Press release regarding the departure of the Minister of Foreign Affairs to Lebanon for a working visit
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, travels to Lebanon this afternoon for a working visit, the first at Ministerial level by an official from an EU Member State after the formation of the country’s new government.
Central to the Foreign Minister's programme will be the consultations that he is due to hold tomorrow with the new Lebanese Foreign Minister, Mr. Abdullah Bou Habib.
Ministers Christodoulides and Bou Habib will have a tête-à-tête meeting on Wednesday morning (6/10), after which they will attend consultations in extended format, with the participation of official delegations from the Foreign Ministries of the two countries. The consultations’ agenda will include, among other issues, the current situation in Lebanon and ways in which Cyprus, as the EU Member State that is geographically closest, can assist. Furthermore, the full spectrum of bilateral relations between Cyprus and Lebanon will be reviewed and specific ways in which they could be further enhanced will be discussed.
Mr. Christodoulides will have the opportunity to brief his counterpart on the latest developments in the Cyprus problem, as well as on the new provocative actions of Turkey in the EEZ of Cyprus, while views will also be exchanged on the next steps in the trilateral cooperation between Cyprus, Greece and Lebanon. In addition, the latest developments in the broader region of the Eastern Mediterranean are expected to be discussed in general, as well as relations between EU and Lebanon and the role that Cyprus can play in their enhancement.
Upon concluding their meetings, the two Ministers will deliver statements to media representatives (at 12.00).
Later on in the day, Mr. Christodoulides will be received by the Lebanese Prime Minister, Mr. Najib Mikati, with whom he will have the opportunity to discuss issues related to the bilateral relations between Cyprus and Lebanon, the Cyprus problem, and regional issues of common interest.
Earlier on Wednesday morning, the Foreign Minister will visit Karantina Hospital in Beirut, where the Pediatric and Obstetric Wards are currently being rebuilt with funding from the Republic of Cyprus, upon decision of the Council of Ministers. The hospital was destroyed last year due to the explosion in the port of Beirut.
This afternoon (Tuesday), immediately after his arrival in Beirut, Mr. Christodoulides will visit St. George Hospital, where he will have a meeting with the Executive Director, Mr. Edgar Joujou, and members of the Board of Directors, before signing a Memorandum of Understanding according to which the Republic of Cyprus will finance the reconstruction and equipment of the hospital’s Hemodialysis Ward which was damaged by the blast.