Nicosia: Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides on Monday said he held an extensive telephone conversation on Sunday afternoon with Denmark's Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, on the issue of Greenland and the ongoing discussions between Denmark and the United States. He said he expects that EU decisions on the matter would be taken at the extraordinary European Council that has been convened for Thursday.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides responded to a journalist's question upon his arrival at an event in Nicosia regarding whether discussions within the EU on possible countermeasures against the United States over Greenland put the Cyprus EU Presidency in a difficult position, given its strategic relationship with Washington. The President emphasized that 'the role of the Presidency is to deal with both easy and difficult matters, with both positive and negative issues. In this case as well, we will respond in line with our institutional role'.
He stressed that the position of the Republic of Cyprus on territorial integrity and state sovereignty 'is non-negotiable and applies in the present situation as well'. He noted that, to date, no decision has been taken.
President Christodoulides mentioned that Nicosia convened on Sunday afternoon a meeting of the Committee of Permanent Representatives where a first exchange of views took place, while an extraordinary European Council has been scheduled for Thursday at 19.00. 'I will be there with my counterparts; we will discuss the matter, and we will take the necessary decisions as the EU,' he said.
He also underlined that, on all issues, the position of the Republic of Cyprus is that 'we must allow diplomacy to deliver results and then, depending on developments and outcomes', take the appropriate decisions.
The President further assessed that the convening of an extraordinary European Council, particularly with physical presence rather than via teleconference as has often occurred in previous cases, 'demonstrates the seriousness of the issue for the EU'.
President Christodoulides added that the Prime Minister of Denmark contacted him by telephone at 18.00 on Sunday. 'We had an extensive discussion on developments and on the discussions taking place between Denmark and the United States,' he said.
He noted that there is also 'the aspect - whether in quotation marks or not - of NATO's involvement. There are several issues that we will discuss on Thursday, and any decisions taken will be announced'.