Cyprus FM accuses Turkey of using gunboat diplomacy to promote own interests

Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides talked of Saudi Arabia's importance in finding regional solutions. (AN Photo)
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Updated 20 January 2021
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Cyprus FM accuses Turkey of using gunboat diplomacy to promote own interests

  • Cypriot foreign minister slams Turkey, accuses it of ‘gunboat diplomacy’
  • FM says Turkey previously had good relations with its neighbors, but have worsened under Erdogan

RIYADH: The Cypriot Foreign Minister, Nikos Christodoulides, has slammed Turkey for “promoting its interests through gunboat diplomacy” with its energy exploration off the coast of Cyprus.

Speaking exclusively to Arab News during a visit to the Saudi capital, Riyadh, Christodoulides centered his attack on Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying relations with all its neighbors had suffered under his leadership.

“When President (Recep Tayyip) Erdogan was first elected, Turkey’s relations with other countries were very different. Turkey had no problems with its neighbors,” Christodoulides said.

“How quickly things have changed in the past eight years. We end up today with (Turkey) having problems with all its neighbors. At the same time, we can’t change geography. We can’t change our neighbors. But we are in a position and we are ready to discuss all issues at the negotiation table.”

Christodoulides told Arab News Cyprus had signed a maritime borders agreement with Egypt, Lebanon and Israel based on international law and 1982 UN convention on the law of the sea, but when the country asked Turkey to talk and agree on maritime zones, Ankara refused.

“I’m wondering if Turkey feels so comfortable with its position. Why do they refuse to discuss with Cyprus, a member of the EU and the UN?” he asked.

Turkey’s President Erdogan received international condemnation in 2020 when a Turkish oil exploration vessel was sent, with a naval escort, into Greek territorial waters in the eastern Mediterranean.

Erdogan again prompted global outrage when he then made a controversial visit to the Turkish enclave later in the year.

During that visit Erdogan demanded a “two-state solution” for the divided island and vowed to continue the oil exploration.

Cyprus is split between the Republic of Cyprus, an EU member that controls the southern two thirds, and the northern third occupied by Turkey since 1974.

Only Ankara recognizes Northern Cyprus as an independent state, and it is largely shunned by the international community.

Christodoulides is in the region visiting Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

Discussions on regional security are among the highlights of his visit, including meetings with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan.

“We looked at how we can enhance our cooperation because security is an issue of concern for all of us,” Christodoulides said.

“We discussed ways to enhance regional cooperation, not just with the UAE and Saudi Arabia but also with Egypt and Greece,” he said, adding that like-minded countries in the region were coming together in order to face the challenges “and to discuss the economic and investment opportunities that we have.”

“What I want out of this visit (to the UAE and Saudi Arabia) is to present the right narrative and the right picture to my colleagues in Brussels. Sometimes during our discussions in the EU and in Brussels, I get the impression that they don’t know the region.”

Christodoulides said that it was also important to “send a common message” to the new Biden administration in the US.

“We have common challenges, common threats, but at the same time our region is not the same as it used to be during the Obama administration. We see a lot of people from the Obama administration coming back to key positions. So we need to send them the same message in order to avoid the mistakes of the past.”

Christodoulides praised Saudi Arabia for its growing role in resolving regional issues.

“More and more countries are coming to understand that no solution can be found in the region without Saudi Arabia playing a leading role in the efforts,” he said.

“It was something we believed in from the very beginning, and we are glad that more countries are understanding this reality,” he said.

Saudi Arabia and Cyprus reopened embassies in their respective capitals four years ago.

Christodoulides said his country had seen a “vast number of achievements” as a result of working together at a bilateral, regional and EU level during that time, including the updating of agreements on air traffic, which he described as a major development.

Calling for greater dialogue and mediation to promote the interests of the region, he added: “Cyprus is a member of the EU, but at the same time we are a country of the region and what we want to do is to raise awareness in Brussels about the region and especially about Saudi Arabia. A lot of times I feel that the Europeans don’t know the region — they talk about the region, but they don’t really know it.”

Speaking of the changes taking place in Saudi Arabia, Christodoulides said: “I can see it on the faces of the people and, for me, this is most important. I am amazed by the changes in the country.”


Saudi Fashion Commission, French luxury giant to award sustainable startups

Updated 5 sec ago
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Saudi Fashion Commission, French luxury giant to award sustainable startups

  • Finalists will undergo mentorship and workshops to refine their key performance indicators and pitching skills

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Culture’s Fashion Commission and France-based luxury conglomerate Kering have announced a competition to discover and support innovative startups making a meaningful impact on sustainability within the fashion industry.

The initiative, Kering Generation Award X Saudi Arabia, will foster circular innovation, focusing on key themes such as customer engagement, the circular economy, and water protection.

The application process is now open to startups based in or expanding into Saudi Arabia. By December, 20 finalists will be shortlisted to participate in a boot camp in Riyadh.

Finalists will undergo mentorship and workshops to refine their key performance indicators and pitching skills, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The top 10 proposals will move to the jury evaluation phase, judged on innovation, sustainability, and commercial potential.

The competition will culminate in an awards ceremony in January in Riyadh, where the top three winners will be announced.

The winners will receive a 10-day mentorship trip to Paris with Kering’s sustainability teams and the opportunity to showcase their innovations at the ChangeNow Summit 2025.

The launch follows a strategic memorandum of understanding between the commission and Kering, aligning with Saudi Arabia’s broader vision to promote sustainable practices in the fashion sector.

CEO of the commission Burak Çakmak said: “This initiative reflects our commitment to driving innovation and building a sustainable future for fashion in Saudi Arabia.”

Kering’s chief sustainability officer, Marie-Claire Daveu, added: “Through this partnership, we aim to inspire the next generation and foster impactful change in the Saudi fashion ecosystem.”

The collaboration highlights Saudi Arabia’s dedication to creating a sustainable and innovative fashion industry aligned with global standards.


Saudi project clears 614 Houthi mines in Yemen

Updated 4 min 8 sec ago
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Saudi project clears 614 Houthi mines in Yemen

RIYADH: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 614 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.

The total included three anti-personnel mines, 36 anti-tank mines, 574 unexploded ordnances and one explosive device, according to a recent report.

Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 469,576 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.

The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.

The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.

The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.

Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate safe movement for civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of land mines.


Kingdom launches new framework to standardize digital services

Updated 20 min 28 sec ago
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Kingdom launches new framework to standardize digital services

  • The initiative aims to unify platform designs, ensuring a seamless and consistent digital user experience
  • The event gathered dignitaries, digital transformation leaders from public and private sectors, and key stakeholders

RIYADH: The Digital Government Authority has launched the Platform Code, a national framework for designing and developing government platform interfaces in Saudi Arabia.

Unveiled during an event in Riyadh, the initiative aims to unify platform designs, ensuring a seamless and consistent digital user experience.

The event gathered dignitaries, digital transformation leaders from public and private sectors, and key stakeholders.

Ahmed Al-Suwaiyan, governor of the Digital Government Authority, said that the Platform Code aligns with local and global digital standards.

He described it as a critical step toward comprehensive digital transformation, enhancing compliance, and fostering efficient and impactful services aligned with Saudi Arabia’s strategic digital goals.

The Platform Code, an open-source design system, integrates coding frameworks, design tools, and community guidelines, enabling rapid development of unified user experiences. It allows designers and developers to address specific needs using pre-built assets.

The authority also unveiled the Saudi Digital Strategy, focused on growing the digital economy and expanding opportunities for public and private sector products.

Other initiatives included the Digital Transformation Ambassador program, fostering an integrated digital community, and the Scene Program, promoting holistic user experiences locally and globally through advanced frameworks and tools.

Committed to advancing digital governance, the authority aims to position Saudi Arabia as a global leader in innovative digital services.

It leverages cutting-edge technologies like AI and emerging tech while offering consultancy programs and fostering leadership in digital transformation.

These efforts contribute to Vision 2030’s goals of enhanced service quality and economic growth.


KSrelief distributes shelter kits in Afghanistan and Somalia

The initiative is part of the Kingdom’s ongoing humanitarian and relief efforts conducted through KSrelief. (SPA)
Updated 18 November 2024
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KSrelief distributes shelter kits in Afghanistan and Somalia

RIYADH: Hundreds of shelter kits have been distributed to people in Afghanistan and Somalia by Saudi aid agency KSrelief, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

Over the weekend, 200 kits were handed out as part of a project to help Afghan returnees from Pakistan and those affected by floods.

The project will provide 4,882 in total containing tents, blankets, plastic mattresses and other essential supplies to almost 30,000 people in need across 13 Afghan provinces.

In Somalia, 1,000 shelter kits, 1,000 clothing parcels, and 80 tents were given to displaced people in the Banadir region, benefitting 6,000 people.


KSrelief distributes aid to most needy in Lebanon, Chad and Syria

The aid is part of the ongoing assistance provided by KSrelief to some of the world’s most in need. (SPA)
Updated 18 November 2024
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KSrelief distributes aid to most needy in Lebanon, Chad and Syria

RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has delivered more aid to those most in need in Lebanon, Chad and Syria, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

In Chari-Baguirmi, Chad, the agency delivered 1,600 food parcels that benefitted 9,600 people. A further 333 food aid parcels and 333 hygiene kits were distributed in the Idlib region of Syria to help 1,998 individuals from 333 families who were affected by last year’s devastating earthquake.

And in Lebanon, winter clothing vouchers were given to 300 orphans and people with special needs in Akkar governorate. These will help them buy clothing for the forthcoming winter.