Press Releases

The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Nikos Christodoulides met his Saudi counterpart, Mr. Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, In Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Sunday 29th April 2018. The Minister was on a working visit to the Saudi Kingdom following an invitation by his counterpart.

During the discussions, the two Ministers reviewed the bilateral relations between the two countries, and expressed satisfaction for their steady developing since President Anastasiades’s visit to Riyadh in January 2018.

The two Ministers agreed on the possibilities and scope of the further development of their bilateral relations. In this context, a number of bilateral agreements and common projects will be carried forward in the immediate future. 

In addition, a number of official visits will be exchanged, with a special emphasis on trade, economic and business relations.

The two sides agreed that the establishment of a diplomatic mission of Saudi Arabia in Nicosia in the coming months will contribute greatly to the achievement of the above goals. 

Minister Christodoulides briefed his counterpart on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem, as well as Turkey’s actions in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The two ministers also discussed regional issues and developments in the Middle East. 

During the talks the two sides acknowledged the development of EU-Saudi relations, which will also contribute to the achievement of ‘Saudi Vision 2030’.

It was also underlined that Cyprus can play a significant role in strengthening the relations of neighboring countries in the Middle East and the Gulf region with the EU, aiming to promoting peace, security and prosperity in the region.

Lastly, the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs accepted Minister Christodoulides’s invitation for an official visit to Cyprus in the near future.

During his visit in Riyadh, Foreign Minister Christodoulides held a meeting with the Vice President of the Council of Saudi Chambers, Mr Sami Al Obaidi. Mr Al Obaidi welcomed the idea of a Cypriot business forum to be held in Saudi Arabia at the end of 2018 and expressed readiness to support the fostering of Cyprus and Saudi trade and business relations.

Minister Christodoulides also met with the Vice President of Antiquities and Museums of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage, Mr Jamal Omar. Mr Omar expressed interest in the presentation of antiquities exhibitions both in Cyprus and Saudi Arabia, and in the establishment of a broader cooperation on the cultural heritage of the two countries. He also expressed the readiness of the Chairman of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage to visit Cyprus for signing a Memorandum of Cooperation in the tourism sector.