The IISS hosted the Third IISS–MEA Foreign Policy Dialogue in London on 22 February 2010. The keynote address was delivered by the Foreign Secretary of India, Ms Nirupama Rao, just days before the resumption of talks with her Pakistani counter-part after nearly 15 months. Following the keynote address, three sessions took place: Countering Terrorism & Extremism (discussing varied perspectives in South Asia and Europe); Nuclear Non-proliferation & Disarmament (discussing FMCT, CTBT, the NPT Review conference & ‘global zero’); and Climate Change & Security (discussing perspectives post-Copenhagen summit). Navdeep Suri, Joint Secretary (Public Diplomacy), Ministry of External Affairs led the Indian team at the dialogue.
Ms Nirupama Rao was appointed Foreign Secretary (head of the Indian foreign service) on 1 August 2009. Earlier, she served as Ambassador of India to China (2006-09) and High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka (2004-06). From 2001-02 she was the spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs at its HQs in New Delhi. Ms Nirupama Rao also served as the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Moscow and a Minister at the Indian Embassy in Washington DC. She joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1973.
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