Cyprus ambassador to Jordan commends Amman, Nicosia ties

Speaking in an interview with the Jordan News Agency, Petra, on the occasion of Cyprus Independence Day, the diplomat stressed that advancing the Jordanian-Cypriot partnership is among his country’s priorities.

Commending the two countries ties, the envoy said that Jordan is among the top beneficiaries of Cyprus’ development assistance, meant to support projects relevant to women empowerment and children’s rights, notably the right to education.

Trilateral cooperation between Jordan, Cyprus and Greece has created a new perspective on relations between the three countries, he said. He added that, “It [relations] aim to promote their cooperation in areas of common interest, as well as address common challenges and discuss regional problems and developments.” 

Prime Minister of Greece Kriakos Mitsotakis hosted the 3^rd trilateral summit this past July in Athens, following the first summit in 2018 in Nicosia and the second in 2019 in Amman. The 3^rd summit saw the participation of His Majesty King Abdullah and President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades, the ambassador noted.

On the two countries’ trade cooperation, Ioannou said that trade exchange is limited and does not represent the “distinguished” political bilateral relations. 

However, tourism cooperation is very strong, especially the tourist flow from Jordan to Cyprus, he said.

The number of Jordanians who visited Cyprus jumped up from 8,500 in 2017 to 15,000 in 2018 and 18,000 in 2019, he said. He also noted the impacts of COVID-19 that have recently affected these numbers. 

Ioannou said that the Cyrus’s Deputy Minister of Tourism is expected to visit Jordan in the coming months, in an effort to improve the cooperation between Cyprus and Jordan.

He also expressed appreciation for Jordan’s stance over the Cyprus problem, notably Amman’s support for a just, comprehensive and viable settlement to the problem, in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and international law.

February of 2022 will mark 60 years of diplomatic relations between Cyprus and Jordan, he said. 

He lauded the countries’ progress in bilateral relations, notably his country’s decision to open an embassy in Amman in 2009, which was reciprocated by Jordan with the opening of an embassy in Nicosia in 2016.

Stressing his country’s support for the role of His Majesty King Abdullah as the custodian of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, the diplomat expressed his country’s support for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The solution, the diplomat expressed, should be based on the two-state solution, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions, to ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4^th, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital.