Lebanese presidential couple in Nicosia for Cyprus EU presidency inuaguration

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and First Lady Neemat Aoun attended a ceremony in Nicosia on Wednesday evening marking the start of Cyprus’s six-month term at the helm of the European Union (EU), the state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported.

Invited by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, the Lebanese delegation was welcomed by the Cypriot presidential couple, who expressed their gratitude for the delegation’s presence.

Aoun and his wife then proceeded to the reception hall, where President Nikos Christodoulides delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of the EU presidency and outlining his program for the coming six months.

Several heads of state and delegation representatives also spoke, congratulating Cyprus on assuming the presidency and discussing current developments and the EU’s stance on these issues.

A message posted on the Lebanese presidency’s X account noted that the ceremony “provides an opportunity for bilateral meetings with several participating heads of state and delegations.”

Just over a month ago, Lebanon and Cyprus signed an agreement on maritime border delimitation, a milestone after nearly 20 years of negotiations.

President Aoun’s visit to Nicosia comes on the eve of a Middle East tour by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.

The tour, scheduled for Jan. 8 and 9, will include stops in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon, with a stop in Beirut on Jan. 9.

The Lebanese president’s trip also comes less than a month after Lebanon and the EU signed a package of agreements totaling 132 million euros (about $154 million) to strengthen the country’s security, stability, and border management.

The issue of migration flows from the eastern Mediterranean to the European Union, particularly via Cyprus, remains a regular topic of discussion between Brussels, Nicosia, and Beirut.