Cyprus would be prepared to host a trilateral meeting with Israel and Lebanon if asked to do so, Cypriot sources told the Cyprus News Agency after Israeli President Isaac Herzog publicly expressed support for such a meeting during a visit to Nicosia.
Herzog raised the idea before holding talks with President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace on Thursday, describing a meeting between the presidents of Cyprus, Israel and Lebanon as a personal “dream” and saying it was important to “move towards peace in the region”.
Cypriot officials described Herzog’s remarks as a forward-looking aspiration and a message to Lebanon that there was scope for the two countries to find common ground.
The sources stressed, however, that such a development did not depend on Nicosia and that both Israel and Lebanon were dealing with domestic issues. Cyprus, they said, would have no objection to hosting such a meeting if requested.
The talks also covered defence cooperation and Cyprus’s procurement plans. The two sides are expected to remain in contact over what equipment Cyprus could acquire under its armaments programme, with Israel described by the sources as one of the Republic’s largest defence suppliers.
Israeli defence companies have also shown interest in establishing a presence in Cyprus, according to the same sources, potentially allowing them to benefit from the European Union’s SAFE defence funding programme.
Christodoulides also raised plans for a Cyprus-Israel agreement to avoid double taxation, an issue that has remained outstanding since 2011.
Energy featured prominently in the talks, including the Ishai-Aphrodite gas field. Christodoulides described the issue as a priority, while the Israeli side said discussions were close to completion.
Israeli officials also asked for and received an update on the Great Sea Interconnector, according to the sources.
The discussions also touched on Israeli investment in properties in the occupied areas. The sources said such activity had fallen sharply following the arrest of Simon Aykut and noted that Israel had carried out an information campaign concerning properties in the north.
The upcoming Israeli elections were also discussed. Cypriot sources described the outcome as uncertain but said Nicosia had carried out the necessary preparations and was ready for any result, pointing to the historical development of relations between the two countries.
(information from CNA)
