European Parliament agree with her Cyprus. Europe will never be whole as long as Cyprus remains divided, said MEP Roberta Metsola of Cyprus.

After meeting at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia with the President of the Republic of Cyprus N. Anastasiadis, Ms. Metsola stated that we need to return to negotiations under the auspices of the UN, emphasizing that there can be only one Cyprus. , a sovereign European state, with a bi-zone, bi-communal federation, in accordance with the resolutions of the UN Security Council. A state, he said, where all its inhabitants are EU citizens.

Noting that the time has come to channel her energy towards negotiations, Ms Metsola said that confidence must be restored and provocative actions such as in Famagusta, which have been repeatedly condemned by the EU, jeopardize efforts to resume negotiations on the Cyprus issue.

He also appreciated the proposals of the President of the Republic on Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) that could pave the way for negotiations.

Answering a reporter’s question, Ms. Metsola said that those countries that aspire to become EU members should not only advocate for sanctions imposed by the EU. against Russia because of its illegal invasion of Ukraine, but also to implement them and prevent their violation.

Responding to a question about Famagusta and Turkish violations, Ms. Metsola stated that the city of Famagusta is a symbol of the Cyprus problem and represents the prospects for a peaceful solution, noting that Turkey’s actions jeopardize efforts to restart negotiations, a comprehensive and sustainable solution to the Cyprus issue. He added that the European Parliament has repeatedly condemned the actions of Turkey, which continues to violate the UN Security Council resolutions on Famagusta, and indicated that it supports the speedy return of the Varoese to their legitimate residents. We will continue to support this position,” he said.

He also noted that “any country that uses the most vulnerable people on the planet for geopolitical games is unacceptable anywhere in Europe.”

Finally, when asked if the EU would consider natural gas supplies from Cyprus in the light of new discoveries in the Cyprus EEZ, Ms Metsola said that recent discoveries show that Cyprus can be a key strategic partner and ally for the EU in its search for energy sources.

For his part, President Anastasiadis said that he had assured Ms. Metsola that the Greek Cypriot side would continue its tireless efforts and initiatives to break the deadlock, noting that the bold confidence-building measures he proposed could lead to this direction.

He called on Turkey to stop unilateral actions that violate international law.

He also pointed out that in order to resume negotiations, Turkey must stop its unilateral actions that violate international law, such as actions in the closed city of Famagusta and the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of Cyprus.

He added that they also discussed the issue of immigration, informing the President of the European Parliament that Cyprus is an EU member state. with the highest percentage of asylum seekers in relation to the population, highlighting Turkey’s use of immigration as a tool.

On the issue of energy, the President of the Republic said that the Eastern Mediterranean could play an important role in resolving the energy crisis in Europe by providing a reliable alternative source of energy resources, and noted that Cyprus was ready to contribute to this.

Finally, Mr. Anastasiadis mentioned that he and Ms. Metsola discussed the Ukrainian issue, noting that the position of Cyprus, which survived the invasion, is one with the position of the EU. – namely, that the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability of the borders of all states, including Ukraine and Cyprus, must be respected.

He added that, unfortunately, the joint efforts of EU member states. is hindered by its partner countries, which provide Russia with opportunities to avoid sanctions, noting that countries aspiring to join the EU must fully respect the fundamental principles and values ​​of the Union.

Source: APE/MEB