SPEECH
BY SHRI K.R.NARAYANAN, PRESIDENT OF INDIA, WHILE ACCEPTING
CREDENTIALS FROM MR. ABDAL MAHMOOD ABDAL HALEEM, AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE
OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE SUDAN
NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 29,
1999
Excellency,
It gives me great pleasure
to accept your Credentials as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the Republic of the Sudan to India. I warmly welcome you to India and
extend my sincere congratulations on your appointment to this position of
high status and responsibility.
I would like to avail
this opportunity to thank His Excellency Lt. Gen. Omar Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir,
President of the Sudan, for his warm greetings and good wishes. I heartily
reciprocate his kind sentiments on behalf of the Government and people of
India, and on my behalf. I would also like to extend my good wishes for
President Al-Bashir's personal health and for the welfare and prosperity
of the friendly people of Sudan.
Geographical distance
has not stood in the way of the growth of our relations which have traditionally
been close and friendly. Besides forging a partnership in promoting the
cause of South-South Cooperation, our two countries have also cooperated
in the Non-aligned Movement and other international fora to promote the
objectives of global peace and development. A peaceful environment is necessary
for the economic and social development of the people. In this context,
we welcome the various initiatives taken by your government to achieve lasting
peace in your neighbourhood and the recent decision to extend the ceasefire.
I would also like to take this opportunity to reiterate India's continued
support for Sudan's independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.
Sudan is one of the major
participants in the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme
and we are proud of our modest share in the development of human resources
in your country. I would like to assure you that our technical assistance
programme will continue, and that we are engaged in making the programme
even more focussed and relevant to your needs.
As growing economies,
both India and Sudan need to look beyond the mere exchange of commodities.
India is keen to share the successful experience of promoting small scale
industries which uses appropriate technology in a cost effective manner.
Indian companies are also interested in setting up industrial estates, undertaking
the rehabilitation and revamping of existing units, preparation of consultancy
and feasibility reports for industrial and infrastructure projects such
as roads, railways, ports etc. We should encourage the entrepreneurs and
experts from both sides to explore the opportunities and identify the modalities
of such cooperation.
Excellency, we in India,
have faced the complex task of assimilating and reconciling many religious,
linguistic, ethnic and social groups into a society of tolerance and religious
amity. We are confident, that the tradition of secularism and democracy,
so deeply engrained in our country will withstand the challenge of cross-border
terrorism and other threats to the secular order that we are facing. Both
India and Sudan could join hands to give a global focus to the problem of
state-sponsored terrorism.
Excellency, I am happy
to note that a senior official of your Government was in Delhi to witness
our recently concluded General Elections. The people of India have demonstrated
once again their commitment to the democratic process. The peaceful conduct
of elections and the assumption of office by a democratically elected Government
are a matter of great pride and satisfaction to us.
Mr. Ambassador, with
your rich experience, you will find India a fertile ground for practical
ideas for strengthening relations between the two countries. In this regard,
I assure you of the fullest cooperation of my Government. I wish you all
success and a happy stay in India.
Thank you
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