Veteran diplomat Ranjan Mathai takes over as India's new Foreign Secretary
Mathai, who until recently was India's ambassador to France, will have a two-year tenure in office
New Delhi: Veteran diplomat Ranjan Mathai Monday took over as India's new Foreign Secretary. Mathai, a 1974-batch Indian Foreign Service officer, replaced Nirupama Rao, who demitted office on Sunday upon her retirement from the service. Rao has been named as India's new envoy to the United States of America.
Mathai, who until recently was India's ambassador to France, will have a two-year tenure in office.
"The Foreign Secretary is as much an institution as an individual. So I will continue this effort," said Mathai
Mathai has held several prestigious posts during his chequered diplomatic career including ambassador to Israel and Qatar, deputy high commissioner to Britain, besides servicing in the Indian embassies in Vienna, Colombo, Washington, Tehran and Brussels.
In between the was joint secretary, based at foreign office in New Delhi, as in-charge for India's ties with neighbours Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Maldives for thee years between January 1995 to February 1998.
One of the top priority areas for the new Foreign Secretary would be to improve bilateral ties with neighbouring Pakistan. "My mandate is substantive dialogue on all issues of common concerns," Mathai said after assuming office.
