The leaders of Greece, Cyprus and Egypt met in Nicosia on April 29 where they vowed to upgrade their economic partnership in shipping, tourism and energy in the context of their close political relations and jointly fight terrorism.
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi told a joint press conference with his Cypriot counterpart Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in Nicosia that their economic cooperation could create a gate between Africa and Europe.
El-Sisi also highlighted the importance of fighting terrorism in Eastern Mediterranean and Africa.
Tsipras, who is accompanied with Greek Foreign Minister NikosKotzias, said Greece, Cyprus and Egypt discussed their security cooperation. He said they are concerned about the situation in Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, and the Middle East as well as the Jihadist threat. Greece, Cyprus and Egypt “are pillars of stability and security in a particularly destabilised region,”Tsipras said, adding that in order to fight the asymmetrical threat of terrorism, the three leaders decided to intensify their partnership in diplomatic and technical level as well as international organisations.
Tsipras said Greece, Cyprus and Egypt also decided to deepen their economic partnership in shipping, tourism and energy that extends beyond the development of the three countries, helping the economic development of Europe, Asia and Africa.
Tsipras said Greece, Cyprus and Egypt discussed the participation of Greek and Cypriot companies in the reconstruction plan of Egypt that el-Sisi has presented.
Tsipras also said Greece, Cyprus and Egypt decided the formation of their Exclusive Economic Zones where there are no third countries involved, respecting the international law and the Law of the Sea.
The Nicosia meeting is a follow up of the meeting in Cairo, which called for the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone to be respected and for the end of Turkey’s seismic research within it.Tsipras invited al-Sisi and Anastasiades to a third trilateral meeting between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt that will place in Athens.
With regard to the delineation of the EEZ of Greece and Egypt, Cypriot Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides referred to the bilateral meeting that will take place between the two countries.
As regards the participation of Israel in this discussion, Christodoulides said Anastasiades is expected to visit Jerusalem after a government is formed to meet with the Prime Minister and after that a tripartite meeting between Greece, Cyprus and Israel is expected to take place.
As regards energy issues, Christodoulides recalled that a dialogue is under way on these issues with Egypt.
The commercialisation of the natural gas and ways of channeling it from the Aphrodite gasfield are being discussed at a bilateral level, as Egypt has a keen interest in Cypriot natural gas.
Moreover, government sources have described as a positive development the purchase of British Gas, which operates in Egypt, by Shell.
Joint Declaration Signed
A declaration adopted by the three countries said the trilateral summit on April 29 strengthened their well-established partnership promoting peace, stability, security, prosperity, and co-operation in all fields in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Greece, Cyprus and Egypt agreed“to explore all possibilities to further enhance the synergies among our economies, with a view to create a more positive economic environment for growth, to tackle the challenges of a rapidly changing international economic situation and to jointly benefit from important opportunities arising in our region”.
They said that the discovery of hydrocarbon reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean could serve as a catalyst for regional cooperation better served through adherence to international law.
“In this respect, we emphasise the universal character of the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and decide to proceed expeditiously with our negotiations on the delimitation of our maritime zones, where it is not yet done,” the declaration said.
They also agreed to continue working in the field of tourism with a view to facilitate and enhance co-operation on joint projects, including the development of joint packages and cruises, the sea connection between the three countries — both as respects cargo and passengers — and initiating co-operation on maritime education and training.
“Our … countries, convinced of the strategic nature of this trilateral mechanism, will continue working closely towards unleashing the full potential of their cooperation, to the benefit of their peoples and the wider region,” the joint declaration said.
The three countries also agreed to step up co-operation on counter-terrorism, defence, and security, the declaration said.
Cyprus, Greece, and Egypt, condemned all terrorist actions and called on all states to actively address this menace. “The scourge of international terrorism threatens the Middle East, North Africa, the Sahel region and sub-Saharan Africa, the Gulf and Europe. This universal threat requires a comprehensive, coordinated and collective response by the international community,” the declaration said.
http://www.neurope.eu/article/greek-cypriot-egyptian-leaders-bridge-africa-europe/