Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday described the tripartite energy meeting in Nicosia between him and the leaders of Cyprus and Greece as one “of historical importance.”
The three leaders have agreed to implement the Nicosia declaration which provides for the energy linking of Cyprus, Israel and Greece through a pipeline and an underwater cable.
The meetings began with Cyprus holding bilateral discussions with delegations from Greece and Israel separately, followed by a meeting between the three leaders, President Nicos Anastasiades, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, and Netanyahu, and later on a tripartite conference got underway.
The signed declaration said: “We have agreed to work closely together promoting joint projects, which will enhance the security of energy supply.
“We invite neighbouring countries to explore possible synergies which can be implemented by working collectively on a regional basis.”
Great discussion today on range of topics w @netanyahu and @atsipras. Important friends and partners in region #Security #Energy #Cyprusprob
— Nicos Anastasiades (@AnastasiadesCY) January 28, 2016
It also said that the three leaders have decided the establishment of a Permanent Ministerial Committee on Energy in order to consider strategic and practical aspects of joint action in the field of energy cooperation. “Following the adoption of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, we reaffirm our commitment to explore avenues of cooperation in the sphere of renewable energy through joint green-tech programs, in particular in the fields of solar energy, energy efficiency, fuel options for transportation and smart grids.”
The full declaration
“We, Nikos Anastasiades, President of the Republic of Cyprus, Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of the State of Israel, and Alexis Tsipras, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, having met in Nicosia today, 28th January 2016, have agreed to strengthen the cooperation between our three countries in order to promote a trilateral partnership in different fields of common interest and to work together towards promoting peace, stability, security and prosperity in the Mediterranean and the wider region.
In light of the underlying challenges and opportunities, and given the fluid and unstable situation in the region, our three countries, which share common democratic values, principles, and interests, have, to this end, agreed on the importance for closer cooperation and a coordinated set of policies.
Our partnership is not exclusive in design or nature, and we are ready to welcome other like-minded actors to join our efforts to promote coordination and cooperation, as well as regional peace and stability.
We agree to work closely together with a view to strengthening our cooperation on common projects, involving both public and private actors. In particular, we are examining practical means of cooperating and implementing joint projects and synergies in the fields of energy, tourism, research and technology, environment, water management, combating terrorism, and migration.
בניקוסיה, לפני פגישה עם נשיא קפריסין, ניקוס אנסטסיאדיס. pic.twitter.com/cx7AS6fHb2 — Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 28, 2016
Furthermore, we are exploring potential collaboration in a wide array of other fields, including agriculture, forestation, joint fire-fighting efforts, environmental protection including marine pollution, joint emergency response to natural disasters, exchange of information in emergency situations, joint search and rescue exercises, health, management of epidemics, joint scientific projects, development of renewable energy technologies, education, communications and trilateral roaming agreements, and commercial shipping.
The discovery of important hydrocarbon reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean can serve as a catalyst for peace, stability and cooperation in the region. To this end, the three countries view the energy sector, and in particular, natural gas and renewable energy, as a solid foundation for cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean basin.
We consider that trilateral energy projects, such as the “EuroAsia Interconnector”, are of strategic importance as they will create a mutually beneficial relationship between the energy markets of Israel and Cyprus with those of continental Europe. In addition, we express our strong support to the export of Eastern Mediterranean gas to continental Europe.
In this context, we reiterate our readiness to further explore projects such as the “EastMed Pipeline”. We have agreed to work closely together promoting joint projects, which will enhance the security of energy supply. We invite neighbouring countries to explore possible synergies which can be implemented by working collectively on a regional basis.
The three leaders have decided the establishment of a Permanent Ministerial Committee on Energy in order to consider strategic and practical aspects of joint action in the field of energy cooperation.
Following the adoption of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, we reaffirm our commitment to explore avenues of cooperation in the sphere of renewable energy through joint green-tech programs, in particular in the fields of solar energy, energy efficiency, fuel options for transportation and smart grids.
In addition, the three countries acknowledge the importance of tourism and the vast potential for a comprehensive collaboration towards encouraging the influx of tourists to the region by offering joint packages, including cruises and religious, medical and other thematic tourism. We agree to explore ways of sharing information and know-how in order to support local small tourism businesses, joint initiatives and more. The three competent Ministers agree to meet and examine the various facets.
We remain steadfastly committed to working together towards the enhancement of the bilateral relations between the European Union and Israel in areas of mutual interest and concern.
We stress the importance of the Euro-Mediterranean cooperation for the countries of the region. On the occasion of the 21st anniversary of the Barcelona Declaration, we welcome the role the Union for the Mediterranean can play to this end, as reflected in the EU Joint Communication on the Review of the European Neighbourhood Policy of 18th November 2015.
We acknowledge the grave dangers posed by terrorism, both regionally and globally, and have agreed to continue joining forces with the international community to tackle this challenge. We strongly and unequivocally condemn all terrorist actions and call upon all States to confront this menace also through closer security cooperation. In light of the above, we have agreed to enhance our cooperation in this sphere by initiating trilateral dialogue between our competent Authorities. Efforts to curb the flow of foreign fighters, restrict financial and military support to terrorist groups, and counter extremist propaganda should intensify. Incitement to violence should be condemned and stopped.
On the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day on 27th January, the leaders paid homage to those perished during the Holocaust and condemned without reserve all manifestations of religious intolerance, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, incitement, harassment or violence against persons or communities based on ethnic origin or religious belief, wherever they occur.
We underline our willingness to join efforts for the protection of antiquities and for the preservation and development of historical and archaeological sites, aiming at safeguarding the historical memory of our peoples and the common heritage of mankind, as well as our readiness to cooperate for the protection of underwater cultural heritage and to promote such cooperation with neighbouring countries in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Trilateral meeting of #Cyprus #Israel and #Greece. New era in the relations of our countries. pic.twitter.com/4ary3clh33
— Nicos Anastasiades (@AnastasiadesCY) January 28, 2016
The ongoing turmoil in our neighbourhood has triggered unprecedented migratory flows that pose a challenge that can be met only by multilateral action that addresses the conditions that create these migratory flows, through comprehensive and holistic planning and strategies. It should address ways to ending hostilities, eradicating poverty and improving livelihoods through development. We are also committed to combating smuggling of people and reiterate our readiness to contribute to efforts designed to address the humanitarian aspects of the unfolding refugee crisis, in close cooperation with all concerned countries and actors.
We express our full and unwavering support to the ongoing negotiation process, under the United Nations Good Office Mission, for a just, comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem, based on international law and the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. Such a solution, 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, through Cyprus’ independent foreign policy.
The Governments express their hope that the resumption of negotiations of the MEPP will conclude in a just and lasting solution.
We are convinced of the strategic nature and necessity of our trilateral cooperation and will continue working closely in order to realize its full potential, to the benefit of our countries and peoples, and to the wider region.
In this regard, we endorse the establishment of a Trilateral Steering Committee, which held its first official meeting earlier today, and which is tasked with identifying priorities, as well as overseeing and coordinating the implementation of our joint projects.
The three leaders have agreed that the next trilateral Summit will be held in Israel in the second half of 2016.
(Photos by Stefanos Kouratzis)
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