Vice President calls on new UAE President, offers condolences

Abu Dhabi: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday offered condolences on behalf of the Government of India on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, to the new ruler of Abu Dhabi and President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. President of UAE Sheikh Mohamed accepted condolences in the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, from Vice President Venkaiah Naidu at Mushrif Palace. Vice President Naidu was among a host of world leaders to call on the new UAE President. The others were President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani of Mauritania; Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan and Wavel Ramkalawan, President of Seychelles, WAM news agency reported. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, passed away on Friday. The Vice President on landing in Abu Dhabi at noon today went straight to Mushrif Palace and offered his condolences to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, newly-elected President of the UAE, the royal family and the entire leadership of the UAE. Vice President Naidu conveyed the condolences of President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reiterated that India and its people stand by the UAE at this difficult time, an official statement said. The Vice President fondly recalled that under the leadership of Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, India-UAE ties prospered greatly to the mutual benefit of the people of the two countries and also that Sheikh Khalifa took exceptional care of the large Indian community in UAE, who held him in the high esteem. Earlier, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar visited the UAE Embassy in New Delhi on Saturday to convey India’s condolences. India has also observed a day of national mourning on May 14. Vice President also conveyed his best wishes to Sheikh Mohamed on being elected as the third President of the UAE. Vice President said that under his care and leadership, the two countries will continue to take forward their historic and comprehensive strategic relationship in new and diverse areas. Vice President was accompanied by Ambassador of India to the UAE Sunjay Sudhir, Secretary to the Vice President, Joint Secretary (Gulf) and other senior officials of Government of India. (UNI)