(BEIRUT, LEBANON) — Lebanese Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil held a meeting with Cyprus’ president, Nicos Anastasiades, to discuss Lebanese-Cypriot relations on Wednesday during Bassil’s brief visit to the island.
Bassil says more attention should be paid to the possibility of Cyprus becoming a gateway for foreign jihadis to transit in and out of the Middle East.
A Cypriot security official said last week that Cyprus has already stepped up screening efforts across the island’s dividing line to prevent Europeans from passing through en route to Syria.
Cyprus’ president says he was glad to meet with Bassil and tackle the region’s issues, “especially the ones related to international terrorism.”
“Cyprus supports the Lebanese army as well as the efforts to support the Syrian refugees in Lebanon and its further actions to strengthen the relations between Lebanon and the EU,” said Anastasiades.
Bassil also met with his foreign ministry counterpart Ioannis Kasoulidis, where they reportedly discussed the discovery of hydrocarbon reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean.