Foreign Ministers of Cyprus, Greece and Palestine, Ioannis Kasoulides, Nikos Kotzias and Riad Malki, respectively, held on Wednesday a trilateral meeting, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, in New York.
After the meeting, the three parties issued a Joint Communique, with references to regional issues of mutual interest and to areas of potential future cooperation, while underlining their determination to enhance relations. In their statement, the three Ministers express their “unwavering support” for ongoing efforts to reunite Cyprus, while backing a two-state solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Speaking after the meeting, Cyprus` Foreign Minister Ionannis Kasoulides said that the trilateral cooperation of Cyprus, Greece and Palestine has began. It is a cooperation which, according to the Minister, extends to “political issues and brings together three countries that hold the same values as regards the efforts to address terrorism and asymmetrical threats”.
Kasoulides also said that they are setting a positive agenda regarding their cooperation in the fields of tourism, economy and environment.
The Foreign Minister of Cyprus also referred to a trilateral meeting that will be held with Egypt, in New York, to be followed by a high level meeting, on October 11, in Cairo. Moreover, in December, a trilateral meeting will be held with Israel. He also announced that he and his Greek counterpart are expected to visit Lebanon together, and will be joined probably by others.
On his part, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias stated that “a great cooperation has began today”, with discussions between the three sides extending to issues of political interest.
Kotzias also said that the Permanent Secretaries of the Foreign Ministries will meet to prepare the next meeting of the Ministers in January 2017.
Discussion will revolve around the geostrategic situation in the region, the creation of security structures, and cooperation in sectors such as education, tourism and economy, the Greek Foreign Minister said.
He noted finally that during Wednesday`s meeting, they also discussed the need for a common strategy regarding the implementation of international laws and regulations, on which the foreign policy of all three rests.
Replying to a question, Kotzias said that the Palestinian side is very pleased with this initiative. “It is an initiative that goes beyond traditional bilateral fora”, while embarking on a trilateral cooperation scheme “with positive results for each participating country” he noted.
Invited to say whether Israel has expressed any objections for the meeting with Palestine, the Greek Minister replied that “we do not ask third parties, the same way we do not ask other countries when we hold a trilateral meeting with Israel”. He assured, however, that trilateral collaborations do not turn against any other country.
The Joint Communique issued after the meeting notes that the three Ministers held a wide-ranging discussion on issues of mutual interest, including developments in the Middle East and their impact on the wider region, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Cyprus issue, as well as areas for future trilateral cooperation.
The three also reaffirmed their governments` commitment to “mutually acceptable, political and inclusive solutions on the basis of international law and on the relevant UN resolutions” as well as to the promotion of peace and stability in the eastern Mediterranean.
The Foreign Ministers of Cyprus, Greece and Palestine also stressed the need to intensify efforts by moderate actors, in order to tackle regional challenges, to jointly fight terrorism and extremism, to increase information sharing and to promote regional security, long-term stability and prosperity.
They also called for a “just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the Middle East, based on the relevant United Nations resolutions, the Madrid principles including land for peace and the Arab Peace Initiative”.
Ministers expressed, moreover, support for a “two-state solution on the basis of the June 4, 1967 lines, leading to a sovereign, independent, viable and contiguous State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other neighbours”.
They also expressed “serious concern” over current trends on the ground that threaten to a make a two-state solution impossible, while reiterating that all settlement activities are illegal under international law, and need to be reversed.
“A permanent solution to the Israeli – Palestinian conflict in accordance with international law would greatly boost security and stability across the region and beyond” they added, and welcomed efforts, including the one by France, to revive the peace process.
The three Ministers also reaffirmed their “unwavering support to the ongoing negotiations for a solution to the Cyprus problem that will reunify the island in accordance with international law and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions”.
They highlighted that “the solution of the Cyprus problem must address the concerns and aspirations of the Cypriots themselves, without any rights of military intervention, and must respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Cyprus”.
Kasoulides, Kotzias and Malki also stressed that peace agreements and security arrangements, must be in line with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law.
“Convinced of the potential of their trilateral cooperation, Cyprus, Palestine and Greece will continue working together, for the benefit of their peoples and the wider region” while promoting cooperation in international fora as well as on projects, extending inter alia in the fields of tourism, education and training, environment, conservation and management of water resources, energy and agriculture, the communique states.