Privileged to be in `great country` India: Israel President Reuven Rivlin

New Delhi: Visiting Israel President Reuven Rivlin received a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.

Rivlin was warmly welcomed by President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visiting dignitary then inspected a guard of honour.

Later, speaking to the media, Rivlin said, “Very honoured and pleased to be the guest of President Mukherjee, privileged to be here in your great country India.”

Rivlin is the first Israeli President to visit India in nearly two decades. 

President Rivlin will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister later today on areas of mutual cooperation.

Yesterday, on his arrival in India, President Rivlin said that his visit was a chance to not only build on the relations between the two countries but also look at ways to further stretch boundaries of cooperation.

President Rivlin also pledged complete support to India in its fight against terror.

“Terror is terror is terror, whoever carries it out and whoever are its victims. And we all have the duty to condemn in our words, and fight with our deeds against this terrible evil,” asserted the President, whose country is one of the biggest suppliers of defence equipment to India and is cooperating with it in a major way in dealing with terrorism.

The Israeli President also acknowledged differences with India on the Palestinian issue but spoke warmly about the growing Indo- Israeli ties as the two countries prepare to celebrate 25 years of establishment of full diplomatic ties between them next year.