Energy security as a shared interest and a key pillar of the trilateral cooperation and the importance of strengthening economic, trade and investment cooperation among the three countries was at the centre of the Joint Declaration of the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, issued after their meeting in Al-Alamein, on the occasion of the Trilateral Summit.
The Joint Declaration refers, among other issues, to the Cyprus problem, the Palestinian issue, Lebanon and Libya, as well as matters concerning migration, the UNCLOS and water security.
Reaffirm their pride in the historical relations and close ties that bind their peoples, they committed to continue joint efforts to promote peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, in a manner that serves the interests of their peoples and contributes to addressing common regional and international challenges.
Recognizing the growing importance of the Eastern Mediterranean region, at a time of profound geopolitical challenges, “we emphasize the importance of continued consultation and coordination among our three countries,” they stressed, noting that, building upon the achievements of the Trilateral Cooperation Mechanism since its inception in Cairo in November 2014, which has made it a successful model for regional cooperation, they remain committed to further developing it, based on the principles of trust, respect and cooperation.
“We reaffirm our shared commitment to supporting security and stability in the region and resolving disputes and crises through political and diplomatic means, and we reject any actions that would increase tension, undermine regional stability or threaten regional peace and security. We emphasize the importance of respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of States, refraining from the threat or use of force, and fully adhering to the rules of international law and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations,” the Joint Declaration reads.
The three leaders reiterate the importance of full respect for international law, and for the commitment of all States to uphold its principles, in a manner that safeguards the rights of all States concerned and contributes to peace, security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. They also re-emphasize that any Agreements or Memoranda of Understanding on delimitation of the maritime jurisdiction should be concluded in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Egypt, Greece and Cyprus welcome the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy on the Cyprus issue and expressed their support for the continued endeavors to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue within the framework of the United Nations and in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. “We affirm that reaching a settlement of the Cyprus issue would contribute significantly to strengthening peace and regional stability,” they highlighted.
They also reaffirmed their unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and for the necessity of achieving a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace based on the Two-State solution. “We reiterate our support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state within the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with United Nations resolutions,” they said, emphasizing the importance of advancing the implementation of the second phase of President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, as endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803, which would ensure the commencement of reconstruction and early recovery in Gaza, and the preservation of the unity of the Palestinian territories.
They also expressed deep concern for the humanitarian situation in Gaza and stressed that humanitarian assistance must reach the civilian population safely, rapidly and at scale. “We also reaffirm the geographical, political, and legal contiguity between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and reject any attempts to separate them, including through policies aimed at the forced displacement of the Palestinian population,” they added.
Moreover, they reaffirmed their firm support for the stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon and the importance of the full implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. They stressed the need for the cessation of all attacks against Lebanon and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory. “We call for the strengthening of Lebanese State institutions, foremost among them the Lebanese Armed Forces, to enable them to fulfil their responsibilities in extending the full authority and sovereignty of the State throughout its territory,” they said.
The three leaders also reaffirmed their support for Libya’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity, and for an inclusive, Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process, without foreign interference. They also called for the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya, and expressed their support for United Nations efforts towards holding simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible, within the framework of Libyan ownership.
Cooperation in energy, economy, trade and investments
El Sisi, Mitsotakis and Christodoulides affirmed that energy security is a shared interest and a key pillar of their trilateral cooperation. “We express our aspiration to continue developing electricity interconnection projects, including the GREGY interconnection project, thereby enhancing energy security and contributing to linking the Eastern Mediterranean to European markets,” they underlined.
They also emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation in the natural gas sector, thereby supporting regional and European energy security. In this context, they noted that they highly value the recent developments regarding connecting the Cypriot gas fields to the Egyptian gas infrastructure and facilities, and called for their completion as soon as possible.
The three leaders emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation in the field of water security and the sustainable management of water resources, in light of the growing challenges facing the region, including water scarcity and climate change. In this context, they recognize Egypt’s heavy reliance on the Nile River and reaffirmed their support for its water security. They reiterated the importance of full compliance with international law in the Nile Basin, including with respect to the Ethiopian Dam.
“We further emphasize that transboundary water resources, including the Nile River, should serve as a means of cooperation and integration rather than a source of conflict. To this end, we reaffirm the necessity of adherence to the principle of ‘do no harm’ and the duty to cooperate, including through prior notification, consultation and consensus, as well as to refrain from unilateral measures that could adversely affect Egypt’s water uses and needs, in order to safeguard the interests of all concerned states,” they added.
The three leaders stressed that they attach particular importance to strengthening economic, trade and investment cooperation among their countries, and to translating their “excellent political relations into tangible economic opportunities for our peoples.” As they said, leveraging the geographical location and competitive advantages of the three countries will open new opportunities for the private sector and enhance integration among their economies. “We encourage intensified communication between business communities and the development of partnerships in priority areas, contributing to sustainable growth and job creation,” they highlighted.
They also emphasized that addressing irregular migration requires a holistic and balanced approach, combining security, development, economic, and social aspects, and the importance of expanding cooperation in the field of regular migration and encouraging the provision of organized employment opportunities for Egyptian workers in both Cyprus and Greece, in accordance with the relevant legislation and bilateral agreements.
Furthermore, they emphasized the importance of continuing to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Egypt and the European Union, which, as they said, contributes to supporting stability, development, and prosperity in Egypt and the region. They welcome the progress made in implementing the six pillars that form the framework of this partnership, and reaffirmed their determination to continue close coordination within this framework to advance common interests and contribute to strengthening connectivity between the two shores of the Mediterranean.
Finally, they reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening and developing the Trilateral Cooperation Mechanism and enhancing its effectiveness through regular follow-up on the implementation of agreements and intensified coordination among the governments of the three countries, their institutions, and the private sector. As they noted, this will ensure that the existing political consensus is translated into tangible projects and programs that benefit the peoples of the three countries.
Meanwhile, they also recalled the commitment made at the 10th Trilateral Summit regarding the operationalization of a Permanent Secretariat for the Trilateral Mechanism between Egypt, Cyprus and Greece, based in Nicosia.
At the conclusion of the Summit, el Sisi, Mitsotakis and Christodoulides reaffirmed their “unwavering commitment to the Egyptian-Cypriot-Greek partnership and our determination to continue working together for a more secure, stable, and prosperous region. We emphasize our aspiration to build upon the achievements of past years and strengthen this partnership in a way that fulfils the aspirations of the peoples of our three countries and supports peace, development, and cooperation in our region.”
The President of the Republic of Cyprus and the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic expressed their deep appreciation to the President, the Government, and the people of the Arab Republic of Egypt, for hosting the Trilateral Summit, and noted that they look forward to the upcoming 11th Trilateral Summit in Cyprus, where the three will continue their joint efforts “towards a more secure, peaceful, and prosperous future.”