Cyprus FM to visit Syria to mend ties

Cyprus Minister of Foreign Affairs Markos Kyprianou will visit the Syrian Arab Republic on June 1st as part of efforts to mend ties with Syria, which have hit a low in recent years. Diplomatic sources told the Financial Mirror that the Syrians are particulary irked at the freedom that Cyprus provides to Kurdish and Syrian opposition groups operating in Cyprus.

This may well explain why Syria has allowed the Turkish Cypriots to run a boat shuttle between the occupied port of Famagusta and Latakia, ferrying goods and passengers. The Cyprus government has in the past lodged strong protests with the Syrians, which have been ignored.

During his visit, Kyprianou will hold meetings with the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the President of the Parliament Mahmoud al-Abrash, and the Foreign Minister Walid al-Moullem.

The bilateral relations between Cyprus and Syria, EU – Syria relations and co-operation between the two countries will be discussed at the meetings. There will also be an exchange of views on regional issues, such as the Palestinian Question and the situation in Lebanon.

Kyprianou will also brief Syria’s leadership on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus problem.

Kyprianou will return to Cyprus on Monday night.