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- Ελληνικά
A new era in bilateral relations between Cyprus and Iraq is set to begin with the visit of the President of Iraq to Cyprus, which is the first by the President of Iraq to the Republic of Cyprus, the Presidents of the two states said today.
In his statements to the media at the Presidential Palace, following his one-to-one meeting with the President of Iraq and the expanded talks between their delegations, President Nicos Christodoulides said: "I am very pleased to have the opportunity today to welcome the President of Iraq to Cyprus and so soon after taking office.
Today is the first official visit of the President of Iraq to Cyprus, so it is of particular symbolic and substantial importance. It is proof of our common will to strengthen our bilateral relations and to develop our cooperation at regional and international level.
Your visit to Cyprus, Mr. President, opens a new important chapter in the relations between our countries.
During today's meeting I briefed President Rashid on the Cyprus problem and my unwavering commitment to resume talks as soon as possible, leading to the reunification of Cyprus through a solution in line with international law, relevant United Nations (UN) resolutions, and European law, EU principles and values.
Cyprus and Iraq are two countries which attach great importance to upholding international law, respect for the territorial integrity, unity and sovereignty of states. I would like to publicly express my thanks for Iraq's long-standing principled stance on the Cyprus issue, including its position within the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
I would like to take this opportunity to publicly reiterate the Republic of Cyprus' full support for the unity, territorial integrity and sovereignty of Iraq. Frequent violations of these basic principles, wherever they originate, are not only a flagrant violation of international law but also cause regional instability.
During our discussions with the President of Iraq, we also reviewed the prospects for the expansion of our bilateral relations. We referred, inter alia, to the need to develop our cooperation in particular on economic issues and the promotion of investment. I hope that soon, during the Foreign Minister's visit to Iraq in early 2024, we will be able to sign the Double Tax Avoidance Agreement, which will give impetus to increasing our economic and investment relations.
We also agreed that there is common ground to promote cooperation on education, but also on culture and the protection of our cultural heritage, for example, with regard to the repatriation of stolen cultural treasures. Our aim is for this cooperation to be developed both at the contractual level, where there are already ongoing negotiations of relevant agreements, and at the substantive level, both bilaterally and in multilateral fora.
We also exchanged views on the importance of expanding our cooperation on security and counter-terrorism issues, areas that are extremely important for our countries, where I believe there is fertile ground for cooperation and exchange of experience and know-how.
As I mentioned to President Rashid, his participation in 2022 in the Cyprus Climate Change Initiative Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean Summit and the adoption of the Action Plan was an important step towards regional cooperation in addressing the challenges posed by climate change.
Cyprus and Iraq are strongly affected by such phenomena and, therefore, we stand ready to cooperate with Iraq, as well as with other countries in the region, in promoting bilateral and regional initiatives to address climate challenges.
Our discussions with the President of Iraq could not, of course, be without an exchange of views on regional developments. I noted the importance for Cyprus, and for the European Union more broadly, of the regional role of a stable and prosperous Iraq in promoting peace and stability in the region.
We also discussed developments in Gaza and we are both devastated by what is unfolding in the Middle East and in particular the loss of so many innocent lives. As countries in the region, Cyprus and Iraq are particularly concerned about the new, serious escalation of tension which may have regional implications, and we exchanged views on how the tension can be de-escalated.
From the side of the Republic of Cyprus, I would like to stress our clear conviction that the only way to finally exit from this cycle of violence, from all these unacceptable things that we see every day is the resumption of the peace process with a view to achieving a lasting settlement, in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
In conclusion, I would like to welcome President Rashid back to Cyprus.
In conclusion, I would like to welcome President Rashid back to Cyprus. Mr. President, I am delighted with your historic official visit to Cyprus today, and I look forward to this being the beginning of building close ties of cooperation between our countries and our citizens."
For his part, Iraqi President Dr. Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid, speaking through an interpreter, said, among other things, that he was pleased to respond to the President's invitation to visit Cyprus, noting that the Republic of Cyprus is a friendly country.
He noted that his visit "can lay the foundation stone for the further establishment of a new era in bilateral relations between the two countries. It is an opportunity to express Iraq's conviction and deep desire to expand its relations with the Republic of Cyprus and we seek to ensure the right environment for the further development of the presence in Iraq of public and private enterprises (of Cyprus) to operate in all economic sectors, since there are huge potentials and investment opportunities in Iraq and there is the will of the Government to ensure further horizons of cooperation with various friendly countries."
He added that "Ir
