Odishatv Bureau
Kohima: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has received a letter from Buckingham Palace, UK saying that Prince Andrew, Duke of York, was greatly touched by the incredibly warm welcome that the Naga people accorded to him during his visit to the state on May 1.

The Prince was delighted at the warm reception offered to him by the chief minister and the people of Nagaland and he found the music, dance and dresses at the cultural show incredible, the letter made available to media by the Chief Minister`s Office (CMO) today said.

It said "Andrew was very pleased to see so many young people at the cultural show while hoping that his presence would encourage renewed energy for the relationship between the United Kingdom and Nagaland in the younger generation."

"The Prince also found the visit to the Kohima War Cemetery incredibly moving and was deeply honoured to have the opportunity to lay a wreath on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen at the war cemetery alongside the chief minister and the Inspector General of Assam Rifles (IGAR)," the letter said.

"He was so pleased to be able to visit the excellent World War II Museum and to meet so many war veterans," it said. It was incredibly important to him that the sacrifice made by the British and Indian soldiers fighting together against the Japanese at Kohima (during WW-II) be appropriately recognised during the diamond jubilee visit to India, the letter said.

It said, "His Royal Highness is very keen that we use the opportunity of this visit to enhance our important relationship and in addition he has asked the British High Commissioner to consider ideas for the United Kingdom and Nagaland to engage in various projects and in particular in power generation."

Buckingham Palace also wrote appreciation letters to five senior government officers of the state, the CMO said. During the public reception, the chief minister handed over a letter of congratulation addressed to the Queen Elizabeth-II on the occasion of her diamond jubilee to the Prince Andrew. The Prince`s visit to Nagaland was part of celebration of diamond jubilee of Queen`s coronation.

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