Cyprus is the most reliable neighbor of Israel, President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades has said, adding that the discovery of hydrocarbons in the Mediterranean sea creates new prospects for the relations between the two countries.
President Anastasiades was speaking during a working lunch hosted on Tuesday in Jerusalem by the President of Israel in honor of President Anastasiades and members of the Cypriot delegation accompanying him on his official visit to Israel, an official announcement said.
"We inaugurate a new era in the relations between our two countries”, he noted.
He also said that during his contacts with Israel`s Prime Minister and House Speaker “we confirmed that both countries are committed to work together “, adding that both countries have historical relations and common culture.
He also said that both countries are also blessed with hydrocarbon deposits in the Mediterranean Sea.
“We will move on with our relations to see how we can support each other, how we Europeans can contribute in anything that concerns you. We need you. I am not saying that you need us, but it is better to have a neighbor close to you rather than a brother far away from you. And you don’t simply have a neighbor close to you but a brother and we will go on this way. We must work together in order to bring peace, stability and welfare.”
On his part, President of Israel Shimon Peres said that the two countries are linked to each other in many ways, adding that “without Cyprus, Israel lies far from Europe”.
He noted that Israel would continue cooperating and working together with Cyprus, adding that his country is considering Cyprus as its close friend both politically and geographically.
In statements to journalists following the working lunch, President Anastasiades said that both countries are determined to strengthen and deepen their relations in the interest of both countries.
He also said that that the discovery of hydrocarbons creates new prospects for the relations between the two countries and stressed the need for cooperation on this issue through strategic alliances for the benefit of the people of both countries.
“On the one hand, he added, “ Cyprus, a member state of the EU, and especially with the decision for the establishment of liquification terminal across from the Suez Canal, will be offering to those who want to take advantage of it, the infrastructure for exporting to the Far East but also to Europe”.
“And on the other hand”, he continued, “through the agreements we seek on energy security and the agreements for joint exploitation, where the borders seem to coincide, of units that possibly may have natural wealth, for the prospects to be created so that we can achieve the best possible exploitation for the benefit of the welfare, the cooperation and the prospects of the two countries”.
Asked if Israel views the establishment of a terminal in Cyprus in a positive way, the President of the Republic said that “we are in the consultation stage. However, there is the manifest interest on the part of Israeli companies that are involved in the exploitation of natural gas to be also participants in the investment for the construction of the terminal at Vassiliko”.
“This means that, by extension, we will have the cooperation of companies if not of the Government. I don’t want to say more than is dictated by the highest interests of the two countries.”, he concluded.
