Shoukry discusses bilateral relations with Greek deputy FM

CAIRO – 22 October 2018: Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry met on Sunday, Oct. 21 with Greek Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Terence Quick, to discuss ways to develop the bilateral cooperation between the two countries in different fields.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Ahmed Hafez, referred that Shoukry praised the great progress in the friendly bilateral relations between the two countries, which comes as part of Greece's president and prime minister’s keenness to promote the relations.

Hafez added that shoukry expressed Egypt’s appreciation of the continuous coordination between the two countries at several international events and the European Union along with the cooperation and partnership established between Cyprus, Greece and Egypt.

He remarked that Shoukry and Quick agreed during the meeting on the importance of promoting economic relations through scaling up the investments between the two countries. In this regard, Shoukry referred that Greece could benefit from the Suez Canal economic Zone.

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson added that the two officials shed light on the conference set to be held in London for Egyptian, Greek and Cypriot doctors, stressing that this initiative will confirm the deep historical and cultural relations among the three countries.

Egyptian-Cypriot relations

The relations between Cairo and Nicosia date back to 1960 according to the State Information Service (SIS). Both countries have supported each other internationally in more than one occasion, including supporting each other’s candidacy for the membership of various committees within the United Nations.

Egypt was also among the first countries that declared recognizing Cyprus’s independence. Former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser and former Cypriot President Makarios III enjoyed friendly relations during the sixties.

In September 2014, President Sisi met with his Cypriot counterpart on the sidelines of the 69th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Several topics were discussed then by the two leaders, along with announcing both countries’ support for each other’s causes and political strategies.

The volume of trade between Egypt and Cyprus increased to €41.3 million between January and July 2017, compared to €29 million during the same period last year, with a growth rate of 42.4 percent.

According to SIS, Cyprus participates with $1.07 billion in shares in more than 163 Egyptian companies, mostly in the tourism sector.

In October 2012, both Egypt and Cyprus signed an agreement in the field of oil and gas exploration, especially on the border zones of both countries.

During Sisi’s last visit, several new agreements were signed between the two parties including Memoranda of Understanding in health affairs, security issues, tourism and communications.

Egyptian-Greek relations
One of the oldest political relations between two countries in the world; relations between Greece and Egypt date backs to the establishment of Alexandria even before Alexander the Great.

In 2017, Egyptian Foreign Minister Shoukry visited Athens three times; other senior Greek officials visited Cairo in 2015 and 2016, including Prime Minster Alexis Tsipras and President Prokopios Pavlopoulos.

Greek investments in Egypt are estimated to be $3 billon, which places it in the fifth position on the list of highest European investments in Cairo. These investments are expected to multiply five times during the coming period, according to SIS.

Several agreements are signed between both countries in various fields including maritime transport, economy, social insurance, the promotion and protection of investments, scientific and technological cooperation along with new and renewable energy.

During the tripartite summit, the Egyptian, Cypriot and Greek leaders signed cooperation agreements in the tourism field.