The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Mulford opens U.S. consulate

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Saturday, Oct 25, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Mulford opens U.S. consulate

Special Correspondent

This facility will begin processing 100 visa applications a day

HYDERABAD: The new American Consulate General was opened here on Friday by the U.S. Ambassador David C. Mulford. It will begin processing 100 visa applications a day by the middle of December and scale it up to 300 by January next.

Presiding over the function, he said the U.S. mission in India was the largest in the world outside the one in Iraq. Its opening reflected the essential role that people-to-people relations have played and would continue to play in the development of strong ties between the two nations.

Promise fulfilled

Stating that the ceremony fulfilled U.S. President George Bush’s 2006 promise to open a new consulate in this “historic and important city”, he said Mr. Bush was a great friend and admirer of India.

“The President has also been able to envision the impact this relationship can have on the world in future. As a result, we have seen enormous growth in the breadth and scope of the U.S.-India relations”.

Terming the U.S.-India ties as “broad, deep and flourishing”, he said the unprecedented growth of the collaboration in the past four years encompassed everything from defence cooperation to agriculture, reflecting the widespread support in both countries to broaden existing ties and build new ones.

Referring to the signing of the 123 Agreement by the two countries for civil nuclear cooperation, he said it capped eight years of efforts to elevate the bilateral relationship to a true strategic partnership. “Hard work and creative negotiations by both the nations changed the American law and shepherded our agreement through international community in a “diplomatic triumph for both nations”.

Appreciating the State government for leasing out the historic Paigah Palace to serve as a temporary consulate, he said Hyderabad was chosen in clear recognition of its importance as a major social, political and commercial centre.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy described the opening of the Consulate as a momentous occasion.

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