Islamabad;07 Nov 2019-Ambassador-designate of European Union Ms. Androulla Kaminara presented her Credentials to President Dr. Arif Alvi in a credentials ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, Islamabad on Thursday.
The President felicitated the newly appointed Ambassador to Pakistan and hoped that she would work for further strengthening the existing ties of European Unionwith Pakistan.
Later, the Ambassador called on the President. Speaking on the occasion, the President said that Pakistan was desirous of cordial relations with all friendly countries. He stressed that it was incumbent upon the international community to work for the alleviation of the misery that the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir were suffering at the hands of the Indian fascist regime. He added that the world peace had been endangered by the reckless and provocative approach adopted by this regime.
Responding to President’s welcome remarks, the EU Ambassador expressed her wish to contribute to further increase cooperation between the EU and Pakistan and to help assure that the commonly agreed objectives are met.
At the ceremony the EU Ambassador Mrs Kaminara said, “The European Union has been a reliable partner of Pakistan in its quest for development, regional tranquility and democratic advancement. I am keenly looking forward to working closely with Pakistan in order to promote our shared EU-Pakistan objectives, and to get to know this beautiful and diverse country and its people.”
President Dr Alvi at this occasion said that Pakistan greatly values its relations with the European Union and considers it a strategic partner. President Alvi also said that bilateral relationship between the two sides can and should be further strengthened.
Mrs Androulla Kaminara took up her duties as Ambassador Designate and Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Pakistan on 17 September 2019. Prior to her appointment, Mrs Kaminara was the Director for Africa, Asia, Latin America, Caribbean and Pacific in the Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (DG ECHO) of the European Commission since July 2016.
Mrs Kaminara was previously Principal Adviser and Head of the Task Force “Knowledge, Performance and Results” in the Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development of the European Commission from 2014 to 2016. From 2012 to 2013, she was the European Union Fellow at the European Studies Centre of St. Antony’s College, Oxford University, and from 2013 to 2014 the EU Academic Visitor at the same Centre, specialising in EU policies as well as in geopolitics of energy policy. Mrs Kaminara was the Head of the European Commission Representation to the Republic of Cyprus from 2008 to 2012.