NICOSIA, June 16:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Monday conferred with the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, the highest civilian honour of Cyprus, in recognition of his efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and promote global peace and cooperation.
Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides presented the prestigious award during a special ceremony in Nicosia. Named after Archbishop Makarios III, the first President of Cyprus, the Order represents the highest recognition the country bestows for distinguished service.
In his acceptance remarks, Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude and humility, dedicating the award to the 1.4 billion people of India and to the enduring friendship between India and Cyprus.
“Humbled to receive the ‘Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III’ of Cyprus. I dedicate it to the friendship between our nations,” the Prime Minister said.
Modi also reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the strategic and cultural partnership between the two nations, saying:
“I am confident that in the time to come, our active partnership will touch new heights. Together, we will not only strengthen the progress of our two nations but also contribute towards building a peaceful and secure world.”
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a statement, said the award reflects the shared commitment of India and Cyprus to peace, prosperity, and mutual respect.
“President @Christodulides conferred PM @narendramodi with the ‘Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III’ of Cyprus. The honour reflects the enduring India-Cyprus bilateral partnership and shared commitment to work together for the common vision for peace, progress and prosperity,” the MEA posted on social media platform X.
The MEA further noted that the honour is a recognition of India’s civilizational values and its guiding philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” — The World is One Family.
This latest honour brings the total number of international awards conferred upon Prime Minister Modi to 23, making him one of the most decorated Indian leaders on the global stage.
The Prime Minister is currently in Cyprus on the first leg of his three-nation tour, which will also take him to Canada for the G7 Summit and Croatia for a bilateral visit aimed at enhancing economic and diplomatic engagement.
