New Delhi: The 4th International Diplomats Day, the brainchild of a Bihar-born diplomat, Abhay Kumar, was celebrated all across the world on October 24, 2020 by both diplomats and common people.
A number of Ambassadors and Diplomats put out their text, photo and video messages on Twitter to mark the day which included Shumona Iqbal, Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Brunei, Atul Ghotsurve, Indian Ambassador to DPR Korea, Vola Rakotondrazafy, Head of UNIDO, Madagascar, M.P. Singh, Indian Ambassador to Mongolia, Railssa Alencar, Brazilian Diplomat, Dr. Aman Puri, Consul General of India in Dubai, Indran Amirthanayagam, U.S. Diplomat at the State Department in Washington DC, Namrata Kumar, Indian Ambassador to Slovenia, Gerry Diaz Bartolome, Argentina’s Deputy Chief of Mission in USA, Yvonni Efstathiou, EU’s political officer in UAE, Prasad Kariyawasam, former Foreign Secretary of Sri Lanka, Mahishini Colonne, Sri Lankan Foreign Service officer, Karthigeyan Subramaniam, India’s Deputy High Commissioner to Australia, Youjin Huh, an officer with South Korea’s trade Promotion agency in Seoul, M. Ashraf Haidari, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Ninad Deshpande, India’s former Deputy High Commisioner to Singapore, Sanjay Panda, a indian Ambassador to Turkey, Ambassador Kishan Rana, a foremost writer of contemporary Diplomatic practices and innovations among others.
Also read: Bihar’s connection with International Day of Diplomats
A number of celebrities including parliamentarian Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Bollywood actress from Brazil Izabelle Leite, Miss Nepal Earth 2015 Medha Koirala also wished the diplomats around the world a very happy International Diplomats Day using hashtags #InternationalDiplomatsDay and #ServingPeopleGlobally.
Consulate General of India in Dubai organised a special event in Dubai to mark the 75th UN Day and 4th International Diplomats Day during which a number of consuls general, as well as Ahmed Al Banna, UAE’s ambassador to India, and representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, UAE, among others attended the event. Speaking on the occasion Consul General Dr. Aman Puri wished everyone a very happy 4th International Diplomats Day and 75th UN Day and said —“Together we can and we shall overcome all the difficulties.” He thanked UAE authorities for their exceptional support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abhay Kumar, Ambassador of India to Madagascar and Comoros, hosted a reception in Madagascar’s capital to mark the 75th UN Day and 4th International Diplomats Day. Tehindrazanarivelo Liva Djcoba, Foreign Minister of Madagascar, Valery Fitzgerald Ramonjavelo, Secretary General of Presidency, Admiral Padoue, SG of Defence, Tahirimiakadaza Ratsimandao, SG of Foreign Ministry, Russian Ambassador M. Stanislav Anvarovich Akhmedov Swiss Ambassador M. Chasper Sarott, Ambassador of Mauritius Mrs. Marie Noelle Francoise LABELLE, Ambassador of Norway, M. Andreas Danevad, Indonesian Chargé d’Affaires, M. Benny Yan Pieter Siahaan, Director of International Labor organisation, Mr Coffi Agossou, Deputy Chief of Mission of Japan, Chargé d’Affaires of Morocco, Mr. Abderrahim ANISS, UNIDO Country Representative,Volatiana Rakotondrazafy and the high representative of African Union in Madagascar Hawa Ahmad Youssouf took part in the celebrations. Ambassadors of USA, France and Turkey also sent their congratulatory messages and best wishes for the celebrations. The event was made even more special by a performance by the World famous Malagasy Valiha player Rajery.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Abhay Kumar said that he is delighted to see the International Diplomats Day going global this year, which he had started in Brasilia in 2017. He added that he feels a sense of satisfaction in seeing International Diplomats Day getting bigger every year, it is like seeing a baby grow and take little footsteps in the world. He hopes that the International Diplomats Day celebrations will truly become universal in coming years as there seems to be a huge need among diplomats all over the world to express themselves, to be appreciated for the hard work they do serving people globally.
A visionary effort by Ambassador Abhay Kumar needs appreciation.