PRESS AND INFORMATION OFFICE
29/10/2017 9:44
Remarks by Prime Minister of Lebanon, Mr Saad Hariri, after his meeting with President of the Republic, Mr Nicos Anastasiades
I just had an excellent meeting with the President. I thanked him for receiving me today in a country that many Lebanese, consider a second home. I expressed to him how much my Government values Lebanon’s relations with Cyprus, our closest European neighbor.
I thanked the President for Cyprus’ support to our Lebanese Armed Forces and our security sector as a whole. My government firmly believes that strengthening state institutions is the only way towards building a strong state free of non-state actors.
I also stressed the need for stronger economic and trade cooperation.
Lebanon today is providing a global public service on behalf of the international community by hosting around 1.5 million Syrian displaced. These displaced fled the Assad regime in search of safety. We have a moral and humanitarian obligation towards them.
However, this is putting great strain on our economy and infrastructure and, therefore, we need the support of our friends and the international community to support the stability of our economy and the government plan to job start growth.
Here, I am confident that Cyprus as a long standing friend of Lebanon and member of the EU will play an important role.
I thanked the President for Cyprus’ symbolic contribution to UNIFIL (United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon), noting that this is Cyprus’ only involvement in a UN peacekeeping mission. This reaffirms Cyprus’ conviction that Lebanon’s stability is important to its own.
I also told him, once again, that my government is fully committed to Security Council Resolution 1701.
I stressed to President Lebanon’s commitment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus. We have repeatedly called for the full implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions and supported the United Nations good offices in this regard and encourage it to intensify its efforts to reach a peaceful solution which will guarantee the rights of all.
The President expressed to me his commitment to resuming the talks to resolve this issue.
Once again, dear President, thank you for having me here.
source:https://www.pio.gov.cy/MOI/pio/pio2013.nsf/All/E2D1959D78C6E7D8C22581C8002A7D75?OpenDocument&L=E
