Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made statements after the European South MED9 Summit in Paphos.
“We had the opportunity for a broader overview of regional developments (…) The issue of Cyprus found its place in our declaration” pointed out the prime minister.
The prime minister also said: “I will also repeat my joy for the participation of the King of Jordan in this meeting of ours. Jordan: a country of stability in the wider Middle East region, which needs more European support. And let me repeat the great importance we all attach to the conclusion of a strategic cooperation agreement between the European Union and Jordan.”
Referring to the Middle East, he emphasized:
“It is sad, possibly tragic, that we are here, in Cyprus, the member state of the European Union, which is closest to the crisis, which is unfortunately escalating in the Middle East. An escalation which at this moment is unfortunately also testing the people of Lebanon. Let me add my own voice to the call for an immediate ceasefire in both Lebanon and Gaza, where unfortunately the humanitarian disaster has reached nightmarish proportions. Greece has from the first moment condemned Iran’s attacks against Israel, as they contribute to the dangerous escalation of tension and increase the risks for a regional stability. On the other hand, we also call for restraint at this time, so that South Lebanon does not turn into a new Gaza. It will be a great new humanitarian tragedy, which the wider region cannot bear.”
While he also underlined:
“We also discussed quite detailed issues that have to do with European competitiveness, but also issues that have to do with immigration. And we also recognized the fact that all Mediterranean countries are unfortunately at the forefront of the climate crisis.
Consequently, our coordination in dealing with these phenomena is even more imperative.
Finally, we had the opportunity to do a broader overview of regional developments and I want to express my satisfaction in turn, dear Nikos (Christodoulidis), because the issue of Cyprus, 50 years after the invasion and occupation of more than one third of Cyprus by the Turkish forces, found its place in our declaration.
And let me in turn welcome the informal tripartite meeting under the Secretary-General of the United Nations and express my expectation that this meeting will bring the resumption of negotiations with the aim of a solution based on the resolutions of the Security Council, in the International law, in the European acquis.
You know well, my dear Nikos, that Greece will always be a helper in your efforts. Finally, 50 years after the Turkish invasion, we can achieve this long-awaited solution.
So let me thank you again, my dear Niko, for the hospitality and for the very meaningful discussion we had and to repeat my belief that this scheme of Mediterranean states still has a lot to give, especially now that we have also acquired a commissioner from Croatia which will deal exclusively with the issues of the Mediterranean”.
“Meetings like today’s are necessary for the goal of a more autonomous European Union that responds primarily to the demands of European citizens,” said the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulidis, among others.
While he added:
(…) To ensure that issues of concern to the Mediterranean are at the heart of EU decisions (…) We all agree that the Cyprus issue is a European problem (…) The competitiveness of the EU clearly needs to be strengthened and we are determined to do so (… )”.
The leaders gave a press conference from the MED9 Southern European Summit, which took place in Paphos with the participation of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and King Abdullah II of Jordan.
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