US apologises for inconvenience caused to ex-president Kalam

New Delhi, Nov.13 (ANI): The United States Government has said in a statement that it has the utmost respect for former Indian President Abdul Kalam and deeply regretted the inconvenience caused to him via a security screening at John F. Kennedy airport in New York on September 29 this year.

A US Embassy statement said Sunday that subsequent to the incident, the embassy's Charg? d'Affaires, Ambassador Peter Burleigh, had personally hand delivered a letter from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator to former President Kalam, and a similar letter was delivered to the Government of India.

In these letters, the United States Government extended its apology that appropriate procedures for expedited screening of dignitaries had not been followed. We are actively working to prevent similar incidents in the future from occurring.

The United States Government deeply values and appreciates our strong relationship and partnership with India. We are confident that despite this regrettable incident, we will continue working closely with India in the many areas of our strategic partnership, the statement said. (ANI)