Egypt Asserts Efforts to Continue Trilateral Cooperation with Cyprus, Greece

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, and Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis after a trilateral summit in Nicosia, Cyprus, Oct. 21, 2020. (Reuters)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, and Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis after a trilateral summit in Nicosia, Cyprus, Oct. 21, 2020. (Reuters)
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Egypt Asserts Efforts to Continue Trilateral Cooperation with Cyprus, Greece

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, and Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis after a trilateral summit in Nicosia, Cyprus, Oct. 21, 2020. (Reuters)
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, and Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis after a trilateral summit in Nicosia, Cyprus, Oct. 21, 2020. (Reuters)

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi hailed the growing bilateral cooperation with Cyprus, reflected in the keenness to coordinate stances on regional issues of mutual concern.

Sisi also affirmed Egypt's efforts to activate trilateral cooperation with Cyprus and Greece.

During a phone call with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, Sisi discussed issues of bilateral relations and regional developments, within the framework of common interests and stances in the Eastern Mediterranean region, announced presidential spokesman Bassam Rady.

Egypt has close ties with Greece and Cyprus, and the three countries hold regular summits within the framework of their cooperation in the energy field in the Mediterranean.

Rady indicated that the two leaders discussed cooperation in the field of energy, and exchanged views on the developments of several regional issues.

Last December, the Egyptian President described his country's tripartite cooperation with Greece and Cyprus as an example of good neighbor relations that promote security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean region.

For his part, the Cypriot president expressed his keenness to coordinate and exchange views with Sisi on all issues of common interests, according to Rady.

Anastasiades hailed the firm and growing relations between Egypt and Cyprus in various fields, affirming his country’s willingness to take further steps to strengthen the ongoing bilateral relations and friendship with Egypt.

The leaders of Egypt, Greece, and Cyprus previously agreed on the necessity of combating “escalation policies” of Turkey in the East Mediterranean, which threaten the stability of the region.

During their tripartite summit in Nicosia last October, the leaders asserted the importance of coordinating with international partners to take measures that maintain the requirements of regional security.

At the end of 2020, the three countries conducted “Medusa 10” joint naval and aerial training on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea in Egypt, with the participation of French and Emirati navy, aerial and special forces, as well as observers from Saudi Arabia, US, Bahrain, Sudan, Jordan, Italy, and Germany.


The drill is part of the coordination efforts and joint work to confront the challenges in the Mediterranean region.



Italian FM Meets Syria's Sharaa in Damascus

Italian FM Meets Syria's Sharaa in Damascus
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Italian FM Meets Syria's Sharaa in Damascus

Italian FM Meets Syria's Sharaa in Damascus

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani met Syria's new ruler Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus Friday, state media said, in the latest such visit from a European diplomat since the fall of Bashar al-Assad.

State news agency SANA did not give further details about Tajani and Sharaa's discussions, just over a month after opposition fighters seized Damascus and Assad fled to Moscow.

Tajani earlier met his new counterpart Asaad al-Shibani, after which the Syrian official said he would soon make his first official tour of Europe.

Tajani spoke of easing the sanctions imposed on the war-torn country under its former leader.

"The sanctions absolutely must not hit the Syrian population," he said.

"They were imposed because there was a different regime. It's important to open discussions on the changed situation."

Western powers, including the United States and the European Union, imposed sanctions against Assad's government for his brutal crackdown after anti-government protests in 2011 that triggered civil war.

More than 13 years of conflict have killed in excess of half a million people, ravaged the economy, and pushed millions of people to flee their homes, including to Europe.

Tajani arrived after hosting talks with European counterparts and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Rome on Thursday, where Tajani said they are seeking a "stable and united Syria.”

The European Union's top diplomat earlier Friday said the 27-nation bloc could begin lifting sanctions if Syria's new rulers took steps to form an inclusive government that protects minorities.

"The EU could gradually ease sanctions provided there is tangible progress," foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote on X.

Shibani said he welcomed what he described as Tajani's focus on sanctions.

"We share his opinion that the reasons for imposing them no longer exist, and could be an obstacle to encouraging the return of refugees from outside Syria,” Shibani said.

Tajani earlier toured the landmark Umayyad mosque in Damascus.

"It's a great pleasure... to be here this morning to visit and pay homage to all Syrian believers," he told AFP at the mosque, which is about 1,300 years old.

He described the mosque as "one of the most beautiful" in the world.

The Italian minister earlier said he planned to announce an initial development aid package for Syria.

France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot and his German counterpart Annalena Baerbock visited Damascus last week.