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Cyprus is leading the way in building the Middle East-Europe interface, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said today, following talks in Nicosia with his Cypriot counterpart Ioannis Kasoulides.
Prince Faisal Al Saud said that Cyprus is an important partner for Saudi Arabia in the EU. We see Cyprus as really a bridge for our region in the EU, which helps the EU to understand what is happening in the Middle East and which helps to focus attention on all the opportunities that exist, stressing that Cyprus is leading the way in building the interconnection between our region and Europe.
For his part, Kasoulides said that Cyprus is a strong supporter of a strategic approach to EU-Saudi relations. He added that during the meeting they reviewed a number of bilateral issues and agreed to accelerate the conclusion of a comprehensive strategic framework for our partnership, in line with Vision 2030. He said that their meeting was aimed, inter alia, at preparing for President Anastasiades' visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and noted that Cyprus would be delighted to welcome the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
He also said that he briefed the Saudi Foreign Minister on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue and presented to him the confidence-building measures that we propose in order to pave the way for the resumption of substantive negotiations for the reunification of our country on the basis of the agreed framework. He stressed that Saudi Arabia's principled support for Cyprus sends many messages and we gratefully recognize a friend in your person.
The Saudi Foreign Minister said in his remarks that during his meeting with the President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, he conveyed to him the warm greetings of the King and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.
He said that he and Mr. Kasoulides had very extensive and in-depth discussions, reviewing the bilateral relations between the two countries, which have developed steadily since their establishment in 1961 and since 2018 with the opening of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Cyprus.
We also discussed multilateral issues. We had a very productive meeting during which we discussed how to build on the momentum that already exists, he added.
We have a strong friendship, we have an excellent relationship and there are so many opportunities to move forward, the Saudi Foreign Minister said.
He said we discussed the institutionalization of this process, exploring these opportunities.
He said we discussed the institutionalization of this process, exploring these opportunities. He pointed out that there are currently 11 MoUs and agreements under review between the two countries in multiple sectors, tourism, energy, trade, transport, logistics, defense, etc.
There are extensive opportunities and we are also focused on exploring the economic and investment opportunities that Vision 2030 provides to our partners. And I am very pleased with Cyprus' interest in becoming an important partner in our vision and working with us to promote these benefits, he added.
He also noted that we are keen to explore a constructive partnership with Cyprus based on these concepts.
He noted that they also discussed climate change, describing as important the initiative of President Anastasiades on this issue.
He said that they also talked about the challenges that we all face in terms of regional stability and terrorism.
And on this issue we and Cyprus are fully aligned. We both believe very strongly in the need for stability, for security and for the primacy of international law, he noted.
He said that unless we all agree that international law is the main guide to relations between states we risk instability for all.
It is important to jointly defend the supremacy of international law, state sovereignty and reject interference of all kinds, the Saudi Foreign Minister noted.
For his part, Mr. Kasoulides said that Prince Al Saud is the first Foreign Minister he has received in Nicosia since taking office last month.
He said that the bilateral relations between Cyprus and Saudi Arabia have progressed a lot and have gained solid foundations.
Today provided us with a good opportunity to review a number of bilateral issues and we agreed to accelerate the conclusion of a comprehensive strategic framework for our partnership in line with Vision 2030. Our meeting today was aimed, among other things, at preparing for President Anastasiades' visit to the Kingdom, while we also discussed Saudi Arabia's proposal to host `Expo 2030', a very strong proposal, which we view positively, he said.
He said much of their discussions focused on the latest developments in the Gulf region, a region whose stability and security is threatened by terrorist attacks.
I have conveyed to my colleague our unreserved solidarity with the government and people of Saudi Arabia and our position that the latest drone attack on Abha airport is unequivocally condemnable. Terrorist acts of this kind on the territory of Saudi Arabia and other close Gulf partners are beyond all reason and endanger civilian lives and threaten the stability and security of the entire region.
He added that as we stand firmly on the side of friends in Saudi Arabia, we are considering how those responsible for such reprehensible behavior will be held accountable in a way that would enhance ongoing efforts to make diplomatic progress on the Yemeni issue that will end the devastating humanitarian tragedy in the country.
He said that Saudi Arabia is one of the bastions of the Arab world and Cyprus is linked by geography and history to this part of the world, so today's agenda included issues of essential importance. We discussed the conflict in Syria, the prospects for the Middle East peace process and the serious difficulties facing Lebanon, issues on which Saudi Arabia's views carry particular weight.
Kasoulides said that during the meeting they reviewed EU-Saudi relations, particularly in view of next week's EU-Gulf Cooperation Council, which my colleague will co-chair. I want to stress the importance that Cyprus attaches to greater and better coordination with our partners in the Gulf and the fact that we are strong supporters of a strategic approach to EU-Saudi relations, he noted.
Finally, he noted that he has no doubt that we will continue to work closely together as the strong partnership between our countries takes on even greater strategic value.
Source: CNA
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