Kombos pledges deeper relations with Qatar after meeting PM

Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos pledged to further deepen relations between Cyprus and Qatar after meeting the country’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on Sunday.

He said that he and Al Thani had held a “substantial discussion” on the strengthening of relations between the two countries, with a particular emphasis having been placed on the matters of investment and trade.

Additionally, he said, “the discussion also focused on important issues of regional and international interest, and in particular, the situations in Lebanon and Gaza.”

“Mediation efforts for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and a regional de-escalation involving Qatar are crucial,” he said.

Relations between Cyprus and Qatar have deepened since Nikos Christodoulides became the island’s president last year, with Christodoulides saying in May that Cyprus can be considered as Qatar’s “ambassador in Brussels” when Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited Nicosia.

“We are in the same region, we have excellent relations, but there are many prospects for further strengthening our bilateral relations, as well as for our cooperation in the region,” he said.

He added that there is “sincere political will” on the part of Cyprus to work with Qatar in the fields of the economy, investment and tourism.

“We can learn a lot from your own success story, and I want to commend your role in the developments in Qatar,” he said.

He said Al Thani’s visit was a “unique honour” which allowed him to “repay the warm and excellent welcome” shown to him by Al Thani during his visit to Qatar in November.

“Cyprus and Qatar are connected by geography and are part of the same neighbourhood. We are both advocates of diplomacy, dialogue and cooperation, and we respond to the challenges of our region by fighting to establish stability, peace and security,” he said.

Later in May, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades had said Qatar had shown an interest in taking on the running of the Larnaca port.