UAE, Cyprus, Greece and Israel discuss enhanced co-operation in landmark talks

Host Cyprus hails renewed UAE-Israel relations for making diplomatic meeting possible

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, left, greets Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi, while Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides welcomes Anwar Gargash, former UAE state minister for foreign affairs and current diplomatic advisor to the President, Sheikh Khalifa, ahead of a meeting in Paphos, Cyprus. EPA

Cypriot Foreign Minister Nicos Chrisodoulides, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, Israel Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the President, Sheikh Khalifa, hold a news conference following their meeting. EPA

The meeting addressed the importance of reinforcing prospects for peace and stability in the East Mediterranean and enhancing co-operation between the four countries in investment, tourism and economic fields, reported Wam, the Emirates News Agency. EPA

Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the President, Sheikh Khalifa, addresses the news conference in Paphos, Cyprus. Reuters

The officials agreed that the Abraham Accord, which normalised relations between the UAE and Israel, has opened up avenues of co-operation in the fields of energy, science and the economy in the region, reported Wam. AP Photo

The meeting also addressed the importance of accelerating joint work to manage the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Reuters

The UAE held talks on the situation in eastern Mediterranean with the foreign ministers of Cyprus, Greece and Israel, as the four countries discussed closer co-operation in trade, investment, manufacturing, technology, science and health services.

The Foreign Ministry of Cyprus, which hosted the discussions in Paphos, said the first meeting of the four officials was made possible by the recent normalisation of relations between the UAE and Israel.

The politicians also discussed Tehran, with Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi saying his country will do "whatever it takes" to ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons.

"We also took time to discuss challenges that Iran and Hezbollah and other extremists pose to the stability of the Middle East and to regional peace," he said.

The UAE was represented by Dr Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Adviser to President Sheikh Khalifa. The Covid-19 situation and energy security were also on the agenda.

Dr Gargash said the UAE believed holding such conversations regularly would solidify relations between the countries, allowing for stronger levels of co-operation in addressing the challenges facing the region.

“The UAE is seeking an ambitious and positive agenda in the region,” he said after the meeting.

He said the Abraham Accords were driven by “the necessity of an alternative strategic view of the region based on stability, prosperity and opportunity”.

“The UAE shares with its friends and allies a common understanding of the need to engage in joint efforts to support regional stability and that the political solution is the only way to resolve and end the current crises in our region,” Dr Gargash said.

Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said the meeting of the “like-minded countries” after the Abraham Accords signified a “new era our region has entered”.

He said a new narrative was being written for the region thanks to closer ties, “one that is cracking the glass ceiling of the prevailing restrictive narrative of our neighbourhood as a region of turmoil, conflict and crisis”.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, speaks to Donald Trump, US president at the time, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office in September 2020. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, meets Mike Pompeo, US secretary of state at the time. Wam

Sheikh Abdullah and Mr Pompeo in Washington. Wam

Sheikh Abdullah visits Washington in September last year. Wam

Sheikh Abdullah, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, US President Donald Trump, centre, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sign the Abraham Accord at the White House South Lawn. MOFAIC

Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump at the White House. MOFAIC

Sheikh Abdullah, Mr Al Zayani and Mr Netanyahu at the White House during the Abraham Accord signing ceremony. MOFAIC

Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Netanyahu, Mr Trump and Mr Al Zayani wave from the Truman Balcony at the White House. AFP

Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Al Zayani, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump sign the Abraham Accord. AFP

Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Al Zayani, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump after the signing ceremony. AFP

Sheikh Abdullah and, from left, Mr Al Zayani, Mr Netanyahu and Mr Trump after the signing ceremony. AFP

Sheikh Abdullah speaks from the Truman Balcony at the White House during the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accord. AFP

Sheikh Abdullah speaks as Mr Trump looks on before the signing of Abraham Accord on the South Lawn of the White House. AP

Sheikh Abdullah looks on from the White House as Mr Trump speaks at the Abraham Accord signing ceremony, also attended by Mr Al Zayani and Mr Netanyahu. AP

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani stand on the Blue Room Balcony during the signing ceremony. AP

Sheikh Abdullah and Mr Al Zayani shortly before participating in the signing of the Abraham Accord. AFP

Sheikh Abdullah, with Mr Netanyahu, left, and Mr Al Zayani at the signing of the Abraham Accord on the South Lawn of the White House. AFP

US President Donald Trump speaks from the Truman Balcony at the White House during the signing ceremony of the Abraham Accord. AFP

President Donald Trump walks to the Abraham Accord signing ceremony at the White House with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Bahrain's Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani. AP

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo arrives at the White House to attend the Abraham Accord signing ceremony hosted by President Donald Trump. EPA

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, meets US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House before the signing of Abraham Accord. AFP

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, in the Oval Office. AFP

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, meets US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House. AFP

Sheikh Abdullah with Mr Trump in the Oval Office. AFP

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, with by President Donald Trump at the White House. Mustafa Alrawi / The National

The UAE delegation led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, with US President Donald Trump at the White House. Mustafa Alrawi / The National

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, is welcomed to the White House by US President Donald Trump. EPA

Sheikh Abdullah and Mr Trump outside the White House. AFP

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed speaks to Mr Trump after arriving at the White House. Reuters

White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner walks away following a television interview on the North Lawn at the White House in Washington. Reuters

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump welcome the arrival of Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara on the North Lawn of the White House in Washington DC. AFP

A delegation of senior UAE officials led by Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, prepares to depart for the White House to sign the Abraham Accord. MOFAIC

US President Donald Trump welcomes Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani. AFP

Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani arrives at the White House in Washington DC. AFP

US President Donald Trump welcomes Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif Al Zayani on the North Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC. AFP

Preparations at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord.

Preparations under way at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord.

Preparations under way at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord.

Preparation at the White House for the signing of the Abraham Accord. The National

Greece’s Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias updated his counterparts after his meeting on Thursday with Turkish officials.

Cyprus and Greece are involved in a dispute with Turkey over maritime territory in the gas-rich eastern Mediterranean, although there are signs that tensions could be easing.

However, Mr Dendias clashed with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu after talks designed to show the neighbours were putting aside their differences.

After Mr Dendias accused Turkey of breaching Greece’s sovereign rights and reiterated that EU sanctions against Ankara were still on the table, Mr Cavusoglu hit back, calling those remarks unacceptable.