AFTER making two major air strikes in and near Damascus in three days, Israel informed the Assad regime on Monday that it is not taking sides in the Syrian civil war. But of course it is.The Syrian government promptly claimed that these Israeli attacks proved what it had been saying all along: that the “armed terrorist groups” that are trying to overthrow Bashar al-Assad’s regime (i.e. the anti-regime fighters of the Free Syrian Army) are really the tools of a demonic alliance between Israel, the United States, conservative Arab states like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and the Sunni Islamist fanatics of al-Qaeda... 3 comments

PRESIDENT Nicos Anastasiades yesterday assured the Israeli business community that Cyprus would remain a “reliable partner” to entrepreneurs and investors interested in international expansion and that it would retain its position as a significant international investment hub for Israeli and Cypriot business.Addressing a business forum in Tel Aviv - jointly organised by the Federation of Israeli Chambers of Commerce and the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce - Anastasiades urged the Israeli business world to keep faith with Cyprus despite the financial crisis here that has all but paralyzed the economy... 2 comments

President Nicos Anastasiades has described his three-day working visit to Israel as the “start of a new era in bilateral relations,” saying he is “absolutely satisfied” with the talks he had on Sunday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking to the press after talks in Jerusalem between the two delegations, President Anastasiades said “today we started a strategically important dialogue with a view at enhancing and further developing our bilateral ties, which are founded on common principles and values.” The two leaders had a 20 minute private meeting, followed by talks which lasted about one hour... 13 comments

DEEPENING ties with Tel Aviv is one of the most important initiatives the government is undertaking, President Nicos Anastasiades said yesterday ahead of a scheduled visit to Israel.“The aim is to begin a to-the-point dialogue that can lead to collaboration between the two countries that will benefit both peoples in many areas, among them of course the exploitation of natural resources,” Anastasiades said.Anastasiades said there was room for closer collaboration in other areas that could prove to be mutually beneficial to both countries. He cited Cyprus’ strategic geographical position and its European Union membership as capable of assisting closer relationships with other countries, including Greece. ... 8 comments

CYPRUS’ joint Search and Rescue exercise with Israel was successfully completed yesterday just off the coast of Limassol.The scenario participating teams had to face was an accident at sea involving an explosion in the engine room of a cargo ship. In the scenario a number of the crew were injured in the blast and forced to jump overboard.According to the Ministry of Defence, Larnaca’s Centre for Search and Rescue conducted the operation and immediately activated all of its available resources.Due to the severity of the accident and the large number of injuries and person’s missing from the ship who were substituted with floating dummies, Haifa’s Rescue Coordination Centre and the Israeli Navy were called in for assistance... 2 comments

 The visit of Foreign Minister Ioannis Kasoulides and Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, George Lakkotripis to Israel was preparatory to President Nicos Anastasiades’ visit scheduled May 6-7. It took place, however, within a particular climate, characterised by two important events affecting Cyprus-Israeli relations - the attempted rapprochement between Turkey and Israel and Ankara’s threats aimed at hindering the exploitation of the natural gas in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)... 1 comment

COMMERCE Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis said yesterday that Israel’s apology to Turkey over the raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara had been anticipated.Lakkotrypis is due to visit Israel next month, ahead of a visit by President Nicos Anastasiades in May. “I assure you we are monitoring the situation and we will secure our state’s sovereign rights,” Lakkotrypis said. The head of the Hydrocarbons State Company (KRETYK), Charles Ellinas, said that Israel has taken no decisions. “I was in Israel last week and over there they examine all options...  there is a chance they would sell natural gas to Turkey but at the same time they are looking into exporting to Cyprus,” Ellinas said. ... 6 comments

THE US-brokered Israeli apology to Turkey has opened the door to the resumption of close relations between the two former allies and raised the prospect of energy collaboration in the eastern Mediterranean, raising questions as to the potential impact on Cyprus’ own gas plans.   Last Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed Israel’s apology to Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan “for any mistakes that might have led to the loss of life or injury” during the raid on the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which tried to reach Gaza in 2010, resulting in the death of nine Turkish activists.The next day, Erdogan said Israel’s apology highlighted Turkey’s growing regional clout... 12 comments

ISRAELI helicopters arrived in Cyprus yesterday morning in order to take part in a military exercise as part of a Cyprus-Israel co-operation agreement.Speaking after a visit to the Search and Rescue Centre in Larnaca, Defence Minister, Fotis Fotiou said that an agreement on the basis of search and rescue, between the two countries had recently been signed. “The agreement also includes instances of natural disasters, including fires, and that is why these helicopters are taking part in the exercise,” he said... 2 comments