US and France Collaborating on Lebanon Diplomatic Initiative, Says Cyprus President

By John Irish and Michelle Nichols

UNITED NATIONS – The United States and France are working to establish a temporary agreement aimed at ceasing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah, with the goal of facilitating broader diplomatic discussions. This was stated by Cyprus’ President Nikos Christodoulides on Wednesday.

"I don’t see that we can reach a comprehensive agreement, but we can aim for an interim arrangement to prevent further escalation. This is the current focus, particularly for the United States and France," Christodoulides explained in an interview on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York.

Cyprus, located approximately 264 km (164 miles) from Lebanon, is the nearest European Union member state and has been actively involved in providing maritime aid for Gaza. The island nation is particularly concerned about developments in Lebanon, given the potential need for evacuating foreign nationals.

Christodoulides mentioned that he has held discussions with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati and French President Emmanuel Macron, as well as phone conversations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Recently, there have been extensive discussions aimed at preventing further escalation, especially regarding Lebanon. There is a diplomatic initiative underway from the United States and France," he noted, indicating that meetings in New York on Wednesday would be vital for these efforts.

"The objective is to avoid further escalation and allow diplomacy the necessary time to find a lasting solution," he added.