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The President of the Republic at the Presentation of Credentials by H.E. Om Prakash Gupta, the Ambassador of India, on March 21, 2002, at Kadriorg21.03.2002
Your Excellency,
Mr Ambassador,
I am delighted to welcome you as the Ambassador of India to Estonia.
The Estonian-Indian relationship has developed fruitfully and on the basis of mutual respect over the last decade. Despite our geographical distance, we have found many forms of co-operation being of interest to both sides. Several high-level visits also have taken place and we certainly expect them to be followed by further visits.
India as a country with long-standing cultural traditions is of interest to the whole world. In Estonia too, many have discovered the Indian culture for themselves and this interest certainly will be increasing. Therefore, cultural and educational co-operation between Estonia and India has excellent prospects. India on her part has done a lot to present her country and culture in Estonia. A number of Estonian students have had the chance to continue their studies on Indian scholarships on the spot.
Estonia has a lot of experience in the field of social and economic reforms gained during the decade after the restoration of our independence. India in her turn, during the period of her independence of more than half a century, has become one of the world's leading countries in science and technology. I believe that the experience of reforms and co-operation in the field of information technology could be the spheres in which Estonia and India can develop their mutual relations.
Estonia and India are bound together by principles of peace, democracy and international co-operation, for the sake of which we can act jointly.
India has an important role in ensuring stability and security in Asia. As one of the most powerful countries of the region, India has good chances to develop relations in the spirit of good-neighbourliness, which would increase stability throughout the region. We are glad to see India's principled attitude towards the counter-terrorism fight. For the prevention of conflicts and sufferings in our globalizing world is surely one of the goals shared by us.
Mr Ambassador,
The Estonian-Indian bilateral relations in the fields of trade, economy and culture definitely need to be developed further. The history of relations between our countries gives us every reason to believe that we will succeed in doing this. With a view to this, I am also banking on your personal contribution.
Please, accept my heartfelt wishes for the success of your mission in promoting the relations between our countries!
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