Prime Minister Narendra Modi Conferred with Cyprus’ Highest Civilian Honour
PM Modi’s visit is being seen as significant from both political and commercial perspectives.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Conferred with Cyprus’ Highest Civilian Honour, Strengthens India-Cyprus Ties
Nicosia, Cyprus: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, the highest civilian honour of Cyprus, on Monday. He is currently on an official visit to Nicosia at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, H.E. Mr. Nikos Christodoulides.
Prime Minister Modi was accorded an official welcome at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, where he was warmly received by President Christodoulides. PM Modi also laid a wreath at the statue of Archbishop Makarios III, a revered figure in Cyprus' history.
Dedicating the honour to the 140 crore Indians and the longstanding friendship between India and Cyprus, PM Modi expressed heartfelt gratitude.
"President, for the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, I express heartfelt gratitude to you, the Government of Cyprus, and the people of Cyprus. This is an honour not just for Narendra Modi, but for 140 crore Indians. It is a tribute to their capabilities and aspirations, to our culture, our values of brotherhood, and the philosophy of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.' I dedicate this award to the friendly relations between India and Cyprus, our shared values, and mutual understanding. On behalf of all Indians, I accept this honour with great humility and thankfulness. This award symbolizes our unwavering commitment to peace, security, sovereignty, regional integrity, and our people."
He further added,“This is a stamp of unbreakable friendship between Cyprus and India… I am confident that in the times to come, our active partnership will reach new heights. Together, we will not only accelerate the progress of our two nations but also contribute towards building a peaceful and secure global environment..."
Prime Minister Modi also noted the significance of this visit, marking the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Cyprus in over two decades, “This is an opportunity to write a new chapter in mutual relations."
During the visit, the two leaders—Prime Minister Modi and President Christodoulides—held delegation-level talks and later toured the Historic Centre of Nicosia, the capital city of Cyprus.
President Christodoulides expressed condolences to India over the recent Air India plane crash, stating, “The people of Cyprus stand with India in this hour of grief. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families."
President Christodoulides emphasized the deep-rooted friendship between the two nations.
"We share a historic friendship and mutual trust. Our relations are based on shared historical experiences and values. This strong bond exists because we both believe in peace, dialogue, cooperation, democracy, and respect for international rules. Our two nations share a clear strategic orientation, including belief in the law of the sea and the importance of upholding international norms."
He added that the visit provided an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations, India-EU ties, regional challenges, and cooperation under the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
One-third of the island nation has been occupied by Turkey since 1974. Cyprus had condemned the Pahalgam terror attack and stated that it would raise the issue of cross-border terrorism by Pakistan at the European Union level.
Expressing gratitude for Cyprus’ support, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said,"We are grateful for Cyprus' continued support in India's fight against cross-border terrorism. To prevent terrorism, drug trafficking, and arms smuggling, a mechanism for real-time information exchange will be developed between our agencies."
He further added, "We are thankful to Cyprus for supporting India's bid for permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council."
He also highlighted the significance of the India-Cyprus-Greece partnership, and noted that the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor would contribute to peace and prosperity in the region.
PM Modi’s visit is being seen as significant from both political and commercial perspectives.
Following his visit to Cyprus, the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Canada at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Canada, H.E. Mr. Mark Carney, on June 16–17, to participate in the G7 Summit.
In the final leg of his tour, the Prime Minister is scheduled to visit the Republic of Croatia on June 18, 2025, at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Croatia. This will be the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Croatia.
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