New Delhi, June 16 (UNI) President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday left on a three-nation visit to Greece, Suriname and Cuba.
"President Kovind departs for his state visit to Greece, Suriname and Cuba," said a tweet from the President's office.
This is Mr Kovind's fourth state visit as President and first outside Africa.
He will be the first Indian President to travel to Suriname and Cuba and first to visit Greece, since President APJ Abdul Kalam in 2007.
The President is accompanied by a delegation, which includes Minister of State for Steel Vishnu Deo Sai and Members of Parliament - Dinesh Kashyap and Nityanand Rai - both BJP.
The first halt of the nine-day tour will be at Athens in Greece, where Mr Kovind will meet Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and other senior members of the Government and the Opposition.
In Athens, the President will lay wreath at the monument of unknown soldiers and visit other places of historical and archaeological importance. He will also address the Indian diaspora there.
Mr Kovind will also visit Phaleron Commonwealth War Cemetery at Athens.
"This is of special significance for India because 74 soldiers of undivided India sacrificed their lives during Second World War and their remains were laid to rest at this War Cemetery," a senior official in the Ministry of External Affairs said.
The Greek President will host a banquet for Mr Kovind on June 18. The President will have a crucial breakfast meeting with India and Greek CEOs the next day.
On June 19, Mr Kovind will deliver a lecture on the topic 'India and Europe In the Changing World' at a venue, organised by a Greece think tank.
After completing his Greece visit, the President will move to Suriname for his next leg of visit and subsequently visit Cuba.
In Suriname, the President will be participating in this year's International Day of Yoga, along with his Suriname counterpart Desi Bouterse, on June 21 in Paramaribo.
Mr Kovind will be also laying the foundation stone for a new building of Indian Cultural Centre, for which the Suriname government has 'gifted' a plot of land of one hectare.
During his stay in Cuba, Mr Kovind will hold a wide range of discussions with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez.
A number of MoUs and Agreements in the areas of Biotechnology, Homeopathy and traditional systems of medicine and medicinal plants would be signed during the visit.
In Suriname, both sides will sign a series of MoUs, including one on election systems.
"Suriname is a functioning democracy and through this MoU with our Election Commission, best practices for strengthening democratic practices and democratic institutions and modalities will be reinforced," an official said.
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