Prez lauds initiative to invite SAARC leaders for swearing-in ceremony

Referring to the old adage that says 'you can choose your friend but not your neighbour', President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said the initiative of inviting SAARC leaders for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May last year must be followed through to its logical conclusion.

"The one adage which never goes stale in international politics is 'You can choose your friend but not your neighbour'," President Mukherjee said while addressing the sixth Annual Heads of Mission Conference at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

"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.

President Mukherjee said India demonstrated dynamism and bold leadership by inviting leaders of SAARC countries to attend the swearing-in of the new government in May last year.

"That initiative must be followed through to its logical conclusion through incisive diplomacy even as we remain firm in protecting our security and putting in place impregnable security mechanisms," he added.

Congratulating the new Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar, the President said, "I also take this opportunity to congratulate the new foreign secretary S Jaishankar and his selection at a very crucial stage of our external relations and as External Affairs Minister Sushmaji had pointed out a new turn in our policies after the new government began its journey.