The President of the Republic Mr. Nicos
Anastasiades met today with the Prime Minister of Egypt Mr. Hazem El-Bablawi,
in Cairo where the President paid an official visit accompanied by the
Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Energy.
The President and the Prime Minister first
had a private meeting which was followed by expanded talks between the
delegations of the two countries.
Bilateral agreements were subsequently
signed in the presence of the President and the Prime Minister.
Specifically, Foreign Minister Mr Ioannis
Kasoulides signed an Air Services Agreement between Cyprus and Egypt,
and Minister of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Mr George Lakkotrypis
signed a Framework Agreement between concerning the Development of Cross-Median
Line Hydrocarbons Resources.
A cooperation agreement was also signed
between the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics and the Children’s
Cancer Hospital of Cairo. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Institute
by Dr. Philippos Patsalis, Executive Director of the Institute of Neurology.
Afterwards, the President of the Republic
and the Prime Minister of Egypt held a joint press conference.
In his remarks the President of the
Republic mentioned the following: “I would like, on behalf of the people of
Cyprus and my Government, to express the warmest thanks for the invitation to
visit Egypt but also for the fact that the cooperation between our two
countries is strengthened through the agreements that were signed today.
Our relations go back to antiquity, and
have been strengthened in the modern era following the end of colonization and
the achievement of our independence. They are strengthened even further through
the positions of principle that are maintained by Egypt with regard to the
Cyprus problem, but also through the minimal reciprocity from our side today,
as members of the EU, to be standing by your side and to support what, first
and foremost, the people of Egypt pursue through the revolution: the
restoration of democracy.
We consider Egypt as a prominent partner
and friend in the region and that is why we seek even closest and deepest
relations between our countries.
Cyprus has repeatedly expressed its full
support to the struggle of the Egyptian people for a stable, democratic and
prosperous Egypt. We reiterate our position that it is exclusively up to the
people of the sovereign people of Egypt to shape the present and the future of
their country. We follow with satisfaction the faithful implementation of the
(relevant) roadmap.”
The President added that “the agreements
we signed today and the ones that I am sure will follow demonstrate the great
interest of both my government and yours to strengthen our relations even
further and through these strengthened relations to help peace prevail in the
region.
I am certain that the discovery of
hydrocarbons in the region will allow us even further cooperation, so that we
achieve what we all desire, in other words, peace in the region but also growth
through the investments that similar discoveries will bring.
I have no doubt that the tripartite effort
that we are making among Egypt, Greece and Cyprus, will render even more
results in the joint efforts.
We support the Conclusions of 12 November
and we look forward to the closest possible cooperation, so that we can respond
to the expectations of our people.”
On his part, the Egyptian Prime Minister,
speaking through an interpreter, said that “this is an important visit for the
two countries and provides a significant thrust for their further
strengthening.”
Referring to the agreements that were
signed, the Prime Minister said that “they are very important not only for the
two countries, but also for the broader cooperation of the countries in the
region.
I note the very positive position of
Cyprus within the EU that supports the Egyptian positions strongly and we are
sure that this will continue.”
Asked as to how Cyprus, as a member state
of the EU, can help Egypt, the Prime Minister of Egypt said that his country
has signed some agreements with the EU and hopes to secure assistance from the
Union through certain programs.”
President Anastasiades said that “we are
also working in that direction in order to help, through the EU programs,
either for education or for specialization or research and technology, to be
the ones to suggest the idea, so that Egypt benefits from these.”
Asked to offer his assessment on the
threats by Turkey and its violations of the Cyprus exclusive Economic Zone, the
Egyptian Prime Minister said that “everybody must respect international
legality.” He added that “with regard to the Cyprus problem, I want to
reiterate Egypt’s position of principle that we support a solution to the
Cyprus problem on the basis of the UN resolutions.”
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