New Delhi: The removal of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) from the US Department of Commerce Entity List would help improve the Space agency's export approvals, Rajya Sabha was informed today (Dec 16, 2004).

The completion of Phase One of Next Steps in Strategic Partnership (NSSP) was announced in a joint statement on September 7, 2004 during the Foreign Secretary's visit to the United States, Minister of State for External Affairs Rao Inderjit Singh said in a written reply.

The efforts will foster cooperation in commercial space programmes and permit certain exports to power plants at safeguarded nuclear facilities, he said.

SAARC: Government has not taken any decision about its participation in the forthcoming SAARC Summit in Bangladesh, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said.

Haj: As many as 183 pilgrims lost their lives in Saudi Arabia during Hajj in 2004. The deaths were due to stampede (16), traffic accidents (3) and natural causes (164), he said.

Terrorism: Pursuant to UNSC (UN Security Council) Resolution, its Counter Terrorism Committee has asked all member States to report to the Committee steps taken or planned to implement the Resolution, Rao Inderjit Singh said and added that Fourth Report, submitted by India, was placed in Parliament.

The Ministry of External Affairs had asked for inputs from various ministries, including Home Affairs, and a suitable reply vis-à-vis the report was framed, he said.