New German Envoy For Partnership

Germany yesterday said its partnership with India was becoming increasingly important even as it offered to expand the bilateral disarmament dialogue into a more comprehensive exchange of views on matters of general interest.

The new German ambassador, Heinrich-Dietrich Dieckmann, presenting his credentials to President K R Narayanan said Germany wanted to expand its close and trustful dialogue with India and discuss a whole range of issues, such as peacekeeping, political and social development, free trade, environment and human rights.

Dieckmann said the future of Indo-German technological partnership was bright, especially in information and communications, infrastructure and environment protection.

Referring to the bilateral disarmament dialogue, the new envoy said it was conducted in a frank and mutually respectful way.

Indo-German links have multiplied in a pleasing manner during the past few years and the German-Indian consultative group, founded in 1991, is due to meet again in Delhi next month, he said.