Nicosia, 06/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - During the opening ceremony for the Cypriot Presidency on Friday 6 July 2012, a dozen Turkish Cypriots protested in silence about the lack of EU action to reunify the island, unfurling two banners during the speech of the president of the European Commission. These read: “EU - what are you doing against the extinction of Turkish Cyprus and occupation?”
Barroso ignored the protests, but the president of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, said: “Overcoming this division is of momentous importance for our Union: as long as Cyprus is divided, in a way Europe will be divided. Bridging this divide will pave the way towards a better future for Cyprus, and make of Cyprus a symbol of hope”. The president of Cyprus, Demetris Christofias, said: “I hope as soon as possible we will celebrate reunification of our own land”. During their speeches, neither the prime minister of Denmark, Helle Thorning Schmidt, nor the vice-president of the European Parliament, Anni Podimata, commented on the Cyprus question. (CG/transl.fl)