“We had the opportunity for a broader overview of regional developments. The issue of the Cypriot found its place in our declaration”, stressed Mr Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his statements after MED9, in Paphos.

He added: “I will also repeat my joy at the participation of the King of Jordan in this meeting of ours. Jordan: a country of stability in the wider Middle East region, which needs more European support. And let me repeat the great importance we all attach to the conclusion of a strategic cooperation agreement between the European Union and Jordan.”

Regarding the developments in Middle Eastsaid:

“It is sad, possibly tragic, that we are here, in Cyprus, the member state of the European Union, which is closest to the crisis, which is unfortunately escalating in the Middle East. An escalation which at this moment is unfortunately also testing the people of Lebanon. Let me add my own voice to the call for an immediate ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza, where unfortunately the humanitarian disaster has reached nightmarish proportions. From the first moment, Greece condemned Iran’s attacks against Israel, as they contribute to the dangerous escalation of tension and increase the risks for a regional stability. On the other hand, we also call for restraint at this time, so that South Lebanon does not turn into a new Gaza. It will be a great new humanitarian tragedy, which the wider region cannot bear.”

And he added:

“We also discussed quite detailed issues that have to do with European competitiveness, but also issues that have to do with immigration. And we also recognized the fact that all Mediterranean countries are unfortunately at the forefront of the climate crisis. Consequently, our coordination in dealing with these phenomena is even more imperative.

Finally, we had the opportunity to do a broader overview of regional developments and I want to express my satisfaction in turn, dear Nikos (Christodoulidis), because the issue of Cyprus, 50 years after the invasion and occupation of more than one third of Cyprus by the Turkish forces, found its place in our declaration.

And let me in turn welcome the informal tripartite meeting under the Secretary-General of the United Nations and express my expectation that this meeting will bring the resumption of negotiations with the aim of a solution based on the resolutions of the Security Council, in the International law, in the European acquis.

You know well, my dear Nikos, that Greece will always be a helper in your efforts. Finally, 50 years after the Turkish invasion, we can achieve this long-awaited solution.

So let me thank you again, my dear Niko, for the hospitality and for the very meaningful discussion we had and to repeat my belief that this scheme of Mediterranean states still has a lot to give, especially now that we have also acquired a commissioner from Croatia which will deal exclusively with the issues of the Mediterranean”.

Here is the prime minister’s full speech:

Thank you, my dear Nikos, for the excellent hospitality here in beautiful Paphos, at the 11th Summit of the MED-9 initiative.

I would also like to thank you for the comprehensible and excellent way in which you summarized the conclusions of our joint consultations, which are also reflected in the coherent declaration, which refers to all the issues we discussed.

Very shortly and without repeating what has been said, let me also express my joy for the participation of the King of Jordan in this meeting of ours, Jordan, a country that is a factor of stability in the wider Middle East region, which needs more European support. And let me repeat the great importance we all attach to the conclusion of a strategic cooperation agreement between the European Union and Jordan.

Now, in terms of the latest developments in the Middle East, it is sad, perhaps tragic, that we are here in Cyprus, the European Union member state closest to the crisis, which is unfortunately escalating in the Middle East. An escalation which at this moment, unfortunately, is also testing the people of Lebanon.

Let me add my own voice to the call for an immediate ceasefire, both in Lebanon and in Gaza, where unfortunately the humanitarian disaster has reached nightmarish proportions.

Greece has from the outset condemned Iran’s attacks against Israel as they contribute to the dangerous escalation of tension and increase risks to regional stability.

On the other hand, however, we also call for restraint at this time, so that southern Lebanon does not turn into a new Gaza. It will be a great, new humanitarian tragedy, which the wider region cannot bear.

We discussed, quite detailed, issues that have to do with European competitiveness, but also issues that have to do with immigration.

We also recognized the fact that all Mediterranean countries are, unfortunately, at the forefront of the climate crisis. Consequently, our coordination in dealing with these phenomena is even more imperative.

Finally, we had the opportunity to do a broader overview of regional developments.

I also want to express my satisfaction, dear Nikos, because the Cypriot issue, 50 years after the invasion and occupation of more than a third of Cyprus by the Turkish forces, found its place in our declaration.

Let me, in turn, welcome the informal tripartite meeting under the Secretary-General of the United Nations and express my expectation that this meeting will bring the resumption of negotiations, with the aim of a solution based on the resolutions of the Security Council, in the International Law, in the European acquis.

You know well, my dear Nikos, that Greece will always be a helper in your efforts, finally, 50 years after the Turkish invasion, to be able to achieve this much-desired solution.

So let me thank you again, my dear Nikos, for the hospitality and for the very meaningful discussion we had and to repeat my belief that this scheme of Mediterranean states still has a lot to give, especially now that we have also acquired a Commissioner from Croatia, which will deal exclusively with Mediterranean issues.