India thanks Cyprus for support to candidature in expanded UNSC
Nicosia, Sep 3 : India on Monday thanked Cyprus for extending support to New Delhi's bid for permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council and also for the Nuclear Suppliers' Group.
"The salience of national sovereignty and the essential need to defeat radicalism and terrorism unites us," President of India Ram Nath Kovind said in an address to the Cyprus House of Representatives here.
"In this regard, India has called for finalising the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism at the United Nations and we count on your support," Kovind said.
"I would also like to thank Cyprus for its unstinted backing of India's candidature for an expanded UN Security Council as well as for the Nuclear Suppliers' Group," he added.
India is a member of the G4, that also includes Japan, Germany and Brazil, seeking permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council.
China has been blocking India's bid for membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group on the ground that for a nation to become a member of the 48-nation bloc, it should be a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
In his speech, Kovind also promoted India as an appealing business destination. "India's overriding mission is its economic growth and modernisation, with the fruits of development reaching all sections of our people," he said.
"Cyprus, as a trusted partner and as one of the largest investors in India, is critical to this process. India is at an exciting juncture and offers appealing business opportunities," Kovind said.
Cyprus is the eighth largest investor in India with a cumulative investment of around $9.2 billion.
Kovind said that tax reforms to galvanise India's widespread manufacturing and business capacities and large domestic market have also helped.
"The implementation of the Goods and Services Tax has led to uniform, simpler and digitally-enabled taxation in all of our 29 states. It has integrated the country into one business system," he said.
Earlier in the day, India and Cyprus signed two agreements on anti-money laundering and on cooperation in the field of environment following a meeting between Kovind and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades here.
"We welcome the signing of the MoU (memorandum of understanding) between Financial Intelligence Unit, India, and the Unit for Combating Money Laundering of Cyprus," Kovind said while addressing the media after a bilateral meeting with Anastasiades.
In his address to the House of Representatives, the Indian President said that the anti-money laundering agreement "will be useful for both of us".
He also invited Cyprus to partner in the Digital India mission, saying: "You can come as investors and you can come as stakeholders, you can come to buy or to sell, you can come with your expertise and you can come with your brands and your skills. India is open for business - and India is open for Cyprus."
Kovind arrived here on Sunday on the first leg of his eight-day three-nation tour of Central Europe that will also see him visiting Bulgaria and the Czech Republic.
His visit to Cyprus comes after Anastasiades's visit to India in April last year.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Nagaland bypoll: Nearly 20 pc voter turnout recorded in Koridang seat in first two hours
Kohima (PTI): Nearly 20 per cent of 22,382 electors exercised their franchise in Nagaland's Koridang Assembly bypoll in the first two hours of polling on Thursday, officials said.
The voting that commenced at 7 am across all 30 polling stations has so far been peaceful, they said.
The polling will continue till 4 pm.
Security has been significantly tightened across the constituency following violence on April 5 and 6, in which one person died, and several vehicles were damaged.
The byelection was necessitated by the demise of sitting BJP MLA Imkong L. Imchen in November last year.
A total of 22,382 electors, including 11,071 women, are eligible to decide the fate of six candidates in the fray.
The ruling People’s Democratic Alliance (PDA) has fielded BJP nominee Daochier I. Imchen, while the Congress candidate is T. Chalukumba Ao. The National People’s Party (NPP) has nominated I. Abenjang, while the Independent candidates are Imchatoba Imchen, Imtiwapang, and Toshikaba.
Of the 30 polling stations, 13 have been categorised as vulnerable and 17 as critical, prompting deployment of additional security personnel and intensified surveillance measures. Two polling stations have been designated as all-women booths.
Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
