Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Erato Kozakou Markoullis will be departing for the Holy See on Monday, to meet with Secretary for Relations with States and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Holy See Monsignor Dominique Mamberti, to discuss mainly bilateral relations, the Cyprus issue and the destruction of the religious and cultural heritage in the areas of Cyprus under Turkish occupation.
Markoullis will attend a working dinner hosted by Cyprus` Ambassador to the Holy See George Poulides. Also invited to the dinner are Monsignor Dominique Mamberti, Assessor for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State Monsignor Peter Brian Wells, and Grand Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Jean-Pierre Mazery.
On Tuesday, Markoullis will hold a working visit to Rome, at the invitation of Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Giulio Terzi di Sant’Agata. The Italian Minister will host a working lunch to discuss bilateral issues, the latest developments in the Cyprus problem, energy matters, developments in Syria, Iran, Egypt and Libya, and other issues of international interest. Furthermore, the Italian side will be briefed on the priorities of Cyprus` EU presidency during the second half of 2012.
In the framework of her visit, Markoullis will also meet with Minister for International Cooperation and Integration Policies Andrea Riccardi, the Cyprus-Italian Parliamentary Friendship Group, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs at the Italian Parliament Stefano Stefani, the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs at the Italian Senate Lamberto Dini, and Vice-President of the Senate Emma Bonino.
Markoullis will be returning to Cyprus on Tuesday evening.