As a friend of Cyprus and its people, Germany is supporting and assisting the United Nations’ efforts to ensure that negotiations on a solution to the Cyprus issue resume, new Ambassador of Germany, Anke Schlimm, stressed Friday presenting her credentials to President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades during a formal ceremony held at the Presidential Palace.
“It is painful to think that Cyprus has de facto been divided since the Turkish invasion in 1974 and that it has not yet been possible to heal this division” she added.
Receiving her credentials, the President of Cyprus expressed his deep appreciation for Germany’s principled stance on the Cyprus issue and the consistent support on Cyprus` efforts to reach a lasting and comprehensive settlement, based on the relevant UN Security Council resolutions.
“We greatly value Germany’s interest in bi-communal activities in the framework of bringing the two communities together and facilitating efforts for the reunification of Cyprus. Cyprus has never stopped supporting bi-communal programmes. We are convinced that the ramifications from reuniting Cyprus will prove healing on several levels” he said.
President Anastasiades noted that in a region where the challenges of asymmetric threats are vivid, a viable and durable solution to the Cyprus problem which will reunite the island, its people, its economy and its institutions will resonate not only within the country and in the immediate region, but even further afield.
Referring to bilateral relations, he said they have been evolving rapidly in recent years, undoubtedly providing a solid foundation on which we can build so as to further deepen our cooperation, especially in the fields of trade, defence, services, education and tourism.
The Ambassador said that Germany hopes that the parties involved will work towards engaging in serious negotiations on the basis of the UN resolutions passed to date, which envision for Cyprus “a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality”, and that the informal 5+1 talks initiated by UN Secretary-General Guterres will lead to a resumption of the negotiation process.
“A crucial part of this process will be for the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities to reach an agreement on the nature of their future coexistence on the island and to draw up a viable solution to the Cyprus issue. This would create the conditions necessary to ensure security, stability and prosperity for Cyprus, Europe and the entire eastern Mediterranean” she pointed out.
Moreover, she said that “the possibility of a rapprochement in the dispute over maritime boundaries and natural gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean is closely tied to the Cyprus issue”, adding that Germany is advocating talks to find a solution which complies with international maritime law.
“Reaching an agreement on the delimitation of territorial claims in the Mediterranean Sea will require a pragmatic and flexible approach” she said and noted that Germany stands ready to explore open channels of communication and specific opportunities for cooperation with all parties involved in this dispute over maritime boundaries.
Referring to bilateral relations, she said that she wishes to expand and deepen business and trade relations as well as tourism, renewable energies, education and culture. Concluding, she said she has a special interest in the process of reconciling the two Cypriot communities.
Source: Cyprus News Agency