The Lesotho’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Mohlabi Tsekoa has congratulated the India’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, who has been elected the new Commonwealth Secretary-General.

Mr. Kamalesh Sharma is expected to take over the reins of office from April next year.

Mr. Mohlabi Tsekoa’s approval followed the announcement made by the outgoing Secretary General, Mr. Don McKinnon in Kampala, Uganda, who said that election of Mr. Sharma was a an unanimous decision by Commonwealth leaders.

Meanwhile, Mr. Sharma thanked the leaders for electing him to serve the commonwealth institution.

He expressed appreciation to all the leaders for the responsibility and trust they have given him to carry forward the work of the Commonwealth.

In an interview, Mr. Tsekoa congratulated the new Secretary General, noting that apart from being members of the commonwealth, Lesotho and India have had fruitful relationships on a number of issues.

‘Lesotho and India relations are exemplary, marked by a high degree of understanding and mutual trust and confidence,’ he said, reiterating Lesotho’s desire to further strengthen and diversify bilateral relations to the mutual benefit of Basotho.

He said India has assisted Lesotho in many ways and sectors that include health and capacity building. He expressed hope that the newly elected Secretary General will work with dedication and passion for the betterment and development of the commonwealth nations.

Ambassador Kamalesh Sharma has served largely as a member of the Indian Foreign Service, in the course of which he has had wide-ranging diplomatic experience in various parts of the world, culminating as Ambassador in five missions.

He represented India at the meetings of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group in February and November 2005 and led India’s delegation at the Pre-Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Malta 2005.

Ambassador Sharma was the first Special Representative of UN Secretary-General to independent Timor Leste (2002-2004) with the rank of Under-Secretary General.

Source: LENA 26/11/2007