Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi welcomed on Saturday the visit of Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Christodoulides to Cairo, stressing the solid and strategic relations between Egypt and Cyprus in multiple fields.
In a meeting between El-Sisi and Christodoulides, a statement by the Egyptian presidency said, the president affirmed the state’s desire to strengthen the mechanisms of joint cooperation, especially on the political, military, trade, and energy levels.
This comes, El-Sisi stressed, as Egypt and Cyprus, together with Greece, are enhancing cooperation to achieve their common interests and goals in the Eastern Mediterranean region and to confront the various challenges in the region.
Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus signed a tripartite political and economic cooperation mechanism agreement in Nicosia in October 2020. The three countries chose the Cypriot capital to serve as the headquarters of the secretariat of the tripartite mechanism effort starting the spring of 2021.
El-Sisi asked Christodoulides during the meeting, attended by Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, to convey his greetings to Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades.
The Cypriot top diplomat expressed his country's appreciation of the close cooperation ties with Egypt, which are seen as a model for constructive cooperation between Mediterranean countries, especially in light of Egypt's privileged position, regional weight, and its pivotal role in the region under the leadership of El-Sisi, the statement said.
“Cyprus will remain one of the supporters of Egypt in the European Union,” Christodoulides was quoted by the Egyptian statement as saying, stressing Cyprus' interest in boosting bilateral cooperation.
He highlighted Cyprus' interest in developing the tripartite cooperation mechanism between Egypt, Greece and Cyprus, which is considered a successful and effective mechanism for regular institutional coordination and cooperation in achieving the economic and social development of the three countries.
Source: Al-Ahram Online
