Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty meets with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia. Photo: Egyptian Foreign Ministry
Meeting President Nikos Christodoulides, Abdelatty underlined Egypt’s efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and ease Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, warning of the political consequences of Israel’s assault.
He reiterated Cairo’s call for a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Talks also focused on boosting trade and energy ties, including plans to link Cypriot gas fields with Egypt and complete an electricity interconnection project, with Abdelatty commending cooperation within the Egyptian-Cypriot-Greek trilateral mechanism.
Egypt’s petroleum minister, Karim Badawi, said the partnership was a model of regional gas cooperation, citing Egypt’s liquefied natural gas plants and transmission networks.
Christodoulides called Egypt “a cornerstone of stability in the Middle East” and stressed the need to deepen Cairo’s ties with the European Union (EU).
Cyprus is due to assume the presidency of the EU Council in early 2026.
In separate talks with his Cypriot counterpart, Constantinos Kombos, Abdelatty pressed for more international pressure on Israel to halt its war on the Gaza Strip and accept a ceasefire plan mediated by Egypt and Qatar.
He condemned the Israeli genocide and policy of starvation, and reiterated Egypt’s rejection of any displacement of Palestinians and any attempts to liquidate the Palestinian cause.
Regional crises also featured.
Abdelatty urged a Libyan-led political process free of foreign interference, reaffirmed support for Syria’s territorial integrity, called for Israel to withdraw from Lebanese land and for the implementation of the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 1701, and stressed the need for a ceasefire and humanitarian aid in Sudan.
Abdelatty also praised Cyprus’s support for Egyptian interests in the EU and urged Nicosia to maintain this stance as it prepares to assume the EU council presidency in 2026.
In tandem, the Cypriot foreign minister thanked President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi for sending two Egyptian military aircraft to help extinguish the wildfires that swept Cyprus in July, saying the support had been crucial in containing the blazes.
Parliamentary Ties
The Egyptian FM then met Annita Demetriou, president of the Cypriot House of Representatives, stressing the role of European parliaments in defending Palestinian rights.
He underlined Egypt’s rejection of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank and repeated that a two-state solution is the only route to a just peace.
He outlined Cairo’s plans to host an international conference on Gaza’s early recovery and reconstruction, in collaboration with the Palestinian Authority and the UN, once a ceasefire is in place.
The foreign minister also urged more parliamentary visits and praised Cypriot MEPs’ role in facilitating the disbursement of the four billion euro second tranche of EU financial support to Egypt.
He welcomed further labour cooperation, including employing Egyptian workers in Cyprus across construction, agriculture, and other sectors.
Demetriou praised her recent visit to Cairo and talks with President El-Sisi, affirming her commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
Economic cooperation
Abdelatty also addressed Cypriot business leaders alongside energy minister George Papanastasiou and petroleum minister Badawi.
The event, organized with the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, explored ways to deepen trade and investment links.
Abdelatty pointed to Egypt’s recent reforms, skilled labour force, strategic location and free trade agreements, as well as investment opportunities in the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone).
He called for building on the outcomes of the January Egyptian–Cypriot–Greek business forum in Cairo and establishing a joint business council to boost economic activity and continuing to hold regular business forums between the countries' private sectors.
Additionally, Badawi stated that Egypt was committed to expanding its role as a regional energy hub. Both sides discussed broadening cooperation and tapping new opportunities to unlock the full potential of their partnership.
Short link: