Cyprus to open embassy in Jordan, FM meets Palestinian officials

Cyprus Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou Marcoullis, who is paying a working visit to Jordan, had a meeting on Monday with her Jordan counterpart Salahedin Al-Bashir after which she was received by Prime Minister Nader Dahabi.

Bilateral relations and ways of their further strengthening were discussed during the   talks, according to an official announcement issued in Nicosia. Emphasis was given to the strengthening of bilateral cooperation in all sectors and especially in the trade and economic sectors. The two countries agreed to sign an agreement for the promotion and protection of investments in the near future which would be followed by the signing of an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation. The Palestinian issue, the Cyprus problem and the situation in Lebanon were also discussed.

The Prime Minister of Jordan stated that his country looks forward to cooperating with Cyprus and utilizing Cyprus’ experience in the fields of tourism, renewable sources of energy and irrigation.

The Jordanian officials briefed Cyprus’ Foreign Minister on the latest developments following the Annapolis meeting, in view of the forthcoming visit of the US President in the area. Both countries agreed on the need for the Palestinian and Israeli sides to meet the commitments they have undertaken in Annapolis, in order to enable the achievement of a just and permanent solution of the Palestinian issue, in the framework of international legality.

For her part, Mrs Marcoullis briefed her interlocutors on the decision of the Cyprus Government to open an Embassy in Amman within the year. She briefed the Jordanian officials in detail on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem and specifically referred to the hardening stance of Turkey, which clearly promotes the idea of a solution based on two states in Cyprus, in defiance of the decisions of the international community for the solution of the Cyprus problem and the obligations undertaken by Turkey regarding the July 8th Agreement.

Mrs Marcoullis also referred to the Turkish actions in the framework of the Organization of Islamic Conference, which aim at promoting secessionist goals in violation of the UN Security Council resolutions on Cyprus and of international legality. After the talks she gave an interview to the chief Editor of “Addustour”, newspaper, which has the largest circulation in Jordan. She also gave an interview to “Al Ghad” newspaper, as well as to Palestinian mass media.

Late in the evening the Foreign Minister attended a dinner, which was given in her honour by the Honorary Consul of Cyprus in Amman. The dinner was attended by Jordanian Foreign Minister and other ministers, officials and businessmen.  

 

Contacts with officials of the Palestinian Authority

 

During her stay in Amman, Mrs Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis had a meeting with the Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority Riad Al – Malki.

The Palestinian issue and the Cyprus problem were the main issues of discussion during the meeting.

The Palestinian official briefed Mrs Marcoullis extensively on the unsettled situation in the Territories. He expressed the deep concern of the Palestinian Authority for the consequences to the effort of creating the appropriate environment for the negotiations on the settlement of the Palestinian problem that might be caused by the negative developments in the issue of the expansion of the settlements, as well as of security in the West Bank.

Riad Al–Malki confirmed the excellent level of the relations between the Republic of Cyprus and the Palestinian people, which is based on the historic bonds of friendship and solidarity between the two peoples. He also expressed the warm thanks of the Palestinian Authority for the assistance provided by the Republic of Cyprus in the Conference of Donors for the Palestinian Territories, in Paris last December, as well as for the financial, material and technical assistance which Cyprus continues to offer, within the framework of developmental cooperation.

For her part, Mrs Marcoullis reassured that Cyprus would continue to support the Palestinians in their struggle for an independent Palestinian state, which will live side by side with the state of Israel, in conditions of peace and security.

Finally, it was agreed that an Experts’ Team be formed in Cyprus, which would visit the Palestinian Territories soon. The aim of the team would be to find ways to better utilize the financial assistance that Cyprus will offer for the development of the infrastructure of the Palestinian Territories, as well as of the human resources, through scholarships that will be offered, mainly in the fields of public administration and tourism.

Mrs Marcoullis travelled to Ramallah on Tuesday where she was received by the President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas and the Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.