Nicosia, (CNA) – Lebanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Fawzi Salloukh, who met on Thursday in Beirut with his Cypriot counterpart Erato Kozakou Markoullis, said that ”Cyprus will be our voice in the EU,” adding that the two countries enjoyed very strong bonds due to their geographical position and their political, economic and humanitarian ties.
Speaking after the meeting with Markoullis, who held a one-day visit to Lebanon, Salloukh said they had the opportunity ”to review our bilateral relations, which are always based on mutual respect and the mutual wish for national sovereignty and independence.”
”We discussed ways to develop these ties, especially since Cyprus is the closest European state and knows our problem. We are certain that Cyprus will be our voice in the EU, since Lebanon will become actively involved in the Cyprus-Arab friendship within the Arab League,” he added.
Salloukh said they also discussed the necessity for a solution to all problems in line with international law and cooperation, without violating the rights of each country.
”We discussed the Cyprus problem and reiterated our position, which is for communication and understanding to prevail, according to international regulations. We also stressed that the solution of all problems and disputes in the Mediterranean will help towards making our area a haven of stability and hope,” the Lebanese Minister pointed out.
He furthermore thanked Cyprus for the support and aid towards Lebanon in the political and economic sector and other areas, as well as the immediate and effective response of the Cypriot authorities in combating the fires that broke out in many areas of Lebanon.
Markoullis said they had a very constructive meeting, adding that ”we want to express our support towards and solidarity with the people of Lebanon.”
”We believe we are one family and share so much and must stand by you in times of need. We consider what we did last year, in 1975 and very recently with the fires, our duty and obligation to our brothers of Lebanon,” Markoullis noted.
Markoullis added that she expressed to her Lebanese counterpart ”our full support for the independence, territorial integrity and unity of Lebanon, as well as the full implementation of UN Security Council resolutions and international laws for Lebanon.”
”We also discussed the Cyprus problem, the continuing occupation of Cyprus and the continuing division of the island, as well as the efforts of the international community to solve our problem. We furthermore discussed our bilateral relations and I think there is an obligation from both sides to strengthen these relations, not only with the signing of agreements, but also with the renewal of current agreements in the sectors of tourism and commerce and other sectors,” she said.
She also thanked Salloukh for saying that Cyprus is Lebanon’s voice in the EU and assured that ”we will continue to be your voice.”
Markoullis also met Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, to whom she expressed Cyprus’ full support to Lebanon as a neighbouring country and an EU member state.
She said they discussed the situation in Lebanon, the Cyprus problem, bilateral relations and the commitment to strengthen ties between the two countries.
Markoullis noted she would be visiting Egypt and Syria within the next few days and assured she would be conveying ”many messages to all the countries of the Middle East I will be visiting.”
Replying to questions regarding the sea link between Latakia in Syria and the Turkish occupied port of Famagusta in Cyprus, Markoullis said ”this is illegal and our effort is to terminate this illegality,” adding that her trip to Syria would include discussions on this issue.
The Cypriot Minister also had a meeting with Minister of Public Works and Transport Mohammad Safadi, after which she said ”there is a feeling of solidarity between our two countries,” noting that they discussed ways to promote and enhance relations, which she described as ”valuable and imporant.”
Markoullis furthermore met with President of the Parliament Nabih Berri. Speaking after the meeting, she said ties between the two countries were very strong and that ”now that we are a member of the EU and the EU is so close to Lebanon, we want to play a more constructive role.”
The Cypriot Minister also met with leader of Future Movement Saad Hariri. She said the meeting was very constructive and that she was briefed on the latest developments in Lebanon.
”The relations between our two countries are excellent and we have stood by the people of Lebanon both in its trying and good times. We wish to contribute constructively in an effort to solve the problem and we hope Mr. Hariri’s efforts and those of the other party leaders will be fruitful,” she concluded.
