By Oren Anolik, Ambassador of Israel in Cyprus
In 2023, our region – the Eastern Mediterranean – will be marked by elections and their consequences. In Israel, the new government formed following the elections in November 2022, is making its first steps. In February, there will be elections for the presidency of Cyprus and on March 1, a new government will begin operating in Nicosia. During the first half of 2023, elections will be held also in Greece and Turkey. The main implication for our region is that the coming year will be characterized by changes and continuity at the same time.
New governments tend to re-examine the policies of their predecessors, but as regards Israel, Cyprus and Greece, it can be said with certainty that there will be no need to review the policy of cooperation amongst them. Preserving and upgrading the excellent relations between the three countries is a matter of consensus, both among the political leaderships and among the citizens. This policy of close cooperation is an anchor of stability in the region.
This is an important and even strategic anchor, since major challenges are expected at a global and regional level, including security threats, increasing tensions between the superpowers, the acute consequences of the climate, energy and food crises, economic recession, inflation and more.
In the face of the challenges and the uncertainties expected in the coming year, Israel, Greece and Cyprus will stand together. Their aim is not only to preserve the strategic relations forged between them, but also to upgrade and strengthen them. This is because they understand that “the Whole is greater than the sum of its parts” (Aristotle). This triangle will also continue to be open and inclusive: vis-à-vis the US in the framework of the 3+1, vis-à-vis Arab countries that strive for peace, such as Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Bahrain and others and vis-à-vis any other country in the region interested in cooperation based on shared values and similar interests.
There is no doubt that under the new governments in Jerusalem and Nicosia, whatever changes may occur, the positive trend that characterizes the bilateral relations will continue in the coming year. There is a long list of areas of close cooperation between our two countries. It includes, among others: defense and security, energy, climate and environment, trade and investments, tourism and culture. I would like to focus on two of these areas.
In the field of security and defense – Israel is proud of being a leading supplier of new defense systems to the National Guard. Our approach concerning the safeguarding of our national interests and protecting our citizens, is to be self-reliant while at the same time, we welcome the support given by others, so as to improve and elevate our capabilities in the field. We are happy to contribute to implementing this approach in Cyprus: to provide it with capabilities that will allow Cyprus to defend itself. We are also very pleased with the cooperation in the field of joint exercises. In 2022, members of the Israel Defense Forces took part in an exercise, the biggest of this kind, outside Israel’s territory. The close coordination and friendly ties formed on the ground were an impressive sight. We welcome this and strive to continue in this way.
In the field of energy, the exploitation and transport of natural gas will continue to be the focus of cooperation. For example, we hope that the recent progress made in the dispute over the Aphrodite-Ishai reservoir will reach a solution in 2023. At the same time, we wholeheartedly support the promotion of the project of connecting the electricity grids of Israel and Cyprus. The laying of the submarine electric cable (Euro-Asia Interconnector) will bring to an end the energy isolation of the two countries. In addition, we are promoting substantial cooperation in the fields of renewable and green energy, with an emphasis not only on production, but also on large-scale energy storage.
People tend to think that “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be” (Ecclesiastes 1:9), but reality proves that in the long run, unpredictable changes can take place. Therefore, it would be a mistake to have limited expectations for the future, based only on what we already know. When looking ahead, imagination is more important than memory. As the late President of Israel Shimon Peres, once said: “People, who don’t fantasize, don’t do fantastic things”.
