US President Joe Biden has signed a bill providing Ukraine with billions of dollars in new aid for its war with Russia, marking a rare…
The optimization of cooperation and coordination between Nicosia and Athens, but also the promotion of their common aspirations within the EU, is the goal of the establishment of the Cyprus – Greece Supreme Cooperation Council as a bilateral cooperation body, which was announced yesterday by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulidis, and the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
According to diplomatic sources, this is a very important step that will contribute to substantial progress in various sectors, such as shipping and energy, and to the achievement of common goals. It was also mentioned that until today, Cyprus had a corresponding institutionalized cooperation only with Egypt, and Greece with several countries of the Balkans.
In the context of this institutionalized intergovernmental cooperation, meetings of the Cabinet will be held at regular intervals in the presence of the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the Prime Minister of Greece.
The diplomatic sources reported that during their talks yesterday, Christodoulidis and Mitsotakis exchanged views on issues of the European agenda and there was coordination for the upcoming European Council, stressing that beyond the national issue, the President of the Republic wants Cyprus’ strong presence at the European level with interventions.
They also noted that President Christodoulidis intends to make an intervention at the upcoming European Council regarding immigration and in relation to the elaboration of the European Commission’s Action Plan for the Eastern Mediterranean in accordance with the Conclusions of the European Council of February.
It was also mentioned that the participation of the President of the Republic of Cyprus in the EPP group, in which Kyriakos Mitsotakis also participates, provides the possibility of further collaborations and contributes to the promotion of common goals.
Regarding energy, it was noted that the intensification of efforts to wean the EU off Russian Natural Gas creates opportunities for further energy cooperation between Cyprus and Greece to highlight the alternative corridor of the Eastern Mediterranean to the EU.
With regard to the tripartite mechanisms, it was emphasized that they highlight the role of Greece and Cyprus as pillars of stability and security in an unstable region. Besides, the two sides discussed developments in the region as well as regional issues.
Regarding the Cyprus issue, the same sources reiterated that President Christodoulidis informed Prime Minister Mitsotakis of the need for more active involvement of the EU, in order to change Turkey’s intransigent attitude, to break the impasse and restart the solution process, always within the UN framework.
Source: CNA
Also read: Germany | The government approves arms exports to Cyprus, India and Niger
READ MORE
United Kingdom | Increase in defence spending
Britain will gradually increase its defence spending to reach 2.5% of GDP by 2030, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced…
Armenia – Azerbaijan | Border demarcation is underway
An important step for the diplomatic relations of Armenia and Azerbaijan is underway with the demarcation of their common border.
A reluctant alliance? A different approach to French – Serbian defence relations
It has only been a few months since Croatia started receiving the first of the Rafale fighter jets it ordered from France.
Elliniko | 314 bombs buried at former airport
Over 300 bombs from the Second World War have been found at the old airport of Athens in Elliniko. The news about the said…
Agamemnon | The new Astute-class HMS nuclear submarine of the Royal Navy
The British Royal Navy has named the newly-built Astute-class nuclear-powered submarine HMS Agamemnon. Doing so, the…
NSPA | Awards first C-sUAS multinational contract in NATO’s history
The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) has approved the first Counter-small UAS (C-sUAS) procurement framework agreement…
USA | Signs bill on military aid to Ukraine
US President Joe Biden has signed a bill providing Ukraine with billions of dollars in new aid for its war with Russia, marking a rare…
Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
On this day, 109 years ago, the genocide of the Armenian people by the Ottoman Empire began, with April 24 being the day of…