Press Releases

Upon arrival at the venue of the European Council in Brussels, the President of the Republic, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, called the European Council session a difficult one.

Speaking to journalists, President Christodoulides stated, “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 issue that is expected to dominate in the discussions. We hope there will be a conclusion. It is an important issue. From the Republic of Cyprus's point of view, it is important that there is more funding on the issue of migration, particularly 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 expansion, a very important issue. The expansion of the European Union (EU) is a political tool that we must use properly. We hope that today we will have decisions in the direction of launching accession negotiations, in line with the Commission's recommendations. The launching of accession negotiations does not mean accession to the EU. It is a long process which helps candidate countries come closer to the EU.”

Referring to the war in the Gaza Strip, the President of the Republic 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 EU. And if we do not have a substantial, thorough discussion on this issue today, and if there are no conclusions from today's Council, then we, as the EU, are sending out the wrong message. And this is the issue I referred to in detail at the meeting of the European People's Party (EPP), and the one I will refer to during the European Council.”

Asked about the issue of a ceasefire in Gaza, President Christodoulides noted, “What I mentioned earlier is that today we, as the EU, need to discuss the situation in Gaza, especially the dire humanitarian situation, and I hope that we take decisions. If we are not going to have a substantive discussion, if we do not have conclusions today in relation to the situation in Gaza, then I am afraid that, as the EU, we will have failed. Therefore, this is the issue that I am going to raise during 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 EU Member States in the region, as a country with excellent relations with all the countries in the region, we are trying to play a substantial role, especially on the humanitarian aspect. And that is why we have proposed the creation of a maritime humanitarian corridor for the provision of humanitarian aid – which we already have in Cyprus – to the people in Gaza. I really hope that today, as the EU, 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 of the Republic replied, “Obviously I understand that there are different views, but if we cannot at least agree on the dramatic humanitarian situation which exists and on the need to respond as the EU, then, I repeat, I am very sorry, but as the EU, we will have failed.”

Asked to comment whether Hungary's stance might also affect the debate, President Christodoulides said, "Certainly, the stance of some Member States – in this case Hungary’s stance – is something which also affects the debate on the abolition of unanimity in general. But also on the Middle East issue, 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 stated, “Particularly at the present juncture, the management of the Cyprus problem requires 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. If there is a possibility of a meeting with Mr Erdogan, I will pursue it. And let me tell you that I conveyed this readiness to him in person and through third parties. However, let me tell you something; if there was a possibility for such a meeting, everything that has been publicised does not help in any case. Therefore, I conclude with what I said at the beginning: the management of the Cyprus problem requires seriousness and does not lend itself – especially at the present juncture, fifty years later, with the faits accomplis being constantly reinforced – to the service of any other expediencies.”

(AP/GS/MS)