House Speaker Annita Demetriou, heading a parliamentary delegation, has concluded her official visit to India with a meeting with the Speaker of the Lok Sabha (Lower House) Om Birla.
During the meeting, they both referred to the Cyprus issue, bilateral cooperation and the Cyprus EU Presidency, beginning 1 January, 2026.
Demetriou and the parliamentary delegation were accompanied by Cyprus' High Commissioner Evagoras Vryonides. MPs Nikos Tornaritis, Aristos Damianou and Christiana Erotokritou participated in the delegation.
A press release by the parliament says that welcoming the House President and the delegation, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha referred to the common historical ties between the two countries, their common democratic course and the ever-expanding scope of cooperation.
Birla assured the House Speaker of India's continued support for the Cyprus issue and highlighted his country's contribution to the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus since its establishment.
He also congratulated Demetriou on her election as the first female House Speaker of Cyprus and for her important work regarding gender equality, both in Cyprus and in international fora. He also referred to the legislative and other measures adopted by India in this area.
On her part, Demetriou, "expressed deep appreciation for India's principled position and long-standing support regarding the Cyprus issue, noting that for more than fifty years, Cyprus continues to experience the consequences of Turkey's illegal invasion and continued occupation," the press release says.
She stressed the Greek Cypriot side's commitment to achieving a solution, in accordance with international law and the relevant UN resolutions, which will reunite the country in conditions of lasting peace and security.
She also assured her counterpart that Cyprus is an honest and reliable partner for India and that it will continue to support in every possible way the EU-India cooperation, particularly in the context of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.
During the meeting they also referred to the significant prospects for enhanced cooperation in areas such as defense, technology, innovation, shipping, tourism, mobility and connectivity, on the basis of the Joint Declaration of the leaders of the two countries during the official visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Cyprus and the agreed 2025-2029 Joint Action Plan.
They also expressed their shared desire to expand the current momentum by exploiting the opportunities offered by technology, both in terms of the exchange of know-how and best practices for parliamentary work and through the institutionalization of exchanges between parliamentary committees and the Friendship Groups established in the two Parliaments.
Before the meeting, Demetriou signed the Guest Book and toured the premises of the two Houses of Parliament.
The House Speaker and her delegation return home today, Friday, 28 November.
(Source: CNA)
