Jordan, Cyprus Sign Bilateral Agreements

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades (R) receives Jordan's King Abdullah II at the presidential palace in the capital Nicosia on December 17, 2021 Iakovos HATZISTAVROU POOL/AFP
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades (R) receives Jordan's King Abdullah II at the presidential palace in the capital Nicosia on December 17, 2021 Iakovos HATZISTAVROU POOL/AFP
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Jordan, Cyprus Sign Bilateral Agreements

Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades (R) receives Jordan's King Abdullah II at the presidential palace in the capital Nicosia on December 17, 2021 Iakovos HATZISTAVROU POOL/AFP
Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades (R) receives Jordan's King Abdullah II at the presidential palace in the capital Nicosia on December 17, 2021 Iakovos HATZISTAVROU POOL/AFP

Jordan and Cyprus signed a number of bilateral accords on Friday, including agreements on double taxation and the extradition of fugitives.

This came during the official visit of King Abdullah II to Cyprus for talks with President Nicos Anastasiades,

Following a military guard of honor, Anastasiades and Abdullah held a private meeting and exchanged gifts.

"President Anastasiades bestowed upon the king of Jordan the highest honor of the Republic of Cyprus... and King Abdullah II bestowed upon the president the highest honor of Jordan," the presidency said.

The two leaders discussed bilateral relations and regional developments, as well as climate change and efforts to combat Covid-19.

King Abdullah was also briefed on efforts to resume United Nations-backed Cyprus reunification talks and Turkish warnings against Nicosia over oil and gas exploration in the region.

Jordan has joined a burgeoning regional alliance that includes Egypt, Greece and Israel, based on shared energy interests.



Egypt’s Sisi Warns Israeli Operations Threaten the Region

09 December 2021, Egypt, Cairo: Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati (L) meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Presidential Palace in Cairo. (Dalati & Nohra/dpa)
09 December 2021, Egypt, Cairo: Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati (L) meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Presidential Palace in Cairo. (Dalati & Nohra/dpa)
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Egypt’s Sisi Warns Israeli Operations Threaten the Region

09 December 2021, Egypt, Cairo: Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati (L) meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Presidential Palace in Cairo. (Dalati & Nohra/dpa)
09 December 2021, Egypt, Cairo: Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati (L) meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Presidential Palace in Cairo. (Dalati & Nohra/dpa)

Egypt’s president warned that Israeli military operations in the Palestinian territories and Lebanon are pushing the region to the brink and called for international action.

Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, one of the mediators between Israel and Hamas, called for “an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire” in both Gaza and Lebanon amid an unprecedented escalation between Israel and Hezbollah.

His remarks came after Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Friday.

His comments came in a phone call late Saturday with Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati, according to a statement from the Egyptian president’s office. He also gave orders to send medical and humanitarian aid to Lebanon immediately.

Along with the United States and Qatar, Egypt has for months spearheaded negotiations between Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza.

But negotiations have repeatedly stalled amid mounting fear of an all-out war between Israel and Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas. Diplomats see a ceasefire in Gaza as the best way to avert a regional war.