New york: The cooperation between Nicosia and Beirut in addressing irregular migration, as well as EU-Lebanon relations ahead of Cyprus’ EU Presidency term, were among the issues discussed at a meeting, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, in New York, between the President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides and the President of Lebanon, General Joseph Aoun. Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said in a written statement that “during the meeting with the Lebanese President, the President of the Republic discussed at length the latest developments in Lebanon and the wider region.”
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides expressed the steadfast support of the Republic of Cyprus for a safe and stable Lebanon and reaffirmed his intention to further strengthen bilateral relations. Special reference was made to cooperation in addressing irregular migration, with the President expressing satisfaction at the cooperation between the two countries in this area, it is added.
Letymbiotis noted that President Christodoulides thanked President Aoun for Lebanon’s contribution in sending two aerial firefighting assets during the recent wildfires in Cyprus, while also informing him of the European Commission’s intention to establish a Regional Firefighting Hub in Cyprus, which could serve the entire Eastern Mediterranean. President Christodoulides also referred to the Republic of Cyprus’ intention to contribute to and actively support the upgrading of EU-Lebanon relations through the conclusion of a Strategic and Comprehensive EU-Lebanon Partnership, following recent examples with Egypt and Jordan.
He added that the Republic of Cyprus will continue to support Lebanon within the framework of the upcoming Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, underlining the joint meeting of EU heads of state and government with leaders from the region, to be hosted by the President of the Republic in Cyprus next April. The Spokesperson also noted that the President of the Republic expressed gratitude for Lebanon’s longstanding principled support on the Cyprus issue, based on the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
It was further noted that the strategic Cyprus-Lebanon cooperation in the fields of Defense and Security has been significantly strengthened, while close collaboration also exists in the field of Search and Rescue.