EAM’s opening remarks during meeting with Foreign Minister H.E. Dr. Constantinos Kombos of Cyprus (October 30, 2025)

Your Excellency Dr. Constantinos Kombos, I extend a very warm welcome to you and your delegation to India. Your first official visit to India as Foreign Minister, and I understand your first ever visit to India, holds obviously very special significance, because it takes place within six months of a very successful visit by our own Prime Minister to Cyprus in June 2025. I also recall our meeting during the UN General Assembly in New York. I think it was a very good conversation. I look forward to the opportunity of continuing it today.

Let me convey our appreciation for the personal attention and warm hospitality which was extended by the Cypriot leadership during our Prime Minister's visit. The Joint Declaration on the Implementation of the Comprehensive Partnership issued during the visit provides guidance for further deepening of our bilateral ties in a range of new areas. As mandated by our leadership, we have prepared the India-Cyprus Joint Action Plan 2025-2029 and I am happy that even within the space of a few months, we have already initiated action on the plan and we will be reviewing that today.

Your visit takes place at a time when Cyprus is preparing to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 January 2026. Strengthening ties with both Cyprus and the EU remain a key priority for India, and we certainly value your steadfast support in that regard. India and Cyprus are trusted friends and reliable partners. Trust and time-tested are not easy adjectives to use nowadays, but certainly I think I can do that with a great deal of confidence and assurance for this relationship. Our ties have developed into a comprehensive partnership anchored in mutual respect, shared democratic values, and a joint strategic vision. It is forward-looking and it is aligned with the interests and aspirations of both the countries.

We also closely cooperate in regional and multilateral fora, including the United Nations, the European Union, and Commonwealth frameworks.

We deeply appreciate Cyprus's consistent support on issues of core interest to India, especially in our battle against cross-border terrorism. I would once again thank your government for the strong condemnation after the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the solidarity expressed with India in our fight against terrorism.

We also appreciate your consistent support for India's Permanent membership in an expanded UN Security Council and for the membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

India reiterates its unwavering support for the sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and for a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with political equality, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

I am confident that we will have fruitful discussions today and take stock of the progress made in various areas of cooperation, as delineated in the Joint Action Plan.

I will now request you to make your opening remarks.

New Delhi
October 30, 2025