Nicosia: President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides announced the country's commitment to hosting a European Union-Gulf Cooperation Council (EU-GCC) summit in April 2026 during Cyprus' EU Presidency. The announcement was made during a meeting with Kuwaiti Ambassador Abdullah Al-Kharafi, marking the end of his diplomatic tenure in Cyprus.
According to Kuwait News Agency, President Christodoulides emphasized the summit's purpose to enhance dialogue and strategic cooperation between the EU, GCC, and other regional countries. He also expressed his intention to visit Kuwait before the year concludes, highlighting the importance of bilateral relations. The president praised Kuwait's significant role in the region and within the GCC, thanking Al-Kharafi for his contributions to strengthening relations between the two countries and wishing him success in his future endeavors.
Ambassador Al-Kharafi congratulated Cyprus on its upcoming EU presidency in 2026 and commended President Christodoulides' initiative to host the EU-GCC summit. He noted that the summit would pave the way for new avenues of joint cooperation. Al-Kharafi also expressed his gratitude for the hospitality he received during his time in Cyprus.
In addition, Al-Kharafi met with Speaker of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou, who praised his efforts in enhancing parliamentary and political ties and expressed optimism for continued cooperation between Cyprus and Kuwait.