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We, Nikos Christodoulides,
President of the Republic of Cyprus, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of
the Hellenic Republic, and Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of
Israel, having met in Lefkosia today, September 4th 2023, for
the 9th Trilateral Summit between our countries and
reaffirmed our commitment to continue strengthening the dynamic cooperation
of our trilateral partnership platform. Our engagement reflects our shared
values and ever-increasing common interests, aiming to contribute to peace,
stability, security and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider
region.
As underlined on previous
occasions, our three countries remain committed to welcoming other
like-minded parties in our resolute effort to create and advance synergies,
to the benefit of our countries and peoples, as well as of our region.
We reviewed progress achieved
in a multiplicity of cooperation pillars, which have been developing in the
eight years since the inception of this Trilateral forum and reaffirmed our
aim to propel collaborations in key domains, such as energy, defence,
emergency response, environment, tourism, health, technology and innovation,
and diasporas.
We agreed that the energy
sector, and in particular, natural gas, electricity and renewable energy, is
a solid foundation for cooperation in the region, based on international law
including the law of the sea and the respect of all states to exercise their
rights in their respective EEZ/Continental Shelf.
In light of the growing need
for energy diversification and interconnectivity, due to the geopolitical
developments, we reaffirmed the common interest to advance prospects for a
reliable energy corridor from the Eastern Mediterranean basin to Europe. In
this context, we stressed the importance of further promoting energy
synergies with like-minded countries including the EMGF and regional projects
such as electrical interconnections, like the EuroAsia Interconnector, and
possible natural gas/hydrogen pipelines.
Addressing the global challenge
of climate change, we agree to reinforce our efforts through regional
cooperative projects, R&D, innovative energy technologies and promoting
further regional energy connectivity. Against the backdrop of recent wildfires in Greece
and Cyprus, taking note of the recent assistance provided by Israel,
we reaffirm our mutual commitment to assist each other in responding to
emergencies and further enhance our coordination and joint capabilities for
that purpose.
We also reaffirmed on the value
of the 3+1 format with the United States, which can offer tangible
deliverables, inter alia, in the areas of energy, economy, climate action,
emergency preparedness and counterterrorism. It was agreed to work together
towards holding a ministerial 3+1 meeting later this year.
Given the positive momentum
unleashed by the historic Abraham Accords and the new opportunities that it
has created, we explored ways of linking work done in our Trilateral platform
with other regional formats, including the Negev Forum.
The strengthening and widening
of the circle of peace between Israel and the Arab world, unthinkable only a
few years ago, holds the promise for a more secure and prosperous region, and
we are committed to encourage and support this process.
Prime Minister Mitsotakis and
Prime Minister Netanyahu were briefed by President Christodoulides on the
latest developments around the Cyprus Issue and welcomed his initiative to
include an enhanced EU role in the efforts to resume negotiations. In this
context the three sides expressed unwavering support for a just,
comprehensive, and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem, based on
international law and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.
They also expressed serious concern over recent actions in the
buffer zone near Pyla, taking note of the Security Council's 21 August press
statement on this matter. In this vein, they underscored the need to avoid
any further unilateral or escalatory actions that could raise tensions and
harm the prospects for a settlement.
We agreed that a settlement
which will reunify the island, based on the respect of democratic principles,
human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots, would not only benefit
the people of Cyprus in its entirety, but also significantly contribute to
the peace and stability of the region.
We firmly and unequivocally
condemned all forms of terrorism, as well as incitement to violence and
hatred.
We called on our regional
partners and the rest of the international community to step up the efforts
to curb terrorism and hold all entities which promote and sponsor it
accountable. Recent terror plots against Israeli and Jewish targets were
encouraged by foreign actors who aim to destabilize the region. These
malicious attempts were foiled thanks to the Greek and Cypriot authorities
and demonstrated the common threat of terrorism and the importance of our
close cooperation in the fight against it.
We reiterated our steadfast
commitment to the enhancement of EU-Israel relations. We underline the need
to promote cooperation in the framework of the EU-Israel Association
Agreement, and the reconvening of the EU-Israel Association Council during
the last quarter of this year.
We also noted the importance of
the Aqaba and Sharm El Sheikh meetings and their key contribution to
de-escalation and stability, as well as their potential for rebuilding trust
between the parties, which is needed for advancing a just and lasting peace.
We agreed that the next
trilateral Summit will be held in Israel, during 2024.
(RM/NG/SCH)
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