Indian FM lauds ‘mutual solidarity’ between Cyprus and India

India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Thursday reaffirmed his solidarity and support for a solution to the Cyprus issue based on the relevant UN resolutions.

His statements were relayed in a press release issued by the House after his meeting with House President Annita Demetriou.

Demetriou thanked Jaishankar for his country’s principled stance regarding the Cyprus problem and underlined the Greek Cypriot side’s commitment to resuming negotiations “to reach a just and sustainable solution, which will reunite Cyprus in conditions of lasting peace and security”.

The House president briefed the Indian FM on the intensifying Turkish provocations in the Cypriot Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) as well as on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus, in particular the closed-off parts of Famagusta.

During the meeting, both sides emphasised the historical, close ties between Cyprus and India based on common principles, highlighting the milestone of the 75th anniversary of India’s independence and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The two officials also affirmed the common will to further deepen the two sides’ excellent relations and cooperation in a wide range of areas of mutual interest at bilateral and international levels.

In this context, they discussed prospects of India’s participation in the mechanism for bilateral and tripartite cooperation developed by Greece and Cyprus with countries in the region.

With regard to inter-parliamentary relations, the importance of further strengthening cooperation and exchanges was underlined, both at the level of the House presidents and at the level of the respective Friendship Groups active in the two Parliaments.

Referring to the ongoing war in Ukraine, Demetriou pointed out that “Cyprus knows from its own experience the painful consequences of war and occupation, and stood from the first moment on the side of Ukraine and its people on the basis of the principles of international law, despite the significant cost to the country”.

For his part, Indian FM noted the scope of relations between the two countries, saying that in today’s globalised world the concept of large and small states is outdated, and that Cyprus is developing investment activity in India on a much larger scale than its size would suggest.

He also reaffirmed his country’s solidarity and support for efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem based on the relevant UN resolutions.

At the same time, he expressed thanks for the mutual solidarity of Cyprus towards India and especially for the support provided by the Republic of Cyprus, as a member state in European Union-India relations.

After the end of the meeting, the House president presented Jaishankar, on behalf of the president, with an anniversary stamp issued by the Cyprus Post Office for the 75th anniversary of the independence of India and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Cyprus and India.

The meeting was preceded by a short ceremony at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi near the House of Representatives building.