Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis and Syria’s interim Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani met in Athens to discuss a possible trilateral cooperation scheme that includes Cyprus. This meeting, announced by the Greek foreign ministry on Wednesday, marks a significant step towards fostering regional collaboration.
During their discussions, the ministers expressed a strong desire to enhance regional cooperation by establishing a trilateral format, which would also involve the Republic of Cyprus. Lana Zochiou, the spokesperson for the Greek foreign ministry, conveyed their commitment to this initiative.
A preliminary meeting of the three parties could take place during the upcoming 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, scheduled in New York from September 9 to September 29. While the specific measures that would outline this trilateral cooperation have yet to be defined, the potential for collaboration is being taken seriously by all parties involved.
In May, Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos underscored Cyprus’s effort to foster good neighbourly relations with Syria. He reiterated support for the lifting of sanctions on Syria, emphasising the geographical proximity of the two nations, with Syria located roughly 350 km from Cyprus.
Concerns regarding increased asylum seeker and irregular migrant arrivals in Cyprus have also prompted action. In April 2024, amid what Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou termed an “alarming” rise in such arrivals, Cyprus initiated a coalition of European Union members aimed at exploring the possibility of declaring certain areas in Syria as safe.
In this context, a meeting was held between Greek Migration Minister Dimitris Kairidis and Ioannou, where the need for “joint actions” to manage the migrant situation was highlighted. Following this, Greece announced its intention to join the Cyprus-led EU Syria Group, indicating a collaborative approach to the challenges posed by migration.
Furthermore, an international meeting of interior ministers took place in Cyprus in mid-May 2024, featuring representatives from Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Malta, and Poland. This gathering reflects a broader European effort to address migration and cooperation with Syria.
As the discussions continue, the focus remains on how to effectively establish and implement the proposed trilateral cooperation framework, which holds the potential to significantly impact regional dynamics.
