The Minister of Foreign Affairs met with the EU High Representative
for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ioannis Kasoulides, met today
with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Mrs Federica
Mogherini. Mrs Mogherini’s visit was held as part of her outreach to all the EU
member states.
Mr Kasoulides and Mrs Mogherini had a tete-a-tete meeting, at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by official talks, statements to the Press
and working lunch. Issues on the agenda included, inter alia, the developments
on the Cyprus problem, the Southern Neighbourhood , EU-Russia relations and Energy Diplomacy. The developments in
Syria, Egypt and Libya, as well as ways, with which Cyprus could contribute to
the EU efforts and involvement in the region, were also discussed.
In statements to the Press, Minister Kasoulides welcomed Mrs
Mogherini, underlining that it was “ an excellent opportunity to have an in depth discussion on a whole
range of issues that affect the foreign policy agenda of both Cyprus and the EU.
Cyprus is a strong advocate for a robust and coherent EU common
foreign and security policy. We are also committed to the further strengthening
of the European External Action Service under the leadership of my good friend
Federica.
I am confident that through our consultations here in Cyprus, the
High Representative has deepened her appreciation of our approach to national
and European foreign policy issues.
We have had an exchange of views on developments in the EU’s Southern
Neighbourhood. Cyprus is the EU’s border in this volatile area and we shared
ideas on how Cyprus and the EU can contribute to the promotion of regional
stability and security.
I have also warmly congratulated the High Representative for the EU’s
and her own personal role in reaching the historic agreement on Iran’s nuclear
programme. As I also said during Secretary Hammond’s visit last week,
we expect that Iran will assume a constructive and responsible regional
role in order to allay the concerns of other friendly nations in our
neighbourhood.
We have also discussed the complex issue of the EU-Russia relations
as well as the situation in Ukraine. I underlined that engagement is better than
confrontation and that the EU should develop a strategic vision of its relations
with Russia.
To conclude, I once again welcome the High Representative to Cyprus.
Dear Federica, it is a pleasure to have you in Cyprus and I look forward to
continuing our fruitful cooperation”.
On her part, the EU High Representative thanked Minister Kasoulides
for the welcoming and noted that, at today’s meeting, a constructive meeting was
held, during which views were exchanged on issues of mutual interest.
She stressed that her visit falls within the efforts to shape a
common, strong and consistent foreign and security policy of the European Union.
Mrs Mogherini thanked Cyprus “for the always strong, wise and truly European
approach that Cyprus brings to the table”.
As regards to the reason of her visit to Cyprus, Mrs Mogherini said
that she is paying the visit “to meet and discuss the priorities of your country
when it comes to the foreign and security European policy. And here obviously,
the number one priority is this region, this part of the world, which is the
most conflictual and it is also the most relevant for the EU’s external
action”.
On the Iranian nuclear program agreement, the High Representative
said: “I thank you for the nice words you spent on the good news we had last
week on the Iranian nuclear agreement. I have to tell you publicly that it was
obviously a matter of security for Cyprus as well, because not having a nuclear
weapon in Iran is a matter of security for your region, and also for Cyprus and
the EU. But also it was a matter of contributing to the region, the wider Middle
East, that can be more stable and secure, and it is also a way of having good
news coming from this part of the world and from the European Union.
On the Syrian crisis she pointed out that is lasting too long, with
security and humanitarian consequences, with huge flow of refugees which is then
creating other issues on our European table”.
Mrs Mogherini then added: “The long lasting conflict over the Middle
East, the Palestinian issue, which is another area where our cooperation is
hopefully bringing some fruits and results. I would like to thank you for the
extremely thankful contribution that Cyprus is bringing to reviving the EU role
in opening new perspective for the peace process”.
On the Cyprus problem, the High Representative of the EU expressed
the Commission’s full support to the efforts for reaching a solution through the
UN-lead negotiation process.
Invited to say whether the EU is ready to support financially the
reunification of the island, Mrs Mogherini replied: “I know the issue of the
cost of the reunification is debated. I would invite everybody to think of the
cost of non-reunification, economic, human, political, security cost of it. The
very same words ‘European Union’ is about uniting diversities, reuniting. We
have experiences with other cases parallel to this throughout our European
history. I think that, yes, the EU is strong, it is much stronger than we,
ourselves, recognize sometimes; we should be more confident and proud for
ourselves. But again, the real costs would be if this process failed. I think
that these would be the real cost that no one could bare.
I am confident that the leadership that is shown in these last weeks
and months with a lot of courage and determination can bring results, especially
for the younger generations. What is at stake here is the future of the
generations that were growing up in these last 41 years. I think that the real
investments would be for the generations that have been growing up with this
situation. It is also an investment for the European Union as such, re-finding
the meaning of its pride of being in the Union and it is going to be key
contribution of the stability and the security of this region. So I really hope
that this process can lead to a result. I do not say that it is now or never,
but I do say that it is either now or very difficult in the future. I will
personally do all I can to support this process in order for it to have a
positive outcome”.
