PM Modi conferred with Cyprus' highest civilian honour

During the second day of his landmark visit to Cyprus—the first by an Indian Prime Minister in over two decades—Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia. In a significant highlight of the visit, he held a one-on-one meeting with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, further deepening bilateral diplomatic engagement.

In a gesture reflecting the strength of India-Cyprus relations, the President conferred upon Prime Minister Modi the “Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III,” which is the highest civilian honour of the Republic of Cyprus. The award is named after Archbishop Makarios III, the first President of Cyprus, and is bestowed upon foreign dignitaries who have made exceptional contributions to international relations with the Cypriot state.

Accepting the honour, Prime Minister Modi expressed his deep gratitude and humility, stating that the award was not just a personal recognition, but a tribute to the 1.4 billion people of India. This conferment adds to the growing list of international accolades received by the Indian Prime Minister, underscoring India’s rising global stature and the strengthening of its ties with nations across regions.

The prestigious honour marked a symbolic and diplomatic milestone in Indo-Cypriot relations, reinforcing the historic nature of the Prime Minister’s visit and setting a positive tone for future cooperation across sectors such as trade, technology, and strategic dialogue.