VP Shekhawat and his entourage touring the SPDF museum

The Indian Vice-President's whistle-stop tour of Seychelles continued on Wednesday September 10,  with a visit to the Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA) where he spoke of his government's continued support for peace and stability in Seychelles.

Following the presentation of arms by an SPDF (Seychelles People's Defence Forces) guard of honour, Vice-President Sri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat toured the SPDF museum before delivering a speech to the assembled dignitaries.

The Vice-President told an audience, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Jeremie Bonnelame, the SPDF Chief of Staff Colonel Leopold Payet and the Indian High Commissioner, Mr Malay Mishra, that ever since Seychelles' Independence there had been close and regular cooperation between the defence forces of the two countries.
Vice-President Shekhawat said that, "to safeguard democracy, to protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country and the freedom of the people we depend upon the professional, apolitical and disciplined defence forces."

He suggested that this had been facilitated in Seychelles through working alongside the Indian armed forces adding, "the SDA is a symbol of this cooperation, extended into vital areas such as training for SPDF personnel, joint training of the two forces, visits by Indian warships and supply of defence related equipment."

The vice-president concluded his speech with an assurance for continued cooperation in the future, saying that the Indian government wishes to share its resources and technology for the peace and stability of Seychelles and the well-being of the Seychellois people.

Colonel Payet echoed the vice-president's sentiments saying that the SPDF had benefited tremendously from the professional development of its cadres through Indian assistance and continued to benefit from the expertise of Indian military and naval experts.

Thanking the vice-president for the assistance and donations that had been made to the SPDF, Colonel Payet said: "For our two nations to progress we need to create a secure, peaceful and stable environment," based upon the "true spirit of friendship between us."

Commanding Officer of the SDA, Major Gerard Waye-Hive, told the vice-president that much of the success of the SDA had come about as a result of the long-standing defence cooperation that exists between Seychelles and India.

The Major offered his thanks for what he called the "commitment and devotion to duty" which a series of Indian military experts had shown in their work with officer cadets at the SDA and added he was sure that the Indian government would continue to offer its assistance in the training of the Seychelles armed forces.

The vice-president's tour of the SDA followed a morning visit to the Vilaz Artizanal, at Val de Pres.

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