SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Monday conferred with the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, the highest civilian honour of Cyprus, during his official visit to the island nation, according to The Hindu. The distinction was presented by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in a formal ceremony held in Nicosia.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Government and people of Cyprus for conferring upon me ‘The Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III.’
This isn’t my honour. It is an honour for 140 crore Indians. I dedicate this award to the everlasting friendship between India and… pic.twitter.com/Q9p7LQGNfq
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 16, 2025
“Humbled to receive the ‘Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III’ of Cyprus. I dedicate it to the friendship between our nations,” Modi said in a statement following the ceremony. He further dedicated the honour to the 1.4 billion citizens of India and emphasised the strength of India-Cyprus ties.
Named after Archbishop Makarios III, the first President of Cyprus, the Order represents the senior-most recognition awarded by the Cypriot state. The conferral acknowledges Mr Modi’s contributions to strengthening bilateral relations and fostering cooperation between India and Cyprus.
“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 Prime Minister added.
In a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs wrote, “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.”
Modi arrived in Cyprus as part of the first leg of a three-nation tour. Following his engagements in Cyprus, he is scheduled to travel to Canada to participate in the G7 Summit, and then to Croatia for further diplomatic meetings.
