A cooperation summit between Egypt, Cyprus and Greece was held on Saturday in the Egyptian capital Cairo, where leaders of the three countries discussed regional issues of mutual concern.
"It is the first tripartite summit to gather the leaders of Egypt, Cyprus and Greece as a beginning of a new stage of cooperation between the three states that has started over a year ago," Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said Saturday in a joint press conference with Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades and Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.
Sisi said the three countries agreed on combating terrorism and extremism through security cooperation, describing both Cyprus and Greece as "friends" whose views are "identical" with those of Egypt and voicing Egyptian support for "the Cypriot cause."
For his part, Cypriot President Anastasiades said the summit was "important" and that the cooperation between the three states was based on mutual interests and diplomatic coordination, in addition to future cooperation in the fields of energy, industry and others.
"We aim to establish a joint front to confront perils including terrorism," Anastasiades continued, adding that the alliance was not directed against any states and that it aimed to be "an ideal example of regional cooperation."
Cyprus and Greece are not among those European Union (EU) nations which disapprove the removal of Egypt's former Muslim Brotherhood-oriented President Mohamed Morsi last year, and the ensuing massive crackdown on Morsi's loyalists. Thus it is possible that the two countries can play a role in promoting Cairo 's relationship with the other EU nations.
In his statement, Greek Prime Minister Samaras said "Greece and Cyprus will be Egypt's ambassadors to normalizes relations with EU, " describing Egypt as "the corner stone for the stability of the Middle East region."