Nicosia: The Central Asian region has emerged as one of the key priorities of Cyprus’ foreign policy, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos revealed to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on Sunday, as he continues his diplomatic tour of the region. The Foreign Minister completed the second leg of his visit to Central Asian countries on Sunday and was set to depart from Uzbekistan for Kyrgyzstan.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the tour follows the first-ever visit by a President of the Republic of Cyprus to Kazakhstan earlier this week, during which a business forum was held and the Embassy of Cyprus in Astana was officially inaugurated. Kombos emphasized that the main objective of his tour is to strengthen bilateral relations with the countries of the region and to create additional opportunities for mutual investment and economic cooperation. He highlighted the interconnectedness of foreign and domestic policy dimensions.
During his visit to Tajikistan, Kombos met with several key figures, including his counterpart, Sirojiddin Muhriddin, the Speaker of the Lower House, Faizali Idizoda, and President Emomali Rahmon. A Memorandum of Cooperation in the field of Higher Education and Research was signed, establishing a framework for enhanced cooperation in higher education, academic exchanges, and scientific research. Kombos noted the significance of the scholarships awarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to citizens of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan over the past two years.
In Uzbekistan, Kombos engaged in intensified bilateral contacts following his initial visit two years ago, including political consultations and a business delegation visit. In Tashkent, he met with his counterpart, Bakhtiyor Saidov, with whom he maintains regular contact through various international forums.
The Foreign Minister was scheduled to depart for Kyrgyzstan, where he will meet with his counterpart, Zheenbek Kulubaev, and other officials. Kombos reiterated that Central Asia has become a key priority of Cyprus’ foreign policy over the past two years, creating opportunities for the business community to establish partnerships in a region of geopolitical and economic importance. He mentioned that political considerations related to Cyprus’ national issue are a guiding factor in this approach, producing tangible results such as the EU-Central Asia Joint Declaration of April 2025 with references to the Cyprus issue.
Kombos highlighted that all Central Asian countries have aligned with joint declarations adopted at both the EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting and the EU-Central Asia Summit in 2025, which emphasize respect for independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of all states, along with references to United Nations Security Council Resolutions 541 and 550 concerning Cyprus.
Kombos concluded by stating that expanding Cyprus’ diplomatic footprint serves as a strategic compass for conducting foreign policy, especially in regions with inherent sensitivities. Cyprus remains divided since 1974 due to Turkey’s invasion and occupation of its northern third. UN-led peace talks have yet to yield results, with the latest negotiations in 2017 ending inconclusively. Efforts continue with informal meetings and negotiations facilitated by the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus.