President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides paid his first official visit to Latvia, emphasizing the strong and growing partnership between the two EU member states. During the visit, Christodoulides underlined that Latvia and Cyprus share common values and experiences, including their location on the EU’s external borders and histories marked by foreign occupation.
The Cypriot president noted the potential for closer cooperation in areas such as defense, innovation, energy, and tourism. He also expressed hope that stronger ties would bring the peoples of both countries closer together.
Christodoulides highlighted Cyprus’ upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2026, stressing that like-minded countries such as Latvia will be valuable partners in advancing key priorities, including the next Multiannual Financial Framework.
On global matters, Christodoulides affirmed the importance of continued EU support for Ukraine and the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia when backed by both EU member states and candidate countries. He also called for a more active EU role in resolving international crises, particularly in the Middle East, urging de-escalation and dialogue.
Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs welcomed Christodoulides to Riga and reaffirmed Latvia’s readiness to support Cyprus during its EU Council presidency.
Source: BNS
(Reproduction of BNS information in mass media and other websites without written consent of BNS is prohibited)
