SPEECH
BY SHRI K.R.NARAYANAN, PRESIDENT OF INDIA, WHILE RECEIVING CREDENTIALS FROM MR. RACHAD FARAH,
AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF DJIBOUTI
NEW DELHI, JUNE 6, 2001
Excellency,
It
gives me great pleasure to accept your Credentials as the first Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Djibouti to India.
I warmly welcome you to India and extend my sincere congratulations on
your appointment to the position of status and responsibility.
Neither
distance nor the differences in the physical size have come in the way
of a steady growth of our mutually beneficial cooperation in diverse fields.
The close relations between India and Djibouti over the decades have brought
our people together. We have shared a partnership in promoting the cause
of global peace and development. Our two countries have cooperated in
fora like the UN, G-77, NAM, etc. to promote and achieve these very objectives.
We,
in India, see with a great deal of satisfaction the path that Djibouti
has taken towards development and national reconstruction. The significant
role that His Excellency Mr. Ismail Omar Guelleh, President of Djibouti
and your Government have played to promote peace, stability and cooperation
in the region has won wide acclaim and recognition. Inter-Governmental
Authority for Development under Djibouti’s chairmanship had played a significant
role in resolving conflicts in the horn of Africa; thereby strengthening
regional integration and enhancement of peace and goodwill amongst the
countries.
Excellency,
today’s world is substantially different from what emerged at the end
of the Second World War. These fundamental changes, above all, the growth
of democracy and vibrant new economies in Asia, Africa and Latin America,
must be appropriately reflected in international institutions, in particular
the United Nations. Reform and restructuring of the UN is essential if
it is to strengthen its credibility and effectiveness. Our two countries
can work together to build a consensus on the criteria and the methods
of carrying this out.
Excellency,
the world is still troubled by religious intolerance, ethnic strife and
terrorism. Both India and Djibouti should join hands to give a global
focus to this menace. Since independence, India has worked ceaselessly
for the cause of world peace, international understanding and to promote
greater cooperation and solidarity amongst the developing nations. Even
as we have achieved progress and excellence in many facets of nation building,
we remain ever willing to share with fellow developing countries facets
of our experience and expertise. It is in that spirit of brotherly sharing
that we would be happy to be associated with Djibouti in the task of national
reconstruction in the areas and sectors that your Excellency’s Government
may desire.
With
your rich and varied experience you will find India a fertile ground for
all ideas for strengthening bilateral relations between our two countries.
In this task, I assure you the fullest cooperation of my Government.
Thank you
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