Paris, France. President Nikos Christodoulides is attending France’s Bastille Day celebrations on Tuesday at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, with meetings planned with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and other foreign leaders.
Christodoulides travelled to Paris on Monday evening for the traditional military parade along the Champs-Élysées marking France’s national day.
National Guard participation
Ahead of the parade, Christodoulides met members of the Cyprus National Guard contingent invited by the French Armed Forces to take part in the celebrations.
Speaking in the presence of National Guard commander Lieutenant General Georgios Theodorou, he said the invitation for the unit to parade with the flag of the Republic of Cyprus before heads of state and government held significant symbolic importance.
Cyprus-France relations
Christodoulides said the participation reflected the strength of the strategic partnership between Cyprus and France, describing bilateral relations as being at their highest level.
He is accompanied in Paris by Deputy Government Spokesman Yiannis Antoniou and government officials and is expected to return to Cyprus later on Tuesday afternoon.