NEWS & EVENTSOFFICIAL VISITS

Visit of President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind to Cyprus

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“In India, we consider Cyprus as not just a friend but one of our most steadfast partners in the international community.” President Kovind, Nikosia, 3 September 2018.


At the invitation of the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr. Nikos Anastasiades, the President of the Republic of India, Mr. Ram Nath Kovind, paid an official visit to Cyprus on 3rd and 4th September 2018.

The Honourable President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind arrived in the airport of Larnaka on Sunday, September 2, 2018, accompanied by his wife, a large mission of senior government officials and entrepreneurs, He was welcomed by the Minister for Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Mr. Georgios Lakkotripis.

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President Kovind with President Anastasiades


The official reception of the President of India took place on Monday morning at the Presidential Palace where he was welcomed by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Anastasiades. The President of Cyprus later in the day hosted a Banquet in His Excellency’s honor.

President Kovind began his official engagements in Cyprus by paying tributes to Archbishop Makarios and Mahatma Gandhi statues and pointed out that personalities like Gandhi-ji and Archbishop Makarios don’t belong to one country, but they are part of the heritage of humanity.
Afterwards, the two Presidents held wide-ranging talks on issues of mutual interest including promotion of business collaboration in the fields of IT and IT enabled services, tourism, shipping and renewable energy and signed two memorandums of understanding on combating money laundering and cooperation in the field of environment.
President Kovind reaffirmed India’s un-wavering support to Cyprus for upholding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. President Anastasiades, in turn, thanked him for India’s long-standing support and for having excellent relations with Cyprus.

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President Kovind delivers a speech at the House of Representatives of Cyprus


On the same day, President Kovind met with Mr. Demetris Syllouris, Honorable President of the House of Representatives and addressed the members of the House of Representatives of Cyprus. He thanked Cyprus for its unstinted backing of India’s candidature for an expanded UN Security Council as well as for the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group. (Read the entire speech HERE). He also met and spoke to members of the Indian Diaspora.
On September 4, President Kovind visited the Campus of the University of Cyprus where he unveiled the bust of national poet of India, Rabindranath Tagore. He also gave a speech on the theme, “Youth, Technology and Ideas: Shaping the Contours of the 21st Century” to the students of the University (Read the entire speech HERE). “I once again thank the University of Cyprus for providing me an opportunity to share my thoughts with you. The youth of Cyprus are the future leaders of this country. May you flourish and take your nation to new heights. I wish you every success in your careers.” President Kovind tweeted after his speech.
President Kovind departed from Cyprus on September 4, for his next European destinations, Bulgaria and Czech Republic.

Photos: President of India@rashtrapatibhvn