A viable solution in Cyprus to contribute to peace in the region, leaders of Cyprus, Greece and Egypt say

A comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus Question will contribute to peace and stability in our region, leaders of Cyprus, Greece and Egypt note in their Joint Declaration issued in the framework of the Tenth Egypt - Cyprus - Greece Trilateral Summit that took place in Cairo.

The three leaders, President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, Egypt President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis say that "in recognition of the evolving challenges and opportunities in our region, we seek to build on our shared interests, and to continue working together to promote security, economic prosperity, and sustainable development for our peoples and for the broader Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions".

Referring to the Cyprus issue, they stress that "recognising that a comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus Question will contribute to peace and stability in our region, we reiterate our support for the resumption of a Cypriot-owned and led- peace process that will reunify Cyprus as a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation with a single sovereignty, a single international personality and a single citizenship, in line with the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions".

"We welcome the efforts of the UN Secretary-General to resume the negotiating process, including his initiative to invite the leaders to New York on 15 October 2024, and look forward to the implementation of the agreed steps".

Regarding Regional Stability and Security, they affirm their collective commitment to the promotion of peace and stability in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and North Africa, while expecting from all actors to contribute to stability and to refrain from provocative actions.

"We express our deep concern over the war in Gaza that resulted in a catastrophic humanitarian situation, and reiterate our call for the implementation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, including an immediate, full, and complete ceasefire with the release of hostages, detainees and prisoners as well as the safe and effective distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale throughout the Gaza Strip to all Palestinian civilians".

They also call upon the international community and key stakeholders to address the root causes of instability in the Middle East through upholding their commitment to the two-state solution, in particular through the establishment of the Palestinian State on the 4th of June 1967 lines, affirming the vision of two States, Israel and Palestine, living side-by-side within secure and recognised borders pursuant to the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

The President of Cyprus and the Prime Minister of Greece commend Egypt’s continuous and relentless efforts to navigate this crisis, and express their support for these efforts, it adds.

The Declaration says that Egypt, Cyprus and Greece are following the recent developments in Syria, and stress that this delicate phase in Syria’s history requires consolidated efforts by its people in order to launch a comprehensive political process under Syrian national ownership, without foreign interference, that includes all Syrian national parties, and consistent with UN Security Council resolution 2254.

Furthermore, "we are gravely concerned about the systemic violation of Syria’s sovereignty. Syria’s unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within secure borders should be fully respected, in accordance with international law. We also underscore the importance of the protection of members of religious and ethnic minorities, and to safeguard Syria’s cultural heritage".

Regarding Libya, "we welcome the commitments of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission towards reunification of the Libya military and security institutions. We underlined the need for progress on the political and security tracks, including the full withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries. We reaffirm the necessity of having a new unified national government and holding the presidential and parliamentary elections simultaneously, within a framework of a Libyan -owned and led- inclusive political process".

On the issue of Maritime Security and International Law, they reiterate the importance of respecting sovereignty and sovereign rights of all states in their maritime zones, and re-emphasise that any Agreements or Memoranda of Understanding on delimitation of the maritime jurisdiction should be concluded in accordance with the international law, including UNCLOS, as well as the jointly agreed principles in our Trilateral context, and not to infringe upon the sovereign rights of third states in the region.

On Counterterrorism and Regional Security, they say that they strengthen their commitment to combating terrorism, extremism, and organised crime, to crackdown on the human trafficking networks, we will continue to cooperate in intelligence sharing, border security, and counter-terrorism initiatives to safeguard our peoples and preserve the stability of our region.

Regarding Regional Cooperation and Political Dialogue, they note that they will continue holding regular meetings to coordinate our efforts, enhance diplomatic dialogue, and ensure alignment of our foreign policies within the framework of our shared goals, and we reiterate our commitment to fully operationalise a Permanent Secretariat for the Trilateral Mechanism between Egypt, Cyprus and Greece, based in Nicosia.

The three leaders say that they strongly support Greece during its membership in the United Nations Security Council in the years 2025 and 2026.

As for the EU, they welcome the upgrading of Egyptian-European Union relations to the level of a Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership, as agreed on 17 March 2024 in Cairo.

"Cognisant of the vital role of Egypt as a pillar of stability in our region, we underline the importance of supporting its economy through the financial and investment support package that accompanied the Joint Declaration on the Strategic and Comprehensive Partnership between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the European Union, and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding regarding the second tranche of Macro-financial assistance" they say.

As far as the Economic Cooperation and Energy Security is concerned, they say that they will continue to strengthen trade and investment and explore collaboration opportunities in fields such as technology, infrastructure, and sustainable development. Emphasis will be placed on connecting the business communities of the three countries, particularly through Business-to-Business (B2B) and economic fora, and on fostering partnerships between chambers of commerce, joint business associations and councils, they add.

For Energy Cooperation and Transition to Green Energy, the three leaders note that they will expand efforts to ensure energy security through joint projects and energy exploration in the Mediterranean. We remain committed to strengthening our partnership in the energy sector, including in renewable energy and green technologies as essential elements of our collective future.

Regarding Collaboration in the Field of Natural Gas, they express commitment to strengthening trilateral cooperation in the field of natural gas, in order to achieve the common interests of the three countries.

"In this context, we affirm the importance of strengthening cooperation to develop the necessary infrastructure to facilitate the transport of natural gas between them, and to promote joint investments in the field of natural gas. We also affirm our commitment to exchange experiences to ensure the optimal exploitation of natural gas resources, in a way that contributes to achieving sustainable development and economic prosperity for the peoples of the three countries".

To this end, they recall that the establishment of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) is based on the fundamental principle of respect of the Members’ rights over their natural resources, in accordance with international law. EMGF will support the Members’ efforts in unlocking the full gas resource potential in the region and monetising their reserves in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS.

They reiterate that the EMGF as a regional organisation based in Cairo is 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.

As regards Collaboration in Marine Energy Resources, they declare to continue to enhance cooperation in the exploration and development of natural gas resources in the Eastern Mediterranean in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS, as well as the jointly agreed principles in our Trilateral context, and not to infringe upon the sovereign rights of third states in the region, while taking robust measures to protect marine ecosystems and the marine environment.

Regarding Environmental Sustainability and Water Security, they reaffirm their deep commitment to working on addressing urgent environmental challenges, with a particular focus on the environmental and climate priorities of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Noting "with deep concern that the Mediterranean is highly vulnerable to the heightened effects of climate change, and facing an increased frequency of extreme weather events, we will strive to enhance climate adaptation efforts, by developing accessible technical and financial solutions, and investing resources to ensure environmental sustainability, and to strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure, with an emphasis on capacity-building".

Regarding Water Security and Management, they say that in recognition of the importance of water security, they will intensify cooperation on sustainable water resource management, sustainable agriculture, and addressing the impacts of water scarcity.

"Recognising Egypt’s reliance on the Nile River in a context of severe water scarcity, the President of Cyprus and the Prime Minister of Greece support Egypt’s commitment to reach a fair and balanced resolution of the Ethiopian Dam crisis, a dispute that has stretched for more than thirteen years".

Regarding Cultural Cooperation within the “Reviving Roots-Nostos” Initiative, it is noted that "we reiterate our commitment to enhancing cooperation among our communities and emphasise the importance of cultural and people-to-people contacts and exchanges between our nations. We recognise the "Reviving Roots-Nostos" initiative as an important framework for upgrading cultural ties between our countries, supporting efforts to preserve our rich historical heritage and common cultural Mediterranean features, contributing to fostering mutual understanding among our peoples".

They also welcome UNESCO’s readiness to work alongside the three countries in supporting the preservation and promotion of Nostos shared heritage.

The Declaration includes collaboration in the Field of healthcare, where they "agree to focus on several key areas, including health digitalisation, development of health care systems and application of new technologies, medical tourism, and cooperation in scientific research and healthcare investments. We also agree to build partnerships to address both communicable and non-communicable diseases, and to respond to health emergencies, contributing towards achieving health-related sustainable development goals".

It also includes collaboration in the Field of Tourism, in the field of Archaeology and Museology aiming at the prevention of theft, clandestine excavation and combating illicit trafficking and export or transfer of ownership of cultural property, as well as promoting its restitution and repatriation to the country of origin. The two countries will also cooperate in the Fields of Youth and Sports.

Concluding, the three leaders reaffirm their strong commitment to the success and further development of the Trilateral Cooperation mechanism.

(Source: CNA)