Saudi Arabia honours Indian envoy
July 12th, 2011 - 9:52 pm ICT by IANS
Riyadh, July 12 (IANS) Saudi Arabia has conferred the King Abdulaziz Medal of First Class on Indian Ambassador to Riyadh Talmiz Ahmad for his contribution to the promotion of bilateral relations.
Ahmad, who was presented the award in Jeddah Sunday, is the first Indian diplomat to be conferred such an honour by Saudi Arabia.
The medal was presented by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal. It comprises a decorative badge and a certificate signed by King Abdullah.
“Indo-Saudi relations have been transformed into a strategic partnership with the signing of the Delhi Declaration during the landmark visit of King Abdullah to New Delhi in 2006, and the return visit of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last year,” he said.
The ambassador thanked the Saudi leadership for taking care of about two million Indian workers in the country.
He said the honour was “the result of a commitment at the highest level to pursue the realisation of strategic partnership between Riyadh and New Delhi”.
“Mine has been a modest role in this endeavour, in which a large number of people have contributed both from India and Saudi Arabia,” he added.
Ahmad, who is retiring shortly, was first appointed India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia in January 2000. He also became the ambassador to Oman in July 2003.
Ahmad has also served in several countries of the region including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Kuwait, Iraq and Yemen.
- Antony's visit: India, Saudi Arabia seek stronger ties - Feb 15, 2012
- Indian PM departs after historic Saudi visit (Third Lead) - Mar 01, 2010
- Indian PM concludes historic Saudi visit (Roundup) - Mar 01, 2010
- India, Saudi Arabia ink historic Riyadh Declaration - Mar 01, 2010
- India, Saudi Arabia to set up joint defence panel (Lead) - Feb 15, 2012
- Saudi offer to hike crude exports to India - Feb 14, 2012
- Krishna leaves for Saudi Arabia - Mar 25, 2011
- First Indian women's' team returns from S. Arabia with a few surprises - Oct 27, 2010
- $50 mn Saudi aid for Turkey quake survivors - Oct 28, 2011
- What the new Indo-Saudi strategic partnership aims at (News Analysis) - Mar 02, 2010
- Saudi king to undergo back surgery - Oct 17, 2011
- Visiting Saudi governor invites Indian investment - Apr 12, 2010
- India, Saudi to share information on terrorist movement, arms, drugs - Feb 27, 2010
- GCC leaders welcome Gulf Union proposal - Dec 20, 2011
- Saudi rulers looking for 'another Musharraf' in place of 'rotten head' Zardari as Pak ruler - Dec 02, 2010
Tags: bilateral relations, delhi declaration, indian ambassador, indian diplomat, indian envoy, indian prime minister, indian prime minister manmohan singh, jeddah, king abdulaziz, king abdullah, landmark visit, manmohan, manmohan singh, prime minister manmohan, prime minister manmohan singh, prince saud, saudi arabia, saudi relations, strategic partnership, united arab emirates