Filenews 9 April 2021
The aim of the twin cities of Paphos and Alexandria is to start the direct air link between the two twin cities at the beginning of Autumn, if epidemiological conditions permit. This joint decision was reached today by the Mayor of Paphos Phaedon Phaedon and the Governor of Alexandria Mohamed El Sherif at a meeting they had this morning at the Municipal Palace of Paphos.
The meeting was also attended by teleconference, the Deputy Minister of Tourism Savvas Perdios and the Minister of Transport Giannis Karousos. Both Ministers expressed their strong willingness to support this effort by providing all possible assistance.
The meeting agreed to set up a joint small and flexible committee of technocrats from all parties involved to immediately promote the procedures required to get flights started as soon as possible. Intense interest in this route has already been expressed by the Egyptian low-cost airline Air Cairo, which is connected to the state-owned Egypt Air.
The meeting, also hosted by Egypt's Ambassador to Cyprus Mohsen Hamza, also discussed issues related to education, cruise tourism, as well as further steps in relations between the two twin cities through cultural exchanges and other joint activities.
In statements after the meeting, Mayor Paphos, Phaedon Phaedon, said that the visit of the Governor of Alexandria demonstrates the creation and deepening of close relations between Paphos and the historic city of Egypt.
Alexandria continued, is one of the largest cities in the region, a city of 5 million, with which Paphos is associated with historical ties that are lost in the depths of the centuries. Our first concern, he continued, is the connection of Paphos with Alexandria in order to help the two cities which are predominantly touristic. The Mayor of Paphos also said that he discussed with the Governor cooperation in the field of education and how the two cities can support and bring together students and young people not only from Cyprus and Egypt Alexandria but also from the surrounding region, such as Jordan, Lebanon and Greece.
For his part, the Governor of Alexandria expressed his full satisfaction with the meeting and stressed that the two sides will work hard to achieve the goals set. Paphos and Alexandria, he stressed, have many things in common that stem from geography and their common course in the depths of the centuries, Today, he added, these elements must be used for the benefit of our peoples and countries.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Mayor Of Paphos Christos Makarios, the Chairman of the Committee on External Relations of the Municipality Panagiotis Vorkas and the member of the Commission Marinos Stylianou. On the Egyptian side, in addition to the Ambassador, the Consul of the friendly country in Cyprus and officials of the Governor's Office of Alexandria were also involved.
After the meeting, the Mayor of Paphos accompanied the Governor of Alexandria and his entourage on a tour of the traditional centre of Paphos, followed by a meal presented by the Ambassador of Egypt.
