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Jordan asks Cyprus to brief EU on its operational problems due to refugee influx

Xinhua, November 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

Jordan has officially asked Cyprus to convey to the European Union a request to deal with problems the country is faced with as a result of the influx of hundreds of thousands of refugees from Syria, a Cypriot official said on Tuesday.

The official, who accompanies Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades on a state visit to Jordan, said the request came in talks in Amman.

"President Anastasiades was requested to convey to the European Union the big operational problems Jordan is faced with as a result of having to care for the refugees," Cyprus' state radio quoted the official as saying.

He added that President Anastasiades will present Jordan's request at an informal summit of EU leaders in Valletta, Malta, on Thursday.

"President Anastasiades had to adjust part of his visit so as to fly directly from Amman to Valetta to attend the summit," the official was quoted as saying.

He added that Jordan was positive to the changes, seeing this as an opportunity to have its problem presented to the European Union.

It is estimated that 1,200,000 Syrian refugees have crossed into Jordan.

The country also hosts 2 million registered Palestinian refugees.

The Cyprus News Agency, CAN, quoted sources close to Anastasiades as saying that he would propose to his EU counterparts in Valletta to financially support Jordan and also Lebanon in order to cope with their increased needs as a result of the refugee influx.

Anastasiades is scheduled to have talks on Wednesday with King Abdullah and will later with Jordan's Prime Minister Abdullah Snour.

Issues to be discussed include the refugee crisis, energy, bilateral relations, the Cyprus problem and regional issues, such as fighting in neighbouring countries Syria and Iraq and the threat by the Islamic State.

The official with Anastasiades said the Cypriot President will raise the possibility of either expanding a tripartite cooperation agreement between Cyprus, Greece and Egypt to also include Jordan or setting up a separate tripartite pact between Cyprus, Greece and Jordan.

Jordan has been reported to be interested in buying natural gas from a Cypriot field in the eastern Mediterranean.

Plans are currently under way to develop the natural gas field. Endit