EU, Middle Eastern leaders meet in Cyprus for discussions on Iran, Lebanon
發佈日期: 2026-04-24 23:35
TVB News
The informal European Union meeting and summit with Middle Eastern leaders wrapped up in Cyprus, with politicians calling for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and expressing solidarity with regional partners.
This after Lebanon and Israel said their current 10-day ceasefire will be extended by three weeks.
Leaders of Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Egypt and the Gulf Cooperation Council gathered in Nicosia, Cyprus on Friday for a summit with their European counterparts.
Among the arrivals were Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
European Council President Antonio Costa thanked Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides for hosting and said the recent ceasefire extension with Iran was a positive step.
Costa has urged the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz without restriction, pointing out the EU would contribute to every effort in addressing the issue through diplomacy, which he says is the only sustainable path.
Macron contended that Europe must commit itself even more to work on negotiations, peace, stability in Lebanon and its sovereignty.
Meanwhile, Meloni held a bilateral meeting with Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun on the sidelines of the event.
The Italian leader noted she believes an international presence at the Israel-Lebanon border is "still necessary and essential," and expressed support for every mediation effort possible to facilitate direct talks between the two sides.
On Thursday evening, US President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah by three weeks following talks between representatives from both countries.
Trump claimed on Truth Social the meeting went "very well," saying "The United States is going to work with Lebanon in order to help it protect itself from Hezbollah."
He further noted that he will host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Aoun at the White House in the "near future."
