Greece confers PM Modi with Grand Cross of the Order of Honour
After receiving the honour, PM Modi thanked the president and people of Greece saying that this shows the respect the people of Greece have towards India.
Prime minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the Grand Cross of the Order of Honour by Greek President Katerina N. Sakellaropoulou in Athens on Friday.
After receiving the honour, PM Modi thanked the president and people of Greece saying that this shows the respect the people of Greece have towards India.
“I thank President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, the Government and people of Greece for conferring upon me The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour. This shows the respect the people of Greece have towards India. @PresidencyGR,” he said on X, (formerly Twitter).
The Grand Cross of the Order of Honour is conferred by the president of Greece to prime ministers and eminent personalities who by reason of their distinguished position, have contributed to enhancing the stature of Greece.
The citation of the honour says- “In the person of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an honour is bestowed upon the friendly people of India,” PIB said.
“On the occasion of this visit, the Greek State Honours the Prime Minister of India, a statesman who has tirelessly promoted the global reach of his country and who works systematically for India’s economic progress and prosperity, bringing about bold reforms. A statesman who has brought environmental protection and climate change among the top priorities of international activity,” the citation added.
The Order of Honour was established in 1975. The head of goddess Athena is depicted on the front side of the Star with the inscription “ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS SHOULD BE HONOURED”.
PM Modi, who is on a one-day official visit to Greece, arrived in Athens on Friday from South Africa where he attended the 15th BRICS Summit and held bilateral meetings with several world leaders to further cement India's relations with those countries.
He was received by Greek foreign minister George Gerapetritis at the airport.
After his arrival, PM Modi laid a wreath at the 'Tomb of the Unknown Soldier', a war memorial dedicated to the Greek soldiers killed during various wars, in Athens on Friday. Later, he also received a guard of honour.
In a bid to cement the Indo-Greek relations, PM Modi and president Sakellaropoulou discussed "several issues" including ways to increase sustainable development.
"Glad to have met President Katerina Sakellaropoulou in Athens. We discussed several issues which will strengthen the India-Greece friendship. We also discussed ways to boost sustainable development. She congratulated India on the success of Chandrayaan-3," PM Modi said on X.
During his talks with Sakellaropoulou, PM Modi said the success of Chandrayaan-3 is not only the victory of India, it is the triumph of the entire humankind.
"The findings of the data collected by the Chandrayaan-3 mission will help the entire scientific fraternity and humankind," he said, thanking the president for her wishes on India's successful lunar mission.
The last visit to Greece by an Indian primer took place in September 1983 when then PM Indira Gandhi travelled to the country.
India and Greece enjoy civilisational ties, which have strengthened in recent years through cooperation in areas like maritime transport, defence, trade and investments and people-to-people ties.
