The Greek Community of Alexandria

Tag: Egypt

  • Cypriot Foreign Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Riyadh is the Key to the Region

    Cypriot Foreign Minister to Asharq Al-Awsat: Riyadh is the Key to the Region

    ΚύπροςThe Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulidis spoke to Asharq Al-Awsat for more than an hour and a half about the good relations between his country and the Arab region. He also touched on his meeting with President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi last month during a visit to Cairo in the presence of the Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry as well as the Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit. There are four Gulf embassies in the capital of his country; they belong to Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait and Oman. He expressed hopes that the Saudi flag would fly over his territory and a Saudi embassy in Nicosia would be opened soon. There is also a Cypriot embassy in Riyadh, and he stressed that Saudi Arabia is the key to the Arab region. His interview with Asharq Al-Awsat follows:

    • How was your visit to Egypt last month?

    It was a very fruitful meeting. I was received by President El-Sisi and the prime minister and we had very friendly, warm talks with the Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. I also visited the Arab League and Secretary-General Ahmed Abou Gheit. Let me say first of all that my visit to Egypt came in order to consolidate bilateral relations and to attend the meetings that were held in anticipation of the summit that is going to take place in October in Cairo between the Greek PM, the President of Cyprus and the President of Egypt in the context of the trilateral strategic coordination that is taking place between these three countries, and it is a continuation of what had been decided in Athens last year.

    One of the main aims of this upcoming summit is considered part of the cooperation in the field of security, and the cooperation that exists in matters of security between the three countries in fighting terrorism and other asymmetrical threats. We decided in Athens that there should also be tangible results and we agreed on ways of combating terrorism, ISIS in particular, and that we will assist in the planting of olive trees in the Sinai Peninsula and in the creation of fish farms in certain areas designated by Egypt, particularly in Port Said. So I wanted to make sure that everything is going as had been decided so that these results will be able to be announced. There are other areas of cooperation between these three countries, including the exchange of ministerial meetings that have taken place. This week we are going to have the Egyptian Minister of Petroleum in Cyprus.

    Egypt is one of our neighbours, a very significant country, pivotal for security in the region, and we value very much our strategic relationship with Cairo which aims at contributing to the stability and security in our region, particularly the eastern Mediterranean and beyond. Traditionally, Egypt and Cyprus have been very close from the time of Makarios and Nasser, this working together has been reinvigorated in the last few years. I am proud to say that I am the first EU minister that has visited Cairo on the 3rd of September 2013, just two months after the second revolution of the Egyptian people.
    The coming conference in Cairo will be the implementation of projects decided in Athens.
    Another purpose of my visit to Cairo was to discuss, with the foreign ministry but also El-Sisi, matters concerning our region regarding issues like Libya, Yemen, Syria, Middle East peace problems and so on.

    • How did you hear about the military coup attempt in Turkey?

    We were informed of a coup taking place from the media. Of course, we were worried. We were worried first of all because we don’t want a military junta coming back to Turkey, this is something that is unacceptable and retrograde for the period we are going through. We were relieved that the coup failed and we were relieved that the democratically elected government prevailed. So this was our first reaction. We are worried when there is an army of 43,000 troops in Cyprus and when these troops, for a few hours, are without orders and nobody knows who was where and who was supporting who. So, of course, we were worried.

    • Did you go on high alert given that there are more than 40,000 Turkish troops stationed in northern Cyprus?

    We didn’t go on high alert. We didn’t want to make movements that would provoke the other side. We were very restrained. Yes, our national guard took some measures but they were the appropriate measures that didn’t cause any concern to the Turkish Cypriot side.

    • Did you speak with Turkish officials during or after the coup?

    During the coup we spoke unofficially with the Turkish Cypriot leadership. We exchanged news with them and informed them that the situation did not affect us.

    • Do you agree that the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey could actually be a further push for a settlement of the Cyprus problem as a way for the country to restore relations with the EU and the US?

    The negotiations in Cyprus between the leaders of the two communities have been going on with a steady form of progress all the time. Ideas always need to mature before they converge. The longer the talks last, the more risks that an extraneous event can take place, such as the fallout of the failed coup. But I must say that after the coup attempt there were meetings between President Anastasiades and Mr. Akinci that show that nothing has affected the talks themselves.

    The express wish of both leaders is to finish within 2016. Now let’s say that 95 or 98 per cent has been agreed and there remains something to go over to 2017, there is a problem if there is a stalemate and we don’t advance. We have been advancing so far.

    • Following the coup attempt, Cypriot officials have been reiterating that it is not possible for Turkey to a have a role in security and guarantees of a settlement agreement. What is your view of that?

    We have been saying this even before the coup attempt. We are saying that we seek a security system, following the agreement, that will make Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots feel equally secure. An arrangement that results in a symmetrical sense of security between the two communities. We must find a way that we both feel equally secure.

    • President Nicos Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci last week held their first discussions on territory, security and guarantees. The last time the issues were discussed at the negotiating table was in 2004. After a summer break, the leaders are expected to meet eight more times over the coming weeks, dedicating part of their discussions to these issues. Can we expect an agreement anytime soon?

    I think if we have the political will, we can reach an understanding on the territorial and security issues, which are the two issues that have not yet been discussed apart from a first examination of the matter. We can then see the end of the road more clearly. This is going to take place in the days and weeks to come. On the 14th of September, after seven meetings, the leaders will decide about the next steps. You begin with preliminary points of view from both sides and then you try to narrow the gaps and reach a convergence. It needs a little bit of time.

    • How is Cyprus handling the migrant crisis that is facing the EU and which has hit Greece the hardest in recent weeks?

    Cyprus is the closest EU state to Syria. Despite that, because we are an island, we were spared. We were not affected that much by the migrant crisis. We get a boat every now and again. But because we are an island, we are not very attractive to the migrants. The reason is that the migrants want to go to affluent countries of the EU; Germany, Sweden, etc. They don’t want to come to Cyprus because if they come here that means they will be stuck here. They are only entitled to political asylum and will have to remain in Cyprus. They cannot go far. The EU has decided a fair distribution of migrants to all members of state. For Cyprus, according to the formula, we are supposed to receive 500 people. We were asked twice to go and collect refugees belonging to those in mainland Europe, only six accepted to come. We were asked to go and get 129 migrants from Greece. As for the others, they didn’t want to come.

    • Italian oil and gas giant Eni has said it will start exploratory drilling off the south of Cyprus next year, following a meeting between the company’s boss and the Cypriot President. How will this affect Cyprus?

    You know very well that after the discovery in the Egyptian exclusive economic zone (EEZ), a new geological model was used by Eni for this discovery, which proved that there should be many more reserves of natural gas in the eastern Mediterranean, whether in the Egyptian EEZ, the Cypriot EEZ or the Israeli EEZ, leaving alone Lebanon which also has possible reserves. So a lot of companies have shown interest in drilling, including Eni for the three areas which have been assigned to them. A new competition for new blocks took place in Cyprus with very good results, interests of companies like Exxon Mobile, and a company associated with Qatar Petroleum, Total. So many companies have shown interest. Next year there will be an announcement of new concessions and an assignment of locations for companies. This is extremely important. Not just for the economic prospects that will come, but the future prosperity on this island will serve both communities in Cyprus and will be an additional factor on why we should be united, not divided.

    From March 2017 onwards, it’s up to the companies to decide. There is the option of pipelines which can go to Turkey if there is a solution to the problem of Cyprus. Then there is this project related to Greece. There is the LNG way to export through tankers, if you have an LNG power station. There are two in Egypt, waiting for us.

    • How does Egypt being a member of the UN Security Council for 2016-17 effect hopes over the Cyprus negotiations?

    It’s a great help with our cases in front of the Security Council twice a year. We get a tremendous help both at the UNSC but also at the OIC.

    • You also met with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit. How are Cypriot relations with the Arab League?

    Cyprus is a member of the EU and values very much the strategic dialogue between Europe and the Arab world. For us, the Arab world is the closest group of countries and the obvious essential partner in working together. Visiting the Secretary-General of the Arab League was important to reiterate our friendship, our support of areas of cooperation between the EU and the Arab League, but also to explain to him the strategic opening of Cyprus, the strategic foreign policy of Cyprus, in reaching all the Arab countries.

    • There is a new UAE embassy in Cyprus. Is this the start of a new era in relations with the GCC?

    As you know we have resident embassies in Cyprus from Kuwait and Oman, and now the UAE. Saudi Arabia sent letters of credence from Athens last year.

    We have an embassy in Riyadh, in Kuwait, in the UAE and Oman. And of course you know King Abdullah II is visiting Cyprus on the 6th. There is a full range of diplomatic activity and improvement of relations with all the GCC and Arab countries of the region. There are twelve Arab embassies in Cyprus including Syria and Libya.

    • When will there be a Saudi embassy in Cyprus?
    I look forward to having the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Cyprus soon and the Saudi flag flying in the skies of our country.

    The Minister of Foreign Affairs’ Curriculum Vitae:

    Ioannis Kasoulides was born on the 10th of August 1948, in Nicosia.

    He studied Medicine at the University of Lyon in France and specialised in Geriatrics in London. He participated in the May ‘68 student demonstrations and founded and chaired the Federation of Cypriot Students’ Union in France.

    Ioannis Kasoulides served the centre-right wing party Democratic Rally from various posts, including the post of the President of the Youth Organization of the Party. In 1991 he was elected as Member of the House of Representatives.

    When Glafkos Clerides won the Presidential Election in March 1993 he was appointed Government Spokesman, a position in which he served until April 1997 when he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs until the end of term of Clerides’ administration in February 2003.

    During his term as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ioannis Kasoulides led the diplomatic effort that marked the beginning and the completion of the accession negotiations of Cyprus to the European Union.

    In June 2004 Ioannis Kasoulides was elected for the first time as Member of the European Parliament achieving an outstanding vote record. He was appointed full member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and under this capacity he served in various positions, including the Presidency of the ad hoc Committee for Human Rights in Western Sahara. He also served as member of the Bureau of the European People’s Party (EPP).

    Mr Kasoulides ran for President in the February 2008 elections in Cyprus. He won the first round, entering the run-off election against the eventual winner, Mr Demetris Christofias. Mr Kasoulides received just under 47% of the vote, having the support of the Democratic Rally only.

    In June 2009 Ioannis Kasoulides was re-elected as Member of the European Parliament, breaking his previous outstanding record for the number of votes. He was elected Vice President of the EPP group of the European Parliament, and was appointed Head of the Foreign Affairs working group. He was re-elected in the same position in 2012.

    Ioannis Kasoulides is fluent in English, French and German. He is the author of the book “Cyprus – EU: The accession as I witnessed it”.

    He is married to the doctor, Anaesthesiologist Mrs Emy Kasoulidou and they have a daughter, Joanna.

    Mr Kasoulides assumed office as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus on 1st March 2013.

    The four resident embassies in Cyprus: UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar

    (english.aawsat.com)

  • Egypt Hosts Five Million Refugees: Foreign Ministry

    Egypt Hosts Five Million Refugees: Foreign Ministry

    ΓενικάEgypt’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Hisham Badr told European Union Members of Parliament (MEPs) that Egypt now hosts five million refugees and migrants from across the region.

    Blaming the EU-Turkey deal for an increase in the number of refugees arriving in Egypt, Badr said that pressure has increased on Egypt to accommodate for refugees and to prevent others from attempting the dangerous crossing to Europe.

    “You see what has happened as a result of the deal with Turkey. The closing of the Balkan route and the deal in north Africa, the pressure has increased on Egypt,” said Badr, according to the EU Observer. The EU-Turkey deal saw the EU provide billions of dollars in aid in return for Turkey stopping the flow of migration to Europe and accepting refugees.

    Badr also told MEPs from the foreign affairs committee that it had prevented more than 5,000 people from crossing the Mediterranean in recent months, including 400 people just days ago.

    “We will continue of course to do our jobs and bear our responsibility without trying, unlike certain other countries, to bargain with that for other reasons,” said Badr, adding that Egypt spends $US 300 million a year as a result of the refugee crisis.

    Badr also revealed that there are currently 500,000 Syrians seeking refuge in Syria.

    “We are not getting enough support. I don’t want to mention any examples with a country bordering you, which has got 6 billion dollars in help,” continued Badr in reference to Turkey.

    Along with Syrians, Egypt hosts hundreds of thousands of Somalis, Eritreans, Sudanese, Libyans, and more.

    (egyptianstreets.com)

  • Cyprus-Egypt pipe deal opens door for East Med gas

    Cyprus-Egypt pipe deal opens door for East Med gas

    ΟικονομίαCyprus has signed a deal to build a pipeline to supply Egypt with natural gas once production starts from the Aphrodite field located offshore the Mediterranean island.

    The agreement sets the political framework for additional commercial agreements, Cyprus’ Energy Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis and Egypt’s Petroleum Minister Tarek el-Molla said.

    Asked if this gas will also be exported to Europe and other markets, Constantinos Filis, director of research at Institute of International Relations, told New Europe this depends on the agreements that will be made by the Consortium that will take over.

    Italian energy major ENI is developing Egypt’s massive offshore Zohr field where exploration activities yielded positive results. “If Zhor field proves efficient to cover Egypt’s growing internal consumption, then any further quantities concentrated in Egypt will probably going to be exported,” Filis said, adding that in that case, the natural gas will be transported in the form of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which makes the European market, in contrast to the Asian one, of the most attractive options.

    Filis said the agreement to build a pipeline between Cyprus and Egypt would probably affect the East Med pipeline. He added, however, that the East Med project anyway was a low priority.

    “However, East Med can be materialised with Israeli gas alone. But the Cypriot side, as it realised that the Vassilikos LNG plan [in Cyprus] could not been realised, logically turned to the most ‘obvious’ option, given that Egypt hosts two LNG facilities that do not need lots of money and time in re-operating. Of course, the political risk is high, given Cairo’s authoritarian regime struggle to stabilise internally and the danger of extremist elements, which are emerging in the country and the concomitant terrorist resurgence. So, Nicosia should develop more alternatives for exporting its gas,” Fillis said, adding that he encouraging news is that new energy finds in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) are underway.

    According to Lakkotrypis, the first gas through the Cyprus-Egypt gas pipeline should be completed sometime between 2020 and 2022.

    Cyprus, Egypt and Greece are already planning to expand energy cooperation. Nicosia and Athens are in separate talks on strengthening energy ties with Tel Aviv.

    Asked if the Cyprus-Egypt deal means that a pipeline across Turkey for Med gas seems even more distant, Filis told New Europe that in his view there is no pipeline across Turkey but rather to Turkey. Using Turkish soil for transporting gas from the Mediterranean is a very problematic scenario, not least in terms of cost – due to the need for building new infrastructure connecting the southern with the north-western part of the country – but also with regard to the dangers stemming from the fragile internal environment and its gradual alienation from the West, Filis said.

    “In any case, since we are not talking about huge quantities – based on nowadays discoveries – in the wider region, the latter cannot feed many projects/markets at the same time. But again, the defining factor is Israel, as the more mature producer, and Egypt because of Zhor field and to a lesser extent Cyprus,” Filis said.

    (www.neweurope.eu)

  • Winners announced in the Science City Competition in Egypt

    Winners announced in the Science City Competition in Egypt

    ΓενικάWeston Williamson + Partners, a design firm from the United Kingdom under the direction of Philip Turner, has been awarded First Place in the recently concluded single phase, open, international competition for a “Master Plan and Conceptual Design of the Science City,” to be located in 6th of October City near Cairo.

    The competition was launched on 15 April 2016 to find the comprehensive plan and design for a complex dedicated to science and to research.  The configuration of spaces is intended to be both a landmark for the 6th of October City and a symbol of the rebirth of the study of science in Egypt.

    The Jury unanimously selected the winning project out of 145 entries from 45 countries on the basis of its “subtle but rich design,” using “a multitude of umbrella-like, circular canopies of various sizes, supported by single columns, providing a symbolic, ‘column-scape’ and an upper terrace elegantly shadowed by artificial clouds,” which also provide “opportunities for water harvesting and solar energy collection.”  The project can be completed in three stages, starting from the central section and growing as wings, thus furnishing a “rational and workable” design solution.

    The Jury attributed three prizes and four Honourable Mentions:

    • Second Prize to Dr. Lim Teng Ngiom of Ngiom Partnership (Malaysia)
    • Third Prize to Marcella Fedele of Zaha Hadid Architects(United Kingdom)
    • Fourth Prize to Taijip Kim of Gansam Architects & Partners Co., Ltd. (Republic of Korea)

    Honourable Mentions were awarded to

    • Petras Architecture, XCON Housos (Greece)
    • Joaquim Caetano de Lima Filho, Daniel Henrique Ribeiro, Giliarde Silva and Guilherme Oliveira (Brazil)
    • whitespace architects (United Arab Emirates)
    • Francisco Jorquera (Spain).

    The UIA endorsed this competition and was represented on the jury by Greek architect and UIA Council Member Nikos Fintikakis.

    (www.uia.archi)

  • Egyptian researchers discover a way to grow forests in the desert with sewage

    Egyptian researchers discover a way to grow forests in the desert with sewage

    ΓενικάDesertification is a major issue throughout Africa, but there’s a simple way to stop the spread of deserts into fertile land: planting forests. The problem is that in the regions hardest hit by the phenomenon, there simply isn’t enough clean water to properly nurture the trees and keep them healthy. But an innovative project in Egypt proves that it can be done using repurposed wastewaterinstead of tapping into the sparse fresh water supply. The trees grown in the forest are thriving, and in fact, the eucalyptus trees have been found to produce wood at four times the rate of pine plantations in Germany.

    Located about two hours from Cairo, the Serapium forest is part of a program initiated by the Egyptian government in the 90s. The 200-hectare plantation is home to a variety of native and non-native trees, including commercially valuable species like eucalyptus and mahogany. Though the soil in this area would normally be too devoid of nutrients to support new tree growth, researchers have found that by watering the trees with sewage effluent, the plants are able to flourish. The wastewater provides so many nutrients that additional fertilizer isn’t even necessary.

    Related: The Great Green Wall of Africa could fight desertification and poverty

    The sewage used to water these trees is at stage two in the treatment process. In the first stage, mechanical filters are used to remove dirt and garbage from the water. In the second stage, oxygen and microbes are added to decompose the organic material in the water. This leaves a fluid rich in phosphates and nitrogen, a mixture similar to that found in commercial fertilizers.

    Normally, this wouldn’t be used to water crops – the amount of fertilizers in the water would be excessive for some plants, and the bacteria in the water could potentially contaminate fruits and vegetables. However, in areas where nothing is grown for human consumption, it’s perfectly safe to use.

    In as few as 15 years, the trees in the plantation are ready to harvest with a production of 350 cubic meters of wood per hectare. By contrast, German pines would take around 60 years to reach the same level of production. So not only are the plantations helping Egypt retain its fertile land, but they’re also producing a valuable natural resource which would otherwise need to be imported from other nations.

    Related: South African insurance company backs tree-planting effort to reduce effects of drought

    It’s estimated that a whopping 650,000 hectares of the Egyptian desert could be converted to wood production if the country were to use 80% of its effluent for the cause. Right now, however, Egypt isn’t even close – and that’s primarily due to a lack of funding. However, it’s possible the nation might be able to use money from the UN’s Green Climate Fund or through private forestry companies.

    (inhabitat.com)

  • Distillerie ZOTTOS: A Greek Family Affair

    Distillerie ZOTTOS: A Greek Family Affair

    ΙστορίαIn 1984 I rented an apartment in the Cairo district of Mounira, just off Kasr el Aini Street in the center of the city. There was a small grocery store near my flat called Blue Nile. Today a Coptic family owns the store, but back then I believe it was still owned by its original Greek proprietors. I used to go there often because the store reminded me of my time in Greece. Blue Nile sold Greek Feta cheese, yoghurt, dolmades, pita bread and other Greek specialties. Beside food they sold beer, wine and spirits, some which still had the original Greek labels. Gianaclis, Bolanachi and Zottos were just a few brand names that were reminiscent of a once thriving beverage industry dominated by Egypt’s Greek community.

    The Greeks have had a long and vibrant history in Egypt. The first wave came during antiquity and, since then, the community has maintained a presence, though not always a great one. The largest influx in modern times came at the beginning of the nineteenth century, during the rise of the Mohammed Ali dynasty. Mohammed Ali Pasha’s obsession with turning Egypt into a modern country in European standards opened the doors to Greeks and other foreigners. Since the Egyptian proletariat was largely made up of farmers, it was unable to meet the sudden need for skilled labor, managers, entrepreneurs and merchants. A large number of people from across the Ottoman Empire and Europe flocked to Egypt seeking to fill these new work opportunities. It was only natural for the Greeks to settle in Alexandria, the port city named after their most famous compatriot.

    The following exhibition is taken from a photo album created to showcase the Zottos distillery in the 1930s. Studio Ververis in Alexandria, Egypt, photographed the album.

    The exhibition: www.photorientalist.org/exhibitions/distillerie-zottos-a-greek-family-affair/photographs

    (www.photorientalist.org)

  • Grand Egyptian Museum construction to be completed by the end of 2016

    Grand Egyptian Museum construction to be completed by the end of 2016

    ΠολιτισμόςThe Ministry of Antiquities is planning to finish construction of the first phase of the Grand Egyptian Museum before 2016’s end.

    The ministry aims to have the museum partially-opened by mid-2017, keeping in mind several suggestions to increase its resources. According to dailynewsegypt.com, the Minister of Antiquities, Khaled El-Anany has discussed new sources of revenue for the ministry, such as offering package ticket deals to tourists, which include several archeological sites at discounted rates.

    El-Anany also mentioned that the ministry is promoting Egyptian antiquities globally through media, as well as opening new archeological sites and several other museums and palaces that have been shut down in 2011. Prime examples of such are the Pyramid Complex of Unas in Saqqara and the Tombs of Nefertari in Luxor. Ticket prices have also been lowered for tourist groups.

    As for the Egyptian Museum, the ministry plans on keeping it in full operation even after the opening of the new Grand Egyptian Museum, on account of only some of its monuments being transferred to the new one.

    (www.traveldailynews.com)

  • Egypt Government Approves Five Oil And Gas Exploration Deals

    Egypt Government Approves Five Oil And Gas Exploration Deals

    ΑίγυπτοςEgypt’s government has approved five oil and gas drilling and exploration agreements with foreign companies, Petroleum Minister Tarek El Molla said on Wednesday.

    Once an energy exporter, Egypt has turned into a net importer because of declining oil and gas production and increasing consumption. It is trying to speed up production at recent discoveries to fill its energy gap as soon as possible.

    Four of the deals are offshore Mediterranean gas exploration and drilling agreements between Egypt’s state gas board EGAS and BP, Eni, Total, and Edison.

    The fifth deal, which is an oil drilling deal in the Gulf of Suez, is between state petroleum board EGPC and local company Trident Petroleum.

    Egypt currently produces about 3.9 billion cubic feet of gas per day and imports another 1-1.1 billion cubic feet per day.

    (www.rigzone.com)

  • Bronze medal for Egypt in Taekwondo

    Bronze medal for Egypt in Taekwondo

    ΑίγυπτοςHedaya Malak won a bronze medal after defeating Belgium’s Raheleh Asemani in the women’s 57kg event. This marked the first time an Egyptian (and Arab) woman has won a medal in Taekwondo.

  • Prime minister, foreign minister meet with Cypriot foreign affairs minister

    Prime minister, foreign minister meet with Cypriot foreign affairs minister

    ΚασουλίδηςPrime Minister Sherif Ismail met with Cypriot minister of foreign affairs loannis Kasoulidis early on Tuesday in the presence of Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and Cyprus’ ambassador in Egypt to discuss bilateral relations, according to a statement from the prime minister’s spokesperson Hossam Qawesh.

    During the meeting, Ismail pointed out the depth of Egyptian-Cypriot relations, confirming that recently these have developed significantly through enhancements in joint cooperation between both countries.

    The prime minister stressed the necessity of supporting and advancing cooperation between both countries, especially in energy discovery and natural gas extraction fields, which were at the forefront of their discussions. During the meeting, Ismail referenced scheduling an appointment for the Egyptian minister of petroleum to visit Cyprus to discuss strengthening cooperation in this area.

    Ismail further praised Cyprus’ international efforts, confirming that Egypt will continue supporting it to solve its issues in accordance with a United Nations decision.

    According to the statement, the Egyptian prime minister discussed Egypt’s ongoing preparations for the Egyptian-Greek-Cypriot tripartite summit, which will be held in Cairo this year. The summit will be used to develop mechanisms of the joint trilateral cooperation between the countries.

    Regarding insurance dues of former Egyptian employees in Cyprus, the Cypriot foreign minister suggested allocating an additional amount during the current year to pay those dues.

    The officials also reviewed and agreed on several procedures, which include the establishment of olive tree plantations in the Sinai and fish farms off the coast of Egypt, as well as work on activate yacht tourism and tourism programmes shared between the two countries.

    (www.dailynewsegypt.com)