"The challenges facing Cyprus require, as a response, sustained, active, and effective diplomatic efforts that highlight the country’s strengths and explain the national issue, thereby creating room for action to advance its interests,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release, following the conclusion of Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kompos’s meetings at United Nations (UN) headquarters, as part of the High-Level Week of the 81st United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York.
“Mr. Kompos held a significant number of bilateral meetings and met with his counterparts and officials from multilateral organizations,” the Ministry stated, noting that “the overarching goal of these diplomatic efforts remains the expansion of the Republic of Cyprus’s diplomatic footprint, an objective that is achieved through the further deepening of existing bilateral relations, the creation of conditions for establishing regular dialogue, the development of mutually beneficial prospects for cooperation, and the continuous enhancement of the Republic of Cyprus’s presence and international standing.”
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In this context, as stated in the Ministry’s announcement, bilateral meetings were held with foreign ministers from countries in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, the Gulf, Asia, and Central Asia.
Among others, the Minister of Foreign Affairs held talks with his counterparts from Liberia, the Central African Republic, Switzerland, Qatar, Andorra, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates, Montenegro, Austria, Tanzania, Canada, Lebanon, Rwanda, Morocco, Serbia, Romania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bahrain, Maldives, Azerbaijan, Botswana, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Brunei, San Marino, Singapore, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Moldova, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, India, Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan, Greece, Armenia, Mauritania, and Kuwait.
At the same time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs held talks with Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and candidate for the position of UN Secretary-General (SG) Rafael Grossi, as well as with the Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Rebeca Grynspan, who is also a candidate for the same position.
In addition, Mr. Kompos met with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Barham Salih, as well as the Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Jorge Moreira da Silva.
At the same time, as part of this visit, memoranda of cooperation and international agreements were signed, aimed at strengthening the institutional framework of the country’s bilateral relations, as stated by the Ministry, which noted that this constitutes a tangible expression of the Republic of Cyprus’s diplomatic objectives. The Minister of Foreign Affairs signed a total of nine Agreements and Memoranda of Cooperation, as a result of prior groundwork and preparation.
Specifically, a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations was signed with the Republic of Liberia, while an agreement establishing diplomatic relations was signed with the Central African Republic.
With the Republic of Rwanda, an Air Services Agreement was signed, while a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of Higher Education was signed with the Republic of the Philippines, and the Republic of Cyprus’s adoption of the Manila Declaration on Seafarers was announced. A Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations was signed with Romania.
Two agreements—on cooperation and postal services—were signed with the Sovereign Order of the Knights of Malta. An agreement on cooperation between diplomatic academies was signed with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, while an Agreement on the Waiver of Visa Requirements for Diplomatic and Service Passports was signed with the Republic of Indonesia.
The two trilateral ministerial meetings—Cyprus-Greece-Egypt and Cyprus-Greece-Jordan—were also of particular political and practical significance.
Mr. Kompos also participated in the Ministerial Discussion on the Middle East, the Informal Meeting of European Union (EU), and in a high-level ministerial meeting of the International Coalition for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution to the Palestinian Question.
He also participated in a high-level side event organized by the Hellenic Republic and the Republic of India on the topic of Artificial Intelligence, in the context of international peace and security, with an emphasis on aspects of maritime security—an issue of central importance to Cyprus. In addition, Cyprus hosted the high-level meeting of the Small States of Europe, which was a joint initiative with the Principality of Andorra, and in which nine European countries participated.
At the same time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs accompanied the President of the Republic to the bilateral meetings he held on the sidelines of the High-Level Week, including with the King of Jordan, the UN Secretary-General, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus, María Ángela Holguín, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, the Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates, as well as representatives from Chevron and Exxon.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs also attended the luncheon hosted by the President of the Republic for the Permanent Representatives of the Permanent Members of the UN Security Council. Finally, Mr. Kombos accompanied the President of the Republic during meetings with Greek-American organizations in the United States of America.
Source: CNA
