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Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 11-11-04
CONTENTS
[01] FM - EGYPT - VISIT
[01] FM - EGYPT - VISIT
Current developments in Cyprus and Egypt, prospects for bilateral
cooperation between the two countries, in view of the Cypriot EU
Presidency, during the second half of 2012, the Middle East problem and
the situation in the Middle East region in general, were at the focus
of discussions Cyprus Foreign Minister Erato Kozakou Marcoullis had
with Egyptian officials during an official visit she paid to Egypt,
November 1-2. An official press release issued here on Thursday said
that the aim of the visit was to further enhance and deepen the
cooperation between the two countries in a period with important
prospects and opportunities to tighten relations with Egypt. As it is
noted, the friendly relations between Cyprus and Egypt were ratified
once again during a meeting between Marcoullis and the Minister of
Defense, and Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces
Mohamed Hussein Tantawi.
During the meeting, Marcoullis and Tantawi exchanged views on the
bilateral relations and current developments in Cyprus and Egypt as
well as in the region. They discussed prospects on bilateral relation
between the two countries, while Marcoullis submitted a proposal by
Cyprus President Demetris Christofias to establish a structured
dialogue between the two governments. Marcoullis also had talks with
his Egyptian counterpart Mohamed Kamel Amr with whom he discussed
various issues of international interest. Among other issues they
discussed the Cyprus problem, the Middle East problem and the situation
in the broader region, as formed after the uprisings in various Arab
nations, as well as bilateral relations.
As regards bilateral relations, they focused inter alia, on the
reinforcement of cooperation between the two countries in the field of
energy, in the framework of prospects which have emerged in this field.
They also discussed the cooperation between Cyprus and Egypt in view of
the fact that Cyprus will assume the EU Presidency during the second
half of 2012. Marcoullis underlined that importance which the Cypriot
EU Presidency attributes in the strengthening of the cooperation of the
EU with the countries of the South Dimension of the European
Neighborhood Policy, which includes the Middle East and Northern
Africa.
The Foreign Minister also met with the Arab League Secretary General
Nabil El-Arabi. El-Arab referred to the traditional friendly relations
between Cyprus and the Arabs and in particular Egypt. During the
meeting they discussed developments in the region, focusing on the
situation in Libya and Syria, the Cyprus problem, the Middle East issue
and the need for further cooperation between Cyprus and the EU in
general, with the Arab League, in view of the Cypriot EU Presidency.
Marcoullis also met with the Imam of al-Azhar Mosque Sheikh Ahmed
Mohamed el-Tayeb, whom he informed about the situation in Cyprus and
the destruction of its cultural heritage in its Turkish occupied
territory. She also met with the Coptic Patriarch, Alexandria Patriarch
Theodoros B and representatives of Cypriots living in Cairo and
Alexandria.
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