Instability in the Middle East, the prospects of the Southern Neighborhood, and the importance of EU–Jordan cooperation, in combination with the upcoming Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, as well as developments on the Cyprus Issue, were the centre of a meeting between the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, and King Abdullah II of Jordan, on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly in New York.
According to a written statement by Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis, during the 22 September meeting, the President underlined that Cyprus’ assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026 is a historic opportunity for Cyprus to highlight the Southern Neighborhood as a strategic priority for the Union, with the goal of promoting stability, cooperation, and development in the region.
"He added that Cyprus is ready to make full use of its Presidency to further strengthen EU–Jordan relations and deepen cooperation with all countries in the region" Letymbiotis went on. In this context, he continued, President Christodoulides invited King Abdullah to participate in the high-level events that will be held in Cyprus during the Presidency, including the Inaugural Ceremony on 7 January 2026 and the Summit on the margins of the Informal European Council in April 2026.
The President of the Republic also expressed satisfaction at the invitation extended to King Abdullah to participate in the Med9 Summit to be held in Slovenia, following the example of Cyprus’ hosting last October, the announcement says.
At the same time, President Christodoulides briefed King Abdullah II on the latest developments in the Cyprus Issue, "reiterating Nicosia’s determination to continue efforts for the resumption of substantive negotiations, aiming for a just , viable, and functional settlement based on UN decisions and the EU acquis" while expressing gratitude for Jordan’s consistent principled stance, Letymbiotis continues.
The discussion, he says, further covered regional cooperation, both within the framework of the Cyprus–Greece–Jordan trilateral mechanism and the upcoming Trilateral Summit to be held in Jordan in November, as well as at the European level, and included issues related to Energy and Defense.
President Christodoulides praised the role of Jordan and of King Abdullah personally in the ongoing efforts to provide humanitarian assistance to Gaza, referring to the Cypriot “Amalthea” maritime corridor initiative. In this context, they also exchanged views on the latest developments in Gaza and the West Bank, as per the Government Spokesman.
On the bilateral level, Letymbiotis notes that the common will to further deepen cooperation in key sectors was reaffirmed. "The President made special reference to the announcement by the President of the European Commission regarding the creation of a Regional Firefighting Center in Cyprus, expressing readiness to explore Jordan’s participation in this initiative" he added.
President Christodoulides also thanked King Abdullah II for his country’s actions in ensuring the continuation of halloumi exports from the Republic of Cyprus to Jordan, as well as for the decision to reinstate the ban on its imports from the Turkish-occupied areas, the announcement concludes.
(Source: CNA)
