President Nikos Christodoulides on Wednesday extolled the “excellent relations” between Cyprus and Lebanon upon the arrival of his Lebanese counterpart Joseph Aoun at the presidential palace in Nicosia.

“We have excellent relations; we work very closely together. At the same time, there is a clear political will to do more, to strengthen our bilateral cooperation in areas such as defence, security, energy, migration, trade, tourism,” he said.

He also stressed that with Cyprus set to undertake the Council of the European Union’s rotating presidency at the beginning of next year, his government will “do everything to increase the perception of the importance of Lebanon and the region for the EU”.

As such, he said, he will be “happy” to host Aoun at a planned informal meeting of leaders of EU member states of other countries in the region, which he hopes will take place next April.

He then said he wished to “publicly reiterate our clear position on respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Lebanon”, amid an ongoing conflict between Israel and Shia militant group Hezbollah in the south of Lebanon, with Israeli strikes having recently spread elsewhere in the country.

Lebanon’s health ministry reported on Tuesday night that at least three people had been killed and 13 more injured in an Israeli strike on a vehicle in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, which is located on the country’s Mediterranean coast, more than 180 kilometres north of the Israeli border.

Aoun did not directly reference the bombing on Wednesday, instead choosing to say that “Cyprus has always been by Lebanon’s side” and highlighting the “proximity of the two countries, not only geographically, but also in common interests and challenges”.

“Cyprus has always been supportive of Lebanon,” he said, adding that his country “relies” on Cyprus and will continue to do so.

Later in the day, Christodoulides expressed his “great joy” over welcoming Aoun to the island.

“I am happy, because first of all, I have the opportunity today to repay the very warm hospitality that you showed me during my visit to Beirut on the day after you officially assumed your duties,” he said, adding that Wednesday’s visit is the first made by a Lebanese president to Cyprus in 15 years.

He went on to describe Aoun’s visit as “substantial, symbolic, and historic”, and added that it “constitutes clear proof, among other things, of the close bonds of friendship and cooperation which govern our relations”.

“With President Aoun, we had the opportunity today to discuss primarily issues related to our bilateral relations, as well as ways to further expand our cooperation,” he said.

He added that he and Aoun had also discussed “the developments in the region which directly affect our countries”.

“We have common challenges and approaches to the problems of the region,” he said, adding that he had also discussed with Aoun relations between Lebanon and the European Union.

“As an integral part of the eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle East, the stability and prosperity of Lebanon are of strategic, crucial importance for Cyprus, and this is the message we are sending to Brussels. The stability and security of Lebanon are not only in the interests of the region and of Cyprus, but also of the EU itself,” he said.

He then returned to the matter of the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, which has, to varying degrees, engulfed different parts of Lebanon.

“We support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Lebanon, and we welcome your efforts. I am very aware of the efforts that you yourself are making to fully implement United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 and the ceasefire agreement of November 27, 2024,” he said.

Resolution 1701, adopted in 2006, stipulates that there be no armed forces in southern Lebanon south of the Litani river other than the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) and the Lebanese military.

Israel and Lebanon signed a ceasefire in November last year after Israel had invaded Lebanon the previous month.

Christodoulides on Wednesday stressed that “a stable, peaceful, and strong Lebanon can lead to a more peaceful eastern Mediterranean”, and offered his support to Aoun for “the efforts he is making to achieve this goal”.

He added that the two countries had been “like twins” historically, and that the Mediterranean “unites, rather than divides” them.

Christodoulides and Aoun also held a private meeting, before further talks between the Cypriot and Lebanese delegations were held. Aoun was also taken to central Nicosia to visit the Green Line which separates Cyprus’ two sides.

Ties between Cyprus and Lebanon have strengthened since Aoun was elected as president in January, with Christodoulides visiting Lebanon the following day, becoming the first foreign leader to meet Aoun after the election.