Statement by Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias upon arrival at the EU Foreign Affairs Council (Brussels, 12. 07. 2021)

N. DENDIAS: We have an interesting Council meeting today. First of all, this morning there was a working breakfast with the Egyptian Minister, Mr. Sameh Shoukry, with a wide discussion on the issues of the region. There is lunch with Yair Lapid, Israel’s new Minister of Foreign Affairs. Also, Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, will brief the Council on the level of Turkish provocations and the situation, in general, regarding the Cyprus issue. There are other interesting issues, such as Afghanistan, and I will also inform on my contacts with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Niger and the problems that terrorism causes in sub-Saharan Africa. Thank you very much.

JOURNALIST: Minister, at the breakfast you had with Minister Shoukry, which issues did you discuss?

N.DENDIAS: Well, I have to say almost everything. Egypt is a country of cardinal importance for the region, so it touches upon Middle East, the Eastern Mediterranean, energy, Ethiopia, the Renaissance Dam, Libya, Syria– you name it, it is there. But I have to say, it was extremely interesting.