Cyprus-Greece-Egypt FMs to hold trilateral meeting in New York

Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides continues his contacts on the sidelines of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in New York and is expected to attend later on Thursday a trilateral meeting with his counterparts from Greece and Egypt, Nikos Dendias and Sameh Shoukry.

A Foreign Ministry announcement says that on Wednesday, Christodoulides had separate meetings with the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) Secretary-General, the Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates, as well as his counterparts from Libya, Serbia, Moldova, Syria, Iraq, Senegal, and Georgia.

During his meetings, the Minister had the opportunity to brief his interlocutors on the latest developments concerning the Cyprus issue.

On Thursday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs will meet with the Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia Battsetseg Batmunkh, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Guyana Hugh Hilton Todd, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Rwanda, Vincent Biruta, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, and he will also attend the trilateral meeting with his Greek and Egyptian counterparts.

On Wednesday, Christodoulides discussed over working breakfast with UfM Secretary-General Nasser Kamel the latest developments in the broader Mediterranean region, while the two men discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between Cyprus and the UfM. They also discussed the possibility of forming a rapid response unit for natural disasters, with personnel and equipment from UfM member states, the press release adds.

At his subsequent meeting with GCC Secretary-General, Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf, Christodoulides exchanged views on the latest developments in the broader Gulf region, the impact on the region’s countries from the situation in Afghanistan, while they also reviewed the expanding cooperation between Cyprus and the GCC. They decided that Al-Hajraf will pay Cyprus a visit in the near future, among others, to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for initiating consultations between the two sides, which is in the final stages of negotiations.

Subsequently, Christodoulides met with UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, discussing mainly Cyprus’ participation in Expo2020, which opens its gates in Dubai next month, as well as ways to strengthen financial relations between Cyprus and UAE to reflect the excellent level of political relations, the announcement adds.

During a meeting with his Libyan counterpart, Najla El Mangoush, the Foreign Minister discussed the situation in the country and the latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean region and EU-Libya relations. The two Ministers also talked about ways to reactivate bilateral relations.

The announcement says, moreover, that Christodoulides attended later a working lunch with his Serbian counterpart, Nikola Selaković, and they had the opportunity to exchange views on Western Balkans, EU-Serbia and bilateral relations, among others.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Foreign Minister met with Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicu Popescu, to discuss the process of reforms in Moldova after a new government took up its duties, and EU-Moldova relations. The mutual wish to conclude consultations, aiming at signing a number of bilateral agreements in the near future, still under negotiation, was also expressed, along with an exchange of Ministerial visits, to be accompanied by business forums.

Nikos Christodoulides also met with Syria’s Foreign Minister, Faisal Mekdad, and was briefed on the situation in the country, as well as about the humanitarian needs arising from the pandemic. They also discussed issues pertaining to bilateral relations which came to a halt in the last years due to the situation there.

In a meeting with Fuad Hussein, the Foreign Minister of Iraq, Cyprus’ FM discussed regional issues, including the possibility of Iraq’s participation at the regional cooperation networks established in the broader region, and ways to strengthen bilateral relations. Christodoulides and Hussein signed in this context an agreement for visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports between the two countries.

Later, Christodoulides met with Senegal Foreign Minister Aïssata Tall Sall, and talked about the pandemic and its handling, ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, also in the framework of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, EU-Senegal and EU-African Union relations.

In his meeting with his Georgian counterpart David Zalkaliani, the Foreign Minister of Cyprus discussed issues pertaining to further strengthening of bilateral relations, EU-Georgia relations and regional issues, the announcement concludes