“For us, Egypt is the most important country in the region,” President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides said during a meeting on Monday afternoon at the Presidential Palace with the Speaker of Egypt’s House of Representatives, Hisham Badawi.
Welcoming Badawi and the members of the Egyptian delegation, Christodoulides said the two countries always cooperate on a positive agenda and not against third parties. Countries that respect international law and the law of the sea and maintain good-neighbourly relations, he said, can work with Cyprus for the good of the region.
The President noted that two members of the delegation had played a decisive role in upgrading bilateral relations to a strategic level and in trilateral cooperation. The delegation includes Sameh Shoukry, Egypt’s former foreign minister and chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Tarek el Molla, former minister of petroleum and mineral resources and chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Energy and Environment.
"Egypt's ambassador in the EU"
Christodoulides said Cyprus had stood by Egypt and President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi when, as he put it, many at international level did not understand the importance of his presidency. He described cooperation between the two countries on political, energy and defence matters as excellent, and said Cyprus acts as “Egypt’s ambassador” in the European Union.
The President welcomed the first European Union-Egypt summit, held last year after many years. He added that the first Cypriot natural gas is expected to be exported to Europe via Egypt in early 2028.
Referring to migration management, he described Egypt as a “model country” and said the Republic of Cyprus consistently stresses to the EU the need to further strengthen the country and President el-Sisi.
Christodoulides reiterated that cooperation between the two countries is based on international law and is inclusive, with the aim of serving the interests of both countries and the peoples of the region, as well as promoting cooperation and stability.
Strengthen relations
Speaking through an interpreter, Badawi conveyed the warm greetings of Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, and said he was pleased to be in the Republic of Cyprus following an invitation from the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Cyprus. He expressed his country’s particular appreciation for the upgrading of bilateral relations, which now have the status of a strategic partnership.
The Speaker of Egypt’s House of Representatives underlined his country’s intention to further strengthen relations between the two legislative bodies, noting that parliamentary cooperation is one of the most important aspects of the bilateral relationship.
He welcomed the visible increase in trade between the two countries over the past two years and called for the agreements and memoranda of understanding concluded between them to be activated. These cover tourism, education, scientific research, telecommunications and information technology, as well as fish farming and water-resource management.
Badawi thanked Christodoulides for Cyprus’ continued support for Egypt and praised its contribution to strengthening cooperation between the European Union and Middle Eastern countries and to promoting stability in the region.
He also called for the agreement on the recruitment of Egyptian workers in Cyprus to be activated and for the number of workers hired from Egypt to be increased, whether for seasonal or permanent employment. In conclusion, he wished Cyprus progress and prosperity and the Cypriot people security, prosperity and every success.
Source: CNA
