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"We have set a goal, the substantial interconnection of Euro-Turkish issues with the Cyprus problem, and this is clearly evident from yesterday's conclusions and the discussion that took place."
President of the Republic Mr. Nicos Christodoulides, arriving today, 18 April 2024, at the Extraordinary European Council Summit in Brussels, in a statement to journalists, said the following. From the very beginning we set an objective, the substantial interconnection of Euro-Turkish issues with the Cyprus problem, and this clearly emerges from yesterday's conclusions, but also from the discussion that took place. Consciously, last night we sent a positive message to Turkey. A positive message that was the translation of this message into concrete positive developments in Euro-Turkish relations depends on progress on the Cyprus issue, and this is a very important juncture, taking into account the efforts made by the Secretary-General to resume the talks.
I would like to thank all the leaders who participated in the debate, first and foremost the Greek Prime Minister, the President of France, the Chancellor of Germany, the Prime Minister of Italy, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands and of course the President of the Council and the President of the Commission, who made clear through their interventions this interconnection, who recognised the constructive role of the Republic of Cyprus, of Nicosia, and the need at this time for Turkey, if it wishes this positive message, I repeat, to be translated into concrete positive actions, to take the steps that are needed on the Cyprus problem.
From there, I would like to make a specific reference to the discussion on developments in the Middle East. Apart from the universal message, so that there is no deterioration of the situation, it was important that the position of the Republic of Cyprus to review the status quo in specific areas of Syria was welcomed and supported by a significant number of states. I mention, by way of example, Denmark, Austria, Italy and Greece. There was no negative position from anybody, and the institutions see this dimension, the need after 14 years to review the status, I repeat, of specific areas, which will have a substantial and positive impact on dealing with migration.
From there, both I and the President of the Commission were informed about Lebanon, about my visit there, but also about the forthcoming, on 2 May, joint visit with the President of the European Commission, where, at the initiative of the Republic of Cyprus, a specific package of financial support for the country will be announced, both for the management of migration and for the country itself, which is facing multiple challenges, which I believe will be another step in this holistic approach of ours, in order to address the issue of migration. So in the Council - and we raised this last night - we need to start discussing the review of the status of certain areas in the database that exists at the moment. And indeed in my intervention I talked about specific ways in which we can start. For example, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to start this effort.
I understand from the intervention of the President of the Council, but also from the private discussion we had on this particular issue, that there may be a meeting at European Council level before the end of his term of office with all the states in the region - I am talking about the Arab world - and that Syria will be one of the topics of discussion. Let me remind you that Syria has already rejoined the Arab League."
Asked whether there is something that we are waiting for in this Council to start linking Euro-Turkish relations with the Cyprus problem, Christodoulides said:
"Yes, there is an initiative both on the part of the Council and on the part of the Commission. At the same time, apart from Greece, where the Greek Prime Minister keeps raising the issue and will have a meeting with the Turkish President, as is publicly known, I want to highlight the intervention of the German Chancellor last night on the role he played in getting Turkey to accept the appointment of the personal envoy, but also the ongoing effort to get Turkey to respond to the calls of the Secretary General so that the dialogue can resume."
Asked to refer to the discussion on the issue of competitiveness and Cyprus' interest in this issue, the President said. It is important that we finally get to discuss this issue, an issue on which as a European Union - we have to be honest - we have a lot to do, taking into account who we have to compete with. The competitiveness of the European Union is also key to the future course of the European Union and even touches on the major issue of the strategic autonomy of the European Union.
As a first observation - something that I will also mention in the debate that we will have after the presentation of Mr Letta's report, which I think is quite important, with important points that we must take into account - we as the European Union must look again at all the procedures that we have on many issues, taking into account the fact that as a Union we have so many, many people and so many different interests. There are two groups of Member States, as you know, who have taken positions right now through the discussions in the Permanent Representatives Committee, and we will see how the debate will evolve."
For the video of the President of the Republic of Cyprus' statements, click here
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