Greek Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias said collaboration between Greece and Cyprus is very close, lasting and sincere, in his meeting with Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides in Larnaca on Monday.
Dendias and Christodoulides discussed recent regional developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and the continued close Greece-Cyprus coordination on the Cyprus issue.
The Greek minister briefed his counterpart on his country's "cordial and heartfelt relationship" with Egypt, particularly the friendship built by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi.
Specifically, Dendias told Christodoulides that "the issue raised by the Egyptian side's recent announcement of blocks in the Eastern Mediterranean is a purely technical matter which concerns the Egyptian side", and he added that "based on the posts of the Egyptian side, the Greek side considers the issue essentially resolved."
Είχαμε με τον φίλο μου και συνάδελφό μου @Christodulides μια ευρύτατη συζήτηση για όλα τα θέματα. Όπως για το Συμβούλιο των Υπουργών Εξωτερικών της ΕΕ της 22ας Μαρτίου και την ατζέντα, η οποία περιλαμβάνει και τα θέματα της Τουρκίας. #Cyprus pic.twitter.com/jR2WjOeZ4y
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) March 8, 2021
The Greek minister added that he met with Arab League's General Secretary Ahmed Aboul Gheit, with whom they discussed developing relations further.
Greece will begin talks on a Memorandum of Understanding with the Arab League so that Cyprus may also develop relations with it, as an observing country.
The Egyptian Foreign Affairs Ministry also issued a statement following the meeting.
It referred to Egypt's interest in facilitating the flow of Greek investments in the country and strengthening cooperation between the two countries in both energy matters and tourism.
Συναντήθηκα στη Λευκωσία με τον ΥΠΕΞ της Κύπρου @Christodulides. Συζητήσαμε για τις πρόσφατες εξελίξεις στην Ανατολική Μεσόγειο και τον διαρκή & στενό συντονισμό 🇬🇷🇨🇾 στο Κυπριακό, καθώς και για τις επικείμενες συναντήσεις του ΣΕΥ & του Ευρωπαϊκού Συμβουλίου. pic.twitter.com/xGCaQd5EWq
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) March 8, 2021
Earlier in the day, Dendias met with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukri in Cairo.
The two officials discussed the good and multi-faceted relations between Greece and Egypt, as well as recent regional developments following the positive impact of the Philia Forum.
Στις διευρυμένες συνομιλίες των αντιπροσωπειών Ελλάδας & Αιγύπτου στο Κάιρο - Εxpanded talks between 🇬🇷🇪🇬 delegations in #Cairo. pic.twitter.com/ySgqQGflP8
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) March 8, 2021
I met with #Egypt FM S. #Shoukry in #Cairo to discuss multifaceted warm 🇬🇷🇪🇬 relations and to review recent regional developments following #PhiliaForum & its positive impact on advancing regional stability & cooperation. pic.twitter.com/srniuqkBWK
— Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) March 8, 2021
*More on GCT: Greece will spare no effort in solving Cyprus issue
