The Ambassador says that Cyprus and Israel were able to move ahead with their cooperation in the past few years, but points out that there is still a lot of potential for cooperation lying ahead.

“I am quite optimistic regarding the cooperation between Cyprus and Israel in this particular field, as well as of course in many other fields of no less importance”, he says.

Ambassador Harrari stresses that in the energy fields, there are certain elements that have to be taken into consideration, “such as diversity which contributes to our regional stability and, of course, entering into cooperation with a reliable partner”.

“Furthermore, we have to take into account the important role of the relevant private companies in this context”, he said in response to some of the questions CNA had asked.

The Ambassador noted that the past few years have witnessed the strengthening of bilateral relations, as well as a deep and rich dialogue in a variety of issues of interest.

He noted that the dialogue on the highest levels between the two governments has been continuous and that telephone calls have been exchanged by the two Foreign Ministers.

Most recently, he noted, President Anastassiades and Prime Minister Netanyahu had a conversation over the phone, during which the President renewed his invitation to the Prime Minister and the last details remain to be finalized soon.

Ambassador Harriri tells CNA that the people to people relations go many years back and actually this year marks the 65th anniversary of the closure of the British Camps of Dhekelia, Karaolos and Xylotymbou where the British held those Jewish Holocaust survivors who, at the end of World War II, were on their way home to the newly established state of Israel.

“In those years, close ties with the Cypriots were established, as the latter showed their solidarity to these Jews by offering their help in any way possible.As a matter of fact, the Embassy is organizing a series of events to commemorate this”, he said. He underlined that “knowing our History is extremely relevant to the way we cooperate both now at present and in the future.”

Replying to a question as to whether the discovery of natural gas can play a role in progress on the Cyprus problem, the Ambassador points out that the hydrocarbons issue has given rise to more constructive attention to the Eastern Mediterranean, which, in turn, has affected the Cyprus question, as well.

“I do hope that this constructive and more proactive international attention will help lead to the achievement of an agreement concerning the Cyprus problem”, he says.

Invited to comment on the Hamas-backed coalition government formed by the Palestinians and the implications on the peace process, the Ambassador said that these are really sad days for Israel.

“We are mourning the deaths of those three young boys who were kidnapped and murdered by Hamas. Thus, once again, it is being proven that Hamas is a terrorist organization”, he noted.

The Israeli Ambassador made it clear that “Israel’s partner in peace is the Palestinian Authority and its President Abu Mazen, not a terrorist organization. The Hamas backed coalition government cannot be a partner to negotiations”.

Replying to another question about Iran`s nuclear program, the Ambassador said that this issue is the most important challenge for Israel in the region but also for the whole international community, adding that the negotiations which are under way at present are of great significance.

“They (the negotiations) will have to produce a really good agreement, in other words, an agreement that will not allow any room for Iran to develop a nuclear program. It is better to have no deal at all than a bad deal. The Middle East cannot afford to have a nuclear Iran because a nuclear Iran means a nuclear Middle East”, he stressed.

Asked about the situation in Syria and Iraq, the dangers of a spill-over and the effect on the Mid-east peace process, the Ambassador said that the situation in Syria and Iraq, actually in the whole region, is extremely worrying, adding that “the weakness of nation states in the area and the bigger role played by non-state actors, such as ISIS, as well as others, might have a negative impact on other states in the region as well”.

“We have evidently, for the past few years, found ourselves in the midst of dramatic developments in the region and I believe that the international community should cooperate effectively in order to support those countries and states and follow closely these developments”, he added.

Source: Famagusta Gazette