I began my official visit to Cyprus with a meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace, where we discussed bilateral relations and ways to further strengthen them across various sectors.
I thanked Cyprus for its steadfast support for Lebanon, particularly through the European Union. We also reviewed the latest developments in Lebanon in light of the framework agreement signed between Lebanon and Israel under U.S. auspices. I reiterated that this agreement has demonstrated to everyone, first and foremost Iran, that negotiations are an exclusively Lebanese responsibility, to be decided by no one other than the Lebanese state. I also stressed that the state remains firmly committed to pursuing this course.
For his part, the Cypriot President commended the efforts of the President of the Republic and the Lebanese government, noting that Lebanon is receiving, perhaps for the first time in fourteen years, remarkable international attention. He urged the Lebanese people not to miss this positive moment.
: Youssef Raggi
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lebanon