Ways to further promote cooperation between Cyprus and Israel in the field of health, were examined during a meeting Thursday between Health Minister Dr. Stavros Malas and Israel’s Ambassador to Cyprus Micahel Harari.
In statements after the meeting, Dr. Malas said that the relations of the two countries in all fields are excellent, noting that the aim is to continually upgrade them, in the framework of a strategic plan.
He also said that in mid November, the minister will pay an official visit to Israel, to examine with his Israeli counterpart ways to cooperate in the field of research and medical care, with the prospect of Israeli universities and institutes to use Cyprus to create infrastructure.
“Cyprus wants to investigate the possibility of transferring specialized activities from Israel to the island”, said Dr. Malas, noting that Israel is a unique country in the field of innovation. Cyprus, he added, “could be an important gate of activities for Israel in Europe”.
On his part, Harari expressed hope that both countries’ relations will continue to strengthen in all fields.
He said there are excellent prospects for cooperation in the field of medical research.
Invited to comment on the Turkish threats over Cyprus exploring its Exclusive Economic Zone, Harari said that cooperation between Israel and Cyprus will continue for a long time.
“Both countries have expressed their political will to continue cooperating in a wide range of issues, including energy”, he added.
He also said the two have signed an agreement to exploit their EEZ.
Asked whether Israel fighter jets have used or plan to use the Andreas Papandreou Air Base in Paphos, Harari said there has been no extraordinary activity of Israeli fighter jets in the region in the last weeks.
Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus’ northern part since they invaded in 1974, does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus. Following a decision by Nicosia to begin natural gas and oil exploration in its exclusive economic zone, Ankara has deployed warships in the Eastern Mediterranean and has signed an illegal agreement with the Turkish Cypriot regime in occupied Cyprus to delineate what it calls continental shelf.
Drilling has already begun and is being carried out by Houston-based “Noble Energy”, off Cyprus’ south-eastern coast.
The government of Cyprus has protested to the UN and the EU Turkey’s moves, saying it has a sovereign right to exploit its natural resources, pointing out that Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots will benefit from any benefits that may come from oil drilling.
Cyprus has signed an agreement to delineate the Exclusive Economic Zone with Egypt and Israel with a view to exploit any possible natural gas and oil reserves in its EEZ. A similar agreement has been signed with Lebanon but the Lebanese Parliament has not yet ratified it.
The illegal regime in Turkish occupied Cyprus is recognised only by Turkey. Numerous UN Security Council resolutions have called upon all states not to cooperate with the regime and have described the declaration of the regime as invalid, stressing that the only legal government in Cyprus is the Republic of Cyprus.
