On 24 April 2013, FICAC celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Vienna Convention with a reception held in the United Nations Plaza in New York City. The event was attended by 75 country representatives including the President of the UN General Assembly, Mr. Vuk Jeremic, ambassadors, permanent representatives of various countries in the UN, the President of the Consular Corps in New York, and more than 50 consular representatives. UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Kimoon sent a special message on the occasion.
Pursuant to FICAC’s decision to hold similar receptions in various regions, HCCD-India organized a function in New Delhi on 16 April 2014 to celebrate the golden jubilee of the Vienna Convention. Invitees included the ambassadors, high commission- ers and honorary consuls accredited to India as well as senior officers of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, with about 200 guests attending the reception.
Hon. Vivek Burman, President of HCCD-India, presided over the function. UN Res- ident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to India and Bhutan Ms. Lise Grande was the chief guest and Hon. Khaled El Bakly, Ambassador of Egypt to India, was the guest of honor and guest speaker. Hon. K. L. Ganju, Honorary Consul Gen- eral of Comoros and Secretary General of HCCD-India, welcomed the guests.
In her capacity as chief guest, Ms. Lise Grande made commencement observations and declared the function open. She also read the congratulatory message of Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, which was first made public dur- ing the initial celebration in New York.
Hon. K. S. Bhalla, Honorary Consul General of Nauru in India and Advisor to the World Federation of Consuls, and Hon. Khaled El Bakly delivered keynote speeches on The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 and The Role of Honorary Consuls in Present Day Diplomacy, respectively. On this occasion, HCCD-India instituted the Hon. Bhai Mohan Singh Trophy in recognition of the historic and pioneering role played by the late Hon. Dr. Bhai Mohan Singh (1917 – 2006) – then Honorary Consul General of San Marino in India and the Founder and President of HCCD-India – in the establishment and consolidation of HCCD-India and its affiliation with FICAC. The first trophy and citation were awarded to Hon. K. S. Bhalla in recognition of the outstanding service rendered by him to the consular movement both in India and abroad.
Medals of Honor were awarded to deserving consuls from Bangalore, Chennai and Delhi. The two keynote speeches were delivered on the occasion and the function concluded with a grand dinner accompanied by music.
