The President of the Republic of Cyprus received the EU Special Envoy on Cyprus

The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, received today the European Union (EU) Special Envoy for Cyprus, Mr Johannes Hahn, at the Presidential Palace. 

Welcoming Mr Hahn, the President of the Republic of Cyprus said: “We are very glad to have you here dear Johannes. Welcome. We count on your support and the support of the EU in order to resume negotiations that will lead us to the solution of the Cyprus problem.

The role of the EU is to support the United Nations (UN) effort, not to replace the UN effort. The EU has the tools in order to lead us to a win-win situation for all parties involved. We are grateful for the decision of the President of the European Commission. It is a clear indication of the interest of the EU for the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Cyprus is a member state of the EU. We will continue to be a member state following a solution of the Cyprus problem. The EU can provide solutions in a number of issues that we are discussing at the negotiations table. Your active involvement will help us to resume negotiations and lead to the solution of the Cyprus problem.

Once again, welcome. We are here to work with you, support your mission, and hopefully – having also in mind what is going on in our neighbourhood, in our region – we need some good news that will be for the benefit of Cyprus, of the EU, Turkey, and the international community”.

On his part, Mr Hahn said: “Indeed, I think I have a clear mandate from the EU and the European Commission. As you rightly said, it is about supporting the UN-led process and I myself see me as a facilitator, enabling to find a solution. That is why, for the first time in this capacity, I am here in Cyprus to see, to reach out to different stakeholders, to listen to them, because it is also about trust building. And I am ready to engage, because I fully agree.

If you look at the geopolitical situation, which has a huge impact on this part of the Mediterranean, I think we should have a strong interest as EU to export stability and not to import instability, and this is clearly my understanding. This was my understanding when I was Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement negotiations, and the thing is our utmost interest as EU, covering all of our member states to have good neighbourly relations.

In this respect, I also would like to reach out to our Turkish neighbours to see what could be a common ground to find a possible solution for Cyprus, which could serve as a blueprint for other problems around the globe. In that respect, I think we are united. We share the same interest. If we settle the Cyprus issue, it is in the utmost interest of the people in Cyprus, but also for all of us, the Europeans, and our neighbours. And this is what guides me, what inspires me, and I am grateful for the decision. You have chosen me and you can rely [on me]. I will try everything to work on a lasting solution, because this situation is ongoing for too many years”.

(RM/NZ/KA)

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