Patil confers Nehru Award on Iceland President

New Delhi, Jan 14 (PTI) Iceland President Olafur Ragnar
Grimsson was Thursday conferred the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for
International Understanding by Indian President Pratibha
Patil.
Patil hailed Grimsson as a remarkable leader with a
global vision and a proponent of peace and understanding as
she presented the Award to him at a ceremony attended by
Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
The Award comprises a memento, a scroll of honour and a
Rs 50 lakh purse.
Grimsson dedicated the funds associated with the Nehru
Award to promote cooperation between scientists of the two
countries in understanding glaciers and water resources in the
Himalayas.
"India values your close association and friendship of
over a quarter of a century and appreciates your personal
contribution in furthering India-Iceland relations. We are
aware of your deep fondness for India," Patil said.
It is, therefore, a privilege to honour a true friend of
India and an outstanding leader of Iceland, she said.
"You have by your personal example encouraged political
leaders to go beyond the issues that divide people and parties
to demonstrate statesmanship in the interest of our common
good," Ansari said in his brief remarks. PTI