SPEECH BY SHRI K.R.NARAYANAN, PRESIDENT OF INDIA, WHILE RECEIVING CREDENTIALS FROM MR. YOUSEF
HASSAN AL-SAI, AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE OF THE STATE OF QATAR
NEW DELHI, TUESDAY,
JANUARY 9, 2001
Excellency,
It gives me
great pleasure to accept your Credentials as the Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of the State of Qatar to India. I also take this opportunity
to extend through you, warm greetings and felicitations to His Highness
Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, the Emir and the people of the friendly
State of Qatar.
The relations
between our two countries are historical and deep-rooted, marked as they
are, by close interaction and cultural links over the past several centuries.
We have known and understood each other well. We cherish and value our
close friendship. With the passage of time, these relations have progressed
significantly and grown into multi-dimensional, mutually beneficial co-operation.
In this regard, we are also happy that the Indian community in the State
of Qatar has in its own way contributed towards building of the bridges
of friendship and cordiality between our two countries.
We had
the honour of receiving His Highness the Emir in 1999. That was a landmark
event in our bilateral relations. Our deliberations, several agreements
signed during the visit and the subsequent agreement for long-term supply
of natural gas by Qatar to India have set the direction and the roadmap
for future co-operation between us.
We are indeed
happy that our relationship now rests on a high plane with substantial
economic content and potential. This also affords an opportunity to both
sides to make efforts to further consolidate our bilateral co-operation.
Government of India remains fully committed in its efforts to nurture,
augment and sustain her ties with the State of Qatar and is ready to extend
full co-operation to your endeavours in that direction.
I congratulate
you on your new assignment and wish you a very fruitful and rewarding
stay in India and success in all your endeavours to further promote friendship
and co-operation between our two countries.
Thank you
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