Foreign Minister wraps up Paris visit

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian expressed his country`s unreserved support for the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus, during a meeting he held yesterday with his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides in Paris.

According to a press release by the Foreign Ministry of Cyprus, the meeting focused on energy and Turkey`s illegal actions in Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone, which the French Foreign Minister condemned, expressing his country`s unreserved support for the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus and noting that Turkey`s actions are unacceptable.

They also discussed ways of collective EU response, taking into account the provisions of the Treaty of Lisbon, the relevant references in the March 2018 European Council Conclusions on Turkey`s Illegal actions in the Eastern Mediterranean and the EU common position within the framework of the EU-Turkey Association Council.

The Cypriot Foreign Minister briefed his counterpart on the latest developments and thanked Paris for its immediate reaction and unconditional support.

During the meeting, the two Ministers also discussed ways to further enhance the excellent bilateral relations between Cyprus and France both within the European Union and at regional level in the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East , with emphasis on the strengthening of the cooperation in the areas of defense and security.

In addition, the two Ministers exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest.

Meanwhile, Christodoulides held a meeting with French Deputy Minister for European Affairs Amélie de Montchalin, during which he exchanged views on the future of Europe, Brexit, the Multiannual Financial Framework and the prospects for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

The Foreign Minister also met with Geneviève Darrieussecq, French Deputy Minister of Defense, with whom he exchanged views on the further expansion and deepening of military and defense cooperation in the framework of the ongoing dialogue between the Ministries of Defense of the two countries.

Earlier, Christodoulides met with Senator Christian Cambon, Chairman of the French Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defense and Armed Forces, with whom he had the opportunity to discuss interparliamentary relations and how to further strengthen them.

The Foreign Minister wraped ups his visit with a meeting with TOTAL Deputy Director of North Africa and Middle East Elias Kassis, with whom he discussed the company`s future plans in Cyprus` EEZ, both in relation to drilling targets and new blocks in Cyprus` EEZ.