The President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulidis, participated, tonight, in the extraordinary European Council, via video conference. The emergency European Council was convened due to the seriousness of the situation as it develops following the terrorist attacks against Israel.
During the work of the extraordinary European Council, President Christodoulidis once again condemned the terrorist attacks of Hamas and expressed the support of the Cypriot Government to the Israeli people.
The President of the Republic underlined the need to avoid further civilian casualties from all sides, but also to de-escalate the crisis. A decisive element, he added, is the unconditional release of all hostages.
The Republic of Cyprus, President Christodoulidis emphasized, as the closest EU member state in the region, but also as a state that maintains excellent relations with states in the region, will make every possible effort, within the framework of its capabilities, to de-escalate the crisis and ensuring security and peace in the region.
The role that the European Union will be called upon to play, said the President of the Republic, should be much more active and more substantial, a position that the President of the Republic has expressed repeatedly in previous European Councils in relation to the region of Middle East and the Southern Neighbourhood.
President Christodoulidis also referred to the important humanitarian role that our country plays in this crisis, noting that we have so far responded to numerous requests from third countries, contributing to the evacuation of citizens from 26 countries. At the same time, he conveyed Cyprus’ readiness to provide humanitarian aid in the region, including Gaza, taking advantage of our geographical proximity, but also our status as an EU member state.
The close and continuous cooperation with the states of the region, mainly with Egypt, with Jordan, but also with the United Nations, in the common effort to avoid further escalation of the crisis, is an imperative, pointed out President Christodoulidis. In this context, the President of the Republic referred to the continuous communications he had with leaders of the countries of the region, during which they exchanged views on the actions that can be jointly undertaken.
In the same context, the President of the Republic referred to the telephone communications he had with regional leaders and conveyed messages from the Prime Minister of Israel, the King of Jordan and the President of Egypt to the European leaders. In particular, in relation to today’s long telephone conversation with the President of Egypt, Mr. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, President Christodoulidis emphasized the need for support for Egypt from the European Union, as a country of critical importance for the wider region.
Finally, the President of the Republic emphasized to our European partners that the recent flare-up is tangible proof of the importance of the Southern Neighborhood for the peace and security of the EU itself and the consequent need for a more regular and methodical engagement with the region.
