Indian Navy commanders call on President and VP |03 September 2008

The warships INS Godavari and INS Talwar arrived yesterday morning for a four-day goodwill visit that is part of the Indian Navy’s overseas deployment to the Red Sea and East Africa.

The two ships are part of the Western Naval Command based at Mumbai.

The officers were accompanied on their visit by the Indian High Commissioner to Seychelles Asit Kumar Nag, Captain Ravneet Singh, defence adviser to the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces and Lt Cdr Shishir Dixit, technical naval adviser to the Seychelles Coast Guard.

Talking to the press after the meetings, Rear Admiral Anil Chopra said such visits always provide an opportunity for India to reinforce and enhance the friendly relations it enjoys with its neighbours and also promote more interaction between the various forces of the region.

“We make it a point during these visits to carry out exercises with the navies and coast guards for mutual security and mutual benefits,” said Admiral Chopra.

He said their talks with President Michel and VP Belmont centred on maritime safety and security, and cooperation between India and Seychelles in various areas including defence among many other issues.

He praised the good relations between the two countries and expressed the hope that they will continue to expand and prosper.

Among the activities planned for the visiting officers are a medical camp to be held today in consultation with the Seychelles Coast Guard. Training sessions for coastguard officers at their base in Victoria have also been planned.

The two warships are expected to leave Seychelles on Friday.