Press Releases

The President of the Republic, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, participated today in the International Gaza Aid Conference, which was held in Paris.

Around 80 countries and international organisations participated in the conference, focusing on the coordination of the provision of humanitarian aid to the civilian population of Gaza.

The President of the Republic, during his intervention, and especially during his bilateral contacts, presented to the participants of the Conference the initiative of the Republic of Cyprus for the creation of a sea corridor for unhindered and safe provision of humanitarian aid to Gaza 

The initiative of the Republic of Cyprus and its specific aspects, said President Christodoulides, has been extensively discussed over the past four weeks in the framework of his contacts with the President of Egypt, the King of Jordan, and the Prime Minister of Israel, as well as during the contacts of the Minister of Foreign Affairs over his recent visits to Jordan and Ramallah and with his counterparts in the region.

President Christodoulides added that the Republic of Cyprus is in constant communication at all levels with Israel, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, the United Arab Emirates, EU member states and the European Union Institutions, as well as with the United Nations, whose contribution is considered decisive for the implementation and success of the initiative.

The President of the Republic underlined the significant support the initiative receives. The support expressed during today’s conference by the President of France, the President of the European Commission, the President of the European Council, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belgium, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Croatia and the Greek Prime Minister, who declared Greece’s readiness to provide maritime means for the transfer of aid from Cyprus to Gaza, is of particular importance. Prince Rashid of Jordan also expressed support. Moreover, in a telephone conversation between the President of the Republic and the Dutch Prime Minister, which took place immediately before the Conference, Mr Rutte expressed the readiness of the Netherlands to assist the Cypriot initiative in a specific way.

The President of the Republic thoroughly presented the detailed planning of the “Amaltheia” Initiative of the Republic of Cyprus and the five stages comprise it. The first stage will be the transport and collection of humanitarian aid in Cyprus, the second stage concerns the inspection, recording and storage of the humanitarian aid received in Cyprus, the third stage concerns the loading and inspection of the humanitarian aid on ships from a Cyprus port, possibly Larnaka, the fourth stage concerns the route through a safe sea corridor and the fifth and final stage concerns the unloading, receipt and distribution of the humanitarian aid to the civilian population of Gaza.

President Christodoulides referred to the planning under way and that a specific implementation plan for the initiative has already been prepared with immediate, mid-term and long-term solutions and technical arrangements. President Christodoulides mentioned that the initiative of the Republic of Cyprus is a feasible and well-crafted proposal that can address the humanitarian crisis as it develops. The immediate proximity of Cyprus as a state in the region, being just 210 nautical miles away from Gaza, is suitable for the implementation of this initiative. President Christodoulides also emphasized that, in addition to its proximity, Cyprus’s long-standing excellent relations with the states of the region and its trustworthiness as an EU member state further reinforce and shield the implementation and success of the initiative.

Finally, the President of the Republic invited the participants of the Conference to contribute to the implementation of the comprehensive proposal for the initiative, which aims to save lives, just like Amaltheia, the nurse who gave life, according to Greek Mythology.

Along with the efforts to provide humanitarian aid, President Christodoulides repeated the need to remain committed to the revival of the political horizon for a two state solution according to the Resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations.

In the framework of the Summit, the President of the Republic held bilateral meetings with the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammad Ibrahim Shtayyeh, the Prince of Jordan, Rashid bin Hassan, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) Commissioner, Philippe Lazzarini.

After the Conference President Christodoulides flies to Athens, where he will attend a working dinner in the framework of the 1^st Cyprus – Greece Intergovernmental Summit.

(ΜS/ΜTH/NG/ΜΗ)