Cyprus Foreign Minister Konstantinos Combos announced the upcoming signing of an expanded strategic agreement between Cyprus and France during the upcoming visit by President Emmanuel Macron.
The visit is expected until the end of 2025 and will become an important milestone in the 65-year history of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
This became known after Combos’s negotiations with the French Minister Jean-Nolel Barro, who arrived at Cyprus to prepare the visit of the French leader. According to Combos, the document will strengthen bilateral cooperation in such strategically significant areas as defense, security, energy, education and culture.
Particular attention in the new agreement is paid to energy partnership. The French energy company Total is already actively working in the exclusive economic zone of Cyprus, and cooperation in this area will be expanded. This is an important step for the energy security of the Eastern Mediterranean, especially against the background of global geopolitical changes.
Cyprus remains the most important humanitarian hub to deliver assistance in gas. About 1,200 tons of the humanitarian cargo are already on the island and are ready to be sent as soon as the security situation allows. Earlier, Cyprus, with the support of the UN, provided the delivery of more than 22,000 tons of assistance.
France also joins forces: starting from Friday, four flights of 10 tons each are planned, in coordination with Jordan. Barro sharply condemned the current militarized model for the distribution of assistance on the spot, calling it "shameful and unacceptable."
The ministers discussed other crisis zones - Ukraine, the Middle East, Syria. In conditions of instability of the regions, Cyprus confirmed the readiness to play an active role in peacekeeping processes. During the last aggravation of the conflict between Israel and Iran, Cyprus successfully evacuated 388 citizens of France according to the plan of Estia.
Barro emphasized that France and Cyprus are part of the international coalition for peace in Ukraine and support current sanctions against Russia. A common position was also expressed on the need for a political transition in Syria, taking into account the rights of all minorities and communities of the region.
The issue of unification of the island also remained on the agenda. France again confirmed the support of the principle of the two -zone, double -stroke federation in the framework of the UN Security Council resolutions. Barro noted the importance of new negotiations held in Geneva and New York through the mediation of the UN.
Cyprus is preparing for the presidency in the EU Council, which will begin in January 2026. Among the priorities are the development of regional transport and energy ties and the transformation of the eastern Mediterranean from the conflict zone into a space of sustainable development and international dialogue.
Source: In-CyPrus.philenews.com
