Press remarks by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Constantinos Kombos, following his meeting with the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Mr Xavier Bettel

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29/10/24 18:37 | Speech / Address | Foreign Policy

Dear Vice Prime Minister,

Dear Xavier,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to Cyprus, especially as 2024 marks an important milestone for the Republic of Cyprus. It has been 20 years since our accession to the European Union (EU), and soon we will be celebrating 55 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries.

Today, we had the opportunity to have a very substantial and fruitful discussion on a range of issues.

Firstly, on bilateral relations. We agreed that there is great potential and opportunities to further expand the close cooperation of our two countries in the fields of education, culture and investments. These are areas that we could have further developments for the mutual benefit of both Cyprus and Luxembourg. In addition, we need to work on people-to-people and business-to-business ties. We will be looking into ways of making this practically implementable.

Secondly, we discussed the Cyprus question. I would like to take the opportunity to thank Luxembourg for its consistently principled stance as regards the Cyprus question, a position that is guided by public international law and is aligned with the UN Security Council Resolutions for bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as provided by those very resolutions.

Thirdly, we discussed issues of common interest. We are both member states of the European Union (EU) and we are both trying to make our presence bigger than our size, geographically or population wise. We also both believe that the future of the European Union requires that we remain fully committed to those values that underpin our common family, and that we should never take for granted what we have achieved all these years. The threats are there. The challenges fully remain.

Finally, we discussed the situation in the Middle East, in our region. The situation is deteriorating. There are severe consequences from further escalation, whether that relates to Lebanon or to Gaza or even the West Bank. Once again, we call for the release of all hostages, for an immediate ceasefire and for all sides to show maximum restraint. Diplomacy must prevail before more innocent lives are lost.

Cyprus will continue to work with friendly countries in that direction, trying to send the right messages. Xavier will be visiting the region in the next few hours and this, I believe, is a very important opportunity to send those very clear messages.

A brief word on yesterday’s decision by the Israeli Knesset on the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNWRA).

The UNWRA is indispensable. It is extremely valuable across the board – in Gaza, West Bank, East Jerusalem, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan. The work that this UN agency is mandated to do, including delivering vital humanitarian aid in Gaza, is imperative, and the international community must do whatever it can so that it continues to do so.

Finally, on Ukraine, we reaffirmed our commitment and support to the sovereignty, territorial integrity of Ukraine, always in alignment with EU policy.

Dear Xavier, once again, I welcome you to Cyprus, to Nicosia. You are a true friend of Cyprus, and a most valuable voice of reason in Brussels and in our meetings, and I look forward to continuing our discussion later on, at the University of Cyprus.

(MP/AP/MS)

Press remarks by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Constantinos Kombos, following his meeting with the Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Mr Xavier Bettel

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