Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos on Wednesday expressed his country’s firm support for India’s zero-tolerance approach to terrorism, extending condemnation not only to perpetrators but also to those who fund or support such acts.
During his meeting with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, Kombos thanked India for its principled and consistent position on the Cyprus issue. He emphasised that Nicosia stands in full solidarity with New Delhi following recent terrorist attacks and agrees that terrorism must be confronted without exception or compromise.
“We also have extended our full solidarity to India after the recent terrorist attacks, and we totally agree with the approach that there can be no other way of dealing with terrorism rather than zero tolerance, and that, of course, extends not only to the terrorists but also to those who support and finance them,” Kombos said in his opening remarks.
The Cypriot Foreign Minister also conveyed gratitude to Jaishankar for the warm reception during what marked his first official visit to India. He noted that this was the first ministerial-level visit from Cyprus to India in 14 years, signalling a renewed engagement between the two nations.
Highlighting the recent high-level exchanges, Kombos referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Cyprus in June, which was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 22 years. He described the visit as a significant step in revitalising bilateral relations and advancing cooperation under the Joint Plan of Action established by the leadership of both countries.
“The Prime Minister’s visit to Cyprus was the first after 22 years. So I think we are now picking up from the point where our predecessors had stopped, and we have a lot of work ahead of us, work that has been politically set out by the leadership after the declaration and the Joint Plan of Action. The joint action plan for the five years, there has been considerable progress,” Kombos stated.
Looking ahead, the Cypriot Foreign Minister said that as Cyprus prepares to assume the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, it remains committed to strengthening EU-India ties both politically and economically. He underscored Nicosia’s determination to advance the ongoing negotiations for a free trade agreement between the EU and India.
“And we believe this is a strategic choice for the European Union that needs to be fulfilled for the simple reason that it’s in the mutual interest of both the EU and India, and in all that Cyprus will be extending its steadfast support in all the efforts to achieve that very important goal,” Kombos added.
Reaffirming the long-standing friendship between India and Cyprus, Kombos noted that the relationship is built on “deep historical roots” and carries “a bright future ahead,” as both nations continue to expand their cooperation in multiple domains, including trade, political dialogue, and cultural exchange.
