Nicosia: President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, will travel to Egypt to participate in a conference on the reconstruction of Gaza, where he will present a plan involving Cypriot companies.
According to Cyprus News Agency, following a memorial service for the heroes of the Saranti community, President Christodoulides disclosed his recent and upcoming discussions with global leaders. He had discussions with the President of Egypt, the Prime Minister of Israel, and the President of the European Council, and was scheduled to speak with the President of the United Arab Emirates.
Expressing gratitude, he said, “I would like to publicly thank US President Donald Trump, as well as the President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, for inviting our country to attend the ceremony for Gaza tomorrow.” He emphasized the significance of the invitation, noting that only 22 countries were invited, which he views as recognition of Cyprus’s role in the region.
He highlighted Cyprus’s role in the reconstruction of Gaza, stating, “We want Cypriot companies to play a role in rebuilding the country,” and emphasized the importance of Cyprus’s participation in security issues. President Christodoulides will be accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Deputy Minister of European Affairs at the conference in Egypt.
Addressing the consolidation of Cyprus’s position, President Christodoulides mentioned past initiatives like the Amalthea corridor and evacuation efforts, which contributed to Cyprus’s recognition. He stated, “We are not resting on our laurels…we have a specific plan from here on, in relation to the reconstruction of Gaza with the participation of Cypriot companies and the provision of more humanitarian aid.”
He acknowledged Israel’s security concerns regarding Gaza and highlighted Cyprus’s capability to address these through the CYCLOPS Centre in Larnaca. He emphasized Cyprus’s excellent relations with its neighbors and its role as an EU member state, preparing for its upcoming Presidency of the EU Council.
In response to the US lifting its arms embargo against Cyprus for a year, President Christodoulides expressed the goal of making this change permanent. He noted plans for National Guard officers to visit the US to explore equipment options. This development aligns with Cyprus’s regional role and involves cooperation with the US on upgrading the ‘Andreas Papandreou’ Air Base.