US hopeful of positive outcome from its Consul General's visit to Manipur
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 29 2014: United States of America (USA) has expected positive outcome from the visit of its Consul General at Kolkata Ms Helen LaFave to Manipur.

Ms Helena, who arrived here on June 27, wrapped up her visit today.

Issuing a statement in this regard by its media o-ordinator Erica Diya Basu today, the Office of the Public Affairs, US Consulate General, Kolkata said her first visit to Manipur from Jun 27 to 29, the U.S.Consul General Kolkata highlighted some key elements of the U.S.in connection with strategic relationship with India, including security partnership, development cooperation, and cultural exchanges.

She attended the closing ceremony of the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Imphal and was joined by Gregory M.Keim and Colonel Larry Redmon from the Defense Attach�'s Office at the U.S.Embassy New Delhi.

Ms Helen LaFave ,US Consul General with Chief Minister, Manipur on 27th June 2014 Pix- Arunkumar Thongam (DIPR)

Her remarks at the commemorative occasion underscored the U.S.involvement and international collaboration in the battle, "70 years ago, brave people from across the world came together in Imphal to cooperate and collaborate.

That is the lesson - of cooperation and collaboration - I take from this historic event which unfolded seven decades back,", the statement said Consul General LaFave also visited a U.S.Government funded project to understand how the initiative has helped in the economic empowerment of Manipur's conflict-affected women.

The project, managed by the NGO Foundation for Social Transformation, imparted intensive, tiered training, capacity building, and entrepreneurial skills to these women who faced several layers of marginalization and were least visible in the conflict zones of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland.

She also visited the famous Mothers Market (Ema Keithel) during this trip, the statement recalled.

As part of her cultural outreach, Consul General LaFave met with a group of Manipuri baseball players at the Khuman Lampak Sports Complex.

American baseball started its unusual journey in Manipur during World War II when young Manipuris started picking up the game from American Army Air Corps pilots.

Since 2006, the Consulate has been conducting camps, working with Manipur's baseball institutions as part of its sports diplomacy.

The game is now popular among a section of young Manipuris who have organized themselves into clubs, the statement observed.

Consul General LaFave paid a courtesy call to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

She also met with a diverse group of civil society organizations and journalists and young leaders who are alumni of U.S.State Department-funded leadership program, it added.