SPEECH
BY SHRI K.R.NARAYANAN, PRESIDENT OF INDIA, WHILE RECEIVING CREDENTIALS FROM MR. ABDELKRIM BELARBI,
AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE OF THE PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA
NEW DELHI, JUNE 6, 2001
Excellency,
It
gives me great pleasure to accept your Credentials as the Ambassador Extraordinary
and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. I
heartily welcome you to India and extend my sincere congratulations on
your appointment to this position of high status. I am also grateful for
the message of good wishes from the President His Excellency Mr. Abdelaziz
Bouteflika. I take this opportunity to reciprocate the same and convey
through you my warmest greetings and regards to him.
India
and Algeria share age-old relations in terms of our history, culture,
traditions and value systems. Our relations have been burnished in our
struggle against colonialism and in our fight for independence. Both India
and Algeria have been in the forefront of struggle against colonisation
and in the Non-Aligned Movement for peace in the world. And now after
the end of the Cold War, we have been sharing our perceptions and working
together in various international fora, be it WTO, UNCTAD, G-77, NAM or
UN so as to realise the vision of a new world order which is equitable
and just.
We
consider Algeria a pillar of stability in the region. We in India have
watched with admiration Algeria’s dedication to democratic traditions,
pluralistic governance, respect for individual freedoms and human rights,
tolerance, protection and amelioration of religious and other minorities.
It is a matter of great joy that under the leadership of President Bouteflika,
Algeria has assumed its rightful place in the international stage.
Excellency,
at a time when the world is in the process of transformation with far-reaching
consequences and bi-polarity has given way to an emerging multi-polar
world order, a new architecture needs to be evolved which will allow greater
participation by developing countries in major fora of decision making.
We cannot have true development without peace between nations. Of the
many threats to peace and development, none has become as dangerous as
international terrorism with its links with religious extremism, drug
trafficking, illicit commerce in arms. Plural and open democracies are
the targets of the scourge of terrorism that strikes at tolerance, the
very foundation of our civil society. In this context, we strongly condemn
the violent activities by elements that are trying to destabilise the
Algerian society.
We
are aware of the importance attached by Algeria in promoting peace in
West Asia. The stalemate in the peace process, cycle and counter-cycle
of violence are issues of universal anguish and deep concern. It is our
hope that peace process will be resumed as there is no alternative to
peace. India has always shown unwavering solidarity in support of Arab
rights and legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people and the Middle
East Peace Process. We believe that all the States in the region, including
Palestine and Israel, have a right to exist within secure and internationally
recognised boundaries.
Excellency,
we in India consider Algeria as our friend and we greatly value our ties
with Algeria. We are grateful for the sensitivity that Algeria has shown
to our essential concerns. It is a matter of great satisfaction that our
relations are becoming multi-faceted, strengthened by commonality of approach.
The recent State visit of the President His Excellency Abdelaziz Bouteflika
was an important milestone in our bilateral relations and will contribute
towards realising the full potential of our mutually beneficial relationship.
The economies of India and Algeria have certain complementarities which
could be optimally utilised to promote economic development through cooperation.
We look forward to exploring areas like defence, information technology,
telecommunications, research and development in pharmaceuticals and solar
energy etc., as possible areas for mutually beneficial cooperation.
Excellency,
I would like to assure you that in your capacity as Ambassador of the
People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, you will receive full cooperation
and support of the Government of India on all issues. I wish you a comfortable
and productive stay in India and every success in your endeavour to further
promote Indo-Algerian friendship.
Thank you
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