Prof Mehdi, Dr Bharti Ray elected VPs of ICCR Core Gen Assembly

New Delhi, Sept 27 (UNI) Prof Syed Shahid Mehdi, former Vice Chancellor of the Jamia Millia Islamia, and Dr Bharti Ray, former Member of Parliament and pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Kolkata University, were today elected Vice Presidents of the newly-constituted Core General Assembly of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

Addressing the Assembly and the Governing Body of the ICCR which met here today, Council Chairman Dr Karan Singh emphasised the renewed importance of cultural diplomacy and use of soft power to re-inforce the government's strategic foreign policy objectives.

Dr Singh, a senior Congress member of the Rajya Sabha, stressed the need for ICCR to be provided adequate funds to enable the organisation to fulfil its mandate and programme of activities.

The Governing Body strongly endorsed the proposal for augmentation of ICCR's budget.

Dr Singh gave an overview of the Council's enhanced activities in the last one year and its future programmes, including the Festival of India in Bussels, beginning from next month, and celebration of the India-Japan Friendship Year in Japan in early 2007.

The Governing Body also nominated 40 eminent persons to the General Assembly.

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