Kalam leaves for two-nation tour

NEW DELHI: President APJ Abdul Kalam on Tuesday left for a five-day visit to France and Greece during which he would address the European Parliament, the first ever by an Indian President.

The President was seen off at the airport by Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his cabinet colleagues, Delhi Lt Governor Tejinder Khanna and senior military officials.

Kalam will address the European Parliament on April 25. He will speak on "Dynamics of Unity of Nations".

Prior to this, Kalam would be addressing the International Space University in Strasbourg (France) where he would be speaking on "creative leadership for future challenges in space."

The President would arrive in Greece on April 25, a state visit which comes after 21 years. This visit will help consolidate the recent development of India's relations with Greece in a cross-sectoral manner, officials said.

During the visit, "we expect to sign three important agreements -- bilateral investments promotion and protection, Science and Technology and an agreement between the Foreign Service Institute of our two countries," they said.

Kalam will be awarded with Gold Medal of the Hellenic Parliament and Gold Medal of merit of the city of Athens. The President will also meet his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias.

The President would be visiting the Commonwealth War Cemetery and pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives during the Second World War

Kalam would be visiting the rehabilitation centre for children with cerebral palsy before returning to India on April 28.