Cyprus Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister George Lillikas will have a series of meetings with neighbouring countries in order to explore whether they are interested in participating in the setting up of a Harvard University International Research Centre on the island, on public health and environmental issues.

As the CNA reports, the Ministry of Commerce has already prepared a letter, to be sent soon to the Ministers responsible for Research of the neighbouring countries, in order to start a dialogue regarding their involvement in the setting up of the research centre.

After meeting Syria's new charge d' affaires in Nicosia, Hamzah Hamzah, Lillikas said the Cyprus government and the University of Harvard would like to set up a regional research centre, with the participation of other countries, including Turkey at a later stage.