Mathai assumes charge as FS; to work to better Indo-Pak ties

New Delhi, Aug 1 (PTI) Veteran Indian diplomat Ranjan
Mathai Monday assumed charge as new Foreign Secretary
succeeding Nirupama Rao and said he would try and work to
restore "trust and confidence" in Indo-Pak relations.
Mathai, a 1974-batch IFS officer, moved into his
office in the Ministry of External Affairs in South Block at
around 9.25 AM (IST) and assumed charge of the top post.
He said maintaining an era of constructive cooperation
in the immediate neighbourhood will be one of his priority
tasks as Foreign Secretary.
On Indo-Pak relations, 59-year-old Mathai, who will
have a two-year fixed tenure, said the mandate for the Foreign
Secretary is to pave the way for a substantive dialogue with
Pakistan on all issues.
"We have to try and work to restore trust and
confidence...This is the mandate which has been given to me.
Foreign Secretary is as much an institution as an individual.
So I will continue this effort," he told reporters after
taking charge.
"Continuity will be my watch word," he said.
To a question whether composite dialogue is the "right
way" between India and Pakistan, the Foreign Secretary said,
"The mandate is substantive dialogue on all issues of common
concern."
Mathai, who has served in Indian missions in Vienna,
Colombo, Washington, Tehran and Brussels, said India should
develop "strong and cooperative relationship" with all global
players.
"We need to keep in mind the need for very, very
strong relations with countries in Latin America, Central
Asia, South East Asia and the Gulf region," he said.
Outgoing Foreign Secretary Rao has been appointed
India's Ambassador to the United States.

Mathai said he was "greatly honoured" to take up the
assignment which is a "very complex one and full of many
challenges."
"We are in a world of flux and we have to be
innovative and adapt to the situation as it develops. But at
the same time, we have to be clear about what are our national
priorities and interests, many of which remain permanent," he
said.
In dealing with foreign policy challenges, Mathai said
one has to take a holistic view of the political, strategic,
economic, commercial, cultural and public aspects.
He said he would like to give "considerable priority"
to public services dimension of the Ministry of External
Affairs like passport and consular services.
"I think this is an area that needs particular
importance," he said.
He said the Ministry has to be administered according
to the regulations and there is a management system which has
to be addressed while keeping in mind the morale of the
personnel.
After completing post graduate studies in political
science at the University of Poona, Mathai joined the Indian
Foreign Service in 1974.
As Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs
in New Delhi between January 1995 to February 1998, he headed
the division dealing with India's relations with Bangladesh,
Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Maldives.
He also served as Indian Ambassador to Israel from
February 1998 to June 2001 and was the Indian envoy in Qatar
from August 2001 to July 2005.
He held the post of Deputy High Commissioner of India
in the UK from August 2005 to January 2007.