Let me first of all thank you warmly for the invitation to participate in the Delphi Forum. It is a great pleasure every time I am in this historic place to participate in the Forum which has now become an institution. This year, my pleasure is special, as I am participating for the first time in my capacity as President of the Republic of Cyprus. Of course, each period has its own peculiarities and challenges, but I believe it is commonly accepted that the current situation with the multiple crises we are experiencing: economic, migration, health, and with Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine from February 2022 and continued occupation, is particularly dire on many different levels.
This year's Forum is taking place at a critical juncture in relation to the international environment - a crossroads or even a crossroads for the future of Europe, but also of all humanity. In this international environment, we must examine how exactly the role of the large European family to which we belong, of our wider region, but also of Cyprus in relation to its future, and of our efforts to end the occupation and reunify it through the resolution of the Cyprus problem, is determined.
The unprecedented pandemic and the internationally condemned, illegal Russian invasion and occupation of Ukraine make today's reality extremely complex, if not difficult. The consequences and implications are very serious and the changes that are taking place are radical. Already, we are experiencing the cascading effects in vital areas such as food security, energy sufficiency and inflationary trends with all the consequences for our societies.
The crossroads at which we find ourselves today is both critical and pivotal. It is the moment of historic decisions that will determine the future of the European edifice and of each individual state. We are faced with a historic decision which, among other things, will determine whether we will choose introversion and isolation or whether we will dare our country, a member state of the EU and the wider Eastern Mediterranean region, to emerge as a model of extroversion, development and cooperation.
I have always been of the opinion that in times of crisis, doubt and suspicion in the international system, solutions and ways out of dangerous paths can only emerge through the strengthening of cooperation, the revitalization of multilateralism and the institutionalization of dialogue. I believe that this is the path we must follow today if we want to turn the crisis into an opportunity and achieve a leap forward. Our own neighbourhood, the region of the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle East - where most states, on the initiative of Greece and Cyprus, have in recent years, through concrete actions, adopted the approach of synergy - even today in the unstable international environment, clearly demonstrate that the path of cooperation is the only one that can create real hope for tomorrow.
It is my deep conviction that the Republic of Cyprus, as the member state of the European Union with the largest geographic and geographical area in the world, is the only one that can create real hope for the future. The synergies and partnerships that have been developed over the past years are the foundations for many positive developments that may emerge. At the same time, and taking into account the energy crisis that the EU is currently experiencing as a result of its heavy dependence on Russian gas, our region can play an important role.
The countries of the region, producers of natural gas, can become part of the solution to ensure the much needed energy security of the EU by creating the "Eastern Mediterranean Gas Corridor", with the political support, technical and financial involvement of the EU.
The next day of the war in Ukraine - for there will be a next day and we must be ready for it - may find the importance of the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle East for Europe even more enhanced. Therefore, the role of Cyprus as the natural and essential bridge to promote this mutually beneficial relationship will also be potentially enhanced as long as we as a state are ready in terms of all the components of a country's strength and our international credibility. In this context and in this direction we, as Nicosia and Athens, should strengthen our efforts for the internal strengthening of our states and the strengthening of our natural alliance and our joint international action.
Such a development will undoubtedly strengthen our efforts to break the deadlock on the Cyprus problem, a top priority of my administration, through a leading role of the EU, and always within the framework of the United Nations. And it is precisely for this reason that immediately after taking office we launched a major diplomatic effort aimed at mutual benefit for all parties involved in the Cyprus problem through security, stability and prosperity. And in this effort we need a strong Greece by our side.
In particular, our goal is to link Euro-Turkish relations with the resumption of negotiations for the settlement of the Cyprus problem on the basis of the agreed form of solution with a content of European standards. Our aim is to develop a comprehensive debate in the European Council and, in order to achieve this, we have already prepared a policy paper on this, with the proposal for the appointment by the European Union of a political figure to take the lead in this direction as a key element. The EU has the appropriate toolbox, those attractive incentives for Turkey to be able to lead us to positive developments in the Cyprus problem, thus sending positive signals and at the same time establishing its leading role in a region of particular geostrategic importance, taking into account the developments in Ukraine, the international context in which we are called upon to operate today. A proper solution to the Cyprus problem, which will turn the European citizens of Cyprus into first-class citizens and not second-class citizens, as they are today, since they are still deprived of their human rights and basic freedoms in their own country, experiencing the tragic consequences of the Turkish invasion and occupation on a daily basis.
We must not forget that when we refer to the comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, we are not only talking about the removal of the barbed wire separating the territory and the people, and the withdrawal of foreign troops, we are primarily referring to the restoration of the human rights of all legal residents in Cyprus, Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, Maronites, Armenians and Latins, who do not have the right to freedom of movement, settlement, residence, residence, work, property, that is, they are deprived of the four basic freedoms that the EU offers and guarantees in the rest of its territory other than occupied Cyprus to all its citizens.
I recall, and I conclude with this, that the European Council has repeatedly stressed the need to de-escalate tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean, has adopted legal instruments, has condemned the unilateral Turkish actions in Varosha and has called for the resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus problem, noting at the same time that the European Union has a strategic interest in developing cooperation and a mutually beneficial relationship with Turkey, and that if Turkey wishes to promote a genuine partnership with Turkey, the European Union has a strategic interest in developing cooperation and a mutually beneficial relationship with Turkey. Such a development would also reinforce and serve the objective of making the EU a real geopolitical power, especially in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider Middle East region, which is admittedly a region of particular geostrategic importance adjacent to the EU.
(RM/NG/SX)
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