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President to leave on France-Greece tour tomorrow

Last updated on: April 23, 2007 18:35 IST
President A P J Abdul Kalam will leave on a five-day visit to the Strasbourg (France) and Greece on Tuesday during which he would address the European Parliament, the first ever by any Indian President.

The significance of the address by the President "lies in the fact that the Head of State of the largest democracy in the world will address the largest union of democratic states in the world," Secretary (West) Nalin Suri told reporters in New Delhi.

The President will address the European Parliament on April 25. He will speak on "Dynamics of Unity of Nations", Suri said.

Prior to his address, Kalam would be addressing the International Space University in Strasbourg where he would be speaking on "creative leadership for future challenges in space."

The President would arrive in Greece on April 25, a state visit which comes after 21 years. This visit will help consolidate the recent development of India's relations with Greece in a cross sectoral manner," Suri said.

During the visit, "we expect to sign three important agreements -- bilateral investments promotion and protection, Science and Technology and an agreement between the Foreign Service Institute of our two countries," he said.

During his visit, Kalam will be awarded with Gold Medal of the Hellenic Parliament and Gold Medal of merit of the city of Athens, he said.

The President will also meet his counterpart Karolos Papoulias.

The President would make two important speeches during his stay in Greece -- at the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy on "Dynamics of Peace and Prosperity" and at the National Council for Scientific Research where he will speak on "Convergence of Technologies."

The President would be visiting the Commonwealth War Cemetery and pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives during the 2nd World War.

Kalam would be visiting the rehabilitation centre for Chidlren with cerebral palsy before returning to India on April 28.

About his visit to the European Parliament, Suri said the President had received an invitation from the former President of the European Parliament Josep Borrell Fontelles.

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