Expanded talks between the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, who is making the first official visit of an Italian President to Cyprus, are currently underway at the Presidential Palace.
At 16:05, the President of the Italian Republic was officially welcomed by the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides and the First Lady, Philippa Karsera-Christodoulides.
During the welcoming ceremony, the national anthems of Italy and Cyprus were played and a National Guard unit paid tribute.
President Mattarella laid a wreath at the statue of Archbishop Makarios III, First President of the Republic of Cyprus, while the Presidents of Cyprus and Italy greeted the delegations of the two countries.
The two Presidents then proceeded to the entrance of the Presidential Palace, where a red carpet was laid and they shook hands in front of the entrance of the building, where they then entered.
The two Presidents have met in private
and expanded talks between delegations of the two countries are currently underway in the presence of the two Presidents. It is expected that Presidents Christodoulides and Matterella will subsequently make statements.
According to a Presidency press release, in the afternoon the two Presidents will visit the Nicosia Town Hall and the old town of the capital along the Green Line, while President Mattarella will also have a meeting with members of the Italian community in Cyprus.
This evening President Christodoulides and his wife will host a formal dinner in honour of the President of Italy.
Source: Cyprus News Agency