External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be embarking on a weeklong visit to Europe and Africa beginning this Saturday.
New Delhi, May 23 : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be embarking on a weeklong visit to Europe and Africa beginning this Saturday.
Mukherjee will pay an official visit to the Republic of Cyprus between May 24 and 26, where both the countries are expected to sign two agreements- Agreement on Combating Terrorism and Illegal Trafficking of Drugs and Organized Crime and Agreement on Abolition of Visa Requirement for Holders of Diplomatic and Official Passports.
This will be the first visit by an Indian External Affairs Minister in over two decades to Cyprus.
India has consistently supported the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus and also supports a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus problem in accordance with relevant resolutions of the UNSC.
Mukherjee will also pay an official visit to Libya from May 26 to 28. This will be his first visit to an African country since becoming External Affairs Minister again in 2006.
His visit is part of the regular process of high-level exchanges between the two countries. During his visit to Libya, Mukherjee will have extensive discussions with his counterpart Shalgem and also meet the top leadership of Libya including the Prime Minister.
Mukherjee will be leading the Indian delegation for participation at the Foreign Ministers meeting of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Hamburg, Germany on May 28 and 29.
The Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) is an informal process of dialogue and cooperation bringing together EU member states and the European Commission, with ASEAN countries and some other Asian countries.
From Hamburg, Mukherjee will proceed to Brussels where he will chair an important conference of Indian Ambassadors to the member States of the European Union on May 30.
He is also scheduled to attend the Ministerial level meeting of the India-EU Troika on May 31 at Berlin.
The Troika Meeting will enable both the sides to take stock of the development of the India-EU strategic partnership and preparations for the India-EU Summit later this year in India.
It will also permit both sides to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, including issues such as developments in the EU, SAARC, Middle East, Afghanistan, energy security, climate change, counter terrorism.
ANI