Cyprus House President, Annita Demetriou, expressed hope that the ongoing process under the auspices of the Secretary-General of the United Nations will lead to positive developments in the Cyprus issue, ultimately resulting in a fair and viable settlement of the Cyprus problem. She made these remarks during her address at the Athens Defence Conference on Monday.
Demetriou added that such a solution could serve as a catalyst for establishing conditions of peace, stability, and cooperation in the region, emphasizing that this process enjoys the unwavering support and solidarity of Greece.
She also underlined that the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which is now concluding, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to maintaining and strengthening its constructive and stabilizing role in the broader Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean region, to the benefit of regional peace and stability.
Addressing the issue of security and defence within the European Union, Demetriou stressed that it has become a top priority. As she noted, ‘the pressures facing the rules-based international order, along with the complex challenges undermining our democracies, make it imperative to remain constantly vigilant and to continue developing and adapting our military capabilities and the European defence industry.’
‘The current adverse circumstances undeniably require the European Union to strengthen its capacity to act autonomously and to prevent and effectively manage emerging security challenges,’ she said. She added that the Republic of Cyprus successfully contributed to advancing key legislative initiatives across the full spectrum of the European agenda, including the fields of defence and security.
‘The European Union must lead-for its citizens, for the protection of its strategic interests, and above all for the defence of its fundamental principles and values: international law, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. To achieve this, unity and collective action are essential, and must be reflected in the development of a common security and defence culture. We must move immediately, from a mindset of preparedness to genuine operational readiness, as we have already delayed for too long. Greece has a significant role to play in strengthening the Union’s defence readiness,’ Demetriou stressed. She further noted the need for the continuous enhancement of the European Union’s Common Security and Defence Policy and the various initiatives that contribute to the evolution of Europe’s security architecture.
Finally, the House President highlighted that Greece and Cyprus serve as pillars of security and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and have a substantial contribution to regional cooperation. ‘Through the trilateral cooperation mechanisms established by Greece and Cyprus with like-minded countries in the region- until now with Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, and Jordan-important partnerships and synergies have been developed in key sectors, including military and defence cooperation. Our shared vision is to promote peace, stability, and prosperity throughout this turbulent region,’ she concluded.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.