Press Releases

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, paid yesterday a working visit to Israel, during which he held a series of constructive official meetings.

During his visit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the Prime Minister, Mr Benjamin Netanyahu, and was received by the country's President, Mr Reuven Rivlin, to whom he extended an invitation on behalf of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, to pay an official visit to the island in the forthcoming months. In addition, the Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the Deputy Minister in charge of public diplomacy, Mr Michael Oren, who hosted the Foreign Minister at a working lunch. Lastly, the Minister met with the Director-General of the Ministry of Energy, Mr Udi Adiri, who replaces the Minister of Energy, Mr Yuval Steinitz, in his absence.

During his meetings, the Foreign Minister had the opportunity to inform his interlocutors on the Turkish provocations within the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus. The Foreign Minister made reference to the fact that the said course of action, on behalf of Turkey, is intended to create obstacles in the efforts by the states of the eastern Mediterranean to establish regional synergies, especially in the field of energy.

Moreover, the Foreign Minister and his interlocutors discussed practical ways to upgrade the relations between Cyprus and Israel in a wide range of policy fields, including the transfer of know-how on public and digital diplomacy matters. During the meetings, particular emphasis was given to the planning of the forthcoming 4^th Trilateral Summit Meetings between Cyprus, Greece and Israel, which will be held on the 8^th of May 2018, in Lefkosia. In this context, the two sides renewed their commitment to the strategic importance of the bilateral synergy between Cyprus and Israel, and the comparative advantage that this creates in the overall process of further deepening the regional cooperation in the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean, including in the efforts to address common challenges and asymmetric threats, as well as the efforts to achieve common objectives.

Furthermore, there was a substantial exchange of views in regards to the current regional developments, and a discussion as to the next steps in the field of regional energy cooperation, including the prospect of proceeding to the realization of the EastMed pipeline, and the prospect of co-operation between producer states. The two sides also underlined the dynamics of their credible and sincere relationship, which is based on common goals and democratic ideals, highlighting the role of Cyprus and Israel as pillars of stability and security in the region. The latest developments in regards to the Cyprus Problem, the prospects for resuming the Middle East Peace Process, as well as possible ways to promote a positive agenda in the EU-Israel relations, were also discussed during the visit.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs was also received by His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of the Holy City of Jerusalem and All Palestine, with whom he held a cordial discussion. During the said meeting, His Beatitude the Patriarch decorated the Minister of Foreign Affairs with the Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulcher. 

(AH)