Foreign Minister to pay working visit to Lebanon

Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides will begin a working visit to Lebanon later on Tuesday, the first on a ministerial level by an EU member state Minister since the new government in Lebanon assumed duties.

Christodoulides will have consultations with his counterpart, Abdullah Bou Habib, on Wednesday. A press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the two Ministers will have a tete-a-tete meeting to be followed by consultations with the participation of delegations from the two countries. The situation in Lebanon and Cyprus’ assistance as an EU member state closest to the country, will be on the agenda. Bilateral ties and ways to enhance them will also be examined.

Christodoulides will also brief his counterpart on the Cyprus issue and the new Turkish provocations in the exclusive economic zone and they will exchange views on the next steps in the trilateral cooperation between Cyprus-Greece-Lebanon. Eastern Mediterranean developments and EU-Lebanon relations will also be on the agenda of the talks. Statements to the press are scheduled form 1200 local time.

On Wednesday morning, the Minister will visit Karantina Hospital. The pediatric and maternity wards of the Hospital, destroyed by the blast at Beirut port, are being reconstructed with Cyprus funding.

On Tuesday, right after his arrival in Lebanon, the Minister will visit St George Hospital for a brief meeting with Executive Director Edgar Joujou and members of the Board. A Memorandum of Cooperation will be signed and the Republic of Cyprus will provide assistance for the reconstruction of the hemodialysis ward and will replace the medical equipment destroyed by the blast.