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President of the Republic of Cyprus Demetris Christofias, in Egypt on a three-day official visit, met Tuesday his Egyptian counterpart Hosni Mubarak, with whom he signed a joint declaration.
The official welcoming ceremony of the Cypriot President and his entourage took place at the Presidential Palace in Cairo.
According to the declaration, Egypt welcomes the decision of the two leaders in Cyprus, Cypriot President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Mehmet Ali Talat, to begin a negotiations process with the aim to reach a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem, based on international law, the UN Charter and the relevant UNSC resolutions.
The declaration adds that Cyprus will support Egypt’s efforts to upgrade its relations with the EU as well as its contribution to further enhanced dialogue between Cyprus and the Arab League.
Cyprus also supports the Egyptian initiative to deal with the situation in Gaza, an initiative widely supported by the EU.
The Cypriot President will meet on Tuesday Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif as well. Their meeting will be followed by the signing of bilateral agreements. Christofias will also confer with Speaker of the Parliament Ahmed Fathy Sorour, and President of the Shura Council Mohamed Safwat El Sherif.
He will see religious leaders, address a business forum and visit various sites.
The delegation comprises Minister of Finance and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Charilaos Stavrakis, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalides, Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou, Director of the President's Office Vasos Georgiou and other officials.
Christofias will then travel to Alexandria to meet the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros II.
The Patriarch will decorate President Christofias with the Cross of Evangelist Markos, the highest honorary distinction.
He will have a meeting in Cairo with Pope Shenouda III of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria.
The President is also accompanied by a business delegation of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who will hold a series of contacts with businesspeople from Egypt.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) Board of Directors Costakis Constantinou is also in Cairo to sign an agreement of cooperation between CNA and the News Agency of the Middle East.
