Abdullah bin Zayed inaugurates new UAE Embassy in Cyprus

13/07/2016

NICOSIA: H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and Nicos Anastasiades, President of the Republic of Cyprus, on Monday opened the new UAE Embassy headquarters in the Cypriot capital, Nicosia.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and the Cypriot President raised the UAE flag outside the building and unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark its official opening.

Speaking on the occasion, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah said that the opening of the embassy demonstrates the UAE Government's interest and confidence in Cyprus, and the need to move forward in developing bilateral relations.

The UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed his delight at both the opening of the embassy and the UAE Government's appreciation for the outstanding role played by the Cypriot President in promoting the march of progress and development.

President Anastasiades in turn expressed his pleasure at attending the opening of the new embassy headquarters, which, he said, would help support communication between the two countries and maintain their strong and distinguished bilateral relations.

The president went on to emphasise the strength of those relations, saying that it was one of the first countries in the EU to express full support for exempting all UAE Nationals from the Schengen visa requirements.

Pres. Anastasiades wished the first UAE Ambassador to Cyprus, Abdulawahab Nasser Al Najjar, great success in his mission.

Cypriot President receives Abdullah bin Zayed to discuss issues of common concern

13/07/2016

NICOSIA: Nicos Anastasiades, President of the Republic of Cyprus, yesterday received H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and his accompanying delegation, to review bilateral cooperation and friendship relations and ways of developing them in various fields to serve mutual interests. The Cypriot President and H.H. Sheikh Abdullah also exchanged views on their respective country's position on a number of regional and international issues.

At the outset of the meeting, which was held at the presidential palace in the capital, Nicosia, Sheikh Abdullah conveyed the greetings of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan to President Anastasiades, wishing Cyprus and its people further progress and prosperity.

The Cypriot President reciprocated greetings to President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa, and stressed his country's keenness to strengthen the bonds of bilateral relations with the UAE.

During the meeting, the UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs hailed the strong relations between the two countries, which he said are a result of the support and keenness of both leaderships to develop them in various fields.

He stressed that the UAE supports reconciliation efforts in Cyprus.

He also stressed the keenness of the UAE to extend the bridges of communication for cultural and economic cooperation with various states and peoples, as part of its open policy approach to bolster economic and human development, and achieve a peaceful coexistence among the people of all nations.

Abdullah bin Zayed reviews bilateral relations with Cypriot counterpart

13/07/2016

NICOSIA: Speaking at a news conference in the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, yesterday expressed his delight at the official opening of the permanent headquarters of the UAE Embassy in Cyprus, saying that it is another step forward in developing bilateral relations between the two countries.

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah added that UAE-Cypriot relations continue to develop in various ways including in the economic, trade, tourism and aviation fields.

Sheikh Abdullah also thanked Cyprus for being the first member of the European Union to support efforts to exempt UAE nationals from the Schengen visa, noting that the UAE was the first Arab country to receive the privilege.

He said, "Since my last visit to Cyprus and until this day, bilateral relations between our countries have been heading in the right direction." The UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs also expressed pride on behalf of the UAE government for Dubai Ports, DP World, landing the opportunity to manage large-scale projects in Cyprus, highlighting their confidence with its services.

Meanwhile, in a meeting held at the headquarters of the Foreign Ministry of Cyprus, Sheikh Abdullah and Cypriot Foreign Minister, Ioannis Kasoulides, met to discuss bilateral relations and ways of boosting them in various fields. They also exchanged political views and positions regarding a number of regional and international issues of common concern.

The UAE Minister stressed the importance of such exchange visits between UAE and Cypriot officials, within the framework of boosting bilateral cooperation and reviewing developmental programmes, as well as the levels of progress and development in the two countries. He also stressed the keenness of the UAE to bolster its cooperation with Cyprus.

Mr Kasoulides commended the developments witnessed by the UAE in all fields, stressing his country's keenness to strengthen the bonds of relations with the UAE.

He also praised the UAE for being an influential moderate diplomatic force, and for its prominent role in the Arab and Islamic world, the region, and beyond.

The Cypriot Minister reiterated the importance of cooperation in combatting extremism and terrorism in various moderate countries in the region. "There is a strong determination by both our countries to cooperate not only on the bilateral level, but also on the political level in our region, especially in light of the recent increase in terrorist activities by Daesh and other organisations."