Prime Minister of Lebanon Saad Hariri said on Thursday that the Middle East is at a critical crossroads which leads to an uncertain future, Xinhua reported.
"The region will either head towards peace or will face a regional war," he told journalists after talks with Cyprus President Demetris Christofias in Nicosia.
Hariri, on a one-day visit, said Cyprus can play an important role in Middle East developments as a member country of the European Union, and "as a country which understands both the sensitivities of the region and the cost of instability in the area."
"The European Union has a moral responsibility to deter Israel from climaxing racist and discriminatory policies by its new citizenship laws," said Hariri.
The Israeli cabinet approved earlier this month a legislation requiring non-Jewish new citizens to pledge a loyalty oath to "a Jewish and a democratic state," which outraged the Palestinians who described the law as "racist."
Hariri also said that Lebanon, a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, is supportive of a solution of the Cyprus problem based on United Nations resolutions.
Christofias, a Greek Cypriot, and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu are currently engaged in negotiations aimed at the reunification of the island divided since 1974.
In response to a question concerning the demarcation of the exclusive sea economic zones of Lebanon and Cyprus, Hariri said there has been a delay because of a problem with Syria.
"Relations with Syria have now improved, the issue is now being resolved and Lebanon will be proceeding with the demarcation of the sea zones with Syria and Cyprus," he said.
He also said Lebanon's energy minister will visit Cyprus soon for talks on the issue.
Cyprus and Lebanon have traditionally close relations which can date back to the independence of the island in 1960.
The island received tens of thousands of Lebanese refugees after the 1975 civil war and most recently during the 2006 Israeli incursion into southern Lebanon.
"Cyprus and its people have always been a true friend of Lebanon ... always ready to help and accept us without hesitation during many incidents of turbulence in our history," Hariri said.
Hariri flew back to Lebanon late Thursday afternoon.