BEIRUT, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Cypriot President Nico Anastasiades held talks Monday with his Lebanese counterpart President Michel Aoun at Baabda Palace, where talks focused on the bilateral relations between the two countries and the means to strengthen them at various levels.
Anastasiades hailed the relations connecting Cyprus and Lebanon, pointing that the ties between the two countries go beyond geographical boundaries as they are deeply rooted between the two peoples.
He said during a joint press conference with his Lebanese counterpart "we discussed the means of further enhancing our shared vision for achieving peace and stability in our region. Lebanon and Cyprus are closely feeling the impact of the turbulence ongoing in the region."
For his part, Aoun said that he "stressed also the importance of the bilateral cooperation between the institutions of both our countries in all the international forums."
He hailed the relations connecting Cyprus and Lebanon and urged his guest to raise the importance of Lebanon's security to the European Union.
The Lebanese president thanked Cyprus for supporting the Lebanese army.
Lebanon's Defense Minister Yaacoub Sarraf announced over the weekend that Cyprus had agreed a 15 million euro (17 million dollars) military aid package for the Lebanese Army.
Anastasiades, who landed in Beirut on Sunday on a four-day visit, met with Maronite Patriarch Beshara Rai Monday night and will hold talks with Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Saad Hariri.
