President Nicos Anastasiades and Ireland’s Prime Minister Enda Kenny have agreed to set up a working group to study the consequences of Britain’s vote to leave the EU.
The talks in Dublin, where Anastasiades was on an official visit on Tuesday, dealt the latest developments on the Cyprus problem, bilateral relations and regional issues, issues that concern the EU such as Brexit and the future of europe, the refugee crisis, as well as the situation in Syria.
Speaking to the press, Government Spokesman Nikos Christodoulides said it was a “very constructive meeting that reflects the high level of relations between the Republic of Cyprus and Ireland and the very friendly relations between” Anastasiades and Kenny.
The two, he said, discussed the Cyprus problem and its latest developments, adding that Ireland has over the time, been interested on developments concerning Cyprus as it participates in the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces on the island since 1964.
Ireland is also the third biggest contributor to the Committee for Missing Persons, tasked with finding and identifying persons missing from the 1974 war and the intercommunal conflicts in 1963.
Christodoulides said bilateral issues were examined and there is willingness from both sides to reinforce economic relations, with emphasis on trade and tourism.
He also said the EU Council agenda was discussed and more importantly Britain’s decision to exit from the EU and the EU’s future. “They agreed to establish a Working Group that will deal with the consequences of Britain’s exit, especially for countries like Ireland and Cyprus which have close relations with Britain”, he said.
The spokesman explained the working group will allow the two countries to see how they can cooperate to fully secure the rights of the two countries and see how the interests of both countries are safeguarded after the EU leaves the EU.
Christodoulides also said they discussed the Middle East issue in connection with developments in Syria, regional affairs and the forthcoming European Council which will examine relations between Turkey and the EU and the liberalisation of visas for Turkey. An exchange of views on developments in Turkey and how the EU can approach the issue since Ankara needs to fulfill all the requirements laid down by the EU before the visa issue is examined.
Earlier, President Anastasiades had separate meetings with the Chairman of the Lower House of the Parliament, Sean O’Fearghail and the Chairman of the Senate, Denis O’Donovan, at the Parliament building, in Dublin. The meetings dealt with issues related to the bilateral relations of the two countries in the fields of commerce, economy and tourism.
At the meeting with the Chairman of the Lower House, there was a briefing by the Irish side about the plans for the establishment of a Friendship Group between the Irish Parliament and the Cyprus House of Representatives.
The President presented the Chairman of the Lower House with a silver copy of an amphora from the Kyrenia Ship, whereas the Chairman of the Lower House presented the President with a silver decorative clock containing the emblem of Ireland.
President Anastasiades presented the Chairman of the Senate with silver plate containing a printed image of a mouflon, whereas the Chairman of the Senate presented him with a copy of an Irish small ship.
Anastasiades was received during an official welcome by the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins at the Presidential Palace. The two presidents held talks along with the members of their delegations.
Following the talks, President Anastasiades and President Higgins went to the gardens of the Presidential Palace where they planted a tree, a symbol of the friendship that binds the two countries. After the welcoming ceremony, President Anastasiades visited the Gardens of Remembrance where he laid a wreath.
