NEW DELHI : President Pranab Mukherjee today called upon diplomats at Indian Missions abroad, to ensure that the move of inviting South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) leaders for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in last year, is followed till a logical conclusion is achieved. Addressing ambassadors and high commissioners who head India’s missions abroad at the sixth annual ‘Heads of Mission Conference’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan here, Mr Mukherjee said “India demonstrated dynamism and bold leadership by inviting the leaders of SAARC countries to attend the swearing-in of the new Government in May, last year.
“That initiative must be followed to its logical conclusion through incisive diplomacy even as we remain firm in protecting our security and putting in place an impregnable security mechanisms.”
The President said,”The one adage which never goes stale in international politics is –You can choose your friend but not your neighbour-.
“A strong message was conveyed to our neighbours that the region must decide whether to live in perpetual tension or understanding”.
“Our initiatives in the neighbourhood must be followed up with concrete steps to consolidate and make permanent the advances we make in our relations”, he said.
(AGENCIES)
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