President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee has said that his country lauds the economic recovery of Cyprus particularly its return to a positive rate of growth which is among the fastest in the European Union.
Speaking at the official banquet, hosted in honor of President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, who is on a state visit in India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee said that «as modern, independent and democratic nations with many shared values, India and Cyprus have many convergences on regional and global issues”.
“We have been working well together to achieve common objectives in various international fora. India appreciates the consistent support of Cyprus for her legitimate claim to permanent membership of a reformed UN Security Council”, he said.
The President of India added that India lauds “the economic recovery of Cyprus under President Anastasiades’ leadership particularly its return to a positive rate of growth which is among the fastest in the European Union”.
According to a press release by the Presidency of Cyprus, on his part, speaking at the dinner the Cypriot President said that Cyprus is grateful to the Government and the people of India for “its steadfast and unwavering support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Cyprus, and to our tireless efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, and unite Cyprus and its people through a comprehensive settlement in line with United Nations Security Council Resolutions and EU law”.
President Anastasiades reiterated that he is firmly committed to ending the illegal Turkish military occupation of Cyprus through a comprehensive settlement, noting that there is no room for any anachronistic system of security and guarantees by third countries for a fully independent, sovereign country and member state of the European Union.
He also said he supports the EU-India partnership.
“You can rest assured that Cyprus will continue to act as your ambassador in Brussels. We believe that it is an indispensable, mutually beneficial relationship”, he added.
Referring to his visit in India, he expressed the belief that its outcome will serve as a stepping stone to further strengthening their relations on bilateral and multilateral level, including the United Nations and the European Union.
Noting that Cyprus is the 8th larger investor in India, he said that there is certainly immense unexplored potential in the economic, scientific, tourist, and technical sectors.
The Cypriot President said that India has been one of the most trustworthy and reliable friends of Cyprus.
It is in the context of this special relationship, he continued, “that I have bestowed on you the Grand Collar of Makarios the third, the highest order of merit awarded by Cyprus, named after President Makarios III, the first President of the Republic of Cyprus, who maintained a close personal relationship with India”.
