Source: Kathimerini Cyprus
At a special ceremony held today at the Presidential Residence in Jerusalem, the President of the Republic Mr. Nicos Anastasiades was awarded the Presidential Medal of Honor by the President of Israel Mr. Herzog.
the Medal of Honor is the highest honor awarded by Israel, adding that it was previously also bestowed upon US President Joe Biden.
According to a statement released by the office of the President of Israel, Mr. Anastasiades received the Medal of Honor "for being an ally and a true friend to the state of Israel, for his contribution to the great friendship between Cyprus and Israel, and for his key role in the establishment and development of the trilateral relationship between Israel, Cyprus, and Greece, which is a strategic anchor of stability in the Mediterranean basin."
Speaking at the ceremony, President Anastasiades said: "Being bestowed the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor evokes intense feelings and emotions. Please accept my heartfelt gratitude, as well as that of the people of the Republic of Cyprus, to whom I owe today's highest honor. An honor I humbly accept as a genuine recognition and appreciation for the tireless efforts I have made to advance our relationship, which we can now proudly call strategic.
"Mr. President, today’s ceremony reminds me of your official visit to Cyprus last March, during which I had the pleasure to bestow upon Your Excellency the Grand Collar of the Order of Makarios the Third, in recognition of your family’s strong links to Cyprus, your long-standing conviction in the Cyprus – Israeli friendship and your remarkable contribution to this end. These two events, in my opinion, are not coincidental. They are shining examples of our countries' and peoples' unbreakable bonds, as well as our commitment to seeing them grow from strength to strength..."
President Herzog, for his part, stated, among other things, that President Anastasiades has played a critical role in advancing a new spirit of unity, as I witnessed with my own eyes at the COP27 and as I heard about your incredible conference yesterday, and you have opened new avenues for partnership. Addressing the President of the Republic, President Herzog said, "you are a true democrat and a great leader whose power emanates from your deep courage," and noted President Anastasiades’ integrity and decency.
He added that the Medal of Honor is the highest honor awarded by Israel, adding that it was previously also bestowed upon US President Joe Biden.
After the ceremony, President Herzog and his spouse hosted an official luncheon in honor of the President of the Republic and his spouse Mrs. Andri Anastasiades.
