President Pranab Mukherjee appreciates Belarus support to India's UNSC bid, Yoga Day

MINSK: President Pranab Mukherjee today thanked Belarus for its "unequivocal endorsement" of India's "rightful" claim to a permanent UNSC seat and for supporting the Indian proposal to declare June 21 as International Day of Yoga.

Speaking at the luncheon hosted by President Alexander V Lukashenko, Mukherjee said co-operation between the two countries in the UN and other multilateral fora, including the Non-Aligned Movement, has been close and fruitful.

"This should continue. India deeply appreciates Belarus' unequivocal endorsement of India's rightful claim to permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council," he said.

Mukherjee, who arrived here last night on a two-day visit, said India has and always will appreciate Belarus' approach on issues of concern to it within the framework of international organisations.

"We are also delighted that Belarus fully supported India's proposal to declare June 21 as International Day of Yoga in the United Nations General Assembly," he said.

The UN declared June 21 as the International Day of Yoga, in December last year after Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for it in his maiden address to the General Assembly in New York in September.

Mukherjee's Belarus visit is the first Presidential visit from India.

"We have had the pleasure of receiving you (Lukashenko) twice in India as the President of Belarus, in 1997 and in 2007. Your successful visits have contributed enormously in elevating our relations to a higher trajectory and in enhancing the quality of our dialogue," he said.

The President said the discussions today, and the various events being held in conjunction with his visit, would take India-Belarus relations to even greater heights.

"Let me reiterate that India remains fully committed to a deeper and more diversified relationship with Belarus... We both agree that there is enormous untapped potential in our relationship," he said.

Mukherjee said it is necessary that discussions on several useful ideas and initiatives to enhance our cooperation should be implemented in the most effective manner.

"I would like to reiterate that we may focus our efforts on our economic and commercial cooperation, our defence ties as well as scientific and educational linkages," he said.