President Nikos Christodoulides is in Paris for France’s Bastille Day celebrations, where he is expected to hold meetings with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other foreign leaders on the sidelines of the events.
The Cypriot President arrived in the French capital on Monday at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron to attend the annual military parade on the Champs-Élysées, marking France’s National Day.
Ahead of the parade, Christodoulides met with members of the Cyprus National Guard contingent who will participate in the ceremony, following an invitation from the French Armed Forces. Addressing the elite unit in the presence of National Guard Chief Lieutenant General Emmanuel Theodorou, he described their participation as a significant honour that underscores the strong strategic ties between Cyprus and France.
He noted that the invitation to march with the flag of the Republic of Cyprus before an international audience of heads of state and government carries both symbolic and diplomatic weight, reflecting the high level of bilateral relations between the two countries.
The President also praised the personnel for their role in representing Cyprus in international missions and organisations, reaffirming the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s defence capabilities.
Christodoulides is expected to return to Cyprus later today. He is accompanied in Paris by Deputy Government Spokesman Yiannis Antoniou and other officials.
