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International Affairs
SPEECH BY SHRI K.R.NARAYANAN, PRESIDENT OF INDIA, WHILE ACCEPTING THE CREDENTIALS FROM MR. GIHAD RIFAAT MOHAMED MADI, AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE OF THE ARAB REPUBLIC OF EGYPT TO INDIA

NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1998

Excellency,

It gives me great pleasure to accept your Credentials as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Arab Republic of Egypt to India. I welcome you warmly and extend my sincere congratulations on your appointment to this position of high status and responsibility.

Indo-Egyptian relations go back several millennia. These have been fashioned by history through the convergence of two great ancient civilizations, linking not just India and Egypt, but South Asia and West Asia. This interaction has, over the centuries, encompassed almost every aspect of human endeavour - cultural, social, spiritual, political, as well as commercial.

In modern times, India and Egypt have been engaged in the consolidation of our national independence and sovereignty. This has brought our countries much closer to each other and led to our working together for founding the Nonaligned Movement. Along with other like-minded countries, India and Egypt articulated the struggle for decolonisation in Africa and Asia, against apartheid in South Africa, and for peace and disarmament in the world. We have always worked closely together, within NAM, the UN, and Group of 77, in promoting a common political and economic agenda for the developing world and for securing a high priority for the developmental needs of the South.

India's strong defence of Arab rights and of the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people in particular owes much to the ethos underlying Indo-Egyptian friendship. We appreciate the leading role that Egypt has played in bringing about peace in the Middle East and strongly support the Middle East Peace Process.

Excellency, the central objectives of NAM remain as valid in the post cold war world as they were in the past.

The post-Cold War international agenda is being shaped in a manner that largely reflects the interests of industrialised countries. India, Egypt, and other like-minded countries therefore need to work closely together, for the sake of our larger common interests. These include the issue of United Nations reform and the expansion of the Security Council. We need to work together in other world fora in matters relating to trade and disarmament.

Excellency, India has consistently pursued the objectives of international peace and security through global and non-discriminatory disarmament. We are committed to working for this ideal.

In recent years, our bilateral relations have taken on a new dynamism. Our respective programmes of economic reforms and liberalisation have created new opportunities on both sides. A great scope also exists for meaningful cooperation in high technology areas like informatics, computer software, solar energy, biotechnology and the utilisation of non-renewable sources of energy.

Excellency, I would like to assure you that in your capacity as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Arab Republic of Egypt, you will receive full cooperation from the Government of India. I wish you an enjoyable and productive stay in India and every success in your endeavours to further promote Indo-Egypt friendship.

May I take this opportunity to convey my best wishes to the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, His Excellency Mohamed Husni Mubarak and for the prosperity and well being of the Egyptian people.

Thank you

Jai Hind
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