Toast by the President of the House of
Representatives
at the official lunch in
honour of the President of the European Parliament
Mr President of the European Parliament, dear
Martin,
Leaders and Representatives of parliamentary
parties,
Dear Minister,
Honourable Members of the European Parliament,
Ambassadors,
Ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great honour and pleasure for me to welcome you, Mr
President, to Cyprus. Going through a second, very successful presidency, your
presence in Cyprus constitutes an expression of the keen interest that you and
the European Parliament demonstrate for the current situation in Cyprus, but
also a reaffirmation of the excellent ties between the European Parliament and
the Cyprus House of Representatives.
Mr President,
Our goal has always been a solution that will comply with pertinent
UN Resolutions and the acquis communautaire and will take into account the
legitimate rights and concerns of the whole people of Cyprus. However, Turkey’s
intransigent stance and provocative actions and threats against Cyprus, expose
the fact that the key to the solution of the Cyprus problem is in Ankara and
that the essence of t he Cyprus problem has always been the
Turkish invasion and continuing occupation of a substantial territory of the
Republic of Cyprus, with all the violations of international and European law
that this entails. Any progress on Turkey’s course towards EU membership requires the
fulfillment of Turkey’s obligations within the Negotiating Framework of 2005 and
the Ankara Protocol.
Mr President,
Since your previous visit to Cyprus in 2013, when the House of
Representatives hosted the European Union Conference of Speakers in Nicosia, in
the framework of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the Union, the
international environment has changed enormously, thus bringing new challenges
for Cyprus, the EU and the Union’s neighbourhood . The war in Syria, the aftermath of the ill-fated “Arab Spring” and
the continuing economic crisis and substandard growth at EU level, have been
further accentuated by the biggest wave of refugees since the Second World War
inundating EU member states, particularly Southern members. These major threats
and, above all, the spectre of terrorism, as Brussels tragically witnessed it
last week, have put at stake the very values and principles, upon which the
European Union was founded. We must review our priorities, so as to address
these and other gathering challenges and redirect our policies, with a view to
restoring trust in Europe as a world player, in the European integration
project, the Union’s institutions and the European economy.
These are issues of direct concern to European citizens. Solidarity
among Europeans and for non-Europeans in need, social and political cohesion and
urgently needed economic growth-generating jobs, are key elements in our
efforts. And, the contribution of the
European Parliament and National Parliaments, being the voice of the people, is
vital.
Our cooperation is crucial. Mr President, I take your presence here
as an attestation and reconfirmation of this fact, as the expression of your
wish and will to walk this challenging path together.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I invite you to raise our glasses to the health of President Schulz
and his delegation and to the well-being of all European Union citizens.
Mr President, dear Martin, I warmly welcome you to Cyprus and wish
you a pleasant and productive stay.
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