SPEECH
BY SHRI K.R.NARAYANAN, PRESIDENT OF INDIA, WHILE ACCEPTING
CREDENTIALS FROM MR. PETRU PETRA, AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE OF
ROMANIA TO INDIA
NEW DELHI, AUGUST 30, 1999
Excellency,
It gives me great pleasure
to accept your Credentials as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of Romania to India. I warmly welcome you to India and extend my felicitations
on your appointment to this position of high responsibility.
Relations between India
and Romania have been characterised by friendship and close co-operation,
with our multifaceted ties covering all areas of bilateral interest to mutual
benefit. Regular high level exchanges have allowed us to consolidate our
relations, with the State visit to India in November 1997 by President Constantinescu
being an important event in this regard. Interactions at other levels, including
political and parliamentary contacts have reinforced our friendly ties.
We note with particular satisfaction that people to people contact have
been encouraged through mutual appreciation of each other's rich cultural
heritage.
Excellency, pluralism
and tolerance have taken firm roots in India as we build upon our democratic
traditions. You will have the privilege of watching the world's largest
democracy go to the polls shortly. In a country of vast diversities, the
building of the Indian nation state, based on democratic principles has
been largely successful. The Indian economy has been buoyant and has shown
remarkable growth. Our scientific and technological achievements have been
impressive and India is set on course to emerge as a major scientific and
technological power in the next millennium. The Indian ethos and our civilisational
values have guided our foreign policy. We attach importance to the non-aligned
movement which we believe continues to be relevant as we aspire to build
a multi-polar world based on the ideals of peaceful co-existence, general
and complete disarmament and the respect of sovereignty and territorial
integrity of states.
Excellency, it gives
us great pleasure as we see the rapid strides which friendly Romania has
made in building up its democratic structures and in promoting market reforms.
This brings us closer in the pursuit of a common destiny in the 21st century.
I am confident that our two countries can look forward to closer economic
cooperation in the coming years. The opportunities are immense and we need
to make use of all the available potential.
Excellency, I am confident
that your tenure in India will be successful and would contribute to further
intensification and development of our bilateral relations. I would like
to assure you of the full cooperation and support of the Government of India
in your endeavours in this direction. I wish you a pleasant and fruitful
stay in India. I also take this opportunity to convey through you my best
wishes for the health and happiness of His Excellency Mr. Emil Constantinescu,
President of Romania, and for the prosperity and well being of the friendly
people of Romania.
Thank you
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