The Leaders of Egypt, Greece and Cyprus inaugurated Saturday a new period of cooperation among them, by signing the Cairo Declaration, which includes strong references for the Turkish provocations in Cyprus` Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Cairo Declaration includes strong references regarding the termination of Turkish challenges in Cyprus` EEZ, the Cyprus issue as well as the speeding up of the negotiations among the countries which have not yet determined EEZ, according to CNA. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi received early Saturday the Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras at the Presidential Palace of Itahdiya where they discussed boosting the bilateral economic relations between the two countries as well as confronting terrorism phenomenon in the region, in the presence of the two countries' delegations. Egypt's president stressed that the freedom of worship and the protection of religious houses are guaranteed by the Egyptian state for each resident on its territory, including the Monastery of St. Catherine. The meeting was followed by another bilateral meeting between Sisi and Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, in the presence of Cyprus Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and Government Spokesman Nicos Christodoulides. During the trilateral press conference, Sisi stressed that Egypt attaches great attention for boosting cooperation with Greece and Cyprus, as a step to support stability in the Middle East, and increase economic cooperation between the three countries. Meanwhile, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said that the trilateral cooperation between Egypt, Cyprus and Greece based on common interests. He explained that the three leaders agreed on developing anti-terrorism measures in the Middle East, pointing out that the cooperation between Egypt, Cyprus and Greece does not mean hostility towards any other country. The tripartite summit came after the meeting between Greek Prime Minister Samaras and Cyprus President Anastasiades in Nicosia, where they discussed the escalation of the Turkish-Cypriot crisis over gas. During the meeting, Greece called on Turkey Friday to stop provoking Cyprus as it seeks to develop hydrocarbon reserves within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The Barbaros, a Turkish survey vessel, has been conducting seismic studies in Cyprus's EEZ since October 20 and has approached blocks that Nicosia has already licensed to foreign companies. The move prompted Anastasiades to suspend UN-brokered peace talks.
