NEW YORK, United States | Liberia and Cyprus have agreed to expand cooperation in maritime and port security, education, scholarships and trade after their foreign ministers met on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Liberian Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti and her Cypriot counterpart, Constantinos Kombos, signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations during the bilateral meeting, creating a formal framework for regular diplomatic dialogue between the two countries.
The agreement is expected to support cooperation in maritime affairs, port security, higher education, scholarships, trade and investment, as well as people to people exchanges.
It will also provide a mechanism for Liberia and Cyprus to consult more closely on regional and international matters of shared interest.
Nyanti described the agreement as an important step towards developing a more active partnership between the two countries.
“A relationship doesn’t exist if it’s not active,” Minister Nyanti said, stressing the need for Liberia’s diplomatic engagements to produce practical opportunities that contribute to national development and economic diplomacy.
Maritime cooperation was a central issue during the talks, reflecting the importance of shipping to both countries.
Liberia has a major presence in the international maritime sector, while Cyprus has developed extensive expertise in shipping and ship management.
Nyanti spoke about Liberia’s responsibilities as a maritime country, including efforts to strengthen maritime safety and security, protect seafarers and vessels, and promote responsible management of the sector.
Kombos said Cyprus was prepared to expand its cooperation with Liberia and share its experience in the maritime industry.
As part of the discussions, Cyprus offered specialised training for Liberian officials and professionals in maritime and port security.
The proposed capacity building will cover areas including maritime security, law enforcement, customs and other related security disciplines.
Cyprus also offered scholarship and specialised training opportunities to Liberians, including programmes linked to maritime studies.
Nyanti welcomed the offers, describing the training and scholarship opportunities as practical areas of cooperation that could help Liberia strengthen its institutions and develop skilled human resources.
The two foreign ministers also discussed the establishment of a Liberia Cyprus Joint Commission to coordinate bilateral cooperation and help turn agreements into specific programmes and measurable results.
Kombos invited Nyanti to make an official visit to Cyprus, with the proposed visit expected to provide an opportunity to advance the agreements reached in New York.
The visit could also support further discussions on maritime affairs, education, security and other areas of bilateral cooperation.
The ministers exchanged views on regional and international developments and discussed opportunities for closer coordination through multilateral institutions.
Nyanti also pointed to Liberia’s current membership of the United Nations Security Council and the country’s commitment to multilateral diplomacy, international peace and security.
The latest agreement forms part of Liberia’s efforts to use diplomatic partnerships to expand practical cooperation and create opportunities in areas linked to national development.
Liberia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to work with relevant government institutions and its Cypriot counterparts to advance the training, scholarship, maritime security and institutional cooperation commitments reached during the New York meeting.
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