Bilateral relations and multilateral cooperation, EU-Sierra Leone relations, developments in Cyprus, as well as issues of regional interest were the main focus of talks today between the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, and the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, who is on an official visit to Cyprus, the first visit by a President of Sierra Leone to the country.
According to a Presidency statement, Maada Bio arrived at the Presidential Palace in the morning, where he was welcomed by President Christodoulides, while a military guard of honour paid tribute. This was followed by the playing of the national anthems of the two countries, after which the President of Sierra Leone laid a wreath at the statue of Archbishop Makarios III.
Subsequently, the two Presidents had a private meeting, which was followed by broader talks between the delegations of the two countries, and later, Memoranda of Cooperation were signed between the two countries.
Specifically, it is stated that between the Republic of Cyprus and Sierra Leone, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed for political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the two countries, with the aim of further strengthening their bilateral relations, a Memorandum of Cooperation in the fields of Higher Education and Research between the Ministries of Education of the two countries, with the aim of promoting cooperation between higher education institutions, and a Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of Sports between the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth of the Republic of Cyprus and the Ministry of Sports of Sierra Leone, with the aim of establishing a common framework for action and cooperation on issues related to sports initiatives and activities.
It is noted that immediately afterwards, the two Presidents went to Nicosia City Hall, where they toured the ceasefire line, after which the President of the Republic hosted an official lunch in honour of the President of Sierra Leone at the Presidential Palace.
(Source: CNA)
