Foreign Minister's official visit to Zagreb “sealed” Cyprus-Croatia relations, Ministry says

Foreign Minister, Constantinos Kombos’ official visit to Zagreb on Monday “sealed” the close relations between Cyprus and Croatia at the bilateral and European level, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

According to the Ministry, during his visit to Zagreb, at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, Gordan Grlić-Radman, Kombos had meetings with the Prime Minister of Croatia, with his Croatian counterpart, the Minister of Science, Education and Youth, while he delivered a speech at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, focusing on the geostrategic role of Cyprus in the wider Eastern Mediterranean region.

During his official visit, Kombos had a meeting with his Croatian counterpart, followed by consultations with the participation of delegations from the two Ministries. “During the talks, bilateral relations and ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries were discussed, the cooperation of the two countries at the MED9 level, issues related to the European agenda including enlargement, developments on the Cyprus issue, the situation in the Middle East and Ukraine, as well as preparations for Cyprus’ assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026,” it added.

On Monday afternoon, the Minister of Foreign Affairs was received by the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković, “with whom they exchanged views on the further strengthening of Cyprus-Croatia bilateral relations and on European and international issues of common interest,” it said.

Kombos also met with the Minister of Science, Education and Youth, Radovan Fukš, while a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Cyprus and Croatia in the field of education, “confirming the will for strengthening cooperation between the two countries” in the specific field.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs also delivered a speech at the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, focusing on the geostrategic role of Cyprus in the wider Eastern Mediterranean region.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. 

The Republic of Cyprus will assume for a second time the Presidency of the Council of the EU on January 1st, 2026, for a period of six months, as part of a Trio Presidency along with Poland and Denmark.

(Source: CNA)