German Ambassador to India presents credentials to President Patil

New Delhi, July 13 (ANI): Germany's Ambassador to India Michael Steiner presented his credentials to President Pratibha Devisingh Patil in a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Friday.

Steiner termed India an "important strategic partner" and said he would work to take the partnership "to new heights" during his tenure.

"In the last 60 years of diplomatic relations, Germany and India have become important strategic partners on the global stage. Our friendship and trust has grown manifold and it will be my endeavour to take this partnership to new heights during my time in India," he said.

Steiner's previous assignment was the German Government's Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan and he coordinated the preparation for the Bonn II conference on Afghanistan, held in December 2011.

A veteran in foreign and security policy, Steiner acted as the NSA to the Federal Chancellor of Germany Gerhard Schroeder from 1998 to 2001. He was Head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) between 2002 and 2003.

Steiner has also served as the Ambassador to the office of the United Nations in Geneva, Italy and the Czech Republic.

He has represented Germany as Member of the International Contact Group as well as Head of the Special Task Force for Peace Efforts in Bosnia and Herzegovina. (ANI)