Press Releases

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Constantinos Kombos, paid a visit today Thursday, 20 February 2025, to Damascus.

During the visit, the Minister had meetings with the interim leader of the Syrian Arab Republic, Mr Ahmed Al-Shaara, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Mr Assad Hassan al-Shaybani.

The visit paid by Mr Kombos aimed to reiterate the international community’s message for an inclusive political transition in Syria.

Discussions with the country’s interim leadership were of particular importance given the planned discussion at the Foreign Affairs Council next week in Brussels, where the situation in Syria, as well as next steps are on the agenda.

Cyprus, as a neighbouring country and the closest European Union member state, expresses its concrete and active support towards the people of Syria for the prospect of prosperity, stability, and security for the country and the wider region.

The people of Syria, irrespective of their ethnic or religious identity, have every right to hope for a promising and sustainable future, especially in this historic and pivotal moment following the fall of the Assad regime.

In this context, Cyprus conveyed its principled position that it will support, in a positive and constructive manner, the reintegration of Syria in the international community, on the basis of the fundamental rules of international law, including the law of the sea, as well as good neighbourly relations.

(AP/IA/GS)