Envoys Present Credentials To President

Five envoys presented their credentials to the President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan here today.

The envoys who presented their credentials were: - His Excellency, Mr. Zady Gbaka Richard, the Ambassador of Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), His Excellency, Mr. Joseph Caron, the High Commissioner of Canada, His Excellency, Mr. Roberto Toscano, the Ambassador of Italy, His Excellency Mr. Francisco L. Benedicto, the Ambassador of the Philippines and His Excellency, Mr. Kenneth Thompson, the Ambassador of Ireland.

The President, during her interaction with the Heads of Mission, said India seeks friendly relations with all countries and looks forward to strengthening relations, increasing trade and investment as well as people-to-people contacts. She said today, the world faces a series of challenges, such as terrorism, the financial crises and a more equitable world and to address them all countries have to work jointly in a constructive and meaningful manner.

The credential presentation ceremony was attended by the senior members of the missions, senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs and Rashtrapati Bhavan.

This release issued at 1400 hrs.