Foreign Affairs Minister Constantinos Kombos paid Israel a working visit on Sunday during which he discussed with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Saar, issues mainly concerning the progress of bilateral relations with an emphasis on energy, defence and investments.
Speaking to CNA, Kombos underlined that Cyprus ‘maintains a strategic relationship with Israel, which covers issues of mutual interest, especially in the fields of energy, defence and trade.’
Regarding trade, he pointed out that ‘one only needs to look at the numbers regarding the mutual flow of investments to the two countries and the continuous development of these relations.’
Kombos said that they discussed about issues concerning the region focusing on the next day in Gaza and the need to implement President Trump’s Plan.
He added that Cyprus’ role as a bridge of cooperation between international partners and operational activities on the ground was highlighted, on the basis of the six proposals submitted by President Christodoulides at the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit.
‘We have common concerns about the way in which some third parties may try to acquire a role, which would not be to the benefit of the wider region,’ Kombos stressed.
They also reviewed the course of the 3+1 scheme with the participation of the United States and discussed the prospects that emerge through the implementation of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, as well as the impact of recent regional developments on the security and stability of the Eastern Mediterranean, with particular emphasis on the need to protect civilians and strengthen humanitarian efforts.
The Cypriot Minister’s visit began at the Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC) of the Central Command (CENTCOM) of the US Armed Forces in the city of Kiryat Gat, where he was briefed on the actions to support the process of providing humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza in the context of the implementation of President Trump’s Plan.
He later on held a tête-à-tête meeting with his counterpart Gideon Saar, followed by a working lunch with the participation of the delegations of the two countries.