India has maintained friendly relations with the Czech and Slovak countries of Central Europe. This article looks at the history of this relationship and the prospects for the future.
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India has made consistent efforts over the years to increase its friends around the world. The place of European countries is important in that. The countries of the European Union are also responding spontaneously to India's efforts to forge friendly relations with the Central European countries. Two of them are the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic. Traditionally, these two countries are thousands of miles away from India. However, India still has important ties with these two countries, not only at the bilateral level but also culturally and historically. This is easy to see if you look at the history of the former monolithic Czechoslovakia. The freedom struggle of both the countries was fought on the same principle and that is the attainment of independence through non-violence !The threads of India and Czechoslovakia were matched by the same goal of achieving independence by unleashing foreign yokes without resorting to any violence or force, and both countries succeeded in this fight for the goal. Both countries are now determined to use these historical ideals more and more appropriately. That's why
India, the Czech Republic and Slovakia are pushing for significant reforms to ensure that all countries have equal opportunities for leadership and representation in world-class institutions. This will not only strengthen the ties between India and Central Europe but also the interests of the whole of Europe and Asia.
Historical context
Renowned Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore is credited with establishing literary-cultural ties with Czechoslovakia. His visits to Czechoslovakia were unforgettable for the literary-artists there ; So much so that Tagore's stories-poems began to be used by Slovak literary-artists in his works of art. Influenced by Tagore's poetry, Czech composer Leo Jansek composed the story from Tagore 's 1920 book , The Guardian , in his Wandering Madman . Czech writer Karel Capek wrote a letter to Tagore on Christmas Eve in 1937. In it, he described Tagore as " the quiet-gentle voice of the East ",It did. He also expressed concern about the turbulent Europe in the Western world. " The countries of the Western world, which have a very civilized culture, are reluctant to shake hands with each other like the Sakhya brothers , " Capek said in his message. The friendship extended by Capec to Tagore, to India and to Asia as a whole had to face bitter criticism. In response, Tagore sent a congratulatory telegram to Capek. In it, he said, " These are my good wishes for my friends in Czechoslovakia, as well as for my old idealistic friends and all those on earth who believe in equal sharing of East and West ."Let there be equality and freedom in all the world, this pure feeling was behind this message.
Similar principles and global objectives
In 1957, almost a decade after India's independence, Czechoslovakia was still under Soviet rule. However, trade between the two countries had begun to flourish. In 1957, extensive trade agreements were signed between the two countries. It was decided that 44 items would be exported from India to Czechoslovakia, while Czechoslovakia would export 106 items to India. For India, Czechoslovakia was the largest trading partner in Central Europe. The struggle for independence based on the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent movement and the consequent flight of the British was an inspiration to many around the world. However, Central Europe had to wait until the late 1980s for a non-violent struggle against the communist regime. Our Talam Revolution of 1989 promoted the principles of democracy, fairness, humanity and non-violence.
In the current situation, India deals with two independent Czech and Slovak republics. Relations between the three countries are friendly and positive. The leaders of the three countries have built these bilateral relations on the basis of common principles that will bind them together based on historical experience. Terrorism of any kind has no place in the bilateral relations of these countries. The similarities between India and the Czech-Slovak Republic are that terrorist sanctuaries, their financing, the facilities provided to them, and the means of communication must be eradicated. However, in order to meet these international objectives as well as to face the various challenges in the face of the current highly complex geopolitical environment, radical reforms are needed in many global institutions such as the United Nations.
The system is market-oriented but not the right incentive
We recently, in 2017, conducted an analysis of the Czech Republic's foreign policy, which also included a policy on India, and found that ministers and officials from the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Industry have begun to attach greater importance to India. These ministers look at India not only from a bilateral policy point of view, but also as a loyal partner in South Asia. However, it also showed that there was no such response from India. While the Minister of the Czech Republic is extending a hand of friendship to you, the response from India has not been as positive as it should have been. India's unbalanced policy towards the Czech Republic is underlined here. Czech companies are keen to increase investment in India. However, there are signs of a change in India's policy in the near future. During his visit to the Czech Republic from December 6 to 9, 2018, the President of India Ramnath Kovind signed a joint statement with the President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman. The joint statement emphasized the need for India and the Czech Republic to pursue a policy of cooperation not only in the economic, educational, scientific and tourism fields, but also in the areas of peaceful use of nuclear energy, trade protection and counter-terrorism. An agreement on a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries will be signed soon. Emphasis was placed on co-operation not only in the fields of science and tourism but also in the areas of peaceful use of nuclear energy, trade protection and counter-terrorism. An agreement on a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries will be signed soon. Emphasis was placed on co-operation not only in the fields of science and tourism but also in the areas of peaceful use of nuclear energy, trade protection and counter-terrorism. An agreement on a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries will be signed soon.
India's political and economic ties with Slovakia are also strengthening. In May this year, India's Minister of State for External Affairs M. J. Akbar had visited Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. Also in the month of October, Shri. Akbar also inaugurated a Jaguar Land Rover factory there. The Slovak market is marking Indian investors. Until recently, India's relations with independent Slovakia have been excellent. Mutual embassies were also established in the capitals of the two countries till 1995. The Indian Festival was held on September 23, 2018 in Bratislava. This was an important step in introducing Indian food traditions, handicrafts, textiles and culture to the locals in Slovakia.
Conclusion
India and the Czech-Slovak Republic have a very positive attitude towards each other. If you want to hit the European Union market, the gateway to Central Europe is always the best option for the Czech and Slovak Republics. At the same time, both countries are hoping that millions of Czech and Slovak products will be available in the open market in India.
Therefore, these countries are playing a positive role in complementing each other wherever there is an opportunity at the international level. Democracy, freedom and non-violence are the same principles that bind these countries together. If India, the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic want to further expand their historical ties and take strong steps in that direction, all three countries must look after and enhance their mutual interests. The two countries should also look at how to bridge the cultural and geographical gap between the two countries.
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