Cyprus and the United Kingdom are establishing strategic cooperation

The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus and the United Kingdom have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The agreement implies strategic cooperation between the two countries. The Memorandum was signed by the Director-General of the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kyriakos Kuros, and the representative of the UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Europe, Peter Wilson.

The agreement covers a total of nine areas of interest: foreign and regional policy; defense and security; education; trade and prosperity; maritime affairs; climate; law enforcement agencies; legal and judicial matters, as well as consular services.

The document also includes the positions of the two countries on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the situation in Israel and Gaza.

"Cyprus and the United Kingdom have taken a decisive stance in response to the situation in Israel and Gaza, affirming Israel's right to self-defense, while simultaneously calling for restraint and adherence to international law and international humanitarian law," the statement said.

The Cypriot initiative for creating a humanitarian aid corridor between the island and Gaza is also mentioned, as well as the use of the Estia plan, in which Cyprus acted as a transit center for citizens of third countries seeking refuge from the conflict in Israel and Palestine, as well as Sudan.

Additionally, the parties will explore approaches to expanding cooperation in the field of education, including institutional ties between British and Cypriot universities.