Nicosia/Berlin, 23 July 2022 (TDI): The Foreign Minister of Cyprus, Ioannis Kasoulides held telephonic talks with German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock today.

Both Ministers had a useful and fruitful discussion on a variety of timely issues relating to bilateral relations, the European Union (EU) response in Ukraine, and Cyprob. In addition to regional and international challenges.

Germany-Cyprus bilateral relations

Diplomatic relations between Germany and Cyprus were established on 20 August 1960. The relations have been characterized by numerous activities, missions, and agreements.

Representatives from the two countries have visited each other’s countries coupled with conversations regarding the development of the negotiations between the two Cypriot communities on the island’s reunification, and Turkey’s EU accession process.

The two countries cooperate closely as Germany maintains close cultural ties with both ethnic communities on the island. Together with the local Maronite community.

The Goethe-Institut in Nicosia significantly supports bilateral cultural relations. Together with the German-Cypriot Cultural Association and the German-Turkish Cypriot Cultural Association.

In line with this, German-Cypriot organizations for instance alumni associations also contribute to German cultural events on the island.

Additionally, the Federal Foreign Office has financed the project ‘Imagine’ since 2017. The project “supports confidence-building and reconciliation work between the two ethnic groups in Cyprus”.

In terms of bilateral academic cooperation, the state universities of Cyprus, take part in exchange programs with German and European universities. That is the University of Cyprus (UCY) in Nicosia and the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) in Limassol. Along with private higher education institutions.

There is scientific cooperation between the Max Planck Society and the Cyprus Institute. Likewise, Germans are among the researchers that work at the prestigious Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics in Nicosia.

Noteworthy, Cyprus has the tenth largest merchant marine fleet in the world, therefore, it is an international hub for ship management. Thereupon, the share of German shipping companies in this economic sector is high.

All in all, in 2021, trade between Cyprus and Germany was worth approximately 845 million euros. Also, German exports to Cyprus totalled 670 million euros, at the same time, imports from Cyprus were worth 175 million euros.

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