Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis spoke on Mesimeri kai Kati about the challenges Cyprus is called upon to manage as it assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 7 January, during a critical and particularly fluid geopolitical period for the European Union itself.
Mr Letymbiotis stressed that the Republic of Cyprus is taking over the Presidency “at a time with very critical dossiers and a geopolitical landscape that is dynamic and unstable”, underlining that a strategic priority, as set from the very outset by President Nikos Christodoulides, is the strengthening of the EU’s presence and role in the Eastern Mediterranean.
“With great satisfaction we see that Cyprus’s approach, to actively contribute in our region, is now also being adopted by the European Union,” he stated, making special reference to the fact that the President of the European Commission will soon visit Jordan and Egypt, while leaders and representatives of countries from the region will attend the Opening Ceremony of the Presidency in Nicosia on 7 January – a symbolic yet substantive diplomatic recognition of Cyprus’s regional role.
At the same time, the Government Spokesman referred to the escalation of provocations by the Turkish occupying army in the Buffer Zone, noting that Nicosia consistently denounces the “relentless and prolonged disregard of international law by occupying Turkey”, which, as he said, continuously seeks to challenge the regime and the status quo of the Buffer Zone.
He placed particular emphasis on the need for violations to be recorded “objectively and without embellishment, so that the reality of Turkish provocativeness is accurately reflected”, especially at a time when the UN Security Council is preparing to receive the reports of the UN Secretary-General on Good Offices, UNFICYP, and developments in the Cyprus issue.
With regard to the international crisis in Venezuela and the comparison raised during the discussion with the case of Cyprus, Mr Letymbiotis was unequivocal: “The two situations cannot be equated. Cyprus has been experiencing an illegal invasion and occupation for 52 years, over 37% of its territory, with more than 30,000 troops, and continuous challenges to its EEZ and airspace.”
At the same time, however, he underlined that Cyprus, as the presiding country of the EU, is institutionally obliged to express and respect the common position of the 26 Member States aimed at avoiding escalation, with “calmness, realism and caution, so as to safeguard peace and respect for international law”.
“If we fail to safeguard this common position, the EU’s contribution will be weakened,” he warned, while reassuring that “there will be no compromise whatsoever on the values and principles of international law on Cyprus’s part.”
