Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed strengthening the cooperation between Cyprus and India.
The two leaders had a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia as part of Modi’s two-day official visit to Cyprus.
During the consultations between the two countries, a Joint Declaration on the implementation of a comprehensive partnership was adopted, while the two leaders discussed issues related to bilateral relations, EU-India relations, regional developments, the prospects for cooperation within the framework of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), and recent developments regarding the Cyprus issue.
President Christodoulides referred to a “special, historic day” noting that the presence in Cyprus “of the leader of the largest democracy in the world” was clear evidence of the strong and historic ties, friendship, trust, cooperation, and solidarity that unite the two countries and their peoples.
Modi, who extended an invitation to President Christodoulides to visit India, said that the two countries would prepare a roadmap for the next five years, to strengthen their cooperation on defence and security.
President Christodoulides also expressed his condolences to the Prime Minister and the people of India for the recent Air India plane crash.
Noting that the Cyprus-India relations stem from shared historic experiences and values, he said that the ties between the two countries have also a clear strategic orientation, founded on International Law – including the Law of the Sea – and the preservation of international legitimacy. “They are based on the UN Charter and the defence of the universal principles of independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of states,” he said.
President Christodoulides said that during the Prime Minister’s visit, they discussed bilateral relations, EU-India relations, regional developments, the prospects for cooperation within the framework of the IMEC, as well as recent developments on the Cyprus issue.
“With regard to bilateral cooperation, in addition to the long-standing political ties and relations between our peoples, we focused on further expanding our cooperation in a number of other areas,” he added.
He also said that they discussed specific ways to strengthen business and economic cooperation and that he referred to the advantages of Cyprus, “such as our geostrategic position as an entry point to Europe, the common legal framework, the infrastructure and the specialised human resources, and all that makes our homeland the gateway of India to the EU and the Mediterranean and at the same time a regional and European base for Indian businesses”.
“We also discussed the promotion of our bilateral cooperation but also the creation of synergies in the areas of Defence and Security, Infrastructure, Crisis Management, Tourism, Energy Cooperation, Shipping, Innovation and Artificial Intelligence and we agreed to work together so that there will be concrete developments very soon”, he added.
The Joint Declaration on the implementation of a comprehensive partnership that they adopted today, he said, was demonstrating the two countries’ commitment and political will to further promote and consolidate their strategic relations.
President Christodoulides said that they also discussed connectivity issues. “Cyprus, as a country at the crossroads of three continents and a gateway to Europe, will promote India’s participation in regional initiatives that support peace, stability, prosperity and sustainable development,” he said. He noted that Cyprus, as the EU Member State closest to India, “has the political will and is in a position to decisively contribute to the implementation of initiatives and corridors, such as the IMEC, that will connect India, through the Gulf and Mediterranean regions, with Europe in a meaningful and concrete way.”
Regarding EU-India relations, he said that he assured the Prime Minister that during the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, “the EU-India relationship will be among the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency and we will substantially contribute to its upgrading and the implementation of an ambitious Free Trade Agreement, with the aim of deepening political, commercial and economic ties.”
He said that he invited the Indian Prime Minister to participate in the Informal Council of the EU to be held in Cyprus.
Regarding the Cyprus issue, President Christodoulides said that he informed the Prime Minister of the most recent developments “as well as my firm commitment to the efforts to resume the talks for the reunification of Cyprus”. He expressed “the deep gratitude of the Republic of Cyprus for the unwavering and timeless support of India and its people for the independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Cyprus and for the stance that India has maintained over all these years”.
He also expressed “deep” gratitude for India’s participation and support for the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus and the hundreds of Indian peacekeepers who have served and continue to serve it with dedication.
Noting that Modi’s visit to Cyprus is the first to take place “after the recent cowardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam”, President Christodoulides reaffirmed the full support of the Republic of Cyprus for India’s actions to combat terrorism in all its forms.
He also said that with Modi’s “landmark visit”, the Cyprus-India cooperation is fueled with new, strategically valuable and important dynamics, and expressed the certainty that Cyprus and India will continue to walk side by side, strengthening their cooperation in all sectors.
On his part, India’s Prime Minister, speaking through an interpreter, said, inter alia, that they attach great importance to relations with Cyprus, to the common belief in values, such as democracy and the rule of law, which, as he noted, constitute a strong foundation for cooperation between the two countries.
Noting that his visit comes after more than two decades since an Indian Prime Minister visited Cyprus, Modi said that this was an opportunity for a new chapter in the relations between the two countries.
He said that they discussed with President Christodoulides all aspects of bilateral relations, noting that there are similarities between several aspects of Cyprus’ vision for 2025 and India’s vision for 2047. “And for this reason, together we will shape the future so that we can give strategic direction to our cooperation,” he said, adding that the two countries will prepare a specific roadmap for the next five years “to strengthen cooperation on defence and security”, while that they would put emphasis on the defence industry under the bilateral defence cooperation programme. He also said that a dialogue on cyberspace and maritime security would also be launched.
Modi expressed gratitude for Cyprus’ support for India’s war on terror and cross-border terrorism, noting that there will be a mechanism for real-time information exchange between the services of the two countries to prevent terrorism, drug and arms trafficking.
“We both agree that there is great potential in our trade and investment agenda”, Modi said, referring to a business forum he and President Christodoulides attended on Sunday, adding that they saw “the enthusiasm and cooperation” in the business communities for the economic relations between the two countries.
He added that the Cyprus-Greece-India Trade Council has also launched such initiatives and that they would also promote mutual trade and investment between the two countries. Modi also said that they had extensive discussions on areas such as technology, innovation, health, agriculture, renewable energy and climate justice.
He also referred to “the great popularity” of yoga and Ayurveda in Cyprus.
Prime Minister Modi also said that Cyprus is a popular tourist destination for Indians and for this reason, he said, they would focus on increasing connectivity.
He also noted that Cyprus is a reliable partner of India in the European Union, while he expressed gratitude for Cyprus’ support for India’s permanent membership in the UN Security Council.
Modi expressed conviction that under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, “new dimensions will be added to the relations between India and the European Union”.
He also said that the India-Middle East-Europe (IMEC) corridor would pave the way for peace and prosperity in the region.
Also read: Indian Prime Minister Modi to visit Cyprus
Source: CNA
