According to a declaration following a meeting in Nicosia between President Nicos Anastasiades and the Prime Ministers of Greece Alexis Tsipras and Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, the three countries agreed to strengthen co-operation and promote partnership in various fields of common interest.
Among the subjects discussed by the three leaders was a pipeline carrying natural gas from Israel and Cyprus to Europe through Greece, and an underwater cable – the EuroAsia Interconnector — linking Israeli, Cypriot, and Greek power grids.
“We express our strong support to the export of Eastern Mediterranean gas to continental Europe,” the declaration said. “In this context, we reiterate our readiness to further explore projects such as the EastMed Pipeline. We have agreed to work closely together promoting joint projects, which will enhance the security of energy supply. We invite neighbouring countries to explore possible synergies which can be implemented by working collectively on a regional basis.”
The three leaders decided to establish a permanent ministerial committee on energy in order to consider strategic and practical aspects of joint action in the field of energy cooperation.
“The philosophy of our cooperation is based on the indisputable fact that our states are governed by the same common values and common conviction that it is vital to work collectively to effectively tackle the many challenges we face on a national, regional, and international level,” Anastasiades said.
He added: The aim of the cooperation between the three countries was to promote peace, stability, and security in the Eastern Mediterranean through substantive and practical reinforcement of their partnership in all fields.
“In light of the underlying challenges and opportunities, and given the fluid and unstable situation in the region, our three countries, which share common democratic values, principles, and interests, have, to this end, agreed on the importance for closer cooperation and a coordinated set of policies,” the declaration said.
The three leaders stressed that the partnership was not directed against any other countries in the region.
“Our partnership is not exclusive in design or nature, and we are ready to welcome other like-minded actors to join our efforts to promote coordination and cooperation, as well as regional peace and stability.”
The three countries said they were examining practical means of cooperating and implementing joint projects and synergies in the fields of energy, tourism, research and technology, environment, water management, migration, andcombating terrorism.
They also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the management of water resources.
Anastasiades, Netanyahu and Tsipras agreed to explore the possibility of collaboration in a series of other areas including agriculture, joint fire-fighting efforts, environmental protection, and joint emergency response to natural disasters, search and rescue exercises, and health, management of epidemics.
The three countries acknowledged the importance of tourism and the vast potential collaboration towards encouraging the influx of tourists to the region by offering joint packages, including cruises and religious, medical, and other thematic tourism.
The three leaders have agreed that the next trilateral Summit will be held in Israel in the second half of 2016.
Source: Cyprus Mail
