Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding conferred on Mr. Goh Chok Tong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore
VICE PRESIDENT’S SPEECH
The Jawaharlal Nehru Award For International Peace and Understanding was conferred on Mr. Goh Chok Tong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore by the President Shri A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan, here today.
The Vice President, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who is also the Chairman of the Jury for the Award, lauded Mr. Goh as a leader who not only guided Singapore to become a success story and model for others but also as a person of eminence whose achievements extend beyond national boundaries. Mr. Goh has `voiced the aspirations and concerns of all the developing countries and has advocated dialogue between different regions of the world’, Shri Shekhawat added.
Noting that all the Jury Members were unanimous in deciding to confer the Nehru Award for 2003 on H.E. Mr. Goh Chok Tong, the Vice President said, “In conferring this Award on you, we acknowledge and honour your contributions to build a stable and prosperous multi-racial society within your own country, your strong commitment to build a better and well integrated region, and a world living in peace and harmony. This was the vision of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru”, he added.
Shri Shekhawat further said that during Mr. Goh’s distinguished premiership, the profile of India in Singapore and of Singapore in India have gone up considerably. The excellent shape of India-Singapore and India-ASEAN relations today is in no small measure, due to his personal involvement and commitment.
The following is the full text of Shri Shekhawat’s speech:
“We are here today on a very happy and important occasion to present the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding instituted in the memory of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of modern India, our first Prime Minister, who was a visionary leader and great thinker.
As Chairman of the Jury for this Award, it is my privilege to inform you that after due deliberations, all the Jury Members were happy to decide unanimously to confer the Nehru Award for 2003 on His Excellency Mr. Goh Chok Tong, the Prime Minister of Singapore.
Mr. Prime Minister, you are today joining a galaxy of eminent persons including Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Chancellor Helmut Kohl and others, who have been conferred this Award in the past. In conferring this Award on you, we acknowledge and honour your contributions to build a stable and prosperous multi-racial society within your own country, your strong commitment to build a better and well integrated region, and a world living in peace and harmony. This was the vision of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
You have guided the destiny of Singapore for the past fourteen years, Singapore of today is a success story and a model for others to emulate.
Your achievements extend beyond national boundaries and indeed reach the whole world. You have voiced the aspirations and concerns of all the developing countries. You have advocated dialogue between different regions of the World.
Mr. Prime Minister, we value and cherish your friendship with India. During your distinguished premiership, the profile of India in Singapore and of Singapore in India have gone up considerably. The excellent shape of India-Singapore and India-ASEAN relations today is in no small measure, due to your personal involvement and commitment.
It is, therefore, a matter of particular pleasure for India to honour you with the Award. Let me on my part offer my warmest greetings and felicitations on this outstanding distinction conferred on you by our country.
I now invite the Director General of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Secretary of the Jury of the Award, Shri Rakesh Kumar, to read the Citation of the Award and request the President of India, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, to present the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding for 2003 to His Excellency, Mr. Goh Chok Tong, the Prime Minister of Singapore.”
(Release ID :2420)