An official dinner in honour of the President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, who is paying an official visit to Cyprus, was hosted by the President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday night. Anastasiades stressed the full consensus of views the need for a collective approach towards the challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East.
According to an announcement by the Presidency, in his greeting at the dinner, President Anastasiades said that President Abbas’ visit reflects the solid foundations on which the excellent and long-term relationship between the two countries and peoples is based.
In addition, the signing of two Memoranda of Cooperation demonstrates not only the continuous development of Cyprus-Palestine relations, but also the common will to further upgrade them, both bilaterally and at regional and multilateral level, said Anastasiades.
The President stressed the full consensus of views on the need for a collective approach towards the challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, on the basis of international law, in order to establish a culture of peaceful coexistence and diplomatic resolution of any disputes between the States of the region.
“With these thoughts, I raise a toast to the health of President Mahmoud Abbas, but also to the health of the Palestinian people and to the friendship between our countries”, the President said, according to the presidency’s statement.
On his part, President Abbas, speaking through an interpreter, said, among other things, that Cyprus and Palestine have excellent relations, noting that his visit to Cyprus is of particular importance for the further strengthening of bilateral relations.
He added that “we have a special relationship that I am proud of and this relationship has been strengthened through our multiple meetings over the last years”. President said added that Cyprus continues to support the just cause of the Palestinian people. “You supported the just demands of our people in international fora, you recognized the state of Palestine, so that the Palestinian people could gain their independence and freedom, a state with sovereignty and territory on the border in 1967 with East Jerusalem as its capital. We always appreciate your attitude”, he added.
He also expressed hope that initiatives would be taken to promote peaceful efforts to resolve the Palestinian question, and thanked Cyprus for its political and financial support, noting that Palestine hoped to strengthen bilateral relations and intensify bilateral cooperation and the activation of the Joint Interministerial Committee for the extension of the framework of cooperation between the two countries.
Finally, according to the statement, the Palestinian President expressed the desire to convene the tripartite Cyprus-Palestine-Greece Summit as soon as possible.
Source: Cyprus News Agency