National   

What a pity, I will miss the Taj

Sujay Mehdudia

LISBON: A long delayed visit to India and not being able to witness the marvellous Taj Mahal has left Portugese President Anibal Cavaco Silva disappointed. "I regret that I will not be able to go to Agra to see the Taj Mahal. What a pity," Prof. Silva remarked.

Talking to a group of visiting journalists from India, Prof. Silva said he was keen on visiting the Taj Mahal along with his wife Maria Alves da Silva Cavaco Silva, but has been told that weather conditions do not permit the landing of aircraft. "I am told that there is a lot of fog in the morning... .not making it to Agra is something that I will regret. My wife will also be very disappointed about the whole thing," he added.

Prof. Silva said this will be his second major visit to any country after having taking over as the President of Portugal in March 2006 which indicated the importance he gave to relations with India. Apart from business and trade, Prof. Silva said that he would also look forward to cooperation with India in the field of culture, education and scientific development. There could an exchange programme among the Universities of India and Portugal and for this a number of Chancellors of various universities of Portugal are going along with the Presidential delegation to India, he informed.

"While India can attract tourists from Portugal with its immense and variety of destinations, the same could apply for Portugal. We will be tapping the Indian market with an eye on the tourism sector during 2007 in a big way. We are planning to take up with the tour operators that they include Portugal in the European circuit so that it becomes a famous destination for the future," remarked Luis Manuel Patrao, president of the Turismo De Portugal, the leading agency for promotion of tourism.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

I was not consulted: Bhargava
"An act of cowardice"
U.P. acted under our pressure: Sonia
`Psychological profiling' of Noida killers done
Eight of polling team killed in Assam blasts
Portugal President's visit to focus on improving trade relations
What a pity, I will miss the Taj
Killings have lowered Assam's image: Gogoi
Deve Gowda rules out JD (S) joining NDA
Stop acquisition of land for SEZs: CPI
CPI (M) for continuing peace process with Pakistan
Navy expects early funds for project
See the speaker as you talk over phone
AIDS-nutrition linkages study planned
"My father loves children and cannot be their killer"
UPS model its users can flaunt
Resolution lies in addressing post-1989 situation, says Lone
Do not politicise dam project, Congress tells Modi
Red alert issued in Bihar
U.P. Governor leaves for Delhi to meet Patil
Electric cars getting better
Godhra riots : Gujarat seeks more time to submit reply
Interacting with an astronaut
Call for policy to integrate HIV victims
Avian tourists land in Rajasthan
Prohibitory orders at Mandsaur
Narayana Murthy backs Buddhadeb
Manmohan calls on Kalam
Army, police blame each other
Bahais sore over Egypt court ruling
"Narco test is rape of mind"
Inhuman: Kalam
Arrested for threatening to blow up plane

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu