Nicosia: The bilateral cooperation between Cyprus and France, developments in the region, and the Cyprus problem are among the key issues on the agenda as the Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, meets with his French counterpart, Jean-No«l Barrot, in Nicosia. Earlier in the day, Barrot will be welcomed by Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, at the Presidential Palace.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the meeting is part of the strategic cooperation and partnership shaping between the Republic of Cyprus and the French Republic. The Foreign Affairs Ministry released a statement on Wednesday highlighting this framework.
The two ministers are set to have a private meeting followed by expanded discussions between the delegations of both countries. The Foreign Ministry indicated that topics for examination include bilateral cooperation in areas such as defense, security, energy, education, and culture.
A significant focus will be on the priorities of Cyprus ahead of its forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), emphasizing the importance of close collaboration with France at the European level. The ministers will also exchange views on regional developments and the Cyprus issue, with plans to address the media post-meeting.
The French Foreign Minister will also speak at the annual meeting of the Heads of Diplomatic Missions of the Republic of Cyprus prior to the ministerial meeting. The press release emphasized the strengthening cooperation between Cyprus and France within the EU and internationally, including their joint membership in the International Organization of Francophonie since October 2024.
In the afternoon, Barrot is scheduled to visit the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Larnaca, accompanied by Kombos.