Joint Declaration of the Al-Alamein Trilateral Summit (Egypt- Cyprus-Greece)

We, the President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, and the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, meeting in Al-Alamein, on the occasion of the Trilateral Summit between our countries, reaffirm our pride in the historical relations and close ties that bind our peoples, and our commitment to continuing joint efforts to promote peace, security, stability and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East, in a manner that serves the interests of our peoples and contributes to addressing common regional and international challenges.

Recognising the growing importance of the Eastern Mediterranean region, at a time of profound geopolitical challenges, we emphasise the importance of continued consultation and coordination among our three countries. Building upon the achievements of the Trilateral Cooperation Mechanism since its inception in Cairo in November 2014, which has made it a successful model for regional cooperation, we remain committed to further developing it, based on the principles of trust, respect and cooperation. We reaffirm our shared commitment to supporting security and stability in the region and resolving disputes and crises through political and diplomatic means, and we reject any actions that would increase tension, undermine regional stability or threaten regional peace and security. We emphasise the importance of respecting the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of States, refraining from the threat or use of force, and fully adhering to the rules of international law and the principles of the Charter of the United Nations (UN).

We reiterate the importance of full respect for international law, and for the commitment of all States to uphold its principles, in a manner that safeguards the rights of all States concerned and contributes to peace, security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. We re-emphasise that any Agreements or Memoranda of Understanding on delimitation of the maritime jurisdiction should be concluded in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

We welcome the efforts of the UN Secretary-General and his Personal Envoy on the Cyprus issue and express our support for the continued endeavours to reach a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue within the framework of the United Nations and in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. We affirm that reaching a settlement of the Cyprus issue would contribute significantly to strengthening peace and regional stability.

We reaffirm our unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and for the necessity of achieving a just, lasting and comprehensive peace based on the Two-State solution. We reiterate our support for the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state within the June 4, 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with United Nations resolutions. We emphasise the importance of advancing the implementation of the second phase of President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, as endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803, which would ensure the commencement of reconstruction and early recovery in Gaza and the preservation of the unity of the Palestinian territories. We remain deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation in Gaza and stress that humanitarian assistance must reach the civilian population safely, rapidly and at scale. We also reaffirm the geographical, political and legal contiguity between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and reject any attempts to separate them, including through policies aimed at the forced displacement of the Palestinian population.

We reaffirm our firm support for the stability, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon and the importance of the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701. We stress the need for the cessation of all attacks against Lebanon and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory. We call for the strengthening of Lebanese State institutions, foremost among them the Lebanese Armed Forces, to enable them to fulfil their responsibilities in extending the full authority and sovereignty of the State throughout its territory.

We reaffirm our support for Libya’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity, and for an inclusive, Libyan-led and Libyan-owned political process, without foreign interference. We also call for the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya, and we express our support for UN efforts towards holding simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections as soon as possible, within the framework of Libyan ownership.

We affirm that energy security is a shared interest and a key pillar of our trilateral cooperation. We express our aspiration to continue developing electricity interconnection projects, including the GREGY interconnection project, thereby enhancing energy security and contributing to linking the Eastern Mediterranean to European markets.

We also emphasise the importance of strengthening cooperation in the natural gas sector, thereby supporting regional and European energy security. In this context, we highly value the recent developments regarding connecting the Cypriot gas fields to the Egyptian gas infrastructure and facilities and we call for their completion as soon as possible.

We emphasise the importance of strengthening cooperation in the field of water security and the sustainable management of water resources, in light of the growing challenges facing the region, including water scarcity and climate change. In this context, we recognise Egypt’s heavy reliance on the Nile River and reaffirm our support for its water security. We reiterate the importance of full compliance with international law in the Nile Basin, including with respect to the Ethiopian Dam. We further emphasise that transboundary water resources, including the Nile River, should serve as a means of cooperation and integration rather than a source of conflict. To this end, we reaffirm the necessity of adherence to the principle of “do no harm” and the duty to cooperate, including through prior notification, consultation and consensus, as well as to refrain from unilateral measures that could adversely affect Egypt’s water uses and needs, in order to safeguard the interests of all concerned states.

We attach particular importance to strengthening economic, trade and investment cooperation among our countries, and to translating our excellent political relations into tangible economic opportunities for our peoples. Leveraging the geographical location and competitive advantages of our three countries will open new opportunities for the private sector and enhance integration among our economies. We encourage intensified communication between business communities and the development of partnerships in priority areas, contributing to sustainable growth and job creation.

We emphasise that addressing irregular migration requires a holistic and balanced approach, combining security, development, economic and social aspects. We emphasise the importance of expanding cooperation in the field of regular migration and encouraging the provision of organised employment opportunities for Egyptian workers in both Cyprus and Greece, in accordance with the relevant legislation and bilateral agreements.

We emphasise the importance of continuing to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Egypt and the European Union, which contributes to supporting stability, development and prosperity in Egypt and the region. We welcome the progress made in implementing the six pillars that form the framework of this partnership, and reaffirm our determination to continue close coordination within this framework to advance our common interests and contribute to strengthening connectivity between the two shores of the Mediterranean.

We reaffirm our commitment to further strengthening and developing the Trilateral Cooperation Mechanism and enhancing its effectiveness through regular follow-up on the implementation of agreements and intensified coordination among the governments of the three countries, their institutions and the private sector. This will ensure that the existing political consensus is translated into tangible projects and programs that benefit the peoples of the three countries.

We recall the commitment made at the 10th Trilateral Summit regarding the operationalisation of a Permanent Secretariat for the Trilateral Mechanism between Egypt, Cyprus and Greece, based in Lefkosia.

At the conclusion of our Summit, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the Egyptian-Cypriot-Greek partnership and our determination to continue working together for a more secure, stable and prosperous region. We emphasise our aspiration to build upon the achievements of past years and strengthen this partnership in a way that fulfils the aspirations of the peoples of our three countries and supports peace, development and cooperation in our region.

We, the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, express our deep appreciation to the President, the Government, and the people of the Arab Republic of Egypt, for hosting today’s Trilateral Summit. We look forward to the upcoming 11th Trilateral Summit in Cyprus, where we will continue our joint efforts towards a more secure, peaceful and prosperous future.