Brussels, 26/01/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 26 January, European Parliament President Martin Schulz spoke of his optimism about the reunification of Cyprus soon.
The Parliament looks “with certain optimism at the ongoing negotiations on the island between the two parties [Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots]”, Schulz stated at a press conference with the leader of the Cypriot Parliament, Yiannakis Omirou. He hoped that this optimism might be justified and that the negotiations, which are “in a decisive phase”, “might be concluded successfully”. “A good solution for Cyprus is feasible and possible”, Schulz stated.
He said that reunification of the island in the current times would be a “symbol of hope for Cyprus and the EU as a whole”. This would be “a global symbol of the fact that with goodwill, success is possible”, he added. However, Schulz was not closing his eyes to reality. “Not everything has been done. Not everything has been signed and sealed. There are still problems that we have to resolve”, he said. According to Schulz, the European Parliament is ready to do what is needed, if it is asked.
The issue of the reunification of Cyprus was also discussed at the high level EU-Turkey meeting in Ankara the previous day. High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini described the ongoing negotiations as a “positive development”. “I believe we share an interest in having a comprehensive settlement as soon as possible”, she said at the press conference following the meeting. The EU and Turkey “agreed that they will continue to give their full and resolute support to the efforts of Espen Barth Eide, the special adviser of the secretary general of the United Nations for Cyprus, to reach a comprehensive settlement”. Turkey does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus, but is the only country in the world to recognise the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.
At the Davos Forum on 21 January, the president of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, and the leader of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Mustafa Akinci, spoke of their hope of reaching a reunification agreement for Cyprus in 2016. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)