SPEECH
BY SHRI K.R. NARAYANAN, PRESIDENT OF INDIA, ON THE OCCASION OF THE INTERNATIONAL
FLEET REVIEW – 2001
MUMBAI, SATURDAY, FEBRUAY 17, 2001
It
is a great pleasure and a unique privilege for me to address the First
International Fleet Review organized by the Indian Navy to celebrate the
Golden Jubilee of the Republic of India. It is gratifying for us that
ships, submarines and delegations from 29 navies of the world have responded
to our invitation and are participating in this splendid fleet review.
It would appear that our call for building bridges of friendship have
launched a thousand ships in this historic harbour in Mumbai. May I, on
behalf of the Indian Navy and on behalf of the Government and people of
India, extend a hearty welcome to all our foreign guests and to our own
naval personnel to this glittering and significant international event.
Though
an immense landmass, India has been from ancient times a sea-faring nation.
It has a vast coastline of 7516 km. and an exclusive economic zone of
over 2 million square kms. History has shown that India’s trade and commerce
and its very existence as an independent nation, depends upon the control
and safety of the seas around it. Indeed, it is to-day an indisputable
fact that the independence and prosperity of nations, and the peace and
tranquility of the world, hinge upon the peace and security of the seas
and the oceans. The oceans no longer divide the world, but unite it. Admiral
Mahan’s concept of "the indivisible sea" is to-day a political,
economic and strategic reality. The
ships assembled in this impressive fleet review are Ambassadors that bring
sentiments of goodwill and friendship from the countries they represent.
Some of the ships, I understand, have brought relief material for the
earthquake stricken people of Gujarat. Tomorrow the relief material would
be disembarked and handed over to relief committees for distribution among
the affected people. I want to express our gratitude to the navies which
have brought the relief material and to all the navies participating in
this Review for their sentiments of goodwill and sympathy for the people
of Gujarat. Thus the ships now assembled here are not only a bridge of
friendship among nations, but a humanitarian bridge to all the people
affected by natural calamity. The
Indian Navy has a creditable record of participation in the United Nations
peace missions. It has also involved itself in combating piracy on the
seas. The Indian Navy is committed to the international effort to counter
piracy in this oceanic region and are co-ordinating anti-piracy efforts
with ASEAN and other South East Asian nations and Japan. This
international fleet review is a magnificent demonstration by the Navies
of the world to build bridges of friendship among nations and symbolic
of their desire to maintain peace and tranquility on the seas. The seas
and oceans are a rich resource of wealth and also crucial in preserving
the environmental and ecological balance of the world. The navies of the
world have the role of nurturing the fragile marine eco-system as well
as the peace and tranquility of the world.
Friends,
the emergence of India as a sovereign independent Republic fifty years
ago was an important landmark in the history of Asia and the world. It
heralded the expansion of freedom and democracy in the world. I thank
all the naval ships assembled in this fleet review to mark this historic
occasion. I want to congratulate the Indian Navy, especially the Western
Naval Command for the splendid manner in which this Review has been organized
and conducted. An event like this could be organized only by the involvement
and support of the people. May I congratulate and thank the Government
of Maharashtra and the citizens of Mumbai for their co-operation. I am
confident that the guests who have come from far and wide across the oceans
will take with them pleasant memories of the warmth of the welcome and
the traditional hospitality of the people of India.
Thank you
|
