The discussions of the leaders of the Trilateral Summit, Greece – Cyprus – Israel, focused on strengthening further cooperation in all key sectors from energy, defense to tourism, while the issue of the growing need for energy connectivity due to geopolitical developments aimed at creating a reliable energy corridor from the Eastern Mediterranean basin to Europe.

In the context of the tripartite platform, the Joint Declaration of the Trilateral Summit, Greece – Cyprus – Israel, confirms the commitment of the three countries to continue strengthening their dynamic cooperation while reaffirming their commitment to welcome like-minded people in the effort to create and promote synergies, to benefit of the countries and peoples of the region.

The entire Joint Declaration of the Trilateral Summit, Greece – Cyprus – Israel:

We, Nikos Christodoulidis, 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 4, 2023, for the 9th Tripartite Summit between the countries us and reaffirmed our commitment to continue to strengthen the dynamic cooperation of our tripartite partnership platform. Our commitment reflects our shared values ​​and our ever-growing common interests, aiming to contribute to peace, stability, security and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region.

As emphasized on previous occasions, our three countries remain committed to welcoming other like-minded people in our determined effort to create and promote synergies, for the benefit of our countries and peoples, as well as our region.

We reviewed the progress achieved on a number of pillars of cooperation that have been developed in the eight years since the establishment of this tripartite forum and reaffirmed our aim to promote cooperation in key areas such as energy, defence, emergency response , the 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 respect for all States to exercise their rights in their respective EEZ/coastline.

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

Facing the global challenge of climate change, we agreed to strengthen our efforts through regional cooperative projects, R&D, innovative energy technologies and promoting further regional energy interconnections. Against the background of the recent fires in Greece and Cyprus, and taking into account the recent assistance provided by Israel, we reaffirm our mutual commitment to assist each other in responding to emergencies and to further strengthen our coordination and joint capabilities to this end.

We also reaffirmed the value of the 3+1 arrangement with the United States, which can deliver tangible deliverables in, inter alia, energy, the economy, climate action, emergency preparedness and counter-terrorism . It was agreed to work together to hold a 3+1 ministerial meeting later this year.

Given the positive momentum unleashed by the historic Abraham Accord and the new opportunities it created, we have explored ways of interlinking the work carried out in our tripartite platform with other regional schemes, including the Negev Forum.

Strengthening and widening the circle of peace between Israel and the Arab world, unthinkable just a few years ago, promises a more secure and prosperous region, and we are committed to encouraging and supporting this process.

Prime Minister Mitsotakis and Prime Minister Netanyahu were briefed by President Christodoulidis on the latest developments on the Cyprus issue and welcomed his initiative to include an enhanced EU role in efforts to restart negotiations. In this context, the three sides expressed their undivided support for a fair, comprehensive and sustainable solution to the Cyprus problem, based on international law and the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council.

They also expressed serious concern about recent actions in the no-fly zone near Pyla, taking into account the Security Council’s 21 August press statement on the matter. In this spirit, they underlined the need to avoid further unilateral or escalating actions that could increase tensions and harm settlement prospects.

We agreed that an arrangement reuniting the island, based on respect for democratic principles, human rights and fundamental freedoms of all Cypriots, would not only benefit the Cypriot people as a whole, but would also contribute significantly to the peace and stability of the area.

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 efforts to curb terrorism and hold accountable all those who promote and support it. The recent terrorist plots against Israeli and Jewish targets were encouraged by foreign actors aiming to destabilize the region. These malicious attempts were prevented 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 firm commitment to strengthening EU-Israel relations. We underlined the need to promote cooperation under the EU-Israel Association Agreement and the reconvening of the EU-Israel Association Council in the last quarter of this year.

We also noted the importance of the Aqaba and Sharm El Sheikh meetings and their decisive contribution to de-escalation and stability, as well as their potential to rebuild the confidence between the parties, which is necessary to promote a just and lasting peace .

We agreed that the next tripartite Summit will be held in Israel, during 2024