Nicosia, Cyprus – President Nikos Christodoulides met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday ahead of a trilateral Cyprus-Greece-Israel summit. The discussions were centered on the resumption of talks to resolve the Cyprus problem and regional stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
President Christodoulides welcomed Prime Minister Mitsotakis and highlighted the significance of the trilateral mechanism, which emphasizes the roles of Cyprus and Greece as EU member states in the Eastern Mediterranean. He expressed the readiness to discuss the Cyprus problem and Greek-Turkish relations, emphasizing the pivotal role of September and October in determining the direction of these issues. Upcoming events such as the UN General Assembly, various meetings, and the European Council in October are of utmost importance.
President Christodoulides reaffirmed Cyprus’s commitment to cooperation with its neighbors based on international law and mutually beneficial solutions for the entire region’s people. He stressed the potential benefits of resuming talks for all parties involved.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis underlined that Greece, Cyprus, and Israel represent pillars of stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. He emphasized the successful history of the trilateral partnership, noting its positive impact on political, economic, and other areas. Prime Minister Mitsotakis echoed President Christodoulides’ approach to the Cyprus problem, emphasizing the need to restart talks within the framework of UN resolutions. He expressed Greece’s unwavering support for this position and noted that the coming months could bring cautious optimism for Greek-Turkish relations.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also had a bilateral meeting during the summit.
On Sunday, President Christodoulides held a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, highlighting the strong relations between Cyprus and Israel. He described their partnership as a friendship and strategic partnership with great potential for further growth. President Christodoulides emphasized shared values, interests, and common challenges faced by both countries, as well as their vision for regional stability and prosperity.
The leaders discussed key areas of cooperation, including energy, defense, cybersecurity, business, and tourism. President Christodoulides noted the increasing number of Israeli tourists visiting Cyprus. They also discussed energy cooperation strategies, particularly in light of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and the need for energy diversification and increased interconnectivity.
The leaders agreed on advancing prospects for developing a reliable energy corridor between like-minded countries in the Eastern Mediterranean, linking the region to Europe. This involves projects such as electrical interconnections, gas pipelines, cleaner energy sources, and LNG terminals.
The trilateral Cyprus-Greece-Israel summit aims to strengthen regional cooperation, address shared challenges, and promote stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.
