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- Ελληνικά
The President of the Republic Mr.Nikos Christodoulides and the President of Germany Mr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is on an official visit to Cyprus, made statements to the media today, following their private meeting and extended talks between their delegations at the Presidential Palace.
In his opening statement, President Christodoulides said: "I would like to express my great and sincere satisfaction in welcoming you to Nicosia today. Your visit to Cyprus today is the first visit by a President of the Federal Republic of Germany since the establishment of our diplomatic relations in 1960 and is an event of great importance and substantial symbolism.
I would also like to note that in less than a year from the day I took office, I had the opportunity to visit Berlin last May, one of my first visits abroad, and today I have the honour to welcome, here in Cyprus, the President of Germany. These visits, as well as the general intensified level of contacts between us at all levels, are tangible proof of our clear political will to substantially strengthen our relations both bilaterally and at the European level.
We had a very productive meeting with President Steinmeier and exchanged views on a number of important issues related to our bilateral relations, our common European agenda, regional issues, as well as Cyprus.
To,As far as our bilateral relations are concerned, I would like to express my particular satisfaction with the close cooperation between our countries on education and cultural issues - during the first year of our government we decided to start with the pilot teaching of the German language in several of our schools and this programme will be extended to the whole of free Cyprus - [ON] immigration - and I must express the Republic of Cyprus' thanks for the fact that Germany has accepted more than a thousand asylum seekers from Cyprus. where there has been significant progress in recent years, [IN MATTERS OF] health and tourism. These are areas in which we have as a strategic goal the further expansion of our cooperation.
Regarding our European agenda, we discussed, among other things, the burning issue of migration and ways of more effective cooperation at European Union (EU) level to tackle it. We also discussed developments in Ukraine following the illegal Russian invasion. I reiterated the principled position that Cyprus has maintained from the outset. Our position is unwavering as respect for international law, the territorial integrity and sovereignty of any country is not a matter for discussion.
With regard to the future of Europe, of our common European family, the position of the Republic of Cyprus is that we should work together to further integrate the EU, to come even closer and to offer much more to our citizens
With the President, we also discussed regional developments, what is happening in Gaza, what is happening in Israel. For my part, I stressed the need for an end to hostilities and the start of a political process based on a two-state solution, the only option for a peaceful and final resolution of the conflict.
I also referred to our efforts to create a maritime humanitarian corridor. The Republic of Cyprus is the EU Member State that is the neighbouring state of the region, it is the state that has excellent relations with all the neighbouring states and we believe that in a crisis unfolding in the EU neighbourhood we have a duty as Member States to play a more prominent role in the developments.
This year, 2024, this year, includes very important milestones for our country. In a few months, 20 years will pass since the Republic of Cyprus joined the EU. A truly historic moment, the most important success of our country since its foundation, an anniversary which is a prime opportunity for us to reflect on this 20-year journey, all that we have achieved, how we have collectively contributed to the goals of the EU, but also how we must move forward to achieve an even more integrated EU. Your visit to Cyprus is also an integral part of our EU accession celebrations.
2024 is also a milestone because it will be 50 years since the illegal Turkish invasion. 50 years of occupation, violation of international law, violation of basic human rights in a European state.
Always, but especially on milestones like this, our thoughts are with the hundreds of thousands of European Cypriots who have been displaced and are still waiting to return to their homes, with the families of the missing who are desperately seeking information about the fate of their loved ones. They are with the stranded people who are patiently waiting for the end of the occupation.
As I mentioned in our conversation with the President, my vision and sole ambition, from the first day I took office, is to put an end to this unacceptable state of affairs, half a century of occupation, to reunite our country on the basis of the agreed framework, United Nations (UN) resolutions and EU principles and values. And for the EU in particular, he pointed out the need for the EU to play a more prominent role, not to replace the UN, but to strengthen the UN effort. The EU has the tools that can help to reach a mutually beneficial state of affairs for all the Cypriot people, for the EU, for Turkey, for Euro-Turkish relations.
2024 is another important milestone. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. My hope and ambition is that we will soon have the opportunity to celebrate the reunification of Cyprus, the reunification of Nicosia, the last divided capital of Europe. I truly hope that this first visit of the President of Germany to Cyprus will provide an additional impetus for further substantial cooperation and strengthening of the ties between Cyprus and Germany."
For his part, the German President, speaking through an interpreter, referred, among other things, to the warm relations and ties between the two countries, noting: "Cyprus has been in the EU for 20 years and this has become so self-evident that it is strange that I am the first German President to come to Cyprus. So it is a great honour for me to contribute to further strengthening our relations. There is great potential to do a lot together at the European level and we are doing that. We want to strengthen our relations between the Ministries of Defence. At noon we will talk about economic issues and how we can cooperate more intensively on energy issues. I am grateful that we can now talk and exchange views directly.
Cyprus for us and for all of Europe is really a safe haven in the region and I mean that literally, especially after the Hamas terrorist attack. We had to prepare for a possible evacuation of German nationals and that is why we sent German soldiers to Cyprus and I thank Cyprus for the support it gave us, which was swift, multifaceted and important. I thank again Cyprus and President Christodoulides personally."
Steinmeier added: "We want to strengthen our cooperation on civil defence issues and we signed this in the Joint Declaration."
He also praised the EU's unanimous and enduring stance on Ukraine, while elsewhere he called on European citizens to turn out en masse to the polls for the European elections, urging them to vote for parties that "stand for Europe and offer solutions. The EU is very important and these are difficult and dangerous times to leave Europe in the hands of populists and anti-democrats."
Referring to the Cyprus problem, the German President said: "It is time to work towards finding a solution to the Cyprus problem and I warmly welcome the fact that President Christodoulides is making progress a priority. And let me be clear, Germany supports a bi-zonal, bi-communal solution to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the UN parameters."
I am very pleased about the appointment of Ms. Cuellar as the new Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General. This is an important signal to give new momentum to the Cyprus settlement and break the stalemate."
He also noted that "we encourage all parties involved to show the necessary readiness for compromise so that the soundings become a real negotiating orientation. 60 years of continuous presence of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) peacekeeping mission and good offices is also a warning that we must now take bold steps. I am therefore particularly pleased that Germany, as a sign of our support for the UN's work in Cyprus, will for the first time send German police officers to Cyprus. This was decided last Wednesday by the Council of Ministers. In the coming months they will take up their duties."
(PM/EP/MS)
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