Israel is today Cyprus’ most reliable ally

Israel is today Cyprus’ most reliable ally, said Monday President of the House of Representatives’ Committee for Foreign and European Affairs, Averof Neofytou.

Neofytou was speaking after a meeting he held with Speaker of the Knesset Yuli-Yoel Edelstein who is paying Cyprus an official visit at the invitation of President of the House of Representatives Yiannakis Omirou.

Earlier today, the Israeli official held a meeting with his Cypriot counterpart, during which they signed a Protocol of Cooperation between the two parliaments, which includes a provision for the setting up of friendship groups on both sides.

Noting that this was the first visit of a Knesset Speaker visiting Cyprus, Neofytou, who is the President of the Cyprus – Israel Friendship Group at the House of Representatives, said that the setting up of a Friendship Group was an important decision which will lead to the further enhancement of the relations between the two Parliaments.

“We share common values, the respect of human rights and the values of democracy”, Neofytou said, pointing out that Cyprus and Israel constitute two countries – exceptions in the  region, with functional democracies and the respect of the human rights of their citizens.

“Israel, our long forgotten neighbor, is today our most reliable partner”, Neofytou stressed.

Referring to the bilateral relations, Neofytou said that there is room for further cooperation not only in the area of energy, but also in the fields of research and development.

Neofytou will pay Israel an official visit 18-20 November at the invitation of his Israeli counterpart, President of the Knesset Committee of Foreign Affairs and Defence, Avigdor Liberman.

On August 8^th, Cyprus, Israel and Greece have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on energy and water resources, which Cyprus Minister of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Yiorgos Lakkotrypis described as “monumental moment for the cooperation among the three countries”.