The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, departs tonight for the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, where he will pay consecutive working visits. Mr Christodoulides will first travel to Abu Dhabi, where he is due to hold a tête-à-tête meeting and extended consultations with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Monday, January 18. Discussions are expected to focus, inter alia, on issues related to Cyprus-UAE bilateral relations, the Cyprus problem, the latest developments in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Gulf region, regional co-operation and security, as well as on EU-UAE relations.
During his stay in Abu Dhabi, Mr Christodoulides will also meet, among others, with the President of the Federal Council of the country, Mr Saqr Ghobash, with whom he will discuss regional and international issues of common interest. On Tuesday, January 19, the Foreign Minister will travel to Riyadh, where he will meet with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, with whom he will then attend extended consultations. Talks between the two sides are expected to focus, inter alia, on examining concrete ways to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation between Cyprus and Saudi Arabia, the Cyprus problem, the situation in the broader region in light of the latest developments, priorities and issues of common interest, as well as on EU relations with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Later in the day, the Foreign Minister will meet, among others, with the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Dr Nayef Falah M. Al-Hajraf, with whom he will have the opportunity to exchange views on the situation and prospects cooperation in the wider Gulf region, in light also of the recent Al-Ula Agreement.
