Nicosia

Before the end of the year, Cypriot citizens and various professional groups will benefit from the use of electronic identities and signatures in several government services, said Philippos Hadjizacharias, the deputy minister of research, innovation and digital policy, during his speech at the 19th annual Economist Conference in Nicosia.

Agricultural Development and Food Minister Lefteris Avgenakis met with the Republic of Cyprus' minister of agriculture, rural development and environment, Petros Xenophontos, in Nicosia on Friday.

The further strengthening of the ties between Athens and Nicosia, and the coordination of their steps in a number of policy areas, was underscored on Friday during a plenary session of the 1st Intergovernmental Session between Greece and Cyprus at the Maximos Mansion.

Greece's geographic location and mature foreign policy have allowed the country to develop into a crucial military and energy hub.

The use of facilities in the ports of Souda Bay and Alexandroupoli are a major part of US planning in dealing with the two major wars going on, in the Middle East and in Ukraine.

The actions undertaken by Cypriot diplomacy have intensified recently, while the need to create a humanitarian corridor to deal with the dramatic situation in the Gaza Strip is being seriously discussed. The planned sea corridor, in which Cyprus seeks a central role, was the main issue discussed by Cypriot Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos on his recent trip to Amman, Jordan and Ramallah.

Cyprus on Tuesday said it was in talks with parties in the Middle East and the European Union over its suggestion to establish a humanitarian aid corridor from the island to Gaza.

Nicosia is pursuing the option as fighting rages for a fourth week between Israel and Hamas, deepening a humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

The United States Congress, the Greek-American community, as well as Greece and Cyprus, will miss the leadership, ethical presence and sense of purpose of John Sarbanes, who, a few days ago, announced his intention not to seek re-election in 2024.

EU member Cyprus wants Brussels to offer financial and technical aid to Lebanon to help it cope with an influx of Syrian refugees and keep them from reaching the island, its interior minister said on Wednesday.

The progress made after the lull in tensions over the Aegean Sea in recent months and the prospects of a roadmap that will lead Greece and Turkey to the International Court of Justice at The Hague will be assessed on Tuesday during the meeting in Ankara between the two countries' foreign ministers, George Gerapetritis and Hakan Fidan.

Greece, Israel and Cyprus discussed the potential for a long-term energy connection linking the Arabian peninsula with Europe during the trilateral summit in Nicosia on Monday between Prime Ministers Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Benjamin Netanyahu and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides.