Press Releases

It is a great pleasure and honour to be among you this evening and to welcome the esteemed delegation of the Jordanian Chamber of Commerce, headed by its Chairman, the honourable Senator, Mr Nael Al Kabarity. The Cyprus – Jordan Business Promotion Forum, organized by the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation provides an excellent opportunity to further enhance and strengthen economic ties between our two countries. The importance that both the government and the private sector attach to Cyprus – Jordan relations is evident. I warmly congratulate everyone involved in this initiative, namely the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, the Embassy of Jordan to Cyprus, the Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency and the Cyprus – Jordan Business Association.

Ties between our two countries have been consolidated in recent years, particularly following Trilateral Meetings between Cyprus, Greece and Jordan. I was in fact honoured to take part in the first Trilateral Meeting of the Presidents of Parliament of Cyprus, Greece and Jordan, hosted by the Jordanian House of Representatives, at the Dead Sea, on 15 April 2019. The meeting allowed us to review the progress already achieved in many areas of common interest, including energy, agriculture, tourism, health, education, trade and investment and to map out the next steps in expanding this into a regional cooperation. The fields of energy, tourism and education and culture were identified as priorities on which we resolved to focus our joint initiatives and actions for the production of tangible results. I understand that these are areas of particular interest to you all, as well. I can assure you that the Cyprus House of Representatives stands ready to support all relevant synergies and collaborations, in the context of regional cooperation and the promotion of economic and cultural diplomacy. 

In this respect, we also collaborate closely with all vested stakeholders in Cyprus, including the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and the Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency, which is a close partner of the House, in its efforts to establish economic ties as a means of further promoting bilateral relations. 

Jordan is a pillar of stability in the turbulent area of the Middle East and an invaluable ally in efforts to establish peace and security in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Especially following the war in Syria and the ongoing refugee crisis, Jordan has been on the frontline, dealing with a massive refugee influx across its borders. Cyprus, understanding the great pressure that this situation places on Jordan’s resources, as well as the various socio-economic repercussions, has always played an instrumental role within the EU, for the provision of further economic assistance and overall greater support to Jordan.

In the same vein, we appreciate Jordan’s support in our efforts to reach a just, comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem, in line with relevant UN resolutions and international and European law principles and values. This support is even more crucial to us these days, as we are experiencing the climax of Turkey’s provocative actions within our Exclusive Economic Zone with the blatant violation of the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus, but also of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982). These actions are a direct threat against peace and stability in the region and we will use all diplomatic means available to tackle them. 

Despite Turkey’s continuing provocations, we remain committed to expanding collaboration to other countries in the wider region and as such I salute the initiative of this Business Forum to focus on developing cooperation between Cypriot and Jordanian businesses aimed at the reconstruction of Iraq. Such efforts not only serve to benefit our businesses financially, but more importantly, provide the perfect ground for furthering exchanges in other fields and ultimately building strong relations that foster security, stability and prosperity in our region. I hope that soon, I will have the opportunity to meet my Jordanian counterpart, along with the Presidents of Parliament of Greece, Egypt and Iraq, ultimately aiming to discuss tangible ways to expand our ties.

In conclusion, I express once again my appreciation for the kind invitation to attend and address this event. I warmly congratulate the Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation for their initiative to organize this Forum and I remain confident that the friendship forged between Cyprus and Jordan shall continue to expand and bear fruit, to the benefit of both our countries, our respective people and, last but not least, our wider region.      

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