Lok Sabha Speaker Meets Cypriot Parliamentary Delegation

Both Sides Reaffirm Democratic Bonds and Need for Enhanced Cooperation

A Parliamentary Delegation from Cyprus, led by H.E. Ms. Annita Demetriou, President of the House of Representatives, met Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla in Parliament House. The meeting highlighted the long-standing friendship between India and Cyprus and reiterated the shared commitment to deepening democratic cooperation and expanding parliamentary diplomacy.

Shri Birla emphasized that the relationship between India and Cyprus is rooted in shared democratic values, mutual trust and collaboration at the international level. He recalled that Cyprus conferred its highest civilian honour, the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi earlier this year, noting that the gesture reflected the goodwill and closeness characterizing India and Cyprus relations.

The Speaker stated that both countries share a heritage of dynamic parliamentary democracy that supports further engagement. He pointed out that the Cypriot Parliamentary Delegation’s visit, occurring after three decades, brings renewed momentum to the partnership and opens opportunities for cooperation in governance, technology-based legislative processes and institutional development.

The Cypriot delegation conveyed appreciation for India’s guidance and support on global issues and endorsed India’s position on zero tolerance towards terrorism. They also referred to the role of India and Europe in contributing to peace and stability in Cyprus. Both delegations agreed to enhance collaboration in parliamentary training, capacity development, research exchange and people-to-people interactions.

During the discussions, Shri Birla informed the delegation about the functioning of the Indian Parliament, the significance of Parliamentary Committees and India’s adoption of modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Sansad platform. He noted that these initiatives have improved transparency, operational efficiency and multilingual accessibility in parliamentary activities.

Referring to Constitution Day on 26 November, the Speaker said that India’s Constitution has played an important role in advancing social justice, economic empowerment and inclusive development. He added that constitutional values continue to guide democratic institutions in ensuring effective governance and safeguarding citizens’ rights and aspirations.

The visiting dignitaries expressed admiration for the architectural features, technological systems and cultural heritage reflected in India’s new Parliament House.

The visit of the Cypriot Parliamentary Delegation, taking place after 30 years, represents an important moment in India-Cyprus relations. The constructive discussions between the two sides have set the stage for continued cooperation and strengthened bilateral ties founded on historic friendship and mutual trust.