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- Ελληνικά
The President of the Republic Mr.Nicos Christodoulides met today, at the Presidential Palace, with the President of Italy Mr.Sergio Mattarella, who is making the first official (state) visit of an Italian President to the Republic of Cyprus.
The President of Italy, accompanied by his daughter Mrs. Laura Mattarella, arrived in the afternoon at the Presidential Palace, where they were received by the President of the Republic and his wife Mrs. Philippa Carcera Christodoulides, while a military escort paid tribute.
The national anthems of Cyprus and Italy were played and then the Italian President laid a wreath at the statue of the National Lord Makarios III.
The President of the Republic then had a private meeting with the President of Italy.
Welcoming President Mattarella, the President of the Republic said: "The first visit of an Italian President to Cyprus is a special pleasure for us. You are visiting Cyprus at a time when it is 20 years since we joined our great European family and unfortunately 50 years since the Turkish invasion and the ongoing occupation.
Our honour is even greater considering that you are the longest serving and most popular Italian President, a pro-European, someone who comes from another large Mediterranean island, Sicily.
Our countries have many common bonds. First of all we are united by the Mediterranean Sea, we have historical, cultural and political ties as members of the EU, as two member states coming from the Mediterranean and I look forward to our discussions over these two days on how we can further strengthen our already excellent relations."
For his part, President Mattarella said, among other things, speaking through an interpreter, that "I am happy to be the first Italian President to visit Cyprus as a sign of friendship.
You mentioned the two anniversaries, the happy anniversary of 20 years, but there is also the sad anniversary of 50 years of the Turkish illegal invasion and occupation (of territory) of the Republic of Cyprus.
Of course, the ties that bind our two countries are very close, they are historical ties, cultural ties and both our countries belong to the Mediterranean family and of course we are committed to common values and principles, such as peace, freedom and respect for international law.
With your visit to Rome a few months ago, you underlined this relationship and the ties between our countries and I hope that in these talks that we will have these two days, today in Nicosia and tomorrow in Paphos, we will be able to expand and extend these relations."
Subsequently, the President of the Republic decorated the President of Italy with the Grand Cross of the Order of Macarius III, and the President of Italy decorated President Christodoulides with his country's highest honorary distinction awarded to heads of state of friends of Italy.
The meeting between the two Presidents was followed by the extended talks between the delegations of the two countries.
(PM/EAth/NG)
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