Nicosia - President Borut Pahor started a two-day official visit to Cyprus on Tuesday by meeting his counterpart Nicos Anastasiades. The pair discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and topical issues such as the war in Ukraine, climate crisis, migration and energy security.

The presidents also exchanged views on cooperation within the EU, especially as part of the Conference on the Future of Europe.

Anastasiades said the visit came at a tragic time of war in Ukraine, which had global consequences. He expressed Cyprus's solidarity with Ukraine.

Pahor said they had both strongly condemned the Russian invasion. He noted that Slovenia was providing humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine, and that it was important to achieve a ceasefire so that a peaceful solution to the conflict could be found.

Pahor stressed the importance of aid to Ukrainian refugees and praised Cyprus's view on the matter.

He also expressed Slovenia's support to Cyprus in the tackling of the issue of Cyprus's division and condemned Turkey's unilateral actions that violated international law.

Pahor is paying an official visit to Cyprus on Tuesday and Wednesday to mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Slovenia and Cyprus.

He started what is his first official visit to the country by laying a wreath together with Anastasiades at the monument to the first president of Cyprus, Archbishop Makarios III.

Pahor will also meet with Speaker of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou later today and visit the city of Limassol on the southern coast of Cyprus to meet its Mayor Nikos Nikolaides.