Cyprus’ president Nikos Christodoulides, left, shakes hands with Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in Paphos, Friday as the leaders of nine southern European Union member countries and Jordan are meeting to come up with ways of de-escalating the conflict in the Middle East. [AP]
The leaders of nine southern European Union countries and Jordan are meeting in Cyprus to address the crisis in the Middle East and prevent a worsening humanitarian situation in Lebanon. King Abdullah of Jordan will participate in the meeting with the MED9 countries to discuss initiatives for protecting Lebanese civilians caught between Israel and Hezbollah.
The leaders aim to secure a ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas in Gaza while also working on reducing Hezbollah’s influence in Lebanese politics. They will explore ways to enhance EU-Jordan relations, establish a regional firefighting hub in Cyprus, address migration issues, and tackle climate change in the region.
Cyprus’ role in providing humanitarian aid and assisting with repatriation efforts will be highlighted, emphasizing the country’s efforts to support peace and stability in the Middle East.