This will be the first External Affairs Minister-level visit from India to Austria in the last 27 years

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will pay official visits to Cyprus and Austria from December 29, 2022 - January 3, 2023, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Wednesday.

During his visit to Cyprus from December 29-31, he will meet with his Cypriot counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides. He will also call on President of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou.

According to the MEA, EAM Jaishankar will address the business and investment community of the Republic of Cypriot (RoC), apart from an interaction with the Indian Diaspora.

The visit is significant as this year marks 60 years of diplomatic relations between India and Cyprus.

In Austria, EAM Jaishankar will meet the Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Alexander Schallenberg.

This will be the first EAM-level visit from India to Austria in the last 27 years, and takes place against the backdrop of 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2023, the MEA pointed out.

Minister Schallenberg visited India in March 2022, and the two Ministers have met thrice this year on the margins of international gatherings (Munich, Bratislava and New York).

During his visit to , EAM Jaishankar will call on Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer. He will also interact with the Indian diaspora based in Austria.

Separately, EAM Jaishankar will meet with Director General of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi.

While in Austria, he will also meet the Foreign Ministers of Czech Republic and Slovak Republic, Jan Lipavský and Rastislav Káčer respectively, along with Austrian Federal Minister Schallenberg, in the Slavkov format. Discussions are expected to focus on regional and global issues, the MEA said.