New Delhi, Nov 27 (NationPress) Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla had a significant meeting on Thursday with a Parliamentary Delegation from Cyprus, under the leadership of Annita Demetriou. This interaction reinforced the mutual commitment of both nations to enhance democratic cooperation, as stated by an official.

The Speaker also engaged with a delegation from Burkina Faso.

This meeting reiterated the dedication of India and Cyprus to fortifying democratic collaboration and broadening the scope of parliamentary diplomacy.

Emphasizing the long-standing friendship between India and Cyprus, founded on shared democratic values, mutual trust, and close cooperation in international platforms, Birla acknowledged the cordial and enduring relations enjoyed by both countries.

He recalled that earlier this year, Cyprus awarded its highest civilian honor, the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which symbolizes the goodwill and closeness characterizing India-Cyprus relations.

In a message shared on X, Birla expressed, “It was a pleasure to welcome the distinguished Parliamentary Delegation from Cyprus, led by Annita Demetriou, President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, to the Parliament of India.”

“The delegation expressed admiration for the architectural brilliance, advanced technological features, and the rich civilizational heritage embodied in India’s new Parliament House,” he noted.

“We discussed our shared democratic values and the renewed momentum in our multi-sectoral cooperation following Prime Minister Modi's visit to Cyprus in June this year. I also emphasized India’s zero-tolerance approach to terrorism and our mutual commitment to tackling global challenges, including climate change,” he stated.

The Cypriot delegation showed appreciation for India’s guidance and support on the global stage and fully backed its firm stance on zero tolerance towards terrorism.

They also acknowledged the important role both India and Europe play in ensuring peace and stability in Cyprus. Both parties consented on the necessity to enhance cooperation in areas such as parliamentary training, capacity building, research exchange, and people-to-people engagement.

During the discussions, the Speaker informed the delegation about the operations of the Indian Parliament, the crucial role of Parliamentary Committees, and India’s initiatives to incorporate modern technologies, including Artificial Intelligence and the Digital Sansad platform.

He pointed out that these innovations have greatly enhanced transparency, efficiency, and multilingual accessibility in parliamentary processes.

Referring to the celebration of Constitution Day on November 26, Birla remarked that India’s Constitution has been a powerful tool for promoting social justice, economic empowerment, and inclusive national development.

In a separate message on X, Birla also shared his experience meeting with a delegation from Burkina Faso.

“I was pleased to welcome H.E. Mr. Ousmane Bougouma, President of the Transitional Legislative Assembly of Burkina Faso, along with his delegation to the Parliament of India. We exchanged views on the warm and friendly ties between our nations and the evolving Development-Oriented Partnership that continues to add new dimensions to our bilateral cooperation,” Birla stated.

He underscored how the Indian Parliament is utilizing Artificial Intelligence and Digital Sansad to improve transparency, efficiency, and technological advancement in legislative processes.

“I appreciated his involvement in the capacity-building program organized by PRIDE and conveyed India’s readiness to arrange customized training modules in the future. I assured him of India’s ongoing support in advancing Burkina Faso's development goals,” Birla noted on X.