The Foreign Ministers of Egypt, Cyprus and Greece called Friday for preserving Syria’s sovereignty and independence, and the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from the country.
“We underlined the need for effective implementation of the ceasefire agreement, respect of the UN arms embargo and full withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from the country,” said a statement following talks in the Greek capital, Athens.
The ministers also pledged to continue dialogue and cooperation in order to further reinforce their political and economic engagement and discuss regional challenges.
They said they concluded that the outcome of such a scheme of cooperation helps promote prosperity in the region, which has laid the foundation of a positive agenda.
Egypt, Cyprus and Greece also called for full and consistent respect for the sovereignty and the sovereign rights of states in their maritime zones in the Eastern Mediterranean in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The three top diplomats welcomed the entry into force of the charter of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) on March 1, 2021.
The charter establishes the EMGF as a regional organization based in Cairo, and open to all countries that share the same values, objectives and willingness to cooperate for the security of the whole region and the welfare of its peoples.
The three FMs also expressed their commitment to intensifying coordination in a way that explores common opportunities for cooperation. They welcomed preparations for setting up the Secretariat for the Trilateral Mechanisms based in Nicosia, which will be operational in early spring 2021.
On the Cyprus question, they expressed their support towards the efforts of the UN Secretary General aimed at the resumption of a result-oriented negotiation process under his auspices.
With regard to the Middle East Peace Process, the statement said, “We emphasize that the resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution is an indispensable requirement to comprehensive peace and stability in the region, as well as the importance of ensuring an independent and viable Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 lines, living side-by-side in peace and security with Israel.”
