The
President of the Republic, Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, received today, at a formal
ceremony at the Presidential Palace, the credentials of the new High
Commissioner of the Republic of India, Mr Shri Ravi Bangar.
Presenting his credentials, Mr. Bangar said:
“Your Excellency, Mr. President,
It is an honour
and a privilege for me to present
to you the Letter of Credence from the President
of India, accrediting me as High Commissioner of India to the Republic
of Cyprus, along with the Letter of Recall of my predecessor, High Commissioner Ashok Kumar.
On this occasion, Excellency, I bring to you the most cordial
greetings from the leadership of India, His Excellency the President Shri Pranab
Mukherjee and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh,
and friendly and warm greetings from the people
of India.
India and Cyprus are ancient civilizations. We share and celebrate
the multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multicultural nature of our societies
and the values and ideals of democracy and freedom. These
have laid a solid
foundation of close ties between
our two peoples and countries.
May I recall the words of His Beatitude in New Delhi on 3 November
1962: "I wanted to see and learn
as much as possible about India....
I have felt India and its people.
It gives me great pride to think that this noble people are associated with my own country with sincere friendship and common ideals."
Excellency, India
has always supported the independence,
sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic
of Cyprus. I take this opportunity to reiterate that India will continue its unwavering support
to Cyprus. We are following
with interest your personal initiatives towards the resolution
of the Cyprus problem. We hope that a just and lasting
solution will be found to this issue, in accordance with United Nations Security
Council (UNSC) resolutions and the aspiration of the people of Cyprus.
Our two countries also cooperate closely
in multilateral fora such
as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned
Movement and the Commonwealth. India deeply appreciates the support Cyprus
has extended on issues
of vital concern
to it and values Cyprus'
support to India's candidature for a permanent membership in the expanded UNSC.
Modern India is defined by its vibrant democracy, free market economy, vast diversity and lively media.
India, the second most populous
country is also the largest
functioning democracy in the world. Since 1952 regular, free and fair elections have been held and verdicts
and transition of power have been peacefully accepted by all stakeholders. In the next few months,
we will be heading for the 16th General
elections. The size of the voters will be over 780 million,
more than the combined population of the EU, the Russian Federation and Japan.
The Indian
economy since independence has emerged from a backward and primarily agrarian base to
a diverse, dynamic and integrated one with the global economy.
In the last decade, India's
GDP grew at an annual average of 7.6%,
particularly at a time when the
developed countries were reeling
in recession. India has emerged as the world's largest producer
of milk, second biggest rice and wheat grower.
Thus,
becoming self reliant in food and nutrition
security for over 1.2 billion of its people. Elimination of polio
has been hailed
as one of India's biggest public health success stories. On 1st December
last year, India's
first mission to Mars
left Earth's orbit. Thus, India joined the select club of the United States, Europe, and Russia whose probes have orbited or landed on
Mars. Again, on 5th January, India scored another success, when its GSLV powered
by an indigenous cryogenic engine put a satellite of approximately
2.000 kilos into a perfect orbit.
Excellency, we admire the progress made by Cyprus
in the last 53 years resulting in Cypriots enjoying
high standards of living, education and healthcare. We are confident that despite the 2013
crisis, Cyprus will emerge stronger
as it has done so successfully in overcoming challenges in the past.
I consider
myself fortunate to have the honour of representing my country in Cyprus, a close and trusted friend
of India. We remain confident that continuing the tradition of high level contacts between
our countries will further strengthen our close and friendly relations. I am hopeful
that recent developments concerning India-Cyprus Double Taxation
Avoidance Agreement will be resolved amicably
through negotiations.
Excellency, may I once again take this opportunity to thank you personally and the Government of the Republic
of Cyprus for the consideration and honour that you have bestowed
on me to present my Credentials and the Letter of Recall of my predecessor.”
Replying, President
Anastasiades said:
“Your Excellency,
It is with great pleasure I receive today your Letters
of Credence, which accredit you as the new High Commissioner of the Republic of
India to Cyprus. I want to assure you that my Government and the people of
Cyprus will provide you with every assistance in the performance of your high
duties.
Cyprus and India have traditionally shared excellent
relations, based on common historical experiences. British colonialism and the
mutual adherence to global values of peace, democracy, human rights and the
rule of law have united our peoples and became a solid foundation of our strong
relationship. Major building blocks towards the strengthening of these ties
include the excellent level of cooperation between the late President
Archbishop Makarios and the late Prime Minister of India, Shri Jawaharlal
Nehru, as well as the joint membership and active participation and cooperation
in the Commonwealth, the United Nations and other international
organizations.
The virtues of our friendship provide us with a unique
opportunity to surge ahead, exploring new areas of cooperation. A number of
bilateral Agreements need to be finalized and signed and others to be
implemented in a spirit of mutual understanding. My Government looks forward to
the positive conclusion of the negotiations for the signing of the text of a
new revised Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation. Any differences that
arose, which are quite natural in a legal text, cannot and should not be
allowed to cast their shadow over the smooth development of our bilateral
relationship.
Mr High Commissioner,
The strength of a country lies in the resilience of
its people and the tenacity of its leaders, in their determination to fight and
promote the common good. In the case of India, both the Government and your
fellow countrymen must be congratulated for their indefatigable efforts, for
democracy to triumph and justice to prevail. The world’s most populous democracy
is an example worth emulating by others. Despite the many adversities it faces,
the challenges that it confronts and the tasks it is called to perform,
democracy in India has managed to pass the test successfully.
India plays an important and stabilizing role in the
neighbourhood of South Asia, especially where strong leadership is needed, as
in the case of Afghanistan. At times when confusion reigns and much wisdom and
determination are needed, so that peace, security, stability and prosperity can
and should prevail, India sets an example with its stand. We all look very much
forward to the crowning success of these efforts, the very least they deserve.
India’s value as an important trading partner, among many other things, is very
much acknowledged by the EU, hence the importance the latter attaches to its
relations with New Delhi. It is for this reason we wish for the convening of
the 13th EU-India Summit as soon as possible, to be combined with
the successful conclusion of the negotiations for the FTA Agreement.
Excellency,
I
am convinced that the reunification of Cyprus will undoubtedly have a positive
impact on the turbulent region of the Eastern Mediterranean, which is in much
need of security and prosperity. In this respect, I would like to reiterate my
commitment and resolve to work relentlessly aiming at reaching a viable and
lasting settlement based on a series of High-Level Agreements between the
leaders of the two communities and the relevant United Nations Resolutions that will address the concerns of both communities and of
all Cypriots. As President of the Republic, I am
committed more than ever before to do my utmost in order to end the division and reunify the island.
In
this framework, my primary goal is the re-launching of negotiations under UN
auspices that will be properly and thoroughly prepared and unequivocally
conducted in accordance with the United Nations resolutions providing for a
bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as defined in the
relevant resolutions with a single sovereignty, single citizenship and single
international personality and restoring and respecting the human rights and
fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots and their longing to live in a normal and
prosperous European country. These objectives must be jointly and clearly
shared in order for the negotiating process to bear fruit. The settlement must
serve, above all, the legitimate interests and aspirations of the people of
Cyprus as a whole.
Your Excellency,
Upon the assumption of your duties, let me
congratulate you once more. I would also like to assure you of my full support,
that of the Government and the people of Cyprus. On my part, I would like to request that your convey a message of
warm friendship to the President of the
Republic of India, H.E. Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, and my wishes for his health and
for the well-being and the prosperity of the people of India.
High
Commissioner Ravi Bangar, I warmly welcome you to Cyprus.”
Present
at the ceremony were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ioannis Kasoulides,
the Director of the Office of the President, Mr Panayiotis Antoniou, and the
Chief of Protocol, Mr Nearchos Palas.
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