Cyprus-Greece-Egypt cooperation essential for stability in EastMed, Spokesperson says
Closer cooperation between Cyprus, Greece and Egypt in such a volatile international environment, is essential in order to ensure peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, Government Spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, said regarding the 10th Trilateral Cyprus-Greece-Egypt Summit and the 2nd Cyprus-Egypt Intergovernmental Summit, both to be held on Wednesday in Cairo.
In his statements at the Presidential Palace, the Spokesperson said that the 10th Trilateral Cyprus-Greece-Egypt Summit and the 2nd Cyprus-Egypt Intergovernmental Summit will be held tomorrow, January 8, 2025, in Egypt.
The upcoming Trilateral Summit, which follows the previous one in Athens in October 2021, he said, is to take place “at a critical juncture for the region, highlighting the importance and timeless value of the strategic partnership that has been built between the three countries.”
Letymbiotis noted that, this trilateral meeting, which he said was “a milestone” in the deepening of their cooperation, “strengthens the common path of Cyprus, Greece and Egypt”, particularly in light of the upcoming Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026, he said, adding that, the next, 11th Trilateral Summit, is expected to take place in Cyprus in the same year, “further underlining our country’s role as a European ‘bridge’ for Egypt and the promotion of our common interests within the EU”.
According to the Spokesperson, tomorrow’s Trilateral Summit “is of particular importance” due to the ongoing crises, including in Gaza and Syria, as well as the broader implications observed in the Red Sea region. “In a fluid and volatile international environment, closer cooperation between Cyprus, Greece and Egypt is essential in order to ensure peace, stability and the prospect of economic and social progress in the Eastern Mediterranean,” he said.
He said that during the Summit, Memoranda of Understanding are expected to be signed, including in the areas of healthcare, port development, Information and Communications Technology and strengthening investment relations, “which will further strengthen joint actions and lay solid foundations for the future development of this trilateral relationship.”
He noted that, prior to the Trilateral Summit, the 2nd Cyprus-Egypt Intergovernmental Summit will take place. “The main priorities are the implementation of what has already been agreed, as well as the further strengthening of economic and trade relations”, Letymbiotis said.
In this context, he added, “the possibilities for joint investment projects in the sectors of infrastructure, trade, technology, innovation and tourism will be discussed, while actions towards closer energy cooperation will be examined.” Continuing to support Egypt in its relations with the European Union, especially in view of Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026, was “an important parameter”, he added.
Letymbiotis also said that during the Intergovernmental Summit, there will be an exchange of views on current regional developments, “prioritising the promotion of stability and cooperation in the wider region and working on joint and effective strategies to address challenges”.
He noted that the discussions are expected to focus on the optimal utilisation of partnerships at the political, economic and diplomatic levels, for the benefit of all parties involved. During the Summit, several memorandums of understanding will also be signed in areas of common interest, such as education, Information and Communications Technology, women’s empowerment, water management and aquaculture development, he said.
At a time when geopolitical challenges are intensifying, he added, the 10th Tripartite Summit, as well as the Cyprus-Egypt Intergovernmental Summit, “send a strong message of unity and determination, reaffirming the common commitment to ensuring peace, stability and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean”, the Spokesperson said.
“By continuing and establishing these partnerships, Cyprus, Egypt and Greece continue to be pillars of stability” and strengthen the prospect of a peaceful and stable Eastern Mediterranean, he added, noting that tomorrow’s Summits “constitute, therefore, another decisive step towards fulfilling the common vision for consolidating an environment of prosperity and solidarity in the region.”
He noted that the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, will be accompanied by a delegation consisting of, among others, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Energy, Commerce and Industry, Labor and Social Insurance, and the Deputy Minister for European Affairs.
On the sidelines of the Intergovernmental and Trilateral Summits, a business forum will take place with the participation of representatives of the business world from the three countries.
“Continuous diplomatic contacts” regarding possibility of delimitation of Turkish-Syrian EEZ
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Asked whether the issue of the possibility of delimitation of an exclusive economic zone between Turkey and Syria would also be discussed, the Spokesperson said that “as the President of the Republic himself has stated, our diplomatic contacts in light of such a possibility are continuous and ongoing.”
He added that the Republic of Cyprus was “constantly” assessing reports on this issue, “always on the basis of international law and the Law of the Sea, while that it this issue is being handled diplomatically from the first moment such reports emerged.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
Ankara did not pursue an agreement with Nicosia on the delimitation of their maritime boundaries and sent on several occasions, in the past, its seismic research vessel “Barbaros” to Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), following the Republic of Cyprus’ decision, in 2011, to start exploratory offshore drilling.
The Republic of Cyprus has so far concluded agreements on the delimitation of its ΕΕΖ on the basis of the median-line principle with Egypt and Israel, while the ratification of a similar agreement with Lebanon is pending. In those parts of Cyprus’ maritime boundaries where no delimitation agreements have been signed, including with Turkey, Nicosia considers the median-line as the outer limit of its EEZ/ continental shelf.
