Foreign Minister in Rome to meet UN chief

The Cyprus issue and Turkey’s aggressive actions in the Republic’s exclusive economic zone will be on the agenda at a meeting in Rome, on Thursday, between Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.

Christodoulides has said that “the main topic of discussion will be the Cyprus issue”, adding that the current situation, the approach of the President of the Republic and Nicosia's opinion regarding the latest developments will certainly be discussed.

During his stay in Rome, apart from Guterres, Christodoulides will hold bilateral meetings with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Italy, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Malta, as well as the Executive Vice President of the Italian company ENI Lapo Pistelli.

In Rome, the FM will attend the Extraordinary Ministerial Conference in support of UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency), as well as the Ministerial Meeting in Support of the Lebanese Security Forces.

The Extraordinary Ministerial Meeting in support of UNRWA is an initiative by Egypt, Jordan and Sweden, and is organised to address the dire economic situation the Agency finds itself in.

The Ministerial meeting in Support of the Lebanese Security Forces is the second meeting of its kind and will be attended by the members of the International Support Group, as well as countries with bilateral military cooperation programmes with Lebanon.

During the period 2015-2017, Cyprus donated military aid to the Lebanese Security Forces, worth approximately €40 million.