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- Ελληνικά
Brussels, 14 and 15 December 2023
The President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, arriving at the venue where the body is meeting in Brussels.
Specifically, President Christodoulides told reporters that: "We have a difficult European Council with several issues on which there are divergent views among member states. Certainly the revision of the multiannual financial framework is the one that is expected to dominate the discussions. We hope there will be a conclusion. It is an important issue. From the point of view of the Republic of Cyprus, it is important to have more funding on the issue of migration, especially for the Member States that are on the front line, the Member States that face the most challenges.
Beyond that, there is the issue of enlargement, a very important issue. The enlargement of the European Union is a political tool that we need to use properly. We hope today to have decisions towards the opening of accession negotiations, as are the Commission's recommendations. The opening of accession negotiations does not mean accession to the European Union. It is a long process that helps the candidate countries to come closer to the European Union."
Referring to the issue of the war in the Gaza Strip, the President said: "I hope there will be a substantive discussion and conclusions on developments in the Middle East. There is a war in our neighbourhood, a war in the neighbourhood of the European Union. And if today we do not discuss this issue substantially and thoroughly, and if there are no conclusions from today's Council, then we are sending out a very wrong message as the European Union. And this is the issue that I mentioned in detail at the European People's Party meeting, and what I will mention during the European Council.
In response to a question on the issue of a ceasefire in Gaza, President Christodoulides said: "What I mentioned earlier is the need today as the European Union to discuss the situation in Gaza, in particular the dramatic humanitarian situation, and I hope that we will move forward with decisions. If we are not going to have a substantive discussion, if we do not have decisions today in relation to the situation in Gaza, then I am afraid that as a European Union we have failed. So that is the issue that I am going to raise in our discussions, the need to discuss specifically the critical humanitarian situation, and I hope that we will agree on decisions on this particular issue. Cyprus, as one of the closest European Union Member States in the region, as a country with excellent relations with the countries in the region, we are trying to play a substantial role, especially in the humanitarian part. And that is why we have proposed the creation of a maritime humanitarian corridor to send humanitarian aid - which we already have in Cyprus - to the civilian population of Gaza. I really hope that today as the European Union we will understand the importance of the situation and the need to address the challenges in Gaza, especially on the issue of the humanitarian crisis."
Asked by a journalist whether it is possible to achieve a result since there are many different views, the President replied: "Obviously I understand that there are different views, but if we cannot at least agree on the dramatic humanitarian situation that exists, and the need to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, then we can at least agree on the humanitarian situation. "Certainly the attitude of some member states - in this case the attitude of Hungary - is something that affects the debate on the abolition of unanimity more broadly. But also on the issue of the Middle East, yes, there are different views, but we have to sit down to discuss and find common ground. And I repeat, on the issue of the dramatic situation with regard to the civilians, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, I think that, yes, we can find common ground."
Asked about recent reports in the Cypriot press about the prospect of a meeting with Erdogan, President Christodoulides said: "Especially at the current juncture in which we find ourselves, the management of the Cyprus problem needs seriousness. And it certainly does not lend itself to communication or other purposes or even to serve other purposes. Of course, if I have an invitation from Mr. Erdogan, I will visit him. Of course, if there is a possibility of a meeting with Mr. Erdogan, I will seek it. And let me tell you that I conveyed this readiness to him and also through third parties. But let me tell you something: with all the things that are seeing the light of day, if there was a possibility of this meeting, certainly all the things that are seeing the light of day are not helpful in any way. So, I conclude with what I started with: the management of the Cyprus problem needs special seriousness and does not lend itself - especially at the present juncture, fifty years later, with the fait accompli being constantly reinforced - to serving any other expediency."
(BPA/EATH/AF/NG)
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