Foreign Minister, Constantinos Kombos, on Sunday said he discussed “core aspects” of the regional developments, with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar on Sunday.

In a post on X, Kombos, who was on a working visit to Israel, said that he had a “substantial discussion on core aspects of regional developments” with Sa’ar, including “on the importance of a ceasefire with the release of all hostages and the surge of humanitarian aid in Gaza”.

They also discussed the current situation in Syria, “including the need to protect the rights of all communities and minorities, which is a critical factor for regional stability and security”, but also the EU-Israel relations in the context of upcoming meetings also in the Association Council framework.

Sa’ar, in his own post on X, notes that it was a “pleasure” to host his Cypriot counterpart, noting that they discussed the regional challenges facing Israel and Cyprus.

“We both agreed on the need to ensure the safety of minorities in Syria, among them the Kurdish and Christian communities”, he adds. Israel, he notes, “is a pillar of strength and stability in this turbulent region”.

Sa’ar also said he looks forward to strengthening “the important” Israeli-Cypriot relations in all dimensions.