Kalam finds visit to Greece a highly ''rewarding experience''

Athens, Apr 27 (UNI) President A P J Abdul Kalam today wound up his three-day state visit to Greece, with which India has centuries old relations, with a warm farewell held at the Presidential Palace here.

Greece is also one of the important members of the European Union.

During the visit, described as ''highly successful'' by the Ministry of External Affairs, the President met the top leaders of the country and discussed various bilateral issues and saw two important agreements signed between the two countries.

India and Greece came out with a categorical condemnation of terrorism, and fundamentalist violence, and agreed to increase their trade to one billion Euroes by 2010 and further strengthen their cooperation in the field of science and technology.

The two sides also discussed many regional issues involving the two countries. While Greek leaders briefed India about their relations with Turkey, Dr Kalam told Greek leaders about the initiatives India had taken to improve its relations with its neighbours.

Greece showed an understading of India's position on the issue very well and was appreciative of its commitment to make only peaceful use of nuclear energy, the MEA said.

Greece also urged India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution of the Kashmir issue.

It also offered India all help in curbing the problem of human trafficking for which it was being used as a conduit. One of the agreement signed with Greece related to 'Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments.

The agreement aims at intensifying investment flows to the mutual benefit of both the countries and create favourable condition for investment by investors of the two nations.

The other related to development of scientific and technological cooperation envisaging exchange of researchers and scientists and undertaking joint research projects.

For implementing the agreement, a joint committee of the two countries would be constituted.

During his visit, the President was given a Gold Medal at the Hellinic Parliament on the its 150th Anniversary.

Dr Kalam said he was extremely delighted to be in the land of 'Illiad and the Odyssey, of Socratese, Homer and Plato, a land which was the cradle of democracy.

He said his visit to Greece has been a very rewarding experience and the hospitality, friendship and warm sentiments of its people had made his stay memorable.

The President will fly back home tomorrow morning.

Earlier in the day , Dr Kalam visited the Department for Hellenic Aerospace Industry, the Social Work Foundation, the Hadzipaterion Rehabilitation Centre for Children with Cerebral Palsy and National Centre of Scietific Researc.

The President also visited the Acropolis hill or the 'Sacred Racks' of Athens, the most important cultural heritage site of this ancient capital city of Greece.

Dr Kalam had arrived here on April 25.

UNI