Central Asia constitutes a region of special importance for Cyprus, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos said in an interview with the newspaper “Phileleftheros”, published on Sunday, following his visit to countries in the region.
Invited to assess his visit to the countries of Central Asia, Kombos described it as an important tour ‘in a region that presents particular difficulties for us, and based on the view that an even more intense and methodical effort must be made wherever such difficulties exist.’
‘Central Asia constitutes a region of special significance for us, within which we believe we must make the effort required to safeguard our own interests, without illusions and without exaggerations, while taking into account whatever advantages we have or can create for our country,’ he said.
He noted that precisely because these countries are considered to belong to Turkey’s sphere of influence, ‘an approach aimed at creating diplomatic space must be followed,’ since it is with these countries that serious problems may potentially arise, and conditions conducive to dialogue must therefore be created.
In addition, he said, there is also a positive example being projected in the region, namely Kazakhstan, with which relations have improved rapidly in recent times. This example is being used as a point of reference for relations with the other countries of the region as well, he noted.
The Minister expressed the view that efforts toward dialogue should be intensified, without this meaning that we retreat from our fundamental positions and principles.
He stressed that continuity and consistency in contacts are important, noting that he himself has visited the region for the third time since March 2024. He added that follow-up actions for all these contacts have already been set in motion for the coming period at every possible level, both technical and political.
Furthermore, he noted that the joint declaration adopted at the European Union-Central Asia summit level in April 2025, and at ministerial level one month earlier, which includes an explicit reference to the Cyprus issue and specifically mentions certain resolutions of fundamental importance to Cyprus, ‘outlined the roadmap for relations between the EU and the countries of Central Asia.’
As he noted, ‘we have acted as a member state of the EU, taking into account the importance of the Central Asian states for the European Union, while also taking into account our own national interests, and at the same time moving forward and extending a hand of friendship to these countries through contacts, the strengthening of institutional frameworks, and business development wherever this is possible.’