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The proposals by the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus for a package of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) are a "step in the right direction", says German Ambassador to Cyprus Anke Slim, who expresses hope that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriots will respond "in an open and constructive manner".
In the second part of her interview with CNA, Slim also says that the position for a two-state solution in Cyprus is not acceptable and notes that Germany remains committed to a solution of a bizonal bicommunal federation. She also speaks about the migration issue, noting that Germany has offered concrete support to Cyprus on the issue, particularly with regard to the return of third country nationals whose asylum application has been rejected, and is ready to participate in a planned return flight to Pakistan later this month.
"We welcome the constructive commitment of the Republic of Cyprus to revive the UN-led [NEGOTIATION] process. If requested, we stand ready to consider supporting Confidence Building Measures," says Ambassador Slim.
"We hope that Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot community will respond in an open and constructive manner to the recent initiative of the Republic of Cyprus," she adds, noting that all parties involved need to show flexibility and willingness to compromise in order to move forward.
Germany, he adds, remains committed to a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of a bizonal bicommunal federation with political equality. "We have always followed the Cyprus issue closely and facilitated discussions regarding efforts to find a consensus as a starting point for meaningful, results-oriented negotiations leading to a solution," she says.
The Ambassador also notes that Germany supports UN efforts to resume negotiations on the Cyprus problem and underlines that a two-state solution is not acceptable.
"We fully support the efforts of UN Secretary General Guterres to bring the parties to the Cyprus conflict together, aiming at finding common ground and resuming the negotiation process towards the reunification of Cyprus," she said.
Regarding developments in Varosha, the Ambassador notes that the solidarity of the European Union and Germany towards Cyprus "is not open to question" and says that Turkish actions in the enclosed town "are and remain unacceptable".
It indicates that the EU and the UN Security Council have condemned the regime change in Varosha as a move contrary to all relevant UN Security Council resolutions, while Turkey has been called upon to reverse these actions, to avoid further unilateral actions that are not in line with relevant UN Security Council resolutions, which could increase tension in Cyprus and damage the prospects for a Cyprus settlement.
"The best way to achieve a viable solution is to create a favourable climate for all parties involved to come to the negotiating table. The proposal by the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Cyprus for a package of Confidence Building Measures is a step in the right direction," says the German Ambassador.
In response to another question about the pressures on Cyprus due to the migration issue, the Ambassador says she shares the concern about the increasing number of irregular arrivals on the island and welcomes Cyprus' cooperation with the European Commission in this context.
"Germany has offered concrete support to Cyprus and has launched joint working groups on migration as a gesture of solidarity."
"Germany has offered concrete support to Cyprus and has launched joint working groups on migration as a gesture of solidarity. The basis for this is a bilateral action plan (Joint Action Plan for Migration Management between Germany and Cyprus) agreed at the end of December 2020.The action plan provides, among other things, German support for the return of citizens, whose asylum application was rejected, to their country of origin." She says that distance workshops have been organised by Germany as part of this action plan, with the first taking place in April 2021 and the second in January 2022. The last workshop focused on readmission agreements, international cooperation in the field of returns and joint flights for returning nationals.
Another workshop on cooperation in the field of voluntary returns for persons whose asylum application was rejected is planned for the coming weeks, he adds.
According to the Ambassador, Germany has proposed to Cyprus to participate in a planned return flight of nationals to Pakistan, which will take place in March.
Slim notes that Germany has been represented by many experts through the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) in Cyprus for several years. In the last two years, 21 people from Germany have been seconded under various EASO measures, and two more experts from Germany will be sent to Cyprus soon, she concludes.
Source: CNA
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