Greece, Cyprus issue joint communique after first High-level Cooperation Council

The latest developments concerning the Cyprus problem and the Middle East, along with a series of other issues, were examined during the inaugural Greece-Cyprus High-level Cooperation Council in Athens on Friday, according to the joint communique issued after its conclusion.

Newsbomb

ENGLISH NEWS
2'

This referred to the discussions held on issues such as energy, defence, migration and asylum, education, health, civil protection, culture and shipping, as well as the situation in Ukraine. The two sides agreed that the second High-level Cooperation Council will be held in Cyprus in 2024.

The meeting was chaired jointly by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, who afterward made joint statements to the press. The joint communique noted their support for establishing high-level cooperation councils as the right framework for further enhancing bilateral cooperation between Greece and Cyprus.

The meeting confirmed that there cannot be a solution to the Cyprus issue without the complete withdrawal of Turkish occupation troops and that any solution must be based on UN Security Council resolutions. They said they looked forward to the appointment of a new UN envoy for Cyprus to explore the prospects of resuming negotiations for a solution, as well as calling for an active EU role in all stages of the process, in accordance with the European Council conclusions of June 30, 2023.

Regarding energy issues, the meeting reaffirmed the strategic significance of cooperation between Greece and Cyprus in order to ensure adequate supplies and diversification of energy on a regional and European level but also by linking Europe to the Middle East and Asia via the Eastern Mediterranean. Emphasis was given, among others, to the EuroAsia Interconnector electricity cable, support for the EastMed Pipeline and Greece's presidency of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum in early 2024.

In the discussion on developments in the Middle East, both countries unequivocally condemned terrorism and recognised Israel's right to defend itself within the framework of international law, especially as regards the protection of civilians. They said that Hamas was a terrorist organisation that does not represent the Palestinian people, who are institutionally represented by the Palestinian Authority. Greece and Cyprus repeated the need for the immediate release of all hostages without terms or conditions while expressing their strong concern over the situation in Gaza and the need for an immediate response to the humanitarian crisis. The meeting also hailed a Cypriot initiative for setting up a sea corridor to transfer humanitarian aid to Gaza's civilians, as well as Greece's willingness to contribute.