A negative development in the region affects Cyprus’ interests as well and thus Nicosia is working to secure conditions of stability in the area, Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides has said.

Invited to comment on recent developments in the region, after US President Donald Trump’s decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem, Christodoulides said that Nicosia has excellent relations with the Arab countries as well as Israel and being an EU member state is in constant contact with its EU partners.

Cyprus, he continued, knows better than any other EU member states the situation in the region and follows developments closely. He did not rule out the possibility of political contacts on the level of the President or the Foreign Minister with EU and neighbouring countries, so that conditions of peace prevail in the area.

As regards Jerusalem, he said that its future must be the result of negotiations between the sides and noted that what is of importance right now is the resumption of the peace effort in the Middle East.

Concluding, he said that in the framework of the excellent relations of Cyprus with the countries of the region, Nicosia can play its role in fostering stability in the area, noting that this is a role that especially its EU partners believe it can play.