President Pranab Mukherjee today said India's foreign policy must adapt to changing scenarios in the world while continuing to be guided by certain basic fundamentals and the country's commitment to global peace.
Addressing Indian envoys here at the annual Heads of Mission Conference, the President said, "There are certain basic fundamentals in our foreign policy that we have inherited from our core civilization values and our freedom movement. They must continue to guide us in our relations with our neighbours."
A total of 120 Indian diplomats have gathered here for the conference whose theme this year was "India's place in the changing world order"
The President said the theme of the conference was "extremely relevant."
"India has been always committed to global peace but is conscious of the fact that efforts for the same should begin from our neighbourhood. We can change friends but not neighbours.
"Change is the only constant and India's foreign policy must adapt to changing scenarios in the world," he said.
Talking about terrorism, Mukherjee made it clear that while the menace remains a major challenge, no country could insulate itself from it.
"India was the first country to recognize at a high personal cost the threat that terrorism posed and to warn the world about it. Many countries in the Indian sub-continent have been victims of terrorism.
"It has witnessed the largest number of political assassination of its leaders. This challenge of terrorism needs to be addressed through greater collective efforts. No country can insulate itself from this menace," the President said.
Stating that India deserves to have her rightful place in the comity of nations, Mukherjee asked Heads of Missions to work towards this goal.
