A Forbidden Handshake
In
2004, India-Russia Summit level meetings were held between Prime Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singh and President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi. A Summit meeting at
Head of State (HoS) level is a very serious affair for which the Ministry of
External Affairs prepares meticulously and well in advance, sometimes a full
year before the proposed Summit. Several rounds of consultations between senior
functionaries of both countries are held to prepare the detailed agenda,
including Draft Minutes and Press release for the Summit. The outcomes of the
Summit are reported by media, and watchers and analysts of foreign affairs
evaluate the success or otherwise of a Summit in light of the actual gains accruing
to both countries.
MEA
coordinates with other concerned ministries to prepare a shelf of Agreements: MoUs
(Memorandum of Understanding) and MoAs (Memorandum of Agreement) to be signed
by the two countries during the summit, with the signing ceremony in the presence
of the HoS. There is a significant difference between MoU and MoA. Suffice it
to say that an MoU outlines the shared perspective of the Organisations,
Departments, or Governments toward a certain goal or project, whereas a MoA
details the specific roles and tasks to be assumed by the parties in support of
their shared objective. Someone has observed that since an MoU is not legally
enforceable, it’s nothing more than a ‘formalized handshake’ to get things
going between the signatories.
One
of the shortlisted MoUs for the forthcoming summit was a tripartite Understanding
to be signed among ECGC (Export Credit Guarantee Corporation) of India, Vnesheconombank,
and Eximbank of Russia. Chairman & MD of ECGC was the signatory on behalf
of India. Mr. Vladimir Dmitriev, Chairman of Vnesheconombank, and Mr. Nikolai
Gavirlov, Chairman, Eximbank were the signatories from the Russian side.
Concerned
Director, MEA convened a meeting of all signatories from the Indian side to
brief them about the protocol of signing. The exact sequence of MoU signing by
various Departments and Organizations, at what exact hour and minute a
particular MoU would come up for signature and exchange of documents, where they
would be seated, etc. were explained at length at the end of which the
officials were given a printed copy of the Protocol for Signature of MoUs &
MoAs reiterating the detailed oral brief by the Director. On top of the
document was emblazoned ‘Secret & Confidential’ as is the norm for most MEA
documents.
The
Summit meeting was held the next day. HoS level meeting was held in the morning
and was followed by a State Banquet Lunch hosted by the Prime Minister at
Hyderabad House for the visiting dignitary. The signing of all agreements was
scheduled to commence at 3.00 pm. MEA had briefed the signatories to report at
2.00 pm and be seated at the earmarked chair by 2.15 pm.
It
was a big occasion for the lowly Joint Secretary (JS) who had never before signed
an agreement in the presence of HoS. A GoI Agreement for a ministry is signed
by the Minister or the Secretary. If it involved his segment of work in the
ministry, the JS would be responsible for preparing the draft agreement,
getting it vetted at all required levels and preparing the folder for the
Minister or the Secretary, as the case may be. But under fortuitous
circumstances, the JS had been given additional charge of CMD of ECGC when the
previous incumbent had superannuated and the government had still not issued
orders for the posting of a new Additional Secretary level officer. ECGC was a
fully-owned government company under the administrative control of the Commerce
ministry, but neither the Secretary nor the Minister could sign on behalf of
the company especially since the counterparts on the Russian side were also
Joint Secretary equivalent officers.
When
the JS took out his best suit and favourite tie, his spouse could figure out
that something big and important was coming up during the day. ‘Any important
meeting today?’ she asked. ‘Signing an Agreement in the presence of the Prime Minister. Mr. Putin would also
be there,’ he replied trying to sound cool though he wasn’t. She quietly took the
suit and tie and pressed it once again even though it had recently come back
from dry cleaning and hadn’t been worn thereafter.
As
directed, the JS reported at Hyderabad House punctually and took his seat at
2.15 pm. The Under Secretary requested the signatories to once again go through
the written instructions given by MEA regarding Protocol and reminded them that
no officer was to shake hands with either of the HoS, but only with the
counterpart signing the document.
CMD,
ECGC’s turn came at the scheduled slot and time, and he rose and approached the
spot in front of the VVIPs where the exchange of the folders was to take place.
The Agreement had been pre-signed, as agreed between both sides, in the
interest of saving time. Only the exchange of documents, a handshake with the
counterpart, and a brief pose for the official photographers were required. The
drill was completed as per schedule.
At
this point, the Russian counterparts briefly bowed to their President upon
which Mr. Putin rose and shook hands with them, after which he extended his
hand to the JS. MEA’s mandate of ‘No Handshake’ applied to the JS, but his
counterparts and the President of Russia were obviously not bound by it. Had the
JS abided by MEA’s direction and refused to shake hands with the VVIP, it might
have caused a diplomatic flutter. Disregarding MEA’s briefing and stern
instruction regarding protocol, he promptly shook hands with Mr. Putin. Dr.
Manmohan Singh, having watched the scene with mild amusement (surely MEA had
also briefed the PM that VVIPs were only required to watch and smile for the
photograph), also got up and shook hands, first with the Russian counterparts
and then with the JS.
The
next day, the JS attended the marriage Reception for the Commerce Minister’s
son. When he went up to the dais to congratulate the newly-wed couple and
present them a bouquet, Mr. Kamal Nath introduced the JS to his son, ‘Meet my
Joint Secretary. Yesterday, he shook hands with Vladimir Putin!’
MEA
didn’t call for an explanation from the JS regarding the breach of protocol. Thoughtfully,
PIB (Press & Information Bureau) sent him a copy of his photo shaking hands
with Mr. Putin. For his personal
records!
***
This
story is from my book ‘Invisible Poet and Other Stories.’
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