Cyprus and Greece are expected to cover a wide agenda on Wednesday during the second Intergovernmental Summit between the leaders of the two countries, government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Tuesday.
The Cyprus issue, the digital transition, labour cooperation and social policy, education, health, shipping, culture and defence will be on the table for President Nikos Christodoulides and Greek Prime Minister Kyriacos Mitsotakis, the spokesman said.
Ministers from both governments will participate in the wider summit.
Asked whether the issue of Cyprus’ joining Nato would be discussed as part of the intergovernmental summit, the spokesman said the island had set as a goal the upgrading “as much as possible” its defence programme
“It is something that was also discussed during the recent meeting between our president and the president of the US, namely the strengthening of cooperation in the defence and security sectors,” Letymbiotis said.
Christodoulides reportedly presented a plan of Cyprus’ possible future accession to Nato to US President Joe Biden at their meeting on October 30 at the White House.
“What we have set as our goal is to achieve as much as possible the harmonisation of our country’s defence plans with an organisation or with the member states of an organisation, such as Nato, whether this concerns the training of our personnel or the adoption of protocols or the way in which our armaments programme progresses.
He added that the position of Turkey, a Nato member, was known.
The intergovernmental summit will be the first important event of the day, the spokesman said. The second will be the trilateral meeting between Cyprus, Greece and Jordan immediately afterwards.
Following the intergovernmental summit, Christodoulides will welcome King Abdullah II of Jordan at the presidential palace and participate with Mitsotakis in the fourth trilateral meeting between the three countries.
The last one was in Athens in 2021.
The three leaders will review progress since then and set new goals in various areas of common interest and a private meeting which will be followed by a working lunch for their respective delegations.
Regional developments, the Cyprus issue and EU-Jordan relations will be among the main topics of discussion as well as migration, the provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and energy.
Also under review will be the long-standing proposal to create a permanent secretariat for the coordination of trilateral mechanisms based in Cyprus.
Memoranda of understanding are expected to be signed between the three countries in the fields of education, water management and investment.
“Cyprus attaches great importance to the trilateral mechanisms that it has developed on its own initiative with states with which it shares common principles and values, and which aim to create stability and prosperity in the region,” Letymbiotis said.
“The two summits constitute tangible proof that Cyprus is a stabilising factor and a reliable regional partner and, together with other states in the region, promotes security and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean,” Letymbiotis told journalists.
