Cyprus supports India's UNSC permanent membership

New Delhi, Apr 12: Cyprus today supported India's bid for a permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos, who was given a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning, said India was qualified to be a permanent member of the world body.

''We support India's application to become a permanent member state of the United Nations Security Council. India's presence and offer in the UN justifies and qualifies it to become a permanent member,'' he said after the reception.

Mr Papadopoulos, who arrived here yesterday on a five-day visit to India at the invitation of President A P J Abdul Kalam, said this was a ''visit of respect for the great country of India with which we always had tradionally very close relations.'' He expressed gratitude to India for support towards a solution of the Cyprus problem.

He also visited Rajghat and placed a wreath at the Samadhi of Mahatama Gandhi and also signed the visitors' book.

UNI