Press release regarding the Foreign Minister's visit to Madrid and London
The Foreign Minister, Mr. Ioannis Kasoulides, departs today for Madrid where he will participate in the MED 9 Ministerial Meeting.
The main purpose of the meeting is the preparation of the upcoming MED 9 Heads of State Summit that will take place this autumn. In this context, the Foreign and European Affairs Ministers will exchange views on the lessons learned from the Covid 19 pandemic and will assess how the EU has dealt with the pandemic. Furthermore, the effects of the war in Ukraine will be discussed in the wake of the ongoing Russian invasion and its complications, such as the food crisis, energy supply, etc. In addition, ways to strengthen the EU's partnership policy with Southern Neighborhood countries will be discussed in order to ensure the prosperity, stability and environmental sustainability of the region. Finally, views will be exchanged on the subject of the EU's Migration and Asylum Pact.
Before the start of the meeting, Mr. Kasoulides will meet bilaterally as part of a working breakfast with the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jose Manuel Albares Bueno with whom they will review bilateral relations, the Cyprus issue as well as other current European and bilateral issues of common interest.
On the evening of Tuesday, July 12, Mr. Kasoulides will travel to London, where on Wednesday, July 13 he will participate as a keynote speaker at an event in the House of Commons, which is organized by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Cyprus, in collaboration with the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK. On Thursday, July 14, the Foreign Minister will attend a dinner organized by the Youth of the World Federation of Cypriot Expatriates UK, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of its establishment.
During his presence in London, Mr. Kasoulides will be received by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, while he will meet with the Chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Tom Tugendhat and the Archbishop of Thyatira and Great Britain, Mr. Nikitas. Finally, the Foreign Minister will participate in a round table discussion at the Chatham House think tank, and will hold contacts and meetings with British government officials.
The Foreign Minister will return to Cyprus on Friday, July 15.