Kabinet van de President van de Republiek Suriname

Redevoeringen

ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SURINAME
H.E. RUNALDO RONALD VENETIAAN
ON THE OCCASION OF THE PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS
BY THE AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY
OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA
HIS EXCELLENCY OM PRAKASH
ON WEDNESDAY, 16 APRIL 2003

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Mr. Ambassador,

It is a pleasure for me to welcome you, also on behalf of the Government and people of Suriname, as the representative of the Republic of India.

I thank you for the greetings and good wishes you have extended to me on behalf of President Abdul Kalam.

The presentation of your letters of credence accentuates the will of our two countries to further deepen and broaden, within the scope of our foreign policy, the existing bilateral cooperation.

In this light I mention my State Visit to India in March last. This visit may be deemed highly successful, and for this I should like to express my thanks to the Government of India.

We were greatly impressed by what we have seen and experienced in your country.

The joint statement, issued in the framework of the State Visit, offers sufficient reference points to launch or expand bilateral cooperation in various fields, including agriculture, health care, education, transport, communication and tourism, technology, trade and industry.

Before long, Suriname will take the initiatives necessary to give substance to the agreements reached. In this context, every effort will be made to ensure that the third meeting of the joint committee shall take place in October next in New Delhi, according to plan.

Suriname appreciates it that the 7th World Hindi Conference of June next will be held in Paramaribo. The Government of India may count on the support of the Government of Suriname to make this Conference a success.

Suriname is a country abundant in natural resources and may serve as a gateway to the CARICOM market and, in the future, to the FTAA market.

The political climate in Suriname and the regional and hemispheric integration processes are inviting conditions to invest in our country on the basis of joint ventures, especially for companies from your country which has achieved outstanding results in the field of technology.

At the international level, our countries are working together within such multilateral organizations as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the World Trade Organization. My country will continue to focus such relations on cooperation to promote international security and development.

Mr. Ambassador,

I am convinced that your knowledge and experience will enable you to further strengthen the relations between our countries. You may thereby rest assured of the support of the Government of the Republic of Suriname in this. I wish you every success in the fulfillment of your mission.

Please convey my regards and good wishes to your President, His Excellency Abdul Kalam, the Government and people of the Republic of India.

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