Cyprus president flies to Egypt as gas deal nears

Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades flies to Egypt to push for a cultural initiative on diaspora, just as the two countries prepare to finalise an agreement to connect the Aphrodite gas field to Egypt.

Anastasiades leaves on Monday for Alexandria, Egypt, where he is to help launch the “Nostos The Return” initiative, part of a diaspora programme signed by Egypt, Cyprus and Greece, that promotes close relations between the three countries.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos are also taking part in the event.

This comes just weeks ahead of another agreement expected to be signed soon, according to the Egyptian press, where a preliminary accord between Egypt and Cyprus for cooperation in natural resources was signed back in November.

Egypt is ready to sign a follow up agreement in the coming weeks, according Egyptian Petroleum Minister Tarek el-Molla, which would allow for the connection of the Aphrodite gas field to Egypt during the coming few weeks.

Cyprus Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides visited Egypt recently, where his Egyptian counterpart, Prime Minister Sherif Ismail, said his country favours the receiving of Cypriot gas, with technical details not yet fullly hammered out.

Prior to his departure on Tuesday, Anastasiades will meet with the Patriarch of Alexandria and All Africa Theodoros II, who will bestow on the President the Great Cross of the Mark the Disciple.

The president is travelling along with Government Spokesman Prodromos Prodromou, President Undersecretary Vasilis Palmas, and Presidential Commissioner Photis Photiou, among other officials.

The visit takes place one week ahead of a tripartite meeting between Cyprus, Greece, and Israel, also designed to strengthen ties between the countries at a cultural level.