On behalf of the Head of State, Lana Nusseibeh participates in the opening ceremony of Cyprus assuming the presidency of the Council of the European Union

Nicosia, 10 January / WAM / On behalf of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him,” His Excellency Lana Nusseibeh, Minister of State, participated in the ceremony celebrating the Republic of Cyprus’ assumption of the presidency of the Council of the European Union, which was held in the capital, Nicosia.

Her Excellency conveyed the greetings of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him”, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him”, and His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President of the State, Deputy Prime Minister, Head of the Presidential Office, to the Cypriot leadership, along with their congratulations on the occasion of the Republic of Cyprus assuming the presidency of the Council of the European Union, They wish Cyprus and its people further progress and prosperity.

Her Excellency stressed the depth of the historical relations and strategic ties between the UAE and the Republic of Cyprus, pointing to the important role played by Cyprus as a reliable partner of the UAE in Europe, and its importance in supporting dialogue and enhancing cooperation in the Mediterranean region and Europe.

In this context, in her speech during the occasion, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, referred to “the vital role that Cyprus plays in delivering humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip,” including the established cooperation between Cyprus and the UAE in sending relief aid through the “Amalthea” sea corridor established by Nicosia.

Her Excellency also stressed that Cyprus assuming the presidency of the Council of the European Union represents an important opportunity to strengthen relations between the UAE and the European Union, in support of the common goals related to stability, development and prosperity. This trend was reflected in the statements of Antonio Costa, President of the European Council, who referred in his speech to the progress achieved in trade negotiations with the UAE, stressing the European Union’s aspiration to complete the agreement with the UAE in a way that benefits the peoples of both sides.

Her Excellency explained that her visit comes as a continuation of the momentum achieved by the visit of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, “may God protect him,” to the Republic of Cyprus in December 2025, which is the first visit by a UAE president to Cyprus, which reflects the two countries’ joint commitment to advancing this strategic partnership within the framework of an ambitious and forward-looking agenda for the future.

During her two-day visit to Nicosia, Her Excellency held a number of expanded meetings with His Excellency Konstantinos Kompos, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, and His Excellency Marilena Raona, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, during which ways to expand areas of cooperation were discussed, including economic partnerships, humanitarian efforts, regional developments, and multilateral cooperation.

Her Excellency also met with His Excellency Andriy Sepha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, where they discussed bilateral relations and developments in the situation in the region.

Her Excellency’s delegation included His Excellency Mohammed Saif Al Shehhi, UAE Ambassador to the Republic of Cyprus, and His Excellency Mohammed Al Sahlawi, UAE Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and the European Union.

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