In an interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), the Ambassador pointed out that President Christodoulides, since he was the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has shown all support for the policy of the State of Qatar and praise it at the regional and international levels, as well as its effective role carried out in several issues; emphasizing that the two countries share common visions on many regional and international issues based on the principle of dialogue and crisis resolution without any external interference and with full respect for the sovereignty of states.
The Ambassador of the State of Qatar in Nicosia described the bilateral relations between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Cyprus as excellent at all levels, noting that the two countries are bound by many cooperation agreements in various fields, and that the bilateral relations have grown significantly after the exchange of the opening of resident embassies in the capitals of both countries, (the opening of the Embassy of Cyprus in Qatar in 2004, and the opening of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Cyprus in 2007). He pointed to the opening of the new Qatari embassy building, and naming the street which houses the Qatari mission's new building "Qatar Street", and the park adjacent to it "Doha Park".
He highlighted the strong joint cooperation in the field of construction where Cypriot companies contributed to the construction of many major infrastructure projects in the State of Qatar, most notably the construction of the "Education City Stadium" affiliated with the Qatar Foundation - one of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums.
On the other hand, Qatar Airways operates 14 passenger flights per week in the summer, and 7 passenger flights per week in the winter from Larnaca International Airport, he added.
The Qatari Ambassador noted that there are 24 joint agreements and memorandums of understanding signed between Doha and Nicosia in several fields, and there are more agreements in their final stages that are expected to be signed during the visit of HE President Nikos Christodoulides to Doha, especially in the fields of higher education, scientific research and media.
He shed light on areas and features of the cultural and educational cooperation between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Cyprus, the most prominent of which is working to achieve full recognition between universities and institutes in the two countries; noting that the State of Qatar recognizes the University of Cyprus and the Cyprus Institute, and many intellectuals from both sides participate in seminars, exhibitions and conferences held in both countries.
Qatar's Ambassador to Cyprus explained that the visit of HE President Nikos Christodoulides is scheduled to address many topics and issues, most notably the bilateral relations and ways to enhance them, the situation in the Middle East, the cooperation in the field of energy, the economic relations, and investment opportunities.
Commenting on the current developments in the region, HE the Qatari Ambassador said that there is continuous communication with the Cypriot government and civil society institutions in Cyprus, where meetings - along with ambassadors of the Arab countries accredited to Cyprus - are held with Cypriot officials, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, with the aim of coordinating efforts to find just and humane solutions to be transferred to the European Union institutions through the Cypriot government which in turn is striving to persuade regional and international parties and its European partners of its initiative to open a safe sea corridor from Cyprus to Gaza in order to bring humanitarian aid into the Strip.
The Ambassador highlighted the role carried out by the State of Qatar in resolving many disputes and conflicts in different regions around the world because it is considered a trusted mediator by all parties, and because it adopts the principle of dialogue and crisis resolution without any external interference and with full respect for the sovereignty of states.
In conclusion, Qatar's Ambassador to Cyprus pointed to the contributions made by the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Nicosia to the benefit of members of the Arab and Muslim community residing in the Republic of Cyprus, including the provision of iftar meals for fasting people during the holy month of Ramadan. In addition, the Qatari mission contributes to providing some of the requirements of mosques and cemeteries. This year, Qatar's Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs provided financial support worth EUR 40,000 for the Omeriye Mosque project in Nicosia.
Related Story
