New Delhi, Dec 30: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and his Cyprus counterpart Ioannis Kasoulides signed an MoU on Defence and Military Cooperation, in Nicosia on Thursday (Dec 29). The agreement was signed during Jaishankar's first visit to the country.
"We have signed a number of important agreements today. One is the MoU on Defence and Military Cooperation between our two countries," Jaishankar said during a press conference alongside Kasoulide. The two sides also inked the Letter of Intent on the Migration and Mobility Partnership. He said this deal will help provide a common framework of arrangement and cooperation to facilitate the mobility of students, business people and professionals. "It will also help in combatting irregular migration," he said.
Jaishankar also welcomed signing the framework agreement on the signing of the International solar alliance by Cyprus. "I believe, our cooperation in the field of renewable energy will gain as a result," he added. The External Affairs Minister also released the commemorative stamps today on 75 years of India's Independence and 60 years of establishing diplomatic ties with Cyprus.
"Overall, there is a lot we can be proud of in our bilateral relations and the level of our comfort and extend of our cooperation is clearly visible," he added. Addressing the press conference, Jaishankar noted that the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing conflicts demand the world to address new challenges. "Energy security and food security are particularly pressing issues. As a responsible member of the international community, India joined its other partners in working towards extending humanitarian aid, medicines, vaccine and food grains," he added.