Christodoulides meets with Emir of Qatar (Updated)

President Nikos Christodoulides met with the Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha on Monday.

Christodoulides was received by Al Thani at an official reception at the Al Wajba palace to full military honours.

The pair then held a private meeting, before Cypriot and Qatari delegations held extended talks.

At those talks, the delegations discussed developments in the Middle East, the Cypriot initiative to create a humanitarian corridor between the island and Gaza, the Cyprus problem, bilateral relations, and matters relating to energy and investment.

Following the meetings, it was learned that a team from Qatar’s investment funds will travel to Cyprus for the purpose of exploring the prospects for Qatari investments in Cypriot infrastructure, energy and tourism.

Christodoulides said he “welcomes” the move, and that in addition, a team from Cyprus will travel to Qatar to discuss the proposed humanitarian corridor. He said Al Thani is “well aware” of Cyprus’ proposal.

“We agreed that in the next few days a technical team from Cyprus, our team of experts who are working on the details of our proposal, will be here in order to proceed with the implementation of everything as described in the Republic of Cyprus’ proposal,” he said.

He added that himself and Al Thani had “agreed regarding the need to further strengthen bilateral relations, especially in the economic sector.”

“Qatar was the first Gulf country I visited both for our bilateral issues as well as on the occasion of the developments in our region and the decisive role Qatar plays,” he said.

On the Cyprus problem, he said “we are all aware of the special relations between Qatar and Turkey, and any assistance Qatar can provide towards the resumption of the talks, on the basis of the agreed framework, is something we will welcome.”

Christodoulides also attended a midday meal hosted in his honour by Al Thani.

Earlier, Cyprus and Qatar had signed a memorandum of understanding in the field of higher education, scientific research, and technology.

The memorandum is expected to facilitate “the exchange of information regarding academic study programmes, the establishment of regulations for the mutual recognition of degrees and academic certificates from further and higher educational institutions of both countries, and the protection of intellectual rights.”

Christodoulides had touched down in Doha on Sunday evening and was met at the airport by the country’s Deputy Foreign Minister Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi.

On Monday afternoon afternoon, he took a guided tour around the grounds of the Expo 2023 “Green Desert, Better Environment” exhibition, before the Emir of Qatar hosted a meal in Christodoulides’ honour in the evening.