PM’S SPEECH AT THE FUNCTION TO GIVE
AWAY 2002 INDIRA GANDHI PRIZE FOR PEACE, DISARMAMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
The following is
the text of the speech of the Prime Minister, Shri Atal Bihari
Vajpayee at the presentation function of the 2002 Indira Gandhi
Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development to Sir Shridath Ramphal
here today:
"I am very
pleased to be here today to felicitate Sir Shridath Ramphal on
the award of the Indira Gandhi Prize to him. Today we also remember
Smt. Indira Gandhi – one of the eminent leaders of recent times
who made a significant contribution to the making of a modern,
strong and self-reliant India.
The award honours
outstanding global citizens or organizations, with significant
contributions to international peace and disarmament, goodwill
and harmony among nations, all-round advancement of developing
nations, and promoting a new equitable world order. Of the several
distinguished men, women and organizations to have received the
Indira Gandhi Prize since 1986, few can claim as intimate and
versatile an involvement in every one of these endeavours, as
Sir Shridath.
It was during his
tenure as Secretary-General that the Commonwealth pursued its
persistent and vigorous campaign against apartheid in South Africa,
which eventually led to the dismantling of the racist regime there.
In the 1980s, Sir Shridath served on all the International Commissions,
which examined solutions to the critical global challenges of
development, disarmament, security, environment, North-South cooperation
and humanitarian issues.
After leaving the
Commonwealth, he has continued his involvement with issues of
equitable and sustainable development. In his own region, as Chief
Negotiator for the Caribbean region, Sir Shridath and his team
achieved remarkable success in forging a unified Caribbean position
in international economic negotiations with Europe and the Americas.
Sir Shridath Ramphal
is the first recipient of the Indira Gandhi Prize from the Caribbean-Latin
American region. He is also the first representative of the large
Indian Diaspora abroad to receive this award.
We were proud to
recognize his achievements by the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award
earlier this year. Sir Shridath has always maintained that, while
his roots were in India, his identity was firmly Caribbean. This
harmonious blend of national origin and current citizenship defines
the emotional, intellectual and cultural outlook of a successful
and well-integrated representative of the Indian Diaspora abroad.
The countries of
the world today face complex challenges of development and security,
dealing with the tensions of prosperity coexisting with poverty,
and fighting terrorism and other transnational crimes. We enjoy
the advantages presented by global interdependence, but also face
the security vulnerabilities of the global village. This unprecedented
complex of challenges calls for a new look at international organizations
and the processes through which nations can cooperate in these
matters.
People like Sir Shridath
Ramphal, with his scholarship and experience are needed to guide
international deliberations in such times.
I extend my warm
good wishes to Sir Shridath for continued success and fulfillment
in all his future activities.
Thank you".
