Cyprus’s Foreign Minister, Konstantinos Kombos, speaking at the 20th Annual Economist Summit in Cyprus on Thursday, stressed the need for the EU to establish more meaningful communication with the US regarding the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine. He added that the EU is becoming irrelevant in the broader discussion.
Minister Kombos announced he would visit Israel and Palestine in the coming days.
He noted that it is up to Turkey to engage constructively in the region rather than being a source of disagreements and unrest.
In his address on the Mediterranean amidst conflict, its regional implications, and potential pathways to peace, Kombos stated that the Middle East crisis is not just another chapter in a long book of crises, but “a very different, much more dangerous situation.”
He highlighted a paradigm shift, pointing out that two years ago, it would have been “unthinkable” for Iran to launch a direct attack on Israel. The Minister explained that Hamas’s October 7th attack created a chain of events— the situation in Gaza, the Red Sea, escalations in Lebanon, and tensions involving Iran—”a series of interlinked and multi-dimensional crises.”
He also referred to Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, emphasizing that the international community is simultaneously trying to resolve current crises while preparing for what comes next, describing it as a “dangerous mission.”
For Cyprus, he added, the next step involves resolving the Palestinian issue, but first, “we must find a way to stop the war now.”
Kombos pointed out that he would be visiting Israel and Palestine in the coming days.
The EU, he remarked, “is potentially a major player that has chosen to act as an observer.” He added, “We need to be much more engaged.” He emphasized that Cyprus is much closer to the on-ground realities than any other EU member state.
Kombos also noted that ongoing negotiations and discussions offer “a glimmer of hope.”
In Lebanon, where a quarter of the population is displaced, he suggested that supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces could be a solution. He highlighted progress in the crisis, stating, “We have managed to decouple the crisis from Gaza.”
The Minister stressed the importance of focusing on the West Bank, saying, “As the EU, we have failed in my view; we are becoming irrelevant in the discussion.” He added that the bloc appears fragmented and is largely acting as an observer of developments.
Referring to developments in the US, he said dialogue is the answer. “We need to cooperate much more with the US, with collaboration and more meaningful engagement,” he stated.
He pointed out that in the nearly 20 months he has participated in the EU Foreign Affairs Council, there has been only one participation by the US Secretary of State.
Responding to a question about Turkey, Kombos said Turkey could be part of the solution to the problem. He noted that Turkey’s support for Hamas excludes Ankara from talks with Israel. He also mentioned Turkey’s potential role in Libya, Syria, and the broader region, stating that it is up to Turkey to engage constructively “rather than being a source of disagreements and unrest.”
In another question about EU-US relations, Kombos said that Brussels should already have prepared dialogue channels for engagement with the new US administration.
Also read: Borrell to visit Cyprus during his Middle East tour
Source: CNA
