JUBAIL: Three Indian navy ships from the Southern Naval Command - INS Tir, INS Krishna and ICGS Veera - arrived at Jubail Port Thursday, as part of efforts to enhance relations with Saudi Arabia. The Southern Naval Command is the First Training Squadron of the Indian Navy. It has been training officers and sailors of the Indian Navy in basic courses and specializations at various stages of their careers. It also offers training courses to cadets of other friendly countries. A press conference was held Thursday on board the INS Tir, which was addressed by Talmiz Ahmad, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom; Captain K.N Sushil, Southern Naval commander, Kochi; and Captain Sanjiv Issar, Commanding Officer INS Tir. Ahmad stressed the importance of dialogue and identified areas of common maritime and other interest between India and Saudi Arabia. He said India has long-standing and strong relations with Saudi Arabia, which was strengthened by the recent visit of Manmohan Singh, the Indian Prime Minister, to the Kingdom. “Relations are improving with strategic partnerships in defense, culture, politics, energy and economics.” He added that A.K. Antony, India's Defense Minister, will visit the Kingdom on May 7 in Riyadh, which will further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. “I am very delighted with the visit of the three Indian naval ships. They are part of historic maritime linkages that India has had with the Gulf for several centuries. Ours is a mission of goodwill and friendship. We want to exchange ideas with the personnel of the Saudi Navy about development, technology, strategy and tactics,” he added. Issar said that around 500 crew members are on board the three ships which include training officers and sailors of the Southern Indian Navy. He said they had previously visited Muscat and Abu Dhabi before Jubail. After four days of maritime joint exercises and talks with their Saudi counterparts, they will be leaving for India on Sunday. “The Saudi government welcomes our visit and we will exchange ideas to benefit each other,” said Sushil. Hydrographic surveys to determine sea borders will be one of the major topics under discussion. Various Indian cultural programs were held on the ship, including Bharathanattyam, a Panjabi dance. Also present at the event were Colonel Garbiel Benescu (Defense, Military, Air & Naval Attaché of the Embassy of Romania, Riyadh); and Captain Keith Pollock (Defense Attaché of New Zealand Embassy, Riyadh).
