Reason, not rhetoric, must drive ONOE
The BJP-led NDA government has made a momentous move by introducing the 'One Nation, One Election' Bill in Parliament this week.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will undertake a four-day visit to Bulgaria, Morocco and Spain from 16-19 February to deepen India’s ties with these nations.
Briefing reporters here on Thursday, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Swaraj’s trip to Bulgaria on 16-17 February was a follow-up to the state visit of President Ram Nath Kovind in September last year. This would be the first ever visit of an Indian foreign minister to Bulgaria.
Advertisement
During the visit, Swaraj would meet with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Bulgaria. The two sides would discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interests.
Advertisement
In the second leg of her tour, she would visit Morocco. The visit is in pursuit of India’s objective of enhanced engagement with the kingdom and would provide an opportunity to hold in-depth discussions on bilateral, regional and global issues, the spokesperson said. Three MoUs for cooperation in the areas of counter-terrorism, housing & human settlements and youth matters are expected to be signed during the visit.
In the last leg of her visit, Swaraj would travel to Spain on 18-19 February. During the visit, she would hold a bilateral meeting with her counterpart to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual concern.
The Spanish Government would also confer upon Swaraj the prestigious Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit for India’s swift response through ‘Operation Maitri’ in rescuing 71 Spanish nationals from Nepal in April 2015 in the wake of the disastrous earthquake.
Advertisement
