On October 12, 2019, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu received Comoros’ highest civilian honour, the Order of the Green Crescent. This medal was given to him by President Azali Assoumani of Comoros.

From October 10 to 14, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu went to Comoros and Sierra Leone on an important visit. During his visit, India and Comoros inked six agreements, including ones on defence cooperation and another on health. Apart from that, India has committed to providing Comoros with USD 2 million in credit lines.

Order of the Green Crescent:

The Order of the Green Crescent is Comoros’ highest civilian honour. This award was initiated by a Turkish group. This honour was established in 1920. This organization’s goal is to outlaw de-addiction and narcotics.

India and Comoros have signed key Memorandums of Understanding in the areas of defence, education, health, and culture. Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu stated that both countries have agreed that diplomatic and government passports will not require visas for a limited time.

Line of Credit to Comoros:

Comoros will receive financial aid from India, according to the Vice President. One million dollars for medicine and medical equipment, as well as one million dollars for transportation development and the auto industry, are included in the Vice President’s announcement.

In addition, the Vice President announced a USD 41.6 million line of credit for the construction of an 18 MW power plant and a vocational training centre in Moroni. On the second stage of his trip, the Vice President will arrive in Sierra Leone on October 12, 2019.

India to Extend Line of Credit of USD 20 Million:

“As maritime neighbours, India and Comoros have a lot of room to cooperate and strengthen our defence ties, particularly in the maritime area. Our marine security is intertwined as Indian Ocean countries “he stated

Naidu also stated that India will provide Comoros with a USD 20 million lines of credit to promote bilateral defence and maritime cooperation.

After holding bilateral talks with President Assoumani, Naidu addressed the parliament of Comoros in Moroni, the island nation’s capital. He noted that while the island nation is experiencing political stability and peaceful transition, terrorism has repeatedly attempted to derail the process.

“Terrorist groups pose a threat to peace and stability, as well as state institutions.” Piracy and marine dangers, as well as cross-border transnational crimes, such as cybercrime, have only contributed to the problem’s complexity” said Venkaiah Naidu, Vice President.

India’s relation with Comoros:

Venkaiah Naidu stated that the two countries have long-standing friendly and cordial relations, that they face similar problems, and that they share similar viewpoints on major regional and global issues.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India and Comoros have “close, cordial, and friendly relations” that are “solidified by mutual trust, development partnership, and the presence of a small but considerable Indian diaspora.”

Key Points to remember:

• Comoros’ highest civilian award, the Order of Green Crescent, was presented to Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu. Comoros is an African island nation.
• It was given to him at Moroni by Comoros President Azali Assamouni.
• Moroni is the capital of the Comoros archipelago, which is located off the east coast of Africa.
• Since becoming Vice-President in 2017, Naidu has received two foreign awards.
• In March of 2019, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the United Nations Peace University in Costa Rica for his commitment to sustainable development as Minister of Urban Development and Rule of Law.
• The Vice President was in Sierra Leone and Comoros on an official visit in 2019.

Bharat Ratna:

• The ‘Bharat Ratna,’ the country’s highest civilian award, was established in 1954.
• These prizes are open to anybody, regardless of ethnicity, occupation, position, or gender.
• It is given in honour of excellent service or high-level performance in any sector of human endeavour.
• The Prime Minister makes recommendations to the President for the Bharat Ratna award. There are no official suggestions required in this case.
• In any given year, the number of yearly prizes is limited to a maximum of three.
• The recipient of the award receives a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President as well as a medallion.
• The Award does not come with a monetary prize.

Conclusion:

Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu has been awarded the Order of the Green Crescent, the highest civilian honour bestowed by the East African island nation of Comoros, in its capital Moroni. Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of Comoros, bestowed the honour. Six agreements were made between India and Comoros in the areas of defence, health, and culture. Both countries have also agreed to remove diplomatic and official passport holders from visa requirements for short stays. In the fields of energy and marine defence cooperation, India has provided a 60 million dollar line of credit to Comoros.