First Strategic Dialogue between Cyprus-US to take place

The first Strategic Dialogue between the Republic of Cyprus and the United States of America will take place in Nicosia on 23 October, an announcement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says.

The two countries are set to sign ‘’Artemis Accords’’ on peaceful exploration and exploitation of space.

The opening of the Strategic Dialogue will be attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, who will address the works of the Dialogue. US will be represented by the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, responsible for European and Euro-Asian issues, James O'Brien.

After the end of the Strategic Dialogue, a Joint Communiqué will be issued, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Andreas Kakouris will head the Cypriot delegation during the all-day consultations.

The first Strategic Dialogue will focus on four thematic sections namely "International and Regional Cooperation", "Security, Crisis Management and Law Enforcement", "Education/ties between the two peoples" and "Energy, Trade, Research and Technology".

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that on the sidelines of the Strategic Dialogue, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nikodemos Damianos, will sign, on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus, the "Artemis Accordse". The signing ceremony will take place online, with NASA in the US.

The initiation of the Cyprus-US Strategic Dialogue, which was agreed upon during the meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs with the Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken, last June in Washington, establishes the holding of annual meetings of a high level and on the basis of common themes and priorities, the MFA further said in its announcement.

“It marks the deepening of cooperation between Cyprus and the USA on the basis of common democratic values and interests, with the aim of expanding a multi-level partnership”, the announcement reads.

(Source: CNA)