Prime Minister Narendra Modi will commence his three-nation tour on Monday from Cyprus, a country that faced an invasion from Turkiye in 1974.
Notably, an Indian Army General, Lt Gen Diwan Prem Chand, who was then heading the UN Peacekeeping Force, ensured Turkiye did not breach the ceasefire line.
Modi will be at Cyprus – an island nation in the Mediterranean Sea — before travelling to Canada. He would also visit Croatia on the return leg of the trip.
The significance of the Cyprus visit would not be lost on Turkiye, which sided with Pakistan by supplying drones, manpower and weapons during ‘Operation Sindoor’. As a retaliatory measure, India has asked several Turkish companies to leave the country.
July 20 will mark 51 years since Turkiye’s illegal military invasion of Cyprus, following which Turkiye illegally occupied a portion of the island’s northern territory — referred to as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
The European Union and the United Nations, consider this territory to be part Cyprus, but under Turkish occupation.
Modi is the first Indian PM to visit Cyprus in 20 years. During his official visit, the PM will be in the capital city of Nicosia that sits close to the UN-controlled buffer zone. East of that is the TRNC.
The United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) was established in March 1964, following the outbreak of inter-communal violence between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots.
Lt Gen Dewan Prem Chand, who had served in World War II, was commanded during the 1974 Turkish intervention. He played a key role in protecting important installations in Nicosia, ensuring civilians’ safety and overseeing evacuation of diplomats and civilians.
The first UNFICYP Commander was also an Indian, Lt Gen PS Gyani, from 1964 to 1965. He had set up the operational structure in politically volatile and militarily sensitive environment. The Lieutenant General defined peacekeeping protocols, buffer zones and rules of engagement.
He was followed by Gen KS Thimayya, who died while he was on duty in Cyprus. Last year in December, the UN wing in Nicosia organised a solemn event to honour General Thimayya. There is also a road named after him in the country.
The role of the three Indian Army Generals was acknowledged by Cyprus’s Foreign Ministry in December 2022, terming them ‘instrumental in safeguarding lives during conflict’.
Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides acknowledged the three Indian General at an event to mark 60 years of diplomatic relations. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was also present at the event.
During his visit, Modi will hold talks with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and address business leaders in Limassol.
G7 Agenda
- In Canada, Modi will attend the G7 Summit, marking his participation in 6th consecutive edition of the forum.
- He will exchange views on energy security, technology and innovation, particularly the AI-energy nexus and Quantum-related issues.