Egypt, Cyprus condemn regional violence

CAIRO – 1 August 2024: On Thursday, August 1, Foreign Minister and Minister of Migration and Egyptian Expatriates Affairs, Dr. Badr Abdel Aty, welcomed Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters.

According to Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, the official spokesperson and Director of Public Diplomacy at the Ministry, the two foreign ministers held a closed bilateral session followed by an expanded meeting that included delegations from both countries.

These discussions covered various aspects of bilateral relations and regional and international issues of mutual interest, reflecting the special historical ties and strategic nature of the relationship between Egypt and Cyprus.

During the consultations, Minister Abdel Aty expressed his appreciation for Cyprus' support of Egypt within the European Union on various issues. He welcomed the Cypriot President's participation in the Egypt-European Union Summit held in Cairo on March 17, 2024, highlighting the strategic depth of bilateral relations.

Abdel Aty emphasized Egypt's commitment to enhancing economic and trade relations with Cyprus, matching the political closeness between the two countries. He also noted the strategic importance of the energy sector.

Ambassador Abu Zeid mentioned that the discussions included exploring cooperation in agriculture, fisheries, seasonal labor recruitment from Egypt to Cyprus, maritime navigation, and tourism, recognizing both countries' extensive experience in these fields.

The two ministers reaffirmed their commitment to the trilateral cooperation mechanism with Greece, which has become a regional model for addressing escalating challenges in the Mediterranean.

The consultations also covered the volatile situation in the region, including the ongoing war in Gaza, repeated violations of Lebanon's sovereignty, and the increasing frequency of assassinations. The ministers agreed on the need to intensify efforts to prevent further violence and instability in the region.

Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos expressed his desire to continue strengthening the strategic relations between Cyprus and Egypt on both bilateral and regional levels.

He praised Egypt's political and humanitarian efforts to resolve ongoing crises in the Middle East and its role as a cornerstone of security and stability in the region.