Cyprus foreign minister outlines regional engagement and relations with Gulf countries

Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos announced plans to conduct a diplomatic tour of the Gulf region to further strengthen bilateral relations. This follows an informal European Council held in Nicosia one week ago, which was attended by leaders from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and the head of the Gulf Cooperation Council. Kombos stated that these interactions are significant for both the Cyprus Presidency of the EU and the European Union itself. He emphasized that Cyprus is actively participating in regional developments rather than remaining an observer. Regarding Turkey, the minister acknowledged that current Cypriot foreign policy may cause friction but asserted that Turkish opposition will not dictate his country's decisions. Furthermore, he claimed that the Turkish response has had no impact on the operations of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council.