President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides said that together with the President of France and the Prime Minister of Greece, they intend to send a letter to the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, regarding the need to commence negotiations with Lebanon, so that a similar agreement can be signed to the one signed by EC Head with Egypt, in the presence of the President of the Republic, describing this agreement as successful.

The President made opening statements Friday morning, welcoming the EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Suica, to the Presidential Palace, in the presence of the Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna.

Welcoming the Commissioner, the President said that Cyprus supported the establishment of the Mediterranean portfolio, in the European Commission.

He added that one of the priorities of the Cyprus EU Presidency is to bring the EU closer to the Mediterranean and the wider Middle East, noting that the region faces many challenges, such as migration, but at the same time, many opportunities are also presented.

The Commissioner referred to the great importance of the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean region for Europe, underlining the EU’s determination to contribute to mitigating the challenges it faces.

In statements to the press following the meeting, the Commissioner said that she had an important meeting with the President, noting that this is her first official visit in her capacity as a Commissioner for the Mediterranean.

“We consider Cyprus as a very important country in the Eastern Mediterranean and very important for the whole region”, she said.

The Commissioner added that Cyprus plays a very important role, a key role in this part of the Mediterranean, “and it is very important to be connected and to work together on the developments, which will have consequences and reflection to both the region and to Cyprus itself.”

Replying to a question she said that they discussed migration as well as issues related to energy and trade.

“We will see how the situation will develop with Syria, but hoping for the best. It will also, as I said, have consequences for the situation here”, she said.

Asked to comment on the fact that Cyprus is an isolated member state as regards energy and whether EU could support it, Commissioner Suica said that EU is supporting Cyprus with different means and in different directions. She added that there are projects on interconnection between Israel, Greece and Cyprus and also between Egypt, they are following developments on that and “we will be, of course assisting and helping our member state, which is Cyprus.”