserve marine and coastal environments, increase the proportion of natural reserves and protected land, improve the regulation of oil production, accelerate the transition to clean energy and boost the amount of energy generated by renewables.
 Features: Saudi Arabia will work with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and regional partners to plant an additional 40 billion trees in the West Asian region.
 It represents 5% of the global target of planting one trillion trees and reducing 2.5% of global carbon levels.
 Saudi Arabia will convene an annual summit called the Middle East Green Initiative which will host leaders from the government, scientists and environmentalists to discuss the details of implementation.
 In partnership with participating countries, innovative methods will be researched to irrigate from treated water, cloud seeding and other purpose-driven solutions such as planting native trees which requires support for three years to grow and will then be able to survive on their own with natural irrigation.
 As part of the Middle East Green initiative, Saudi Arabia will work with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and regional partners to plant an additional 40 billion trees in the West Asian region.
 It represents 5% of the global target of planting one trillion trees and reducing 2.5% of global carbon levels.
 Saudi Arabia has been sharing its expertise and know-how with its neighbouring countries to reduce carbon emissions resulting from hydrocarbon production in the region by 60% and globally by 10%.
 Current Support:Saudi Arabia has been sharing its expertise and know-how with its neighbouring countries to reduce carbon emissions resulting from hydrocarbon production in the region by 60% and globally by 10%.
 Saudi Arabia currently operates the largest carbon capture and utilisation plant in the world, it also operates one of the region’s most advanced CO2-enhanced oil recovery plants that captures and stores 8,00,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.

Appreciating Indian Efforts:
 Saudi Arabia also appreciated India’s remarkable commitments to tackle climate change as India is on track to achieve its Paris Agreement targets.
 India’s renewable energy capacity is the fourth largest in the world. India has an ambitious target of achieving 450 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030.

Significance of the mission
 The "Saudi Green Initiative" aims to raise vegetation cover, land degradation, preserve marine life and reduce carbon emissions. Under this initiative, 10 billion trees will be planted within the kingdom in the years to come. With this initiative, the kingdom will contribute to raising the percentage of the protected area to more than 30 per cent of its total land area, representing 600,000 square kilometres.
 It will also reduce carbon emissions by more than 4 per cent of global contributions which will be achieved by adopting a renewable energy programmethat would generate 50 per cent of the kingdom's energy from renewables by 2030.
 Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman also announced The "Middle East Green Initiative" and the kingdom under this initiative will coordinate with neighbouring countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Middle Eastern Countries.
 Under this initiative, 40 billion trees will be planted in the Middle East. This tree plantation program is claimed to be largest reforestation program in the world, double the size of the Great Green Wall in the Sahel which is the second-largest such regional initiative.
 The "Middle East Green" initiative announced by Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman aims to plant 50 billion trees in the world. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has opted for a more sustainable future with the launch of "Green Saudi" and "Middle East Green" initiatives. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has called the leaders of Qatar, Iran, Sudan, Kuwait, Bahrain to talk about the tree planting project.
 The initiatives that have been announced by the Crown Prince on March 27 will help in reducing carbon emissions by 60 per cent in the region, reported by The Saudi Press agency.
 The initiative launched by the Crown Prince aimed to chart a path that would support the kingdom and the region in protecting the planet.
 The Saudi Press Agency quoted the Crown Prince as saying that being the leading global oil producer, the kingdom recognizes its responsibility in advancing the fight against climate change. The Crown Prince added that the Kingdom and the region face climate changes such as desertification which is an immediate economic risk to the kingdom and region.

Saudi Arabia’s carbon mission
 Saudi Arabia currently operates the largest carbon capture and utilisation plant in the world, turning half a million tonnes of CO2 annually into products such as fertilizers and methanol.
 It also operates one of the region’s most advanced CO2-enhanced oil recovery plants that captures and stores 8,00,000 tonnes of CO2 annually.
Related Indian Initiatives
 National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): It was launched in January 2019.
 The Central government launched a five-year action plan with a tentative target of 20-30% reduction in concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 by 2024, with 2017 as the base year.
 Unlike earlier initiatives which focussed largely on the national capital region, this is a comprehensive pan-India air pollution abatement scheme for 102 cities which were identified by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) on the basis of their ambient air quality data between 2011 and 2015.
Bharat Stage Norms
 The Bharat Stage (BS) are standards instituted by the government to regulate the emission of air pollutants from motor vehicles.
 With appropriate fuel and technology, they limit the release of air pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, Particulate Matter (PM) and sulfur oxides from vehicles using internal combustion engines.
 As the stage goes up, the control of emissions becomes stricter.
 The standards and the timeline for implementation are set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
 The standards are based on European regulations that were first introduced in 2000.
Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA)
 It was launched in 2015 with a target of replacing 77 crore incandescent lamps with LED bulbs and to nullify the high-cost of LEDs that acted as a barrier previously in the adoption of energy-efficient systems.
 The scheme was implemented to set up a phase-wise LED distribution.
 The objective is to promote efficient lighting, enhance awareness on using efficient equipment that will reduce electricity bills and preserve the environment.
 It is the world’s largest domestic lighting project.
International Solar Alliance
 The launch of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was announced by the Prime Minister of India (Narendra Modi) and former President of France (Francois Hollande) on 30th November 2015, at the 21st session of United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP-21) in Paris, France.
 It was conceived as a coalition of solar-resource-rich countries (which lie either completely or partly between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn) to address their special energy needs.
 67 countries have signed and ratified the ISA framework agreement.
 The Assembly of the ISA is the apex decision-making body which comprises representatives from each Member Country.
 It aims at lowering the cost of technology and finance and thereby facilitate deployment of over 1,000 GW of solar energy and mobilize more than USD 1,000 billion into solar power by 2030 in Member countries.
 Solar is a key source of affordable and reliable energy, thus it could play a significant role in achieving the universal energy access goal (SDG 7).
 The Government of India has allotted 5 acres of land to the ISA in National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE) campus, Gurugram and has released a sum of Rs. 160 crore for creating a corpus fund, building infrastructure and meeting day to day recurring expenditure of the ISA up to the year 2021-22.
 The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) was launched in 2008 by the Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change.
 It aims at creating awareness among the representatives of the public, different agencies of the government, scientists, industry and the communities on the threat posed by climate change and the steps to counter it.

#WTO TRIPS AGRREMENT & INDIA’S CONCERN

• The Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement is in the news now because of the recent US decision to support the temporary waiver of patent rules for the coronavirus vaccines. This is an important topic from multiple perspectives for the UPSC exam including economy, international relations, current affairs, etc.
TRIPS Agreement

• Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Right (TRIPS) is an agreement on international IP rights.
• TRIPS came into force in 1995, as part of the agreement that established the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
• TRIPS establishes minimum standards for the availability, scope, and use of seven forms of intellectual property namely, trademarks, copyrights, geographical indications, patents, industrial designs, layout designs for integrated circuits, and undisclosed information or trade secrets.
• It applies basic international trade principles regarding intellectual property to member states. It is applicable to all WTO members.
• TRIPS Agreement lays down the permissible exceptions and limitations for balancing the interests of intellectual property with the interests of public health and economic development.
• TRIPS is the most comprehensive international agreement on IP and it has a major role in enabling trade in creativity and knowledge, in resolving trade disputes over intellectual property, and in assuring WTO members the latitude to achieve their domestic policy objectives.
• It frames the IP system in terms of innovation, technology transfer and public welfare.
• The TRIPS Council is responsible for administering and monitoring the operation of the TRIPS Agreement.
• TRIPS was negotiated during the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1986–1994. The TRIPS Agreement is also described as a “Berne and Paris-plus” Agreement

What are Intellectual Property Rights

• Intellectual property rights are the rights given to persons over the creations of their minds. Intellectual property rights (IPRs) are legal rights that protect these creations.
• In contrast to rights over tangible property, IP rights give their owners rights to exclude others from making use of their creations only for a limited period. IP rights entitle the owners to receive a royalty or any sort of financial compensation or payment when another person uses their creations.

What is Intellectual Property?

• “Intellectual property” refers to creations of the mind. These creations can take many different forms, such as artistic expressions, signs, symbols and names used in commerce, designs and inventions.
• IP rights are generally classified into two categories:
• Copyright and rights related to copyright: This rights relates to rights protecting art works, literary works, computer programmes, films, musical compositions, sculptures, paintings, etc. Related rights also include rights of performers, broadcasting organisations, and producers of phonograms (sound recordings). The main purpose of protection of copyright and related rights is to encourage and reward creative work.
• Industrial property: There are two main areas of rights under this head.
• The protection of distinctive signs, especially trademarks (which differentiate the goods or services of one organisation/establishment from those of other undertakings) and geographical indications. These rights are aimed at protecting and ensuring fair competition consumer protection.
• The second type of industrial property rights are protected primarily to stimulate innovation, design and the creation of technology. These rights protect innovations by patents, trade secrets and industrial designs.

TRIPS Significance

• The TRIPS Agreement makes protection of intellectual property rights an integral part of the multilateral trading system, as embodied in the WTO. The agreement is often termed one of the three “pillars” of the WTO, the other two being trade in goods (the traditional domain of the GATT) and trade in services.
• Before TRIPS, the extent of protection and enforcement of IP rights varied widely across nations and as intellectual property became more important in trade, these differences became a source of tension in international economic relations.
• Therefore, it was considered prudent to have new trade rules for IP rights in order to have more order and predictability, and also to settle disputes in an orderly manner.

TRIPS Agreement Latest Concern

• In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, India and South Africa had proposed to the WTO in October 2020 that the TRIPS Agreement (that included patent protection to pharmaceutical products including COVID vaccines) be waived off for COVID vaccines, medicines and diagnostics for the time period of the pandemic in order to make vaccines and drugs for COVID available to a maximum number of people worldwide.
• If the vaccines are patent protected, only a few pharmaceutical companies from developed western countries would be able to manufacture it, making such drugs unavailable or inaccessible due to the high costs to people of other countries, especially, developing and least developed countries.
• The US, which was opposed to any TRIPS waiver, has backed this proposal, along with the EU. This move has been welcomed by many since it might lead to the manufacture of more volumes of COVID vaccines enabling the whole world to get rid of the coronavirus at the earliest.
• However, pharmaceutical companies have protested the move saying this would not necessarily ensure vaccine availability since developing countries did not have the capability to produce the vaccines.

Arguments in favour of relaxing TRIPS rules

• This would make the vaccines more available to people of developing countries and also LCDs.
• Life-saving drugs and vaccines should be made available to everyone and pharmaceutical companies should not be looking to make profits out of these. There is an ethical and moral issue here.
• With particular reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is said that no one is safe unless everyone is safe. In this respect, it is imperative that vaccines are made available to everyone in countries affected since it can easily spread to all countries as seen in the first wave.
• Rules granting monopolies that place the right to access basic healthcare in a position of constant peril must end.

Arguments made by opponents of TRIPS waiver

• Unless corporations are rewarded for their inventions, they would be unable to recoup amounts invested by them in research and development.
• Without the right to monopolise production there will be no incentive to innovate.
• They also claim that companies in the developing world do not have the capacity to manufacture vaccines or drugs on a large scale.

Concerns

• Just a waiver of the IP rights rules without further assistance such as technology transfer to generic pharmaceutical companies in developing countries would render the move useless.
• This is because there would also necessitate tech transfer for the pharmaceutical companies to start the production since vaccines like the mRNA vaccines require highly sophisticated manufacturing equipment.
• Not only technology and equipment, raw materials and probably personnel would also need to be transferred for developing countries to be able to produce vaccines on a large scale.
• It could also take several years before the generic pharmaceutical companies’ plants become operational at optimal capacity and produce vaccines, which is a problem because it is doubted whether vaccines produced today would be effective against any new strain of the virus.
US support for waiving IP protection of COVID vaccines

• The United States has announced the support for waiving Intellectual Property (IP) protection for Covid-19 vaccines.
 The decision is a breakthrough in India and South Africa's attempts to get World Trade Organisation (WTO) member countries to agree to such a waiver to fight the pandemic equitably.

Need to Waive Patents on Covid Vaccines:
 Monopoly of Drug Companies: At present, only drug companies which own patents are authorised to manufacture Covid vaccines.
 A lifting of patents will allow the formula to be shared with other companies.
 Vaccine Cost: Once the formula is shared, any company which possesses the required technology and infrastructure can produce vaccines.
 This will lead to cheaper and more generic versions of Covid vaccines and will be a big step in overcoming vaccine shortage.
 Inequitable Distribution of Vaccines: This has opened up a glaring gap between developing and wealthier countries now.
 The countries having surplus doses of vaccines have already vaccinated a considerable percentage of their population and are returning to normalcy.
 Whereas, the poorer nations continue to face shortages, have overburdened healthcare systems and hundreds dying daily.
 Against the Interests of the World: The longer Covid circulates in developing nations, there is a greater chance of more vaccine-resistant, deadly mutations of the virus emerging.

Significance for India:

Help in Increasing Production: The bulk of the vaccine doses produced in India are taken up by foreign countries which could pay more for the doses.

This move can help scale up production to meet demand besides making the vaccines more affordable for everyone.

Preparation for the Third Wave: Indian authorities have stated that the third wave of the pandemic is inevitable.

Once the number of cases and deaths plateau, addressing shortages and making more affordable vaccines readily accessible could be the best way to prepare for the surge once again.

Counter Arguments:
Vaccine Quality and Safety may get Compromised: Lifting of patents would be a compromise on control of safety and quality standards for vaccine manufacturing.
Disincentive Pharmaceutical Companies: Lifting of patents would be a huge deterrent to investing heavily on vaccine development during pandemics in the future.
Can Lead to Confusion: Eliminating those protections would undermine the global response to the pandemic, including ongoing effort to tackle new variants.
It will create confusion that could potentially undermine public confidence in vaccine safety, and create a barrier to information sharing.

#US RECOGNIZED “ARMENIAN GENOCIDE”

Recently, the US President officially recognized the mass killings of Armenians by Ottoman Turks in 1915-16 as an act of genocide.

 The Armenian diaspora marks 24th April as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day.

Genocide (Meaning):
 According to Article II of the United Nations (UN) Convention on Genocide of December 1948, genocide has been described as carrying out acts intended “to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group”.
 Raphael Lemkin, the Polish lawyer, coined the term “genocide” in 1943.

Armenian Genocide:
 The Armenian Genocide is called the first genocide of the 20th century. It refers to the systematic annihilation of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1917.
 After the First World War broke out in November 1914, the Ottoman Turks participated in the war, siding with Germany and the Austro-Hungarian empire.
 The Ottoman Turks believed the Armenians would side with Russia in the war. This resulted in the Ottoman Turks engaging in a mass-removal campaign of Armenians from the border areas along the Eastern Front.
 On 24th April, 1915, Ottoman Turkish government officials arrested and executed thousands of Armenian intellectuals. It was the start of the Armenian Genocide.
 Armenian families, including small children, were forced to walk for days without food, water and shelter in the deserts of Syria and Arabia.
 According to estimates, approximately 1.5 million Armenians died during the genocide, either in massacres and in killings, or from ill treatment, abuse and starvation.
 Significance of this Recognition: The acknowledgement by the US government will have little legal impact on Turkey, other than becoming a cause for embarrassment for the country and giving other countries the impetus to also acknowledge the genocide.
 According to the Armenian National Institute, 30 countries officially recognise the Armenian Genocide.

Turkey’s Response:
 Such moves would only set back the already strained relationship between US and Turkey, both of whom are North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies.
 Ties between the US and Turkey have been strained over a range of issues that include Turkey’s purchase of Russian S-400 defence systems, foreign policy differences with regard to Syria, human rights and other intersecting legal issues.
 Turkey has acknowledged that atrocities were committed against Armenians, but denies it was a genocide (which comes with legal implications) and challenges the estimates that 1.5 million were killed.

India’s Stand:
 India that has not formally recognised the Armenian Genocide has primarily adopted this stance in the interests of its wider foreign policy decisions and geo-political interests in the region.
 India does not have any domestic law on genocide, even though it has ratified the United Nations Convention on Genocide.
 This was even observed by the Delhi High Court in State v. Sajjan Kumar (2018). The case concerned the mass killing of Sikhs during the anti-Sikh riots in 1984 in Delhi — and throughout the country.

Armenia & Azerbaijan war: Role of Regional Nations

 Centre of Conflict: Nagorno-Karabakh, the centre of the conflict, is located within Azerbaijan but is populated, mostly, by those of Armenian ethnicity (and mostly Christian compared to the Shia Muslim majority Azerbaijan).
 Background of the Conflict: The conflict can be traced back to the pre-Soviet era when the region was at the meeting point of Ottoman, Russian and the Persian empires.
 Once Azerbaijan and Armenia became Soviet Republics in 1921, Russia (erstwhile Sovient Union) gave Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan but offered autonomy to the contested region.
 In the 1980s, when the Soviet power was receding, separatist currents picked up in Nagorno-Karabakh. In 1988, the national assembly voted to dissolve the region’s autonomous status and join Armenia.
 However, Azerbaijan suppressed such calls, which led to a military conflict.
 Flash Point of Conflict: The self-declaration of independence by Nagorno-Karabakh in September 1991 in the backdrop of an imminent collapse of the USSR resulted in a war between Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh — supported by Armenia.
 Ceasefire: This clash lasted till a ceasefire agreement was reached in 1994, mediated largely by Russia. Since then, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group co-chaired by the USA, Russia and France have engaged Azerbaijan and Armenia extensively to resolve the conflict.
 By that time, Armenia had taken control of Nagorno-Karabakh and handed it to Armenian rebels.
 Present Day Condition: The rebels have declared independence, but have not won recognition from any country.
 The region is still treated as a part of Azerbaijan by the international community, and Azerbaijan wants to take it back.

Strategic Significance of The Region

 The energy-rich Azerbaijan has built several gas and oil pipelines across the Caucasus (the region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea) to Turkey and Europe.

 Some of these pipelines pass close to the conflict zone (within 16 km of the border).

 In an open war between the two countries, the pipelines could be targeted, which would impact energy supplies and may even lead to higher oil prices globally.

Role of Regional Players
 Turkey: The conflict between the two former Soviet republics has wider geopolitical implications as Turkey, which shares a border with Armenia, is backing Azerbaijan.
 Given the deep cultural ties between the two countries, Turkey is staunchly backing Azerbaijan.
 Further, this fits well into Turkey’s aggressive foreign policy, which seeks to expand Turkish interests to the former Ottoman territories.
 Russia: Russia enjoys good ties with both Azerbaijan and Armenia and supplies weapons to both.
 Armenia is more dependent on Russia than the energy-rich Azerbaijan and Russia also has a military base in Armenia.
 Therefore, Russia is trying to strike a balance between the two, by mediating a ceasefire between the warring sides, but it has yet to convene a meeting of Armenian and Azerbaijani political or military leaderships.

Balancing Between The Two Extremes
 The conflict is essentially a conflict between two international principles viz. the principle of territorial integrity advocated by Azerbaijan and the principle of the right to self-determination invoked by Nagorno-Karabakh and supported by Armenia.
 India has every reason not to support Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity as Azerbaijan has shown scant regard for India’s territorial integrity violated by Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.
 At the same time it is difficult for India to publicly endorse Nagorno-Karabakh is right for self-determination in view of the possible repercussions it can have repercussions for India as its adversaries like Pakistan may misuse it not only by making erroneous connections with Kashmir but also re-ignite secessionist movement in certain parts of India.

Madrid Principles

 Co-chaired by Russia, France and the U.S., the Minsk Group put forward in 2007 the Madrid Principles as the basis for the formulation of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
 In concrete terms, the Madrid Principles envisaged the demilitarisation of Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian majority region that seceded from Azerbaijan towards the end of the Soviet Union, and the gradual liberation of Azerbaijani territory that Armenia had occupied in the 1991-94 war.
 These steps are also consistent with the UN Security Council’s 1993 resolutions, calling for the unconditional withdrawal of Armenian occupying forces from Azerbaijan.
 Besides, the Madrid Principles mentioned that international peacekeeping operations were to be deployed immediately after the Peace Agreement came into force, to monitor the Armenian redeployment
 Also, internally displaced persons and refugees were to be provided the right to return to their original place of residence.

Armenia & Azerbaijan Peace Deal

 Recently, Russia has brokered a new peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Both counties have been in a military conflict over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh in the South Caucasus.

New Peace Deal:
 Both sides will now maintain positions in the areas that they currently hold, which will mean a significant gain for Azerbaijan as it has reclaimed over 15-20% of its lost territory during the recent conflict.
 All military operations are suspended and Russian peacekeepers will be deployed for a period of five years, along the line of contact in Nagorno-Karabakh and along the Lachin corridor which links the Karabakh capital, Stepanakert, to Armenia.
 Refugees and internally displaced persons will return to the region and the adjacent territories and the two sides will also exchange prisoners of wars and bodies.
 A new corridor will be opened from Nakhchivan to Azerbaijan, which will be under Russian control.
 Reactions: Armenian people are against the deal and have protested while Azerbaijan is pleased with the deal and considered it of “historic importance”.

Russia’s Role:
 Russia has always taken a balanced position on the matter and has traditionally good relations with both countries. It supplies arms to both countries.
 Russia has a military base in Armenia and both are members of the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation.
 The treaty envisages Russia's military support if Armenia is attacked. However, it does not include Nagorno-Karabakh or the other Azerbaijani regions around it seized by Armenian forces.
 At the same time, Russia also has strong ties to Azerbaijan, which is being openly backed by Turkey, a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) member.