SPEECH BY HER EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SHRIMATI PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING TO H.E. DR. ANGELA DOROTHEA MERKEL, CHANCELLOR OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY

Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, 31st May 2011

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me immense pleasure to confer the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding, on Her Excellency Dr. Angela Dorothea Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, for her outstanding efforts in promoting harmony, stability and progress at a time of international transition. Through her focus on the major issues of our times - sustainable and equitable development, good governance, the evolution of a representative global order reflective of contemporary realities, Chancellor Merkel has contributed to shaping global discourse on these very significant issues.

I congratulate Dr. Merkel for winning the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding, which has been constituted in the memory of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, one of the great leaders of India's freedom movement and our popular first Prime Minister. He was a visionary statesman, a strong advocate of global peace and of promoting understanding among nations, as well as creating an equitable world order. He was instrumental in formulating India's independent world vision. Under Pandit Nehru's guidance and able leadership, India, an ancient civilization with a diverse multi-religious, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual and multi-cultural social fabric evolved into a modern nation. It was, indeed, a herculean task as India, like many other countries, was emerging from centuries of colonial rule, and had to deal with a series of complex issues in its nation building efforts. Prime Minister Nehru steered the country in those difficult times, and developed a foreign policy based on the principles of sovereignty, tolerance, mutual respect, non-interference and peaceful co-existence. His principles found widespread acceptance in both developed and developing countries.

Chancellor Merkel, you represent a country that has demonstrated that the quest for democracy, the pursuit of freedom, and the strength of the human spirit can tear down any wall, however mighty and impregnable it might appear to be. Your country is held in very high esteem not only for the values of democracy, freedom and rule of law; but also as a technological super-power.

The world today faces newer challenges like global warming and climate change, in addition to our old challenges like poverty, hunger and disease. As we brace to combat these global issues, access to technology becomes indispensable. The developed countries and the developing countries have to co-operate and collaborate in order to find solutions acceptable to all. We appreciate your efforts in bringing together the developing and developed economies to strengthen the ongoing efforts in this direction. Moreover, your role in forging ties amongst the leading economies under the G-20 architecture for co-operation, in areas like global governance, counter terrorism, climate change and combating poverty, is commendable.

Madam Chancellor, we acknowledge and deeply appreciate your efforts in steering the German economy out of the global financial crisis, and providing leadership to the Eurozone in dealing with the effects of the financial crisis. Your endeavour to create a sustainable and equitable financial architecture, good governance structures and a competitive model, to ensure financial stability are significant steps.

Chancellor Merkel, India values your friendship and support in strengthening the multifaceted relationship between our two countries. Under your leadership, our traditionally friendly relations have transformed into a strategic partnership, with similar views in global economic and political spheres. We welcome wholeheartedly the initiatives to organise the `Year of Germany in India' in 2011-12, with the theme of `Infinite Opportunities'; to be followed by the `Days of India in Germany' in 2012-13, with the title of `Connecting Cultures'.

It is an honour and a privilege to confer the Jawaharlal Nehru Award on a great friend of India. Your earlier visit to India in 2007, and your current visit have made a deep impression on all of us, about your commitment to our bilateral relationship. May I also add that your achievements as the first woman Chancellor of Germany, and that too twice, have been a source of encouragement to many women across the world, and to all those working for gender empowerment. Your warmth and graciousness add to your steady and clear vision that goes beyond immediate pre-occupations. Please accept once again our felicitations and greetings for you personally, and our best wishes for the progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Germany.

Thank you.