Our Correspondent
Kohima | May 27
Nagaland’s Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has received a letter from Buckingham Palace in London, United Kingdom on the visit of His Royal Highness, The Prince Andrew, Duke of York, KG. The letter stated that the Duke of York was greatly touched by the incredibly warm welcome that the Chief Minister and the people of Nagaland accorded him during his visit and that he was delighted to be able to participate in a celebration of the United Kingdom and Nagaland’s culture.
It says that the Prince found the music, dance and dress at the cultural show incredible and that he was very pleased to see so many young people at the cultural show while hoping that his presence would encourage renewed energy for the relationship between the United Kingdom and Nagaland in the younger generation.
His Royal Highness states that he was delighted to be visiting Nagaland during Her Majesty The Queens’s Diamond Jubilee Year and found the visit to the Kohima War Cemetery incredibly moving and was deeply honoured to have the opportunity to lay a wreath on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen at the war cemetery alongside the Chief Minister and the Inspector General of Assam Rifles.
It was incredibly important to His Royal Highness that the sacrifice made by the British and Indian soldiers fighting together against the Japanese at Kohima be appropriately recognised during the diamond jubilee visit to India, the letter states.
His Royal Highness further states that he greatly enjoyed the discussion over lunch and having the opportunity to reflect on the day and that he was so pleased to be able to visit the excellent World War II Museum and to be able to meet so many of the veterans from the World War II who he says are a huge credit to Nagaland.
It states that His Royal Highness is very keen that we use the opportunity of this visit to enhance our important relationship and in addition he has asked the British High Commissioner to consider ideas for the United Kingdom and Nagaland to engage in various projects and in particular in power generation.
The Prince Andrew also expressed gratefulness for the beautiful gifts from the Chief Minister and the people of Nagaland and added that these gifts will serve as an excellent memento of what was a very memorable visit to Nagaland.
The Prince Andrew sent his best wishes to the Chief Minister and the people of Nagaland.
Buckingham Palace also wrote appreciation letters to five senior officers of the State Government, namely Additional Chief Secretary & Development Commissioner Alemtemshi Jamir, Additional Chief Secretary & Commissioner, Banuo Jamir, Home Commissioner J. Alam, Director General of Police, O. Alem and Press Secretary to the Chief Minister Abu Metha, thanking them for their assistance and contribution in making the Prince’s visit to Nagaland a successful and memorable visit.
