Distinguished diplomat Chinmaya R. Gharekhan was appointed as India's special envoy for West Asia and the Middle East peace process on Thursday.
The veteran diplomat who in the past few weeks was widely tipped for the position in the backdrop of an opinion that India should have a well thought out policy for the region, had served as India's permanent representative to the United Nations in New York in the early nineties.
He has also served as the permanent representative to the UN in Geneva and additional secretary in the Prime Minister's office.
On retirement in 1992, Gharekhan served as Under Secretary General in United Nations, first as UN Secretary General's Personal Representative to Security Council and later as UN Special Coordinator in the Occupied Territories.
Gharekhan's appointment comes after the conduct of elections in Iraq. He recently said that India should continue to have close and friendly relations with Iraq.
"India's relations with Iraq have been very close and friendly. There is great love for India among the Iraqi people and the Indian government is very conscious about taking the close and friendly relations with Iraq forward," Gharekhan said.
There has not been any official announcement regarding the special envoys to Pakistan and China yet but it is expected soon.
Satish K. Lambah is being tipped to be the special envoy to Pakistan while Vijay Nambiar is expected to be India's special envoy to China.
