Greek, Israeli and Cypriot leaders reiterate commitment to expand trade, cooperation; possible collaboration with India

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Monday referred to the prospect of extending a budding Greece-Cyprus-Israel trilateral cooperation via the participation of other countries, such as India, in statements after the meeting in Nicosia on Tuesday with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In joint statements, the three leaders underlined the strategic-importance relations among their countries and a common will for a further deepening of relations in all sectors.

Mitsotakis cited the three countries’ interest to leave a geopolitical and commercial imprint through their actions.

“I believe that what we could examine thoroughly is the possibility to invite the Indian Prime Minister to our scheme,” in the next Summit, the Greek premier said. Mitsotakis also called the trilateral Greece-Cyprus-Israel scheme resilient and successful and referred to other issues such as security, energy, civil protection, technology and artificial intelligence.

In his statements, the President of Cyprus said among others that “this is without doubt a dynamic strategic alliance between partners that share the same democratic values and targets and that invest in the common vision of stability, prosperity and security in the area and beyond this.”

Regarding the energy sector, Christodoulides said “we agreed that the natural gas and the renewable energy sources are the prime pillar of cooperation in the region, especially in light of the recent geographic developments and the insecurity in energy that dictate the need for increased inter-connectivity and alternative energy sources.”

Referring to the Cyprus issue, he said he briefed the other two leaders on initiatives aimed at the restart of contacts for an overall solution based on the agreed UN framework, while he thanked Greece and Israel for their unconditional support. The next trilateral summit will take place in 2024, he added.

The relations between the three countries have blossomed, following the trilateral mechanism of collaboration, according to Netanyahu. For example, hundreds of thousands of visitors from Israel have visited Cyprus and Greece, he said, while there are also investments among the trio and very close collaboration in several sectors, including natural gas, electricity grid connections, and fighting wildfires.

The three, he said, discussed how Israel will export its natural gas, and the same should be done by Cyprus and Greece, with decisions ready within three to six months.

In addition, the trio of cooperating states remained committed to working closely on combating terrorism and on extending their collaboration as a group with India.

The joint statement of the 9th Greece, Cyprus, Israel Trilateral Summit is as follows:

“We, Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, and Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel, having met in Nicosia today, September 4th 2023, for the 9th Trilateral Summit between our countries and reaffirmed our commitment to continue strengthening the dynamic cooperation of our trilateral partnership platform. Our engagement reflects our shared values and ever-increasing common interests, aiming to contribute to peace, stability, security and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region.

As underlined on previous occasions, our three countries remain committed to welcoming other like-minded parties in our resolute effort to create and advance synergies, to the benefit of our countries and peoples, as well as of our region.

We reviewed progress achieved in a multiplicity of cooperation pillars, which have been developing in the eight years since the inception of this Trilateral forum and reaffirmed our aim to propel collaborations in key domains, such as energy, defense, emergency response, environment, tourism, health, technology and innovation, and diasporas.

We agreed that the energy sector, and in particular, natural gas, electricity and renewable energy, is a solid foundation for cooperation in the region, based on international law including the law of the sea and the respect of all states to exercise their rights in their respective EEZ/Continental Shelf.

In light of the growing need for energy diversification and interconnectivity, due to the geopolitical developments, we reaffirmed the common interest to advance prospects for a reliable energy corridor from the Eastern Mediterranean basin to Europe. In this context we stressed the importance of further promoting energy synergies with like-minded countries including the EMGF and regional projects such as electrical interconnections, like the EuroAsia Interconnector, and possible natural gas/hydrogen pipelines.

Addressing the global challenge of climate change, we agree to reinforce our efforts through regional cooperative projects, R&D, innovative energy technologies and promoting further regional energy connectivity. Against the backdrop of recent wildfires in Greece and Cyprus, taking note of the recent assistance provided by Israel, we reaffirm our mutual commitment to assist each other in responding to emergencies and further enhance our coordination and joint capabilities for that purpose.

We also reaffirmed on the value of the 3+1 format with the United States which can offer tangible deliverables, inter alia, in the areas of energy, economy, climate action, emergency preparedness and counterterrorism. It was agreed to work together towards holding a ministerial 3+1 meeting later this year.

Given the positive momentum unleashed by the historic Abraham Accords and the new opportunities that it has created, we explored ways of linking work done in our Trilateral platform with other regional formats, including the Negev Forum.

The strengthening and widening of the circle of peace between Israel and the Arab world, unthinkable only a few years ago, holds the promise for a more secure and prosperous region, and we are committed to encourage and support this process.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis and Prime Minister Netanyahu were briefed by President Christodoulides on the latest developments around the Cyprus Issue and welcomed his initiative to include an enhanced EU role in the efforts to resume negotiations. In this context the three sides expressed unwavering support for a just, comprehensive, and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem, based on international law and relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.

They also expressed serious concern over recent actions in the buffer zone near Pyla, taking note of the Security Council’s 21 August press statement on this matter. In this vein, they underscored the need to avoid any further unilateral or escalatory actions that could raise tensions and harm the prospects for a settlement.

We agreed that a settlement which will reunify the island, based on the respect of democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots, would not only benefit the people of Cyprus in its entirety, but also significantly contribute to the peace and stability of the region.

We firmly and unequivocally condemned all forms of terrorism, as well as incitement to violence and hatred.

We called on our regional partners and the rest of the international community to step up the efforts to curb terrorism and hold all entities which promote and sponsor it accountable. Recent terror plots against Israeli and Jewish targets were encouraged by foreign actors who aim to destabilize the region. These malicious attempts were foiled thanks to the Greek and Cypriot authorities and demonstrated the common threat of terrorism and the importance of our close cooperation in the fight against it.

We reiterated our steadfast commitment to the enhancement of EU-Israel relations. We underline the need to promote cooperation in the framework of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and the reconvening of the EU-Israel Association Council during the last quarter of this year.

We also noted the importance of the Aqaba and Sharm El Sheikh meetings and their key contribution to de-escalation and stability, as well as their potential for rebuilding trust between the parties which is needed for advancing a just and lasting peace.

We agreed that the next trilateral Summit will be held in Israel, during 2024”.