New Delhi, June 12 (UNI) President Ram Nath Kovind will be making a three-nation tour of Greece, Suriname and Cuba beginning June 16 and at the end of these visits, he will be completing tour of 10 countries in first year in office.
"Of the countries he has visited and three countries he will be visiting, six are those countries where no Indian President has visited earlier....This represents President Kovind's determination to open up new geographical spaces," Press Secretary to President Ashok Mallik told reporters here.
He said this is President Kovind's fourth international visit and this will be also his first first visit to countries outside Africa.
Mr Kovind took over as the 14th President of India on July 25, 2017.
Joint Secretary Central Europe Subrata Bhattacharjee told reporters here that President Kovind will be also accompanied among others by Union Minister of State for Steel Vishnu Deo Sai and two Members of Parliament Dinesh Kashyap and Nityanand Rai - both BJP.
During his stay in Greece, President Kovind will visit places of historical and archaeological importance and he will also address Indian diaspora.
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," Mr Bhattacharjee said.
Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos will host a banquet for the President Kovind on June 18. Mr Kovind will have a crucial breakfast meeting with India and Greek CEOs the next day.
On June 19, President 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 his visit of Greece, President will move to Suriname for his next leg of visit and subsequently visit Cuba.
In Surname, President will be participating in this year's International Day of Yoga along with the President of Suriname 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, President Kovind will hold a wide range of discussions with the Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez.
"It will be first ever visit of the President of India to Cuba since Cuban Revolution in 1959," Joint Secretary Latin America & Carribbean (LAC) Partha Satpathy said.
"India shares close, warm and historical relations with Cuba," he said adding both India and Cuba are also the founders of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
To a question whether this visit of President Kovind could be linked to efforts for 'reviving' the NAM as both India and Cuba are founding members of the one time much hyped international body, Joint Secretary Satpathy said: "I am not going to debate on the position of NAM. Both India and Cuba are founding members of NAM and both practice their own foreign policies which is devoid of any pressure".
"So the occasion does provide both countries to reiterate their mutual support and support for the organisation," Mr Satpathy said.
UNI DEVN SHK 1852