Kalam leaves for France, Greece

New Delhi, Apr 24: President A P J Abdul Kalam today left for a four-day visit to France and Greece during which he will address the European Parliament on April 25, the first ever address to the body by an Indian President.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, along with his senior cabinet ministers, was present at the airport to see Dr Kalam off.

Dr Kalam will fly straight to Strasbourg, the seat of the European Parliament.

He will leave for the Greek capital of Athens on April 26, and will fly back home on April 28.

The President is going to Strasbourg on an invitation of former President of the European Parliament Josep Borrell Fontelles.

The current President is Hans-Gert Poettering, a senior German politician.

In his address to the European Parliament, Dr Kalam will speak on the 'Dynamics of Unity of Nations', a topic which assumes significance in view of the multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic nature of the European Union like India.

The state visit to Greece comes after a gap of 21 years. During the visit, India and Greece are expected to sign three important agreements -- on Bilateral Investment, Promotion and Protection, Science and Technology and one between the Foreign Service Institutes of the two countries.

The visit will help consolidate India's growing relations with Greece as both countries are linked by ancient bonds of civilisation and history.

The President will be accorded full state honours and will meet his counterpart Dr Karolos Papoulias. His engagements also include meetings with the Prime Minister of Greece and the President of the Greek Parliament, who will confer upon him a Gold Medal of the Hellenic Parliament.

Dr Kalam will also meet distinguished personalities, including the leader of the Opposition George Andreas Papandreou, currently the President of the Socialist International. Earlier this year, he had attended the Satyagraha Conference.

A speech at the prestigious thinktank the 'Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP) titled' Dynamics of Peace and Prosperity' and an address to the National Council for Scientific Research on the topic of 'Convergence of Technologies' is also scheduled.

The President will visit the Commonwealth War Cemetary and pay tribute to the Indian servicemen, who lost their lives during the Second World War.

He will also interact with children at the Rehabilitation Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy (KASP).

Dr Kalam will fly back to India on April 28 and arrive here the same day at 2000 hrs.

UNI