Press Remarks by Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos following his meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia (Yerevan, 7 March 2024)
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Dear Minister,
Dear Ararat,
Thank you for the warm welcome and generous hospitality, as well as for the substantive discussions.
This visit is the natural follow up of our frequent communications, and of our numerous meetings at various fora.
I am in Yerevan, to confirm the excellent level of our bilateral relations and to reaffirm our readiness and steadfast will to deepen our cooperation even further.
This is our joint obligation. It is founded on deeply rooted historical and cultural ties, that have been cultivated by generations of our ancestors.
Moreover, we have a shared history. Persecution, displacement, victims of aggression; all these we have suffered. And we continue to face existential threats. But we are resilient. And our peoples are survivors.
In this context, today we had the opportunity to have a fruitful and meaningful exchange of views on a range of issues.
We focused, in particular, on our bilateral relations, developments in the Caucasus region, Middle East, Ukraine, and EU – Armenia relations.
I would like to highlight (4) topics:
First, as I have already stated, Cyprus and Armenia are linked by traditional historical ties of friendship forged and nurtured over centuries.
The highly active Armenian community of Cyprus, has been the nexus between us, and an integral part of the Cypriot society.
Therefore, it gives me great pleasure to announce, that in the coming months, Cyprus will open a resident Embassy in Yerevan.
I would like to emphasize the importance of this development, as it will lead to the further enhancement and strengthening of our bilateral cooperation in all sectors.
I am looking forward to the opening of a resident Embassy of Armenia, in Nicosia, in the near future.
Second, I informed the Minister on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus Question. We stand ready to resume negotiations to reach a viable and lasting solution to the Cyprus Question, on the basis of a bizonal, bicommunal federation with political equality, as provided by the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
In this respect, I wish to thank Armenia for its long-standing principled stance on the Cyprus Question.
Third, as regards the EU, Cyprus strongly supports the deepening of relations with Yerevan and the increase of EU presence through the EU Mission in Armenia (EUMA).
Cyprus will systematically and tirelessly work to strengthen the EU-Armenia institutional dialogue.
Furthermore, we will strongly support economic and political measures that will bring Armenia closer to the EU, while at the same time boosting the impetus for the reform agenda.
Fourth, on the developments in the Caucasus region.
From the very first moment, Cyprus has expressed its unequivocal solidarity with the people of Armenia and has sent humanitarian aid for the needs that have arisen from the mass, violent, forced exodus of the population from Nagorno Karabakh.
Accordingly, I announce the funding, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, for the construction of 10 greenhouses in the framework of rehabilitation of refugees from Nagorno Karabakh in cooperation with NGO “My Step Foundation” and “Armenian National Agriculture University”.
Dear Friends,
Aggression and violation of human rights, displacement and the instrumentalization of fear as a strategy, cannot be tolerated.
Coercion cannot be an alternative to dialogue and to peaceful settlement of disputes.
Sovereignty and territorial integrity are to be respected, in full compliance with public international law and the UN Charter.
We have an obligation to stand against revisionism and to support Armenia both politically and materially.
To this end, and in the preceding context, we have welcomed last December’s Joint Statement by Armenia and Azerbaijan and we support the talks between Yerevan and Baku towards a lasting, just, and sustainable peace.
This is also the direction taken by Armenia's “Crossroads of Peace” connectivity project, which we consider feasible and inclusive.
I want to assure you that the Republic of Cyprus remains - and will continue to do so - a loyal friend, a reliable partner, a voice of strong support.
I would like to thank you, once again, for your hospitality and warm welcome here in Yerevan.
I look forward to welcoming you in Nicosia.
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Yerevan, 7 March 2024