Deputy Minister of Shipping Marina Hadjimanolis represented the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides at the 3rd Congress of UN for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3), which took place from 5-8 August, in Awaza, Turkmenistan.
The conference was attended by the UN Secretary-General, heads of state and government, ministers, as well as representatives from more than one hundred and twenty countries and other international and regional organisations, confirming the their commitment for achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a strong emphasis on connectivity, trade facilitation, digital transformation and climate resilience.
In her intervention, Hadjimanolis pointed out that Cyprus is aligned with the positions of the European Union, welcoming the Awaza Action Plan for the Decade 2024-2034, which was approved during the General Meeting of UN the December of 2024 as a substantive road paper for the empowerment of the least developed countries, aiming to accelerate the progress and inclusive development of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs).
During her stay in Turkmenistan, Hadjimanolis met with the Head of the State Service of Maritime and River Transport of Turkmenistan, Azat Shanazarov, at the Port of Turkmenbashi. Issues related to cooperation within the framework of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), as well as issues related to the provision of technical support in the areas of maritime safety, protection of the marine environment and maritime education, were discussed.
Finally, within the margins of conference, the Deputy Minister Shipping had contacts with Ministers of Transportation of other countries, responsible for shipping issues, promoting the candidacy of Cyprus for election to the Council of the International Maritime Organization, for the period 2026 - 2027.
The Deputy Minister of Shipping was accompanied by the Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy of Cyprus in Moscow, Vakis Zissimos.
