Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides has said that Nicosia is ready to contribute to efforts to lift the embargo against Gaza.
Speaking Monday during a press conference, Kasoulides pointed out that one of the main prerequisites is that Egypt concurs towards this end, since the Cairo facilitates the dialogue to end the blockade. He also noted that both Israel and the Palestinian Authority need to accept this proposal.
Kasoulides explained that the proposal has already been accepted by the EU and it is included in the set of proposals that will be put forward to all those who play a role in the region.
In his statements, the Minister underlined the high level of relations Cyprus and Egypt enjoy, adding that both countries have signed a number of agreements and are planning to further enhance their cooperation in the fields of energy, defense and security.
Kasoulides recalled that during a recent meeting in NYC, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, he and his counterparts from Greece and Egypt reaffirmed their close cooperation in the fields of defense and security and agreed that they will keep assessing the situation in the region in their next meeting to take place in the coming weeks in Nicosia.
He pointed out that Egypt will host a High Level Conference to be presided by the Presidents of Egypt and Cyprus and the Greek Premier whenever their schedule allows it in the months to follow.
The Cypriot FM said that Egypt has proven that it is a pillar of security in the region, adding that “we must commend its role in the effort to end hostilities in the Gaza strip and to agree to the ceasefire that followed, in addition to the role it played to faciliate the negotiations between the two sides.”
He also referred to Egypt`s role with regard to the situation in Libya.
Cyprus` offer as a means to end the Gaza blockade has been put forward by ex Foreign Minister Markos Kyprianou and it has been accepted by the EU, Kasoulides explained, adding that this solution can been implemented as a realistic one, only if the Palestinian Authority returns to the Gaza strip and takes over the port as the internationally recognized authority.
