Wednesday, 6 March 2013, India
SECOND DAY OF THE OFFICIAL VISIT OF THE DELEGATION FROM THE ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA HEADED BY PRESIDENT VELJANOSKI TO INDIA
In the framework of the official visit to India, the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia Mr. Trajko Veljanoski, today met with his host Ms. Meira Kumar, Speaker of Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Indian Parliament). At the beginning of the cordial and friendly meeting both Speakers emphasized the great importance of this historic visit of the Macedonian delegation to India.
Ms. Kumar said that democracy, the rule of law and respect of human rights are the things that the two countries have in common and that are very important. She pointed out that India is strongly opposed to state sponsored terrorism. Regarding the economic cooperation, Ms. Kumar said that the trade between the two countries is not at a satisfactory level and that there is a great potential for development of the economic relations.
She welcomed the economic reforms in the Republic of Macedonia and expressed hope that the country will soon become member of the European Union where it belongs geographically.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha supported the intensification of the economic cooperation and investments, as well as the cooperation in the field of healthcare, culture and education, adding that the Indian government has granted several Macedonian IT students scholarships for studying in India.
President Veljanoski expressed appreciation for the hospitality of the Indian people and satisfaction from the meeting at the highest level that will contribute to the development of the bilateral relations. He added that the meeting is a good opportunity for intensification of the parliamentary cooperation through direct contacts between the parliamentarians of the two countries, emphasizing the increasing importance of parliamentary democracy in the contemporary world.
He informed his host that upon his return from India he will initiate establishing of a parliamentary friendship and cooperation group with the Parliament of India. President Veljanoski also conveyed the interest of Macedonia for investments from India, emphasizing the favourable climate for attracting investments in the country.
He welcomed the position of India to use Macedonia's constitutional name in the bilateral communication, expressing hope that soon New Delhi will officially recognize Macedonia under its constitutional name.
With regard to foreign policy, President Veljanoski reminded his host that the Republic of Macedonia is actively participating in the international coalition against terrorism and expressed support for Ms. Kumar’s position towards state sponsored terrorism and the international resolutions against terrorism.
He added that Macedonia fully supports India in the international organizations, especially its bid to become permanent member of the UN Security Council. He also said that with the current economic growth, India will in near future become one of the most developed countries in the world.
Both sides underlined the missionary work of Mother Teresa, which acts as a bridge that connects the two friendly countries.
At the end of the meeting President Veljanoski invited his host to come to a return visit to the Republic of Macedonia.
The members of the Macedonian delegation followed the joint session of the two parliamentary chambers from the box reserved for high-ranking foreign officials. They were introduced by Ms. Kumar and welcomed by the Indian parliamentarians with traditional beating of hands on the desks.
President Veljanoski later gave an interview for the parliamentary TV Channel that has an audience of 600 million people.
The Indian journalists were interested in various topics, historical and contemporary, regarding the distant past and the development of the country since its independence, the imposed name dispute with Greece, the relations with the neighbours, the economic and cultural cooperation between Macedonia and India and the interest of Indian companies for investments in the Republic of Macedonia.
The Macedonian delegation also had a meeting with the members of the External Affairs Committee of the Indian Parliament. Various issues were discussed, especially the possibilities for further development of the bilateral and international cooperation between the two friendly countries and the mechanisms for instigating more active parliamentary and economic cooperation.
Yesterday, the President of the Assembly Mr. Veljanoski met with the Vice President of India Mr. Mohammad Hamid Ansari, who is also Chairman of the Parliament's Upper House (Rajya Sabha). Twelve senators from the Indian Parliament also attended the meeting.
The Macedonian delegation also had a meeting with the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Ms. Preneet Kaur, who expressed satisfaction from the high-level visit of the Macedonian delegation to India, after her recent visit to Macedonia. The emphasis at these meetings was given to intensification of the cooperation and support between the two countries on international level, as well as to the development of the economic cooperation.
President Veljanoski spoke about the developments regarding the European integration processes of the country and stressed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in the relations between the countries, as well as the need for strengthening of the bilateral economic cooperation.
The Macedonian delegation headed by President Veljanoski also laid flowers at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Center.