Cyprus disagrees with Turkey’s participation in meetings between European countries and third countries regarding developments in Ukraine, President Nikos Christodoulides said upon his arrival to the extraordinary summit, which will focus on the future of European defence and the role the EU can have regarding the ongoing Russian aggression against in Ukraine.
President Christodoulides said that meetings with the participation of only some EU Member States do not contribute to the need for unity among EU member states, given the disagreements already expressed by some countries.
He also raised the issue of Turkey’s participation in some of these meetings, stressing that “Turkey is the country which continuously violates European sanctions against the Russian Federation” and “is exploiting European sanctions against Russia to its own advantage.”
Responding to a question from CNA on how Cyprus can benefit from the Commission’s proposal to exempt defence spending from the EU’s fiscal framework, President Christodoulides also said that Cyprus’ debt-to-GDP ratio is moving in the right direction, adding that Cyprus has started preparatory work.
He stressed, however, that EU programmes and funds should strengthen the European defence industry and not the defence industry of third countries.
On the Cyprus issue, the President said that the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will attend the European Council on March 20th, right after the informal summit in Geneva, so messages are sent from the European Union, both on the solution model, “which cannot be outside the agreed framework”, but also “on the need to respect the principles and values of the European Union.”
In his remarks, President Christodoulides expressed satisfaction that “the defence and security of the European Union, the strengthening of the defence of the Member States of the European Union will be discussed substanstively”, while he welcomed the content of the Commission President’s statement on strengthening European defence, noting that it is something “which we agree with”.
He recalled the Cyprus, “along with other member states”, such as Greece and France, “have long supported the need for the European Union to strengthen the capabilities of the European Union for deterrence, and I hope that today the way will open for concrete decisions”.
Regarding the discussion on Ukraine, President Christodoulides said that the key issues are “the end of the war, respect for the sovereignty, independence and integrity of Ukraine”.
“As the European Union, we must be a leading actor in this effort to end the war” as “Ukraine borders Europe”, he said.
In this context, the President noted that “all these meetings with the participation of only some EU member states do not contribute to the unity we should show” as the EU, noting that “we already have internally in the European Union some states that are reacting.”
“Think about the message these meetings, with the participation of only some member states, send regarding the lack of necessary unity,” he continued.
President Christodoulides noted that Turkey, which is invited to such meetings, “is the country that continuously violates the European sanctions against the Russian Federation,” he and stressed that Turkey “is exploiting European sanctions against Russia for its own benefit.”
He noted that “we have to preserve the unity of the European Union, which is the strongest characteristic we have, and to demonstrate it in practice.”
Asked by CNA how Cyprus can manage the fact that member states want a dialogue with Turkey on the issue, the President noted that the EU “including all 27 member states, must have a role” and reiterated that Turkey did not align with EU sanctions during this period.
“EU sanctions have been effective and this is not just an assessment by Cyprus and Greece. This is the assessment that all member states have in front of them, based on the relevant EU report,” he said.
He also questioned how “a country that illegally occupies European territory can play any role in security and guarantees.”
The President noted that the leaders will discuss, among other things, whether the guarantees being discussed would be “through the United Nations”, noting the importance of this dimension.
He underlined that the EU has 27 member states, stressing that “the vote and agreement of the 27 member states is required”.
Pointing out the divisions already present within the EU, he noted that that the practice of “creating new groups and excluding member states and even some states that border the Russian Federation” sends the message “that we are a divided Europe and this is certainly not helpful in any way.”
Asked how Cyprus could benefit from the Commission’s proposal to activate the escape clause of the EU’s fiscal rules only for defence spending, given that Cyprus is already spending a significant percentage of its GDP on defence, President Christodoulides recalled that the country “right now has one of the strongest economies in the European Union”.
“In terms of public debt in particular, we are at 69%, and we will reach the 60% target by 2026” he noted. “But I can certainly tell you that internally we have started the preparatory work to take advantage of the opportunities created by the proposals of the President of the European Commission” he stressed, adding that the country has “a very promising Cypriot defence industry with about 30 companies that employ young people in Cyprus”.
He noted, however, that “the programmes and money that will be given from the European Union should focus on strengthening the European defence industry and not the defence industry of third countries.”
Cyprus Problem
Responding to a question on the upcoming informal meeting on the Cyprus issue in Geneva, the President said that he had spoken about the meeting with the President of the European Commission this morning, in the context of the pre-summit of the European People’s Party.
“I have spoken with the President of the European Council, who briefed me on the discussion he had with the Turkish President. He will even have a telephone conversation with Mr. Guterres before the meeting in Geneva,” he said.
The President of the Republic said that the UN Secretary General will be present after Geneva at the European Council on March 20, “so that the European Union sends out messages on the part of the European Union, both on the model for a solution to the Cyprus problem, which cannot be outside the agreed framework, but also on the need to respect the principles and values of the European Union”.
Also read: Turkish Defence Ministry concerned over Ukraine-Russia conflict
Photo source: Reuters
Source: CNA
