I am delighted to be here again to speak to you at this inaugural session of the Concluding Conference of the programme on"Cooperative Development, Peace and Security in South and Central Asia”.I fondly recall visiting CRRID as External Affairs Minister to deliver the P.N. Haksar Memorial Lecture and as Finance Minister to chair a conference on this topic.

1.It is indeed a happy occasion for me to be present amidst you on the International Day of Older Persons. It is my privilege to honour, through the "Vayoshreshtha Samman”, individuals and institutions who have rendered outstanding services to the cause of the elderly.

Your Royal Highness, Princess Wizdan,

Your Excellency, Dr. Abdullah Ensour, H’ble Prime Minister of Jordan

Hon'ble Ministers,

Members of Parliament of Jordan,

Ambassador of India, Shri Anil Trigunayat

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to be here in Jordan on the very first State Visit by a President of India.

Your Excellency, Mr. Labib Al Khadra, Minister of Higher Education & Scientific Research,

Your Excellency, Professor Dr. Ekhleif Tarawneh, President of the University of Jordan,

Members of the Faculty and distinguished members of the academic community,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Your Excellency, President Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is indeed a great privilege to be here on the first State Visit to Palestine by an Indian President.

Hon'ble Prime Minister, His Excellency Mr. Rami Hamdallah,

Hon'ble Minister of Education, His Excellency Mr. Sabri Saidam,

Hon'ble President of the Al-Quds University Mr. Imad Abu Kishek,

Members of the Faculty and the academic community,

Distinguished guests,

Distinguished Members of the Indian Community,

Your Excellency Mr. Reuven Rivlin, President of the State of Israel,

Mrs. Rivlin,

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. I am very happy to be here today. This is a historic first State Visit to Israel by an Indian President. I thank President Reuven Rivlin and the Government and people of Israel for the warm reception and gracious hospitality extended to me and to my delegation.

2.Soon after my arrival I visited Yad Varshem and offered prayers in memory of all the men, women and children commemorated here.

<p>Shalom &amp; Namaste.</p><p>H’ble Mr. Yuli Edelstein, Speaker of the Knesset,</p><p>Members of the Knesset,</p><p>Excellencies,</p><p class="title1">Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,</p><p>1.I feel deeply honoured to be the first Indian President to make a State Visit to Israel. Since I arrived here yesterday, I have been touched by the warmth of the reception and the gracious hospitality that has been accorded to me and to my delegation.