Mauritius has been steadfast in its condemnation of international terrorism: Mukherjee

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Port Louis, Mar 12: President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said Mauritius has been steadfast in its condemnation of international terrorism.

President Mukherjee in his statement after the meeting with Mauritius Prime Minister Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam thanked the Government of the Republic of Mauritius for its valuable support on global issues of vital importance to India.

“Mauritius has been steadfast in its condemnation of international terrorism. India is also grateful to Mauritius for consistently supporting our rightful claim for permanent membership in an expanded United Nations Security Council,” said President Mukherjee.

“I am also grateful to Mauritius for extending whole-hearted support to the process of revitalising the Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC),” he added.

Asserting that piracy in the Indian Ocean region adversely impacts us all, President Mukherjee said: ” We are committed to the safety and security of Mauritius and will continue to work towards enhancing our cooperation in the security arena. Indian Naval ships will continue to undertake joint anti-piracy and EEZ surveillance exercises with their Mauritian counterparts to ensure maritime security in these waters.”

“We are ready to assist the Government and the people of Mauritius, on security-related issues, in accordance with the requirements and priorities of the Government of Mauritius,” he added.

President Mukherjee, who thanked Prime Minister Dr. Ramgoolam and the Government and the people of Mauritius for the exceptionally warm and gracious welcome accorded to him and his delegation, said ‘India and Mauritius share deep-rooted ties of history, culture, kinship, traditions and common values’.

“We are united by the democratic foundations and the secular traditions of our societies. There is also a wide convergence of interests on many regional and global issues of mutual interest. These aspects lend our bilateral relations a special and extraordinary character,” said President Mukherjee.

“We have, in recent years, forged a dynamic, modern and mutually beneficial partnership. Mauritius is the second country I am visiting after assuming the post of President of India. This reflects the importance that India attaches to its relationship with Mauritius,” he added.

President Mukherjee said ‘close, high-level and regular political interaction has been a hallmark of our bilateral relations’.

“Our present-day partnership has also benefitted from growing framework of more than 30 inter-governmental agreements in wide-ranging areas of mutual benefit, as well as from the vitality of our people-to-people contacts,” said President Mukherjee.

“My visit to Mauritius reaffirms our shared commitment to take our relations to even greater heights,” he added.

President Mukherjee said ‘it is a unique honour and privilege for me to pay a State Visit to Mauritius and be the Chief Guest at the 45th anniversary of the Independence of Mauritius’.

“On this momentous and happy occasion, I bring with me the warmest wishes and greetings from the Government and the people of India, to the Government and the people of Mauritius,” he added. (ANI)