The Lebanese Embassy in Cyprus held the 73rd Independence Day celebration at the Hilton Park Hotel in Nicosia on 22 November 2016. Over 400 people attended the ceremony, including the representative of the President of the Republic, the Minister of Defense Christoforos Fokaides and the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Alexandros Zenon , Former President of the Republic Mr. George Vassiliou, a number of former ministers and deputies, the majority of heads of diplomatic missions, a representative of the Archbishop of Cyprus, Bishop of Mesaoria Gregorios, Maronite Bishop Joseph Suef, representatives of parties in Cyprus, a number of Maronite Cypriot representatives, Representatives of civil society and representatives of the media, and a large number of the Lebanese community in Cyprus, who came from Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca and Nicosia.
Lebanese Ambassador Mr. Youssef Sadaka received greetings from the Lebanese and Cypriot communities on the election of General Michel Aoun as President of the Lebanese Republic, whose recent election brings satisfaction and appreciation among the Lebanese people. In his speech, Ambassador Sadaka stressed the importance of the content of the oath speech and the hopes for forming a new government that would provide economic and social stability to Lebanon. The Cypriot Minister of Defense made a speech in which he stressed the importance of the report on political and economic relations with Lebanon.
The initiative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, Mr. Gebran Bassil has received the admiration of the Lebanese community and the Cypriots.