The tripartite Cyprus-Greece-Egypt was completed

The focus of the Summit was on energy, geopolitical developments and economic issues. Decisions have been taken to further strengthen relations between the three countries, and in terms of energy, there is a common recognition of the importance of the discovery of hydrocarbons in the region. The summit also addressed the issue of immigration and terrorism. President Anastasiadis also informed about the developments in the Cyprus issue.

President Anastasiadis

Today's fifth Cyprus-Greece-Egypt Summit has further deepened the cooperation mechanism of the three countries, making the Nicosia-Athens-Cairo relations a model of regional cooperation, said President Anastasiadis.
In a joint press conference, President Anastasiadis stressed that today's Nicosia Declaration demonstrates that this cooperation brings tangible results for the benefit of the peoples of Cyprus, Greece and Egypt.
Ways were considered, he said, to further strengthen energy action, which is one of the main pillars of co-operation between the three countries.
He stressed the common belief that the discovery of hydrocarbons can and should act as a catalyst for achieving cooperation at the regional level, contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the wider region.
It was also decided to work more closely with the three countries to tackle the migration problem.
President Anastasiadis briefed Mr. Sisi and Mr. Tsipras on the developments in the Cyprus issue, pointing out that the conference in Crans Montana led to a deadlock, due to Turkey's insistence on maintaining the guarantee and invasion rights and the stay of Turkish troops in the army.
He reiterated the determination of the Greek Cypriot side to attend new negotiations, provided that appropriate preparations are made.

Prime Minister of Greece

The trilateral cooperation Cyprus - Greece - Egypt is now an institution that promotes security, stability and peace in an area of ​​instability, said Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
He stressed that the three countries face regional developments and challenges in the same way.
Mr. Tsipras noted that Cyprus, Greece and Egypt have a common approach to the need to respect international law.
In this context, he said, we support the settlement of the Cyprus issue on the basis of international law.
The solution, he added, must provide for the termination of guarantees and invasions and the withdrawal of third country troops.
Mr. Tsipras stressed that the three countries have a common understanding on the fight against terrorism.
He pointed out that the tripartite is not a combination of forces vis-.-Vis third countries and expressed confidence that other countries will participate in these Summits in the future.
 He described the transport of hydrocarbons and the electricity interconnection of the three countries as of strategic importance, emphasizing that Greece, Cyprus and Egypt are a bridge between Europe and Africa.

President of Egypt

The trilateral cooperation between Nicosia - Athens - Cairo is the strongest pillar of maintaining and consolidating security and stability in the wider Eastern Mediterranean region, said Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
During the joint press conference, the Egyptian President stressed that the three countries remain consistent in their commitment to tackling terrorism in the region and that a dialogue is under way to find the best solutions. In this context, he added, ways are being sought to tackle illegal immigration.
President Sisi also said that the purpose of the tripartite mechanism is to develop social co-operation and secure new jobs for young people in the three countries, through promising areas such as energy and waste treatment.
Referring to the long-standing ties that bind the peoples of the three countries, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said that Egypt was the second home for many Greek and Cypriot immigrants. He even announced the organization of a visit to Egypt, in January, for Greeks and Cypriots who have been repatriated.
Concluding, the Egyptian President said that he looks forward to the next tripartite summit, to further strengthen this cooperation, for the benefit of the three countries and the entire region.

As part of the tripartite cooperation of the three countries, an emblematic olive grove was inaugurated in Egypt with five thousand olive saplings transported from Cyprus and Greece.
The Prime Minister of Greece, recalling that the olive tree is a symbol of peace, stressed that the creation of the olive grove, sends the message of promoting cooperation and consolidating relations between the three countries.

The three men also stressed the need to maintain security and stability in Lebanon, as well as the need to respect Syria's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity.
At the same time, they expressed their support for the international community's effort to revive the peace process to resolve the Middle East problem, with the aim of ensuring peace and stability in the wider region.
During today's tripartite meeting, the need for further deepening of the relations between Egypt and the European Union was pointed out.

Source: RIK radio