---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Press Information Bureau Ministry of I&B <pib.kolkata@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 3:35 PM
Subject: Release............pt2
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * *
Prime Minister's Office
PM's ADDRESS TO THE MAJLIS-AL-SHURA
New Delhi: March 1, 2010.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, addressed the Majlis-Al-Shura
at Riyadh today. Following is the text of the Prime Minister's address
on the occasion:
"I am deeply grateful and privileged to have this opportunity to
address the Majlis Al-Shura. This august body has come to symbolize
participative governance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Members
of the Majlis Al-Shura have among them some of the best minds in the
Kingdom, representing different segments of Saudi Arabia's rich
culture and society. I am, therefore, deeply conscious of the honour
done to me and to India by inviting me to address this august House.
Saudi Arabia is the cradle of Islam and the land of the revelation of
the Holy Quran. I have come to this ancient land with a message of
peace, brotherhood and friendship. I bring to you the fraternal
greetings of the people of India.
India regards Saudi Arabia as a pillar of stability in the Gulf
region. Under the enlightened and sagacious leadership of the
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud,
the Kingdom has taken rapid strides towards modernization. Its
influence today extends far beyond the region.
As I stand before you, I am conscious of the wealth of history behind
us, and the promise of a new partnership ahead of us.
We are two nations linked by the waterways of the Indian Ocean. Over
5,000 years ago, ships made with teak from Kerala freely traversed the
waters of the Indian Ocean and linked the people of Sindh, Gujarat and
Malabar with the different ports of the Gulf and the Red Sea, going up
to Basra and Alexandria.
Commercial enterprises and exchange of foodstuffs and cloth for dates
and pearls provided the basis for the development of deep
people-to-people ties. Indian townships mushroomed across the Gulf.
Arab traders established themselves along the coastline of western
India. Our languages were influenced by each other. These linkages,
over several centuries, have left an indelible mark upon our culture
and civilization. This is reflected in the natural empathy and sense
of comfort we have when we meet each other.
Islam qualitatively changed the character and personality of the
people in Arabia as it enriched the lives of millions of Indians who
embraced this new faith. It is said that during the reign of the
Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, Indian pilgrims constituted the largest
movement of people by sea.
Indian Muslim scholars went to Mecca in order to learn Islamic
theology. Arab Muslim scholars came to India to learn mathematics,
science, astronomy and philosophy. These exchanges led to the
widespread diffusion of knowledge in the sciences, arts, religion and
philosophy.
Today, Islam is an integral part of India's nationhood and ethos and
of the rich tapestry of its culture. India has made significant
contributions to all aspects of Islamic civilization. Centres of
Islamic learning in India have made a seminal contribution to Islamic
and Arabic studies.
Our 160 million Muslims are contributing to our nation building
efforts and have excelled in all walks of life. We are proud of our
composite culture and of our tradition of different faiths and
communities living together in harmony.
The foundations of our relations in the modern era were laid during
the visit of His Majesty King Saud to India in 1955 and Prime Minister
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's visit to the Kingdom in 1956. These
foundations were strengthened by the visit of Prime Minister Smt.
Indira Gandhi to Saudi Arabia in 1982.
The tone for our relations in the 21st century was set by the landmark
visit to India of His Majesty King Abdullah in January 2006. The
participation of His Majesty as the Chief Guest at our Republic Day
celebrations was a matter of deep honour for the people of India.
The Delhi Declaration that I signed with the Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques enshrines our shared vision for a new relationship. Our two
countries pledged to work not just for the development and prosperity
of our peoples but for the security and peace of the region as a
whole.
My dialogue with His Majesty yesterday and my meetings with the other
distinguished leaders of this great country have led to the
reaffirmation of our close ties and our common interests.
We have agreed to impart a strategic character to our relations, and
have put in place a roadmap for bilateral economic, political and
security related cooperation that will constitute the core of our
relationship in the coming years.
India is in the midst of rapid socio-economic transformation. Over the
last five years, our economy has grown at an average annual rate of 9
percent. Despite the global economic slowdown, we hope to achieve a
growth rate of about 7.5 percent in the current financial year.
In the next 25 years we aspire to growth rates of between 9 to 10 per
cent annually. This will enable us to lift millions of our people out
of poverty and to transform India into one of the largest economies of
the world. India looks to the future with confidence and hope.
Saudi Arabia is itself witnessing remarkable progress as the vision of
its leaders to modernize and diversify its economy becomes a reality.
There is vast potential for cooperation between our two countries
based on our inherent strengths and complementarities.
We seek Saudi investment in a range of sectors from infrastructure and
manufacturing to the services and hospitality sector. Equally, Indian
industry is ready to take advantage of the many opportunities that are
opening up in the IT, banking, telecommunications, pharmaceutical and
hydrocarbon sectors in Saudi Arabia.
The Kingdom is one of India's major trading partners. Our bilateral
trade has registered unprecedented growth in recent years and stood at
over 25 billion US dollars in 2008-2009. We are looking at ways and
means of expanding our traditionally strong collaboration in the
energy sector.
Saudi Arabia is home to the largest Indian community abroad numbering
about 1.8 million. Indian workers and professionals have participated
in the extraordinary development of this region. Indeed, it would be
difficult to identify a major project in this region with which
Indians have not been involved in some way or the other.
As many as 165,000 Indian pilgrims perform Haj annually. This is the
second largest group from any single country. A similar number perform
the Umrah annually. We are grateful for the warm welcome that the
Kingdom has given to the Indian community and to our pilgrims.
We have noted the high priority given to the development of human
resources in the future development of Saudi Arabia. This fits in with
our priority as well. We would like to see more contacts among our
parliamentarians, scholars, scientists and students to renew the
intellectual bonds between India and West Asia.
In addition to these areas of cooperation, there is scope for
considerable expansion of our interactions in the political, defence
and security spheres.
West Asia is a vital part of India's extended neighbourhood. We have
deep and intricate ties with the Gulf countries. We have a high stake
in the peace and stability of the region. Neither the countries of the
region nor the world can afford fresh turmoil. We sincerely hope that
wisdom will prevail and that in the resolution of conflicts and
differences, dialogue will triumph over confrontation.
There is no issue more important for peace and stability in the region
than the question of Palestine. For far too long the brave people of
Palestine have been denied their just, legitimate and inalienable
rights, including most of all the establishment of a sovereign,
independent and viable Palestinian state. I wish to pay a special
tribute to His Majesty for the initiatives he has taken to bring about
a just settlement. We applaud and support the Arab Peace Initiative.
I take this opportunity of reiterating the principled, strong and
consistent support of the government and people of India for the
struggle of the Palestinian people. India has been making a
contribution to the development of the Palestinian economy and its
human resources and we will continue to do so.
Both our countries are today threatened by extremism and violence. The
pursuit of terror in the name of religion or any other cause or
grievance cannot be acceptable to civilized societies. It has no
sanction in any religion. History teaches us that the scourge of
terrorism must be confronted with determination and united effort.
Nowhere is this challenge greater than in Afghanistan. The people of
Afghanistan have suffered for far too long. They deserve an atmosphere
of peace and the opportunity to pursue a life of dignity and hope.
The government of Afghanistan needs the support of the international
community in restoring peace and development in the country. The
international community should support all sections of Afghan society
who wish to work towards the emergence of Afghanistan as a modern,
stable and sovereign nation. No sanctuary should be given to those who
promote terror, violence or instability in the country.
India wishes to live in peace and friendship with its neighbours. I
believe that all countries of South Asia should work to realize a
common vision of peace and inclusive development for the region.
We seek cooperative relations with Pakistan. Our objective is a
permanent peace because we recognise that we are bound together by a
shared future. If there is cooperation between India and Pakistan,
vast opportunities will open up for trade, travel and development that
will create prosperity in both countries and in South Asia as a whole.
But to realise this vision, Pakistan must act decisively against
terrorism. If Pakistan cooperates with India, there is no problem that
we cannot solve and we can walk the extra mile to open a new chapter
in relations between our two countries.
We live in a world where the interests of peoples and countries are
intertwined. As two countries representing old civilizations, India
and Saudi Arabia should work together to promote dialogue and peaceful
co-existence among nations, religions and societies. We should work
together as partners in shaping the global discourse on issues such as
energy security, food security, climate change and terrorism. We
should cooperate to deal with regional challenges such as maritime
security, piracy, narcotics, human trafficking and other
non-traditional threats to security.
The Kingdom and the region are blessed with the benevolence and
statesmanship of His Majesty King Abdullah. Our two peoples are
desirous of peace and goodwill. Together, India and Saudi Arabia can
become a potent moral force for a better world and for a more secure
future for our children.
I thank you for your attention."
sh/dk/kol/15:33 hrs.
From: Press Information Bureau Ministry of I&B <pib.kolkata@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 3:35 PM
Subject: Release............pt2
Press Information Bureau
Government of India
* * * * *
Prime Minister's Office
PM's ADDRESS TO THE MAJLIS-AL-SHURA
New Delhi: March 1, 2010.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, addressed the Majlis-Al-Shura
at Riyadh today. Following is the text of the Prime Minister's address
on the occasion:
"I am deeply grateful and privileged to have this opportunity to
address the Majlis Al-Shura. This august body has come to symbolize
participative governance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Members
of the Majlis Al-Shura have among them some of the best minds in the
Kingdom, representing different segments of Saudi Arabia's rich
culture and society. I am, therefore, deeply conscious of the honour
done to me and to India by inviting me to address this august House.
Saudi Arabia is the cradle of Islam and the land of the revelation of
the Holy Quran. I have come to this ancient land with a message of
peace, brotherhood and friendship. I bring to you the fraternal
greetings of the people of India.
India regards Saudi Arabia as a pillar of stability in the Gulf
region. Under the enlightened and sagacious leadership of the
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud,
the Kingdom has taken rapid strides towards modernization. Its
influence today extends far beyond the region.
As I stand before you, I am conscious of the wealth of history behind
us, and the promise of a new partnership ahead of us.
We are two nations linked by the waterways of the Indian Ocean. Over
5,000 years ago, ships made with teak from Kerala freely traversed the
waters of the Indian Ocean and linked the people of Sindh, Gujarat and
Malabar with the different ports of the Gulf and the Red Sea, going up
to Basra and Alexandria.
Commercial enterprises and exchange of foodstuffs and cloth for dates
and pearls provided the basis for the development of deep
people-to-people ties. Indian townships mushroomed across the Gulf.
Arab traders established themselves along the coastline of western
India. Our languages were influenced by each other. These linkages,
over several centuries, have left an indelible mark upon our culture
and civilization. This is reflected in the natural empathy and sense
of comfort we have when we meet each other.
Islam qualitatively changed the character and personality of the
people in Arabia as it enriched the lives of millions of Indians who
embraced this new faith. It is said that during the reign of the
Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan, Indian pilgrims constituted the largest
movement of people by sea.
Indian Muslim scholars went to Mecca in order to learn Islamic
theology. Arab Muslim scholars came to India to learn mathematics,
science, astronomy and philosophy. These exchanges led to the
widespread diffusion of knowledge in the sciences, arts, religion and
philosophy.
Today, Islam is an integral part of India's nationhood and ethos and
of the rich tapestry of its culture. India has made significant
contributions to all aspects of Islamic civilization. Centres of
Islamic learning in India have made a seminal contribution to Islamic
and Arabic studies.
Our 160 million Muslims are contributing to our nation building
efforts and have excelled in all walks of life. We are proud of our
composite culture and of our tradition of different faiths and
communities living together in harmony.
The foundations of our relations in the modern era were laid during
the visit of His Majesty King Saud to India in 1955 and Prime Minister
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's visit to the Kingdom in 1956. These
foundations were strengthened by the visit of Prime Minister Smt.
Indira Gandhi to Saudi Arabia in 1982.
The tone for our relations in the 21st century was set by the landmark
visit to India of His Majesty King Abdullah in January 2006. The
participation of His Majesty as the Chief Guest at our Republic Day
celebrations was a matter of deep honour for the people of India.
The Delhi Declaration that I signed with the Custodian of the Two Holy
Mosques enshrines our shared vision for a new relationship. Our two
countries pledged to work not just for the development and prosperity
of our peoples but for the security and peace of the region as a
whole.
My dialogue with His Majesty yesterday and my meetings with the other
distinguished leaders of this great country have led to the
reaffirmation of our close ties and our common interests.
We have agreed to impart a strategic character to our relations, and
have put in place a roadmap for bilateral economic, political and
security related cooperation that will constitute the core of our
relationship in the coming years.
India is in the midst of rapid socio-economic transformation. Over the
last five years, our economy has grown at an average annual rate of 9
percent. Despite the global economic slowdown, we hope to achieve a
growth rate of about 7.5 percent in the current financial year.
In the next 25 years we aspire to growth rates of between 9 to 10 per
cent annually. This will enable us to lift millions of our people out
of poverty and to transform India into one of the largest economies of
the world. India looks to the future with confidence and hope.
Saudi Arabia is itself witnessing remarkable progress as the vision of
its leaders to modernize and diversify its economy becomes a reality.
There is vast potential for cooperation between our two countries
based on our inherent strengths and complementarities.
We seek Saudi investment in a range of sectors from infrastructure and
manufacturing to the services and hospitality sector. Equally, Indian
industry is ready to take advantage of the many opportunities that are
opening up in the IT, banking, telecommunications, pharmaceutical and
hydrocarbon sectors in Saudi Arabia.
The Kingdom is one of India's major trading partners. Our bilateral
trade has registered unprecedented growth in recent years and stood at
over 25 billion US dollars in 2008-2009. We are looking at ways and
means of expanding our traditionally strong collaboration in the
energy sector.
Saudi Arabia is home to the largest Indian community abroad numbering
about 1.8 million. Indian workers and professionals have participated
in the extraordinary development of this region. Indeed, it would be
difficult to identify a major project in this region with which
Indians have not been involved in some way or the other.
As many as 165,000 Indian pilgrims perform Haj annually. This is the
second largest group from any single country. A similar number perform
the Umrah annually. We are grateful for the warm welcome that the
Kingdom has given to the Indian community and to our pilgrims.
We have noted the high priority given to the development of human
resources in the future development of Saudi Arabia. This fits in with
our priority as well. We would like to see more contacts among our
parliamentarians, scholars, scientists and students to renew the
intellectual bonds between India and West Asia.
In addition to these areas of cooperation, there is scope for
considerable expansion of our interactions in the political, defence
and security spheres.
West Asia is a vital part of India's extended neighbourhood. We have
deep and intricate ties with the Gulf countries. We have a high stake
in the peace and stability of the region. Neither the countries of the
region nor the world can afford fresh turmoil. We sincerely hope that
wisdom will prevail and that in the resolution of conflicts and
differences, dialogue will triumph over confrontation.
There is no issue more important for peace and stability in the region
than the question of Palestine. For far too long the brave people of
Palestine have been denied their just, legitimate and inalienable
rights, including most of all the establishment of a sovereign,
independent and viable Palestinian state. I wish to pay a special
tribute to His Majesty for the initiatives he has taken to bring about
a just settlement. We applaud and support the Arab Peace Initiative.
I take this opportunity of reiterating the principled, strong and
consistent support of the government and people of India for the
struggle of the Palestinian people. India has been making a
contribution to the development of the Palestinian economy and its
human resources and we will continue to do so.
Both our countries are today threatened by extremism and violence. The
pursuit of terror in the name of religion or any other cause or
grievance cannot be acceptable to civilized societies. It has no
sanction in any religion. History teaches us that the scourge of
terrorism must be confronted with determination and united effort.
Nowhere is this challenge greater than in Afghanistan. The people of
Afghanistan have suffered for far too long. They deserve an atmosphere
of peace and the opportunity to pursue a life of dignity and hope.
The government of Afghanistan needs the support of the international
community in restoring peace and development in the country. The
international community should support all sections of Afghan society
who wish to work towards the emergence of Afghanistan as a modern,
stable and sovereign nation. No sanctuary should be given to those who
promote terror, violence or instability in the country.
India wishes to live in peace and friendship with its neighbours. I
believe that all countries of South Asia should work to realize a
common vision of peace and inclusive development for the region.
We seek cooperative relations with Pakistan. Our objective is a
permanent peace because we recognise that we are bound together by a
shared future. If there is cooperation between India and Pakistan,
vast opportunities will open up for trade, travel and development that
will create prosperity in both countries and in South Asia as a whole.
But to realise this vision, Pakistan must act decisively against
terrorism. If Pakistan cooperates with India, there is no problem that
we cannot solve and we can walk the extra mile to open a new chapter
in relations between our two countries.
We live in a world where the interests of peoples and countries are
intertwined. As two countries representing old civilizations, India
and Saudi Arabia should work together to promote dialogue and peaceful
co-existence among nations, religions and societies. We should work
together as partners in shaping the global discourse on issues such as
energy security, food security, climate change and terrorism. We
should cooperate to deal with regional challenges such as maritime
security, piracy, narcotics, human trafficking and other
non-traditional threats to security.
The Kingdom and the region are blessed with the benevolence and
statesmanship of His Majesty King Abdullah. Our two peoples are
desirous of peace and goodwill. Together, India and Saudi Arabia can
become a potent moral force for a better world and for a more secure
future for our children.
I thank you for your attention."
sh/dk/kol/15:33 hrs.
--
Palash Biswas
Pl Read:
http://nandigramunited-banga.blogspot.com/
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